what is your point?

In my opinion the caribbean should have gained independence en-block as apposed to this fragmented situation that currently exists. We are now paying for it with scarce resources and duplication of efforts which is hampering the development of the region. Regional integration will come at a huge price; politically and financially.

I think folks are just comfortable having that connection to the Queen and England. Your question makes sense but many don’t see it as a big deal. It is reflected in the region’s continued love of the Privy Council in England as the final court of appeal. Joining forces as an economic block is probably the best move our region can make for long term viability and growth, yet we continue to fight against it. These are all questions to ponder, especially in relation to Independence.

Caribbean people will have no choice but to unite. As Bob Marley reminds is African brethren in his song “Africa Unite”.Look around you every country is forming blocks of economic Union which will eventually morphed into political unions.The problem why a lot of Caribbean people are isolationists and myopic in their view are that we don’t know each other enough.Most of us our first encounter with other Caribbean nationalities are at UWI or when we migrate up North. 95% of us in the region have never travel to another sister’s Island.It is this self-impose exile on our little rocks that foster a warp sense of nationalism and petty jealousies.

That is why we need an affordable mode of transporation in the region for Island hopping. We definately need a ferry service and a cheaper air travel arrangements.

Can anyone shed light on this? I recall (dimly) that there was a name change for our local police force in 1966 – and that it was from ‘Royal Barbados Police Force ‘ to ‘Barbados Police Force’ in acknowledgement of our independence. Or was it the other way around?
Anyway having a ‘Royal BPF’ in 2010 seems totally incongurous to me . But then again we cling steadfastly to the anachronistic knighthood as our highest (local) honour. Some independence!!

@ Not Saved | December 20, 2010 at 9:38 PM |
Incoherent rambling.
=========
EXACTLY! EXACTLY!
This writer is terrene-oid or terrence-esque.
There is a need for would be writers on BU to evince STRUCTURE– SEQUENCE- & SUBSTANCE in what they seek to share………as well as SOURCES!

@ BU DAVID
Do you think that the opinions shared on BU have any effect whatsoever on the powers that be in BIM? I ask this because the utterances of the Minister of Health strikes me as arrogant and pregnant with ignorance.

Whereas we do generally have a better Health Service than that in the USA, why should there STILL be the large amount of garbage by the Fairchild Market? Is this not a simple Public Health matter that can have serious consequences (I note that the presence of faeces was noted).

What is wrong with the people of Barbados demanding better and more services? It is sad that he can not think of the very obvious ways that ceretain improvements can be acquired without cost to local tax payers. But I am not paid to divulge this information and I will not.

Why is he arrogantly pouting that HE (as if he is God Almighty) has set up a Board at QEH that is doing nonsense? Is he courting a strike? Or is he relying on the good graces of BAMP not to run him ragged?

From my vantage point, there is so much that we can do that costs very little to improve Health in Barbados.

Does the Government really think that building a polyclinic in St John at Gall Hill or Colleton is a Health priority?

OK David
But how do you know that? Just asking
We seem to have a clique of regular contributors here, and some who pop in once or now and then.
Do you think that there is a wide readership in the population and leadership?

@Jack Spratt: Well aware of this my friend but what does it matter if (OUR VERY OWN) Knight is of St. Andrew or St. James or Christ Church? He/She is still a ‘Knight’ and safely entombed in the Colonial mindset. Trinidad and Jamaica have shown more independent thinking than Barbados in fashioning their honours system. In this respect our thinking has been completely ‘inside the box’ and we still come across as ‘Little England’.

@GP

We have to keep at it, building alliances, ensuring our content is of value etc. The Bajan blogosphere and other social media is a work in progress.

@ David
I also want to wish you and yours and the rest of BU family a very merry Christmas and all the best in 2011.

I agree that the blogosphere is a work in progress and that we need to keep at it. You also say ..”ensuring our content is of value”.
I suspect that this might be a bit of a challenge to you sometimes, because not all contributions are of value or acceptable standard(whatever acceptable may be,and whoever may decide the criteria). I can see that sometimes this could be in contradiction with your well-guarded right of “freedom of speech”. However, to make a difference I think that the contibutions will have to be of a certain standard and value.

Well David not that I want to put the ball back ik your court, but it is your blog. If it were my blog I would have to be clear on :
1. What do I want to achieve
2. How do I set out to achieve my goal(s)
I would further want to make a distinction between contributors who submit articles, analyses, etc.(contributors) and people who respond to these contributions
I think Georgie Porgie mentioned “structure, sequence and substance” . That to me makes a lot of sense when you look at the contributors. When it comes to the different responses I think you could leave that open to allow for freedom of speech.

No, that’s NOT what I’m saying. But I do think that the person should have SOMETHING to say and not mere ramblings.
Would you for example be interested in whether “my ham came out of the oven too early and then the sorrel is too sweet and I don’t know if my car is clean enough.”………..Just trying to make absolutely no sense.
This is not twitter, is it? Some contributors, as far as I am concerned, just love to hear their own voice. Just like some people who call the call-in programs on a daily basis but is their contribution meaningful? Mind you, I am not talking about grammar here.
The thread about BLP for example is very important, it doesn’t matter whether all the responses make sense or not. There is substance, that is what is important. Jokes or lighthearted comments are fine too.
By the way, BU is open to non Bajans as well, right?

You might be right. So David, just keep on continuing the good work!

@Independent

It was discussed on many of the political blogs. BU supports Mara running but recollection is we are divided on the issue.

I really am no fan of Lawyers… truth is I believe my sentiment wrt these jack asses to be popular and deserved… Now the fact that the countries of the English speaking Caribbean have chosen to side with a queen on some many fronts cannot come as a surprise when so much of our political/national agenda is shaped by such gifted people…?

But have you noticed that many of those who want to get rid of things British, like the Royal in RBPF, the name QEH, Princess Margaret School, and all of those regal road names in Bank Hall and Bridgetown, are the same very people who would throttle you if it was suggested that while we are shedding things British to throw in Harrison (college) Coleridge and Parry, Codrington and not to mention (Lord) Combernere.

Thnx David

And the same to you and yours … I faget to mention that I plan to visit a piano bar or two, let’s face when one door closes another opens… maybe .. ja ja