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Government Waives Land Tax For Cruising Club

By a notice published as S.I. 2011 No. 88 in the Official Gazette of July 28, 2011, the Minister of Finance waived the payment of LAND TAX by the Barbados Cruising Club for a nineteen-year period April 1, 1992 to March 31, 2011. The Minister forgave the payment of $125, 871.06. I do not pretend…

, , , , ,
Caswell Franklyn, Head of Unity Workers Union

By a notice published as S.I. 2011 No. 88 in the Official Gazette of July 28, 2011, the Minister of Finance waived the payment of LAND TAX by the Barbados Cruising Club for a nineteen-year period April 1, 1992 to March 31, 2011. The Minister forgave the payment of $125, 871.06.

I do not pretend to understand these weighty matters of state, and I am not questioning the Minister’s right to grant exemptions from the payment of land tax or any other tax. He has that right under the provisions of the Duties, Taxes and Other Payments (Exemption) Act, Chapter 67B of the Laws of Barbados. My concern is that while Government is squeezing every last cent out of the average Barbadian, why would it forgive the payment of land tax to people who can afford to own yachts and cruise as a hobby?

As I understand it, Government leased land to the Barbados Cruising Club to use for their members’ recreation. For the period of the lease the club should have been paying land tax on the property. They failed to do so. Rather than ensure compliance with the provisions of the Land Tax Act, and make sure that the country gets the much needed revenue, the Minister of Finance forgave the tax.

The Round Barbados Race took place on Errol Barrow Day, 21 January 2011

Who are these people who are so well placed that they can persuade Government to waive the payment of land tax on property that they use for recreation, while at the same time, the Commissioner of Land Tax is advertising the property, of small individuals, for sale for non payment of land tax.

This might be a very innocent transaction, but as a tax paying Barbadian, I would like to be assured that Government is not taking care of the boys at the expense of the average tax paying Barbadian.

131 responses to “Government Waives Land Tax For Cruising Club”

  1. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    David | September 7, 2011 at 5:20 AM “Are we fine with the government waiving the land tax? Do we even care?”

    David I am NOT fine with the government waiving the land tax for the cruising club, (unless the government will waive my land tax too?)

    Heh!!!heh!!!heh!!!! or
    LOL!!!!!!!

  2. Truthman Burton Avatar
    Truthman Burton

    @Random Thoughts | September 7, 2011 at 12:01 PM |
    “No premiums, no company. It is as simple as that”,”
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    He actually said, “No premiums, no company, No Company, Bare Stress!”

    Random Thoughts, remember also that “PornVille” is threatening to sell people’s land for debushing bills of $400.00. I am not condoning the delinquincy on the part of Landowners in keeping their lots clean, but this Government always seem able to come up with solutions favorable to certain persons, who maybe can fund their Election Campaign coffers …….. especially now that the Cash Cow CLICO has been knocked out!

  3. pictograph?? Avatar
    pictograph??

    Guess Senator Gilkes can influence a lot of things…

  4. 825 Colonel Buggy Avatar
    825 Colonel Buggy

    Land Tax dropped. Manslaughter Charge dropped. Whats new?

  5. John Avatar
    John

    I think I can understand the reason for the forgiveness of Land Tax.

    I figure the land belongs to Government if it leased it to the Club.

    It makes no sense to sell its own land at Public Auction to recoup the Land Tax owed although given the madness I have seen, it is not beyond my imagination.

    At a such a Public Auction, my understaning is there will be an upset price which probably would see Government getting the $120K back but losing big time on the land!!! ……. happens all the time.

    Somebody with the right connections would probably walk away from such an auction smiling.

    You will probably find that when Government leased the land to the Cruising Club there was some unspecified agreement about the Land Tax, or maybe at the time the Land Tax was low and the Club paid it so it could say it was paying its way and not in receipt of some largesse from Government ……. but the Land Taxes have arisen ……. reality is reality.

    If it was done at a time Erroll Barrow was PM it may well have not been an truly arm’s length transaction as it looks as though the Club also catered to his enjoyment of “sailing with the boys”.

    The Land Tax Commissioner has probably got his department into a super efficient mode where every last square foot of Barbados is accounted for and to get his books to balance the forgiveness has to be ordered by Government.

    Remember, the Auditor General is making noise nowadays and is probably asking questions of the Land Tax Commissioner over unpaid Land Tax!!

  6. enuff Avatar
    enuff

    @ John

    Sarcasm?

  7. checkit-out Avatar
    checkit-out

    John;

    So not only is the Law an ass, so too is the Land Tax department. There must be exceptions. The Commissioner must have other legal remedies for collecting the taxes. There must be more than one legal way to skin a cat. there must have been some other solution to the problem without giving away prime property or letting a group of priveleged persons off the tax hook. Anyone has access to the Land Tax act? Caswell Franklin we’re looking at you.

  8. John Avatar
    John

    …. I know, its the lowest form of wit.

    … but I am actually trying to be realistic and find an explanation which would fit observable facts given what has been said so far.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Please Senator Gilke’s response to this matter:

    David King

    Government Waives Land Tax For Cruising Club
    bajan.wordpress.com
    By a notice published as S.I. 2011 No. 88 in the Official Gazette of July 28, 2011, the Minister of Finance waived the payment of LAND TAX by the Barbados Cruising Club for a nineteen-year period A…

    Like · · Share · 22 hours ago

    John Browne While the kill the middle class and the working poor… Better can Be done… Why should our old mothers and fathers pay dispensing fees while these luxary lifestyle entity keeps getting concessions from this government…. better will be done
    22 hours ago · Like · 1 person

    Kim Jacqueline This was a haunt and watering hole of the late Rt. Excellent Sir Errol Walton Barrow but that is hardly a reason. Did they do the same for the Yacht Club? Just asking.
    20 hours ago · Like · 1 person


    David King Perhaps Senator Peter Gilkes or Minister Denis Kellman can adise what motivated the government to waive 125 grand in land tax for the Cruising Club.
    11 hours ago · Like

    Denis Kellman Why the cruising club?
    11 hours ago via · Like


    David King You are asking or telling Minister.
    11 hours ago · Like

    Denis Kellman Asking.
    11 hours ago via · Like

    Ken R. Smith ‎Peter Gilkes, awaiting your comment on this, my friend…….
    10 hours ago · Like

    John Browne PeterGilkes the people waiting to hear from you
    9 hours ago · Like

    Peter Gilkes Ken, David, let me first state that I am not a member nor have I ever been a member of the Cruising Club, but my knowledge of what the purpose of the Cruising Club was designed to do as it was created by the Late Prime Minister the Rt Hon Errol Barrow as a club for those that at the time would not have qualified for membership at the Barbados Yacht Club and Prime Minister Barrow was a Charter member and created the Barbados Cruising Club to provide those interested in the sport of sailing or any boating activity with a place to call a base. As I said I am not on the membership of the Barbados Cruising Club but I do know that the Club for many years following the death of Prime Minister Barrow was a nonfunctional entity and accumulated debts that could not be paid because there was no revenue to cover the expenses of the Club including the Land Tax bills accumulated over the years. It is only within the past 2 or 3 years that a new group of interested people who felt that the legacy of having an alternate Club to that of the Barbados Yacht Club the idea and desire of the Late Prime Minister Errol Barrow be maintained and worked on to keep his memory alive and this group took on the management and restoration of the Barbados Cruising Club as a place for all Barbadians visitors and friends of Barbados to be included at and be part of. With their involvement and keennest to rekindle the memory of the Late Prime Minister Errol Barrow and his Barbados Cruising Club as a home for Water sports people and for those who even now cannot or may not make membership requirements of the Barbados Yacht Club but can still be accommodated by membership at the Barbados Cruising Club, and in an effort to start on the right foot so to speak if they applied for and received relief from a Land Tax Debt that was many years old and not one of their making nor of their ownership and to return the club to a viable entity as it is trying to be now employing people and keeping their surroundings clean and tidy as opposed to the dump it was formerly, I really have no issues with waving that Land Tax that has accumulated over a number of years and not a debt of the present team of people who are trying their best to keep the Prime Minister Errol Barrow legacy of a alternate Sailing Club alive one that any Barbadian can join and be part of and enjoy one of the finest beaches on the island without having to pay an arm and a leg to do so, I really have no issue if this Government that PM Barrow lead, has chosen to forgive an old debt that will never see anyone take ownership for and one that the present team is not responsible for if by doing so it gives the club the opportunity to put people to work and provide a place where both locals and visitors can gather for sailing, fishing Watersports or for drink and food. Trust this may have answered what you were asking, as you will see Ken there is nothing earth shattering about what has gone on, the club incurred Land Tax debts over the last 30 odd years with very little chance of new owners being likely to wipe these debts out and the club has been given a new lease on life and going forward will have land taxes to pay in the meanwhile they are hiring people and paying NIS etc and providing a service to locals and visitors alike and offering a tourism product that has seen the like of British Airways have them listed as a preferred destination for their crew stop overs in Barbados. Regards
    8 hours ago · Like

    John Browne Peter… nothing earth shattering and poor people dropping down everyday posssibly because they can’t pay for thier medication… Better can Be done..
    8 hours ago · Like

    John Browne Yes Peter you are still to tell us about the account in Miami and the Cayman Islands
    8 hours ago · Like

    John Browne ‎”their”
    8 hours ago · Like

    Peter Gilkes I really do not have a lot to say to women with men’s names but I have given David and Ken my belief as to the thinking as to the waiver but as I said I am neither a member of the Barbados Crusing Club or Cabinet so do not know the facts from either side but applied common sense to arrive at my position. Raquel Browne I would not know if or where your leaders may or may not have accounts sorry I cannot help you unravel that.
    8 hours ago · Like

  10. balance Avatar
    balance

    to david- compliance issue my ass, an increase is an increase and such a significant one too which again can only hurt the working poor who have endless difficulties in filing their taxes manually and moreso now onl-ine without the benefit of the computer as the businesses do at their fingertips. you always maqking excuses which exposes your surreptious slip.

  11. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @BU.David: “By a notice published as S.I. 2011 No. 88 in the Official Gazette of July 28, 2011…

    Just wondering… Did you find this notice available on-line?

    (It’s a rhetorical, but serious, question.)

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @balance

    The clarification was for the record what the Minister stated.

    You can toss labels which ever way you want, it is not the first time or the last BU will be labeled.

    What should matter to you is not whether BU’s slip is showing but that you have the opportunity to refute any comment you disagree.

  13. balance Avatar
    balance

    to bafbf- you can speculate as much asw you like but i commend mr wynter crawford’s autobiography to you for a start; then the KHAKI BOYS BY TATANKA YOTANKA. it is time these myuths are put to rest.

  14. John Avatar
    John

    I have been a member of a voluntary Organisation with worthwhile aims directed at charity which had its abode in a building owned by Government.

    Its only revenue was from membership dues and various functions it organised.

    I don’t think any rent was paid and almost certainly, no Land Tax.

    The premises were not in a good enough state to command a rent.

    An arrangement was arrived at between the Organisation and the Government because some of its members were connected to the hierarchy of the party in power at the time, at least that was my observation.

    The Organisation had membership which straddled both parties ….. it was not a Lodge!!

    The fact that members from both parties were present was easy to determine because I often witnessed shouting matches that were based on party lines.

    At first I thought for sure someone was going to beat someone else but I learnt to accept the occasional flareups and enjoyed them.

    When I was invited to join I found the arrangement working and when demands on my time made it necessary to resign years later I left it working.

    I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from the experience and fellowship.

    Strictly speaking rent should have been paid but I do not believe it was.

    If suddenly the Auditor General questioned the transaction relating to Government property and wanted the back rent accounted for, it would be a difficult thing to happen because my impression was the arrangement was very much an ad hoc one.

    Arm’s length could not be used as a description.

  15. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    I am a member of the Barbados Cruising Club.

    The Barbados Cruising Club up until 2009 was a non-entity. For more than a decade the club suffered from poor management, both financially and otherwise. Anyone who was at the club around 2007 can attest that the site was a dump – boats everywhere and the building rundown and terrible. In 2007/2008 the members of the club brought on a committee to bring the club back to life. The purpose has always been the same “The core aim of our club is to make marine activities available to everyone on the island.” You can read it right on the website http://www.barbadoscruisingclub.org

    These people (who remember are unpaid volunteers) worked tirelessly to clean up the grounds, and pulling money from the private sector to renovate and rebuild the facilities all with this same goal in mind. This was possible in part thanks to the forgiveness of the land tax bill by the government at the time that allowed the club to move forward.

    What did the Barbados Cruising Club do before the land tax was forgiven? Absolutely nothing of value. The only service the club was providing was a broken shower on the beach. Which was broken…

    What does the Barbados Cruising Club do after it had it’s land tax was forgiven?
    – Rebuilt the clubhouse and beach facilities.
    -Has a small fleet of sailing dinghies that are free for use by members who know how to sail.
    -Provides an affordable beach club to Barbadian families who choose to become members (many have)
    -Holds “toe in the water” days where anyone and everyone is welcome to come to the club and try out sailing or any of the water activities that are happening.
    -Provides a friendly spot for visiting sailors to stop and make their way onto land to spend money at local businesses.
    -Keeps the beach clean (are you participating in the beach cleanup sept 17?)
    -These international races attract overseas yachts with large crews who make their way to land and spend money in local business.
    -Preserves the sailing history of Barbados (see the website’s photo galleries)
    -Organizes and sponsors international, local and youth-centered sailing regattas
    -Sponsors children from the Pinelands Creative Workshop to attend summer sailing camps.
    -Hosts Barbados Sea Scouts troops
    -Is currently working to bring a ‘Sailing in Schools’ program for this school year to get our children back out on the water.

    All of this within 3 years of being granted the ability to continue operating by the Barbados government. In short order I believe the people of Barbados, if they so choose, will find this a wise investment in themselves.

    If the people of this beautiful island want a say in what happens at the BCC I would invite them all to join the club. Get in on the discussion, the club is run by its members and as a public – you are free to join or not join. The club has never refused anyone membership and the annual fees are very reasonable.

    A comment on the membership, from the membership – I can assure Mr Franklyn that boat owners at the BCC are few and far between. I joined the club because the club allows members to sail for free! I can’t afford a yacht. I believe there are a total of four “yachts” (most of which are 30′ in length, hardly yachts) moored off of the club. Which is to say that approximately 2% of the club membership can afford to own a sailboat. Does this sound like a fat-cat club to anyone?

    The video of the Round Barbados Race is a fantastic advertisement for Barbados as a sailing and tourist destination. It was produced as a favour to the BCC and hundreds of hours of (volunteer) sweat and tears went into creating it. This race originated in 1936 and ran for a very long time. The BCC has picked up this lost race and if you got to see it live, on CBC or in the newspapers – this was no small event and attracted a great number of visitors to the island in its first year. As a result of this success there is a trans-atlantic race that will end in Barbados in 2012. Much as a single cruise ship unloads thousands of people with cash-in-hand into Bridgetown, the BCC’s events will do the same.

    The BCC has a very high regard for the Errol Barrow. His photo hangs on the wall, the bar is named “Dipper’s”, and every year (since 2009) on his birthday the BCC has a charity fundraising event and open house.

    The BCC’s management committee has worked very hard to bring the club to a point where it is able to again give back to the community. It is a disservice to the community as a whole to boil this down to a race issue and point fingers. There are absolutely no obstacles to joining or visiting the club that include race. All are welcome. The club is populated with a fantastic group of people, primarily Barbadians of all colours.

    At the end of the day, the club is owned and managed by those who choose to join. Way back in the 50s the BYC had restrictions on who could join. Let’s all remember there are no such obstacles there anymore. The BYC is also a very inclusive club, it’s membership fees are higher and if you look at the size of the place and its facilities you can’t argue they should be any less. The BCC is an alternative to those seeking one.

    The subject of race as brought up by Mr Franklyn comes up time and time again at the club. If anyone has any positive suggestions on how to get people to overcome their own issues regarding race and participate I’m sure the club management would be happy to hear them.

  16. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Kris wrote “For more than a decade the club suffered from poor management, both financially and otherwise. Anyone who was at the club around 2007 can attest that the site was a dump”

    If as Kris states the club was a poorly managed dump, what assurance do we the tax payers have that it will be well managed now and on into the future?

  17. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    As a product of the generation of people who started the BCC I have to admit that I had and still have absolutely no interest in sailing or being on the water. I don’ know, maybe it is a White thing. Hey people go for it …

  18. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    By the way as a child I hated being forced to go there on Sundays for the silly buffets and sit arounds. If given the chance I would turn it into a strip joint …

  19. John Avatar
    John

    kris

    Keep up the good work and I wish you and your club well in your efforts.

    Free or not, you will never see me get in a boat and play I am sailing because like most Bajans I am scared of the sea!!

    It has been my observation that many Bajans find ways to sneer at anyone who loves the sea and is comfortable deriving enjoyment from the pleasure it gives them.

    Sometimes I think it is a jealousy thing …. like me they are scared but don’t like to see others who are not, enjoy themselves.

    Maybe they feel left out.

    … but that’s just me trying to psycho analyse!!

    I spent three months in St. Vincent where the complete opposite prevails and everybody seems to have a boat.

    Vincentians love the sea.

    Whereas owning a boat (however big or small) in Barbados is seen as a luxury for an elite few, it seemed to me when I was there years ago that everybody owned one and no status attached to ownership.

    I never experienced anything like it in Barbados.

    Some friends there actually got me in a small motorboat and took me around the island …… I put on a good show of having no fear …… but I did …. and I have to admit it was extremely enjoyable … but I don’t intend repeating it anywhere, anytime in the forseeable future.

  20. checkit-out Avatar
    checkit-out

    Thanks for your input Kris.

    I now have a clearer picture of the situation. I visited the Cruising Club about 5 years ago and was appalled at its condition. Perhaps I’ll go soon again to see what it has been transformed into. While your explanation and the senator’s don’t entirely make the decision of the Government re. the land tax transparent, they go a long way to justify that decision. Perhaps a preemptive photo-op when the tax break was given would have gone a long way to preempt this discussion rather than trying to keep it a secret.

    Now who is going to clear up our knowledge re. Barrow’s burial place? Amused, I’m looking at you.

  21. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    BAFBFP “As a product of the generation of people who started the BCC”.

    So you are a Bajan middle class radical.

  22. John Avatar
    John

    Amused | September 7, 2011 at 10:28 AM | All anyone has to do is to drive down by the Hilton and follow the signs to the Military Cemetery. You will find a large grey marble headstone at the end of the Cemetery right in front of you that you can see from the entrance. It is the headstone of Errol Walton Barrow and this particular headstone purports that he was Prime Minister of Barbados.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Amused, there is a whole big able statue of Nelson in Bridgetown but that does not mean he is buried under the statue!!

    You don’t believe that …. do you?

  23. balance Avatar
    balance

    i am looking forward to a similar explanation regarding the arrears of rent owed by the bdos light aeroplane club to government over the years which i am sure has been put to good use for the benefit of the naive citizens of barbados. i am sure as well that they are many small businesses out there both black and white making a worthwhile contribution to the employment situation in barbados who have had to close their doors because they could not meet their financial obligations. incidentally, the dipper did have some connection with that club too.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Caswell

    Thanks for bring this matter to the fore.

    Some may justify the decision to forgive the land tax by the club, what some of us will not forgive is the sneaky way it was done.

    Remember this is a government swept into to power on the agenda of promising transparency.

  25. John Avatar
    John

    David | September 8, 2011 at 4:39 AM | @Caswell

    Thanks for bring this matter to the fore.

    Some may justify the decision to forgive the land tax by the club, what some of us will not forgive is the sneaky way it was done.

    Remember this is a government swept into to power on the agenda of promising transparency.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The issue of race will continue to bedevil and prevent rational thought.

    It will prevent us from seeing simple truths.

    No wonder the politicians have for decades used the issue to achieve all sorts of nefarious agendas.

    The result is that today they are viewed by many as low life scum, even although they are set over us!!

    Time will tell if we can overcome the blinkered vision of these afflicted persons.

    It took almost 70 comments over 2 days before we even begun to actually see some light.

    That doesn’t speak too highly of our ability for rational thought.

  26. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    @ Random Thoughts

    There is never any way to guarantee that in the future an organization will be managed well. This holds true for families, businesses and government. The BCC is a non-profit organization run by its members. Anyone who has volunteered for an organization like this knows it is a great responsibility and also exhausting but rewarding work. Last year at the Annual General Meeting the club members voted in a constitution which provides rules and guidelines for the club’s operation. The hope was that this governing document would prevent the club from failing again. There are no guarantees but you’ll find the BCC is trying and so far succeeding.

    I would invite anyone to come down to the club for a visit. If you happen to come across any of our senior members – strike up a conversation. (or with anyone for that matter) They watched the club grow in the 60’s and 70’s and then fall, and rise back up again. Ask them what they think.

    If we look at what the club has accomplished in such a short time (read that list again) it’s safe to say that so far at least – it’s working.

    @BAFBFP

    Making sailing a black/white issue is the easy way out. If you consider history and the realities of the world it’s simply not a racial issue. Thirty years ago you would find Carlisle Bay had just as many black sailors as white. Schools had sailing teams that competed against each other for inter-school glory. All over the world you’ll find African, White, Asian, Indian all take to the sea for work and for play. As John said in St Vincent and most of the Grenadines the sea is a source of work, food and fun for all people.

    Two things the club is focused on right now are overcoming Barbadians fear of the water and promoting sailing as a sport on the island. I would prefer to see people enjoying the sea without fear than turn a beautiful spot that’s purpose is to give back to the community turned into a strip joint. Typically not a business that does much for the community.

    @ Everyone

    Come visit the club anytime, you will not be thrown out or sneered at no matter your race or political affiliations. All are welcome.

    Wednesday nights are quiz nights
    Thursday night is Karaoke
    Sunday there’s going to be a live band
    On the 17th there’s a beach cleanup
    About once a month there is a “toe in the water” day, you just missed it from last week…

  27. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Hants

    BAFBFP “As a product of the generation of people who started the BCC”.
    So you are a Bajan middle class radical.
    ********************
    Hah!! Don’t make muh laugh. The notion that BAFBFP is a Bajan middle class radical is as fake as the picture he posts of himself or the Chinese persona that he sometimes adopts.

    I’m willing to bet that every day he sports a collar ‘n tie and drives to his office where he is the epitome of the Bajan executive on the rise, where the ideas that he promotes on these pages would be anathema to the rest of his colleagues. At night he plays with the same kind of middle class people at the various nightspots throughout the Island.

    Lemme hear what he got to say about that.

    BTW, BAFBFP I’m not your foe I just gleaned the above from what you have posted on the blog, and I haven’t even delivered my stealth bomb.

  28. Sunshine Sunny Shine Avatar
    Sunshine Sunny Shine

    Wunna cud tauk all wunna like but in Barbados its the MONEY DAT TAUKS AND THE BILL SHIT FROM PEOPLE WHO AINT GOT NA MONEY DAT TAKES THE LONG WALK. As long as politicians continue to get their lil tings, those with money will get their big things

  29. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Let’s assume for the sake of argument that I accept the explanations for waiving the land tax for the Barbados Cruising Club: how can you rationalise the waiver of land tax of $411 451. 14 in favour of Mobil Oil Barbados Limited. That waiver was published as S.I. 2011 No. 89 in the Official Gazette dated July 28, 2011.

    Again there might be a reasonable explanation, but I would like to know.

  30. Obediant Avatar
    Obediant

    @Caswell

    The older i get, the more cynical i become about politics in general and local politics in particular.

    Every five years in most instance we are urged to support the party you have been faithful over the years, but when you stop and the modus operdndus of both parties are the same; extract from the system as much as possible in the shortes time. Thats why i am now thinking of becoming a floating votere
    .

    RACE AND CLASS ARE TWO FEATURES of Barbadain society that that has permeated this landscape and the politicians have snugly fitted into the norm where they are intererested in those whose who backed them em with the huge donations, for this reason we need political refor and campaign financial reform. By the way has there been any movement on the inteegrity legislation bill.

  31. John Avatar
    John

    Caswell Franklyn | September 8, 2011 at 9:19 AM | Let’s assume for the sake of argument that I accept the explanations for waiving the land tax for the Barbados Cruising Club: how can you rationalise the waiver of land tax of $411 451. 14 in favour of Mobil Oil Barbados Limited. That waiver was published as S.I. 2011 No. 89 in the Official Gazette dated July 28, 2011.

    Again there might be a reasonable explanation, but I would like to know.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Can’t help you with an explanation here, reasonable or unreasonable.

    I would like to know too if there is a reasonable one.

    What other waivers do you know of?

    Perhaps all could be dealt with at the same time instead of piecemeal.

  32. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    @ John

    “but that’s just me trying to psycho analyse!!”
    Don’t, you are terrible at doing it.

    @ Hants and Sarge

    Radical Middle class, yes, so I am cursed. But so too are many other REAL people through out history, incidentally including EWB, Maurice Bishop, Che Guevara and Martin Luther King

    @ John checkit-out Chris

    Don’t sweat on the strip club comment, but I have no problem with talking race in Barbados. You guys have done yourselves proud with that club. There probably is something about this “birds of a feather flock together” thing that seems to work in you favour, or at least in this case, the club’s favour… give a shit, I still despise the concept.

  33. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    @ Caswell

    I have no knowledge of a waiver for $411,451. 14 in favour of Mobil Oil Barbados Limited. If I dare guess I would suppose that “employment” was on their minds – but that’s just a guess. Perhaps fodder for another article? This one has attracted some excellent commentary.

    @ BAFBFP

    I suppose until each side realizes that we are all on the same side – “birds of a feather” will continue to be part of the landscape. The club is a truly democratic institution where I’ve seen people with the passion to make a change succeed. Possibly the BCC could be a place where Barbadians, black, white, asian… indian… can come together, practice democracy in a way they can’t in government and steer the club their own way.

  34. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Chris

    Come work for me .. you make Steven Worme sound like an amateur.

  35. lemuel Avatar
    lemuel

    To BAFBFP:
    I asked you a question about elliot mottley on the doctors piece, but it seems like he is you friend and so no reply has been coming.

  36. checkit-out Avatar
    checkit-out

    BAFBPF; Why do you include me in your collection of presumably white apologists in your 10.26 a.m. post? I made no comment re. your strip club. I am not a member of any Club or Society. I visited the Cruising Club only once when it was a dump. I am not a bird of a feather to anyone on this blog.

    You know anything about where Barrow is buried? Does he really have a monument in the Military Ceremony?

  37. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    checkit-out

    My apologies. I hope to check on this monument soon. Can’t say when, the weather is a bit dicy these days. Before weekend promise

  38. David Avatar
    David

    This is the link that supports Amused position although it seems a memorial spot rather than a burial.

    http://m.wcities.com/barbados/tourist-attractions-sightseeing/poi-military-cemetery-the-685814.html

  39. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    checkit-out

    It seems that Amused | September 7, 2011 at 4:50 AM | is correct that there is a “head stone” at the top of the road with an inscription in EWB honour. But as we were all told, his ashes were spread across the Caribbean sea.

  40. John Avatar
    John

    David

    If you go to the Cenotaph you will find the names of the dead of the two World Wars.

    It is a memorial.

    Six of the twelve men in the group Erroll Barrow left these shores with to serve their King and Country in 1940 are listed there.

    Unlike Erroll Barrow they did not make it back.

    They are buried in various places in the world where they fell.

    You can go the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website on the internet and find out where they are buried if you wish.

    The Cenotaph is a memorial for these brave men who gave there lives. It says it all about them.

    It does not mean they are buried under it.

    Likewise, the Statue of Nelson is a memorial to a brave man who fell in war.

    It does not mean he is buried there.

    Many people don’t realise it but the Fountain is also a form of memorial.

    It is a memorial to the 20,000 Bajans who died over a three month period during cholera in 1854.

    They are buried in divers places all around Barbados, some probably at sea.

    When the churchyards overflowed with the dead, they were buried in the various cholera grounds which we no longer remember, ………. and in canefields which we now view as commodities to be exploited for a dollar.

    If the headstone is not a memorial to Erroll Barrow at the Military Cemetery like these other memorials, it would mean we have been sold a pack of lies and our politicians are an even worse set of people than we could ever imagine.

  41. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    John
    Re: your comment at 10:24 AM

    You asked, “What other waivers do you know of?

    I know of several, but I have no problem with most of them. The one that should cause concern is the waiver of customs duties and taxes on an Audi motor car for the exclusive use of the General Secretary of NUPW. It should cause concern because the NUPW is rolling over and playing dead instead of adequately representing public workers. Additionally, I have not seen any evidence that the waiver was published in the Official Gazette as required by law.

  42. John Avatar
    John

    Ok Caswell, ………….. now you cooking!!

  43. checkit-out Avatar
    checkit-out

    Could someone let us know what is inscribed on the “headstone” at the Military cemetery. It would help to clarify if it is a memorial, which the Late Right Honourable E. W. Barrow himself has been publicised as mandating should not have been erected for him, or a mere record of him having served in the Second World war which could be interpreted as fulfilling his explicit wishes in that regard.

    I don’t understand John’s last sentence in his post above. If the Headstone is a typical memorial it would have presumably been put up in defiance of Barrow’s wishes. If it is merely a record of his having served in the War it would be a tribute to that service without doing an injustice to his explicit wishes. However, would it have been appropriate for him to have a Memorial there if none of his remains were interred in the cemetery?

    I think John’s last paragraph should logically be something like:
    If the headstone is a memorial to Erroll Barrow at the Military Cemetery like these other memorials, it might mean his wishes were not followed or we have been sold a pack of lies about those wishes.

    I think Barrow was an outstanding Bajan and deserved any honour given him. However, for now, it would appear that his colleagues, for whatever reason, after his death decided to give him those honours whether he wanted them or not. The assistance to the Cruising Club is probably a strategic decision that assists in creating a fitting living memorial to Barrow which, imho, is justified per.se. and is likely to have had the blessings of the Great Man himself.

  44. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    I saw the head stone this afternoon. It refers to his participation in the war as an RAF pilot. It is most definitely a memorial, in defiance of his wishes. But let’s be practical here. Barrow as an outstanding personality on the national landscape could not possibly expect that his wish not to have a memorial to be honored. The monument/headstone btw was sloppily finished. Maybe it was done by a club or something

  45. David Avatar
    David

    Here is a picture of the headstone:

    http://bajan.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/barrow.jpg

  46. Lil Boy Avatar
    Lil Boy

    Thanks for clearing up that.
    I really hope that Amused is my wife’s Lawyer 🙂

  47. John Avatar
    John

    I have no idea what Erroll Barrow’s wishes were!

  48. checkit-out Avatar
    checkit-out

    David; Thanks for the picture. I think it clears up perfectly the little “conspiracy” I have been trying to tease out of the facts as we know them. The Headstone is a memorial but not one that would have offended Barrow’s wishes.

  49. Colonel Buggy. Avatar
    Colonel Buggy.

    @BAFBFP. The memorial refers to Errol Barrow as a Navigator and not as an RAF Pilot.His rank was that of a Pilot Officer, a designation,held by many who have not been trained to fly or even navigate planes.

  50. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @Colonel Buggy: “The memorial refers to Errol Barrow as a Navigator and not as an RAF Pilot.His rank was that of a Pilot Officer, a designation,held by many who have not been trained to fly or even navigate planes.

    But… The man honestly stood up during the war. And served.

    Did you? Or your father? Or your grandfather?

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