Submitted by Bajan Truth
TWO WEEKS OF DISCLOSURE AND DEBATE and not a word from Thompson only comments on Families First. Not a word to allay the fears of those 2400 policy-holders, the number of policies sold since Aug., 2009. Any vendor in the market selling without a license would have felt the long arm of the law, not CLICO, Thompson’s financier. No discipline on Estwick, when a review of the security tape would assist in establishing the veracity of the claims. If a yout had a firearm and assaulted a citizen in the same manner he would be before the courts. THESE WERE THE CLAIMS OF MOTTLEY AT THE EAGLE HALL BLP MEETING ON SUNDAY NIGHT. Is Thompson running scared, hiding out, or has Hartley Henry advised him to lay low until it blows over because his political capital is such that he can disrespect Bajans so. Or has HH advised him to lay low until another situation can be created or used as a distraction?
Standing at political meetings is not my speed, especially these BLP meetings long before an election is called. My thought was what was the point of that strategy until a supporter indicated to me, that if you can’t get media coverage what else do you do. I got there late and was quite surprised to see the crowd at Eagle Hall. Wow BLP in a fighting mood. I am not good at estimating but don’t let Hartley Henry fool you, it was a crowd, like what you would find at a political meeting in the swing of things. Watching crowd reaction I realised that it was not made up of only BLP’s but had a mix of ordinary Barbadians and DEMS. They are easily recognisable by the non-responsiveness to partisan shots. But by far the most non-BLP’s were ordinary Barbadians, who seemed to be concerned and wanted to hear what had happened and get the other side of the story. They had very strong reactions to the revelations made during the meeting.
Here’s what they got from Dale Marshall: He stepped outside of parliamentary privilege and called Estwick’s bluff, and stated Estwick drew a gun on me’.
Here’s what they got from Mia Mottley :
Forensic audit is necessary for CLICO. Parris facilitated by the cooperation and silence of Thompson has become a law unto himself, intent on doing what is in his interest to the detriment of the well-being of Barbadians. Not only did he cash in investments worth over 250,000.00 from CLICO Mortgage; but Parris, just four days prior to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Barbados government,received a cheque on behalf of another of his personal companies, getting business from CLICO. Miss Mottley said that Branlee Management Services Inc. was a management consulting firm, owned by Parris and his wife, registered at no.8 Dayrell’s Hill St. Michael,incorporated by Thompson. She quoted the BNB cheque no. and stated the amount received was over $800,000. This payment would have become illegal if issued four days later as the memorandum of understanding had as one of its conditions that dividends, bonuses etc must not be made without permission of the government.
Was it coincidental that Thompson had a meeting with Parris and CLICO on the memorandum the same day the cheque was issued?
Our bloggers can draw their own conclusions My opinion is that it is time and more in the interest of integrity, accountability, honesty and decency to deal with the CLICO matter. Where is the judicial management, where is the forensic audit? Any fallout not only hurts policyholders but will hurt taxpayers who will have to shoulder the bill for Barbados and the $1 billion EC for the OECS countries. Thompson should dismiss Parris from CBC. But that may be difficult with Parris as a DLP guest at Families First ball, along with the Central bank governor shaking his booty as family and friends.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.