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?
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Jenny M
By the way George when I said that Owen laid a foundation for people like you you may have misunderstood. All the other PMs before Owen and Sandiford had some trappings of gentility. That a man of humble origins could be PM in Barbados for 14 plus years has set a precedent for other persons of humble birth. Can’t you see the point? Do I need to spell out every thing for u? Get off the man back and show some sensitivity!!
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Crusoe
@Carson,
As I said, Owen was placed into his current position., he told us plain and simple he did not really want it.
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George C. Brathwaite
@Jenny M
You are so correct that Mia can fight her own battles that I need not respond since my offerings here are really about what Owen has done/said to damage himself in the eyes of people (and yes, me). I have not made a case for Mia, but if you think I should, then tell me to do just that and perhaps I shall oblige.
You also hinted that I should stop being insensitive and disrespecting Owen and be weary of casting stones. For what it is worth, there is no reasonable reader who sits on any side or no side who will say to you that I have been insensitive in my dealing with the issues that Owen Arthur made public. Moreover, I never professed to have rid myself of demons and hence I deal with political issues rather than personal issues. Yet, because I know that I walk in a world that can be said to be the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because daily I ask God to be my guide, strength, and resolve. I am not perfect, I have not lived a perfect life, and I do not have the power to rid myself of demons; I depend on the grace and mercy of Almighty God. Based on that, I can speak the truth to you about me or Owen. In other words, do as I suggested before, start listening to the Barbadians rather than pushing that intimidation at me. It shall not make me afraid nor will it silence me. If what I have written in any public forum appears to undermine or in any way offend Owen Arthur, there is no disrespect intended. However, there is a deliberate act on my part to put principle and party before the ego; to discover rather than blindly accept; to challenge where necessity demands such in the name of justice and fair-play. Jenny M, let Owen do his own exorcism. Please do not speak for him or hide behind the cloud that may be offered here, if you have something to say to me, say it or shut to **** up.
Be strong, the intimidatory tactic by Jenny M is symptomatic of Arthur’s era. Bajans yearn for a different kind of politics and this was evident if we go by the feedback in response to the platforms of both political parties in the St.John by election.
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George C. Brathwaite
@ Jenny M and BU readers
There are three key things that I pin to Owen Arthur; these are:
1. Between the early 1990’s and up to around 2007 I saw a visionary leader that was keen to deliver the goodies for Barbados in terms of the economy and society;
2. I saw a fairly charismatic leader that beamed with confidence despite also seeing a man who did not deal well with criticism;
3. I saw a man who did not allow his imperfections to stop him from achieving a better life for the average Barbadian.
In the scope of political things, much of this that I have advanced is fast becoming water under the bridge. Should Arthur or his staunchest supporters go back to the unveiling of Errol Barrow’s statue in Independence Square, you would remember listening keenly to an individual that reached the zenith of his career and became a statesman of the highest magnitude.
Since January 2008 and most definitely since Mr. Arthur chose the UWI to express his sentiments in relation to the acceptability of the then Leader of the Opposition, it has been downhill for him and the BLP. It is as if to say to all and sundry, if I am not elevated or reinstated, I will bring the BLP down with me. That to my mind is a sad message to send even if it was never the intent to do such.
I do not write to say who should or should not lead the BLP. It is not in my place at this time to say. However, I remain clairvoyant in assessing the contributions that Arthur would have made to people all across barbados and beyond inferring damage to the political fortunes of the BLP as an institution. The public debacle that took place when he did not want to return to leadership but merely answered a call from within the rank and file is perhaps one of his most vain glorious expressions of a man whose time came, went, and is unlikely to come again. Having much respect for his intellect, I can assure you that Arthur himself when he applies sober reflection well understands that he no longer commands the popularity or respect of the thousands of Barbadians who saw the making of that statesman I spoke about. I will not suggest that his change of role is now that of a groundsman, but he has failed to reconnect because he has also failed to listen to the voices who cry out for a more progressive and encompassing politics. By encompassing I am not speaking of the politics of inclusion based upon opportunism, but a reaching out to say, I want to lead but I am prepared to be servant of all.
This is indicative of why so much goodwill now follows the DLP despite their many blunders and less than inspiring approaches to governance. Between 2008 and late 2010, the head of the DLP received almost maximum support from its MPs in and outside of parliament; during the same period, Mr. Arthur withheld such a gesture even if in protest (one only has to count his appearances or filter through his few speeches).
Hence, it is reasonable to suggest that here is a man who finds it difficult to lend support but expects support. Here is a man who continues to base his success on the past rather than offer hope for new beginnings to map a new and sustained vision for Barbados. In effect, Arthur is rapidly washing ashore unable to hide the fact that at times his vexatious spirit so self-inflicts wounds that he has become a liability to the BLP and the future of governance in Barbados. I truly wish this was not the case because like many in the BLP and Barbados, I long for that rich period under his guidance especially between 1996 and 2006.
Admittedly, duration in Parliament and longevity as a Prime Minister is not sufficient to say that you are relevant today or in the future. We only have to look at the Middle East and Egypt and Tunisia in particular. Yes, you should be in a position to advise, but leave the leading to those who are in touch with the voices and needs of the people. By any yard stick, you did well in your tenure as Prime Minister (though not unblemished). Owen Arthur, you still have my respect (not that it counts for anything), but your series of errors, unnecessary public attacks on persons who do not congeal to your expectations, and your lack of strategic imagination (except in courting fear and intimidation) leaves much to be desired in the minds of ordinary Bajans like myself. Based on all that I have written, and I know that you and those that see no further than your best days as Prime Minister, will come after me much sooner than later. I cannot wish you success, nor can I support you at this time more than righting wrongs in the BLP would allow. Should you amend your callous approach that has now set in, I am likely to have a change of heart even if not a change in respect of the fact that by your deeds and words, I do not see you as even being a shadow of the leader that you once represented. Time is drawing nigh! By the way, I want you to be the statesman that you could be and ought to be; your political currency has been devalued by your own mouth and ego.
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George C. Brathwaite
@ David
Thanks for the support and thanks for the median made available.
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checkit-out
George C Brathwaite; I really am no fan of yours but I totally concur with practically everything you have said in your 6:34 post. You could have been speaking for me.
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Carson C. Cadogan
Crusoe
“he told us plain and simple he did not really want it.”
Yeah and don’t forget that pigs can fly.
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Jenny M
George, I may agree with you that Owen’s Press conference at the UWI would not win him any prize, but how many people you know don’t at some time fall short. But why is it that even since that time the Wickham polls still saw him the most popular person in the BLP. Mia for whom you are clearly working having been leader for nearly three years was struggling for support. And you must be working for her because if you claim to be a BLP member who else could you be working for if you are tearing down Arthur worse than any Dem is. I don’t think you working for Freundel or Chris or any Dem. Let us know what you are up to. You obviously are on a mission to destroy a man who has served Barbados well for 14 years and more .
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checkit-out
HAMILTON HILL re. your post of Feb 2, 2011 at 12:00 AM;
Testing
I once briefly thought that you were the Kingmaker, HH but I’ve long realised that you could not be. Your scholarship, deductive thinking and insights emphatically says so.
You said; … CHECK- with the one who found a way OUT , and now enjoys the spoils that detachment brings
If you were referring to me, I’m sorry. I am enjoying no spoils of detachment or anything else. I just like a good mystery.
The current situations within the BLP and DLP are very serious. They can’t be compared with the period of the Thompson-Mascoll infighting because at that time the Country could arguably prosper in spite of the DLP troubles since the external situation was good or getting better and the BLP had no problems. The situation now is that both the DLP and BLP are having problems in a bad external environment.
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The Scout
Hamilton Hill
I’m sick and tired of any of you referring to me as a supporter of either Owen S Arthur or the BLP. I’ve stated over and over again ,but the infantile political mind that some of you have deprives you from being sensible thinkers. When I criticise the DLP I’m labelled a B, when I criticise the BLP, I’m labelled a D. I’ve stated over and over again, I once belonged to , a member of, the DLP, I still have some bias towards the DLP but I now support good governance irrespective of which government is in office. My bias would be for the DLP, that ‘s why I criticise them more for some simple things they do or get themselves involved in, that are unDLPlike. What mirror image the DLP and their leaders and genuine member have of themselves? The reason why the DLP was formed in the 50’s seems to be going full circle and I would not be surprise if a new party is formed out of both parties, if it happens, it will only be successful if there is NEW blood among them, other than that it will be the same old, same old. Mr Hill and others PLEASE stop labelling me as a BLP or a DLP, I AM ME. You even called Owen my boss, I have two bosses, first God and secondly my WIFE and neither of them is anything like Owen.
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The Scout
I will say this once again to all those DLP yardfowls, tell your leaders to stop focussing on Owen Arthur, focus instead on the mood that is being generated on the ground. The St. John’s by-elections was not a win for the DLP or a lost for the BLP, it was what was expected, so stop beating your chest and boasting about the beating you put into the BLP. If any of you fought Lennox Lewis and was knocked out in the first few seconds of the first round, do you think Lewis would be walking around beating his chest proclaiming a mighty victory? well the same thing happened in St. John. As I have already stated, the true feeling of the barbadian voting public will bw measured if or when the seat in a marginal constituency becomes vacant. So DLPites get down to convincing bajans that you are the better party.
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George C. Brathwaite
@ Jenny M
You wrote: Mia for whom you are clearly working having been leader for nearly three years was struggling for support. And you must be working for her because if you claim to be a BLP member who else could you be working for if you are tearing down Arthur worse than any Dem is. I don’t think you working for Freundel or Chris or any Dem. Let us know what you are up to. You obviously are on a mission to destroy a man who has served Barbados well for 14 years and more .
My dear friend and I hope to say comrade, your statements above are dead wrong at each turn. I do not work for or on the behalf of Mia nor am I her advisor. Perhaps the only thing you managed to get correct is that I am not a DEM nor am I working for them.
Let us face it, I have actually said nothing disparaging about Owen Arthur. Moreover, I give and continue to offer respect and accolades where they may be due. I have not done near as much damage to Arthur than he has done himself and that those who purport to support him do by attempting to silence me or anyone who appears in the smallest way to be critical of some of his words and invectives. What I am saying is, that each time you come after me, you do more harm to the Arthur you seek to defend when there is no justification to do so. As long as I remain on a path of truth, whether it is BLP, DLP, PEP, or Barbadians not supporters of any party, it is the more than you of your volition that dishonours a man who served both the BLP and Barbados very well for the better part of 14 years. It is best that you take note unless it is your choice to have me rebut things that you say I have not said and hence put more in the mortar than is already there. I am a poor man, an intelligent man, and my riches are the talents that God gave me. I will speak/write the truth and if it truly blisters or damages Arthur, I apologise beforehand. I never knew that an ant like me could so affect the destiny of one who has walked the walk before his self-made infelicities brought him into public account.
I urge you Jenny M, and any others who think it is best to engage in a war of words with me, that it is best to leave me alone. I do not slander, libel, or disrespect; do not draw me to your lowly place of reference. I know that Arthur is discerning, and he will figure out that I am not against him; I am for the BLP, good governance, and Barbados foremost.
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George C. Brathwaite
if I never say another word between now and the next general elections, there is sufficient damage done by so called members of the BLP who enjoy the politics of mash up and build back, that the result becomes inevitable regardless of the state of the Barbadian economy. Who should I blame?
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George C. Brathwaite
off to university to do one of the few things that I know that I am in control of without having to await the morsel thrown to me by those who make themselves demagogues. Bye until time permits.
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Hugh
@ George C. B
Wuhloss !!! Ya too bad…..I Love it……LOL
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Hants
George C. Brathwaite wrote “since Mr. Arthur chose the UWI to express his sentiments in relation to the acceptability of the then Leader of the Opposition,”
That was the unkindest cut of all.
That is why he and Mia won’t be kissin an makin up.
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Appollo 13
Other than the ill advised Owen Arthur UWI press conference, what has Owen Arthur done to merit these savage attacks from DLP supporters on this blog aided by BLP supporters?
The BLP MPs who voted against Mia and expressed no confidence in her leadership for whatever reason, voted for Owen to return as leader. I did not get it that Owen intends to stay on too long, I thought it was for a short while. Mia was removed by due process.
However Mia did not behaved in any manner in the by election to merit her return to the leadership, she behaved like a spolit brat, so how could the other MPs ever vote for her to be their leader again.
I would take what Lionel Craig say with a pinch of salt. VOB deliberately sought him out to continue to stir up this rift. He has no god given right to be castigating anyone. He made an ignorant statement and people hung the BLP for years for it.
The same Owen Arthur’s government tried to help him out by giving him contracts and he embarassed the government big time and the Dems lambasted the BLP for years for this.
Rommell Marshall is a nobody, no one takes him seriously. One has to know the facts and motives behind his mouthings.
He has a beef with Owen. Owen was going to appoint him to a consultancy during his last administration and he went and opened his big mouth, showing off as he usually does. Owen retracted and he is vexed from this. His other beef is that Owen took him to task for using his parents to bring in the Mercedes he now drives under the returning nationals scheme. He has no credibility to talk about Owen.
Why did Rommell not return to the St Michael West Central constitunency he represented if he was serious, why would he go into St James Central and now up in St Joseph, can you really take him seriously? He used to be a lap dog for Owen so this says alot about him.
But this serves Owen right, all of the attacks he is now getting is mostly from the stupid policy of politics of inclusion he practiced. The way these “inclusioners” are behaving is strictly out of the DLP playbook.
In the meanwhile, the Dems love these diversionary tactics as Rome continues to burn. High unemployment, high cost of living, a police force torn down the middle with Dems backing Bernie Hinds and Bees backing Darwin Dottin, crime and violence on the increase, the QEH in a deeper mess, an out of control fiscal deficit, CLICO policyholders crying out for help and a lot of incompetent ministers doing nothing.
Deal with the issues and leave the Bees alone!
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Negroman
Brother Scout You are sick & tire of people labelling you a BLPite but many of us are sick & tire of you lambasting the Democratic Labour Party by having nothing positive to say about the party.Scout you have been the harshest & fiercest critic of this government on this blog.Scout,I challenge you to to say one good thing this government has done for Barbados since coming into power in 2008.You have not taken up the challenge.
Scout,everyone on this blog including Your Truly have seen through your charade and all of us are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are either a member or supporter of the Barbados Labour Party and nothing you can say on this blog will ever convince this Negroman to think otherwise.
Scout,you are sick & tire of us bloggers labelling you a BLPite and we bloggers are also sick & tire of you lambasting the Democratic Labour Party administration unfairly and without just cause.I indicated before that you are only waiting for the Democratic Labour Party to self destruct so that you can come on this blog and say I told you so.
Scout from all your postings you are only preaching doom & gloom for Barbados because the Democratic Labour Party is in power.
What kind of supporter is you that nothing positive was ever posted by you on the performance of this government.With a supporter like you the party does not need any opponents.
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anthony
There probably lies one of the deepest challenges of the current government. How to show the population its done good. Almost all of the current programs have had repercussion to show some fault in them.
If we argue free bus rides there was increase of bus fare
If we argue increased house simple reply is increased taxes
If we argue removing of environmental levy the reply is increase of vat. ( vat is final tax calculated on CIF + duties + cess. environmental levy was was based on cif or fixed)
Supported tourism with the TIRF fund the reply be with increased taxes.
If we argue Increase pension would be replied to by a little amount and raised taxes and nis.
If we argue kept people from public layoffs the reply is it built a mountain of debt and taxes public and private to do so.
So you see scout not being impartial he just being a realist
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Carson C. Cadogan
SCOUT
After the next general elections you will just curl up and die
when your party gets another bashing.
Your lord and saviour Owen”seethru”Arthur has been beaten twice by us and is on his hat-trick.
We are rearing and ready to give him the third flogging he craves.
He will end up in JENKINS, trust me.
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Carson C. Cadogan
SCOUT
I don’t mean to upset your lunch but i have to tell you this.
“BARBADOS IS AMONG four Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) member countries whose fiscal deficit narrowed in 2010. The others are Grenada, Guyana and Jamaica”
Continue to enjoy your meal if you and the BLP supporters can after that information.
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George C. Brathwaite
@ Apollo13
What a mouthful! The words and language used makes a certain individual spring to mind.
Nevertheless, you wrote: In the meanwhile, the Dems love these diversionary tactics as Rome continues to burn. High unemployment, high cost of living, a police force torn down the middle with Dems backing Bernie Hinds and Bees backing Darwin Dottin, crime and violence on the increase, the QEH in a deeper mess, an out of control fiscal deficit, CLICO policyholders crying out for help and a lot of incompetent ministers doing nothing.
Deal with the issues and leave the Bees alone!
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To a large extent I agree with you; furthermore, these issues have been on the table from inception and a certain class of persons did not deal with them. Then we had a bye election in which I hoped that these would have been strategically dealt with. But no; only when loose tongues out foxed brains did we see any inclination to deal with these issues.
Hence, I must conclude that Barbados needs some new blood in the management of its affairs. The DEMS marking time and the BLP standing easy. What has this country come to when if it is not politics of derision and intimidation, it is a lackadaisical politics that flourishes in several (not all) those that are supposed to be representatives.
Apollo13, you cannot stop people from talking; but you can give them reason to support you when the time comes. barbados is still a democracy. Talk-ya-talk comrade!
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Hants
@Carson C. Cadogan
Are you trying to create sympathy votes for the BLP.
Your acerbic tone could be reserved for the start of the next election campaign.
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Appollo 13
These are good things that the DLP has done:
*Free bus fares for children resulting in adding to the Transport Board’s $48 milion deficit
* Free summer camps to the tune of millions to the taxpayers but fatted calf shared to its supporters, including Kenny Best who had a camp, some of their supporters had three camps each
* High petrol costs and allowing the Transport Board to run a gas station illegally so that SOL can make back its millions spent on the DLP campaign and cover the costs of David Thompson flying up and down the world on SOL’s private jet
* Increase VAT to 17.5%
* Increase water rates by 60%
*Building alot of poorly built chicken coops for houses and not being able to get neither renters or buyers resulting in the NHC not being able to access loans.
* Turning NHC into a hell hole in which to work with nepotism running rampant
*Firing Marilyn Rice Bowen and installing a brother as chairman while pretending in the by election to be champions of women
* Giving away the taxpayers land to JADA at Coverley in exchange for free plane rides and gifts
* Ronald Jones cursing the prinicpals and creating such a hostile atmosphere in the MOE that many senior staffers have left
* Stephen Lashley cursing out public servants and telling them to shape up or ship out as if he dont know the rules governing the public service and now putting a gag order on NCF workers
* Raising unemployment from 6.5% to 11% in three years
*Spending over 2.5 billion dollars left as foreign reserves and cleaning out the sinking fund in two years with nothing to show for it
* Running up the highest fiscal deficit ever over $500 million
*Three cabinet reshuffles in three years
*Chaos at the hospital with a minister giving directives to move a patient to a private clinic and then suing the doctor who brought it to light and then the Chairman suspending the said doctor and then had to bring him back after the telemedicine failed
*Raising petrol products as they fancy up and down making no sense
*Appointing Kellman as minister and then changing the substantive minister to minister without portfolio resulting in the biggest cabinet ever in Barbados
*Creating chaos and low staff morale at the Tourism Authority promising to break it up into two companies and now realising that they dont have money to do so
*Minister Lowe making sure when he was in charge of Urban that Patrick Todd’s father house got fixed
*Donville Inniss getting a road to his apartments paved
*Mass chaos in MPT resulting in more choas on the road
* Supporting CLICO fooling bajans that it was a sound and well managed company and now refusing to help policyholders in recovering their money
And these are not even all of the good things the DLP has done.
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anthony
Carson C. Cadogan | February 2, 2011 at 1:21 PM |
SCOUT
I don’t mean to upset your lunch but i have to tell you this.
“BARBADOS IS AMONG four Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) member countries whose fiscal deficit narrowed in 2010. The others are Grenada, Guyana and Jamaica”
Continue to enjoy your meal if you and the BLP supporters can after that information.
Now you see if you just look at Newspaper title you don’t get much info. Barbados fiscal deficient in 2009 was 733 million while in 2010 it was 714 . Not much of drop now is it? In fact it is about a st john polyclinic worth. lol
Now for the Easter Caribbean central bank report the fiscal deficient was 780 million for the whole ec countries while in 2010 is was 335. Make you wonder did the cdb get all the reports ? or is grenade doing all by it self. If is the latter then there is much to learn. If its the former well more than 4 countries now really.
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George C. Brathwaite
Now who can say that Appollo 13 is not just who I think it is. This man is fiery. What is different is that he does not attack me like some others (jenny M); he takes the challenge and provides a listing of many issues that need debate. I would vote for you, fuh trute.
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The Scout
Negro Man
My Bro, I didn’t have to answer you, there were many replies to your question to me. However, this is what I would add, THERE IS NOTHING YOU OR ANYONE ELSE CAN SAY TO ME OR ABOUT ME THAT WOULD STOP ME FROM TAKING MY POSITION. I expect better from the DLP and they are NOT producing. In the 70’s barbados went through a crisis and the economic guru Eroll Barrow not only shook us out of it before the rest of the region but we were able to help others to get out. I’m not seeing enough being done by the DLP to get us out of this recession, all we are doing is drifting and hoping that the world rebound soon. I got news for you the world will rebound and we would still be sleeping. My question to you Negro Man is simple, What possitive things the DLP has done since gaining government in 2008? I’ll await your reply.
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Hants
The Scout”I’m not seeing enough being done by the DLP to get us out of this recession, all we are doing is drifting and hoping that the world rebound soon.”
I asked for ideas here on BU and none auh wunna had any.
All I reading is questions but no answers.
Thruth is that the world is heading for another recession so bore more holes to tighten wunna belts some more.
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The Scout
Hants
You’re spreading doom and gloom, things are great, it’s just that we can’t see it. I wish politicians would take their heads out of cloud nine and face the truth and tell the people the truth. I didn’t expect the DLP to do half the things that was promised in their manifesto but level with the people and stop blaming the former government for every flower that fades, it’s time they start accepting some of the chaos that we are in. That’s why Negro Man can’t answer me. However he will always be my friend, just that I call a spade, a spade whenever I see one.
Not once have I ever tried to deceive anyone . To whose credit is it that I was thought to be any King Maker ? Certainly not mine , for all I have done is stand on the courage of conviction , and with my silly deductions rattle the cages of the undercover Drones , who would want to appear as nomadic but shoot their stinging tentacles IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY . Again I stand by my every statement . Stealth has more value than Wealth , and in our Barbados today ANONYMITY is surely some men’s best friend .
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checkit-out
HAMILTON HILL re. your post of Feb 2, 2011 at 10:18 PM;
I really have great difficulty in understanding your parable above.
The main reason I thought you were Hartley Henry was your Initials, HH. I did’nt and still don’t know if Hamilton Hill is a pseudonym or not and it really doesn’t matter.
I was congratulating you on the innate sense and wisdom of your posts and the fact that you don’t come across as a CCC or HH or the original Royal Rumble or Bajan Panday or Charlie or others of that Ilk.
I also stand by my every statement and I think I recognize the few kindred spirits on this blog that do the same.
I agree with your stance on anonymity and therefore disagree with Christopher Halsall, the main purveyor of the doctrine of universal non-anonymity on this blog. Private sector bloggers who do not depend on Government’s assistance in any way can blog under their real names to their heart’s delight and I suspect that they need fear no significant repercussions to themselves or family. Similarly, overseas bajans can do the same. However, I suspect the same considerations are not necessarily applicable to the few anonymous posters on this blog who, like me, were or are Public Servants and who can only give certain perspectives on sensitive subjects, sometimes related to former or current bosses or systems, as anonymous bloggers.
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Jenny M
George, I was really trying to be kind to you at first but you would have none of it. You are not as wise as I thought.Clearly, education is not common sense.
I find it rather strange that with so many issues to discuss you are using all media available to you to cut Owen Arthur’s head off. Why? And by the way he is the constitutionally elected head of Her Majesty’s Opposition in Barbados. Your appeal to the moral high ground is very hollow and smacks of something bordering on the sinister. Come clean! You are not Jesus or even Peter and yet you playing God! Sorry! Yours is nothing more than a crass display of usurpation.
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Pappy P
How many times have you heard the statement” 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.”
Since I am reminded that the human source of these words consciously and constantly repeats this mantra before spewing his acidic poison. I think and will urge that the sadistic behavior of such a human species ought to be clinically examined, and we must ask ourselves is he sincere, mad or is he a fraud?
With overt pathetic intentions and contemptuous motives, he continues to inflict pain on others including some of those who are partisan political fundamentalists, worshiping him blindly.
It is a nagging feeling that no normal person can believe that such a person would do the things that he did and still claim to be trying to keep the party together. One cannot believe such insanity! what this reflects is greed and selfishness.
I am convinced that we are witnessing a pressing political problem which demands psycho analysis.
The pronouncements and attributes of OA has similar features to those of the Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. The secret service saw it necessary to study Hitler who believed he was the greatest leader that Germany ever had. Hitler had no reservations in saying that “I AM ONE OF THE HARDEST MEN, GERMANY HAS HAD FOR DECADES, PERHAPS FOR CENTURIES EQUIPPED WITH THE GREATEST AUTHORITY OF ANY LEADER… BUT ABOVE ALL I BELIEVE IN MY SUCCESS. I BELIEVE IN IT UNCONDITIONALLY.”
The experience of the Jews who suffered at the hands of Hitler ought to inform us of the danger of taking lightly the behavior of this local progeny of Hitler.
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The Scout
Since my friend and other DLP diehards can’t answer the question I asked my friend, I feel disappointed that the party I used to exclusively support has regained government and find themselves incapable of showing to THIER SUPPORTERS that they have done some positive things for them even though the recession was hitting us hard. They can’t even show a programme for progress, in an attempt to get out of this crisis. The BLP ain’t ready, the DLP ain’t able, we need NEW BLOOD, NEW THINKING, NEW DIRECTION, A NEW PARTY
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Raw Bake
1. Can anyone tell me what OSA said at the UWI press conference
that was untrue?
2. What did he say about MAM that caused ordinary Barbadians
to look at her differently?
3. Other than spouting nice sounding rhetoric in public, what has
MAM done since her removal to demonstrate that she is
really head and shoulders above OSA and all the other
pretenders?
4. Why are DLP supporters suddenly MAM’s biggest fans?
5. Does anyone have the exact date of the reincarnation of MAM
as the Saint of St. Michael North East?
6. What does the DLP know about OSA that they would prefer
MAM to be leading the BLP in the next election?
7. Are we witnessing a new era in politics in Barbados, an era
where cyberspace is used to attack the enemy, whether in the
next camp or in your own bunker?
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Raw Bake
WTF!
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Jenny M
You can come in as many names you like! All of this intensity against one man at this time seems too co-incidental. Especially when it comes from insiders. Are we seeing Bajan mercenaries at work! What have you been promised or/and what did you get? Who the cap fit let him wear it!
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Hants
The Scout | February 2, 2011 at 9:23 PM | Hants
You’re spreading doom and gloom
@ The Scout
I can can walk chew gum and read at the same time although not as good as GP.
If you include what is happening in the rest of the world and not focus entirely on the DEMS you may reach the conclusion that I have.
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Appollo 13
The DLP believes in character assassination. Did you not hear what Hartley Henry said in his polictical speech at DT’s funeral. Just do a little to their opponents to clip their wings.
I maintain that there has to be some good reason relating to the DLP’s re-election chances that they need Mia to be at the head of the BLP. Why all of a sudden have DLP ministers, Physical Deficit Ince in his talking points on by election night VOB’s programme and all these DLP bloggers become the biggest champions of MM? They had a plan and it has been catspraddled by Owen Arthur being leader again. What else could account for these vitriolic attacks on the man.
One person on this blog keeps referring to Owen with glee as seethru. Most people drink, some more than others, so what is the point? Owen obviously knows how to drink as he is still ALIVE. Their god and king obviously did not know how to drink because first thing he was drunk when he fell off the back of the truck in St Philip and broke his leg. The ABSOLUT VODKA he loved destroyed his pancreas and his shelf life expired.
So Raw Bake, this is the reason for the attacks on Owen Arthur.
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Negroman
Brother Scout, unlike you I have seen many positives the Democratic Labour Party have done since assuming power in 2008.
This present government although not yet make into law a new immigration policy has curtailed the large influx of non-nationals into Barbados especially the Indo-Guyanese scums. The government has dealt effectively to some extent with the immigration problem we had with an apparent unregulated inflow of non-nationals into Barbados.
This government has introduced some social programmes that have benefited many Barbadians.One of those programmes is the introduction of free bus rides for our school children. That has resulted in the burden of finding daily bus fares for our school children to be lifted.
This government Brother Scout has revolutionized housing in Barbados.It has built more houses for average Barbadians to purchase in the three (3) short years it is in power than the fourteen(140 years the previous inept Barbados Labour administration was able to build in the time that despicable lot was in power.
Brother Scout this government has embark on a comprehensive road improvement programme in Barbados.As I travel through out Barbados,I have seen upgrades to the road network in Barbados.In Kingslands Christ Church this government has started a road widening programme in Kingslands & Gall Hill in Christ Church.Kingsland Main Road leading to the primary school was a treacherous & very dangerous road for pedestrians especially school children to use.The road was very small & narrow with no side walks.This government is now widening that road and providing side walks for Black Barbadians & our children to use in those Christ Church districts.That process is being done in many districts in Barbados.
Brother Scout the industrial countries of Europe,America & Canada were/are still in economic crisis.In Britain recently thousands of Britons were sent home not only from jobs in the private sector but also from jobs provided by the government.Britain one of the richest countries of this world is still in a serious economic crisis.Likewise United States of America is in a similar position.Brother Scout the Democratic Labour Party in these tough times is still able to contain unemployment at the acceptable level of about 10 or 11 % .That is the general rate of unemployment in Barbados for the last 30 years or so.Not one government employee was made redundant because of the economic situation.
Brother Scout initiatives put in place by the ministry of tourism has not only safe guard jobs in that industry but those initiatives have seen business growth in that sector.New airlines have come to Barbados bringing tourist from non-traditional areas of this world. This has resulted in the tourism industry not experiencing the doom & gloom that were predicted.
Brother Scout the government is doing a reasonably good job under the prevailing conditions and it has been reflected in the support the government received in the recent bye-election in St John.Unlike you I believe the result in St John is a reflection of the good work the government is doing for Barbados and the confidence the people of Barbados have in this present administration.The result of St John is a referendum on the government of Barbados and the government was very successful in that referendum.
Brother Scout those are some of the positives I have seen in this government.I await your response.
Brother scout we are still friends even though we have our differences.
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Appollo 13
If the Dems were doing such a great job, why did they have to spend so much money to win a safe seat on which they never had to spend a cent on before. Fool yourself that the St John by-election result is an endorsement of the DLP. Your blogger, CCC said that if the Dems send Donald Duck or Daffy Duck, St John will vote for them!
Yes the Dems chase all the Guyanese out under the guise of an immigration policy but at what cost? This only made other islanders hate Bajans more. And you Dems had the gall to question Owen Arthur’s committment to Caricom? How much did that DT press conference from Guyana cost? Waste of taxpayers money!
Do you know how much these flights from these non traditional countries are costing Barbados taxpayers? Government has guaranteed the airlines a fixed amount and failing the amount of seats, government has to pay the airlines. In the case of the AA Dallas route, government has guaranteed US$1.5 MILLION DOLLARS. Every seat under the guaranteed amount that is not sold under the GOL agreement has to be paid for by the taxpayers. What innovative idea is that? Not many Brazillians are coming though!
Give free bus fares for children and then months later, government raises the bus fares on their parents. Do you know that for each “free” bus fare, the less money remains in the education budget to spend on the same school children. The MOE has to pay the Transport Board every month for every journey even the children’s joy rides which means less money to spend on materials for the same children. The first year the allocation from the MOE to the Transport Board was $11 MILLION DOLLARS.
Yes, I see that they are laying new water lines on the Kingsland Road/Water Street Road, if the government finally fixes this road, WELL DONE, they have done one good thing!
How can you claim that having the unemployment rate at 11% is an accomplishment, when the Dems came in to office it was 6.5%.
So based on your blog, the Dems have done ONE good thing in three years.
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The Scout
Negro Man
It is questions like this that brings the best out of persons, at first I thought you were docking the question and I was saying that’s not like you. However, I’m glad to note that you have found some areas where the DLP has done positive things. I differ from you on the “free ” bus fares issue, while it may appear a good move, today school children deprive paying passengers from travelling on the bus , while they board and get out it there whims and fancies, plus the behaviour on the bus with school children at most times is atrocious. I was in a bus and some school children got in, one sat next to me and took out an MP3 and was playing some of the most vile music ZR style, then he started to eat a swwet bread and was passing some down to his friends, needless to say all the time he is stretching all over me, without even saying excuse, and crumbs falling both on me and the elderly lady sitting behind me. May I remind you that there was a printed sign in the bus which stated NO EATING, NO DRINKING, NO PLAYING OF MUSIC. There are some roads being repaired in barbados and this was going on continously , what is happening to the h,way from Emancipation Statue to Six Roads, especially the round about at Free Pilgrim? That whole project was going on for three years and at this pace, it will not be completed by the next general elections. The fishing agreement that could have been settled with the T&T government over a bowl of wanton soup by the late P.M has now been placed on the back burner without any settlement, just now bajan fishermen are going to be treated badly again. The other point is no matter who ran for St. John in the last by-elections would have won the seat handsomely, the fact that it was Mara, who was well LOVED by most in St.John and the circumstances under which the elections came about would have resulted in the margin of victory , the DLP has to pay attention to the 3000 or so persons who didn’t vote, I was predicting a bigger victory over 5000 votes. I also think that the NHC needs to curb the building until they can rid themselves of some of the project that are unfinished. I’m glad to see the widening of the tourism market, I would like to see a tourism route comimg out of some of the wealthy nations in Africa. Negro Man, I’ll state it again, having heard of the alleged dirtiness and illegal transactions that went on within the BLP, for example Hardwood project etc, I’ m disappointed that no-one has been charged or locked up as yet. I have not even touched on the Clico matter that would take up a much longer time. I hope that the DLP under Stuart can put some measure of respectability to that Clico matter, so that it would go the same way as trade Confirmers.
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The Scout
Negro Man
Oh Thanks for your response MY BROTHER
By the way, I,ve not heard a word from Bonny Peppa for a while; is she O.K or is she writing under a different name?
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anthony
On the note of roads. road were always being repair under both administrations. The only difference is the mass increase in road tax in 2008 so shouldn’t there also been increase in roads fixed ?
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Negroman
Brother Scout I never run from any battle,however as you get older & wiser,you pick your battles and you do not fight unnecessary battles.
Brother Scout any Black Barbadian from among the poor working class of Barbados who criticize government,s free bus fare policy for Barbadian school children because of partisan political views shows a level of being ungrateful & deceit.Free bus rides for our school children is indeed noble and couldn’t come at a better time for Barbadian parents.Brother Scout I know personally the burden that parents face in finding bus fare daily for their children to attend school.Luckily for my mother all of her children with the exception of one went to school at primary & secondary schools in the district and therefore did not had the added responsibilty of finding busfare to send to school five (5) children.However,it was a burden finding lunch momey daily for the five (5) of us on a daily bases.As a consequence ,many a day my sisters, brothers & I spent many a school at school hungry & practically starving.This Negroman knows the harshest poor Black Barbadians go through on a daily basis.As a reslt,i will never criticize any social programme that seeks to alleviate the pain & suffering that ordinary,B;ack Barbadian endure on a daily basis.Therefore I support the free bus ride initiative of this government wholeheartedly. If that initiative had come from the Barbados Labour Party,this Negroman would have endorsed the same way I am endorsing the fre bus ride programme by the caring government.Indeed there are some programmes that previous Barbados Labour administrations implemented that benefitted Black Barbadians.Example,Freehold Purchasing Land Programme & Criminal Rehabilitation Programme that benifitted Black Barbadians. I know of some friends of mine while they were youn got themselves on the wrong side of the law and had convictions for crimes they committed.The Criminal Rehabitatuion Programme allowed some of them to have those convictions expunged and hence were able to live positive & rewarding lives.the Criminal Rehabilitation Programme is revoltionary and I know many Barbadian appreciate the programme and have benefitted from it.
Brother Scout we must give praise when it is due and criticize when it is necessary to do so.
Brother Scout please stop nit-picking at the school children of Barbados.Children are children all over the world and bad behavior and in some cases stupidity will always be part & parcel of being a child.Brother Scout al of were children & teenagers and i am sure you have done disgusting when you were a child.Stop picking on the children for no reasons whatsoever and please allow our children to enjoy their young lives
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Crusoe
I fail to understand how anyone could criticise removing bus fares for children.A family with three children, who have to take the bus just two ways, not even four ways each, would spend 3 x 2 x 1.50 per day, nine dollars, with fares in place.
That is a family meal.
Housing, education, healthcare and even basic clothing are necessities.
Be aware that travel costs are about to rise again, with the current middle east problem, thus we will surely bear a greater cost.
But, it must be done.
Further, people complain about ‘matchbox houses’.
A house is a house, a place to eat, sleep, rest and prepare. What is the issue? Must mansions be provided?
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Raw Bake
IMHO, the “free” bus fare scheme is nothing more than a political ploy.
If principals and class teachers can detect students that are in need, and provide meals and other assistance for them, why do people think that they would have been unable to determine those children that were not coming too school because their parents could not afford the bus fare to send them?
The Ministry of Education could have provided the schools with Transport Board tokens and then informed parents that bus fare assistance was available from the Ministry. Parents who required such assistance would have been invited to make an application to the Ministry.
After an investigation said assistance would be granted if warranted and the parents receives a letter of confirmation. The child then take that confirmation letter to the Principal and is issued with the tokens.
Simple, no free for all and assistance is given to those that really need it.
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Raw Bake
Yes a house is a house, but do you not think that 150K is a bit much for a matchbox ?
All wunna complaing about what ever the DLP do for the people.Just like BLP to think that they alone knows what is good for Barbados. Wunna should have balance the budget before wunna left office. What a mess.
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