@enuff

you have a problem with a two- headed troll (even though i am not smart enought to know what it mean. You will have more riddles to unravel soon. Have a nice day.

@David
Off topic, I have been informed that the petition has been handed in for the convening of BPWCUUL special meeting. Although who had so much to say on the blog, show your balls or whatever you have when the meeting is convened.

@ JUST ASKING:

“WHEN is he handing over to the young, bright and shining Chris Sinckler ????”

Before you jump on me let me say at the outset that I have NOTHING against Chris Sinckler. But to describe the man using such “Apollonian” adjectives might be a bit sycophantic and realistically immature. The guy has not yet proven himself to be any outstanding or mercurial finance and economics guru given the short time and difficult prevailing circumstances. The bright should shine when there is darkness. Have we seen his light?

But most of all, we would want to hear this potential Star offer up his VISION for Barbados given the fact that the old socio-economic order is passing and new uncharted and challenging landscape is on the horizon. Unless we can hear his vision for Bim which encourages us to buy into the course charted by him, the high sounding commendations will not fly.

What are his plans or recommendations for the restructuring of the Civil Service and the divestment or effective restructuring of the many statutory bodies and agencies such as Transport Board, BADMC, CBC, BIDC, Invest Barbados (duplication of roles, functions, mandates and a waste of resources), BCC and the SJJPP and the list goes on. Unless these taxpayer funded entities can clearly show their relevance to an emerging new socio-economy in terms of achieving their mandate at an operationally-efficient level they should be put up for the chop. This country can no longer afford the luxury of mandate overlap, excessive wastage and low productivity at all levels.

Vision first, support next, success and praise after!

@ balance:

Mr. Marshall is TALKER (BS artist) NOT a DOER (action man). He has pursued one course of action all his life. Accept poor people’s money lend it to the non-productive (importation and consumption) sectors and rake off a huge margin for his masters in London and some pocket change for himself.

Nothing reformative will take place at NIS during his tenure. No skills no guts to bring about positive change. Can we expect to see the audited and approved financial statements for at least 2009 by this year end? No!

IS TONY MARSHALL A NEGROCRAT ?????

Balance

You are getting the picture. It appears that no one cares about people who appeal against the decision of the Director to deny them a benefit. Some of the staff take the appeal as personal affront to them and do everything to in their power to frustrate the apellant. If you have to get a medical assessment the NIS staff seek out a doctor who they know generally give the lowest assessment. I remember one case where a man had an injury to his hand and could not work: Would you believe that NIS sent him to a HEART specialist?

Even when the applicant prevails, the claim is held up because the Chairman has not signed the decision or it is just on someone’s desk.

The tribunals have three members: a lawyer and two other persons, one is appointed on the recommendation of the employers and the other recommended by labour. These people at NIS are so mean they make sure that the tribunal is stacked against the applicant. By way of example: Charles “Buddy” Skeete who normally tries to ensure that the worker gets a fair hearing is hardly ever assigned to constitute a tribunal. I don’t think that he has sat on a tribunal for over a year.

I HOPE MR MARSHALL REMEMBERS HIS DAILY ADMONITION TO CALLERS ON HIS PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING INFORNATION TO COMMENTS” THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW” IS HIS CLARION CRY. YES THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHY THE NIS IS CONSIDERING INVESTING IN FOUR SEASONS?; WHY PERSONS ARE NOT HAVING THEIR APPEALS HEARD BY TRIBUNALS IN TIMELY FASHION? WHEN WILL THE ACCOUNTS BE AUDITED?IS THE RECRUITMENT POLICY OF THE BOARD CHANGED? WHY DID THE NIS SELL ITS SHARES TO EMERA? NIS IS A PUBLIC ENTITY AND WE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGSAND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE THE ANSWERS SINCE YOU ARE THE FOUNTAIN OF TRANSPARENCY ON YOUR CALLINPROGRAMME. OVER TO YOU MR MARSHALL.

millertheanunnaki

I am not worthy … I am not worthy …

@ balance again:

Even if one was to argue that given his position as the current Chair of NIS and hence it might be a bit unfair to expect him to comment on matters affecting an organisation for which he is responsible for execution of policy and management decisions without clearance from his political masters try raising the CLICO matter and see how fast he becomes on the defensive, evasive and tries to get you to discuss less controversial matters.

There is a reason why he will not touch the CLICO mess is because it has serious ramifications for his ilk.

Ellis should never have allowed Marshall back onto the air after his serious public discussion with Maxene (now Min o Gov) about herself and Harry being moderators and his (David Ellis’) not being aware of their allegiances.. The impression that I received was that had he known of their affiliations they would never have been invited to the station as moderators. All of this took place very soon after Michael lost his pick, incidentally soon after he exposed his interest in representing the BLP in the upcoming election … “Did you know that David …? I couldn’t have guessed … Only goes to show …” Stetson Babb 2011

@BAFBFP

It is known Tony Marshall is a DLP sympathizer, why do you think he found himself on the Board of Clico? Do you think Parris would have allowed such otherwise? Wasn’t there a rumour when the DLP won the government that Marshall was to be offered an ambassadorial appointment? have we not heard Mathew Farley hosting programs of late? Did he not throw his hat in the St.. John ling recently? What about Wendell Callender is a BLP card carrying member and whose wife is tagged to represent BLP in a Christ Church constituency? The point here is that what Ellis says and what unfolds can be clearly misleading and contradictory.

Ellis might claim he can’t remove Mr .M the headmaster because he is “so popular with the listeners” and if removed the station might lose listenership and hence advertising dollars:
“Frig the high-sounding principles and moral high ground I constantly preach! Let me worship at the altar of the almighty dollar, my god”, so sayeth the prophet Ellis, no I mean Elijah

@ David
“Did anyone noticed how the connection between Ellis and Marshal mysteriously dropped when Marshall called in on another matter to the talk show this week?”

I noticed that it happened just as Ellis started to put Marshall on the spot; laughed until to program ended. I was amused that Marshall was on the receiving end this time.

Bushie here wondering what Inkwell thinks of this NIS matter?

@ Sargeant:

With all the pigs “queuing up” (Oh what an oxymoron!)- at the NIS trough don’t you think this is a valiant opportunity for this Administration to fulfill an implementable promise of re-enfranchising Bajans and retaking their financial birthright by reacquiring the BNB and, at the same time, honour the memory of our dear departed by branding it as the “David Thompson Memorial Bank”.

After all this repossession of the bank was vehemently touted as a promise to Bajans before achieving the reins of government and even when at the helm of power.

Sounds good to me’ and doable too! What says you, Sarge? Run with it!! Then the politicians would have their own piggy bank and would not have to rape the poor pensioners and workers only source of future income expected from the NIS.

Barbados National Bank, Insurance Corporation of Barbados, Barbados Shipping & Trading, Trimart, Stokes & Bynoe, A. S Brydens & Sons; were not all of these business placed on the market for sale. What prevented Barbadians from taking over these companies, especially BNB and ICB?

As it relates to Barbados National Bank; for years Barbadians have been complaining about government bureaucracy; we are always griping that Government organisations (quasi or central) are inefficient, and have used statutory corporations like the Transport Board, Barbados Water Authority, National Petroleum Corporation, Barbados Tourism Authority, and National Housing Corporation, as examples to substantiate our accusations.

Barbados National Bank was a statutory corporation, was it operating any different from the statutory corporations that we so often complain about? The same way we refuse to pay NHC rent, or QEH bills, were customers making regular loan repayments or were they delinquent?
If persons will be honest, when compared to the other banks, service at BNB and the attitude of the some staff members, especially those who were appointed by politicians, were extremely poor. These are issues that must be taken into consideration.

Some of us are being “politically sentimental” when speaking of the sale of BNB, especially if you are not in a position to compare the bank’s financial statements when it was state owned and post taker-over.

millertheanunnaki said on October 8, 2011 at 11:03 AM “He reminds them of their stern, backside whipping headmasters.”

A headmaster dared to hit me once. Now what sort of adult male hits a 10 year old child multiple times and very hard with a belt?

I did not speak to him for the rest of my life not even when I knew he was dying of prostate cancer, and was living only a mile from me.

Quoting millertheanunnaki | October 8, 2011 at 2:24 PM …@ Sargeant “honour the memory of our dear departed by branding it as the “David Thompson Memorial Bank”.

He is departed, but he was not dear to most of use. And to-besides he is dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. He ain’t coming back any-time soon.

David Thompson Memorial bank shtie!!!!!!!

Artaxerxes

You complete idiot. The fact that all of the private entities that you’ve referred to are just import intensive, foreign exchange drains that only serve to exploit Barbadians does not factor into your opinion does it… If the BNB is now showing bigger numbers should suggest to you that it is extracting even more from Barbadians and others, whilst showing NO interest in supporting developmental, productive enterprises. State owned entities have wider concerns to the bottom line, so what if you have to put up with a little inefficiency … I guaranty you that if the Water Authority was in private hands your monthly water bill would be well past a hundred dollars. Fascist! (… lol …)

@ Sargeant

How many statutory corporations are operated efficiently in Barbados?

Even if competent managers are recruited, how many of them have a free hand in managing the organisation without interference from the chairman of the board of directors, who is appointed by the minister (usually his friend) and often do not let these persons do their job efficiently and effectively?

What does the manager do in a case where the minister sends one of his constituents for a job, (as is the case with boards), and that constituent is insubordinate (as some usually are)? Does the manager discipline this worker and face the wrath of the minister and chairman?

The government removed Arnie Walters from the senate and sent him to the BWA as Executive Chairman, with a Director and a chairman, THREE MANAGERS; did we see any improvements at the Authority?

What does the manager do when he/she makes a decision that may be in the best interest of the organisation, but it is over ruled by the minister because he/she may think that it will affect them politically?

The NIS is a board; are you satisfied with the chairman’s stewardship, or are you satisfied only because both of you played cricket together and may be supporters of the same political party?

What were the reasons behind Arthur’s decision to place BNB on the market? Was it as a result of poor management prior to him becoming prime minister? Was the bank profitable, or did he really want the money?

BNB belong to Barbados. The minister sends a constituent (with a bad credit rating and who would not, in any ordinary circumstances, qualify for a loan) to the BNB for a loan. What does the manager do, disapprove the loan and lose the job, or approve the loan?

@ BAFBFP

Most of you who are so fast to call people names are the ones who usually lack intelligence. I mention all those businesses because Barbadians did not take up the opportunity to buy them. I implied nothing else.

Here is a man who calls me a complete idiot, and compares operating bank with the Barbados Water Authority. My dear friend, the government has a social responsibility to maintain certain operations, such as water, health care, public transport, and education. This is to prevent the poor or those vulnerable to shocks and poverty from falling below a certain poverty level. If these institutions were allowed to operate at market prices, many individuals in the island would not be able to afford these services. How on earth can you compare to two?

Are you suggesting that we should see BNB like the Transport Board and NHC and not think of the bottom line? Are you suggesting that the government operate a bank, lend people money who have no intention of repaying, continue to be inefficient, which would subsequently result in customers taking their business to the other banks, which means less business, resulting in losses each year?
If the bank is allowed to operate in the manner that you are suggesting, instead of being self sufficient, the government would have to seek supplementaries and loans to keep it afloat, as is being done with the Transport Board and every other statutory corporation that goes over budget, just because you talk of a bottom line?
I can see that business operations is not your strong point. Keep talking the Chinese foolishness.

@Miller etc.

All of us want FOI and Transparency; it has been the established dogma on these pages over the past few years. Most of us are irritated about a Gov’t that over promised and under delivered in this capacity during their tenure. I firmly believe if they had embarked in this course as their first order of business then they would still be riding the crest of popularity no matter the economic turmoil that surrounds us.

It will take a courageous politician to bring in comprehensive FOI etc. legislation and I don’t think any of the present crop from either party can be considered “courageous”. The problem is Barbados is such a small society that everyone is intertwined politically, socially (and probably sexually too) and under this type of legislation some peoples’ corns will be “mashed” The old school tie, family connections and political considerations still hold sway in our community however, under the heading “Be careful what you wish for” a Gov’t might enact some tepid legislation which deals with FOI etc. but the provisions will be so weak that we will be no better off than we are today.

Artaxerxes

Then I will refer to you as a nincompoop … that should be easier to assimilate .. Of course I will compare the Bank and the Utility since I am comparing private versus state owned. Besides the fact that Barbados is one of a very small number of countries in the Caribbean that has no claim to a Development Bank, having a state owned bank (as would be the case with state owned petrol stations) would serve if nothing else as a means of driving retail prices to the benefit of consumers. Even though this was not happening with the old BNB, there would still be the opportunity for it to happen as long as it remained in state hands. You see, like Tony Marshall you would like to give the impression that the Bank was sold to correct a management problem and that Barbadians had a fair chance of buying into it. Wrong, double wrong. The Bank was sold for no other reason than to improve the “import cover” situation, full stop and Barbadians without fx had absolutely no chance of claiming what was up for sale (ask any senior member of the credit union fraternity)

The BNB was a profitale institution when it shares were sold, so too was the ICB

WHAT manner of person calls another human being a complete idiot and a Nicompoop ?
WHEN are we going to stop this old colonial and racist/ classist idea of denigrating other human beings ????
ARE we aware that there is a creator ?????

@ Just Asking;
Agree with your concerns. Too many ad hominems and not done in a tasteful and humorous way! Cuss one another but do it in a way that shows you have deposited a lot in your intellectual bank from which you can freely withdraw with encumbrances and befitting the memory of our foreparents who made major sacrifices to open our bank accounts.