est. 2007

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Minister John Boyce It’s Time For YOU To Go!

A reasonable period has elapsed in the opinion of BU to ask for the resignation of  Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce with immediate effect. The list of issues which fall under his preview that paint a picture of chaos in our transportation system is clearly evident. The fact that many of the outstanding…

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Minister of Transport, Works and International Transport,

A reasonable period has elapsed in the opinion of BU to ask for the resignation of  Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce with immediate effect. The list of issues which fall under his preview that paint a picture of chaos in our transportation system is clearly evident. The fact that many of the outstanding issues which continue in his ministry have been outstanding for years is no excuse, the  PSV  problem springs to mind. While some Barbadians on the ground cite the problem created by PSVs maybe found in who own them, the problem  is more deep-rooted we know. The solution to the problem cries out for LEADERSHIP.

Minister Boyce you have had a good run and what can we say except to say, Good Riddance!

33 responses to “Minister John Boyce It’s Time For YOU To Go!”

  1. Donald Duck Esq Avatar
    Donald Duck Esq

    Remember some of what the dlp said in their 2008 manifesto

    A DLP government will:
     Facilitate commercial and industrial development in country areas
     Facilitate and support the development of town centres in major residential areas
     Complete the East Coast Road
     Improve the major roads in rural areas and complete all outstanding tenantry roads
     Introduce a programme to resurface roads on a regular basis e.g. Major roads and highways every ten years, other roads every fifteen years
     Improve the visibility and traffic flow at several dangerous junctions
     Improve signage and road markings
     Put emphasis on improving road drainage, sidewalks and gutters
     Ensure road works are done with minimum inconvenience to road users.

    Has the dlp delivered.

  2. Raymond Avatar
    Raymond

    If I was Minister Boyce I would abandon ship and seek the services of a good psychologist.Admit it Boyce there is much more in de mortar than what’s in the pestle.Whaever you do though, keep the s o spade in ya back pocket!!!

  3. Jersey Joe Avatar
    Jersey Joe

    Maybe Boyce should go back to making bad beer…

  4. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    We are following the results in the British election on the BBC.

    Right now, 10.40 pm, according to the BBC, the Conservatives have provisionally won122 seats, the Labourites 107 seats, and the Liberal Democrats 20 seats.

    PDC

  5. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    I t is being reported by the BBC that there are coalition talks being held between Labour and the Liberal Dems.

    The results so far are that the Conservatives have provisionally got 131 seats, Labour 113 seats, and the Liberal Democrats, 22 seats.

    And these are from the 292 seats declared from out of 650 seats.

    PDC

  6. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    What is clear at this stage is that the Conservates will get the majority plurality of the seats won by all parties and independents.

    But, the type of gains that the national political opinion polls have said the Conservatives will make, are not being reflected by the electoral results so far.

    The Liberal Democrats seem badly done by the first past the post electoral system.

    There seems to be many voting irregularities as well.

    PDC

  7. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    The BBC election newscaster is reporting that usually at national election time there is the use of exit polls to predict the national electoral outcome.

    He says there seems to be confusion in presenting those details.

    Also, there have been reports that the voter turnout has been high across the country.

    Although there was not given a figure as estimated.

    At 11. 41 pm, local time, the Conservatives have provisionally 200 seats, Labour 150 seats, and the Liberal Democrats 29 seats.

    Altogether out of 404 of 650 seats declared so far.

    PDC

  8. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    The Conservatives now provisionally have 253 seats so far, Labour 195 seats, and the Liberal Democrats 40 seats.

    The proportion of possibly total valid votes cast for the Conservatives so far are 36.6 %, or 8, 549, 851 votes, Labour, 28.1%, or 6, 564, 849 of the same, and the Liberal Democrats 22.6%, or 5, 272, 148 of the same.

    Statistics from the BBC live election coverage.

    PDC

  9. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    We are hearing from the BBC on line broadcast that even though the Conservatives have won the majority plurality of the possibly valid votes counted so far, that the constitutional convention is in place to allow the current Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, to be given the first opportunity to see if he can form a government of a “coalition of losers”given that the Conservatives will NOT get an outright majority in the House of Commons.

    What a constitutional convention!!!

    The overall result though seems to be a “hung parliament”.

    Certainly any governing coalition is going to have a hell of a time managing the country from such a position of not having a clear majority in the House of Commons.

    Will there be national elections within a relatively short space of time??

    And, esp. considering any likely great political fall out since the British economy is in crisis, and given that strong tough decsions need to be taken by government in the short term to medium term to lift the British economy out of the mess that it is in.

    PDC

  10. David Avatar
    David

    Minister Boyce’s performance has been under the radar so far but the lack of any authoritative changes for the better in the PSV sector should be enough to deem his performance a failure. What about those ATV’s we still see on the road terrorizing motorists? Easy adjustments which can be made at our roundabouts to permit better traffic flow. What about the Transport Authority? Frankly we are sick at the business as usual approach to things.

  11. Avatar
    Anonymous

    PDC it will have been very nice of you if you had ask BU to please provide you with space to accommodate you to discuss and present the unfolding events of the British elections.

    Thanks PDC, then you want to as us to vote for you and you PDC do not even know how to do things the correct way.

  12. ISLANDER Avatar
    ISLANDER

    they annoy the hell out of me

  13. JOHN BOY Avatar
    JOHN BOY

    WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING JOHN BOYCE ?

    HE TROUBLE YOU ?

    DONT TROUBLE TROUBLE TILL TROUBLE TROUBLE YOU !

  14. JOHN BOY Avatar
    JOHN BOY

    PDC is living in a Fantasy bubble that is unrealistically unrealistic

  15. Brit Bluebell Avatar
    Brit Bluebell

    The present Minister of Transport and Works has a lot on his hands due to the tardiness of previous governments,BLP and DLP alike to institute a workable Preventive Maintenance and Inspections for the many aging bridges throughout the island,many of which are approaching 100 years old, subjected daily to loads in excess of what they were originally designed for. We now have Joes River Bridge, Thompson Bridge, and Melvins Hill bridge either closed off or restricted.
    Pretty soon the North is going to be cut off from the rest of the island. Perhaps this is why the MP for St Lucy .Mr Kellman, is insisting on an airport for the north.
    Perhaps the Ministry of Transport and Works should consider acquiring a military typed Bailey Bridge, that could be easily put in place to accommodate all traffic while
    the affected bridge is being worked on. This is old but very effective engineering which goes back to World War 2 days.

  16. Avatar
    Anonymous

    This is what you get when tourism is our business; total neglect of essential services

  17. Pearl Avatar
    Pearl

    @Brit Bluebell re your comment on Dennis Kellman wanting an airport in St. Lucy.

    I really hope that they don’t put an airport in St. Lucy. I don’t see it as necessary at all. Plus what happens to the children, when it comes to Easter and kite flying…..that will be prevented because of the fly zone. Not to mention the pollution as well as noise pollution.

    In my humble opinion money would be better spent on building or rebuilding a hospital in the North. That’s what people in the northern areas need, not an airport.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Doesn’t Minister Boyce have technocrats who can advise on these matters regarding bridges etc?

    @Pearl

    A government has to balance capital spending between building capacity in the economy and maintenance.

  19. Pearl Avatar
    Pearl

    @’ David. Sorry I’m not very good with all these terms but I take it you mean that the Government would want to spend money on things that have a good life span and the potential to make money and at the same time consider the long term maintenance cost?

    A hospital would still get my vote over an airport in St. Lucy any day. At most I would compromise for a Heliport if the restriction re the fly zone are reasonable and environmental and noise pollution costs are not too high. So that if there’s no hospital up north at least the critical patients could be air lifted to the QEH.

    My question is why do we wait for the roads to get into such bad condition before we do anything about them? I would of thought if we maintain and repair in the early the overall cost of repair would be less and would keep people employed.

    In regards to PSVs etc. unfortunately it’s not just down to Minister Boyce’s ministry. Yes it plays a key part and should be the driving force for improvements. However without a speedier turnaround within the Court system for offenses or perhaps even a review of the penalties, what Minister Boyce ministry can achieve may be limited.

  20. frustrated travelling officer Avatar
    frustrated travelling officer

    Hey David can you while you are at it find out why the traveling officers in the Ministry has not been paid since January?

  21. David Avatar
    David

    @frustrated travelling officer

    Why has travelling officers not been paid?

    What is the reason given?

  22. Brit Bluebell Avatar
    Brit Bluebell

    @David, John Boyce IS a technocrat. He is a qualified and registered Mechanical Engineer, he should know a thing or two about structures ,strains and stresses.
    Now its the Minister of Health who needs Technocrats ,or at least people with common sense to advise him on the chronic situation at Sanitation Service Authority where some 70 to 80% of the collection vehicles are out of service. Every year the poor tax payer has to dip deep in their pockets to buy new vehicles ,to replace relatively new vehicles,for the SSA, Ambulance Service and the Police,just to name a few. Its a shame that after operating vehicles for just over 100 years , many still do not have a clue how to maintain vehicles. There is a Company in Barbados with many vehicles in its fleet 15,20, 25 years old ,and are still working fine everyday .
    But in Government circles have you notice that the overkilled SUV”s assigned for personal use to many “big wigs” , are always on the road………..or beach.

  23. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    I note with interest on Minister John Boyce`s election website that he will the advisor to the government on energy conservation. Then what the hell Licensing Authority doing with new SUV`s. Some things just don`t make common sense. During the last administration`s tenure two riot suppression Land Rovers were bought for a damn lot of money. These two vehicles which are nicked named ” The Pig ” sit idol at the Station Hill and the St Anns Fort . When will politicians be held responsible for how they spend our money? Funds could have been better spent on staff of BDF and RBPF!

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Kammie Holder

    Your comment is intuitive and speaks to the lack of leadership present.

    Although we are a poor country with meagre resources here is an opportunity where government ministers and others around them can show leadership in some of the decisions they can make.

    Perhaps were they to make these decisions which are really not so hard the PEOPLE may follow.

  25. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    With the PM’s reported illness, in order to alleviate some of the stress on his shoulders at this time, I think it prudent to appoint an alternate Minister of Housing, in order to free Hon. Michael Lashley to act either as Minister of State in the PM’s office, deputising for the PM’s portfolio or as ‘acting Deputy PM’, for a while at least.

    Michael Lashley has exhibited some qualities that indicate his readiness to act as a serious deputy and international representative for Barbados.

    Alternately, Minister Sinckler should be appointed for such a position as described above.

    There is much justification for this role, indeed even before the PM’s illness, this role was justified, now it is just more earnest.

  26. Bosun Avatar
    Bosun

    @ Kammie Holder, are you sure that those”riot supression” pigs are lying idle, at Station Hill or the Garrison, and not down in the metal dump.

  27. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @Brit Bluebell
    Arte et Marte. I often wonder why our so -called Civil Engineers ,do not observe and take a leaf out of the book of one of the most experienced and efficient engineering establishment around,………the Royal Engineers. Bailey Bridges were erected in many parts of the world as temporary measures, and 40 years on they are still there almost as good as new. They can be fully erected in a matter of hours.
    The Royal Engineers build roads in military training areas virtually overnight, to take on a constant flow of 70 ton battle tanks and other heavy equipment.
    We in Barbados must learn that experience , is not doing a task the same old way, day in, day out, when there are alternative and more efficient ways to do them.
    Here in Barbados we cannot even patch a pothole halfway good. Maybe because POTHOLES is an anagram of LOST HOPE,the new motto of this country.

  28. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Bosun | May 16, 2010 at 10:57 AM |
    @ Kammie Holder, are you sure that those”riot supression” pigs are lying idle, at Station Hill or the Garrison, and not down in the metal dump.
    ……………………………………………………………………………………….
    There were some older ones, the Shorland Land Rover Armoured vehicle which were sitting in the bush down behind the Drill Hall .These are the ones that are probably in the metal dump. Again bad choice of vehicle.These Land Rovers were made by Short Harland & Wolf in Belfast. The British Army wage a war on terrorism in that province for 38 years, and never purchased a single one of these units,but someone palmed a couple of them off on our 3-world country.

  29. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    @ Brit Bluebell
    There is a Company in Barbados with many vehicles in its fleet 15,20, 25 years old ,and are still working fine everyday .
    ………………………………………………………………………………………
    And may I add probably with no justification to replace, solely on the age factor, which seems to be the number 1 criteria in Government circles.
    Have you seen the fleet of trucks, sold out by Simpson Motors recently, for a song? Trucks just a few years old, that were leased to the Water Authority, This is the ultimate form of preventive maintenance, “Sell it while it is still relatively new” and place a severely heavy burden on the taxpayers, much heavier that financing an in-house workshop complete with staff.
    In this dictatorship administration, we will never know how much it is costing the taxpayers of Barbados to support this vehicle lease programme.
    But as the busy man said , his government is PIG, “Party in Power”, How many of us could say this,even if we voted for them at the last election?

  30. Disappointed Avatar
    Disappointed

    Road construction projects in the absence of a Contractor General is one of the major ways politicians in Barbados get their hands dirty. No one will ever see jail under a two party state. Thus the people will have no choice but to peacefully take to the streets. Sometimes you have to breakdown or destroy what you love to rebuild something better!

  31. David Avatar
    David

    The two party system in Barbados given our size has encouraged collusion. At some point people will wake up.

  32. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    David

    At some point you and your very small group of BLP proponents here on BU, will realize that the majority of Barbadians do not necessarily agree with your narrowly defined narrative. I can see it now David, the BU blog infused with more than haft of the silent discontented Barbadian populace, shutting for revolution. lol Come on now David, get a clue, didn’t the recent failed march speak with a clear and decisive message as to the collective feelings of the majority Barbadians. Can the people speak anymore clearer than what the recent failed march has demonstrated in practical terms David? Man, it is time you and your troop of BLP- POTTIMERS, give a little more credit to the collective awareness of the Barbadian people because they’re not as stupid as ya’ll believe them to be.

  33. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    David

    You need to cease and desist from undermining the collective intelligence of the Barbadian people and place blame where it rightfully belong. Must you continue to insult the collective conscience of the majority of Barbadians because your blog isn’t run wild with your imaginary disgruntled and dissatisfied Barbadian electorate?

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