Owen Arthur, Leader of the Opposition (l) Mia Mottley (r)
This anonymous contribution pre-empted BU’s blog on the subject of alleged financial infelicities which occurred under Mia Mottley’s stewardship as Leader of the Opposition, BU withholds our posting for the moment.
About ten days after running the most disastrous campaign ever ran by any leader of the BLP in St. John, a bitter Owen Arthur who was rejected even by BLP supporter, is seeking to do damage control but succeeds only in destroying Grantley Adams’s party even further. In short, Owen Arthur is a national embarrassment and disgrace, who is obsessed with his public approval rating! Time was when BLP members and supporters trusted Owen Arthur and his judgment but it is clear that a lot has changed since 2008 and he only has himself to blame.
No one expected that he was capable of putting so many thousands intended as campaign contribution, into his personal bank account unknown to anyone in the BLP. There are also BLP people who stop you on the road daily to tell you that the taxpayers’ money was not Owen Arthur’s’ to help-out a friend,’ even if that friend was in a tight spot.
There are two things that are not in dispute. One is that under Owen Arthur, the BLP is fast developing an image as a party, which is anti-women. If Owen Arthur is giving you, that seems alright but if as a woman you can make it on your own, then you immediately become a target for his unprovoked and caustic attack. Mia Mottley, Andrea Power and Mara Thompson are three of many examples.
The second thing which is not in dispute is that Owen Arthur is a tired, lonely and bitter old man who desperately wants power. Because of his serious love of himself, he is cranky and terrified by the notion that there can be a Barbados or even a Barbados Labour Party, without him. This is a man who made it clear to Barbadians that his sole aim in politics is to ensure that the DLP never becomes the government again. His intention is to orchestrate a rescue mission of himself as having been called to save Barbados.
The very man who is said to have gone to Parliament less than six times between 2008 and October 2010 is now being reported in the Sunday Sun of January 30th 2011 as having said: “I don’t want to appear as though I am fighting with Miss Mottley…I am trying desperately to hold the Barbados Labour Party together.” Mind you, Owen Arthur is talking about a party that has been in existence for over 72 years and had giants within its ranks like Grantley Adams, Tom Adams, Henry Forde, Cheltenham, Louis Tull, Bree St. John, Mia Mottley and Billie Miller. Wasn’t the BLP united before Arthur and his ‘gang of five’ ousted Mia Mottley in October 2010, which started the fast free fall to mistrust and confusion?
What does it mean when someone says: “those who are part of the party’s platform should step in sync with the party?” Should Mia Mottley have joined Owen Arthur and those on the platform in the St. John By-election who told the country that Mara Thompson was “unacceptable,” and that she was an “affront?” Should Mia Mottley now join with Arthur and others and criticise the DLP weekly for the sake of criticism? That is what this issue in the Sunday Sun is about: a seriously wounded Owen Arthur now seeking to do damage control! It shows the level of desperation on his part to be relevant and to grab headlines.
It is a desperate attempt by an embarrassed and seriously wounded Owen Arthur to create a distraction tactic to get the spotlight off him. After promising BLP members that in order to win, they only had to make him leader, Owen Arthur cannot deal with the humiliating rejection he got in St. John, even at the hands of BLP supporters. During the By-election, it was also quite noticeable that Mia Mottley distanced herself from the unproved attack made on Mara Thompson by Owen Arthur and other persons, who like his style of politics and as expected – spurred him on in his wrong doing.
In contrast, it was not surprising that Barbadians on both sides of the political divide as well as those in the middle – felt that Mia Mottley’s two speeches were dignified, mature and responsible, whereas two regional Prime Ministers expressed shock and total disgust at Owen Arthur’s un-called-for attack on Mara Thompson. Owen Arthur keeps finding himself on the wrong side of public opinion. But what could you say about a man who called a Media Conference on the very morning that Prime Minister Thompson died!
It is not often that the region sees in Owen Arthur, a man who has fallen so far from grace in a mere three years. Now realising that he continues to be an embarrassment to the BLP and a serious turn-off to the electorate, despite saying that there is a clamour for him, Owen Arthur has started on a renewed mission to seek to pull down and destroy Mia Mottley and ever other woman in Barbados he hates.
His is the behaviour one usually associates with a drunkard and a bully who engages in the most reckless acts and when spoken to, go home and take out his frustration on his family. This is yet another in a never-ending-series of unprovoked attacks on women, especially Mara Thompson and Mia Mottley.
First he told Barbadians to find her “unacceptable!” Then he tried to make her look childish by stating at the Party’s Conference: “Mia the BLP needs you.” After calling for healing, he sent a letter to the Clerk of Parliament asking for an investigation into his baseless allegation that files were missing from the Opposition’s Office. And now, yet another attempt to suggest wrong doings, as regards funds left in an account.
Is the information, which was leaked to the Nation Newspaper, suppose to downplay the fact that Owen Arthur is known to have put thousands intended as campaign contributions – into his personal bank account – unknown to any one in his party?
Why an investigation into the account being mentioned in the Sunday Sun, where (it would appear that) funds were used to advance the work of the party but not an investigation into the charge made by the Parliamentary Representative for St. James North, Rawle Eastman – as regards why someone paid the party $560 for 56 delegates he (Rawle) knew nothing about? Why not an investigation into why the Women’s League (headed by the very woman who is now Arthur’s Personal Assistant) was able to cherry-pick 210 delegates, when no meeting was held for that purpose? Why no investigation into why under-aged persons, as well as person who are said not be members of the BLP – and never made any application to join – were down as delegates to votes for George Payne?
Does this leaked report in the Sunday Sun, has to do with plans being cooked at the highest level within that party to discard two women: namely Mia Mottley and Cynthia Forde? Is it true that plans are being made to de-select Cynthia Forde and replace her with Clyde Mascoll; to deselect Arthur Holder and replace him with Rudy Grant; to de-select Rawle Eastman and replace him with George Payne’s cousin, Douglas Skeete and to de-select Mia Mottley and replace her with Ralph Thorne?
The issue is Owen Arthur’s insecurity and the speedy rate at which he is turning off even die-hard BLP members. Owen Arthur does not like what he sees when he looks in the mirror. He is a lonely and empty man who is searching for peace and desperately needs help. Because he is bitter, he feels that no one else should be happy. Despite presiding over a dysfunctional family he has manufactured in the last four years, he remains empty and bitter. The only thing that can cheer him up is he becoming Prime Minister again.
Mia Mottley is right! Ignore Owen Arthur, remain silent and do not get into a brawl or spitting contest with “yesterday’s man.” But: Exactly how did Owen Arthur reach this stage of thinking that there can be no Barbados without him?
Well,Well ,Well ,Murder, Murder, Murder,when will this all end?What next will Owen come up with? What made me laugh hard is Owen saying that he is trying desperately to keep the BLP together,I thought that the BLP is now one family,and unity is in the party, who are they trying to fool ? Bajans are ready for all the gangsters when ever the next election is called.RINSE RIGHT OUT!!
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No Longer Supporting BLP
Mia Mottley is being tried for using BLP funds for BLP purposes. LOL. Nowhere in this article is there even a hint of embezzlement. Is there more to come? If not, this is down right silly to even think that a Conncil should meet to discuss this.
Owen Arthur said the report “speaks for itself”, but that he would not publicly criticize Mottley over it. THAT IS AS BIG A CRITICISM IF EVER THERE WAS ONE.
“You don’t want to appear as though you are fighting with Miss Mottley.” Well put. This is what he has been doing for the past two years or more, fighting tooth and nail and trying to appear innocent. Mr. Arthur, give us a break.
His return to the helm of the BLP is like pouring acetone on glue. If he wants to see the party unite he should step aside, let common sense prevail.
Mr Arthur’s dislike for Miss Mottley has clouded his vision. His attempt to destroy her at all cost is destroying the BLP.
Did the alleged missing files stop Barker from compiling a financial report to be leaked to the media?
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No Longer Supporting BLP
@ Alien. When the DLP vacated the office of the leader of the Opposition do you think files were left on the computers? The Owen Arthur camp has yet to say what files are missing. For all we know Mia Mottley’s staff could have all been working on personal laptops that they took with them. The computer files issue was just another one of OA silly non-issues to discredit MM. The Party needs to analyse how Bajans are now viewing their ganster-style politics.
another attempt by OSA to prove himself worthless. keep up the good work OSA. you are heading in the right direction for self destruction!HA! HA! HA!
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Alien
The BLP MPs exercised their democratic right to elect a different leader and the result is condemnation of Owen Arthur. The events seem to suggest that an effort to remove George Payne from the Chairmanship of the BLP resulted in his support being switched to Owen Arthur for Opposition Leader. If Mia Mottley is unable to command the support of her colleagues, how can she command the support of Barbados? This is her test – when she can do battle against Owen Arthur and win, she will be ready for the DLP. Lesson number one was not to bite the hand that is holding you up.
Did Barker prepare the report on his own or was it certified by a third party against predetermined standards on how the BLP office agreed to operate?
To make the point isn’t Barker a party faithful?
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Antoine
Thanks Hartley, your analysis is spot on and you ask the same questions that have been on my mind.
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The Scout
The DLP is concentrating to much on the BLP, or rather on Owen and Mia and not doing the business of the people. Maybe they think that shifting focus on these two will cause bajans to forget the hardship that is happening to them. While some of it was unavoidable, one much admit that even early in the recession, the DLP was blowing much money, for example, on the Independance midnight galas on the Garrison and others. Forget, the BLP and concentrate on the next two years, bajans will forget the first three, improve the economy, ease taxes, give some insentives and the party would be well on the way to another term in office. Failing to do this would leave room for a rejuvenated BLP to mount a bigger challenge than possible right now. The DLP was in this hole only a few years ago and look where they are now.
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Random Thoughts
Quoting David’s anonymous contributor “if as a woman you can make it on your own…Mia Mottley, Andrea Power and Mara Thompson ”
I am no friend of Owen Arthur nor of the BLP…but self made women my ass…none of these 3 are self made women. All three of them received enormous amounts of money and political support from thier fathers and or their husbands.
It cannot be said that any one of them got to where they are today solely or principally on their own merit.
Who would Mia Mottley be without her father (and grandfather)?
Who would Mara Thompson be without her father and and her husband? Some would think perhaps just a poor rakey PE teacher.
Who would Andrea Power be without her father and her husband?
David please tell your poor rakey political analyst to THINK and come again.
Let’s agree the anonymous writer embellished the point, any substantive points raised at all by the writer?
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Random Thoughts
Quoting David’s anonymous contributor “Owen Arthur cannot deal with the humiliating rejection he got in St. John?”
Owen Athur was not rejected in St. John. The St. John people voted D as they have for near 60 years. This long established voting pattern had NOTHING to do with Owen Arthur.
“two regional Prime Ministers expressed shock and total disgust at Owen Arthur”
St Lucian PM Stevenson King is dare I say it a St. Lucian. So of course he defends the St. Lucian born Mara.
And over in St. Vincnet Ralphie’s party is affiliated with Barbados’ DLP so of course he defends Mara too.
“But what could you say about a man who called a Media Conference on the very morning that Prime Minister Thompson died!”
Since you asked I would say that Owen is just as practical as the “deeply bereaved widow Mara” who was on the campaign trail before her hgusband was good cool in his grave.”
“a drunkard and a bully
At least this alledged drunkard and alledged bully is alive and well; whereas the DLP’s drunkard (ask any doctor) and bully (ask Clyde Mascoll) is cooling in his grave.
Barbados will get by fine without Owen Arthur, as it is getting by just fine without David Thompson.
As it is getting by just fine without Grantley Adams, Errol Barrow, Tom Adams Bree St. John etc.
But if I were a DLP diehard I would not write off Owen Arthur just yet..because the people of Barbados have not yet written off Owen Arthur.
Barbados and Barbadians are BIGGER and BETTER than any politician.
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Market Vendor
@ Scout. OK Scoutie the Guyanese gone and you turning your sick, debased attention to DLP. The article is about Owen Arthur’s massive miscalculations. The man should be home sleeping savouring retirement not conspiring with judasses like George Payne and Dale Marshall to oust a young up and coming Mia Mottley. The BLP in dire need of young turks like Mottley not yesterday’s lliliputian Owen. Methinks OSA has thrown his last dice. He and the gang of five will go down in flames for the coup against Mia and the gutter politics they foisting on Barbadians.
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Random Thoughts
Quoting the blog’s David at 8:17 “any substantive points raised at all by the writer?”
It is obvious the BLP leaked the documents to the Nation, to what end? All it does is stoke the perception of a divided party.
To tarnish Mia with financial impropriety means Owen wants to destroy her.
It is time some of these documents in circulation are sent to BU for the people to scrutinize?
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checkit-out
David;
Thanks re. info on Andrea Power. Is she into politics? I hadn’t heard the name before.
I think the leak to the Nation was possibly an attempt to smoke Mia Mottley out, annoy her, get her to do something foolish and then somehow get her out of the party. Owen Arthur’s reaction, as given in the Nation Article, suggests that he probably authorized the leak or did it himself. But if he did, with such nebulous facts re. wrongdoing by Mia, it suggests that he wasn’t thinking the matter through clearly.
It seems to be backfiring however, at least judging by the responses on this blog.
Your anonymous writer would ostensibly appear to be someone in the Mia camp but there are some things in that article that suggest it might be the work of an agent provocateur (eg. Hartley Henry). Indeed, I think that this anonymous article could well do some harm to any possibility of rapproachment between the factions.
A very interesting development that could precipitate events that would shape the BLP and its leadership in the near future.
What will be interesting is the next poll by Peter Wickham.
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Kim
Given that this account has trustees as indicated in the article I made the assumption that a 2nd signatory is required for all cheques. I have 1 question. If mottley was the 1st signatory who was the 2nd. I asked around because like a good cop or lawyer I have never asked a question without first knowing the answer. Who compiled this report again? In the words of my great prime minister this story “should be punished with laughter.”
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enuff
@ David
What destroy Mia? That news article is poorly written and misleading, and casts no aspersions on Mia’s character. And posting the cheque as the page header proves what? Stupse. All yuh called for transparency ent? See how information can be manipulated and presented?
The reference to destroying Mia links back to the Nation article :-).
Highlighting the checque is a BU prerogative. Campaign financing is a burning issue and we have taken the opportunity to bring it to the forefront.
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checkit-out
David; You said above;
To tarnish Mia with financial impropriety means Owen wants to destroy her. It is time some of these documents in circulation are sent to BU for the people to scrutinize?
That is the message being sent. He means to destroy her. There can be little doubt of that. But the execution seems to be quite poor. I would really like to see those documents because the Nation Article does not present any data to suggest any impropriety by Mia Mottley in the handling of the accounts in her reported 30 months in Office as the LoO.
I hope someone answers your call and leak the original Barker Report soon. If it isn’t leaked soon we can either conclude that wiser heads prevailed or that there was really nothing damaging in the report re. Mia Mottley.
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Carson C. Cadogan
Even in opposition these fellas still “tiefing”.
Only thing now they are “tiefing” from each other.
Bunch of crooks I always said.
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Tell me Why
This is pure hogwash, sorry to use that term; but I am sick of seeing these rehashed issues. Instead of you David concentrate on enlightening Barbadian public about the many problems facing this Nation, you could find time to aligned with WIV, alias Rose alias Hartley alias many none de plumes whom you are aware, yet you oblige him in his castigation of Owen. I am stating that if Owen did received $75,000.00 in campaign funds and his party is not the favourite with the donor, you can understand what David received. The more these accusing fingers continue to point at one particular person, by the time general elections are called, the electorate would be sick of these issues. So it would be prudent for everyone to put our heads together for the improvement of our country.
BU invites you to page down and read any number of blogs posted in the last 2-3 days which may meet your request.
Regarding your accusation of being complicit with others to mislead we will ignore.
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enuff
@ david
I did more than comprehension, and that’s why I clearly understood that you were referring to the Nation article; and I said it did nothing to destroy Mia.
Re – the cheque and campaign finance yeah right.
Owen may have painted himself in a corner because he and or the Nation will be forced to make the report public. The public will demand no less especially if Mia denies it.
The Nation publishes a front page story emblazoned with the headline 1/2 million Quiz and in the content tosses all kinds of accusation Mia’s way and you would make light of the motive behind it?
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checkit-out
CCC
You said; Even in opposition these fellas still “tiefing”. Only thing now they are “tiefing” from each other. Bunch of crooks I always said.
Did the article show any tiefing? Point us to where it said so or leak david a copy of the Barker report if it says so.
Yes pay to the order of Owen which he should have been immediately endorsed to the BLP Account for the appearance of transparency. This is why we need Integrity Legislation, this way we codify how financing campaigns should go down.
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Alien
Is the pictured cheque a non-issue where it was deposited as made out and, if meant for the BLP, subsequently transferred?
An internal report which was prepared by a BLP hack has pointed to certain expenditures which occurred under Mia’s stewardship. One gets the sense Barker is questioning the size of the payments moreso than the legitimacy.
The cheque is an issue because as far as BU is aware it represents the tip of an iceberg. It is our understanding politicians receive campaign donations and treat them in the same way Owen did the 75 thousand, deposit to personal accounts. In this case Owen was found out because of an audit at a bank. What about the others who go free?
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Tell me Why
Regarding your accusation of being complicit with others to mislead we will ignore.
Did I pinched a nerve. Why don’t you investigate the various campaign funds paid to the DLP. Barbadians are aware of the monies written to Owen, now let’s be fair and realistic and find out How many CHEQUES were checked or slipped under the table on behalf of the official DLP party. Be a man David.
How do you propose we investigate campaign donations to the parties?
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Alien
Is it known if the funds were subsequently transferred to the BLP? Is it possible that Owen Arthur was in the clear and therefore allowed this to be the focus of his opponents rather than something that could really be an issue at the time?
Maybe you know more than Arthur made public about the affair. We can only go by what he said on the platform.
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Tell me Why
David you said “In this case Owen was found out because of an audit at a bank. What about the others who go free?”
David, Audit my foot. Why don’t you let the blogging world know that the said bank was owned by the CLICO dynasty and maybe, or should I say deliberately, the said cheque was made public by an official with clout in order to destroy Owen and the party. Why is it that audits come and audits go, yet no one can find any cheques ever written to the opposing party. I am awaiting dialogue from CCC or others affiliated with the party.
You seem to have license to say what you want, BU will go with what was made public. In this case we should thank Parris for letting the cat out of the bag you mean?
Unless party insiders go public with the names of campaign contributors there is no way to know, do you understand now?
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enuff
I said it was a poor article, and I mean poor. Who wrote it Wade or Chris?
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Tell me Why
How do you propose we investigate campaign donations to the parties?
You said Owen’s campaign funds were realised by an Audit. How come within the said audit, no one saw how much David or the DLP received.
Probably, the other cheques and paper trail were missing. Audit my foot.
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checkit-out
David;
This matter may reveal somewhat more than was intended. I hadn’t realised before now that there was indeed a separate Campaign account. The Campaign account under discussion would therefore be the one which should have received the famous Owen Arthur cheque. As far as I recall we were told that it was customary practice for campaign donations to have been put on personal accounts of the persons who received them (eg. Owen Arthur or David Thompson or Clyde Mascoll)
It is very unlikely therefore that the Nation would have been provided with the full report by Tyrone Barker. It would have been too sensitive. Tyrone Barker is a professional. He lectured in Accounts at UWI. His report is likely to have been quite comprehensive and should not only have dealt with the transactions since 2008 in order to get some semblance of balance re. cash flows in the Owen era as against the Mia era.
They can’t leak that full report unless it was tailor made to try to get at Mia (hmmm).
This could be a can of worms filled with serious unintended consequences.
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enuff
Tell Me Why
You are right. No audit!! Who signed the same cheque, not a man Parris put in court and tried to destroy?
Has it occurred to you that the DLP might have gotten campaign financing via another account and therefore the audit or whatever you chose to call it is a non-point?
@enuff
The writer was Trevor Yearwood, wrong on both counts.
@checkit-out
You are quickly gaining a reputation oin BU as the analyst!
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