Given the deep pockets involved in this matter BU is threading lightly on this matter. Below is a document which provides analysis carried out – as we understand it – by a certified chartered accountant who was a member of the technical evaluation committee of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. Contrary to public statements, the…
Given the deep pockets involved in this matter BU is threading lightly on this matter. Below is a document which provides analysis carried out – as we understand it – by a certified chartered accountant who was a member of the technical evaluation committee of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. Contrary to public statements, the project will end up costing US$15.1 million a year for 25 years and which equals 25 x US$15.1= US$ 377.5 M x 2.0 for Barbadian currency = BDS$755 million.
@Prodigal Son | April 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM |
“Have you noticed that when the Dems are in office, things always seem to happen in the embassies and not a word from the minister?”
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You are right Prodigal. The minute I read your comment, I instantly remembered e.g. (1)The enormously embarassing Diplomatic Dog incident in New York with Honourable Waldo Waldron Ramsey, and (2) The Cocaine in the Venezuelan Diplomatic Pouch incident when Honourable Cameron Tudor was Foreign Minister.
MARINA MATTERS
Today’s editorial in the Barbados Advocate.
TRUTHMAN BURTON if you have not read it as yet I urge you and DAVID to do so.
It will enlighten your darkness.
From The Advocate (Better known as “The DLP RAG”) Editorial April 20th 2011.
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“We must admit that this newspaper has in the past been critical of BOLT arrangements, more precisely in the case of the Dodds Prison. However, that was in light of the irregularities surrounding that particular project, which were exposed by the current Government. Given their blasting of the mishandling of the Dodds Prison, we are inclined to believe that the current administration will be keen to ‘dot their i’s and cross their t’s’, given the apprehension that the average Barbadian may now feel when mention is made of BOLT agreements.”
Carson, I have actually done something you suggested! I read THE DLP RAG’s editorial today and from the excerpt above, I note that THE RAG, having now back-tracked from their previous sharp criticism of the BOLT arrangement, are stating that their strictures against the building arrangements for Dodd”s Prison, were in regard to, (quote): “the irregularities surrounding that particular project which were exposed by the current government”
The only irregularity I can recall attached to that project were the constantly repeated, blatant and politically-motivated lies by: (1) THE RAG (2) DLP Callers on the Talk Radio Programmes (3) DLP Parliamentarians (4) The Central Bank Governor and (5) Ignorant DLP Bloggers like You Carson, all stating emphatically that the last Government SPENT $700 MILLION to BUILD the new prison! As I said just now, that was a blatant politically motivated lie. Remember too that The Central Bank Governor, in a surprising about turn, started to report Government expenditure like this, by quoting the anticipated final cost up front, seemingly to give the impression that this final cost was the amount actually SPENT initially.
So Carson, would you inform me what were these irregularities of which The DLP RAG speaks? Also tell us Carson, if all is above board with this Marina Project a la Sinckler, Bannister and Boyce, why so much court action and claims of corruption in the air?
And while you are at it Carson, what do you think of the malfeasance taking place at the RDC, reported in the thread at the top of this page? Are we, Carson going to find all of these houses being built for DLP members out of RDC FUNDS, by the Chairman of the DLP St.Michael Central Constituency Branch, who is also the RDC Head?
to panda more- give me one instance to show that mr sinckler is doing a good job as minister offinance; just one.
Chris Sinckler picked up the Ministry of Finance before the death of David Thompson where the economy was experiencing negative growth.
Under his watch it did not go further into recession but grew by a modest 0.8% which is nothing to shout about but it grew. If it had decline then you would be all over him.
The governor of the central bank is now predicting a 2 % growth by the end of the year that show he is managing the financial matters well.
He is doing something Ruth that your great economist refused to do; he is taking hard nose decisions that must be done if Barbados is too survived in this real world.
Your great economist said that bajans want to go to heaven but don’t want to die. He was basically saying that a lot of sacrifices have to be made but he was only concentrating on winning a fourth term and not about restructuring this economy.
A non economist like Christopher Sinckler has you seeing blue because he is getting the job done and Barbadians understand the path he is taking. In economics there are no free goods and therefore somebody has to pay.
right on point the editorial in the advocate. Truthman Burton THis marina was in the planning about 10 years ago . What is your problem it seems like the BLP had endorse it .I guess Truthman is envious that the Dlp gets to execute it. It is time Barbados is seen as a a major competitor in the Tourism industry we can’t just sit around waiting for tourist to come here we must give people a desire of wanting to come to our island. The marine is a positive start in the right direction.
Nothing is going to happen with this project as the BTII will be slapped with an injunction and by the time the lawsuit is heard, FUMBLE will wake up and call the elections and with a change of government, the facts will be made known.
Do people still buy the Advocate rag? Because my office supplies me with one is the only reason I read one (or rather skip through as what is in there I read on the internet). That man wanted a TV licence, said Owen promised him one and because he did not get it, hence he is so anti BLP. No worries, he wont get a licence under the Dems either.
How can the Advocate be a credible source of news when the owner, Anthony Bryan is in bed with the current government? Isn’t he on the Board of Invest Barbados?
Over the years Bryan has shown an easy willingness to flow with the political tide.
If one wanted to establish the definition of political hack, there you have it!
Truthman Burton,
Dont you find it strange that Chris Sinckler is always pictured and associated with “corruption”? For example the photo with Ponzi Leroy Parris at the Sandy Lane Gold Cup and now with this shady character Glyne Bannister? Is this coincidence?
By the way, now that Deloitte has been appointed judicial manager, was Mr Jordan the person Dale Marshall said in the Estimates Debates that he saw visiting Leroy Parris’ home?
If the BOLT agreement was bad when the BLP used it, how come it is alright now? I well remember that Trini girl nearly burst a blood vessel after the CBB Governor told Bajans, no doubt upon instructions from the dead king, that the prison cost $700 million, implying that it cost that much to build. She well carried on that day spurred on by Phony Marshall. For an intelligent person, I though she was sounded so stupid that day and when the facts were divulged, I have never heard her correct her rantings. Typical Dem!
I would like to know how much is being spent on the ABC highway since the Dems came in.
Anthony Bryan is feeding on the fatted calf. He is still waiting on the TV licence he wants to get which I think he will never get. From the time he became Chairman of Invest Barbados, he took up a permanent office there and want to be in the day to day running of the office. So much so a senior officer left, could take him.
So the Advocate is not credible. I agree with you David and to proof the point, here is a prime example.
During Hartley Henry’s political speech at the dead king’s funeral, he talked about how the membership on boards was decided and revealed that the dead king added a Combermerian to every one. This got a lot of flack as people said that the dead king and HH overstepped their boundaries as the composition of boards was a function for Cabinet, not Hartley Henry.
Would you believe that when the Advocate printed HH’s political speech in full that that part was omitted. I could not believe my eyes, I had to say, this paper is more than bias. No wonder, it is going down the tube. Wont be a loss to me!
@ Prodigal Son
Is it not the same Oliver Jordan former CEO of BTA under the BLP who then became first Chairman of BTI under the DLP?
It seems that certain people will always be in the do regardless of party.
And to think that we were exhorted to vote for change.
Heads I win, tails you lose.
BU, why are you moderating me?
Wuheva um is, I caan remember doin um, so leh we call dat wally and leh bygones be bygones, awrite?
Charlie
“A non economist like Christopher Sinckler has you seeing blue because he is getting the job done and Barbadians understand the path he is taking.”
Can you please inform me of what he is doing, and what are the economic policies that you have attributed to him in getting the job done?
I cannot understand the path he is taking, Charlie, please enlighten me.
SPEND THIS MONEY ON THE QEH HOSPITAL!!! Barbados is not “punching above its weight” with the disgraceful state of the hospital – no up to date diagnostic equipment and…….rarely even toilet paper and soap in the small closet sized toilet outside the ICU – DISGRACEFUL!
@Raw Bake
BU is not moderating you. Sometimes the browser being used creates issues for WordPress e.g. Chrome, FireFox works fine.
What will the people say when they are told that GOB has awarded another contract to SMI Infrastructure Solutions this time for the new Cruise Pier at the Barbados Port for another half a billion dollars??
@Rose Art
Awaiting details if you have to share with the BU family.
Was there an open tendering process for this new cruise pier contract?
Seems there was an open tendering process for Pierhead Marina as well, little good that did huh?
@ David
I don’t but it should becoming clear where the DLP financed its campaign from in 2007-2008
one would wonder why it would cost so much . didn’t the last new berth cost like 20-30 million us ?
@ David
Maybe you might want to post the below link and listen to section minute 2.30 to 3.30. I could not believe my ears when I listen to it today, another contract for $500 million dollars for the same company who built Doods Prison and get the contract for the Pierhead marina.
Thanks Rose Art, this matter of the government’s intention to spend 1 billion dollars in an expanded cruise terminal and pierhead marina to respond to its obligation to the tourism industry.
Are we comfortable creating so much debt to satisfy an industry which is externally driven and exposed to the vagaries of the global economic conditions?
@ David
Clearly you have missed the point. You are looking for high arguments while missing the point. Prior to Dodds, Gline Bannister never build a prison, prior to Oil Terminal project, Gline Bannister never built an Oil Terminal, prior to the Pierhead Marina project Gline Bannister never built a marina, prior to the New Cruise Pier project, Gline Bannister never built a Cruise Pier.
@Rose Art
Have not missed the point at all. It has been made already over and over, why SMI?
Did you not read Ping Pong take Wishing in Vain to task?
BU is also concerned with the resource allocation at this time given the absence of an articulated national strategy.
@Charlie | April 18, 2011 at 9:47 PM |
Carson
Integrity legislation will never be passed in Barbados with this present set of politicians.
A third party is needed urgently with persons who are not interested in getting rich fast but who can survived comfortably on their salary while working hard to see their country progress.
==================
That sounds wonderful, but where are we going to find such quality people to make up that third party?
@ david
I agree wouldn’t the money be better spent in renewable energy plants ? maybe new hospital ?
@anthony
This is what will happen in the absence of an enunciate/shared vision. The void will be filled by whatsoever will.
To boot the transactions stink of BOLTS, SMI, Gline Harrison and the like.
@ David
The thing is that the Administration cannot be doing this alone. It could not achieve this perversion without the help of Public Service, don’t you agree?
How come the BOLTS with this company, this gentleman are the only ones that require prepayments by the GOB to the tune of tens and tens of millions to advance the design all months before construction?
@ anthony
I agree wouldn’t the money be better spent in renewable energy plants ? maybe new hospital ?
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…maybe Gline Bannister has been there and done that….
@Rose Art
Is help the correct word?
Doesn’t Cabinet have to approve the deal?
How do the financial rules of government apply?
@ David
You care to share what you think is the correct word or words?
@Rose Art
Question, don’t you believe the negative arguments surrounding BOLTS were ventilated to such a degree during the last general election campaign that if a civil servants e.g. Director of Finance proposed a BOLT arrangement that Sinckler’s eyes should pop at the thought?
Once again we try to excuse the politicians. It’s the civil servants’ fault some say. What a democracy! It never ceases to amaze me that we continue to elect politicians who can only be described as quislings.
@ David & Ping Pong
News Flash…….News Flash, its a collaborative system. I make no excuses for politicians same as I don’t make excuses for the Public Service. There is a systems of things, always remember that the main form of corruption is constant, with constant players…..its only after elections that the politicians change and join the system.
David ; Rose Art
Perhaps there was nothing wrong with “BOLT” contracts in the first place and Sinckler and the DLP knew it very well. The DLP 1987 anti-BOLT campaign would therefore have been trickery from the get-go designed to win a campaign with nuff lies. A senior Public servant could therefore easily convince Sinckler and others that the current BOLT contracts were indeed the only reasonable way to go. Or, what most likely happened, the relevant Ministers themselves were convinced, with the usual inducements, not by the Public Servants but by the likes of the Bannisters and Bjerkhamms, that they really had few options but to get involved in BOLT projects, and they themselves got the Public servants on board.
I wonder how the Central Bank Governor will report on the upcoming BOLTS, will he go back to the pre 2008 protocols or continue reporting the future costs of the projects?
In my post above I was treating with basic BOLT contracts without the add ons for the boys and the cost overruns that are not necessarily a feature of BOLTS but of poor project management. Thus my statement that “Perhaps there was nothing wrong with “BOLT” contracts in the first place and Sinckler and the DLP knew it very well” was referring to generic BOLT contracts per se. not how they might have been designed and implemented in the past, present and perhaps even future in Barbados.
@ Check-it Out
There is nothing wrong with BOLT contracts, everywhere else in the world they are perfectly legimate and transparent public procurement process and part of the larger Private Public Partnership arrangements. Its when they get perverted (for whatever reason) that the people suffer from thinly veneered stealing, its so prevelent in Barbados that I regularly hear the following terms to discribe “my turn” or “our turn” , “my piece of the fatted calf”and the very best “leaning the treasury”.
If the Public Service or the politicians wanted to genuinely find out those involved, they need not do anything more than trace the money paid to the companies who have the BOLT contracts and who receive the BOLT payments.
@ David
Whatever did happen the promised Office of the Contractor General?
What we as are bajans don’t want to acknowledge is that stealing is a huge part of the way things are done in Government business in Barbados.
@ David, Ping Pong & Check-it Out
Why do you think Barrack can’t get paid, what is the real reson??
@ Ping Pong
Once again we try to excuse the politicians. It’s the civil servants’ fault some say
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You reading the same posts as everyone else Mr Pong?
What excuse what politicians what??!
Since when is accusing a class of people of not having the balls to stand up for their previous public positions “excusing them…?”
…and who said anything about civil servants’ fault?
What was implied was that they run things from behind the scenes by manipulating the politicians (and the public).
That is not ‘blame’ – more like praise….. that such ‘poorly paid’ SERVANTS can live the lifestyle that some of them do….
Blame? That would be for the host of Bajan sheeple who are the pawns in this game; and who, (like you PP) continue to seriously expect someone to come and save us and our accustomed lifestyles…..
Trinis will save our ‘local’ Bank and businesses
Canadians will save our electricity, banks and offshore $$
An American (former Bajan) will save our courts
Dottin wants foreign recruits to save our police
Arthur wanted Guyanese illiterates to feed us
BU David wants RedJet to save our air links
We need this help…. because Sir Hilary is busy spending hundreds of million$ to ensure that there is a graduate on every block….
So what do you expect from our local politicians Ping Pong?
WHO YOU GONNA CALL…>
A BOLT is a method of financing a project.
It does not facilitate tiefin any more than a road building or Housing development contract.
You all can’t be so naive. The tiefing is hidden in the costing and there are many ways to do that.
My problem with this billion dollar spending is that the western world is on the brink of another recession and there may not be enough Rich and famous or regular tourists to stimulate growth in the Barbados economy.
I hope I am wrong and the apparent optimism of the Government is warranted.
Bush Tea
You gonna vote for Ping Pong? Let’s see the Ping Pong Party (PPP) doctrine: No handouts, no freeness, no jobs for the boys. Everything to be done on clearly articulated, transparent, openly agreed upon terms. Only those projects with the most benefits for the widest cross section of the populace will be pursued.
Bush Tea, the PEP or even PDC would get more votes than the PPP!
I understand the concept that the people get the government it deserves but at least let’s expose those propagandists from both parties for the foolishness they would have us believe.
Hi Rose Art;
Re. the reason why Barrack is not getting paid.
I don’t have a clue but I can guess any of the below, in no particular order.
Because he is a foreigner (from a nearby Island)
Because there is not enough money in the treasury
Because they suspect a significant part of the proceeds will go to some BLP politicians
Because they have been unable to negotiate a reasonable kickback from him of a substantial part of the proceeds
Because they can’t work out a deal for prorating the payout over a reasonable time period
Because it might look pretty stupid to raise the funds in treasury bonds for that purpose
Because they can’t figure out the details of getting a loan for that purpose
Because paying him that huge figure, along with the CLICO debts, will sink us.
There are probably several other possibilities and I might not even have touched on the real one.
Hants;
Did you know this in 2007 when the DLP was campaigning about BOLT projects per se? Why you telling us this now?
Barrack is not getting paid because he wants cash up front. The government is broke (a.k.a. experiencing a fiscal deficit). It does not help his cause that he is perceived to have gotten the contract as a result of political patronage. If he proposes a BOLT type arrangement he might get his money over he next 30 years. He does not appear to be a young man so he may not support this proposal.
Those of us with Internet access should use it to get information so we understand how these zillion dollar projects are planned and executed.
very interesting. all without a break wall. I can see lot problem going to appear soon.
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