“What do you think will be the theme/agenda of this government come next general election?” – David, in the 9:47 pm, September 3, 2011 post.

David,

Why should they (any serious national issues – assuming that they would form part of any agenda of which you so speak) not be reflective of those of the concerns of the majority of the people, and not those of any joke DLP Government, or any dotish BLP opposition in Parliament??

And why not have these lead issues – and an agenda-setting structure too – themselves provide a platform from which to launch a process very meaningful and direct and painstaking of bringing government closer to the people of this country??

What DLP, BLP what??

The People are the Masters.

So, why the apparent genuflecting towards these two backward, corrupt, intellectually feeble, politically bankrupt factions??

Indeed, the majority of voters in Barbados have six years within which TO KICK both these idiotic factions out of the parliament of this country – and rightfully so for all the wrongs that they have done to the broad masses and middle classes of people of this country over the years – and too within this same six years to help identify with and grow and develop very significant people centered nationalist alternatives in the country.

PDC

@ David

You didn’t see the words ‘true reason for dismissal’. Company lawyers find every reason except the truth to fire workers including management staff. Peter knows better than you or I that as a contract worker, he would not
get the real reason in writing. He will get every cent that is due to him for the period which he signed the contract. There is no unfair dismissal for that category of worker.

@ David

Transparency in politics is a joke. It is a ‘catch phrase’ which is used by political parties worldwide and if the electorate likes it they run with it. Our dearly beloved Obama promised all sorts of transparency and staunchest supporters are silenced because he can’t deliver on his promises.
I hold no brief for any of the political parties in Barbados. I feel sorry for Mr. Wickham but he is no different a contract worker from the youngster who is employed on contract, as a teller at any bank in Barbados.

Here is what Wikileaks has to say about Mottley and Arthur:

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001057 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016 TAGS: ECON EIND PGOV EFIN PINR BB XL

SUBJECT: MOTTLEYNOMICS – THE RETURN OF THE STATE? Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

¶1. (C) Summary: Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley recently announced a plan for massive government investment in the ailing furniture and garment industries. She touted the idea as a way to reduce Barbados’ persistent trade deficit and slow the outflow of foreign exchange. Her proposal, made at a conference on industrial development, attracted universal criticism from other conference participants and represented a radical departure from Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s policies of encouraging private investment and divesting state enterprises. This apparent divergence on economic policy may create a divide between Arthur and Mottley, his heir apparent as the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader. In the unlikely event that Mottley’s policies were to prevail, Barbados could be stuck with inefficient and uncompetitive state manufacturing enterprises that would increase the already high national debt and become a drain on government resources. End Summary.

¶2. (SBU) Barbados Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Mia Amor Mottley delivered the feature address at a May 31 conference celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC). In a clever and eloquent address, she highlighted the history of the furniture and garment industries in Barbados, tying them to slavery and colonialism and exalting the creativity of local designers. Uttering phrases evoking nationalism and emotional attachment to the past, she presented an unlikely vision of world-class furniture and garments coming out of Barbados. Criticizing the unwillingness of private capital to invest in these two industries, she said the Government of Barbados (GOB) must take an “entrepreneurial role” in Barbados’ industrial development, meaning the GOB should invest heavily in the furniture and garment industries and run the industries in a public/private partnership. (Note: Private capital has probably stayed away because there is little hope of making a profit from manufacturing furniture and garments in Barbados. The country has some of the highest wages in CARICOM and would have to import the necessary raw materials for these industries (lumber and fabric). End Note.) ——————-

Bio Note on Mottley ——————-

¶3. (C) Mottley easily dominates any gathering with her commanding physical presence, razor-sharp mind, and eloquent speech delivered in a distinctive contralto voice. She demonstrated her leadership skills when she quickly organized the police and military to restore order after inmates rioted and burned down the country’s only prison in March 2005. Mottley was the youngest ever lawyer in Barbados to attain the rank of Queen’s Counsel, and has been in the leadership of the ruling Barbados Labour Party for over a decade. Her competence has given way to arrogance at times, and she has been known to walk out of negotiations and assume knowledge of subjects in which she has little expertise, such as business and economic policy. Many observers viewed PM Arthur’s decision to move her from Attorney General to Minister of Economic Development in the February cabinet shuffle as a way to round out her skills in preparation for a run for Prime Minister. ——————————- A Real Problem – A Bad Solution ——————————-

¶4. (C) As a small, import-dependent island with a fixed currency and minimal exports, Barbados has a structural trade deficit and a foreign exchange problem. Rising standards of living coupled with easier access to credit have increased demand for imports, thus making the country a victim of its own economic success. Except for a financial crisis in the early 1990’s, Barbados has managed to earn enough foreign exchange from tourism, other service exports, and investment to maintain its reserves at a sustainable level. GOB efforts to right this trade imbalance had previously focused on encouraging exports through private investment. This new “Mottleynomics” of state investment in manufacturing could drive up the country’s already-high debt while creating two more inefficient state-run albatrosses similar to the sugar industry. —————– Instant Criticism —————–

¶5. (SBU) As Ministers tend to do when attending conferences in Barbados, Mottley entered the conference room, gave her speech, and left immediately. Subsequent presenters indirectly rebutted her assertions by focusing on the need for private investment and for the country to produce what it has a competitive advantage in producing. Michael Howard, a professor at the University of the West Indies, made the most direct criticism of Mottleynomics. Arguing that furniture and garments are the “way of the past,” he stated that Barbados could not compete with Trinidad in manufacturing. Howard’s remark drew titters of knowing laughter from the assembled audience of business leaders. ——- Comment ——-

¶6. (C) Mottley was a relatively competent if disorganized Attorney General, but she seems truly out of place as Minister of Economic Development. Lacking experience and training in business and economics, Mottley has refused to consult with business leaders in Barbados and has apparently embraced discredited statist import substitution policies. The obvious divergence in approach between the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Economic Development and her mentor, PM Arthur, may signal a divide in the BLP over economic policy. Because it seems highly improbable that Mottley can persuade the PM, a forward-leaning economist, to support GOB investment in the furniture and garment industries, her backward-looking proposal is likely to be short-lived. KRAMER

@ Sargeant

The question is why would a Gov’t fire a media commentator who spoke about corruption in the Caribbean when that Gov’t was not implicated
——————————————————————————————–
Sarge my boy, I wish I had the answer. lol. We could get all the answers to this ‘Cohobblopot’ if our Loyal Opposition could table a non-binding motion to be voted on by the members of the House of Assembly saying ‘This House believes it is in the public interest for CBC to re-instate Mr. Wickham as its political consultant.”. Yes, the debate must be telecast/broadcast live on tv/radio. What sayest thou?

@enuff

You are correct when you say Wickham’s dismissal has resonated with the population. This is fueled even more by his name mentioned in the latest Wikileaks cables released.

How many blogs have been posted which garner 20 comments about food security and the like.

Go figure!

@David

That assessment about Mottley was probably penned by the Embassy’s political officer, you will probably find assessments about Thompson too, the USA likes to keep tabs on which leader is likely to emerge.

Mottley would hardly be pleased about the assessment as it is by no means flattering, it paints her partly as an autocratic no nothing who can speak well but was out of her depth when it came to Economic affairs.

Hardly a recommendation for the country’s top job, but American State Dept. employees don’t get to vote in Barbados or even at the BLP’s annual conference.

Just another example of the hypocrisy that abounds.

@Enuff

If I recall correctly, there was a committee that looked at Barbadian furniture vernacular with the view of patenting the designs and a full scale production facility was to be constructed for fashion designers

*****************************

After reading the above I had to consult my calendar to see if it was April 1st, Did someone actually establish a committee that would consider patenting furniture design? Wuhloss, wuhloss, the things people come up with when they have too much time on their hands. Did they ever hear of China? The moment a successful product is launched anyway in the world the Chinese have a knock off in a nano second. This is a country which had a fake Apple store , not to mention fake Gucci, fake Hermes, fake Rolexes, fake you name it.

Full scale production facility for fashion designers? Where is the competition? Bangladesh, Thailand, China etc. where there are precious few labour laws and cheap labour is plentiful.

Sounds like more like a group of people “Brain Storming” about possible ways to stimulate the Economy than any bone fide Committee

I wouldn’t want to tout those examples as an indication of Gov’t action to “restructure” the Economy?

@sargeant

The operative word you used is FAKE. In spite of the Chinese fake market, the sale of established luxury brands continues to increase during these recessionary times.
Secondly, fashion design and garment industries are two different things; and while I am talking about designers i.e creative industry you are referring to the assembling of clothes.
Lastly, which Apple product sells better, the real or the fake from the store in China?

@Enuff

Actually the fake Apple store in China sells authentic Apple products. Go figure! Ok what is a “full scale production facility” for fashion designers?

I don’t know if fakes outsell the “Real MCoy” after all the manufactures of the fake products are hardly likely to release any records. What I do know is that periodically I see a video clip where the Chinese Govt uses heavy machinery to crush fake products, so the manufacturers of the genuine products must be worried.

The whole concept furniture patent and fashion design still sound like a “Brain Storming” session to me.

“Well, well, well fire a man for telling the truth.” I said that to a friend today and he reminded me that he too was fired for telling the truth. But CBC is a strange place. I always wondered how a man who cannot speak or write a sentence in standard English, or standard Bajan got to be Chairman. But then again what the hell didn’t the BLP make Joey Harper a man who abandoned his own children Chairman of the Child Care Board?

David Thompson is dead and not a minute too soon.

The CLICO policy holders, and former employees will never get their money back. Isn’t it time we stop lying to people?

@ Owen Bitter Because Sinckler’s Success Can Determine Arthur’s Political Future

Stupse!! They are ALL after power: Freundel, Owen, Sinckler, Mia and YOU too, so spare us the crossbearing diatribe.