Knowzee hay agen. Uh late dis mournin but yuh know um is de weeken.

Uh see yuh still gout de lamp burning and de flame high. Doan lem um go out beef four wuhna finish cooking. Uh see to dat a puss n boots and johnie cum lately trying tuh put back a lid pun de pot but dey mite be too late. Doan leh nuh bodies tek wuhna off de beat.

I en name Knowzee fuh nuttun I did sum knowzeeing around. Licorish is a tax accountant in Boston. Uh gone fuh now.

@Curious
I am not sure what it is you said that could have cause someone to reach out to Earl Ashby. Could you point it out for me?
Yes the financials have to be audited, do not forget that is a request of the members that was not met and that is partial to the decision to depose the Asby executive.

I have to ask, have we all be so long away from Barbados not to recall the near cultural pasttime of rumour and gossip about “money being thiefed” by the leaders of any number of social clubs, whether they be cricket, football, 4h, boyscouts etc. Rumours of stealings from groups has been common place amongst us for as long as i can recall. As no one sought to deal the potential for such? Don’t we think that a mechanism rooted in transperancy and openess would go a long way on combating this propensity for bajan to assume somebody helping themselves to money? Can any of us say that the way the finance has been handle of the collabrative chair lends to this transperancy and openess? With the apparency of differing financials, and apportioning accounting errors on an excel formula, and demanding secrecy from persons who recieved the report, how does any of this seek to combat what can be describe as a know cultural pasttime for Bajans to say “duh thiefing de money?”

Two critical issues are to be resolved (1) the leadership (2)The sloppy accounting.(stage 1)
I would like the Presidents of all the financial organizations (you know who you are) to Cast one vote for or against with the permission of the general body to support the elected executive or the dissidents. This should determine the leadership. The next step select an external team, selected by the Embassy of Barbados which should include a certified auditor to be paid by NABO, without the cronies or dissentors.
Lets take it from here the court is expensive, but then again lots of money is floating around. Lots of damage is also done but we all are in this stew as Barbadians.

@ Queasy Stomach
Read the report from Cheryl Thompson that was already tried; it’s obvious it has failed. Now is the time for Earl Ashby, Michael Cummins, John Ellis, Martin Greenidge and Janice Bispham to acknowledge they have been ousted, they have abused their positions; turn over the property, allow the financials to be audited and deal with the circumstances that they have collectively caused. No more room left for negotiations for allowing them to stay. What you are saying here is that the group that took up the charge for transparency and accountability was all for nought? Don’t think so.

Intersting reading. I am surprised it took this long realize that NABO was just for show.

@Adrian

We will for a while.

We are interested in the outcome of meeting which Rodney’s org will have today. We take this opportunity to urge all those other Bajan reading this blog from across US and Canada to place the required pressure on their leadership to help resolve the NABO conflict. We have to represent the yellow blue!!!

My analysis of what I conclude to be the major issue in all this is Trustworthiness. The issues that need to be dealt with are:
1. Revision of discrepancies on revenue and expenses statements
2. Misuse of certain funds without proper approval
3. Annual reports filed with State and Federal governments
4. Removing current officers.

The statements show some bills paid in $US and some paid in $BDS currency. Which currency was converted so that it was one currency? When these matters are sorted out, NABO maybe able to get back to the concerns of Barbados and Barbadians.

Earl as chairman will take the blame. But he should not be singled out in all this frenzy. From the documents shown Mike played a bigger role. His signature is on all the documents involving what monies should be paid and to whom. There was no second signature. As for the Treasurer it’s still not clear what role he played in any of this. At the end of the day, there is enough blame to go around.

For accusations like these to reach the Prime Minister’s office, as reported in the Nation, is pathetic.

All good things must come to an end. The end maybe near. A house that is divided against it self could never stand.

TAKE HEED // April 5, 2009 at 8:49 am

After some careful research we will have lots of eggs and politics watch out. Be able to support what you say with facts.
==========================

@ Take Heed
I’ll take heed if you agree to take a Hike. At this late stage with all the emails, records of minutes, and financial documents listed you find it prudent to tell us, take pause, to slow down etc. For what purpose?, or should i say for whose benefit? The Boston/Massachusetts Bajan community should have there say.

Here is a link to the Barbados Advocate which explains a little about Barbados Community Foundation (BCF) and the co-ordinator Colleen Inniss Gittens who performs a coordinator role for NABO in Barbados. You have to click on the link to see her picture) If this is a charitable entity it would make sense that BCF was required to donate monies to local charities. Was this the case?

Article pasted below:

BCF launches campaign

11/3/2008

By Alicia Dells

With the aim of offering assistance to the less fortunate children in Barbados, the Barbados Community Foundation (BCF) has rolled out their 2008 “Give a dollar, get a smile” fundraising campaign, geared at boosting their Children’s Education Fund.

The fundraiser, which is now into its second year, commenced yesterday and will continue for the remainder of November, with collection containers being placed at schools and businesses across the island. Fundraising and Marketing Co-ordinator of the BCF, Colleen Inniss-Gittens, in an interview with the Barbados Advocate, noted that the foundation is hoping to exceed their

target of Bds$30 000 this year and would therefore like corporate Barbados and communities to come on board and support this worthy cause.

Noting that the eight-year-old charity was interested in ensuring that children are able to take advantage of edu-cational opportunities, the fundraising co-ordinator pointed out that their
research has indicated many instances where students are unable to go to school and function well because of certain needs.

Inniss-Gittens further outlined that the BCF is generally concerned with lending assistance to other charities, but decided to undertake the “Give a dollar, get a smile” campaign as a means of doing some hands-on work.

“We wanted to do something that is hands-on, we do a lot of work but a lot of it is done by means of gifting, where we assist other charities by providing the funds that they need to achieve their objectives,” she said.

The proceeds from the campaign will go towards the Foundation’s Children’s Education Fund, which is used to provide uniforms and school supplies for youngsters and offers assistance to existing school breakfast programmes in addition to those in the start up phase. With the assistance of the Child Care Board, the BCF is hoping to identify those children who are needy and provide them with the required school supplies.

Pointing out that the campaign has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Inniss-Gittens admitted that last year’s drive was not as successful as anticipated, especially within the schools, since the campaign date presented some degree of challenge.
“…we collected about $13 000, but it was not as successful as we had hoped.

We had the campaign last May to coincide with Child Month, however once we got started in the schools, we
learnt that the third term was a bad time since the kids were caught up with exams. Even though the schools responded, many of the  principals suggested that they could do more if it was in the first term, so we have adjusted the date,” she explained.

In an effort to motivate the children into giving generously, each child that donates during the fundraiser will receive one of the stickers specially designed for the campaign. Moreover, a first and
second prize will be awarded to the students that create the best

stickers, which would be used for next year’s campaign. There will  also be a special prize for the school that collects the most funds.

Persons interested in giving to this cause can contact the BCF or visit the primary and secondary schools across Barbados as well as FirstCaribbean International Bank, Butterfield Bank, Barbados
National Bank, Super Centre Supermarkets, Barbados Yacht Club, Guardian General Insurance Limited and the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited.

According to the marketing coordinator, the BCF has donated over $ 2.5 million dollars to date and continues to work closely with charitable organisations in Barbados addressing the needs of the less fortunate.

@Bajan

Please explain, are you talking about the current impasse? If so how would she have known and why would she drop given that the next conference will not be held in Barbados?

Yes, it was rumored that Ms. Gittens was also hired for the South Carolina conference. The NABO people could answer the question regards to why she dropped them.

@ummmmm

Whether you want to admit it or not this matter has been mismanaged by NABO and it has resulted in the Nation correspondent in the USA filing a report to the Nation newspaper. Your dirty linen is now in the public domain.

Secondly Cheryl Thompson the former head of the Houston org and Interim Chair of NABO has expressed concerns as well as Rodney Marshall who heads a Florida org. Reading Cheryl’s report it seems that quite a few other orgs believe the same thing.

You need to address those people who have declared their positions under their names, You remain a nameless coward in the wing taking pot shots at people who are trying to get you guys to manage your shit and keep the yellow blue out of the mud.

@ Cheryl Thompson

Thanks for making a statement and stating the facts as they had unfolded.

Earl Ashby and his executive on March 8, 2009 had the opportunity to attend the telemeeting collectively to save NABO; with his Executive Council of 10 members and his 4 or 5 members in New England he could have easily had the majority of votes to keep them in power,and would have been democratic and accepted; but because of his arrogance he instructed his committee not to participate and is now refusing to demit office.

@ Bajan

Can confirm that Colleen Inniss-Gittens was retained for the conference in South Carolina. Contract was signed on July 21, 2008, copy of document in my possession. No approval from the BOD. See Article X1V (Board of Directors) Section 3. The Board of Directors may appoint such agents and engage such employees as it shall deem necessary from time to time and such persons shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors at the time of such appointment. The remuneration of all officers, agents, employees, and committee members shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

Background:

I have been following all the breaking news; some malicious and some that people hide behind the anonymity of a blog. I give a lot of gratitude to those anonymous fans that have acknowledge my leadership qualities; I am humble.

To those persons who asked what I have done for NABO? In the short time that BACA has been a member of NABO. My organization BACA prepared the Disaster Recovery Proposal that was presented to the Prime Minister at the Collaborative Conference in Barbados even thought BACA was NEVER acknowledged as the author of that said document.

I am one of those members (director) behind the charge for NABO’s former executive to do the ‘right thing’. I am torn between if it is fortunate or unfortunate that I am the person whose questions have been the source of this current impasse. I must admit that I am the author of those documents on behalf of my organization; a financial member of NABO and by extension a Director. Let me state emphatically that the questions were all based on facts from documents that were presented by the former Executive committee.

After being a director for ONLY 2 meetings. I believe that we the organizations exist as members in name ONLY, to help NABO make money and attend conferences. We are not considered partners and have never been allow to actively participate in the management of NABO. Article 1V (Powers) Section 1. States the legislative powers shall be vested in the Board of Directors. This has manifested itself in the way they are acting at his time because members in the past have never challenged their unconstitutional activities. And by not doing so has created NABO’s demise.

Why should the Board of Directors have to wait until South Carolina to get answers to questions that are critical to the day to day operation of NABO? Is this a way of getting around having to answer the questions when the constitution doesn’t make provisions for a BOD meeting in July? Article V11 (Board of Directors) Section 5. “Meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place to be determined by the directors providing (10) clear days notice of such meeting shall be sent in writing of each director, provided that there shall be at least one (1) meeting per year of the Board of Directors.”

Was this meeting to be held in SC sanctioned by 10 or more members or was the decision of the former Chairman?

I have asked for the minutes of all meetings held in 2008 since I was new to the directorship and wanted to be fully informed and could ask intelligent questions. Article V111 (National Executive Council) Section 5. Action may be taken by the Chairman of the Corporation at any time by informal meeting, by letter, fax or by telephone consultation. All decisions made, and action taken, by the national Executive Council shall be recorded in writing and reported to all of the Board of Directors within two (2) weeks. Article XX (Minutes of the Board of Directors and Executive Council) Section 1. The minutes and records of the Board of Directors also the minutes and records of the National Executive Council shall not be available to the general membership of the corporation but shall be available to the Board of Director each of whom shall receive a copy of such minutes and records.

Have requested copies of the sponsorship packages and relative documents and to date have not received any.

The violations of the following articles are the MAIN reasons for the meeting being called on March 8, 2008 that ousted those officers of NABO.

Article XX111 (Fiscal Matters)

Section 2.All funds of the corporation shall be deposited on month after receipt to a financial institution approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. All monetary transactions shall be made in the name of the Corporation. All checks or withdrawals pertaining to the outgoing funds shall be signed jointly by the Treasurer with either the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Secretary.

Article XXV (Auditors)

The Directors shall receive from the Treasurer financial reports at least 10 days prior to each meeting and shall make provisions for an annual audit (more frequently if required) of the books and accounts. Said audit(s) shall be made by a competent accountant. Who shall have a current permit to practice accounting and shall show all receipts and disbursements made by the Corporation during the fiscal year. A copy of the said audit(s) shall be furnished to all Directors.

Article XXV1 (Books and Records)

Section 1. The Directors shall see that all necessary books and records of the Corporation required by the By-Laws of the Corporation by any applicable statute or law are regular and properly kept.

The following is email showing the arrogance of the former chairman that continues to exist. He is telling the Barbadian Diaspora that a group of insurgents are destructive to NABO. You have now gotten most of the facts from a few of us that are leading the charge. What’s next?

Please ask your readership to encourage Earl to stop abusing the authority that he was afford to represent us under the umbrella of NABO.

—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Earl Ashby
To: Ava Foster
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:09:13 PM
Subject: Re: PRO !!!!

NO.

—–Original Message—–
Date: Monday, March 30, 2009 8:55:49 pm
To: eashecs@hotmail.com
Cc: cherylxthompson@;dbulbulia@;cmayers@
From: Ava Foster
Subject: Re: PRO !!!!

Earl,

I only wished that I could decipher what you are trying to get across here. If you didn’t fully understand the statement that I made; there was a lot of sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly; and show that it is your arrogance that have brought about such a scandal during a time when you are trying to promote a conference in South Carolina.

You continue to amaze me that you can easily respond to emails that really don’t address the issues regarding the finances of NABO and the BOD concerns; and blatantly refuse to address factual email.

This is not about you; rather about what is right and what is wrong. At this juncture you have “self destruct” the organization, it was done when you refuse to sit with the BOD that elected you as chairman; to discuss critical issues regarding NABO’s finances and protocol.

Earl, there is still time for you avoid further self embarrassment and come to the table and be accountable and transparent; we collectively can save NABO.

Regards,

Ava

________________________________
From: Earl Ashby
To: Ava Foster
Cc: cherylxthompson@; dbulbulia@; cmayers@
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 4:57:31 PM
Subject: PRO !!!!

As was stated before, you will finish what you have started. Baring statements and NABO’s confidential information to a Bajan Underground paper and now concern of the type of PR to move the SC conference forward.
NOW, you MUST finish what you have started; the destruction of NABO. After the dust has cleared, we would have gone our separate ways. Thank you very much.

— On Mon, 3/30/09, Ava Foster wrote:

From: Ava Foster
Subject: Fw: Emailing: National Association Of Barbados Organizations (NABO) In The USA Accused Of Financial Impropriety « Barbados Underground.htm
To: bajan5425@yahoo.com
Cc: cmayers@, “Cheryl Cherrie , dbulbulia@, easchecs@
Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 9:51 AM

This is the type of PRO that is needed to move forward with a conference in South

Ignore ummmmm. His or her goal is to change topic and take people off message. No need to respond to his weak attacks.

TAKE HEED

Take heed , take pause are two different things I Will take a hike. Referring to Boston Community should be THEIR .

Bajan // April 5, 2009 at 2:33 pm

Ms. Inniss-Gittens dropped NABO like a hot plate as soon as she heard of their current troubles
————————————————————————————————————————
Having read the Advocate article, I would not be surprise if Colleen disconnected herself from NABO in fear of what could be about to explode even further.

Earlier a commenter wrote, “A donation of $5,017 was given to help fatten the bottom line of an already profitable organization in Barbados, who by the way Colleen Inniss-Gittens is on the Fundraising committee.” And in one of the emails a NABO member raised this question, “Is it that the consulting company, Innovative Business Solutions WROTE THEIR OWN CHECKS hence the reasons for them PAYING THEMSELVES approximately $60, 000 (assuming it BD$)?”
Invoices show Colleen is the consultant at the above company. If she gets 20% commission from non-profit organizations, I dare not ask what her commission is working with a profitable organization.

We may never know if Colleen received $10,000 or $5,017 for her charity BCF.

Isn’t it a coincidence that “the 6 ads where the funds are not accounted for includes pages, 90 (Caribbean Heritage).” Isn’t Mr. Ashby the current President of that org, CHA? Hmmnnn

Who will be added to the list next.

Can’t you see that Desmond is an IDIOT.

Typical Dr. Grasshopper – are you gone for good this time? Won’t you stay and help them rebuild? Come on Doc – they need you, and all the one like you who have all the answers. What a shame!

@Concern
If Earl Ashby refuses to demit the executive chair of NABO, then i can understand why a member org. would demit it’s membership of NABO.

Under which organization’s banner, did Earl Ashby and before him Mike Cummins, use to become affiliated with NABO?

How many Boston base, Massachusetts base, and New England base organizations are members of NABO?

which boston group is mike cummins a member of?

NABO Boston members
CHA
BCCB
BUCF

@ Adrian Hinds

5
Barbados American Cultural Society of Springfield (Not Financial)
Barbados American Sociaty Hartford (Financial)
Barbados Committee of Boston (Financial)
Barbados Uh Cum Frum (not financial)
Caribbean Heritage (financial)

Thanks for the info.

@ Adrian Hinds

You have opened a whole nudder issue. Somebody mentioned previously that the elections in West Palm were rigged. Those Boston organizations are part and parcel why. They exist on paper only. The election committee was headed by a Atley Clinton from Boston a member of one of those non-existence organizations. When the former secretary Jackie Jordan questioned the absentee votes she was black listed and not allowed to see the votes. It was stated that 22 member organization voted in West Palm; where did they come from. The 2007 financial report didn’t show any funds collected for dues close to $2,200 and wouldn’t have because the dues would have been for 2008. The 2008 financial report shows $900 collected for dues. The financial members as of 3 weeks ago were as follows – BACA, CA, Melbourne South Florida, Orlando, USVI, Texas, Jacksonville, Boston (not sure with one), Atley’s organization (not sure which one), Hartford, Washington, Philadelphia, NY, Bermuda.
Earl Ashby and his cronies really think that some people are backward johnnies. Sorry story they are being attacked by a small group. Hope the NABO criminals are eventually brought to justice.

BUCF has been low keyed for quite some time.
Some of the members of BCCB, BUCF and CHA are affiliated with all 3.

Sapidillo // April 6, 2009 at 7:14 pm

BCCB has recently resurrected after being off the scene for many years.
It held its first annual spring ball on March 21. It has new faces running the organization.
————————————————
Tell us more,who are they?

…..These NABO people from Boston do not represent many people. Verbal comments on the ground thus far has not been favourable to them

@Concern
Does the bylaws seek to define what constitutes a legitimate bajan organization fit for membership? i.e is there a requirement, for size, state/federal registration etc? Lets say I am part of a 8 family group that alternates traveling to each other houses on most weekends to have fun celebrate birthdays and other special occasions, could this group pay the usd 100 fee and become a member of NABO?