est. 2007

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National Union Of Public Workers Executives Living Large Off Membership Dues

Submitted by NUPW Insider (name withheld by BU)   Barbadians would have heard the President of the NUPW Walter Maloney and his lieutenant Dennis Clarke both make major statements at the Union’s Annual Conference opening ceremony. In fact Clarke reported that the NUPW’s train would not be stopped and that it was on a collision…

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Submitted by NUPW Insider (name withheld by BU)

 

Dennis Clarke, General Secretary (l) Walter Maloney, President (r) NUPW 'Big Boys'

Barbadians would have heard the President of the NUPW Walter Maloney and his lieutenant Dennis Clarke both make major statements at the Union’s Annual Conference opening ceremony. In fact Clarke reported that the NUPW’s train would not be stopped and that it was on a collision course. What Clarke did not say was that between he and Maloney had approved spending of thousands of dollars of the members funds without the approval of the Treasurer and other Executive members. It was reported that there has been a splurge of travel expenses all in the name of a wellness centre and that the spending was to facilitate the travelling of Clarke and another officer. The pair has travelled to Florida twice, Las Vegas, St. Kitts/ Nevis and the female is now scheduled to shift to Italy and Spain.

While this is happening the NUPW is courting some benefactor with a purse so big a loan of US $27 million will be shortly be passed. This money is reported to be a loan to facilitate the construction of a wellness centre on the premises of the union. Information is that the feasibility study was not clear whether the venture was feasible but Clarke and his lieutenant are moving forward.

Word is that this support for the wellness centre comes at a cost to Clarke for his support of the Maloney fancied Buying Club which has itself attracted a grant of $ 1 million. Maybe these union bosses could tell the rest of Barbados where all this money is coming from what is the cost and what is the catch. Surely if this is good money, the government would want to borrow some for Barrack and the Clico shareholders. Surely if the NUPW can afford the interest rates then the government must be able to as well.

At the same time the President of the NUPW has spent more than $6000. 00 in cell phone charges for the months of July and August 2010 and after promising to repay not one cent has been repaid and Maloney still has use of the same phone.

Worse still is the $10,000.00 charged by the son of the General Secretary for managing a web site. Independent valuers have put the fees for the service rendered to the NUPW at $50.00 and $1500.00 Yet Clarke in a faus pax got the Conference to agree to pay his son $10,000.00 a fee that the treasure has refused to pay.

Last year the NUPW was thrown into confusion when the General Secretary (Clarke) and President (Maloney) went to a funeral in Jamaica without any discussion with the other executive members. This year money has been spending like sand without their approval including a cell phone bill of over $6000.00 under the name of the president.

It surely is a runaway train at the NUPW.

  1. New Blogger Avatar
    New Blogger

    To Ruth Anetha

    You seem yo understand some of the issuses but you selectively comment in a luke warm manner.

    I disagree with you that the whole executive shpuld go, I thinlk thay when the Union rid themselves of Maloney (MAMONEY) the bond will be broken between he and clarke and the Union will function better. Maloney worked against the executive for expediency after he realized that his mask was taken off and they eventaully found out that he does not respect the decision making process. He and Clarke disrespect the Executive by making decisions anout the buying club and ho;d back infroamtion about the medical centre that will get no where.

    So Ruth you need to me more objective than that and do not tarniish the executive with the same brush as you would tarnish the executive.

    He must be placed in a category by himself and be dealt with similarily. So dear ruth, if you are a member as I beleive you are vote against maloney and send him packing

  2. PATSYB Avatar
    PATSYB

    Let me first say Thank You to Barbados Underground for providing this Forum where concerned members and onlookers can freely express their thoughts and concerns on the state of affairs at the NUPW.

    I definitely agree with ‘new blogger’ that the Maloney needs to go. He has been there for six years and it is time for changing of the Guard. I am NOT CONVINCED that Clarke is capable of doing the job that he has signed up for or maybe I should say the one that was handed to him, but I agree the bond between the two must be broken.

    I have been hearing so much talk about this medical centre. I often wonder what is the importance or urgency of this project?? Why would the Union having just invested millions of dollars in a much deserved new building would want to plunge itself into further debt knowing the limited income it has. Why is the General Secretary so consumed by this project?? Why is this poor Union forced to spend so much money on Study Tours?? What is it that they are studying??? Does the General Secretary or the Madam who i understand accompanies him on these tours provides any reports to Executive or even Council on their findings??

    But I would think that if the NUPW is going to invest in a project of this magnitude then the General Secretary should be accompanied by someone with expertise in this area, not one of his Junior Officer.

    Well, i also understand that Clarke in correspondence to Executive indicated that the same Madam should be the Manager of the Wellness Centre. How is it that this Project has not yet been sanctioned by General Council or has funding been secured, but the General Secretary can recommend a Manager for the completed project. Bro Clarke are you trying to repay some debt to this Madam??

    But how will the Union ever be able to make repayments on a US$27 million loan. Are they going to send home the staff and sell off the assets to make these repayments. Well, if so I recommend the GS, the Madam and the AUDI be the first to go.

    Public Workers it is time to take back your Union, Get rid of the DYNAMIC DUO.

  3. Light Love (LiLo) Avatar
    Light Love (LiLo)

    Such things as discussed here are happening because the workers seem unwilling and uncaring. This country IS BEING FACED with some issues that the people must confront and deal with in a decisive manner. Gone are the days of the charismatic leader who had all the answers because the questions were limited. One wonders though how is it that there are more University graduates in Barbados than at any time in our history but the level and intensity of leadership seems absent. Are people simply acquiring degrees for purposes of upward mobility only. Are they not interested in the path that this country seems headed ? The gender distribution as it relates to the acquisition of higher level education needs to be examined to determine if there is a gender imbalance that is contributing to the lack of leadership and direction that now seems ubiquitous.

    One senses that ever since the last election that the country seems to be drifiting aimlessly along a sea bed where the sea has seemingly withdrawn. This is of greater proportion, evidenced by a lack of a pronounced presence conspicious in its absence by the Prime Minister of Barbados.

    Mr Prime Minister , it is time for you the make your presence felt, Sir.-
    Excuse me ! But You are the Prime Minister. You are not a mickey mouse. Convince me.

    The workers of this country need to look to some where and somebody for inspiration and the driver seems to have gone to sleep. The people must wake him but they seemed to have gone to bed with him.
    SOS !!!!!!

  4. DONALD WHITE Avatar
    DONALD WHITE

    I feel I must complement Patsy B for te humourous but perfectly written piece above. it simply invites members to look at the danger of runaway expenditure. I hope people will look past the humour and see the greater message that the NUPW is already in debt and cannot afford any more

  5. ac Avatar
    ac

    this blog is so interesting it makes me belly roll wid laughter. It seems like the Union has beenhijacked by two demagouges.

  6. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Light Love,
    David Ellis quoted a little from Albert Brandford’s column in the Sunday Sun about the PM not saying anything, no press conferences and not a word on the Myrie allegations. A DLP apologist called in ……………there is no need for the PM to speak, he will speak on matters WHEN he is ready.

    I got news for them, Barbadians are fed up as they do not know where their country is going. Only under the Dems do Barbadians experience so much hopelessness and despair. But according the the dummy Steve Blackett in the Estimates debates…. what recession, Bajans are still partying. Idiot. That maybe the ones who they give welfare to but for the average person having to balance their budget and cut back, it is hell.

    This is the first time for a long time that when I go into the supermarket that I see so many people leaving so many things behind in their cart.

    In the meanwhile, every few weeks this inept, corrupt government is taking up the price of petroleum products which then contributes to the high cost of living. I do not understand how these idiots we elected cannot see this.

    But we wanted change, right?

  7. Phoenix AZ Avatar
    Phoenix AZ

    Let it be known that the “mole” inside NUPW is ronning on empty> their time will soon be up.

  8. Phoenix AZ Avatar
    Phoenix AZ

    This “mole” has been strategically place to leak info to bring disharmony within the NUPW. Its really sad to see people will go to any length to bring people down. The good book says” Promotion doesn’t come from the east or west but it comes from GOD”. So try all you want HATERS, the Almighty has the last say in who runs the NUPW.

  9. anthony Avatar
    anthony

    Maloney explained he had been overseas for an extended period last year and the phone bill included numerous calls with members about NUPW business, as well as personal calls. He said he had already indicated he had no objection to paying for the latter calls and it was simply a matter of separating the two charges. He stressed it was not a contentious issue.

    Each of bills on the blog show they multi page bills which probably have itemize listing of call + length of time and cost so know the amount is easy. So who at fault the pres for not paying or admin for not billing either way doesn’t look good for him.

  10. maxine Charles Avatar
    maxine Charles

    I was off to bed till this came up I got a copy of the bill. He is lying over $3000 are charged for outgoing roaming and few call were made to Barbados

  11. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Anthony

    Don’t let anybody mislead you. Maloney was on VACATION. He was not doing any business. I am familiar with some of the numbers for long calls. I did not publish the breakdown since I was pursuaded that it would impact on his marriage and I did not want that on my conscience. In any event he was not authorised , by the National Council, to have the phone in the first place.

  12. anthony Avatar
    anthony

    @Caswell

    I never said i believe he was on vaction just merely point out if the story was true he should paid it back long time ago. That the excuse he gave is nonsense for not know the amount.

  13. Phoenix AZ Avatar
    Phoenix AZ

    The results are back! Congrats to all those who were successful.

  14. ruth arnetta Avatar
    ruth arnetta

    to the new blogger- if those executive members felt so aggrieved by maloney’s actions towards them and felt so strongly that he was not acting in 5the best interest of the union; then all they had to do was to get an appropriate number of signatures and call for a special conference and forward a resolution to the conference outlining maloney’s indiscretions and seek to have him removed. the rules provide for this. had this been done by the selfserving executive members who want to pretend that they are all so sweet, perhaps the election would have been fought without maloney; but they were afraid to upset the applecart for fear of losing their exorbitant stipends and cell phone allowances which they received before dash became treasurer.

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