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Nation Newspaper Creates News Based On Unscientific Cellphone Poll

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mia_mottley_owen_arthur
Barbados Nation Newspaper Cartoon – 09 November 2009
Submitted as a comment by Adrian Hinds

Two accepted scientific polls with results unfavourable to Mia Mottley, followed by two questionable polls that are favourable to her. The latter enabled by the Nation newspaper; coincident, or a deliberate attempt to create news rather than report it?

We should remember the 2007-8 Cadres poll that suggested 20-10 victory for the DLP in the 2008 Jan 15 national election. We should remember the counter poll by Boxill that sought to counter Cadres projections and results.

Another Cadres poll with statistics that Mia Mottley does not like so the Nationnews decided to counter or is it contained the results of that poll with a text message unscientific poll and has sought to highlight and publicize the results as if they were or could ever be provable “statements of Facts”.

During all of this traditional media employees are reminding us that they  check and recheck facts.

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131 responses to “Nation Newspaper Creates News Based On Unscientific Cellphone Poll”

  1. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    They may check and recheck facts but they publish selectively. Didn’t they choose not to publish the relationship between Liz and the contractor that the Gov’t is trying to recover money from? Perhaps Hartley was right about the bias from the newspaper. Do you think that if the BLP won an election and Mia became PM that you would see an article by Albert Brandford with the following “portray a smugness that reflects her inbred sense of entitlement”

  2. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Distinguishing between fact and opinion.

    Critical readers do not accept everything they read as true. They realize that many kinds of writing are mixtures of objective facts and the author’s opinions, and critical readers are able to tell which is which.

    Statement of Facts must be proved or provable by objective means. If it cannot be verified or disproved then it is a statement of opinion.

    English composition text book.

    Next….. Detecting Bias.

  3. Dennis Jones (aka Living in Barbados) Avatar
    Dennis Jones (aka Living in Barbados)

    “Two accepted scientific polls with results unfavourable to Mia Mottley, followed by two questionable polls that are favourable to her.” The latest poll may be unscientific and questionable but that does not make the scientific polls not questionable. Using a scientific method can lead to many results with exactly the same sets of data.

    The latest poll’s responses by text message are facts. If they have been stored, then they can be reviewed and checked. How they are interpreted, given the questions posed can also be reviewed.

    Is it good journalism? Newspapers mount their own polls all the time and report on them. CNN is famous for doing “quick vote” polls all the time (using a range of voting methods–phone, online, etc.) and reporting on them as “not scientific”.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    The gist of the problem as we see it, in a very short period after the scientific CADRES poll which showed Arthur with a greater national appeal we have this unscientific poll. Acceptable in this context or not?

  5. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    David put this into context the original poll showed Mottley with 200 odd votes and Owing with 1300 odd when Ms Carol Martindale one of Mia’s clan saw the result she shut it down and delayed to result to please Mottley, there is nothing sensible worthy of discussion on this matter.

  6. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    The results of the Cadres poll and the Text message poll are both statements of fact. The text message poll could be percieved to be measuring the same public opinion as Cadres, yet the result of both polls contradicts each other.

    Was Mottley able to turn around the results she got in the Cadres poll conducted just a few months ago?

    Are the polls really similar with regards to what they sought to measure?

    Was the Text message poll done to measure Mottley national popularity against that of Owen, or was it done to measure public opinion on Owen’s press conference?

    What message is implied by the cartoon? what do you infer from it?

    Does it square with the article titled 60% not with Owen?

  7. David Avatar
    David

    There is another angle. Polling is a North American event, many in Barbados feel it is out of place with our culture. BU’s position is Barbados is too small to encourage an environment of polling, its influence is too obvious. In Barbados we have looked at polls mainly in the political arena and most times they have been scientific. Why do we have to follow the USA by using polls?

    CNN and the networks rely on polls to feed their 24 hour fast food news frenzy. To benchmark against what CNN et al are doing does nothing for BU. In fairness to CNN they usually underpin their polls by finding the average of other polls done by other networks.

  8. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Yes WIV.

    They were three polls, and this cartoon.

    The Online poll (since deleted) and the text message poll dealt with public opinion on Owen’s press statement comments.

    The Cartoon seems to be suggesting something closer to what the Cadres polls reveal, but in reverse.

    A blogger’s comment on the 60% not with Owen article

    Crying Shame : 11/8/2009
    It is a crying shame that this great paper could be turning into what the paper it is now seen as. Only last week a new BAJ celebrated an excited week. If bothers me much that the nation should carry out a free online poll that showed 1048 persons agreeing with former Prime Minister Owen Authur and only 256 disagreeing. Then the poll disappeared off the radar and new poll that involved texting at a cost was introduced. This new poll showed according to the writer, a 60% in favour of the leader of the opposition. Not a word on how many persons voted but just a percentage. You can refuse to post this submission but it must and will be known. Journalism on fire in the Frank Collymore hall last week was excellent, to great men telling they stories, then I have to accept this poor piece of folly.

    Truthful Mouth

  9. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Amanda Lynch-Foster as that Nationnews Digital editor responds

    Re: Truthful Mouth : 11/8/2009
    Just to respond to the reader Truthful Mouth’s concerns. The free online poll was removed after it came to our attention that the setting of the poll allowed individual readers to vote multiple times without limitation. Before the relaunch of the Nation site in March, the previous settings of our polls only allowed readers to vote once in a 24 hour period. When we changed our layout and upgraded our content management system, we did not realise that the poll settings had been changed. This is particularly so because previous polls had shown no indication or evidence of this. However, in this most recent poll, we realised that there seemed to be discrepancies in: a) the number of votes as they related to the number of comments. Usually when a poll is on such a ‘hot topic’ as to garner numerous votes on it (1000+), it also has a lot of comments. As you indicated, up to when the poll was removed, there were 1000+ votes on it but yet there were only four comments. b)the speed at which the vote was climbing. It has been unusual thus far for our online polls to surpass 1000 votes in less than 24 hours. However, this happened with this poll. c) The time of day at which the votes were coming in. According to our stats, the peak readership hours for NATIONnews.com are between 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. – usually peaking at 6 or 7 a.m. Accordingly, voting on our polls tends to increase during those hours and slow down during the rest of the day. In this instance, the voting on the poll speeded up considerably between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m – going from some 300+ to 1000+ in those hours. None of these things had happened before with previous online polls. Hence, it prompted us to check to see what could be causing these discrepancies. When we did check, we discovered that the settings had been such that any individual could vote multiple times. Based on the discrepancies I outline above, it seems that in the case of this particular poll, this may have been the case. Hence we changed the settings so that any individual can only vote once within a 24 hour period. It was due to those circumstances that we removed the online poll.

    Digital Editor

  10. Facts Avatar
    Facts

    A.H,
    Very good article.

    I don’t know how any person with a pinch of credibility can seriously suggest that the results of this poll give a picture of reality.

    THIS SAMPLE TAKEN IS TOO SMALL AND IS NOT A REFLECTION OF THE AVERAGE VIEWS.
    It is filled with SAMPLE BIAS – and should never have been published as being representative.

    It is cheap, political manoeuvering orchestrated by lurking shadow king/queen makers!

  11. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    As I said before they are not worthy of comment but what I find extremly funny is having not heard or seen or a thing out of the I WANT A PLANTATION MAN VIC JOHNSON for years, he suddenly finds it necessary to try to give bouyancy to the 1,000 Lbs Of Blubber Mottley to float it, lost cause that.

    The smoke screens and acting have been dismantled by Owing to the raw facts that Mottley is a lame dick standbyopposition leader or better Dale is the Leader in waiting to displace her, no more Mottley entitlement and Mottley rules around here.

    We have gone past that from Grantley Adams days we have matured and no longer do we feel intimindated or bound to worship the power hungry Mottley clan of crooks.

    Her father before her refused to pay for his photocopying machine and it was sent and picked up and returned to that office supply store on Bolton Lane.

    There is a history of crookery in the Mottley clan so her accumulation of wealth from VECO and J. DANOS to name but two of her sources of wealth.

  12. Dennis Jones (aka Living in Barbados) Avatar
    Dennis Jones (aka Living in Barbados)

    Peter Wickham can correct, but his August poll stated “polling divisions were selected in all 30 constituencies and face to face interviews were conducted with approximately twelve persons in each instance, totalling approximately 1,000 interviews”, which seems like fewer than 400 persons polled. The report does not say how the persons were chosen, so I will leave open any view on the methodology of selection.

    Any polling can have bias, explicit or implicit.

    The latest text poll by the Nation was of course in a very different setting to the August CADRES poll for several reasons, but not least political in-fighting was fresh in people’s minds and also the public knew of the earlier poll result. Those events could have created some change in the landscape of opinion, not least in terms of what people would now express. The CADRES poll noted prominently that the presence of major political events could have affected its results, arguing that “The only significant political event that could have impacted on this survey was the resignation of Opposition Senator Kerrie Symmonds”.

    Polling may well have its recorded origins in the US (views differ on that) but it is certainly internationally accepted and practised, even in the Caribbean, where Rex Nettleford and others showed its worth in measuring and assessing a wide range of social and political opinions.

    As for the notion of Barbados being too small for polling, that is a very odd reaction. Did many people argue that Barbados was too small to have an international airport capable of landing a supersonic jet or that locals should not get used to this sort of development? Perhaps going forward a suggestion could be made for other (better) ways of sounding out public opinion in between elections. Even without saying so, soundings are often taken by decision makers, whenever the opportunities present themselves, to help see where public opinions stand (even a show of hands at a meeting). But, polls have often given great impetus to change. As for their place in small societies, my observation is that they have now become part of Crop Over voting, and my recollection of the last series was that multiple text voting was allowed. I do not recall the results being rejected. I stand to be corrected.

  13. X-MAN Avatar
    X-MAN

    off message
    @David and bu readers.
    I’ve have just found this company on the internet advertising luxury houses in Barbados. Take a look.

    http://www.beachlandsbarbados.com/#/home/

  14. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Based on the response from the Nation’s representative it seems that the result of the Poll was generated by electronic ballot stiffing. This is not new many political groups in the USA engage in this activity to influence public opinion; e.g. if there was a discussion on where President Obama was born a group dedicated to the proposition that he was born in Africa can get its supporters to phone en masse and vote for Kenya. Someone in Barbados saw a loophole in the Nation’s poll and drove through it, I would advise anyone with a copy of the Nation with the story on the poll results to ensure that the newspaper is used to line their bird cages or wrap their fish. In times not so far off it would be used for another activity, discerning readers can guess at that action

  15. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    David do you detect a willingness by some to question the Cadres poll under the pretence of what is applicable to any poll, while vaguely suggesting that things could have change between the times the Cadres and the Text message poll, were conducted, leading to the different results between the two?

    I do not take poll results as the complete truth. Poll results by definition can only be a sample of any collective opinion.

    If I have to look at contrasting results from two polls then I have to consider the method, the size of the sample, the locations of the samples relative to the whole of which it is suppose to be part.

    Cadres have a record of accomplishment that lends to its credibility as far as opinion sampling goes. Text message polling has no such record in Barbados. Cadres publicize its methods, its sample size and the locations from whence they were drawn. I know very little about the text message methodology, what was the size of the sample group. Where were they located, etc?

    The article titled “60% not with Owen” suggest that the Text message poll asked respondents for their opinion on Arthur’s press conference and whether Mottley was suited to be the BLP’s leader. Was it one sentence with two clauses structured as questions, to which one answer was required? If so, this is similar to what occurred in Australia concerning a referendum on Australia becoming a republic.

    The Cartoon that followed the “60% not with Owen” article does not include anything regarding the first clause/question of the statement that they presumably asked in the Text message poll. The cartoon only deals with “who is best suited to lead the BLP”, which is the same or similar opinion that Cadres poll sought a response to.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Adrian

    You have articulated the issue very well and as far as BU is concern it is a slam-dunk. To borrow a legal term the Fourth Estate, in this case the Nation newspaper has a duty of care when presenting reporting news. These text polls are highly suspect and can be easily manipulated, the NCF and Starcom realised this last crop over when running popular competitions. There is precedent in the market if the Nation wanted to be guided on the use of text polling. Our recollection is the results of previous text polls are posted on the back page or some less prominent page in pie-chart form.

    On another note BU notes with interest that Nation Digital Editor who we believe is President of the BAJ has been very low profile. On the talk show last Sunday the verbose and loquacious Julius Gittens represented the BAJ. Where is the young and bright Amanda? Hopefully here wings have not been clipped.

  17. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    My two cents worth…

    As David said, disagreeing with Owen’s opinion of Mottley does not infer “not being with Owen”

    The heading for the article is misleading at best and clearly formatted to stand out on the page and grab attention.

    Text votes incurred a cost, thus leaving out a very large percentage of persons who do not want to incur that cost.

    The rationale for removing the online poll (manipulation) can also be applied to the text poll.

    The article represented the first time that a text poll received inside front page placement. All others got a little graph on the back page.

    Bajans aren’t stupid. Even if I didn’t know anything about the Nation’s “leanings” or bias they are doing a very good job of showing it. Credibility in journalism is critical, and the Nation and its agents continue to raise doubts about that credibility.

  18. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    David I would not read much into the absence of Amanda on Sunday’s talk program.

    Inspite of Jack Bowman’s insistence that “person who cannot write properly, cannot think properly” The truth is that person with equal or similar thinking capacity may have varying degrees of vocal and writing communicating skills.

    It would not be surprising to me that a deliberate decision was made to have a more experience orator in Julius Gittens Moderate the talk program. Some people write better than they speak, and some people are just better at Extemporaneous Speaking, and radio is best suited to Extempt.

  19. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    You guys continue to hurt your heads with the Nation newspaper.

    The Nation newspaper was set up in 1973 by a number of Barbados Labour Party bigwigs. As a result the Nation newspaper is committed to the Barbados Labour Party. It is their duty to show the Barbados Labour Party and whoever is it’s leader in the best light possible.

    As I said before the Nation newspaper will never be kind to the Democratic Labour Party.

    Ask Harold Hoyte.

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Adrian

    Maybe you are correct and we don’t mean to knock Amanda who we have some respect.

    If she expects to make a difference her role as president requires her to speak!

    Here ability to rally her troops and be an agent for change makes her ability to speak mandatory

  21. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    I am not hurting my head. Employees of the traditional media have setup an “Us vs. Blogs, debate and I am simply contributing.

    We Richmond boys have a proud history of debating. lol!

  22. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Adrian

    Nice to know that you are a Richmond boy.

  23. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Detecting Bias:
    Bias is a predisposition in favor of or against someone or something: It is a liking for or a dislike of a person or thing.

    On Nov 1, the Nation Newspaper published an article titled “60% not with Owen”. The Nation conducted a text message poll and this was the result from a question or series of questions, one of which they stated to have been base on Owen Arthur’s views learned from his press conference, and respondents opinion on the question “Is Mia Mottley suited to be the leader of the BLP”

    I should add that since Tuesday, I could no longer access this article on Nationnews.com, and since Wednesday, I can no longer access it via Google.

    Now that the article has done what it was suppose to do, Cartoons are now the order of the day.

    NOV 8th
    http://tinyurl.com/y8abupv

    NOV 12th
    http://tinyurl.com/y87huky

    Nevertheless, are these cartoons changing perceptions? On the other hand, are they leading to more doubt about Mia’s standing in the BLP?

    I note with great interest that both cartoons refer to Mia as the FUTURE PARTY LEADER. It is 2009 with three more years to the next election and Mia Mottley’s Future and Leadership of the BLP is still to not assure. How do you read these cartoons?

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Adrian

    You must have noticed the Nation is being persistent in its cell poll cartooning, if you check today’s online. It would be interesting to ask the cartoonist at the Nation if he is being asked by his editorial staff to mass produce these cartoons.

    Maybe the time has come for concerned Barbadians to write to the Nation Head Office in Trinidad – One Caribbean Media.

  25. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Indeed I will make my concerns known.

    ————————————
    The Nation Newspaper
    “A valued and distinguished institution now stands like a colossus astride our information landscape.” Professor Hilary Beckles, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. (Nation Newspaper, November 23, 1994)

    I wonder if Doc Beckles still feel this way. I must ask him.

  26. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    David: Could you secure a copy of the Nationnews paper with the 60% not with Owen Article? I need it to complete my argument. I think it was publish on Nov 1st

  27. David Avatar
    David

    @Adrian

    Have you checked pressdisplay.com. It usually has all the newspapers by country in their archives. Let us know if it is helpful if not plan B.

  28. Gearbox Avatar
    Gearbox

    One thing about Adrian Hinds, he always think he’s in a position to educate persons on the definitions of words. I mean, don’t some of you think that his approach is condescending to say the lease?

    Anyway, let me state my position early. I am a swing voter, I’m not eternally attached to any political party. However, I understand that this is primarily a DLP blog, and I’m quite perplexed as to why some of you seem so captivated by the polls regarding Mia’s popularity (or lack thereof).

    I mean, whether Mia or Owen leads the BLP into the next election, should it make that much of a difference to the DLP? I believe that as long as the current administration handles the people’s business positvely and effectively during this first term, getting another term should not be a problem.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    You obviously missed the boat. This blog is more about integrity in the Fourth Estate (Nation newspaper) and less about political gerrymandering.

    On the labelling of being a DLP blog note we have an unaccepted invitation outstanding to BLP persons to submit articles under names we can identify.

    Instead they cower in the darkness.

  30. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    David: Thanks, I just signed up for unlimited access to pressdisplay’s site. Unfortunately the November 8th edition (I stated Nov 1st in error) is not listed. I think it was last sunday that the article “60% not with Owen” was published. Look for a deadtree copy for me please.

    It looks like a deliberate decision was taken to remove this article.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @Adrian

    Is this the article?

    It is still online.

  32. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Anyone who has a copy of the november 8th 2009 Nationnews Article titled “60% not with Owen” and you can scan/photocopy it to digital format, please email it to me at

    adrianhinds0@gmail.com

    Thanks in advance

  33. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Well well David you made that look very easy. I did try really hard to find it but could not. Oh well more proof of the dunce that I am. :0

    …..That i could enhance my search skills, would you mind emailing me the steps you took to find it?

    Thanks!

  34. Gearbox Avatar
    Gearbox

    But tell me something David, what was so wrong with the Nation News doing their own cell phone poll and publishing the results even if the results were contrary to the scientific poll? I think it is up to the people of Barbados to decide for themselves which they believe to be more credible or accurate.

    One could easily argue that the Advocate News has a bias slant in favour of the DLP, just as one could argue that the Nation News favours the BLP. That’s the nature of things…but come election time the people decide based on how their lives are being affected by the policies of the goverment. That’s why the DLP are in power today, and that’s why the DLP got my vote in the last election.

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Gearbox

    Reread above and if you still don’t get it no sweat.

  36. Gearbox Avatar
    Gearbox

    Whatever David, I still think that all this discusion about the polls and the Nation News is a lost cause.

    Tell me something though, are you the site admin of this blog? I’m new in here and would just like to get idea of who is who. I’m familiar with only one name that I’ve seen here so far.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @Gearbox

    If you are new it will take some time but the BU family is more concerned with your message. Stay positive and you don’t need to worry about site admin…lol.

    BTW we have a BU family member who uses the handle Gearbox, it would be decent of you if you rebrand 🙂

  38. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    What do you mean by “concern with my message” and “stay positive”? Are you saying that I’m not entitled to have an opinion of my own that may be contrary to what I see here? I’m not worried about anything at all (don’t know what would give you that idea), I just prefer to have an idea of who is in charge wherever I go.

    Since you already have a member with the handle Gearbox, I have switched to Atman. I’m a straight talker…not disrespectful…but a straight talker who calls it as he sees it. I hope that won’t be a problem for you guys to deal with.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    @Atman

    Thanks for accommodating the request to change handles, sporting of you.

    Look forward to bouncing ideas/views.

  40. David Avatar
    David

    Now that we are on the subject of integrity in the Fourth Estate we have a question for Roxanne Gibbs or any in the know.

    Can we have an update on the Carol Martindale Hartley Henry brouhaha?

    Seems after the hullahulu things have gone very quiet. Can Barbadians expect a follow-up story or is this another case of lack of resources?

  41. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Good point David. It was suppose to be a police matter, so a lack of resources can still be an issue. lol!

  42. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    @David

    At the end of the day this whole issue of the Carol Martindale, the polls, and the “integrity of the Fourth Estate” still boils down to political gerrymandering.

    You obviously see eye-to-eye with Hartley Henry on the issue, but I wonder if you believe his approach and conduct with regards to Carol Martindale was professional and befitting a man in his position.

    Hartley Henry may complain about the lack of balanced publishing by the Nation News, and Mia Mottley may complain about balanced coverage or air time on CBC…maybe they both have valid arguments and greivances. This is why I’ll always remain a swing voter and never become fixated with any one political party…it tends to blind people to the whole picture and cloud their judgment…what I call the tunnel vision syndrome.

  43. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    I have always been fascinated by this word.

    (JER-i-man-duhr)

    verb tr.
    To repartition an area in order to create electoral districts that give an unfair advantage to a political party.

    noun
    1. An instance of gerrymandering.
    2. One or more electoral districts, widely differing in size or population, created as a result of gerrymandering.

    Etymology
    A blend of Elbridge Gerry and salamander. Massachusetts Governor Gerry’s party rearranged the electoral district boundaries and someone fancied the newly redistricted Essex County resembled a salamander. Gerry later served as a Vice President of the United States (1813-1814).

    Usage
    “But the champion gerrymandering comes from Illinois. Chicago has two Hispanic areas. They are in different parts of the city, but that has not discouraged the good politicians of Illinois from creating a constituency consisting of these two areas only. They lie on either side of a black part of the city like the bread of a sandwich. Worst of all is the state’s extraordinary 17th District, which is a crab.” — United States: How to Rig an Election, The Economist (London), Apr 27, 2002.

    “The same tendency to duck and weave has characterized the campaign. Because the parties mutually agree to gerrymander most of the country, a shamefully small number of congressional districts are in play, along with some key Senate seats.” — Fifty-Fifty, The Washington Post, Nov 3, 2002.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    @Atman

    With respect it is why BU asked you to reread our comments.

    We agree with your statement partially but it paints the symptom only. BU’s point and Adrian points to the root of the problem i.e. the integrity of the Fourth Estate. If we had integrity then both parties would have to toe the line. By now we would have had an oversight body rule and Henry and/or Martindale’s asses would have been booted out the door.

  45. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    @Adrian

    Hey Pal, it’s good to see you again. Sorry if I showed up on Friday 13th like Jason Voorhees.

    Now I’m no fan of Mia either, but I’ve known you in the past to develop an animosity towards her that goes beyond political differences…a type of animosity that isn’t healthy at all. Anyway, you’re a big boy and probably don’t need me to tell you what’s healthy from what’s not.

    Hope we can get into some good healthy political debating once again.

  46. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    How to detect bias in a passage or statement? Watch for a tell-tale sign like; The author assumes the truth of something that she or he does not try to argue or defend:
    “It goes without saying…..”
    “It is obvisous…..”

    —————————
    I believe that the Nationnews is Bias in favour of Mia Mottley, and bias against Owen Arthur.

    The purpose of my contributions in this thread, was to provide data, Anecdotal evidence and anologies to substantiate my point of view.

    Whenever I feel to opinionate on the Advocate’s relationships, I will seek to present the evidence, and anologies to backup my views on the matter.

  47. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    @David

    Well I agree that we seem to be on the same page there…I didn’t have the time to read thru all the historical comments pertaining to this issue, but that part is settled.

    I believe it is up to the ruling government to put the necessary measures in place to ensure integrity. Government after government also these things to go unaddressed.

    There is only one TV station in Barbados and it is state owned, and successive goverments have simply refused to issue a TV license to a private entity (namely Starcom). It is obvious that each successive government has been taking full advantage of the single TV station for partisan political purposes when they get into power. Isn’t it time for that to stop and for the nation to enjoy having options when it comes to local TV?

  48. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    @Adrian

    [Nation is bias on the side of Mia against Owen]

    I could see why this may be of some importance to hardcore BLP supporters who would prefer to see Owen back at the helm…but that’s about the extent of the importance of that fact or opinion. Quite frankly, after 14 years of Owen as PM, I think Barbadians got rid of him for good reasons. Even though I would not like to see Mia as PM, I really couldn’t take anymore of Owen either.

  49. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    I believe it is up to the ruling government to put the necessary measures in place to ensure integrity.
    —————-
    What are some of the reasons that would hinder integrity policies and legislation from becoming law?

    ————————————————–
    IT IS OBVIOUS that each successive government has been taking full advantage of the single TV station for partisan political purposes when they get into power.
    —————-
    This statement requires evidence to substantiate it.

    ————————————————–

    Who becomes the Leader of a political party in our system of government should be important to all citizens.

    Our system of government does not allow for a popularly elected “leader of the country” this privilege since independence has been the sole right of the parliamentary members of either political party.

    More recently the DLP as taken the bold step to deepen the democratic process of chosen a leader by allowing the general membership of the party to vote for their choice, with the parliamentary team then legitimizing that decision to satisfy the constitutional requirement for picking the PM or LOTO.

    The BLP is yet to follow suite and this to my mind makes any leader of that party ineligible to be truly representative of the people as their Leader.

    For all the thousands of members of the BLP, eight persons chose the current leader.

  50. Atman Avatar
    Atman

    @Adrian

    Maybe I should have said it is obvious to persons who observe and have common sense. I don’t think that I need to explain what happens at CBC and most other government run entities whenever a new administration takes over. It should be quite clear to everybody (except you of course) that CBC TV and radio stations are dominated at the political level by the ruling party. The first thing that happens when the government changes is that the staff at CBC changes as well. Need I say more?

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