From the Mansion House to Mombasa

I am writing this note from the Skomara Digital Hub in Mombasa. Today is Sunday. A lot has happened in the last few days...in particular over the last few hours.

Last Wednesday evening, at the kind invitation of the outgoing President of IBEC, I found myself in the Mansion house at a black tie dinner, addressed by the Taoiseach, listening to the challenging economic circumstances Ireland faces over the coming few years.

In attendance were a group of the most influential people in Ireland. Heads of companies, senior civil servants, former secretary generals and CEO'S etc all listening to the sobering perspective that we will have to tighten our belts over the next few months if we are to manage the economic turbulence ahead.

There is not doubt that we will face more difficult economic times than we have over the last 15 years, and that we will have to face some relative hardship, however, let me put this all into perspective....

Whilst in the taxi on the way to the hub here, I passed by an awful traffic accident. A young boy (probably about the same age as my son of 12) had been knocked down by a vehicle on a street known as 'black street'. Many people are killed or badly injured on this stretch of road because of the close proximity of the slum buildings to the busy street.

The child was lying in a pool of blood convulsing on the ground. A group of people had gathered around watching in horror.

The taxi driver (who I know well and trust) knew what I was thinking and told me that we could not stop. This was an extremely poor area and that if I got out, even with the good intentions of trying to help, I would most likely be mugged and robbed because of my skin colour. He said that 'emotions' ran high when children are knocked down.

I asked could we make sure an ambulance was called.

'The city only has a handful of ambulances and there is none for this area' he answered.

'The child's only hope is that somebody else stops and brings him to hospital even though they may not be trained in how to lift an injured person...'

As I sit here writing this note,I wonder should we have stopped. I am only 24 hours in this country before I am reminded of what real problems truly are. And it seems they all begin with a total feeling of powerlessness.....