arteerexeres, i find your comments reasonably balanced wityhin the context of the topic but both political parties have outlived their usefulness. what party politics has served to do in recent times is to thrust a bunch of opportunists who recognise the worth of toeing a party line into positions of governance which they are unable to handle. i reiterate that parliament should the place for representatives to look after the interests of their constituents and not professional politicians operating out of expediency for the benefit of the party.

@ All DLP supporters

Barbados had a government leadership crisis at a time when one is needed to navigate many social and economic storms. The current PM is brillant but not a leader as a result there is lack of focus and strategic thinking in the DLP ranks.

I vote for who is best for poor people in bim as the black and white elites always seem to sort themselves out.

There is a look on total despair forming on the faces of many black bajan man that wanna better pay attention too as bob marley said “a hungry man is a angry man”.

Leadeship is needed to:
-Cut wasteful government spending
-lower the cost of living
-restructing of our economic profile
-attract offshore investment
-lower inflated housing cost
-improve the overall marketing of bim
-expand the middle class
-remove the monopoly in key areas that elites have had for years.

Owen Arther is a “proven” leader who has serve the caribbean region, I thank him for still willing to serve when barbados needs him more that ever. Not emotion fact.

While nations are retooling we are doing what “nothing”. As a nation we need to raise to the intellectual occasion and do what’s best for poor people in barbados.

And today the BLP is what’s best for barbados.

@ Clone
Sorry, food prices were climbing before the elections in 2008 so don’t attempt to belittle people for complaining, blame the DLP for misleading the electorate.

http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/1009.pdf

Enuff who gwine beat Sinckler didnt know BLP had candidate running against Chris cherry picker Clyde dont want no part of Sinkcler .

Arthur scrounging around for a safe seat for Mascoll which means he have to give St.Peter to Clydie. Politics is strange Churchill was kicked out after mashing up Hitler and saving England but in truth I cannot see where a deeply fractured BLP can win the next election. Were I in charge of theDees I would court Mia and bury Athur one time. I wont be surprised if Irene sends pigmy Hats to his political graveyard.

@ Politician

They don’t need to beat Sinckler, as I said 5 out of 9.
Both Mia and Sinckler want to be PM as well as Estwick, it is therefore best for those three that Mia remains a Bee.
Irene Sandiford Garner failed and fainted during a massive swing, she will have to come very, very good to win this time.

@Raw Bake
Leave Dr. Suckoo out of this….can’t call all. lol

The St.George South BLP Candidate Dwight Sutherland represents exactly the type of new BLP politician needed in the ranks to WIN the next general election … Dwight Sutherland is genuinely interested in doing all that Dr.Suckoo has not been able to do for St.Goerge South and Barbados.

St.George South support for Dwight Sutherland is growing by the minute.

Given the level of turmoil in the BLP, it is well njgh impossible for Owen Arthur and his rejects to be taken seriously. While I understand the “show” the BLP supporters have to demonstrate on BU site, the truth remains Barbadians are not ready to re – install Owen Arthur the crook.

* The rank & file of the BLP are still vex about how Mia Mottley was treated.

* Rawle Eastmond’s question about voter padding for the delegate conference in October 2010 has not been addressed by Owen Arthur.

* Owen Arthur yet again was exposed in the Parliament of Barbados for lying to Barbadians about his involvement in VECO.

* Because there is no “healing” in the BLP Mia Mottlley as recently as last week still fumes about her treatment in that party.

Barbadian voters would not be fooled….the crookery of Owen Arthur was his demise in 2008…….the revelations to be exposed within the next 12 months will convince bajans that their decision in 2008 was the correct one.

Look at the recent photos in the public domain…..Mia Mottley is no fool ..

Spot on Pat.

This blog has gone totally offtrack, the question is “who would you vote for in the next elections?” It appears the silly season is truly on, not only are the sitting members of the DLP exp[osed to the viewers every night religiously, but now those trying to win seats on the DLP are now getting their turn at canvassing for free. Last night it was Harry Husbands’ turn, I can’t believe the CBC cameras would follow him to St James North to film him clearing a trench, with the help of the MPT vehicle and did not care to also film the sitting member from the constituentcy who was less than two miles away looking after his constituents. CBC your tail is showing, your obvious bias will turn of the right think independent voter from voting for you. It is time you (CBC) show some level of maturity and professionalism. This type of behaviour will only result in many of you losing you little pick if the government is changed again. You must rise above this type of belaviour

miles away looking after his constituents. CBC the higher you climb the more of your tail is showing, this obviuos bias can turn right thinking independent voters

Can this football tournament that seems to be led by Mia Mottley give her a major trump card against Arthur. If the St. Michael constituencies hold the key to the next election and the young people are drawn to her from this tournament one may find that those constituencies prefer Mia over Owen. Therefore, the BLP will have to re-think having Owen leading them into election. One thing is for certain, the BLP will not win elections if thy are divided. Either Mia or Owen will have to eat humble pie and put party before self.

IMO: Mia leads the party, Owen and Clyde should be part of the economic team and a solidly unified party after the AGM. their is no more time for fighting. Bajans want the BLP but not divided. I am between 25-40 age grouping and I have been led by the BLP for the majority of my adult life. Compared to the DLP leadership now, persons between ages 25-40 will make the easy decision and vote BLP.

@ Pat
“Radio announcers as contractors at UDC,ETC,ETC,ETC ”

Does that mean the radio announcers were the ones building the houses? A Contractor could be a business person (s) who is also an artisan or simply a business headed by people with no building skills/experience (radio announcers included) who have artisans on staf to do the construction.

For example, the DLP recently granted a US$500 million contract to SMI to redevelop the Pierhead Marina. According to the Nation newspaper, the company’s principals include Glyne Bannister, Ben Arrindell and Mitch Codrington–2 accountants and a lawyer. Have they ever ‘built’ a marina or anthing for that matter? Of course not, but they will use personnel with the requisite skills to get the job done. Just like a radio announcer having a mason, carpenter, painter, plumber, tiler etc ON STAFF.

Furthermore, unlike 2008 the Dems now have a record to defend and it is not squeaky clean, so the transparency and corruption free image of the last election is no longer an advantage. I noticed the Bees are very silent on the issue of shady deals, they are only giving us snippets.

A contractor on simple projects like the UDC ones are totally different to a contravtor on big projects. On the big projects, there are project managers, Site Foremen, and the owner/s of the project being done would have at lease a Clerk- of- Works, who is to see that the project is being done the way the owners require; obviously there would be engineers, and quantity surveyors. On a simply UDC project, because of the cost limitations, the contractor is the one who has to oversee the quality, both in time and cost, therefore he/she should have a hands-on experience of what is being done. Many time, again because of cost, the quality of the artisans is questionable, therefore much of the work is inferior.

@The Scout – You are Bang On!
On a UDC project, because of the cost limitations, the contractor is the one who has to oversee the quality, both in time and cost, therefore he/she should have a hands-on experience of what is being done.
Therefore the use of many unqualified, inexperienced party cronies who suddenly became contractors and were even “reparing” schools led to the shoddy work,wastage (it would be politically incorrect to say “tieffin” during the Arthur years.

Observing
My point is the standard of living of Barbadians is superior to that of most countries in the Caribbean and the Americas and therefore if we are going to maintain that standard of living then there can be no lowering of taxes if you want to keep paying the civil servants that your party increase after it was reduced in 1994, added that the two main pillars of the economy, tourism and international business are not motoring on all cylinders.
Another of your party fairy tale mouthing’s is that the cost of living can be reduce at this stage. No party can get prices lower at this time as the World Bank predicts that food prices will rise even higher. The people will not be fooled by the BLP
Your economic wizard says to sell more land and his side kick (know all) says to lower vat on the electric bills. That may please the populace for the elections but the IMF policies after would have them now knowing what is hardship.

@Chistopher

We can produce locally gown food Cheaper? Are you for real, look at the cost of eggs, the cost of blackbelly lamb, sometimes locally grown sweet potato cost six dollars a pound etc.

Our cost of production is very high, despite the subsidies given to farmers,

We have to grow some of our own food in our back yard to cut down on cost, Plant fruit trees and vegetables and help ourselves. I just sold forty breadfruits to the supermarkets and got one hundred dollars. A few weeks earlier some men passed around and picked the cocnuts and left sixty dollars. I cite thse two examples to show how we can help ourselves to reduce out food bill. I dont buy oranges,golden apples, avocado, soursop, ortinques, plumbs and all on small piece of land. Dont grow the vegatvles now, but money made from selling some of my spoils, i will use to buy vegtables.

Hope u and bu readers get the drift,

Obediant

Just using commonsense.

@Clone
Presuming my party colours will discolour your arguments. Secondly, is “most” of Barbados enjoying this standard of living that you speak about? Thirdly, are you saying that not selling land and keeping vat on light bills is helping to keep the country afloat and out of the hands of the IMF?

Lastly and most importantly, let’s stop talking about other countries and discuss ours for a bit. Let’s see what our REAL problems are regardless of who caused them, what the REAL solutions could be regardless of who or which party we need to implement them and then state the REAL sacrifices all of us as a people and a country have to make to move forward. Partisan spoutings, comparisons and blame do nothing to further our state as a nation nor does it make our young and older people any more comfortable, happy or secure. That’s where our discussion should really lie..

@Clone: “The Defense Force should be the ones who are on patrol around the agricultural areas at night to help stop praedial larceny.

Thanks for that. And I agree.

Shoot to wound.

Shoot to kill is not necessary.

It would go a long way….

I think rationally always. I argue emotionally with women sometimes.

Explaining our economic dependence on other countries and its impact on us is a completely different and better argument than saying we are “ok” because others are worse off and our standard of living is good. Barbados has done incredibly well through the years given our limited resources, under both governments. We are just at a challenging stage and honestly seeking the best person(s) to navigate us through it, whichever side of the fence they’re on. The DLP is not and cannot be fully to blame for our current difficulties. But, what is important is that people ARE suffering, and they will seek someone to blame for it, which leads us back to the “question title” of this thread. There are things which a government must and should do in “crises” such as the one we’re in…the most important ones being communicate, reassure and be transparent. Our government is getting a not so good grade in these areas, and I suspect that regardless of what happens or is revealed about the BLP that John Public just may judge them harshly as a result.

Food security is another critical issue that neither Paul, Benn or Estwick seem to be able to stem or at least appear to be trying to stem. They too may be judged harshly when the time comes.

@David

You know very well that you have to produce emperical evidence to make your dedutive leap and this common sense talk will not run with me.

These sound bites you use somtimes dont always have currency. So go and come again.

@David

Can you recall talking about democracy, that what it is about you putting your point of view and i refuting or agreeing in a respectful way.

You believe what you want to believe and so do I.

I rest my case abd have a pleasant night.

Excerpts from the PM Thompson’s 2007 Budget reply. Priceless I say.

“It is unacceptable that a housewife, even with the increased cost of airline tickets, could get on a plane and fly from here to Trinidad or St. Lucia and do a month’s shopping at a price cheaper to what she would pay here in Barbados, even if she took the Government’s advice and drove all around Barbados, picking up an item at 21 different supermarkets.”

“Barbados can and should rest assured that a Democratic Labour Party
administration will do something tangible and meaningful about this vexing issue of the cost of living…because as I said from the outset, we are beholden to no one. ”

“Suffice it to say, that a Democratic Labour Party administration will not be beholden to any interest group in Barbados and that we will take the fight to those who are responsible for artificially increasing the price of goods in Barbados.”

“While a full DLP energy policy will be unveiled in the weeks ahead I am moved this evening to tell Barbadians that on electing a new DLP administration we will commit to removing the VAT on utility bills for households and businesses alike.We strongly feel that while this will cause some loss in revenue for the government the additional spur of business from greater household disposable income and business
revenue for greater investments will more than make up for the shortfalls. ”

“What are you in power for? Use the offices you have to produce outcomes that serve the interests of the people who elected you. ”

“Nobody over there wants to admit it but this government is ultimately responsible for the fact that ordinary Barbadians cannot eke out a living in this country. Make no mistake, it is the job of the government and the role of the state to intervene in the market to correct failings of the system and re-balance inequities therein.”

clone are you out of your mind? it was the DLP who traversed the lenght and breadth of barbados accusing the BLP of contributing to the high cost of living by “being in bed with the white people”. AND NOW YOU TELLING ME FOOLISHNES. GIVE ME A BREAK MAN. the fuel i using in my car according to my statistics is costing me between 19-21 dollars more now than prior to 2008 when the price of fuel on the world market was higher. as i always say you have a right to support whivchever party you like but you have a responsibilty to state the facts or avoid debate which is to your detriment. the fact is that the DLP LIED BIGTIME TO WIN THE ELECTIONS AND EVEN THE US EMBASSY FROM THEIR WIKILEAKS REPORTED THAT TO OBAMA.

@balance,
Barbados can grow all the food it needs and should.