136 responses to “Prime Minister David Thompson Names His Cabinet”

1. 

   Wishing in Vain

   January 22, 2008 at 7:54 pm

   
   

   Frankology Neutral has him most uncertain if he is in forward or reverse gear.

   I just wish that he had been honest with us from the outset and to have done away with his neutral unbiased crap.

   At the end of the day he may well be one of the twenty rejects of the BLP at the last election.

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2. 

   Wishing in Vain

   January 22, 2008 at 7:59 pm

   
   

   Antonio Arthur (Barbados) wrote
   at 8:58am on January 17th, 2008
   The failure of the Barbados Labour Party to recognise the impact of blogs and forums on the electorate has cost them dearly. BarbadosFreePress and other blogs attacked the government constantly without any VISIBLE response from the BLP. This played a huge roll in swaying the 18-35 demographic, which is known to make up a large percentage of the undecided voters (I don’t think I need to remind anyone of the importance of this group). Never underestimate the power of the Internet.

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3. 

   Georgie Porgie

   January 22, 2008 at 8:11 pm

   
   

   If you want to see the power of the internet visit Value MD. This is a site to which mostly Americans (but also others) go to seek advice about offshore Caribbean and other medical schools. Opinion on that site has been known to close down weal bogus schools.

   The next elections will be affected more than ever by these blogs and the technology. I was able to sit in my house comfortably in Orlando area FL and view all of the BLP meetings in the last election.

   Prior to the election being called I got to view the DLP meetings via youtube. Unfortunately after the elections began, they changed thier website and one could not gauge what was going on via the internet. But the youtube videos clearly indicated that thier was a tidal wave approaching.

   When the Persians diverted the Euphrates river to allow them to enter the impregnable city of Babylon, the Babylonians were involved in drunken orgies. They certainly were not paying attention to the new technology of the Persians.

   History tends to repeat itself does it not? The BLP was not paying attention even to moderate its own blog. The DLP was obviously moderated.

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4. 

   frankology

   January 22, 2008 at 8:15 pm

   
   

   Am I to understand that this NEUTRAL one in the form of frankology has loss faith in the blp to the extent that he now looks towards Commissiong as his saviour?
   ……………………………………………………………………..
   The difference between Frankology and Wishing In Vain is WIV is a partisan supporter or official for the Dems and Frankology deal with issues and do not partner with political parties. I give praise where praise are necessary and criticise stupid statements and decision.

   I voted for Kenny Best, by the way 90% of my family are Dees. Possibly, the body blows you speak of might come later.

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5. 

   frankology

   January 22, 2008 at 8:21 pm

   
   

   You and Frankology like umpires giving a man out before the bowler bowl the ball. You fellows want to give the man out before the fielders appeal.
   …………………………………………………………………….
   Have you ever experience someone in the navigator’s seat and telling you ‘watch dat car infront of you”, “look out for that chukd crossing” and a whole lot of advice. Then the navigator take over the driving and he/she fail to see things infront of them. Simply the driver must be able to drive. You sound like the navigator WIV.

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6. 

   frankology

   January 22, 2008 at 8:22 pm

   
   

   This might be true, but last time I checked it was not written of even King David that “he was the same yesterday, today and for ever.”(c.f Hebrews 13:8) That was written of Christ, not Thompy. Only God is immutable or unchanging (Hebrews 6:17-18).
   …………………………………………………………………….
   Wow, christianity now being used as an excuse.

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7. 

   Georgie Porgie

   January 22, 2008 at 8:40 pm

   
   

   No Frankie I just pointing out two of the proof texts for the immutability of God in the attempt to show that only God is unchanging. I do appreciate how you feel about this flaw in men, and in leaders…….this inability to be constant and unchanging.

   I reiterate that I am not making any excuses for anyone. I am just having some fun on the itellectual joust.

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8. 

   Wishing in Vain

   January 22, 2008 at 9:00 pm

   
   

   caribbean360.com

   Barbados elections: A sweeping change

   Newly elected prime minister and Democratic Labour Party leader David Thompson (Photo: dlpbarbados.org)
   BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, January 16, 2008 – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has wrested the reins of power from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to become the new governing administration of Barbados following that island’s January 15 general election.

   Decisive win

   The DLP’s decisive win of 20 out of the 30 House of Assembly seats put an end to the historic attempt by the BLP to become the first party in Barbados’ political history to rule for four consecutive terms of office.

   Despite succeeding where his party failed, a visibly shaken former Prime Minister Owen Arthur expressed uncertainty about his political future as the poll results unfolded just after midnight Tuesday.

   “I will discuss that matter with my colleagues before I speak to the public about it,” he said from the steps of his alma mater, the Coleridge & Parry School, following his comfortable win of 3 708 to 1 785 over his cousin, Haynesley Benn in their St Peter constituency.

   Acknowledging that his party’s defeat was an example of “democracy in action”, Arthur also extended congratulations to the succeeding DLP government.

   Throughout the election both parties traded accusations that the other had succumbed to bribery and influence in one form or the other.

   The BLP injected an element of diplomatic intrigue when it accused the DLP of backdoor dealings with rogue state Taiwan, but that failed to resonate with the public in the same way as the home grown issues reiterated by the DLP.

   DLP campaign

   Prime Minister-elect David Thompson said in an interview just after midnight Tuesday that he put the success of the DLP’s campaign down to its hammering home three messages that resonated most with the Barbadian people:

   the cost of living,
   affordable housing,
   and the status of the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
   He promised to address the cost of living in the budget, which he said would be delivered “shortly”.

   BLP campaign

   The BLP ran a campaign largely on the strength of its stewardship over the last 14 years, especially Barbados’ buoyant economic standing and respected international stature.

   Thompson and his DLP candidates sought to poke holes in the BLP record with charges of mismanagement of public funds totalling over $700 million in cost overruns on various government projects over that tenure.

   Thompson told the media in his interview that one of the DLP’s first tasks as the new government would be to bring forensic auditing to bear on a number of government projects and statutory corporations that had been questioned by his team when they were in opposition.

   “The idea of long commissions of enquiry that do not solve anything are not my style. Forensic audits are more clinical, they are more superior in terms of clarity,” Thompson said as he set the tone for his administration.

   The attorney also extended the olive branch to those in the electorate who voted for the BLP. “Let us let the election subside and get through the process of building a new Barbados in which everybody can play a role regardless of who you supported in this election. We really want to focus on getting our work done and we will need the cooperation of all Barbadians to advance that,” he said.

   Shock defeat for high profile BLP party members

   The BLP’s loss saw the shock defeat of some of its more high profile politicians, including at least two who had been tipped to be future leaders of the party at one time or the other – former minister of housing Reginald Farley and former minister of state in the Prime Minister’s office in the ruling BLP, Clyde Mascoll. Mascoll himself made history in 2007 when he became the first leader of a political party in Barbados to cross the floor after a very public falling out with the DLP in which he accused new leader David Thompson and others in the party of sabotaging his political career.

   Mascoll’s St Michael North West battle was one of the most closely watched of this election as the pundits and public alike waited to see if voters in that district would pick personality over party this time around. In the end, party allegiance won out and DLP general secretary and trade specialist Chris Sinckler pipped the former University of the West Indies economics lecturer to take that urban seat for the DLP.

   CADRES poll confirmed by results

   The DLP’s win confirmed the predictions of the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) published in the local Press last Friday that there would be a swing against the ruling BLP Government.

   This, said CADRES director Peter Wickham at the time, could guarantee the DLP at least 20 seats this time around. Despite attempts by the BLP to discredit the poll after its results were released, and conflicting results from a Cave Hill Associates Polling Organisation (CHAPO) poll that predicted the BLP winning through seizing between 16 and 20 seats, the CADRES results were conclusively borne out by the voters.

   This ballot also sees the Barbadian electorate join a regional momentum that has seen four incumbent political parties within CARICOM fail hold on to power for another term within the last 13 months.

   The first to fall was the Kenny Anthony-led St Lucia Labour Party, which lost in its bid for a third term to the United Workers Party on December 11, 2006.

   The next defeat came in the Bahamas general election in May 2007 when Perry Christie’s Progressive Liberal Party went under to the Hubert Ingraham-led Free National Movement after only one term in office.

   The last power shift came in Jamaica in September 2007 when the ruling People’s National Party fell to the Jamaica Labour Party in its attempt to earn an unprecedented fifth term in power.

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9. 

   Wishing in Vain

   January 22, 2008 at 9:03 pm

   
   

   Frankology Please do not make me puke, with your rubbish.

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10. 

    Wishing in Vain

    January 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    
    

    caribbean360.com
    Another incumbent political party bites the dust

    By Peter Ischyrion
    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, January 16, 2008 – The winds that swept out the incumbent governments in St. Lucia, Bahamas, Jamaica and the British Virgin Islands in the past 13 months returned with a vengeance on Tuesday and upended the administration of Prime Minister Owen Arthur in this small Eastern Caribbean island.

    Arthur had sought to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Manning, his counterpart in Trinidad and Tobago, who last November appeared to be the exception to the rule by leading his ruling People’s National Movement back into the corridors of power.

    Most importantly, Arthur, a 58-year-old economist, had sought to secure a spot in Barbados’ political history as the first prime minister to win a fourth consecutive term in office. He failed, and perhaps now more than ever, he will understand the phrase “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it”.

    In the end, the electorate not only condemned his Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to the opposition benches, but also possibly signaled the end of his political career in the island.

    Insisting that he was not about to engage in an “instant judgment” regarding his future, Arthur, who led the government since 1994 for “13 exhilarating years”, said he would seek to ensure that the 69-year-old BLP “remains one of the premier political institutions in the region”.

    “I have not left a party that is politically bankrupt. ‘The party can cope beyond me’ is the assurance that I give the party. It has people in it who can qualify to be leaders in any institution in the world,” he added.

    Arthur had entered the general election on Tuesday hoping to achieve a feat that had proved beyond many prominent politicians here, including Errol Barrow, who led the island to political independence from Britain in 1966 and is considered the founding father of the nation.

    But Arthur’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) was trounced by the DLP, led by David Thompson.

    Arthur said that his BLP had conducted a “good campaign” for control of the 30-seat Parliament, but acknowledged that the electorate’s desire for change proved insurmountable, resulting in the DLP reversing a 24-6 BLP majority in the last parliament to 20-10 in its favour.

    “Change is a natural human instinct and I fully respect it. I want to merely say that I thank the people of Barbados for the opportunity to be prime minister. I tried my very best for the country and I leave office with no rancour,” Arthur said in his concession speech.

    The 2007 Human Development Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supports Arthur’s contention that his tenure had brought relative prosperity to the island.

    The UNDP ranked Barbados, which is mainly dependent on tourism and international business services for its revenue, at 31 out of 177 countries with respect to its human development index, “which looks beyond GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to a broader definition of well-being”.

    In fact, the U.N. body ranked Barbados at the very top among 108 developing countries regarding its human poverty index, which measures the proportion of people below an income threshold but which also includes “living a long and healthy life, having access to education and a decent standard of living”.

    The opposition DLP, however, found traction with its platform to transform “the nation to meet the real needs of the people”.

    “My vision of Barbados is centered around the idea of our people enjoying a significant improvement in living standards,” said David Thompson, the 49-year-old prime minister-elect, who was successful on his third attempt at winning the government.

    “I have a vision of Barbados in which our arts, architecture, industrial policy, economic policy and social policy promote the concept of island living that is socially empowering, highly productive and allows us to meet both our internal and external obligations,” said Thompson, an attorney.

    The change of government is not expected to result in a drastic change in the island’s foreign policy, although one of the main controversies of the campaign was Arthur’s allegation that Taiwan had contributed to the DLP’s campaign in return for a switch in allegiance away from China.

    Bridgetown and Beijing established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, and while Thompson and Taipei publicly rebuked Arthur’s claims, the outgoing prime minister contended that an allegedly similar strategy had been followed in the case of St. Lucia, where the ruling United Workers Party had severed ties with Beijing in favour of Taiwan after a 10-year period.

    In its manifesto for the election, the DLP said that Barbados would “continue its longstanding policy to be friends of all and satellites of none”.

    “It will continue to defend the interests of its citizens at home and abroad. We will respect those treaties entered into by predecessor governments and seek new alliances conducive to the achievement of our goals,” it said.

    As lead prime minister within the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Arthur had played a high-profile role in the quest by regional states to create a single market and economy (CSME) by 2015 that includes the free movement of goods, skills, workers and services.

    But while saying he would “work towards the realisation” of the CSME, Thompson has already signalled that a new DLP administration would also embark on a major public education programme to sensitise Barbadians to the “challenges and opportunities that free movement of labour, goods and services will bring”.

    “It will then prepare Barbadians for taking a leading role in the development of the wider Caribbean Community,” the DLP said.

    Another concern for the new administration will be the recently negotiated Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that Caribbean countries reached with Europe at the end of last year.

    The full details of the accord have not been published in the region despite numerous calls from civil society groups, even as regional leaders are preparing to sign the trade deal on Mar. 15.

    DLP general secretary Chris Sinckler, the executive director of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre, had been critical of the accord and now, as a front-line member of the new government, could be in a position to agitate much more successfully for a review of the agreement. (IPS)

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11. 

    frankology

    January 23, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    
    

    Wishing in Vain. The elections have been won, you play your part in informing the public with copied articles on behalf of the DLP. After the win, we were expecting a new line of debate, but alas, your posting are poor with no substance. Just look at your posts with copied articles above. Remember, propaganda is only effective for the power hungry. When you achieve that power you sing another tune or keep silent.

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12. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 23, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    
    

    WIV
    I think we have to agree with Frankie here. The elections have indded been won, and you played your part in informing the public with copied articles on behalf of the DLP. Now it is indeed time for analysis and a different style of debate.

    From now it is is OUR Government doing the right thing or not. We will not always agree. But we dont have to defend for defending sake or oppose for opposing sake.

    Come on WIV, put up a better fight, and when necessary take your licks like a man.

    Anyone know what happen to Such Stupid Comments, who has gone missing since the bees hit the campaign trail?.

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13. 

    Wishing in Vain

    January 23, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    
    

    frankology Thankfully they were those of us that stood for something and stood up and were counted this is so unlike your pretended NEUTRAL position when really you constantly tried to tow the BLP but just in case they were beaten you could attempt to slide back you and your type are not to be admired or looked up to, in any form or fashion.

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14. 

    Wishing in Vain

    January 23, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    
    

    Such Stupid Comments, with a name as such it would lead me to suggest that it could be one of two persons either NOELESS BLARNEY LYNCH or WILLIAM GRAP YOUR MONEY DUGBAD.

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15. 

    frankology

    January 23, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    
    

    WIV. I accused the former Government about the highway, you scarcely uttered any word about it. I was man to deal with any issues on a nonaligned basis, if it was crucifying the BLP, you give praises, but if someone criticise he DLP, your behaviour becomes hostile and personal. That is not the behaviour of a debater.

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16. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 23, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    
    

    oK WIV
    But someone had suggested SCC was Erskine Andy Cap Durant

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17. 

    David

    January 23, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    
    

    frankology maybe you should consider bringing something new to the table :-)There is a new government and the job of tabling issues for debate continues. Will you join us any time soon?

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18. 

    Wishing in Vain

    January 23, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    
    

    David, you must be kidding, this person is as shallow a person as they come.

    It may happen when he retracts his head from up there and sees the light of day maybe then some sense will come forth

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19. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 23, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    
    

    WIV
    Are you saying that he has become betzpaenic or do you suppose he has Pick’s disease? Oh me am.

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20. 

    frankology

    January 23, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    
    

    There is a new government and the job of tabling issues for debate continues. Will you join us any time soon?
    …………………………………………………………………….
    The Prime Minister address to the Business Sector and he state the first thing on his agenda is The Cost of Living. This I agree with him, but he cannot depend on the Business Community to be the vanguard for such reduction. The last administration were using the mechanism of providing reduction to the business sector with the understanding that reduce cost will be passed down to the consumer. This will never happen, these businesses will embrace additional profits before assisting consumers. What he can do is to use direct reduction to the consumers and forget the business sector. Reductions like the removal of VAT from utilities and certain baskets of essentials.

    Remember a leading supermarket owner asking what will he get in return if he subsidise costs for the consumer.

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21. 

    frankology

    January 23, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    
    

    Guess who is the Minister of Information with responsibility for “cut and paste articles”.
    No other than WIV.

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22. 

    Donald Duck, Esq

    January 23, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    
    

    I was rankly disappointed with the pm’s address to member so fthe chamber of commerce today. The PM needs to realise he is no longer on the election campaign. He seem to have only one priorty and that was reducing the cost of living. While that is admirable there was no point in saying that it was priority 1, 2 and 3

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23. 

    Donald Duck, Esq

    January 23, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    
    

    Sorry there should be a “f” on rankly

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24. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 23, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    
    

    Guess who is the Minister of Information with responsibility for “cut and paste articles”.
    No other than WIV.

    WIV Frankie got you there. You must plead GUILTY AS CHARGED AND TAKE YOUR SENTENCE

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25. 

    frankology

    January 23, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    
    

    David. Have you realised no minister have been allocated the Communication/Information ministry. Will the blogs be incorporated within the mainstream media? Maybe Hon. Freundel Stuart will use his Home Affairs ministry to deal with CBC etc.

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26. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 23, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    
    

    Also have you noticed that Environment has been detached from Health. I thought that the Public Health Dept looked after the environment.

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27. 

    frankology

    January 24, 2008 at 11:45 am

    
    

    I have also notice this administration have five Ministers of State in comparison with two of the previous administration.

    It would have been more prudent to have a Minister of State to assist the Hon. Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo who is responsible for four (4) separate and busy ministries – Sports, Youth Affairs and the Environment with a minor interest of Family.

    I do not see Minister Lowe needing a Minister of State.

    The Minister of State Arni Walters could have been scrapped and place Denis Kellman as the Minister with those responsibilities.

    I can live with the other appointed ministries, but as I stated, I have a fundamental problem with the other compositions.

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28. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 24, 2008 at 11:55 am

    
    

    One might expect that as they get into the hurly burly of activity that changes might very well be made towards the optimal solution. We dont always get everything right the first time.

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29. 

    Wishing in Vain

    January 24, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    
    

    I can live with the other appointed ministries, but as I stated, I have a fundamental problem with the other compositions.

    Unlike your prior involvement with the past blp admistration, your willingness to live with with the other appointed ministeries, is of little concern.

    These appointments have been thought thru and are workable.

    Mr NEUTRAL I have no doubt that you would have issues with the makeup of the cabinet after all it is not made up of Owing and his clan.

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30. 

    frankology

    January 24, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    
    

    These appointments have been thought thru and are workable.
    …………………………………………………………………….
    It is about time you take down your defense and listen to reasoning. This have nothing to deal with the past, it is the future where each and everyone have a right to ensure that our country remains on top. With the four distinct ministries given to Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, she will soon get burnt-out, thus the reason for her having someone as Minister of State to assist her with the managing her ministries.

    So please! stop being petty.

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31. 

    young one

    January 24, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    
    

    sad to say it’s people like WIV who played a role in the elections… childish it maybe but a role no less. do you expect him to stop now?

    anyhow i was wonder the same for Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo. that is so much for one person who is a new comer and has to learn the in and out of gov’t offices. i do wish her the best of luck.

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32. 

    change agent

    January 25, 2008 at 10:15 am

    
    

    Frankology you and your BLP pimps and lapdogs keep fuelling the Kellman no minister debate. As opposition thats expected but read Rickey Singh in today Nation. Singh ariculates my views. Kellman’s ego is so large you wonder how it fits into his shrimp frame . Why on earth would PM Thompson place a man in his cabinet who not only hates him but has demonstrated time and again he will not be obeying anything Thompson or his compatriots decide. Kellman weighing food in Moontown is ministerial duties enough for the “I man.” Kellman rest yourself I coming for a plate of rice and seacat.

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33. 

    frankology

    January 25, 2008 at 10:45 am

    
    

    We will never see beyond our feet due to partisan supporters failing to accept logical conclusions. The Government is charge is not for DLP supporters only, but for the masses. If you all took time to listen to the new Prime Minister, he spoke of embracing everyone (Bees and Dees).

    I mentioned about the workload of Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo. No one accept the reasoning, but only have venom to attack the Kellman issue. If this is the case, how can we have a better Barbados when people feel that you should not question something that might be wrong.
    If the Dems had confidence in re-electing Kellman to run for the constituency and certain candidates including the now Prime Minister going on the platform to show solidarity and comradie for Kellman, then now all of a sudden he is not worthy of a cabinet position. That’s what you call hypocrisy in full bloom.

    We are seeing all types of aggressive posters fueled by insulting and denigrating remarks against anyone who ask simple questions. Language like “lapdogs”, “BLP pimps” and the list goes on. Is this what you call intelligent debating?

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34. 

    Georgie Porgie

    January 25, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    
    

    I find the drivel dribbled by Ezra Alleyne into days Nation to be most diabolical, and to have emanated from Satan himself.

    http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/15016407145245.php

    We all know that Ezra has a penchant for approximating his labiae orae to the adipose tissue overlying the gluteus maximi of his party (in simple Bajan – he is an ass licker!) {I was just trying to respect Mr David, at whose pleasure I am allowed to post here. But I promised to post only the truth on this forum.}

    Lets dissect his diatribe, for though God was able to make Balaam’s ass to speak, Bajans have great difficulty in getting this ass to shut up.

    He begins by pretending to be one of a few mystic madmen (even with poetic license) who “have the ability to hear with eyes, and see with ears.” THIS IS PHYIOLOGICAL NONSENSE. There is no mystery here. It does not happen!

    Then he states categorically that the PM’s decision not to grant Kellman to sit at the head table while the fatted calf is shared, and not to even give him the calf’s tail is an incident of the exercise of the awesome power of the Office of Prime Minister, and evidence that Thompson is obviously trying to shoot a general to encourage the troops to fall into line, and using the power of patronage – to give office or to deny office – to try to stamp his authority on his Cabinet and parliamentary group. Ezra’s thesis is that once a party loyalist has stayed the course he should be rewarded accordingly irregardless.

    On the other hand Kellman was reported as being comfortable with the situation, and to recognize the PM’s prerogative in being able to give or take away like the Lord, as per Barrow’s favorite quotation from the sapiental literature at Job 1:21.

    Kellman admitted that he understands the awesome power of the Office of Prime Minister to appoint or not to appoint. He acknowledged the existence of the prime ministerial prerogative to hire or fire Cabinet members at will. Surely Kellman knew what to expect.

    Why does exclusion of such a loyalist necessarily mean that “the rain is setting up?” Are we not reading too much into the situation “this early? Or does Ezra think by his pitiful, pithy puerile prose that he will cause the DLP to implode again, and to quote him, “this early?”

    Now Kellman might be telling lies. But he might not have expected to sit at the head table, or the round table for that matter. I don’t know. But why would the PM stamp his authority on his Cabinet and parliamentary group by shooting a general as Ezra opines? And “this early” according to Ezra? I would tend to think that such malevolence (or malevIolence) if that was the intent, might just as well cause the potential generals to mutiny or at least distrust the leader, if not engage in internecine warfare.

    Why does Ezra use words inaccurately by suggesting that Kellman was axed? What was he axed from? What position did he hold from which he was axed?

    Why does Ezra seemingly seek to sensitize the stupid to senseless opinions by emotive words like “axed,” “snake pit of politics, ” “strange bedfellows” and his coined “Kellmanesque personalities?”

    Although Dr David Estwick is a physician, Ezra is surprised that the PM appointed him to the Ministry of Health. This was a better appointment than when OS Arthur appointed Liz in the same capacity, since Liz was very unlikely to distinguish a “mosquito” from a long straight!” (forceps).

    With respect to this appointment Ezra “goes further” to point out that Thompson has shown who is boss. Then in the same breath he suggests that the discerning would perceive that “this appointment must have included some bargaining – on both sides.”

    Ezra must now tell us “Is Thompson boss, or not?” If he is boss why is he bargaining with Estwick “this early” and “snapping the whip at Kellman “this early.” You are confusing your self, not me. You are less coherent than Balaam’s equine companion on the way to meet Baalak, and do his nefariousbidding! At least Balaam’s ass was consistent.

    At last, and at least, Ezra got something right when he said that “the appointments of Maxine McClean and Darcy Boyce are intriguing.” So do we Ezra. So do we. That was like that famous first ball Warne bowled to Gatting in 1990 at Lords, that pitched wide of the leg stump and hit his off stump, as Gatting expecting it to strike his pad, played no stroke.

    All BLP supporters who were saying that there is no economists in the DLP, and those, like Ezra, who thought that the PM would put the economy of Barbados in the hands of David Estwick are as flabergasdted now as poor Gatting then. Unfortunately we have no photographs of your faces when the announcement was made, as the beautiful photos we have off Gatting’s face when he heard the death rattle that signaled that playing no shot was the wrong decision. The appointments of Maxine McClean and Darcy Boyce is the “political ball” of all Bajan politics.

    Ezra, I am sure that Irene Sandiford-Garner, Undine Whittaker and Patricia Inniss are not wondering us much about these two appointees as you and your BLP associates are. I have heard of the first ball that Gilchrist bowled at Kensington. I saw that spell by Jeff Thompson at Kensington in 1978, and those two overs by Holding to Boycott in 1981. But I tell you this “political ball” that David bowled last weekend must surpass them all!

    And Ezra, I find you most ungracious in defeat as to suggest that Miss McClean’s role as a “non party” moderator of call-in programmes, which catapulted her into the Cabinet, as though she is not deserving on merit and by her record.

    “And I go further” to tell you that the last remark about Mr Boyce will come back to haunt you. And you will soon be eating crow. If you can manipulate words in your apparent ignorance in the perception of right and wrong, and truth and false, then Darcy Boyce can successful marry his learning to do his job as well as he has elsewhere. If he is not facilitated to do so, he will like Winston C, resign and go elsewhere. But I am sure that he will not lick the ass of a dictator as you and your fellow BLPites did as you wait for crumbs to fall from your political master’s table.

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35. 

    Uptown

    January 30, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    
    

    Luther Francis writes the most baffling letters in the newspapers. He never calls names but regals us with his strange views usually about cricket. Today he is using cricket imagery to say Kellman should be a minister. No he should not Luther.

    Kellman publicly states he does not consider David Thompson his leader. Kellman is a nut and loose cannon as all and sundry have seen over time. He is about Kellman and Kellman alone. He is not a team player. Kellman believes he is God. Kellman does not deserve to be in cabinet until he publicly recognises Thompson as Prime Minister, leader of DLP and government. Unity is strength. The originator of Kellmanomics(??) represents the complete opposite of unity.

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36. 

    Donald Duck, Esq

    February 3, 2008 at 9:59 am

    
    

    The following are comments made by Prime Minister Thompson in the Sunday Advocate of February 3, 2007 on the subject of his party’s 100 day programme.

    He said some of the initiatives merely “require initiation, not completion” He went on to add “ I think people ,misunderstand these things, so they think that if you say that you are going to, for example lay integrity legislation that it means you will pass it in a 100 days. It doesn’t mean that because it is not only the Members of Parliament who have a relevant role to play in that, it is the public, it’s the media, and I can’t circumscribe your 100 days, I can only circumscribe mine”

    He further added “And in relation to other areas of implementation, what we are aiming at, subject to the availability of resources, is the initiation of those items that fall under the 100 day programme so that we can therefore keep the faith from there”

    May I remind readers of the various DLP promises taken from their manifesto with relevant reference page numbers categorized between those the DLP promised immediate action and those which they promised to deal with within 100 days ( they did not say from when the 100 days commenced)

    IMMEDIATE ACTTION

    Labour rights legislation ( page 36)

    A new DLP government will move to immediately enact a comprehensive national Labour Rights legislative compendium which will include the following:

     A Full Employment Rights Act
     An Alternative Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Committee
     A Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act
     National minimum wages legislation
     Legislation fully recognizing Trade Unions.

    Approval of capital account transactions (page 25)

    Immediately review the current Central Bank procedures for approving capital account transactions with a view to simplifying and speeding up the approval (or denial) process for restricted transactions.

    Port charges (page 33)

    The DLP pledges to immediately re-examine the Port charges with a view to significantly reducing these to manufacturers as they consider them to be a burdensome cost. They say that tonnage dues are charged twice; – on raw materials when imported and again on finished products when being exported.

    Integrity legislation (page 48)

    Immediately introduce integrity legislation requiring

     a declaration of assets by public officials,
     a Code of Conduct for Ministers,
     a new Freedom of Information law,
     amendments to the Defamation laws and
     new constitutional provisions to rationalize the powers of the Prime Minister.

    Health issues (page 11)

    A new DLP Government will immediately embark on a health promotion campaign to sensitize the public to the dangers of unhealthy lifestyles

    ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH IN FIRST 100 DAYS

    Don’t forget the DLP promises to do the following in the first 100 days

     Introduce the Agriculture Protection Act that will require a 2/3 majority of both houses of parliament for a change of use of land from agriculture.

     Remove VAT from building materials on houses valued up to $400,000.
     convene a National Consultation on Education

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