The Hon. Prime Minister Freundel Jerome Stuart, Q.C., M.P
BU admits to being sympathetic to the platform message of the late Prime Minister David Thompson that on winning the government, he would usher in a new kind of governance in Barbados. The new dispensation would be driven by transparency legislation, a combination of Freedom of Information (FOI) and Integrity Legislation. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is approaching the end of its 5-year term and it is fair to say that nothing has changed. It is business as usual in Dodge.
Barbadians who walked the campaign trail last election should recall that one of the hot button issues was Hardwood Housing. The late Prime Minister shouted to Barbadians who stood in the ‘dew’ that “someone will have to pay for Hardwood”. Many political pundits opine that the Hardwood Housing issue was the weight that tipped the scale for many voters and in the process destroyed Clyde Mascoll’s political aspirations.
It is strange that the Harwood Housing matter has not been pursued with the same vigour by the media as CLICO. It is a governance issue and the principle is the same. Is it fair that the DLP would promise to do a forensic audit on Harwood Housing and four years later courtesy is not extended to Barbadians by way of a status update? The question remains, was a forensic report performed on Hardwood Housing? If a report was done is it reasonable to expect that unlike the CLICO forensic report, it would have been sighted by members of the government after 4-years in the making? What is the true story to be told about Hardwood Housing? Was it a non issue which was turned into a political football because of the Mascoll factor?
Who remembers on the floor of the House when Prime Minister Thompson thundered “Some measure of responsibility must be found. Anyone found guilty of any infelicities will be brought to justice”, He added “the fullest extent of the law will be brought to bear” whether the perpetrators were in “high office, low office or no office “What is left suggests that the taxpayers of this country will have to foot a huge bill”.
These were very serious and strong statements made by the late Thompson and should not be left hanging. The government needs to put this matter to bed. After years of haranguing the Arthur administration about the St. Joseph Hospital Report which cost taxpayers millions was that report made public also? Why do we allow elected politicians to treat us for fools?
Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart who has had the office of Prime Minister foisted on him has promised to enact the Anti corruption Bill before the general election bell is rung. Nothing has been mentioned about FOI. What is scary is that the government in waiting [Barbados Labour Party] has not been strident in its call to enact transparency legislation. Prime Minister Stuart has the opportunity to do what is politically and morally right by being the Prime Minister to enact transparency legislation. He has the opportunity to deliver on what late Prime Minister promised, to delivery a forensic on Hardwoods Housing.
BU will evaluate the performance of this government on issues which are life changing for the citizenry. Promises are comfort for fools.
“It is strange that the Harwood Housing matter has not been pursued with the same vigour by the media” – maybe they was nothing to pursue?
i don’t know if they was any wrong doing with Hardwood Housing and i would not put my neck out on the block and there was wrong doing but i find it airy to hear these words, from no less than the former PM.
“Some measure of responsibility must be found. Anyone found guilty of any infelicities will be brought to justice”
“the fullest extent of the law will be brought to bear”
“high office, low office or no office”
given what we see so far from the Clico issue would the comments still ring true? and if there is a report on Hardwood maybe we may have to hold a little more dew to be told what is in it?
Oh Yes Hard Wood
I do recall Oh YES …..”WE GO HAVE A FORENSIC AUDIT” …”WE GO LOCK UP EVERY RED SOUL associated with HARDWOOD” ..every last soul….Oh YES…………we all remember…ELECTION CALLED<<< DLP won…..DT the then Prime Minister (RIP)…when asked on the matter of HARDWOOD ( after elections into 100 days promise)…"Oh yes we will pursue this to the fullest extent of the law BUT we can't find the files"……true true true. OH YES….WE GO LOCKUP EVERY LAST ONA DEM.
strange that after almost four years and with the thompson/parris involvementin the mismanagement of clico threatening to catspraddle the dlp’s qest for four more years of non-governance , david bu can now see it fit to resurrect the mascoll hardwood housing issue purportedly on specious grounds. however, i do agree that the public has a right to know if mr mascoll’s character was besmirched and demonised unjustly solely for political ends.
@balance
One thing the BU family has observed is that BU can never do right by you.
@David
i know u need no assitance in dealing with people like balance, continue to put the issues here and let us decide.
I am disappointed that we have not heard anything more about the corrupt hardwood issue, yes there was malfeasance, but politicians protect one another thats why we should not get invloved beacause the electorates are used for political expediency ,
I am disappointed that we have not heard anything more about the corrupt hardwood issue, yes there was malfeasance, but politicians protect one another thats why we should not get invloved beacause the electorates are used for political expediency
YOU ARE PERFECTLY CORRECT MR BLOGGER2012, VERY BALANCED COMMENT INDEED.
‘One thing the BU family has observed is that BU can never do right by you.’
COME, COME, MR DAVIDBU, DO NOT MISJUDGE MY COMMENTS TO BE ANTI-BU, FAR FROM IT I AM ONLY TRYING TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW LEST YOU BE LABELLED PARTISAN TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND COMMENTATORS LOSE FAITH IN WHAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS AN EXCELLENT AVENUE FOR THE EXPRESSION AND DISSEMENIATION OF VITAL INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT NONE OF US SHOULD BE AVERSE TO CRITICISM.
I read this somewhere recently and it is so true “A nation of sheep breeds a Government of wolves”
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” Edward R. Murrow
This is your source.
…while we at it here is another one.
…..”I will not lie, cheat or steal. ” David Thompson
Do Barbadians deserve to get an update on the 3S matter? Has the government settled out of court? Does it remain a contingent liability around the necks of Bajans?
Thanks old onion bags
THe PM was handed the reigns of government about about close to one and half years needlees to say having to fill in the gaps left by the late PM and at the same time run the essential affairs of government would require Time little of which PM has had much of and doing what is of utmost importance must and should be of forefront for the country . his concern For having FOI enacted before election should be commended.
“What is scary is that the government in waiting [Barbados Labour Party] has not been strident in its call to enact transparency legislation.” – Taken from the above BU lead article.
Where is this government in waiting??
Which faction is it that is this government in waiting in Barbados??
Why would it be scary to have a government that is in waiting that has, according to BU, not been strident in its call to enact transparency legislation?
When taken on its own, has not BU’s great effort at highlighting and promulgating the need for greater integrity, transparency and accountability in the public affairs of this country, been not enough still to recognize that on the basis of the fact that when such a piss poor faction was at the helm of government from 1994 to 2008, it did absolutely nothing to enact one single piece of anti-corruption legislation, intergrity legislation, so much so that such a miserably scandalous record must be more than enough to absolutely disqualify this faction from being seen as a government in waiting, in the minds of any reasonable persons???
Truth is that so much corruption and malfeasance took place under the BLP from 1994 to 2008, that it puts our party in anguish over some line that they are some government in waiting.
Turth is that just as corrupt as the BLP was during that period of time they will also be as corrupt and evil as they were in that period.
Now is that what the majority of people of Barbados need again at this stage???
Now if there had been serious anti-corruption legislation in force in this country during the rein of the BLP (1994-2008), today if you had strong government on the behalf of the people of this country, those gross and recklessly corrupt actions and omissions of the BLP would have been investigated, and when/once found guilty this faction would have been sure to have been banned from public office for good.
Both the DLP and BLP must be removed from the political landscape of this country!!!!
PDC
@ David
Oh loss David …man this Palm Sunday morning ya drawing the knife deep don’t ya think ?
If I recall correctly, the ex-king, said and made it a point that he was going to pay off those *#*^* 3S bastards if its the last thing he does…..I also believe this was the rationale of the increase in Licensing Authority’s registration fees hike in 2007 from $200 for a lil car like mine to $400 and the likes…a SUV (new intro.)$700- $3500…..to pay of those 3SsssBASTARD…..so WE PAYING…..5 yrs after….. the more pertinent question is IF WE DONE YET….. IF SO,why the fees ain’t COME DOWN yet?.
@ac
The government has committed to passing the Anti corruption Bill, nothing was said about FOIA. You should not use the blanket term transparency legislation which is taken to mean both.
@PDC
Well said!
@ac
his concern For having FOI enacted before election should be commended.
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Integrity Legislation….but of course, I glad you bring it up…it includes telling the people of behind the scene deals right ?
Ok…be our guest…. then tell us about this natural gas pipe line agreement with Bdos Govt and Kaymala…. coming from Tobago …and its cost ??? If you are privy to the knowledge….we don’t want to be paying thru we P..forever ya know, as with the case of BL&P….Seems like we paying rent to the pipe line owners who from Trinidad….we poor suckers ..
@ David
Who exactly did you think would pursue such a report? Bushie thought that you were more astute than to have ACTUALLY expected such a report. You live in Barbados?
You sound almost like those who were surprised that no FOI was in place after 100 days. But then again your tongue was probably stuck in your cheek as you typed this …. 🙂
You mean that EVERYONE does not know that these things were only said in order to influence the sheep to empower one particular set of wolves over another?
How Naive to think that Thompson REALLY intended to set a precedent of investigating such transactions…. or that O$A will investigate CLICO if elected, or that FS will do anything different if re elected or that Onions would be any less crooked than others who preceded him if HE were to be elected.
What forensic report what?!?
We need a reality report on Bajan politics…. All smoke and mirrors while our society slide down a slippery slope.
If wanna want forensic reports to be actually done then we need the BT type government structure with Caswell in place as chairman of the National Supervisory Committee.
Bajans are such jokers that wanna cannot even see the symbolism of Stuart appointing a blind woman to chair the senate which is intended to ” oversee” the lower house. No offence to the clearly outstanding girl, but the symbolism is flawed…..
@ Bushie
Bajans are such jokers that wanna cannot even see the symbolism of Stuart appointing a blind woman to chair the senate which is intended to ” oversee” the lower house.
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Ok Bushie…YOUR TURN to retract………..take that back..low blow!
“I am disappointed that we have not heard anything more about the corrupt hardwood issue, yes there was malfeasance, but politicians protect one another thats why we should not get invloved beacause the electorates are used for political expediency.” Person who refers to himself/herself as balance in the above 7:05 blog.
Could anyone imagine that in this day and age a person would write such disappointing stuff: “that politicians protect one another thats is why we (we assume the person meant the public) should not get involved ( we assume political tussling) because the electorates are used for political expendiency”.
It one thing to have freedom of expression but it another thing to utter such disappointing stuff.
PDC
David
I have said before and I think that it bears repeating: The DLP promised integrity legislation within 100 days of being elected but found it impossible to do so for one simple reason, that is, most of those elected were poor as poison and needed to catch their hand. You see most of them had little or no assets to declare, you can bet that four years later that is not now the case.
Well said Caswell…every MANJACK..is now a millionaire !… (qualification:you would have to tell us about the Senators ..lol)
Bushie
Your sense of humuor is seriously flawed!
@Bush Tea
Trust you to detect the tongue and cheek.
We must change how the politicians are taking us for asses.
Some of the comments so far illustrates the point.
An issue like this we line up behind political colours.
Wasn’t there a report to be done to expose stuff ar Urban and Rural Development?
@Onion
The BLP is the same.
@Onions
Instead of addressing the substantive point of the blog you resort to the predictable defense which politicians and surrogates have used since Adam was a lad. It will not work on BU.
Here is what an independent body is capable of doing.
@ David
Do shelve your partisan boo……we know where you stand.
yea yea yeah
The substantive point is not for our side to raise……..your side pose, we if so desired or could we will counter…So far you all have managed to sustain NOTHINGssss reasons all gone with the dust…files all gone with the ashes, me thinks you need a house cleaner for all this ashes and DUST
@Onions
Your last response lays bare the problem for Barbadians.
You lot are all the same salt fish.
In the mean time the country is slipping further into the toilet.
@ David
Instead of addressing the substantive point of the blog you resort to the predictable defense which politicians and surrogates have used since Adan was a lad. It will not work on BU.
********************************************************
Ya loss muh….but it is not the first time.
Its a DLP post , the most we can do is see what you all saying….is anybody from your side saying anything of significances.. NO….so how could I “address the substantive point of the blog” ?
Here is the substantive point for you in ABC format.
When will either party bring transparency legislation to the books?
Are our public (and private) officials so morally upright that we don’t have malfeasance happening in Barbados?
@ David
Wasn’t there a report to be done to expose stuff at Urban and Rural Development?
Haven’t you heard that the one ‘corrupt’ officer found at UDC was fired and re-hired at RDC because he/she supported the DLP and allegedly was furnishing a certain St.Michael DLP MP with UDC documents prior to the election?
@enuff
What about The Coastal Zone Unit?
Wasn’t Dr. Brewster’s name called in a matter?
What is the latest on that one?
You get the point?
The list is long.
Barbadians need to wake up.
Come campaigning next election all these accusations will resurface and to what end?
@David
Are our public (and private) officials so morally upright that we don’t have malfeasance happening in Barbados?
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You tell that to CLICO- Stuart or Chris-David who had managed to wrest control of the chariot…..now they have the reigns…..are under the microscope…our play WILL come again…but for now….you remind THEM.
Ask them of the morals of the pipe line deal, to bring in your change before it happens.Them come for us, priority matters don’t you think?
@Onions
Isn’t that what is done in this forum daily?
Rest assured however it will be asked of everybody.
@ David
Yes and I agree with you and support FOI 100%; but don’t forget the introduction of such legislation would not only be a deterrent to corruption BUT would also be a threat to political campaigns based on innuendo and demagoguery.
@enuff
Agreed.
David
Thank you for redirecting. we are not like the speed of BFBBFP…..the quick-dom of Superman or the X-Men
@ ac
Sense of humour flawed? What humour? The only thing funny is how shallow some of us are…. You and onions are excellent examples of how most people seem to think…. Or not think….
@ onions
You should have studied science rather than filling your head with all that classical junk… One needs to be otherwise bright like Miller to be able to assimilate the classics and still be logical (not saying that Miller is always logical) 🙂
Bushman will always call a spade a spade – no matter who is holding it. It can only be a case of trying to impress the gullible to have appointed the new president of the senate.
Bush Tea nominated Caswell for this equivalent position in the coming cooperative styled government for a number of reasons:
– He is fearless, committed and undaunted by threats
– He is observant, INDEPENDENT, and persistent
– Caswell is so “Igrunt” that Bushie feels that he would even investigate himself if needed.
-not even BT can influence Caswell against his will…
HOWEVER, if Caswell ever became “dependent” on anyone, or limited in his ability to function fully, Bushie would NOT put him to symbolize the highest level of “national watchmanship”…. But you may not get the point …since this is not easily desolved into a partisan argument.
“We must change how the politicians are taking us for asses”
“The BLP is the same”
“Instead of addressing the substantive point on the blog you resort to the predictable defense which politicians and their surogates have used since Adam was a lad”
“Your last response lays bare the problem for Barbadians.
You lot are all the same salt fish.
In the mean time the country is slipping further into the toilet”
Could not have been better said, sharp, direct and to the point, David/BU.
The person with whom you primarily had those exchanges seems to think that this issue of corruption is a joke.
Not with so many of our members and associates suffering as a result of such madness for no real reasons in this country.
This surely is no bloody joke.
Thanks, ac.
PDC
@ Bushie
You need to carry your arse back into that blog and tender the suitable apologies to that exemplary gifted young lady ,the office and her family..NO BONES ABOUT IT !
Bushie what you said don’t fly.
Why this PDC man don’t give it a REST doa ?
While we all applaud the appointment of the blind Senator, the uselessness of that chamber as part of our democracy remains the issue.
Could it be a voice calling from the wilderness?
Nobody don’t elect no third party…….especially when it is a ONE MAN SHOW…time that needs to be redirected.
@ The People’s Democratic Congress | April 1, 2012 at 8:02 AM |
“Truth is that so much corruption and malfeasance took place under the BLP from 1994 to 2008, that it puts our party in anguish over some line that they are some government in waiting.”
@ The People’s Democratic Congress | April 1, 2012 at 8:29 AM |
“It one thing to have freedom of expression but it another thing to utter such disappointing stuff.”
Which TRUTH are you referring to? The Truth according to David Thompson?
Where is the Truth? In the forensic audit report on the Hardwood Housing alleged corruption? In the UDC & RDC investigations? In the St. Joseph Hospital Commission of Enquiry report? The CLICO interim report?
Where is it, PDC?
As far as the Laws of Barbados are concerned acts of “corruption and malfeasance” are serious offences and indictable in the Courts of this Country.
Where is your evidence to make such accusations in light of the moral pontification made by you and repeated in the second quote above?
Clyde Mascoll, I hold no brief for you but you can take a little comfort in the maxim: ‘Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
Just remember, PDC, those who live in glass houses should not accumulate of stockpile loads of stones around them unless they intend to leave the only set of door keys at home and need to get in.
The late David Thompson, like the mythical Icarus, flew too close to the Sun of Truth. The wax that kept his electoral kite flying dubbed the Soaring “I will not Lie, Cheat or Steal” was melted by the heat of the Light of Retribution. A tragic example of hubris or failed ambition
Be careful now, PDC, that a similar visit is not paid to your party and its propagandists for the damned lying party!
I remember a story I was told about the construction of the Hilton Hotel back in the 60’s.
There were questions about how the money was being spent and a check, … nowadays we call it a forensic audit” … was to be done.
To facilitate the the check, a special purpose building was built close to the entrance and all the papers placed in it for easy access.
Wouldn’t you know one night some wicked body went and burnt it down.
I doubt anything will be done about Hardwood.
It may not be nice but it is just how we are.
We just started bad and it seems powerless to change our direction.
By making corruption a joke we implicitly allowed it to really take hold.
Is there even one of our MP’s we could look to as a champion?
Do we have to break the mold ourselves and find a champion, or champions among us?
Do we need help from outside?
Do we need to consciously break with the tradition of deifying our past leaders and seeing them for what they were?
After all, we have as good as forgotten them!!
This month is National Heroes month.
Appropriately it starts on All Fools Day.
The late David Thompson, like the mythical Icarus, flew too close to the Sun of Truth. The wax that kept his electoral kite flying dubbed the Soaring “I will not Lie, Cheat or Steal” was melted by the heat of the Light of Retribution. A tragic example of hubris or failed ambition
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CLASS Miller ..sheer class, yours truly tops in the class of literary dominance here..this hemisphere…….your prowess shown,… touche’
…one for the platform ?
@ millertheanunnaki
The truth is that Thompson told plenty lies and half-truths even after becoming PM.
@ old onion bags & Enuff:
Thanks! But it would be more beneficial if the likes of your g/f “ac” and other DLP apologists were to see error of their blind ‘yardfowlist’ loyalty to a crew now steering a sinking ship the SS EWB- a once proud and seaworthy craft that even the chief petty officer OSA would be proud to have piloted. They need to start sounding the alarm and rouse the captain from his RIP van Winkle slumber before the entire ship the good old SS Barbados flounders on the reefs of incompetence and indecision.
@ Blogger2012
Your comments are deterministic and sound so factual as to make them infallible. I believe that you should be requested by the authorities to state what you know.
Realistically, David, BU, you and I all know that the ‘Hardwood’ was nothing but scandal, opportunity, and clever innuendo utilised by David Thompson because of desperation, greed, and selfish gains. Barbadians aided and abetted by the Nation Newspaper’s editor at or around that time, suggested that the ‘Sunday school image’ about a man who ‘would not lie, cheat or steal’ was appropriate for wetting the appetites of a gullible public.
Thompson malicously tried to destroy Mascoll and his wife, he craftily tainted the image of Owen Arthur (with the help of people like Peter Wickham), and suggested the BLP was corrupt in its undertakings notwithstanding never a shred of evidence was ever produced then or after to support the cliam. That is, unless Hammie La’s shortcuts and indiscipline as far as the bureaucratic checks and balances are concerned is to be taken into account. The fact is Owen took away ministerial responsibility and decidedly brought back some discipline to the Ministry of Social Transformation.
Nevertheless, as fate would have it, Thompson is gone and his wife Mara is not looking to be the rosy Queen that some wanted her to be.
I believe that wrongs need to be made right in Barbados, that social justice must prevail, and the trampling of ordinary Barbadians need to end. What I can say is that the DLP is not the adminitration to do such; the DEMS thrive in the dismatling of social justice and fairness. By their actions they are known; if the credibility of Sincker is anything to go by, we cannot trust the DEMS. If the Prime Minister continues to speed along in his decisions to Phase 1 without realising that issues and problems have conclusions, then Barbados is far worse off than any opposition political party could attest to given the scandalising atmosphere that fills the political exchanges.
One does not have to believe what I have written; but refer to all the in-fighting that characterised the DEMS in opposition and you could even include the scenario around the Eager 11. The DEMS are bankrupt of progressive ideas and moral fortitude. This is unfortunate since they won the last election on a mandate for change and the electorate trusted the every word from the political platforms. Shameful! No wonder Senator Critchlow could suggest that the DLP’s manifesto does not have to be followed.
Sinner that I am, I refuse to be hypocritical to please the political class or those DEMS that have made sordid all that the founding fathers of this great nation Barbados strive to create. The sooner we rid ourselves of the DEMS, the quicker we can go about making meaningful and REALISTIC changes. No abracadabra or having to insult Bajans saying that they have barbacued pigtail mentalities, and otherwise that they complain too much. I George Brathwaite say to hell with the DEMS for they themselves have now earned the nomenclature of a Deceitfully Limp Party (DLP). I guess this is an admission that Blackett is right about the necessity for name changes because of the stigma; only thing with the DEMS, they are the ones who are totally discredited.
You think that If the government carry up the gas price to $5.00 a gal that they would be able to make sufficent money to stop all dey financial holes?
Point number 2 would we need a forensic audit to tally funds?
When dis cow dung gine stop? I mean dlp government mekking nuff mock sport of suffering barbadians. Burning holes in we pockets. Give us a BREAK MAN.
George C. Brathwaite | April 1, 2012 at 11:21 AM |
But, alas, time longer that twine…
How can anyone serious about integrity legislation vote for Owen Arthur and Wuk fa Wuk ?
Man that is the joke of the year- stupse!
All the fancy talk, you will never get any integrity legislation out of Owen Arthur, Muscle Mary,Wuk Fa Wuk and this piss poor field of BLP candidates.
It was never a priority for them and it never will be – You realise the BLP misfits talking about everything under the sun except that.
All the talk bout election,election, election…then what?
@ !
All related my friend. The DLP came to the public under a guise and they will leave disgraced. They trampled the trust of the people and the voters will have the last say. Not you, not me, not the BLP or DLP in their individual roles; but the collective will of the people. The very same that Sinckler and his cohorts attempted to remove through the cloak of constituency councils. Also remember, it was David Thompson and others in the DEMS who said that all involved in maleafsance would be brought to justice. Let us start with CLICO!
@ !
It was never a priority for them and it never will be – You realise the BLP misfits talking about everything under the sun except that.
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Hear me now…. Mr.exclamation mark…hear me talking quote……..”I will not lie, cheat or steal,”.David Thompson, like Icarus flew too close to the Sun of Truth……and guess what ..fell from grace.
David,
As a political party, we have been told so many things by so many people – some of which we believe to be true and some to be false, some whereby we could not tell.
During the last BLP government’s rein we were told by persons who WORKED WITH the UDC that there great corruption going on in the UDC. And we believed these persons for they were actually in the midst of such happenings.
Recently, and under this DLP Government, we were told by a gentleman how he got a contract from the UDC. We saw part of the contract for ourselves. But the thing is that this gentleman said he would have got a team of workers to build this house, even though this gentleman would have had no previous actual experience at building houses. He was neither mason, carpernter, plumber, electrician, builder, nor anything of the sort.
Could you imagine that because the party he supports came to office in 2008, he simply would have got a contract to build a house on the basis of that type of relationship???!!!
That great orator George Lamming has gone on record in recent time as suggesting that the BLP and DLP are the source of corruption in this country.
The BLP and the DLP must be removed from the political landscape of this country!!
PDC
Remember all those contractors who were weeded out from the UDC under the last administration? The system stinks. When/if the BLP is returned the office the same system will be waiting and it will be business as usual.
@ PDC
Is C.O Williams an engineer?
Enuff,
C O Williams is so many things, but what is your point?
We need to know this against the backdrop of what we are here under this lead article stating.
David, certainly.
PDC
@ Old Onions
The only apology Bushie wants to make is to you….and humbly so…the Bushman mistakenly assumed that you were intelligent… Apparently BT is wrong….
What apology? To whom? can you understand?
The young lady has nothing but the highest regard from BT…and not surprisingly, since she was well schooled….
This has NOTHING to do with her, it is about US;
here we are talking about our FAILED political systems, not an upright leader to be seen; all crooks and opportunists; failing courts, failing economy, failing education, failing enfranchisement….. And you get a PM appointing a (admittedly outstanding) BLIND girl to oversee our Upper House.
BT can understand if YOU don’t see the irony, but judging from the overwhelming support for FS it seems that there are many others who also fail to see the symbolism. No wonder we will always have the poor with us….
Wuh Caswell went to a good school too…. But Bushie can’t get a seconder for him because all of wanna done know that He would be down in wanna crooked throats in no time….
Wanna people think that leadership is a joke, but THERE IS NOTHING MORE VITAL TO SUCCESS.
If we were REALLY serious about INTEGRITY, HONESTY, JUSTICE and TRANSPARENCY then we would look for examples of such virtues who have GUTS, and BEG them to take up such responsibilities…. But wanna want to “feel good” and hope for things to work out.
GOOD LUCK!
@Bush Tea
If you watch the video under this blog there is one utterance which cannot be refuted.
We need to start with the young ones if we want to stem the tide..
My point is that he is not an engineer but gets contracts to build roads and many other structures because he has a team of workers to do the technical work just as the Contractor you referred to said he would do.
I have no problem with either government trying to build a small contractors’ class, the problem is that there is no system in place to ensure that these persons i.e. contractors are held accountable when they misuse/abuse public funds.
What about Hotels and Resorts Ltd (GEMS). Lots of loss figures have been mentioned, the latest in Parliament quoting $275 million.
When did the last PAC (Public Accounts Committee) meeting take place and who attended?
Do they really think we cannot remember these things!
Or is there?
During a political campaign some years ago I heard a politician,who would be eventually turn out to be the Attorney General, state quite clearly that they knew every drug factory on the West Coast and its was only a matter of time. Sometime after winning the election, the AG was asked about the drug factories on the West Coast, his reply, ” You have to have proof.”
Nothing changes.
@ Bushie
,……”There is none so blind as he who will not see.”
Enuff,
OK.
But remember that the context of the discussion is corruption and venality in public life in Barbados.
What we are on this thread saying is that this gentleman was corrupt in knowing that the contract for the house was one where he was a beneficiary of partisan political largesse in an environment where corrupt patron clientilist politics dominates in an ugly fashion, and where the process in which he received the contract was one where there was not any open transparent competitive bidding for such contracts.
He knew that he only got it because he supports the party and because he knew some one in that particular public office who was going to make sure that he personally gained by getting one of those house building contracts which he felt was “being given away.” And he felt proud about getting it in such circumstances.
What is even more criminal and vulgar is that the government wickedly steals PORTIONS OF OUR MEMBERS INCOMES ON A CONSTANT BASIS, and gives some of the proceeds of what it steals to its supporters for them to continue supporting it .
This is a horrendous madness that has got to stop in Barbados.
Taxation is one of the bases for such corruption in public life.
PDC
Over 70 responses and no one alluded to the irony that David posted this on April 1st . It has been said that the Hardwood Housing dossier was leaked by Clyde’s main rival in the BLP to short circuit his political ascendancy in the Party thus Thompson was the conduit and voila “Mission Accomplished”.
Bajans claim to love football but given their sorry history of defeats they can’t play the game, here is the first lesson which they continue to ignore “Play the ball not the man” and The Hardwood issue is a case in point.
The whole issue of corruption (the missing ball) should have been under the microscope, if there was no forensic Audit of 3S or VECO why throw good money after bad when Hardwood was a “bread and fish issue”?
I will admit that I poured scorn over Clyde on that issue primarily because of his “poor black man” defense, but “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”.
Can’t wait for a viable Third Party not the HI FI of political Parties (One Man Band PDC).
@ Sarge
Can’t wait for a viable Third Party not the HI FI of political Parties (One Man Band PDC).
************************************
He is waiting for you to bring down a few worthy fellows to launch it …..what sayeth thou ?…By the way isin’t retribution a bitch….(thompson.v mascoll) ?
@ David
Where would one see the video?
It is too late now to seek to address our dire state by “starting with the youth”. That approach would have been viable up to 10 or so years ago. Indeed our last outside realistic chance was after the launch of BU / BFP era. We wasted that opportunity seeking to promote our partisan preferences – all pathetic.
We now will have to use brute force to bring this monster under control, or the monster will devour us all. The most effective force that can be applied right now would be similar to Hong Kong’s Independent Curruption Body. It must be able to FORCEFULLY and ruthlessly apply the law to root out Curruption.
Can you see now why Bushie has such respect for Caswell’s characteristics?
The problem with “starting with the youth” is that the youth can only learn what they are taught … Who will teach them these GREAT virtues? Where will they learn justice? Why would they fight Curruption? (represented by their parents), who will be their role models?
We are already at the stage where we need a superhero to come and IMPOSE righteousness….. It is just that most are still looking for a third party of moral warriors to come and save us….
From Mars you think…..?
@ PDC
Well you are now making a case if there was no bidding.
@ Sarge
Man when you join, you have to tell him not to write SO HIGH…cuz a lil po boy like Onions finds it difficult to understand him…(read the above)…ee gots to makes it simple….
Onions
Mascoll’s injury was self inflicted, Thompson could have let him stew in his own juices but Thompson was guilty of as they say in American Football of
“ piling on”.
There can be no joy for Mascoll as “retribution” is a pyrrhic victory for him, Thompson has gone to the great beyond and dead men tell no tales.
Ah wah …pilin on ?Explain for home crowd who knows cricket ?
i aint follow but I kno Mascoll like the last part.
Barbados Correction Corporation and Barbados Correction Maintenance Corporation, who owns them?
Where does the money paid to them every January, some 30 or 40 million dollars go?
Can someone say trace the money?
@Heath & King
Tell us more.
Get to it.
@ George C. Brathwaite.
” Your comments are deterministic and sound so factual as to make them infallible ” .
Good lord George how can you expect me to read further after this linguistic rubbish at the opening of your presentation ?
All the long talk, you will never get any integrity legislation out of Owen Arthur, Muscle Mary,Wuk Fa Wuk and this piss poor field of BLP candidates.
It was never a priority for them and it never will be
@!
It has not been a priority with any party if we judge by the fact that such legislation does not exist as we engage.
See link to Barbados Parliament to read some more about the Barbados Correction Corporation:
http://barbadosparliament.com/senate_pastorder_paper.php?pid=12
By the way Bush Tea, the blogs have only be around for 5-6 years.
You pay way too much credit to the blogs to cause change in such a relatively short time.
None out of the dead or the E.replacements.com
Onions
Join what? This is April Fools Day but pick another person to send further and further. As someone who has seen more yesterdays than will see tomorrows (unless some latter day Ponce De Leon) comes along that would be time that I will never recover.
Piling on: Definition: “An illegal play where several players jump on the player with the ball after he’s been tackled”. Strictly speaking Thompson’s hit wasn’t illegal but Mascoll’s credibility was tottering and Thompson used the equivalent of the rabbit punch that Foreman delivered to Frazier as he was on his way down in the title bout in Jamaica.
Enuff,
Too, there is everything wrong anytime a public agency, such as the UDC, gives out a private contract to a private person to build a house out of stolen public money, and when it is clear that such a person do not have a track record of being a builder, a mason, a carpenter, etc. does not have a registered office, business, etc., does not have any personal professional references to support his previous efforts, hardly had any savings, any form of builder’s insurance. etc.
Will the government be able to successfully sue such a person, if they do manage to do shoddy output, refused to perform part of the contract??
Would you, if you had the chance and wanted to get business done, give a contract to a person with no reputation in building homes, no building skills in the home building sector, no building tools, etc to do business for you, when there are some others out there who have building skills and building experience and a track record of proven achievement?? Would you?
PDC
@David
Pardon me for going off on a tangent but two Parliamentarians from opposite side of the fence had a boxing match yesterday to settle some differences (for charity of course) Despite the charitable reference this was a real grudge match with Justin Trudeau (son of the late PM) being victorious over Patrick Brazeau. Note that Brazeau was an army vet who was said to be proficient in martial arts but Trudeau won ( ref stopped fight).
I want to promote a fight Estwick vs Dale (all in the interest of charity of course) and winner gets bragging rights.
Who said we don’t have fun in the Great White North
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1154858–underdog-justin-trudeau-beats-patrick-brazeau-in-thrilla-on-the-hilla?bn=1
@ !
just able to look on and ponder what could be.
Doom’d for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day confined to fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid
@david 2:15
He/she can’t. Everyone needs to keep their ammo til elections. The BLP’s problem though is th( they would have sat on that ammo for 4-5 years without doing anything, which is “almost” as bad as the act. Question is, whose money is being “spent” every january? Who else has similar arrangements, pre and post 2008? 6 is half dozen, belated mud slinging isn’t going to sway voters this toss.
Just observing
Correction…the DLP’s problem
@ PDC
Not even registered? You definitely on to something.Clearly the issue is not about whether the man is an artisan BUT that he was a mock business.
Sargeant | April 1, 2012 at 2:54 PM |
@David
Pardon me for going off on a tangent but two Parliamentarians from opposite side of the fence had a boxing match yesterday to settle some differences (for charity of course) Despite the charitable reference this was a real grudge match with Justin Trudeau (son of the late PM) being victorious over Patrick Brazeau. Note that Brazeau was an army vet who was said to be proficient in martial arts but Trudeau won ( ref stopped fight).
I want to promote a fight Estwick vs Dale (all in the interest of charity of course) and winner gets bragging rights.
Who said we don’t have fun in the Great White North
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1154858–underdog-justin-trudeau-beats-patrick-brazeau-in-thrilla-on-the-hilla?bn=1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What about Mia vs Owen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_HZ3exrEOs
So the Barbados Correction Corporation paid the pricncely sum of $1.00 per annum for 25 years and a month to lease the land which it did not own to build a prison the Government wanted and would lease from it.
It is really sad that we were lead all over Barbados to hear David Thmpson and the DLP called everybody other than himself a crook. Now we are seeing that David Thompson was the biggest fraud and crook ever.
@gEORGE
you got to be kidding that there was no infelicity that wend on in hardwooed, gems, the highway project, urban under obrian trotman, the prison etc.
Remember george i am not bright like you so i cannot be pedantic and loquacious in my writings, i just heard somebody usin them words so i use them too without knowing their meanings.
But george, cooruption is the hall mark of politicians u really think they care about u or me, they will line their pockets integritly legislation or not,
I am waiting to address u as doctor george brathwaithd, or will i complete mine before u, having statred after u, but then again, the race is not for the swift, but he that endure will endureth to the end,
@ Blogger2012
The former Minister responsible for urban was embraced by the DLP…I guess your party likes corruption.
@enuff
What happened when Obrien Trotman was fired?
@ david
Where in the laws of Barbados do Ministers have the power to fire a public or civil servant?
@enuff
Not sure what his terms and conditions of employment of were at the time.
Enuff
Ministers do not have the power to hire or fire public officers or other public servants that are employed at statutory boards. However, even though they don’t have the power they exercise considerable influence in the case with statutory boards. They can and do give the boards instructions which the board members feel obligated to carry out. That is why so many boards face lawsuits for wrongful dismissal and have to pay out so much money, but what the hell it is not their money, so they don’t mind issuing unlawful instructions.
Whatever there were Hammie couldn’t fire him lmao
@ Caswell
Thank you. David there is your answer.
@ Sargeant | April 1, 2012 at 2:33 PM |
” Thompson’s hit wasn’t illegal but Mascoll’s credibility was tottering and Thompson used the equivalent of the rabbit punch that Foreman delivered to Frazier as he was on his way down in the title bout in Jamaica.”
Sarge, man, you got a real good memory. I will never forget that fight. Devastating it was! Foreman literarily lifted Frazier in mid-air with those punches. Those were not rabbit punches (just the one to the back of the head on his way down) but gorilla punches.
That fight will always stick in my memory. First time the miller was getting free food after waiting in the queue for over 3 years. Had to make a choice. Watch the fight or eat the food. Guess what the hungry miller did?
“A left and a right to Frazier … a left and a right to Frazier … and Frazier’s down”!!!
It was that fast, that brutal and don’t remember anything unfair … just two completely mismatched opponents ….. heavyweight and a feather weight!
Frazier was the rabbit so I guess it might be right to say he got a rabbit punch.
Who you reckon out of Mia and Owen would be the rabbit in a straight head to head boxing match?
Sad the toll boxing takes on our bodies.
At the time those three guys, Foreman, Frazier and Ali were almost gods.
One guy claimed to be the greatest … and I guess he was … for a time.
“Who remembers on the floor of the House when Prime Minister Thompson thundered “Some measure of responsibility must be found. Anyone found guilty of any infelicities will be brought to justice”, He added “the fullest extent of the law will be brought to bear” whether the perpetrators were in “high office, low office or no office “What is left suggests that the taxpayers of this country will have to foot a huge bill”.
How prophetic! Only if he were alive to face this CLICO music . He would be found guilty of many infelicities and would have to be brought to justice.
well leroy parris wasn’t he part of the many infelicities . How come no charges has been brought against him after 4 years with the only flimsy charge of selling insurance. you guys talk a good talk with no evidence. don;t hold you breathe for such charges would not happen even if DT was alive. just wishful thinking and a lot of bull;;;;;sh
What is wrong with the citizens of Barbados (or in the CLICO case the policyholders) doing the calling to accound and enforcement of law through the courts of Barbados if their Government will not do it!!
Why do we have to wait on a dead man?
It just takes a few (one can do it) to figure out how to apply the law as it exists to the problem at hand.
I think there is a “tide in the affairs of men (and women) of this country” which is rising and it is only a matter of time before someone with the brains and the courage takes the step and brings the whole thing crashing down …. using the law as it exists.
Alot of people need to be called to account and I think one citizen or policyholder can do it, once he/she figures out what to do.
Isn’t the CLICO matter simply a breach of Trust by the Company and the Governments of the regions and aren’t there precedents which show how to deal with breaches of Trust?
Conmen have been around from the dawn of time and the law has caught up with a few in the past. It has to be all there.
This is nothing new.
Just need to look at the special case of conmen operating under the guise of MP’s and company directors and see how to deal with it in the courts.
The PDC has been perusing an undated online paper by one G C Brathwaite – Changing state dynamics – erosion of democracy in Barbados.
We stumbled across this paper, as we were going through some articles – on line – dealing with some of the political history of Barbados.
That Brathwaite used to have his submissions published on the BU blog site, but for whatever reasons have not recently been having any published, is some thing we find a little mystifying.
But, like academic diggers that have come across something by one of our political opponents that is pertinent of censure and worthy of absolute criticism, and like social critics that have come across something that meretricously shows off as intelligent writing but that is itself far less than that, we have decided to use this opportunity – upon brushing off the hard crusty layers of academic pollution – to expose some BU readers to some of the infertile nonsense that Brathwaite has contained in the paper, with a primary view of showing them why this country is hardly going anywhere ideologically intellectually politically, sometimes because of many of those who are so-called practising intellectuals in this country and who would have been the beneficiaries of “free” education, having chosen to remain tightly confusedly stuck in many old useless 20th century ideological political paradigms and cockfights.
So, first of all, in this paper – Brathwaite portrays the false assumption that Barbados has been a democracy, albeit one that is eroding.
What piffle!!
Barbados has NEVER been a democracy. Barbados out of so many other appropriate definitions is an oligarchy – rule by a few.
For Brathwaite to suggest therefore that Barbados has been a democracy – which is rule by the majority of people in a polity- is illusory of him.
While he falsely contended that democracy is being eroded, we must state that this oligarchy is becoming more and more conditioned by many instances of corruption, lawlessness, anarchism and permissiveness on many social political cultural fronts. Of course these circumstances will have an adverse negative impact more on authority than liberty, more on cooperation than conflict in the country – in the long term with greater threats to traditional authority and conformity.
While Brathwaite variously interchanges use of the term “erosion of democracy”, with use of the term “threat to erosion of democracy”, in some of earlier parts of the paper, thus creating confusion in the mind of the critical reader/thinker about what is really the theme of the paper, it is certainly not interesting that the powerlessness that he so ascribes to this Barbados “democracy” that is in flux, is markedly a consequence of local and international oligarchic conditions – and not democratic growth from oligary even.
Another fundamental error that that he makes, and which obviously has come through pure instinctual belief – not research – is that, he wrote that Tourism is the leading contributor to GDP in 2004/5 (presumably this is the time when that part of/the whole paper was written – in the paper itself he makes reference to Barbados celebrating its 39th year of nationhood). Research of the relevant Central Bank data would however indicate that the tourism sector although the no 1 foreign exchange earning sector, at the time, was the third biggest contributor to GDP – and not the leading sector.
NB. We fundamentally believe however that GDP must take into consideration only productive activity – and not services activity. We no longer lump together the value of physical output with the value of services.
PDC
The PDC has been perusing an undated online paper by one George C. Brathwaite – Changing state dynamics – erosion of democracy in Barbados.
We stumbled across this paper, as we were going through some articles – on line – dealing with some of the political history of Barbados.
That Brathwaite used to have his submissions published on the BU blog site, but for whatever reasons have not recently been having any published, is some thing we find a little mystifying.
But, like academic diggers that have come across something by one of our political opponents that is pertinent of censure and worthy of absolute criticism, and like social critics that have come across something that meretricously shows off as intelligent writing but that is itself far less than that, we have decided to use this opportunity – upon brushing off the hard crusty layers of academic pollution – to expose some BU readers to some of the infertile nonsense that Brathwaite has contained in the paper, with a primary view of showing them why this country is hardly going anywhere ideologically intellectually politically, sometimes because of many of those who are so-called practising intellectuals in this country and who would have been the beneficiaries of “free” education, having chosen to remain tightly confusedly stuck in many old useless 20th century ideological political paradigms and cockfights.
So, first of all, in this paper – Brathwaite portrays the false assumption that Barbados has been a democracy, albeit one that is eroding.
What piffle!!
Barbados has NEVER been a democracy. Barbados out of so many other appropriate definitions is an oligarchy – rule by a few.
For Brathwaite to suggest therefore that Barbados has been a democracy – which is rule by the majority of people in a polity- is illusory of him.
While he falsely contended that democracy is being eroded, we must state that this oligarchy is becoming more and more conditioned by many instances of corruption, lawlessness, anarchism and permissiveness on many social political cultural fronts. Of course these circumstances will have an adverse negative impact more on authority than liberty, more on cooperation than conflict in the country – in the long term with greater threats to traditional authority and conformity.
While Brathwaite variously interchanges use of the term “erosion of democracy”, with use of the term “threat to erosion of democracy”, in some of earlier parts of the paper, thus creating confusion in the mind of the critical reader/thinker about what is really the theme of the paper, it is certainly not interesting that the powerlessness that he so ascribes to this Barbados “democracy” that is in flux, is markedly a consequence of local and international oligarchic conditions – and not democratic growth from oligary even.
Another fundamental error that that he makes, and which obviously has come through pure instinctual belief – not research – is that, he wrote that Tourism is the leading contributor to GDP in 2004/5 (presumably this is the time when that part of/the whole paper was written – in the paper itself he makes reference to Barbados celebrating its 39th year of nationhood). Research of the relevant Central Bank data would however indicate that the tourism sector although the no 1 foreign exchange earning sector, at the time, was the third biggest contributor to GDP – and not the leading sector.
NB. We fundamentally believe however that GDP must take into consideration only productive activity – and not services activity. We no longer lump together the value of physical output with the value of services.
PDC
PDC
So, first of all, in this paper – Brathwaite portrays the false assumption that Barbados has been a democracy, albeit one that is eroding.
What piffle!!
Barbados has NEVER been a democracy. Barbados out of so many other appropriate definitions is an oligarchy – rule by a few.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ut
Barbados is a democracy but democracy needs testing now and again.
What better way than for an individual citizen/policyholder (or a group) to seek to use the courts as is their democratic right to call to account what amounts to no more than a bunch of conmen .
Why rely on Government when everyone alleges that the conmen are a part of Government.
Under normal circumstances the Government should do it but obviously no one has any confidence in Government.
It would be like a breath of fresh air.
Such a movement could spawn the future leaders of Barbados.
@PDC
I am happy to note that you are following me and getting in some reading. Academics do not have a monopoly on ideas and knowledge, they actually try to stimulate discussion on ideas, disseminate information hopefully to add to knowledge, and in that way, generally contribute to human progress.
By the way, is it possible for you to name one country, past or present, that would fit your bill as a democracy? Should I take it that there are no democrasies in the international system? I wish you well in your reading and analysis as you continue to enlighten.
@ David
Do you appreciate the fact that Chris Sinckler, leader of the Eager 11 was motivated into action as a result of the very CRUEL blow (delivered by the PM) of removing the responsibility for Nation Insurance Scheme from Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and that since then NIS has undertaken major investments such as the new CXC building and Four Season?
Do you appreciate that this was clearly an attempt by the PM and or his kitchen Cabinet to limited the power, financial and otherwise of the Minister of Finance thereby ensuring that all construction projects were NOT awarded to the Bjerkham Group namely JADA, PRECONCO, SIGMA and CARIBBEAN HOMES?
Do you appreciate why the action of the Eager 11 was promoted by BJERKHAM, TEMPRO and MALONEY And why the meeting was convened in an apartment at Sapphire Beach Apartments in Dover belonging to BJERKHAM and TEMPRO?
Do you appreciate that the Prime Minister is aware of the very close relationship between BJERKHAM Group and Minister Sinckler?
Do you appreciate the roll of Minister Sealy in ensuring that ALL contractors in Barbados, irrespective of perceived party affiliation, should be given a slice of the GOB’s capital works programme as a method of protecting business in a harsh economic climate which carries with it attendant benefits such as maintaining employment levels in Barbados.
Why does the Minister of Finance believe that BJERKHAM is GOD and should be the recipient of ALL government contracts, is because he can multiply loaves and bread and feed many?
Thanks for finally writing about >Where
Is The Hardwood Housing Forensic Report? | Barbados Underground <Liked it!