It was an interesting comment which we heard recently on talk radio. David Ellis – Voice of Barbados acknowledged the impact which blogs had during the last election. He agreed that we filled the void left by the traditional media. We also recall the comment made by the current Minister of State and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Maxine McClean on talk radio, when she opined that the blogs have a role to play in Barbados. So why are we reminiscing?
On this evening’s talk show, our eardrums were offended by the preamble delivered by Dr. Don Marshall, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill. In essence, he suggested that the unregulated environment in which Barbados Free Press and Barbados Underground peddle information is a dangerous development which should concern Barbadians. He believes that if Barbadians have to resort to the blogs to air their views then we are not living in a democracy – words to that effect.
It is interesting that this is the same Dr. Marshall who agreed with David Ellis that the blogs had an impact; however tiny, on the last election during last Sunday’s call-in program. It smacks of a high class hypocrisy that Marshall would make a statement on national radio to imply that the Bajan blogosphere is a negative for Barbados. Where was he during the last election campaign and beyond when BFP and BU were busy pressuring the government on issues which mainstream media was too spineless to cover? During this period, the outspoken Dr. Don Marshall was silent with his current view. He appears to have experienced an epiphany in the last week and has now taken-up an anti-blog posture.
The BU household has always been an admirer of the good Doctor. His intellectual approach to engaging the issues of the day we find to be refreshing. His willingness to move from the comfort of Cave Hill, unlike many of his colleagues, to venture into the public domain is worthy of praise. We wonder if Dr. Don Marshall is aware that in the USA which prides itself on freedom of expression, boasts of a very fertile blogosphere. Why can’t he fathom that both mediums can co-exist? It is this backward thinking which emanates from our intellectuals and leaders sometimes that makes a person go, WOW.
Do you remember the time when we invited Dr. Michael Howard from UWI to offer a comment on a raging issue which was fueled by debate between Clyde Mascoll and himself? He did not even acknowledge our note. Such actions clearly show the contempt which many of our intellectuals on the “Hill” have for the blogs. Of course we have the exceptions like Dr. Justin Robinson and Dr. Karl Watson who routinely use the blogs to interact with us ordinary folks who retreat to the unregulated virtual space of the blogosphere. It is a common way of thinking by some to focus on the negatives at the huge expense of the many positives which exist as well. It is interesting that the great philosophers of our history felt duty bound to go wherever people were to be found to ensure that thoughts and ideas might freely pollinate. Nowadays, we have the smugness of our intellectuals who prefer to communicate to the people on turf which they are familiar.
The Internet is a phenomenal discovery which we anticipate will be with mankind for a little while. It becomes the responsibility for the intellectuals in our society to interact with the public wherever they choose to congregate. The Internet facilitates a virtual meeting area which is increasing at a giddy pace. Would it be asking too much if the intellectuals on the ‘Hill’ would make the blogs pregnant with their ideas and opinions? They should try it it just might become contagious.
Our intellectuals at Cave Hill can become stuck in the mud or play catch-up, the choice is theirs to make.
Related story published by Barbados Free Press.
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He who pays the Piper plays the tune.
Who the hell care what Don Marshall says?
DAVID of BU,
WE the bloggers of this fair land , BARBADOS , remain eternally grateful for this medium you have provided for us to expose the DARK underbelly of our society !
If it now falls to the BLP charlatans to complain……then at least next time out they will endeavour to RIGHT the WRONGS…….now that the BLOGS are around !
Have pity on the DON (MARSHALL ) he recently said that his life was threatened !
DAVID of BU,
WE the bloggers of this fair land , BARBADOS , remain eternally grateful for this medium you have provided for us to expose the DARK underbelly of our society !
If it now falls to the BLP charlatans to complain……then at least next time out they will endeavour to RIGHT the WRONGS…….now that the BLOGS are around !
Have pity on the DON (MARSHALL ) he recently said that his life was threatened !
The issue with blogs for some persons in the fact we are anonymous – including me.
Dr Marshall was a man who stood up and was counted – or is 3 weeks too long ago to be remembered – when he wrote that damming article in the Nation which he received death threats for.
Before we make a mountain out of a mole hill the reality is BFPE and BU are here to stay and like Brass Tacks and Tell it like it is are Barbadiab institutions.
Folk can view the blogs as negative if they like—-to their peril.
The anonymity given by the blogs provides a freedom of speech that is not permitted otherwise.
What is needed is that whenever we post we must be honest and fair and tell the truth according to what we know. We can educate, enliven, enlighten and even entertain……..but above all we must speak what is true. We must not distort the facts for our own purposes. We must be willing to learn from others.
The anonymity given by the blogs reminds me of when I attended the Stop & Stare walk on Sunday mornings. Often there in the gullies dreesed in old boots and old hats etc were men and women from every walk of life and from many countries. They were folk trained in many different disciplines. But many had much to say and teach in these sessions, as we excercised.
And so it is with these blogs because in this informal way, we are educating each other and being entertained as we share our knowledge and experiences and opinions in a way that we would not normally be able to do- and at our convenience. So BRAVO BU and keep it going..
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I will always remember the DANOS 3S story coming to light on these blogs and for it to take 16 days to be reported in the Nation and even further on VOB, I will put it to all of you that the only reason the Nation or VOB reported on it is because these blogs made such an issue of it that they had NO CHOICE but to comment on the story.
I must express my thanks to this new NEWS MEDIA for being alive, well and kicking the regular press to bits because of their loyality to the former ruling party the blp.
A MASSIVE THANK YOU !!!!
What I like about the blogs is the opportunity given to express opinions and learn from persons who are more informed.
What I do not like about the blogs is the name calling and the rumours which are regularly unsubstantiated.
I am not much for gossip so I come here mostly for the debate on issues.
All in all I do regard the blogs as having a positive influence on the society I live in. So hooray for BU and BFP.
Anonymous // January 22, 2008 at 10:02 pm
What I like about the blogs is the opportunity given to express opinions and learn from persons who are more informed.
What I do not like about the blogs is the name calling and the rumours which are regularly unsubstantiated.
=======================
I must agree with you on that point.
It is amazing to see that when persons were otherwise stifled, they resorted to posting their views on the blogs. Now that they are free again, they wish for restrictive bands of censorship to embrace them once more.
To borrow a phrase fron the Hon. Chris Sinckler when he was on the campaign trail ‘they have political schizophrenia’ and for that they must be excused.
I welcome this forum and pray that it remains unfettered.
BU do you have the full context to Don Marshall comments? Becuase to me the offending words you put up doesn’t by themselve to my mind constitutes an attack on the blogs. The truth is that dangerous undemocratic practices in Barbados has given birth to these blogs. I don’t agree with him as you have sighted that in other societies where average citizens felt marginalize by the mainstream media they have led in demostrating the power of the blogs, and that these societies are best practices to see if what Don Marshall fears in a possible reality. The truth in that regard is not on his side. Anyway i would say that we could move on, Mr Marshall’s comments has little value to a people who have been kept out of the democratic process since 1969 and who have been subjected to abuse, and victimization for dearing to speak out and to be heard. The Fact that he and the others have to grapple with is their inability to substantiate the taxpayers of barbados money spent to educate and employ them. Where is the value? the return on our investement is yet to be realize.
Barbados is a small place. Anything you say is likely to offend at least one person that knows you. Anonymity is a prerequisite for free speech in Barbados. Those that have identified themselves have been threatened.
I am very surprised that Don Marshall, after being threatened for exercising his right to free speech, would criticise those of us making anonymous comments. Not everybody wants to go to the extent of putting their life on the line to get their views heard.
Don’t be surprised as developments unfold.
Two Bajan blogs served their purpose when attempts were being made to remove the BLP from office.
With that achieved, your new political masters will make sure that the same fate does not befall them. They will find creative and covert ways to silence you because your volume is no longer desirable.
As we always warned you…. Once elections are over, it will be business as usual.
Blogs For Political Expedience
To use the word “attack” may be too strong. Maybe “criticism” would have been more fitting.
Nonetheless, listening to Marshall’s open remarks, it came across to me as a warning to bajans that using the blogs is not an effective way to strive for freedom of expression; it’s a way of hiding behind the print.
BU, we can’t take these rassers, seriously! As u said, during the election he was dumb, now he’s the font of all knowledge!!!!
Look, there’s one thing with which I agree with him. BEFORE, THE ELECTION, BARBADOS WAS N’T MUCH OF A DEMOCRACY WITH ALL THE CORRUPTION WHICH WAS OCCURING, THERE! THANKS, SOLELY TO THE BLOGS, PEOPLES EYES WERE OPENED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DISPENSE WITH THE CORRUPT BASTARDS AND HOPEFULLY, GIVE BARBADOS A CHANCE, ONCE MORE!
SO, RATHER THAN CRITICISING THE BLOGS, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE MORE THAN THANKFUL, TO THEM!!
BU AND BFP, FOREVER!!!!
WHO THE **** IS DON MARSHALL, ANYWAY!!!!
Guys, I’ve just read BU’s ‘About Us’ which many of us often don’t bother to read vis. websites/blogs and noticed that it’s run by ‘a husband and wife team, nearing retirement age’, an even more herculean achievement than I’d realised!
Endless, congratulations and thanks, the BU couple, who, along with the staff at BFP, have helped to save democracy, in Barbados!!
Many congratulations again, BU, and thanks from all of us!!!!
BU do you have the full context to Don Marshall comments? Becuase to me the offending words you put up doesn’t by themselve to my mind constitutes an attack on the blogs.
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Adrian, above, is very astute and may well, have a point here because, I find it difficult to believe that, if I remember correctly, a man who just a week ago, was claiming that his life was threatened four times at a political meeting, could now want to criticise the blogs!
Maybe he’s just incompetent in expressing his opinion. Have n’t read the whole story, yet, but I do KNOW FOR A FACT, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO THE BLOGS FOR SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, SO ANYBODY WHO CRITISES THE TWO MAIN BLOGS ARE GOING TO GET A NARRATIVE-SHAFTING, FROM ME!!!!
If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem, further to that if you unjustly criticize an avenue for free expression such as the blogs then you are part of the problem and a real threat to democracy.
Sure there is a lot of name calling, rumors etc. but in the end you can always decipher fact from fiction. I try to be as truthful as I can although still a bit cautious with some information.
N.B Academics are not necessarily intellectuals.
You may also be guilty of interpreting the remark negatively. I did not hear it but from what you write he did not criticize blogs but the fact that their existence suggests that democracy is under threat: people’s choices and opportunities to properly express themselves have reduced. In that sense, he could be saying that blogs are a good thing because they do allow such opportunities of choice and expression. In that sense his remarks are a criticism of other media (TV, radio and press), which seem to offer citizens less than they should in terms of opportunities for unbiased information and free expression. From what I have heard of CBC’s biased performance during the election campaign, and the accusations levelled against the major newspapers for their bias, then I would say that Marshall’s comments are as much a poke at them.
If we are being too harsh on the Doctor we will be the first to apologize to him. We stand by our comment, we came away from the comment with the clear impression that Marshall expressed a reluctance to participate on the blogs because of what he perceived is the innuendo and character assassinations which often let fly. Even if he has concerns should this prevent any erudite contributions by him or his colleagues on the Hill?
‘Investigative Journalis’!
Does the Bajan news media know what this is, or practise it because it’s difficult for me to see how Barbados could have got into the mess we did prior to the election, if they did!!!
They don’t seem to care! Is this your view!!!!
We stand by our comment, we came away from the comment with the clear impression that Marshall expressed a reluctance to participate on the blogs because of what he perceived is the innuendo and character assassinations which often let fly. Even if he has concerns should this prevent any erudite contributions by him or his colleagues on the Hill?
*****************************
David, maybe we should just dismiss this guy, as, ‘a joke’!!!!
I was horrified at the garbage that we were bombarded with prior to the lead up day of elections, example, every day there was some racist or derogatory remark about Guyanese, Guyanese dis and Guyanese dat. Then, the placing of former DPM Mia Mottley’s personal life on the blog for all the world to read was disgusting, for it showed desperation on the part of the writer who was appealing to the emotions of the people with this lady’s personal life. I was utterly surprised, for I was under the impression that Bajans did not resort to this type of behaviour, at least that is the image that a lot of Guyanese have of Barbadians, but as it turns out the decorum of Guyanese on Guyanese political blogs far exceeds those of Bajans. I came here to defend Rihanna, BUT I am staying because the only difference between us is that I am Guyanese.
Annoymous, I know you are going to come here and say I am not saying anything about anything, like the subject matter here, and that I am in Washington, New York, and Georgetown all at the same time and that I belong in the Guyana Mad House at Canje. So don’t write anything, you told me the same thing three times now.
As a servant of the people a politician mottley should expect to be the subject of investigation and soul searching, it is she who made the statements about legalising Prostitution and Homosexuality it was she who made a habit of indulging in lewd sexual activites, it is she that made the headlines with her vicious acts with sexual partners, tell me why then should she not expect to be brought to publics attention and asked to respond?
Is it because she is an aggresive money hungry mottley with the belief of her entitlement to power and wealth in this island?
As a public figure she should know better and behave better than she has done, hence being put under the microscope and to be found wanting.
TIMES ONLINE
The American system of Government places the right to pardon and to commute sentences of the Court in the hands of the President in his absolute discretion.
As someone who respects the operations of Constitutional systems whether they be in Washington, Westminster or right here in Barbados, I have no problem with the functional exercise of the right
I profoundly agree with the exercise of the Presidential right to commute in this specific case, for while perjury is NOT to be condoned; it can sometimes be difficult for anyone to recall, precisely what was said, when one is under the stress of an official investigation and creating a fall guy by whatever process, is not in the public interest!
I think the President should be congratulated for having the courage to take the decision, and I would urge him to pardon Libby , and remit the fine after the 2008 election, if Libby’s appeal against conviction is not successful.
Ezra Alleyne, Bridgetown, Barbados
Since when is this clown Ezra Alleyne an authority on matters of justice and honesty??
I for one am glad that the pardon system is not in operation in Barbados as I could only guess at how much abuse it would be subjected to.
Sister Baby, just this morning I was being told of an incident involving some Guyanese Indians living here in the UK!
They were our neighbours as young girls and even went to the same primary school. However, my daughter made contact with them via the internet the other day, after a break of many years. They ignored her. My daughter’s black, well educated and a successful business woman but I guess we’re too, BLACK for them, now!!
So, please, don’t try to give us the impression that the Guyanese are ‘wonderful’!!!!
People who should know better are up in arms against blogs. I think it is okay to denounce unsociable misfits and any form of illegal behavior but to curtail people from freely expressing themselves is just another form of slavery. The country had been asleep outside of the Blogosphere, thanks to the blogging few, there has been an awakening for change. Have you noticed how many organizations are asking for immediate audience with the new Prime Minister. They woke up and found themselves in a different world and are screaming like babies for mummy.
Faces of The Bajan Blogosphere
Fear of change can cripple the scholarly
And this is not uncommon with changing technology
Clocks went digital many years ago
Every since then the digital world started to grow
Sending some academics in a tale spin
Only comfortable with their circle and to stay within
Fax machine, copier, camcorder and DVD
The revolutionary ghouls of digital technology
Have taken over the world and now the Internet
Enables users to usurp a greatness in the global market
Blogging emerged from special interest groups
Administered by authors who can censor the oops
Journalists, politicians and many other heads
Author their thoughts to stimulate comment threads
Now other professionals and hobbyists too
Blog their expertise and creations to you
Life through their eyes and experiences they had
Organized chronologically by the magic of a keypad
Growth comes when we can freely express
Our deepest concerns without any redress
Some may also choose to blog anonymously
People have their rights to protect their privacy
However you look at it blogging is a welcome tool
Entertaining and educating but there’s a golden rule
Resist immorality, illegality and other social no nos
Exercise these and be assured where the Blogosphere grows
Sister Baby // January 23, 2008 at 8:39 am
I was horrified at the garbage that we were bombarded with prior to the lead up day of elections, example, every day there was some racist or derogatory remark about Guyanese, Guyanese dis and Guyanese dat. Then, the placing of former DPM Mia Mottley’s personal life on the blog for all the world to read was disgusting, for it showed desperation on the part of the writer who was appealing to the emotions of the people with this lady’s personal life. I was utterly surprised, for I was under the impression that Bajans did not resort to this type of behaviour, at least that is the image that a lot of Guyanese have of Barbadians, but as it turns out the decorum of Guyanese on Guyanese political blogs far exceeds those of Bajans. I came here to defend Rihanna, BUT I am staying because the only difference between us is that I am Guyanese.
=============================
Did i ever say that Guyana is a failed state? 😀 What is racist about identifying Guyanese by the national behaviour that has characterize that country for generations? The land of five or is it six people, is also a land of continued racial polarization of the Indo and Afro Guyanese. Do you want us to ignore this as you have done? I will note you use of the word “Garbage” to define what is the truth about Guyana.
Oh BTW has anyone sought to change the cultural practice of dumping garbage in the Demarara River?
As for Mia Mottley, you have not seen anything yet. Seeds of truth about who she really is are being planted all across Barbados and the region, at the same time a return to the teachings of Deviance in the fine traditions of Durkheim and Talcott Parsons will be introduce to ordinary Barbadians in the rumshop, the social clubs, the church, in every nook and cranny. It is going to be a powerful message and sociological view point from which to look at all of our elected leaders. At the end of it may the best MAN win. 😀
Academics and the media elite HAD the greatest power to shape discussion and dramatically influence public perceptions. No longer will they be allowed to continue to perpetuate their partisan influence unchallenged. The targets for labeling as deviant have change from those at the margins of society to those at the Center. I am placing a bulls eye dead center on the Leader of the Opposition and all elected officials. At their last meeting in Deacons Farm MIA DECLARED “I AM WHO I AM”, and I am saying I KNOW WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE, as result I am therefore committed to bringing to Barbadians all the information they will need to approach this Issue as informed active voter citizens, and whatever they decide i will abide with.
Since when is this clown Ezra Alleyne an authority on matters of justice and honesty??
I for one am glad that the pardon system is not in operation in Barbados as I could only guess at how much abuse it would be subjected to.
==============================
Readers who seperate the personal actions and lives of the Author from the words they penned makes it needlessly more difficult to understand the genisis of the ideas that resulted in their written thoughts.
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Ezra could do with a personal pardon could he not?
Ezra being a lawyer, having the same knowledge as us of his good friend Owen Arthur’s activity of cheques and deposits, and having a detail understanding of the Prevention of Corruption act of Barbados knows that a citizen and a non partisan DPP free from partisanship and charges of corruption himself would have a plausible reason and case within law to at least investigate the PM’s action. Therefore Ezra is doing what has characterize Ezra for the last 13 years. poor fellow.
No matter that Libby was involved in endangering a brave lady’s life, Ezra’s moral compass seems set due south.
Lying under oath, by a leading member of the administration, to protect his superiors deserves a pardon.
Is he a member of Yardfowl International.
David,
I didn’t hear Dr. Marshall’s comments, but don’t expect the new administration to be any more hospitable towards the blogs when they begin to be a source of criticism. WIV won’t be thanking you then.
Blogs have a valuable role in exposing what the political power structure does not want to be exposed. However, you would have to agree that they are open to abuse. All manner of blatant untruths are unleashed on the blogs (mostly in the comment sections).
This ability to operate completely outside of the power structure and legal structure, makes the blogs dangerous to those in power.
Unfortunately the main danger to the blogs is themselves. To the extent that they remain sources for the wildest most unfounded rumours or allow themselves to be used as propaganda vehicles by people opposed to “whatever”. Then the easier it becomes to dismiss them, and the more reluctant public figures will be to engage them. Hence comments by Prof. Marshall.
Marginal
Wow. Is this the same gentleman who possibly might have cried wolf about death threats during the election? Should we say that the so-called death threat as uttered by this same gentleman could have been a political ploy to gain empathy for the writer who feel that he is that important. I know many important political people attended one another meetings and not one mentioned threats made to them.
But I have to ask, Who Marshall tink he is? Out of over 234,000 voters only ONE person cried out about death threats. That’s interesting.
The Blogs are a sample view of the society from whene it’s contributor came. If gossip, untruths, halftruths, ennuendo etc are a factor of real life on the ground in Barbados why would you expect different here? You live with it everday, you may have develop mechanisms, law and otherwise to shield you from most of it. Why can’t you and the others who so desire tune out and leave the rest of to our own devises? Is this too much to ask of those in Barbados who are true adherants to the dictate of the International socialist cause? Blogs being a danger to themselves shouldn’t concern you. You have demonstrated what is to be done when a Blog runs afoul of itself but more likely of you. Go and start your own. Far from danger i see a continued growth of blogging amongst Barbadians, and i intend to visit them all. 😀
…..I did plan to change my margins from 0.5 to zero. 😀 This is the danger of a blog, as is to most things when started with mal-intent, it signals and early demise. 😀
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Dr. Marshall: “if Barbadians have to resort to the blogs to air their views then we are not living in a democracy.”
Big business has the media wrapped up. Reiterating: once big business controls the media then they will seek to control the politicians, with a view to remunerative corruption in business.
The blogs showed us all how to whistleblow anonymously. Until the media is balanced once again in Barbados, or the laws proposed by Mr Grenville Phillips are enacted, the blogs will not get smaller- they will increase exceedingly- more and more blogs.
Re blogs under threat, it is quite possibly something that is here to stay. Blog regulators can block contributors one by one, rather than readers having to put up with cursing and abuse. If lies are proven then these contributors can also be blocked, especially with these reasons explained. If this privelege is abused new blogs will arise.
We have blogs to expose, but it doesn’t stop the corrupt people from trying. This is where our new government (we hope and pray) will seek to bring our country, so that when the present tenure ends in however many years it may be, the legacy for the next generations of Bajans is secure, uncorrupted and stable.
As unpleasant as the reality might be, Dr. Marshsall is entirely correct. First, if people must resort to blogs to get basic news then the democratic nature of the society is in trouble, indeed. In this respect the blog is a good. However, the bad side of blogging is that virtually anything can be and often is printed, and many people of gullible nature will believe what they read, whether it be true or not. If you don’t believe this axiom then explain the success of advertising. The critical element of the “standard” media is that the authors are known and are held to acceptable standards of reporting. In the blog we must trust the writers, but we have virtually no way to check the validity of facts presented. Anonymity, good in one sense, can quickly become bad in another. From the beginning BU and BFP complained that the standard media were not covering stories, were subjected to a sort of censorship by government, and were, thus, not reliable. In all probability these charges were true. However, the same charges can be leveled in reverse at BU and BFP who only rarely provide sources or verifiable facts (the Juman/Charles Leacock case being a rare and refreshing exception). We are asked in the blogs to be pusilanimous, to trust in their veracity, just as the standard media asked us to trust in them. OK, the blogs felt that there was a conspiracy to do them in, again probably true, but how to we actually know???? Was there a Kennedy conspiracy???? Or is the creation of a conspiracy theory the only real conspiracy???Our only defense here is “caveat emptor” let the buyer beware. Read the blogs, they are fun if nothing else, but recognize that journalistic standards were developed for valid reasons, and those reason were accountability, veracity, and responsibility to readership. What is the difference between a politician stating that integrity legislation is not needed because all are honest, and a blog saying we should trust them because they are honest? Integrity legislation is definitely good for the politicians, and it is equally good for the journalists, whether they be standard or blogospherical.
The blogs certainly swung my vote.
But….no one is agitating to treat to advertising and consumerism is general the way some may suggest needs to be done to the Blogs as they say to protect the gullible. I do agree that buyer beware needs to be a readers guide here, but the mainstream media isn’t to be exempted on the account of Journalistic standards. Influence is bought and sold daily via the media and it’s journalist.
Blogs have developed from the personal musings of an individual ( usually mightily boring ) to where we are now – an online rumshop chat between people with similar interests but not opinions.
This is not high art literature, theoretical politics or an attempt at journalism…. it is roisterous banter and should be treated as such.
Straight talk // January 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Blogs have developed from the personal musings of an individual ( usually mightily boring ) to where we are now – an online rumshop chat between people with similar interests but not opinions.
This is not high art literature, theoretical politics or an attempt at journalism…. it is roisterous banter and should be treated as such.
==============================
ha ha ha ha ha hear hear, so leave the blogs and the people who frequent them alone. The problem with that, and what i think is the real concern of the Objectors, is that they truly believe in the gullibility of a significant number of potential voters being swayed away from them. 😀
….If i hear that Richie is a communist i gine believe um and he aint gine get my vote. 😀
The years spent censoring, and denying Barbadians the right to engage in debate and the activity of governing themselves are equally years spent denying Barbadians from maturing into an enlightened, civil, society, with the tolerence to respect difference of opinions while in the throes of robust and muscular debate. 😀
Adrian Hinds,
And I know what your mother USED TO BE.
Should I post it on this blog?
Witness // January 23, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Adrian Hinds,
And I know what your mother USED TO BE.
Should I post it on this blog?
============================
Go right ahead, I don’t think she would mind. I certainly don’t
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Frankology,
Honestly though sometimes you can’t just shut up? Not all the time, but sometimes?
“But I have to ask, Who Marshall tink he is? Out of over 234,000 voters only ONE person cried out about death threats. That’s interesting.”
Frankology lets get back to principles. Aside from the fact that BU and BFP have set out a whole number of death threats with IP addresses to various people who didn’t tow the party line–one death threat is too many.
In any other democratic country these threats would be actively pursued by the police and people charged.
God only knows how Marshall thinks we are in a democratic country but the use of blogs by the citizens to express thier views is what democracy is all about.
Those in the political widerness that are now outside looking in need to stop whining and get down on their knees and ask God’s forgiveness.
The reason they lost is that that they forgot who they are and where they came from. True repentance comes from admiitting your sins and changing your ways not defending tyranny and abuse of power.
Honestly though sometimes you can’t just shut up? Not all the time, but sometimes?
…………………………………………………………………….
Just tell me why I should shut with this posting. Because I stated that Dr. Marshall was the only person threaten at any political meeting in the history of electioneering politics. I will have to hear the substance of his threats, otherwise I have doubts with his accusations.
“But I have to ask, Who Marshall tink he is? Out of over 234,000 voters only ONE person cried out about death threats. That’s interesting.”
……………………………………………………………………
The discussion is with Dr. Marshall’s threat at a BLP meeting, thus, no reason to tie in IP addresses
Adrian, I don’t know what thy are dumping in the Demerara but I will tell you Demerara River banga mary is the most delicious fish in the world. Now fish from other places have no flavour, that is why they have those season salts and such in other places, but you get a nice banga mary form the Demerara all you have to do is lime it, put a little salt and black pepper in the middle of it, flour it up, and fry it up, oh my and some nice hot pepper suace oh my.
Bimbro, I have had similiar situation with them. In fact one coolie gyal from La Penitence went to America (Old Westbury, NY), and she turn up she nose at her black Guyanese friends. She married a white man and lived life like there was not tommorow, well she got in one bad car accident and lost her sight in both eyes. The white man left her, and she had to return to her home in East La Penitence Guyana. Well her Mum cared fro her for a while , but dies shortly, and now it’s an old black Guyanese Granny caring for this girl, with help from sisters from the East Bank Demerara Seventh Day Adventist Church. Now you see how the devil took hold of this girl, and then made her blind so that now she can’t see who is who, and its us who must care for her. We must pray. I see it this way, we all carry the beautiful, red, green yellow, black and white golden arrowhead flag of Guyana, and even though some of them behave so badly, I say they are Guyanese and I over look it. B ut whne they act that way I always say they must be doign something underground and they don’t want us to know
TheWhiteRabitt it is not accurate to generalize by saying if people have to resort to blog…), in the same way some people read the Advocate over the nation newspaper or listen to CBC over VOB so too people communicate via the blogs for a number of reasons. One of the big reasons in Barbados has to do with the media with their high journalistic standards, according to you, prostituting themselves to government and others. Another reason might be that the traditional media in Barbados wants to remain in the comfort zone. Any newspaper, radio or TV station worth its salt nowadays have top class websites with blogs etc to allow their constituents to interact with them. The fast past world and the speed with which information is dispensed demands it. A look around the Barbados media reveals the following:
CBC’s website has no blog or discussion board.
VOB’s website has no blog or discussion board
Nation newspaper has a discussion board which was last moderated on the 17/1/08
Advocate newspaper publishes online but does not manage a website.
Don’t know if we have made the point.
frankology I will have to hear the substance of his threats, otherwise I have doubts with his accusations.
We have no doubt that you would have doubts I am sure had it happened at a DLP you would have not doubt but it HAPPENED AT A BLP MEETING so you would be willing to second guess it, there goes the NEUTRAL ONCE AGAIN.
Witness // January 23, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Adrian Hinds,
And I know what your mother USED TO BE.
Should I post it on this blog?
==============================
Come witness tell me what my Mother used to be. One thing i can assure you of that this little exchange is going to for the second time prove Ezra Alleyne to be wrong. 😀
We have no doubt that you would have doubts I am sure had it happened at a DLP you would have not doubt but it HAPPENED AT A BLP MEETING so you would be willing to second guess it, there goes the NEUTRAL ONCE AGAIN.
…………………………………………………………………….
If it had occurred at a DLP meeting I will still have my doubts. From the sixties until Jan 15, 2008, this is the first time we had an individual complaining about threats. If I was threatened once, you would have seen by shoe soles, but to be threatened four times as stated by Dr. Marshall. This is where I have my doubts. So WIV, it have nothing to do with which party it happened.
The knee jerk reaction seems to be that if you say anything bad about the blogs you will be compared to being a nazi/saddam hussein/big brother.
Don Marshall made a relatively mild comment about the blogs and he’s being abused. Ezra Alleyne (yardfowl that he is) had the temerity to say that some people abuse the blogs and he’s tarred and feathered.
Meanwhile if it’s sleazy or scandalous you are welcomed with open arms! Truth be optional.
Getting it off my chest…. // January 23, 2008 at 9:46 pm
The knee jerk reaction seems to be that if you say anything bad about the blogs you will be compared to being a nazi/saddam hussein/big brother.
Don Marshall made a relatively mild comment about the blogs and he’s being abused. Ezra Alleyne (yardfowl that he is) had the temerity to say that some people abuse the blogs and he’s tarred and feathered.
Meanwhile if it’s sleazy or scandalous you are welcomed with open arms! Truth be optional.
=============================
…and equally in Don Marshall case a number of us opined differently to that of the author. What is the problem? That no one should object as they saw fit too?
In Ezra’s case he deserves what he gets. To attempt to defend Owen Arthur against mud-sling when Owen Arthur slings mud himself (we saw him attempt to castigate others for what he termed nastiness against Mia and in the same breath uttered the same kind of nastiness at Peter Whickham) …. this show a bias that does not deserve any respect.
….Less and you your ilk forget you are allowed like the rest of us too opined as you also see fit, but you will not have any leeway in bringing restrictions, and standards etc which all of us know has one common aim and that is to shut down the openness we have gain from this medium. Don’t come if it offends you. Sweep this blog under the carpet as you would so many other things in Bim if you dare.
If untruths are spoken lead the blog in correcting it, rather than stand in corner with your nose push up, grumbling.
I heard Owen Arthur at his nomination stating that the Owner of six mens plantation wanted and exorbitant amount of money for his land a blatant untruth. Leonard St.Hill in a later article in the nation cleared the air by stating that total amount ask for includes other clearly itemize cost above and beyond the cost of the land. But you know what Leonard St. Hill did call for nor suggest in the delivery of his article that BLP party nomination speeches should be discontinued or censored or change in anyway. But i understand the real motives for these seemly innocent claims of unfairness, etc wunnuh aint gine fool me. Nothing should change on these blogs on the account of these new fangled doppelgangers.
Sugar Baby.
You are Guyanese and therefore have to defend your countrymen postion and behaviour, good or not so good – power to the people.
I want you to get this though, PUBLIC FIGURES HAVE NOT PERSONAL LIFE – ask Britany Spears or even same Rhianna.
If Ms mottley would conduct her some with some decency and privacy no body won’t have to know about her disgusting lifestyle
If it had occurred at a DLP meeting I will still have my doubts. From the sixties until Jan 15, 2008, this is the first time we had an individual complaining about threats. If I was threatened once, you would have seen by shoe soles, but to be threatened four times as stated by Dr. Marshall. This is where I have my doubts. So WIV, it have nothing to do with
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He might be the first to be brave enough to report it and hope to get a favorable and fair response.
Sister Baby, thanks for the reply and for telling us about the Guyanese, girl. I’ve long, given-up any hope of Indians/Asians ever being genuinely, fond of any black, person and I think the person who believes they could be, is fooling him/herself. Like many people, they’re prepared to use us for their own ends, if necessary, and give the impression of being a friend for that time, but if a better opportunity comes along, they’ll drop you like a hot-brick and then you’ll see the other side of them!
However, I have a problem with black, Guyanese, too! The ones I’ve encountered have struck me as having some sort of ‘superiority-complex’, feeling that they’re more intelligent than west indians! To me they’re full-of-****! I can’t bother with them anymore! Anyhow, when I see them, I get a sly, pleasure from knowing how many of them have had to go to Bim in recent years to try and improve their lives, and enjoy the embarassment on their faces!!!! 🙂
What is it about your, BLACK, Guyanese people!
Well Bimbro, I too, like you, don’t bother myself with them anymore. I think the East Indians Guyanese have an inferiority complex and the Black Guyanese suffer from
sczophenia (sp). I once knew an East Indian girl who met a man from Mexico in Guyana. Oh she was head over heals for this Mexican man, brought him to my house to show me him, saying to me Auntie Baby you should see how people in Georgetown looking at me and him and saying I (meaning she) got a white man. I thought to myself this Mexican man looks more like one of them bucktuh people from Essequibo, then during the visit she proceeded to tell me that East Indians were Caucsians, like if it really mattered to me. I had an aunt that married an English Guyanese. Well, she lived in a big mansion in Georgetown, a three storey house with a tower and the farthest I was allowed in her house was in the kitchen. I always wanted to go up in the tower to see the view of Georgetown. She went to London with her English husband, and subsequently came back to Guyana for holiday. I met her at Atkinson Field/Timehri Airport, and here she comes prancing off the BOAC jet in a fur coat in 80 degrees Guyana. She went down Water Street in her fur coat and made me look like a fool in front of all the Guyanese people. Coolie boy come telling me how people think she mad, and all she trying to do is tell them she been to London. Well, she left Guyana in a few days time as facilities were not good in my house. I was in shock, as I really wanted to get to know her. I wrote to her and asked her if she could send for me to come and live in London. She sent a message via a another relative that I did not speak proper Englsih and that the palce was really too cold for me. Well her son married a Portuguese Guyanese and had two children, with blonde hair and blue eyes, the East Indians Guyanese could never understand how these people were related to me. They left Guyana, well the last I heard is that the girl had married a big old English garbage collector, and that she my aunt lived in an building on the fifth floor ans she had to walk up five flights of stairs, and that they bathroom was down the hallway, but to hear her speak was as if she lived in castle in london and she made it sound like the grand daughter had married an English, now this old aunt was the one that said to us take your education because east Indians will take over Guyana one day and we sould not stand a chance. So you see Bimbro, East Indian Guyanese inferiority and Black Guyanese mental illness. They having problems with the air service to GY from Barbados and I believe a lot of other places. So one man wrote to the editor of the newspaper stating that once upon a time during Burnham’s rule that Guyanese could point with pride to their world class airline Guyana Airways, now Guyanese are at the mercies of LIAT and Caribbean Air. I never knew Guyana once had a world class airline, and then I noticed ont he internet that a white Guyanese man is writing a book about the The Golden Age of the Guyanese nation and how it came to be. Now I wonder where I was when this Golden Age was taking place. I do not knwo of any Golden Age Guyana, more liek Broke Down Country to me. Well Bye
ok
the idea of the blogs are good
the BLP members might be the victims or casualities of the current blog. those who saw no reason to change the government would have a problem with the blogs. i certainly did not see any reason to change the BLP for the DLP because I do not feel the DLP is capable of running barbados. i think the DLP is more capable of ruining barbados so i am naturally concerned about the blogs and the information contained therein. i do trust any information i see on these blogs and i think that these blogs were used to mislead the younger folk who are more into computers and blogging. they have the tendency to believe everything that they see here in these pages.
however, these are my thoughts and i dont claim to be right. the real test for these blogs will be time and the reaction to this DLP led government. will the blogs criticize the DLP as they did the BLP and Owen Arthur ? will the blogs be more objective ? will the blogs serve as DLP proproganda machinery ? the test of time will decide if these blogs will be continued or be closed down
it is ironic that owen arthur’s BLP government freed up the import duty and vat from computers so as to make computers accesible to more persons. it is ironic that these same computers were used to undermined is goverment and to undermine him personally. i read some where on these blogs about arthur’s wealth. what about david thompson’s wealth ? thompson is perhaps one of the wealthiest men to become prime minister of barbados. who will investigate thompson on this score ? integrity legislation ? the 100 days posse ? who ?
everything said , the blogs are important, necessary and might continue but how the blogs are used will dtermine their fate. if the blogs are used to continually expose wrong doing over a long period, we might see some improvement in our social and political situation but remember there has been a fight against drugs and drug use for a long time now but the drug dealers are always one step ahead. bloggers might have a forum but politicians will develop more ways of hiding and getting away from scrutiny—-so much fo integrity legislation
if however the blogs are used in a biased and unfair manner , be sure that they will be shut down and that would be sad. i am all for freedom of expression but cognisant of the need for the utmost care and responsibilty in this regard.
Please go to the Stabroek News which is a Guyanese newspaper and go to letter to editor section and see the high prasie that was given to Owen Arthur by a letter writer, but then the letter writer gives his views on why a good government was removed from office by the Barbadian people.
Public opinion will dictate where and what people blog. If opinion shifts then the blogs will either shift with it, or people will move to a next blog. I like BU and BFP because they pay attention to current matters, environmental, cultural, with relevance to my own internal feelings.
Media is the one that needs to understand the meaning of “cognisant of the need for the utmost care and responsibilty.” The blogs and general populace spoke to the past government and the media just last week. Let us understand that.
Those who feel that the new gov is unfit will have 5 years to see and complain freely, via blogs or otherwise.
Meanwhile new ministers have to waste valuable productive time looking back into the possibly (probably?) corrupt doings of the highway and prison, and in many other areas. Wonder what we will hear about the findings? Can we hope to regain our lost NIS cash?
The economist says “uncomfortable 88% public debt”. Reminds me of the spend-thrift Republicans; and the Democrats who come after and have to balance.
Who loves a big spender? Ans: Everyone. Nuff pork and free drinks. But who pays his/her bills in this case? Ans: Joe Public.
If corruption, prosecute vigorously, and hope to stop the rot in future. Let’s keep Barbados the one that is clean.
Bimbro,
YOU SAID: “Anyhow, when I see them, I get a sly, pleasure from knowing how many of them have had to go to Bim in recent years to try and improve their lives, and enjoy the embarassment on their faces!!!!”
I wonder though, do you have any family in the USA, Canada or England?
And doan talk bout Panama, cause one outta three is a lotta Bajans.
http://bajanfreepress.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/too-many-guyanese-how-the-panama-canal-transformed-barbados/
bb ff pp ee
Robot your post is base on socialist principles.
I wonder how many BLP members are also member of Socialist International.
……….. The blogs are not a single entity, and even thou there may be unity of thought and purpose within the two groups of persons who created BFP and BU, there is no such unity amongst the contributors, and it is the contributors that are the hearbeat and thereby the life of these two blogs. So your appeal and musing on what can happen, or must not be allowed, and what will be or will not be the outcome is silly to say the least. Try at first to honestly answer the question “what are the blogs?” and then take a fresh look at your comments. I for one is well known as an army of one. 😀 no servant of a political party and one who quietly wishes for the demise of one of the two leading parties, any will do. In the last two years i have gone from wishing to see the back of the BLP to wishing to see the back of the DLP, to wishing to see the Back of Thompson, to wishing to see the back of Mascoll to once again wishing to see the Back of the BLP. At all times i was consistent in wishing and early Political demise to Mia Mottley. 😀 I am not good at consistent group think and i am not alone on these blogs.
If BFP and BU shuts down others will pick up the slack, If BFP and BU decided to be taken in by the partisan calls cloaked in the deceit of calls for fairness, journalistic standards, and all the other codes of censor and control of the public conversation that the elites and their cronies like to exercise in their favour, others will pick up the slack and move forward. This train of Public Free Speech is unstoppable, get on board or don’t get onboard but if you attempt to stand in it’s way you may very well be steamrolled. 😀
Sister Baby, thanks for the reply. I sympathise with you because I have to agree with you – they do seem to have a very, strange, almost mentally, deranged attitude towards their fellow west indians. Do you live in Bim or Guyana and what do you think of Guyana, today????
‘Like Anything….’, yes, I have relatives in some of those countries but hopefully, they don’t display the same mental, kind of attitude which I observe from the Guyanese, repeatedly!
If they’re so, superior, then let them stay in their own ******* country!!
So your appeal and musing on what can happen, or must not be allowed, and what will be or will not be the outcome is silly to say the least.
—————————————–
to adrian hinds
i will not refer to any thing you or anyone say as silly. i respect all opinion and the right of individuals to express their opinions without using any derogatory remarks. i will not label anyone as anything socialist or otherwise. i am human even though the nom is ROBOT
ROBOT // January 24, 2008 at 11:44 am
So your appeal and musing on what can happen, or must not be allowed, and what will be or will not be the outcome is silly to say the least.
—————————————–
to adrian hinds
i will not refer to any thing you or anyone say as silly. i respect all opinion and the right of individuals to express their opinions without using any derogatory remarks. i will not label anyone as anything socialist or otherwise. i am human even though the nom is ROBOT
=============================
ha ha ha ha I have fallen in love with Mia Mottley core comments that are to be found in every speech she makes. See, there is hope.
“In a very real sense” I am Adrian Hinds in real life as I am on this Blog. You on the other hand,…..is it Mr. Mrs, or Miss Robot, are but a Doppelganger, and NEW one at that, so “in a real sense” i have a hard time “treating to”, a ghostly entity with respect? 😀 “and i go further” I am hardly a respecter of real persons “I really am not, so a doppelganger shouldn’t expect to be accorded parity or beyond what is given to real persons 😀
Have things change? when i was in school you could use the words stupid and or silly if you were describing someone actions, but you couldn’t refer to them as such.
I think i said YOUR post, not you, was base on socialist principles, …….and YOUR appeal and musing, not you, were kind of silly.
Is this no longer allowed? 😀 Sorry to have hurt you sensitivities, well i am not really sorry, but i was taught to be nice even if you didn’t mean it, and i am telling you this because i was also taught that honesty is the best policy. 😀
Hello to everyone at Barbados Underground,
As some of you may already know, we joined the Bajan blogosphere and launched our own blog on Monday, 21st January 2008, Errol Barrow Day.
http://standpipe.wordpress.com
Barbados Underground has been a big inspiration to many of us, and that’s why we made sure to add you to our blogroll. Of course, we also need to promote ourselves as much as possible, so if you could kindly return the favour and ‘put in a lil word’ to get us on your own list of Bajan blogs we would very much appreciate it.
Keep good and God bless!
🙂
De Standpipe Crew
i want no war with you my friend
i preach love
we have suffered too much during slavery (both blacks and whites) to be engaging in arguments about who or what is silly
we should be showing love and tolerance to each other and continously seek to achieve such.
insults , innuendo, lies etc are the constructs of a culture that is foreign to our ancestral origins and are the mechanisms used in the past to divide and rule, to dominate and subjugate, to intimidate and to frustrate. to separate and even castrate.
pick sense from that -(as the old people would say)
ROBOT // January 24, 2008 at 9:06 pm
i want no war with you my friend
i preach love
we have suffered too much during slavery (both blacks and whites) to be engaging in arguments about who or what is silly
we should be showing love and tolerance to each other and continously seek to achieve such.
insults , innuendo, lies etc are the constructs of a culture that is foreign to our ancestral origins and are the mechanisms used in the past to divide and rule, to dominate and subjugate, to intimidate and to frustrate. to separate and even castrate.
pick sense from that -(as the old people would say)
=============================
I have no ghostly friends. All the persons that i would accord that title too, i have actually seen and or have spoken with. “I really have” 😀
…..Have you sought to sell your peacemaking, love and not war diatribe, 😀 to those who frequent political platforms? “cause in a real sense” some of the things said from those platforms would indicate that these persons really need to heed your words, or is it that your admonition of me and not them is in keeping with the fine tradition that only those in the villages and tenetries are in need of God and therefore the only place that a church could ever find to pitch a tent or hold an open air church meeting is among the poor! Your Bias position and words are lost on me. 😀
but what are our ancestral origins? Africa? are you sure about what is and what is not symtomatic of our “Ancestral culture”
Adrian, somewhere in one of these forums you mentioned the standard of behaviour in Britain. You were n’t wrong and I wanted to post a link to prove it. I have n’t found the precise, one but these ones are similar!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article728673.ece
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article729902.ece
You see, all, why I post on here and other places, to help to stop Bim from becoming like this!!!!
IF THERE’S ONE THING WHICH I’VE COME TO REALISE IN RECENT WEEKS, IT’S THAT BARBADOS IS FULLY, DEPENDENT UPON BLOGS AND DISCUSSION FORUMS TO TRULY, KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON, IN BIM!
THE TRADITIONAL, MEDIA ONLY KEEP US IN IGNORANCE!!!
WHAT A DISGRACEFUL, STATE OF AFFAIRS!!
BEST WIHSES, IN YOUR CONTINUED, EFFORTS, BU!!!!
What’s happened to Baby Sister. Don’t take any of my rant against the Guyanese as applying to you, sis. You seem ok, it’s the other ******s who I can’t stand! Hurry & return! Church-day, tomorrow!!!! 🙂
BU, I find the white-background of your smilies, irritating! Is it possible u could get rid of it! Spoils a perfectly, pleasant image!!!!
INTERNAL COMMAND-
—Ignore Adrian Hinds
ROBOT
BLOG BARBADOS
I actually find the smilies irritating. Is this a WP feature? Or something you’re inserting at your level?
As usual, making it all the way to the end of these comment threads reveals the brand of invective peculiar to Barbados and Barbadians wherever they are found.
What I found interesting is how many people rely on an Americanised spell checker, and how many people just can’t spell.
Hi Sungodess, admire your techie skills! Smilies r usually, nice but these ones?!!!!
BTW, glimpsed some of your pics! Nice baby!!
However, only a normal, afro will do for any black woman! Any other style makes her look weird!!!!
Otherwise, you’d be fanciable!!!!
I hope the new Barbados government will remove VAT from the burden of the living passed on by the dead. The website http://www.coopmed.com have information on the funeral insurance plan Co-opLIFE. It states that one premium insures up to six persons.
hey mac
from the nation newspaper—- today’s
LEAVE VAT!
Published on: 1/30/08.
LEAVE the Value Added Tax (VAT) alone!
That’s the advice to the new David Thompson-led administration from University of the West Indies economist Professor Michael Howard.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Thompson, Howard, who is also a director of the Central Bank, warned against tampering with the VAT.
He highlighted three areas on which the new Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government ought to focus: the economic management of the country, tax policy and the high cost of living.
The economist noted that the expansionary policies of the former [Owen Arthur] administration had led to “overheating” of the economy, which he said was caused by bunching of capital projects, heavy expenditure on Cricket World Cup and what he termed high levels of “conspicuous consumption”.
Howard warned that the island was now at a point where “serious decisions have to be made to reduce high levels of spending, maintain capital controls, and curb illegal immigration”.
On tax policy, the university economist said: “I believe that Thompson should implement Arthur’s tax reform measures as outlined in the BLP’s manifesto.”
While noting that given our system of politics his suggestions might never be accepted, he warned the DLP not to play around with the VAT as outlined in its manifesto.
He felt it would be more prudent for the Prime Minister to build on his predecessor’s approach “rather than increasing the number of zero-ratings in the VAT”.
The professor, in looking at the topical issue of rising prices, said the problem could not be solved by fiscal or monetary policies.
He blamed the spiralling cost of living primarily on imported food, adding that local farmers need to grow more.
“This will only happen if there is a reduction of the market power of the merchants in the distribution sector,” he stated. (ES)
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