@Basil G
Whether you were an Observer or not or a Johhny Cum Lately, NABO has been exposed to the core.

What you or anyone has to say on behalf of NABO at this time would be seen as a vengeance plot. You should have come forward and speak out a long time ago; not now de cat outta de bag, de pigeons outta de cub and de pigs out de sty.

Good Nitety night.

@Basil the Observer, who by the way happens to be Mike Cummins.
He continues to lash out at 2 people that he sees as a threat to him. He tried to get a motion passed in SC to get the followers there to kick these 2 people out of NABO.He was unsuccessful. He is trying another tactic by accusing them of getting involved in the elections. It is probably because they have again open up the wrong doings that have plagued NABO with the elections. Are these folks still Board of Directors in NABO; why wouldn’t they be asking questions about elections or anything else? These people have Barbados’ interest at heart. He mentioned what goes around comes around. That’s why he and Earl get skin up because they tried to skin up Ken Knight. They turn around and doing the exact same thing that they accused Ken Knight of doing. He really think people are stupid. I hope the people that he has the dirt on really come out and give them a run for their money. I was in Amelia Island and at no time did I hear NABO name mentioned; folks were just having a blast with meeting new people and renewing old friendships. I was doing my regular spying like I did in SC.

@ Conference Reporter…and yet another bites the dust. The scapegoat finally weaved its way out the mess and by the way holding NABO hostage. More news…NABO gone electronic wid them elections…can now vote on line if you please. Is this called advancement or an easier way to to rig the elections since only Darren the webmaster can access the website…by the way he is Earl’s friend and black sheep is the 3rd party.Stay tuned…closer it gets to elections.

NABO Discarded and Abused Fall Guy Treasurer Finally Resigns in a Blaze of Heated Accusations.

October 21, 2009.
Good morning, it has gotten to that point where I can take it no more. I will not wait until January and be thrown the wolves while those responsible sit back and play innocent.
I have been trying to explain the situation but no one seems to be listening because you kept expecting me to writs checks for what ever.

I kept quiet in Houston in January and look at all your silent face, while I took the blame for the mistakes made in Barbados. (Of which I had nothing to do with.)
I came back and clean up your mess. I was asked to have the approved colabative copy done for records only, to find out that it was supposed to be part of the convention.
I have been accused of pulling NABO down, neglecting to do my job as treasurer i.e. Writing checks either for refunds or for invoices and not answering phone calls. All this while there is no money in the bank and no one was answering the question about the funds in Barbados; or telling me what to do with the bank’s Credit cards account.

You were told many times that we had no funds going into Charleston, did any one do any thing, no, but I was still asked to pay the bus the caterer and the hotel. Well I did using my own money, did any of you cared, no. Did you volunteer yours? I lost money when NABO’s check bounced.
This time I am not, so call me what ever you want. In Charleston we decided to each give $100, have fundraisers and yes take the money ($1000.00) from BNB in Barbados to keep us afloat until January None of this was done except for a few but I am still being accused pulling the organization down. While you are planning the board meeting and asking others no use their own money the bank is calling John and I daily.
To make matters worse, all the chairman’s attention is focused on sending out the report. Bye the way it is audited, and bonded and waiting until we get money.

I was asked to send NABO records in my possession to the chairman. I debated the situation and have decided to send the financial audited report to the chairman and will send all other records in my possession to the secretary, in the near future. I would like this to be entered in to the minutes, as of the 20th. Of November. I will no longer be the Treasurer. I am willing to work with the organization to solve this problem. My personal records and information is tied to this account, it might be a joke to some of us but not to me.
This is a great organization for witch I have invested a lot of time and money to see it succeed and I want to see it continue to be the beacon for Barbados overseas. I will always be a part and will help whenever I can.
For the good of the organization and with heavy heart, I forced to do this.

Martin Greenidge
Treasurer

@ EyeSpy “VERY computer savvy” or not. If he were all that he wouldn’t have been having NABO pay an individual $500 to service the site. So what you are saying is that the only part of the election process that could be rigged is the chairperson? The executive committee is made up of 10 elected persons…all of whom need to go.

@Bajan2

I am saying that Earl doesn’t need any assistance whatsoever in accessing NABO site to do whatever he deems is necessary.

Paying a webmaster is nothing more than a smoke screen. They are all in it together. The games people play!

Martin Greenidge should come completely clean and let all know exactly what went on in Barbados. I don’t feel for him especially when he sat back and let Cheryl, Ava, Dale and Craig take blame for destroying NABO when all they wanted were a few answers. Martin, how much money was donated in Barbados? How much was generated from the convention? Who used the Air Jamica tickets. You might not want to answer this because I suspect you had a few free flights yourself. You deserve everything you are getting.. You have let them destroy you as a person. You have no credibality, not even amongst sheep. You are just as guilty as Earl and gang in destroying NABO. I hope you suffer and they never pay you back one red cent.

All of these resignations and withdrawals from NABO, and no word of such has gone out to the Directorship?

Someone needs to let the people know what is happening.

Here is de foolish letter from Mike Cummins…………..

My fellow Barbadians,

I am sure that you have read or heard the vicious accusations spreading across the two
continents. These accusations have been orchestrated by a few to discredit some members of the
Executive Board and destroy the fabric upon which NABO was built. These accusations are false
and very misleading.

The question was always asked why are we waiting so long to respond to these accusations? It
has always been the policy of this executive board not to conduct NABO’s business in the media
or any other public forum. In addition, these accusations became very personal and damaging to
individuals character, therefore it was fitting to seek legal advice before any responses could be
made to these accusations. However, the chairman made an attempt to respond through the
media by granting Mr. Tony Best (from the Nation) an interview, because he wanted to hear both
sides, so that he could form an unbiased opinion. He chose to write what the other side said to
him, but totally omitted most of what the chairman said. All along, the Executive had asked the
others to allow the discussion on these issues to wait until the conference in South Carolina. We
thought there would be a fair and proper forum where we could defend these accusations, but
those folks were not about hear the truth or come to some solution of how business should be
conducted in NABO. They were all about destroying the organization and discrediting members.

On March 8, 2009, those few disgruntled members with Cheryl Thompson at the head
orchestrated a meeting to remove members of the Executive board. Using their interpretation of
the NABO by laws and State of Florida bylaws, six (6) out of seventeen financial organizations
in NABO voted to remove members of the Executive Board. This action prompted us to seek
legal advice on the interpretation of our bylaws and the process taken (see document written by
Attorney on “ nabousainc.org”). Upon review of our bylaws and the process taken, it was
determined by our Attorney that the meeting was unconstitutional and the process taken to
remove the officers was illegal and will not stand up in a court of law. He advised us to totally
ignore any action taken by those folks and continue to conducting the business of NABO as we
were elected to do by the members in January of 2008. Our Attorney’s last words to us were the
constitution protects you. Ladies and Gentlemen read it for yourselves. Its on our website “
nabousainc.org”.

Those few disgruntled members spearheaded by Cheryl Thompson and Ava Foster took every
document they could get their hands on and cascaded to the world by way of the internet and
print media. They did not stop there; they wrote every sponsor and Barbadian government
agency indicating that the NABO Executive had been removed and to discontinue any
relationship with them. This was devastating to NABO because not only was all funding for the
South Carolina conference depleted, but in their letters they accused the members of the
executive of misappropriating funds. My fellow Barbadians, one of the documents circulated on
the website was the financial report for the collaborative conference in Barbados. This was done
in March, as of to date no one has every found anywhere in the report where money was
misappropriated, or any line item that was not appropriately accounted for or approved by the
collaborative conference planning committee. An audit financial report is posted on our website
“nabousainc.org”

It is clear that those few disgruntled members will stop at nothing to dishonor and destroy this
credible organization which many have made a significant contribution to its success starting
with the founders Mr. Ken Knight, Ms. Bonita Ebb and many others, including this present
administration. What is most disturbing is those few have made very little or no contribution to
the success of this organization.

My fellow Barbadians, there was a legally constituted Board of Directors meeting in South
Carolina on July 9th, 2009 of which due notice was given. Not one of those disgruntled board
members attended that meeting. That was a total disrespect to the other board members as well
as the organization. They spent the last 5 months prior to the board meeting levying accusations,
complaining and demanding answers and yet they did not have the decency to show up for the
meeting. It really shows who has the real interest of NABO at heart.

The Executive Board would like to take this opportunity to address those accusations and rumors
as we previously stated are false, misleading and damaging to individuals and this organization.

1. The conference was not a NABO conference, it was a collaborative conference
comprising of three (3) national umbrella organizations namely, NABO, NCBAC & NCBA-UK.
Four (4) members from each organization comprised a planning committee and were
equal participants in the decisions made pertaining to the conference, including all financial
decisions. The committee met every two weeks over a span of 4 months prior to the conference
in Barbados

2. It was alleged that the Executive Board never knew about the decisions made on the
conference.
The NABO Board of Directors was informed in July 2007 at the board meeting during the
New York conference. (minutes from that meeting should substantiate). The NABO Board of
Directors was again updated on the conference at the January 2008 Board of Directors meeting
in West Palm Beach (again, the minutes from that meeting should substantiate).

3. It was alleged that monies paid to Colleen Inniss-Gittens at Innovative Business
Solutions were unjustified and misappropriated and that she was chosen because of her
friendship with a member on the collaborative planning committee.
Ms. Inniss-Gittens was under contract by the collaborative committee to secure sponsorship
on a commission basis and to assist us in coordinating the conference from the Barbados end.
This was a known fact and the Board of Directors was informed of this in January of 2008.
No one on the collaborative planning committee knew Ms. Inniss-Gittens, nor had ever
done business with her company Innovative Business Solution before the collaborative
conference. She was recommended to the planning committee by the BPWCCUL.

4. NABO had a checking account in Barbados and that Michael Cummins alone was signing
checks and paying out money inappropriately. NABO does not, nor ever had any checking
account in Barbados.
Every penny collected for sponsorship was deposited into the Credit Union saving account that
was set up to receive and manage all of the funds received from sponsorship. This was agreed
upon by all three organizations and NABO Board of Directors was also notified of this. Every
penny of the sponsorship monies that was paid out was done so by the Credit union through a
notarized letter authorizing such payment to service providers. . Such authorizations were made
on receiving invoices or bills.
Copies of invoices and bills were submitted to the NABO treasure in March 2009 for
auditing. The Credit Union then issued checks to the specific parties noting the purpose for
which
the checks were written. Credit Union Statement noting deposit amount, dates, payment amount
to service providers, check numbers and dates were submitted to the treasurer for auditing
purposes.

5. It was alleged that Earl Ashby and Michael Cummins took trips to Barbados at the
expense of the sponsor’s money and without anyone’s approval.
Of course they had to travel to Barbados in order to negotiate, promote and
facilitate all aspects of the conference, and I might add here, a conference of this magnitude. This
travel was approved by the committee, but not at the expense of using funds acquired from our
sponsorship; travel expenses came out of registration. Expenses were carefully monitored by the
committee and were limited to airfare, limited accommodations, and miscellaneous items which
were acceptable to the committee. The time which was taken off from work to travel was taken
by these two individuals at their personal expense, and any additional out of pocket expenses
were their own personal finances.

6. They accused the chairman of occupying two executive suites at the Blue Horizon in
Barbados during the conference.
No one ever occupied any executive suites at the Blue Horizon , as customary NABO
delegates and Board of Directors have always maintained a hospitality suite during their annual
Board of Directors meeting and annual conferences. Those two rooms were reserved for the sole
purpose of the delegates to being able to socialize at the end of meetings or other events. Outside
of the social hours, those rooms remained close

7. It was also alleged that Mike Cummins pocketed money from the Barbados conference
and misappropriated fund of the conference in Barbados.
Mike Cummins has never handled any cash belonging to NABO during this or any other
conference. All monies collected from sponsorship were deposited into an account as stated
before. All monies paid out from that account were authorize through a notarized letter
submitted to the Credit Union as also stated before.
One of the documents mis-represented was a commercial invoice generated to clear items
shipped to Barbados for the conference. It is a known fact that any non personal effects shipped
into a foreign country must be accompanied by a commercial invoice for duty purposes. The
document alluded to was a commercial invoice created on behalf of the collaborative committee
to clear the items ( tickets, flyer, masked and other stationery) shipped to Barbados for the
conference. Contrary to what was alleged the letter on the invoice was the letter head specifically
created for the collaborative committee.

8. The major controversy was the small profit made from the conference in spite of the
amount of money contributed to the conference.
The conference generated BDS. $296,467.24 in revenue. However, the expenses in Barbados
were ($287,942.76) astronomical. If any of those persons making accusations had gone to
Barbados or had done in business in Barbados in recent years they would realized how expensive
Barbados
has become. Outside of the sponsorship money, the only things we got free were TV and the
press. We had to pay a carrier service to pick up the checks from the Credit Union and deliver
them to our service providers.
Our accusers never took into consideration that we subsidized the registration fees for many
of the delegates. The actual cost per delegate was US$600.00. We charged US$290.00 per
delegate.
We have always subsidize delegates to these conference. It is a miracle that we did not lose
substantially more, after putting on six (6) days of events of that caliber with a revenue of
BDS$296,467.24.

9. It was alleged that the Barbados government gave us a substantial amount of money
including the NCF, which gave us BDS$30,000.00, and that this money was not accounted for.
The NCF never gave us any money.
The NCF provides us with the use of the youth steel orchestra, stage and two (tents) for the Tyrol
Cot event.

10. It was alleged that the other two national organizations Canada and UK had voiced
displeasure at the outcome of the conference.
This was far from the truth. Both organizations represented by Ms. Jessica Carrington (Canada)
and Ms. Hilly Padmore (UK) voiced their appreciation and satisfaction on the conference while
in Barbados, and at our follow up teleconference meeting in November. In May, Earl and Mike
attended Canada’s Annual conference, they met with the NCBAC Board of Directors, answered
all their questions and addressed their concerns satisfactorily.

11. This Executive Board was accused of refusing to answer questions surrounding the
Barbados conference.
The Executive Board never refused to answer any questions about the Barbados conference. The
Board felt the intent made to request answers was malicious and potentially damaging to the
organization by cascading an emailing with those questions to non-members of NABO.
However, the Executive did answer the questions in an appropriate way by mail and a hard copy
of the annual financial report did accompanied those answers. To enhance their malicious
behavior the financial report was scanned and cascaded by email in the print media along with
some additional questions. The Executive Board found this behavior unacceptable and ceased
further communication. This act has reinforced our belief in the danger of conducting NABO
business through the electronic media. Members of the Board of Directors are given the
constitutional opportunity to meet twice a year and we deem this the appropriate time to conduct
NABO’s business.

They made it sound to the whole world like NABO had cheated the Barbados government and
sponsors out of there money. This was totally mis-leading and to the contrary, we provided a
credible service to the Barbados government and the sponsors in the form of:
a). A top class professional journal where there products and services were given exposure
in Europe, Caribbean and United States.
b). We provided table top and booth space during the conference business exposition at
Sherbourne. They got the opportunity to showcase their products and services.
c). Their logos were place on the NABO website and all of our printed material for the
conference.
d) The people of Barbados and the government of Barbados benefited most of all because of
the foreign exchange the conference generated. This conference brought over 400 people to
Barbados. Look at the money spent on accommodations, rental cars, attendance to the various
Cropover activities and many more.

Fellow Barbadians these few have done serious damage to this organization. The organization
might be wounded and hurt, but it is not dead. The organization survived over the years. NABO
is bigger than any one individual. The concept of which NABO was formed cannot and should
not be destroyed by any one person or persons. As Arnold stated in his movie” terminator”, we
will be back.

“It is clear that those few disgruntled members will stop at nothing to dishonor and destroy this credible organization which many have made a significant contribution to its success starting with the founders Mr. Ken Knight, Ms. Bonita Ebb and many others, including this present
administration. What is most disturbing is those few have made very little or no contribution to the success of this organization.”

Is this man Mike Cummins for real? Isn’t HE the one who attacked and accused Ken Knignt and Bonita Ebb of impropriety in the first place?

And how is he now saying that these Directors who dared to voice their displeasure made no contributions to NABO?

Didn’t Ava Foster of BACA-NY write the same Multilevel Disaster Preparedness Plan that they are touting on the front page of the NABO website? The same plan that they presented to the Prime Minister last year? The same plan that they referred to as “A very effective tool in mobilizing Babadians and Barbadian organizations to act on a moment’s notice should disaster strike Barbados and any Barbadian community in the world.”?

This document is a bunch of cockney and riddled with misrepresentations.

He should kept his mouth shut, as he just steps further into it.
What a Joker

The major controversy is not the small profit, but rather the fact that the other organizations that were part of the collaborative were not paid their share of the small profit but a DONATION that went from $5,000 on the first report to $10,000 when questioned (by the said Ava) and paid out in cash. Then to find out that it was paid to the same event planner’s charity. How does one pay out a donation and not knowing if there is a profit? Is it normal for a reputable organization to walk around with a 100 hundred dollar bills? or was it 10,000 one dollar bills? None of this information was told to “my fellow Barbadians” nor the attorney in Florida for hime to make an informed recommendation… NABO deserves to be exposed!

@Bajanohhh
You want the fact to remain hidden, you have a problem with someone who post what happen.

Oh Sh……ite!
Can you believe that them idiots asking the seating directors to pay $75 to register to attend the directors meeting in January? Never happened before. Who pays to attend a meeting?

I also hear that only one person was nominated to hold office, and that is Janice Bispham. The so-called black sheep nominated herself for Chairman. No other takers for the other positions, and the elections are less than a month away.

The same Bispham chick sent out a letter begging the regional directors to drum up interest and try to get organisations to register for the meeting and pay $75 to attend.

With no money in the till, and the credit card balance close to $20,000.00, they are trying to do whatever it takes to get out of the red. But they have not been any takers.

Very interesting!

This announcement might simply be a strategy with the purpose to discourage those who only plan to attend for curiosity. Bajan1 like you said, since when is there a fee to attend such meetings? If this is NABO’s idea to trump up money to help defray some of their debt, then why would they be holding back that info instead of making it known that they are under financial strain and would like to ask that those attending pay a fee of $75.

Now, could it be that members have seen writing on the wall and do not want to be on the leaders’ board? And, they would prefer to be a floor member that just in case there is an unexpected turn of events, they would less likely be named? Just asking.

Who ever thought that NABO, the organization that it portrayed itself to be would basically be plastered with the filth that is all over it through out nearly an entire year. It just goes to show no one, nothing that has warm bodies is invincible.

Anybody knows who the nominees are for 2010? I hear about 2.I thought the constitution says the slate should be posted some time in September. It is now less than a month into the elections and the slate of nominees is still not posted. I heard the PRO is going up for chairman; is she going to get torn apart by Ava Foster who I heard is going up for the treasurer’s position. She is the only one from the insurgents that run for a position. More baccanal if she get in. Janice Bispham gine be pooping in she pants if she really get into them books. Hear dah girl is something elsewith finances.

Da gotta come clean with the books. I don’t care who running the show. This secret order business cannot happen no more. People tired of all the hidey, hidey nonsense. If you getting your rooms paid for, you need to let the Directors know. If you getting perks, nothing wrong with it, so why hide? Just let people know what the perks are.

That is why NABO was busted wide open. The secrecy business was tuff to swallow.

@ Conference Reporter // January 5, 2010 at 2:08 PM “…The hotel will need to be paid for and there is not a dime in the till.”

Was there $$ in the reserves and if so where did it go. What was it spent for or spent on? I don’t think NABO with all the big heads running the show could be downright broke; it would be a joke that you can’t even laugh at.

What a shame! NABO is or was all about name – those in charge wanted to walk around looking like they owned NABO, continually trying to rub sh*t in people’s mouths, if and when they can get away with it and tell these people, it is a sausage.

Who would have ever thought that NABO would lose respect by so many supporters; unbelievable. Anyway, let’s wait and see what this New Year 2010 brings forth. Will NABO sink or will it continue to swim.

@ Conference Reporter
I heard that they were trying to capitalize on the credit card deal that the president put into action where banks were compromising the balance at as low as 50%. Dah was some time in August they were looking into it. This was probably to save somebody’s credit because some one of them; John Ellis, Michael Cummins or Earl Ashby had to put up their SS# to secure the card as officers; can’t be the woman that up for chairmanship; cause rumor on the street that most of the time she couldn’t even afford to go to conferences. NABO subsidized she. It is called living high on the hog! Poor them. Anybody hear wuh gine on wid de elections? Dem coming off doah? By now members organizations had to submit the names of the delegates and arrival times. Wuh happening? I got my flight booked to attend; am I a fool or wud? I was hoping to run for a position from the floor. Somebody tell muh something.

Good luck with running from the floor, NABO had the bylaws fix some years ago so as to control who run. It is the only organization that people cannot be nominated from the foor.
Is the meeting still on for this weekend?

TRANSPARENTCY CUMMINGS you pompus piece of garbage you kill a good thing and regardless of Ms melbourne or not u still calling the shots N.A.B.O died before and came back but this was a slap in the face and not the dignity of the Bajan way.

Sealy, and dem 3 goverment people must feel like dog poop. Dem really don’t know who dem dealing wid. Cummins and he crooks smarter dan alla dem. Looka mu money gone.

On a sad note, for those of you who knew personally or had come to know John Licorish whose name has been mentioned in the mix of the NABO debacle, he has passed away.

May he rest in peace.