Some in Barbados, me not included, became accustomed to the over exposure of Owen’seethru”Arthur so they have come to believe that a constant diet of Prime Minister is the way to go.

Every cockfight he was there I was so sick and tired of seeing him that it was unbelievable.

Observing

You sound like a reasonable person.

@Yardbroom
It makes it even more difficult to understand why Fruendel has been so silent, as you say, he and his government has things to “bragg” about. Mind you, I am no fan of the man, nor am I siding with those who are calling for more comments from him, but David is correct. Politics is about perception, and the perception that he has been absent without leave, has taken hold amongst Barbadians. No excuse!
The genesis of this perception is with the BLP although made easy by Fruendel’s glaring absence, and although there are obvious political reasons that lit the fire under it, The people who have bought into it, and have done so for more genuine reasons than not. They are truly concern and in need of reassurance, something that they are accustom to from past PM’s. Fruendel’s approach is base to much on Westminister in antiquity, it will cost him big if he does not get amongst the people. His style reminds me of the BLP pre Owen Arthur as PM, and it is said that Arthur used the approach of Errol Barrow to propel himself to and too maintain his national prominence, until he decided that Fidel Castro was a better mirror image to emulate.

Alternative Energy
I would like to discuss another issue, Alternative Energy In Barbados.

Anyone thinking about purchasing solar energy, please make sure you check out the provider of the systems. Don’t make any down payments untill you see work they claim to have done, and speak to their previous customers. I and other clients of a certain installers have paid a heavy price for an ineffective system that only works when there is sunlight, not enough battery storage to last through the night even though the provider claimed there would have enough storage to last for three days. The mere use of a toaster, washing machine, iron, microwave oven, even the use of a television during the day reduces the battery storage to the point where thgere is no power after the sun goes down, and thats the end of your solar system, its back to Barbados L & P.
This Solar energy provider claimed that their system would enable you to have the use of air conditioners, electric stoves, electric dryers and the works, and you would have a (3) three day moratorium in case of no sun or cloudy days, however the system they sell is way under powered and can only be used as a backup system for BLP in case of a blackout during the day, after the sun goes down you are on your own.
Please beware, the sharks are waiting.
mello1_11412@hotmail.com

Melvin Devonish

If you want a system that works and works well, then there is a chap who lives opposite Westbury Cemetary in West Bury Road who is good at that sort of thing. You can’t miss him because the first thing you will see will be the wind turbines.

He has two wind generators and solar panels on his roof and they supply him with all his electricity even on overcast days.

He has help quite a few people set up proper systems, pay him a visit, it will be worth your while.

@ David
Yardbroom et al all now that ‘perception’ is the key, if not they would not be here trying to sway ‘perception’ on BU. Was it not ‘perception’ that brought the DLP victory?

OFFTOPIC

“Farewell, David Gittens”

http://news.barbadostoday.bb/barticlenew.php?ptitle=Farewell,%20David%20Gittens&article=4566

I had no idea that David had passed on until I read it in Today’s newspaper, but after reading the article it became clear to me.

“DAVID GITTENS, better known as “DG”, or “MU The Jeweller” died on Monday, April4, at his residence in Inch Marlow, Christ Church. There was no obituary on the radio, or in the newspaper, no church service, no eulogy. For David, just a simple cremation,. News of his death surfaced many days afterwards, for that was his way.”

Peter Ross

He was a very good friend of Errol Barrow. He fraternized with Black Bajans at a time when it was taboo among White Bajans to do so and he paid quite a price for it.

Wunna made excuses for Thompson now wunna making excuses for Stuart.

Yardfowls –wunna !!!

Well said Yardbroom. Stuart is a good politician that is takin’ no shit from some the anally retentive civil servants, brown nosin’ sycophants etc that he, by definition, has to deal with – especially that physically impressive but intellectually and professionally disappointing lightweight in charge of planning. Nor, I hope, will you be daunted or dissuaded by the verbal diarrhoea of Carson D C (he opines on everything) or the rose tinted, fence sitting crap of David, he does, after all, have to ensure his blog remains virally expansive, and it’s a good thing he does – no man should be total asshole!
So, let’s hear it for Freundel Stuart – a Politician’s Politician – who, just as in the case of Pope John Paul II (another the compromise choice, seen by some as ineffectual) is proving to be an outstanding leader whose quiet skill and diplomacy is subtly and efficiently winning the war, one day at a time.
Beware Owen, you will have a battle on your hands – best you start shaping up after the Easter Break.

@Adrian Hinds | April 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM | @Yardbroom
The genesis of this perception is with the BLP.
=======================
I agreed with much of what you said in your comments, but the above statement implies that the people of Barbados are not politically attuned enough to make such observations on their own. I’m putting it to you that many citizens made that observation even before any public mention of it came from the opposition. Therefore the above statement is incorrect.

@reality

BU’s position on Stuart has been made very clear several times on BU. It matters not how good a man Stuart is, it matters not how well he maybe juggling resources, all that matters is how he as a leader is able to persuade the electorate and his parliament group that he is the man at the controls.

There is a view in Barbados which is gaining currency that Stuart’s pedantic approach is not resting well with some Barbadians. Stuart if he wants to lead a successful DLP into the next general election has no choice but to respond. it probably explains his heightened activity in recent days. After all it is those concerned Barbadians who will have to vote.

Hope that this comment is not a fence sitting one for you.

David
“@ Yardbroom however you twist it it is the perception of the electorate which carrys the story.

It does not matter if under Stuart there is trending upwards in the economy, it does not matter if he introduces all kinds of worthwhile legislation etc.

What will matter if he is perceived as the one his constituents want first and secondly whether he commands the majority of his parliamentary group.”
______________________

Firstly, kudos to you for allowing space on your blog to a contrary opinion to the one you hold.

I agree perception is important but I credit my fellow Barbadians to see substance over rhetoric. You know as well as I do, that during general elections in Barbados, some people can be trotted out to curse everyone in sight and warm up the audience for a good laugh, but that is where their success ends, they are hollow, without new ideas or the imagination to propell our country forward, but they are good I must admit, for “five minutes” in the night air.

I do not know how much support Prime Minister Stewart has in the parliamentary group, but “now” he is the Prime Minister of Barbados. May I add it has been known for parliamentarians to sleep walk into oblivion.

@ Observing
You are so much on the mark, there is nothing I could add to your astute observation.

@ Adrian
Your insightful approach was illuminating and it could be as you have said: “Fruendell’s approach is base to much on Westminister in antiquity, it will cast him big if he does not get amongst the People.”
_________________
If he is perceived as “aloof” that could be a handicap for any leader, for they should not be afraid or reticent to be among the people. . . but that is not the charge. We should never ask our leader to pretend to be something he is not, for that is duplicity . . .we have had enough of that in the past.

@ William Skinner
Too right you are, we have been fed a diet of insults against the person masquerading as serious debate. It has not got to be so, let us have some honesty for a change.

@ Super Politician
I have hope for my country Barbados and I honestly believe we can turn the corner, and we will together as one people.
It is quite possible, I could be wrong but the disaster that was predicted for the DLP Government has not happened; so different approaches are being used to attack the government. . . the people should not be fooled.

@Tina Roach ……. In an earlier post you expressed doubt as to if this is my real name. I offer the assurance that it is . They say that “As a man thinketh so is he”, so perhaps Tina Roach is ……. well that’s niether here nor there. What is though , is this notion that Owen Arthur is the best man for the job . Affable and sensitive. You also used the adjective cunning. Please bring the facts to support your claim . Lets deal with affable and sensitive in whatever context you may choose ,and then permit the light of public opinion to shine glowingly on the word CUNNING. Ah ready ta walk into dis one .

@Yardbroom | April 21, 2011 at 3:32 PM |

“You know as well as I do, that during general elections in Barbados, some people can be trotted out to curse everyone in sight and warm up the audience for a good laugh, but that is where their success ends, they are hollow, without new ideas or the imagination to propell our country forward, but they are good I must admit, for “five minutes” in the night air. ”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dear YardBroom,
Your above comments represent a perfect description of your main idol Prime Minister “Silence” Stuart.
During his most “memorable speech” in the recent by elections elections (if it could be called a speech, and so much for his highly touted eloquence) he and David Estwick and company warmed up the crowd by cursing the opposition, Stuart then called Honourable Owen Arthur a RAT, and had his five minutes.

and stuart was telling the truth when he called OSA a RAT.

The Bushman suspects that Mia would be supportive of the rat analogy used by PM Stuart Mr. Burton….. LOL

BT endorses Caswell’s position on the matter of the PM’s approach, and recall the late Eric Williams’ tactic of being slow to issue public statements – but then being well informed and decisive when he finally had his say.

@ Enuff
What economic policy can ‘work’? ….. pray, hope for the best, and don’t rock the boat.
…..right now a potential big rock in the boat is the proposed marina BOLT scam as articulated by Ping Pong et al.
….let’s see how the PM deals with that…….and with his ‘friend’ from CLICO.

Yardbroom
How can you honestly say the DLP is doing a good job? Where is the investigations into the 4S and ABC highway, Hardwook project and Dodds prison among others? To made matters worse, the DLP has now gone to bed with the very same people, with the very same BOLT agreement, this is sooooooo funny. The cost of living that the party was to reduce is almost 20% higher than when they took office, yet the DLP yardfowls are reaping sweets and they are ALL doing BIG RIDES, while the average citizen is smelling hell. Is this what good governance is all about? the fatted calf being divided among the politican BIG UPS and the crumbs for the yardfowls?

On the matter of the Jamaican girl Myrie, has that matter been resolved and what is the decision? Maybe this will die the normal death as a seven day gossip. Having been brought to the fore and bajans harrassed by Jamaicans even while in Barbados, I think the Foreign Affairs Minister needs to tell the public something

As a voter I am dumfounded on the charge of Stuart not speaking to Barbadians because I see Stuart on tv news and read him in newspapers everyday touring projects to help Barbadians and talking to large groups of Barbadians like Rotarians, business groups, Barbados Hotel and Tourism association, Nurses, Illaro Court gatherings the list is endless.

What does failed NDP loser Ridley Greene and unpatriotic traitor Sanka Price mean when they say he does not speak? Are they only listening to and endorsing the nasty things Myrie, Golding and the Jamaica Observer say about us the Bajan people?.

Owen and Mascoll speak a lot about Barbados economy collapsing instead I see billion dollar marinas, large scale hotel resorts, Port expansion, Constitution River expansion and massive roadworks coming on stream, by this time next year the unemloyment rate should be in single digits barring a major disaster.
In my view Stuart speaks to us often. His style is not David Thompson’s or ESAField driven like the short man he is his own man and he is making a difference.

When Stuart speaks I listen because he takes oratory and substance to another level.
When Mascoll and George Payne speak I cringe they should be a law against certain politicans opening their big mouths. Hudson Griffith spoke and bragged constantly now he shut up for life and he deposit in Maxwell pond

Another consideration and again BU disagreed with Brother Yardbroom was the refusal by Stuart to call an early election to seal a new mandate. The public would have understood if he had done so when Thompson died. Added to which the BLP was in confusion. Arthur made a similar mistake when Thompson and Mascoll were going at it.

Stuart has painted himself in a corner by allowing himself less than 3 years to grow a new brand/style of leadership as some are saying. The ‘he is my pal’ Parris gaffe may yet come back to haunt him in that one moment where he responded by demonstrating leadership?

@ Truthman Burton
Hi, I do not know the “exact remarks” of the speech by Prime Minister Stuart to which you refer but you wrote:”Stuart then called Honourable Owen Arthur a RAT and had his five minutes.”
__________________
There are comments which are jocular and can be seen as such, others can be vindictive and even malicious, there is a difference.
On my part I have written an article here about the Honourable Owen Arthur as being a great “tactician” and was castigated for making such a statement. I was then making the point that he would make an effort to return as leader of the Labour Party….I did not know how it would happen, but so it did.
I can assure you I try not to have “idols” but in that vein, I also wrote another article about Mia Mottley and her undoubted abilities and how her time will come again as leader of the Labour Party. I make an effort to be fair.
_______________________
Hi Scout
“@ Yardbroom:”How can you honestly say the DLP is doing a good job? Where is the investigations into the 4S and ABC highway, Hardwood project and Dodds prison among others? To make matters worse, the DLP has now gone to bed with the very same people, with the very same BOLT agreement, this is sooooooo funny”. yet the DLP yard fowls are reaping the sweets and they are ALL doing BIG rides, while the average citizen is smelling hell”
_____________________
On the cases you have mentioned, from your tone you have evidence of wrong doing that could stand up in a court of Law. Or to be fair, you would appear to believe that there is a public perception of a prima facie case for a prosecution to be brought.
Perhaps you feel the public would be best served if this administration concentrated on those issues, at the expense of governing the country.
This is not an excuse but do you know what burden of proof is needed in a court of Law to convict people of a crime of this nature as you suggested. Do you know of the expenditure and effort involved and the time it will take….years and I mean years.
______________________
@ Tina Roach
Hi, “Like it or not, a Prime Minister in Barbados is a star like a star in the Movies”.
_______________________
Perhaps, just perhaps we do not need movie stars. We need statesmen of substance, to govern with a sure touch displaying honesty and dedication to the task in hand. We can leave the froth of the movie world where it belongs, in the make believe world.

@ David
I believed that Prime Minister Stuart should not have called a general election…and still do. He had a mandate to govern and did.

The opportunity has proved fruitful for Chris Sincler, it is early days yet, but he seems up to the task.

The DLP when they go to the electorate, will have men/women who have “proved themselves” without David Thompson at the helm. This is important, they will be asking for support not because of what they had – David Thompson – but what they are “now”.

@YARDBROOM
RE
@ Tina Roach
Hi, “Like it or not, a Prime Minister in Barbados is a star like a star in the Movies.
——-
NOTE THE WORDS “LIKE A STAR’

In general I want people to stop making excuses for Stuart. I heard a caller yesterday saying that he does not want to hear Stuart and wondered why people calling for Stuart to speak. The caller said that Stuart does talk a lot of “Hog stool”–same thing as Hog-wash–whatever that is ) when he speaks so he dont want to hear Stuart.

Stuart may not run in the next elections
meanwhile Dennis and Dennis Duelling for Drainage and Stuart’s Silence Sending Serious Signals of Separations Shortly Should Stuart Shuffle Dennis one more time.

Minister of Drainage Denis Kellman was quoted in the article below giving his vigorous opposition to the BOLT financing arrangement. As a member of the Stuart cabinet what say he now? A change of mind perhaps? The objective of posting the below is to demonstrate politicians operate out of acts of expediency. It really doesn’t matter the party affiliation.

 

NO BOLT FOR KELLMAN

DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN- THE DEBATE

JUNE 6, 2007

Opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) St. Lucy M.P, Denis Kellman has noted his opposition to the Build, Own, Lease and Transfer (BOLT) arrangement which the ruling Barbados Labour Party has employed to finance several capital projects of recent times.

Speaking recently in Speightstown St. Peter at the launch of the DLP’s latest series of meetings, Kellman said the evidence was that the BOLT arrangement was prone to tremendous financing overruns.

“I am making a personal statement tonight. I do not believe in BOLT arrangements, it has not worked for this country Barbados. We have a BOLT arrangement at the prison and it has cost us $192 million dollars more. We have a BOLT arrangement on the Highway. That too gone. We also, I am told, had many more BOLT arrangements and you know when you (are) finished with these BOLT arrangements, you will come to over 300 and something million dollars in over-runs,” he said.

Kellman said the over-run dollars was money that could have been better spent. “You realize that if we in the Democratic Labour Party had that money, what we could have done? We could have abolished income tax and not worry about it,” he stated, adding it clearly demonstrated the need to make the country more productive.

“That is why we have to make this country a productive country again, and in order to make it a productive country, we must have a relationship between state, workers and investors. No longer can it be a relationship where you have a two-sided arrangement in a three-sided affair. And if we have to tell certain people in this country where to get off to prove our point, we will have to do it, because once the rights of the people in this country are trampled, the Democratic Labour Party’s voice will have to be heard,” Kellman said.

One group of person on whose behalf the outspoken St. Lucy MP’s voice was heard were the vendors whom Kellman said were being marginalized by the BLP.

Kellman pointed out that students of his generation had recognized the importance of vendors to the development of the students in a variety of positive ways.

“All of a sudden now, they now believe that vending is a crime and that you must be a canteen operator and you must be able to get everything for yourself. We in the Democratic Labour Party, we do not believe in selfishness, we believe in sharing. And that is why I want the Barbados Labour Party to tell me “how can one canteen operator serve 1 500 people in one hour?” Kellman said.

Noting that Government must ensure there was equal opportunity in Barbados, Kellman added: “We are here to tell you that vending cannot be a crime, vending has to be a right. It seems to me that they believe that only certain people in this country must get work.”

@Hants

You just did a dipsy doodle.

The objective of the post is to show how politicians waver on positions depending in or out of government.

I find the nation’s coverage of issues very childish. You know a child always wants with no concept that someone has to make a choice. That resources are limited. But a child says I want I want.

So if the taxes are removed as sanka Price suggests what is the impact on the government’s coffers? Remember this same paper and its associate radio stations raised hell about the level of the fiscal defcit. But thats how children are. They want they want but they have no concept of scarce resourecs and the need to make chocies.

Of course the same media houses would raise hell if public services were cut, people were laid off, the credit rating was lower and so on and on.

How did journalism in Bim get so?