@David

Do you mean there is a need for Gov’t to communicate or for Stuart to communicate? According to some of the posters here, Gov’t Minister’s are always on TV (one poster goes so far as to label it DLPTV) which means that they are communicating (of sorts).

I’ve said it before, Stuart is not David Thompson who was a natural politician, garrulous and bantering with everyone while Stuart is reserved and could be considered an introvert. If you speak with people who were at Combermere with Thompson they will tell you that Thompson was involved in every activity and was “David” to everyone while Stuart barely made a dent at Foundation, a leopard can’t change its spots.

Thompson was the face of the Gov’t and was the “great” communicator aided and abetted by Hartley Henry and while Thompson never met a microphone he didn’t like Stuart is the opposite and last year had to be goaded into giving an interview on CBC (can’t remember the occasion) in which he tried to let people in on the personal man but I don’t think he succeeded.

This may not have mattered in “normal” times but the Country has been beset by one crisis after another so it falls upon the Leader to be upfront and be reassuring to all citizens. Stuart and Hartley didn’t see “eye to eye” and it was no surprise that he was declared persona non grata when Stuart took over and therein lies the rub, no one has taken over the mantle of media strategist since Henry was pushed aside thus the Gov’t often has to play catch up when an issue hits the front pages leaving the impression that it is weak and not
au courant with the file.

@An Observer

Of course laughter and levity is a good medicine but when attempts are made by those in positions like Stuart i.e. leading a government into a general election in a period where the country is under the weight of an austerity program, it goes without saying that while he attempts to joke with his audience – to be welcomed – it must be couched in language which does no political scaring. This is where PR and a communications sensitive approach is priceless.

You see Stuart believes he can single handedly run tings (PR)….and doing a lousy job while at it….but I blame Donville , Chris and the resta DEM boys, who are willing to sit idly by and watch all their careers.. years of campaigning , hard work ,time and money GO flush down the toilet.

The difficulty… is that he believes he is scoring nuff points. Reminds me of Sandi….

According to this morning’s newspaper on the PM’s current US trip it appears he is doing more talking “outside” of Barbados then “in” Barbados … 🙂

The PM if he were to respond to the commentary evoked by his sore bubbie reference (love it) he might say if he lick he lock up. At least he is talking, let us hope (unlike the West Indies team) he has turned the corner.

@Onions

A play at leadership at the 11 the hour is analogous to a suicide mission.

@Onions

Any change in leadership at this stage would have to be bloodless. The Eager +/- 11 would be mindful of events as they unfolded in the Battle of Waterloo.

Battle of Waterloo:

Upon Napoleon’s return to power in 1815, many states that had opposed him formed the Seventh Coalition and began to mobilise armies. Two large forces under Wellington and Blücher assembled close to the north-eastern border of France. Napoleon chose to attack in the hope of destroying them before they could join in a coordinated invasion of France with other members of the coalition. The decisive engagement of this three-day Waterloo Campaign (16–19 June 1815) occurred at the Battle of Waterloo. According to Wellington, the battle was “the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life.”
Napoleon delayed giving battle until noon on 18 June to allow the ground to dry. Wellington’s army, positioned across the Brussels road on the Mont-Saint-Jean escarpment, withstood repeated attacks by the French, until, in the evening, the Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon’s right flank. At that moment, Wellington’s Anglo-Allied army counter-attacked and drove the French army in disorder from the field. Pursuing coalition forces entered France and restored King Louis XVIII to the French throne.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Surprise was what counted David….strike while irons HOT !

@ Amused

I am amazed that Mary Redman continues to spout out mouthings as though the teachers are squeaky clean and show due consideration and diligence to their job.

A grievance with Principal is not with the charges – where was the Principal affected in all this. Teachers stayed off job to strategise and my children left unattended at the drop of a hat.

If the situation was ‘untenable’ under no circumstance would they have returned to the premises and the CHILDREN would be so distraught that the classes would have to be cancelled.

@ David.
You keep going back to the PR theme ! I CANT FAULT YOU . Peace brother .

@An Observer

On the need for good PR, BU was reminded of the following:

The Government’s Communication/PR weapon was Michael Lashley and his great performance in building houses. He was their only PR. However in recent months the Minister of Housing has been very silent. Perhaps his silence has something to do with the rumor about his US Visa being revoked…….

On a whole in recent months the members of Cabinet have been silent – once vocal members like Chris Sinckler, John Boyce, Denis Kellman, Haynesley Benn, Richard Sealy, Ronald Jones….perhaps this has something to do with

1. the wrongdoing highlighted in the CLICO interim forensic report
2. Barack not being paid
3. the Pierhead Marina which was announced by Chris Sinckler in April 2011 to start in Jan 2012 not starting as yet
4. Four Seasons which has been still born after many different instances of it being reborn
5. the Government’s handling of the Alexandra and Almond affairs
6. the REDjet saga
7. the micromanagement going on at the NCF by Minister Stephen Lashley and the NCF Board
8. the foul ups at Caves of Barbados with the Minister running the affairs and not communicating such with his appointed Chairman Haldene Dottin
9. clear factions within the Cabinet, one sect pleding allegiance to Stuart and the others being the disciples of former PM Thompson
10. the window dresing associated with the Pickerings project in 2010 yet to date no significant work ongoing on that project
11. serious mis-steps in the International Business sector causing a loss of companies registered and corporation taxes to Barbados
12. the Water Authority building a new headquarters without open tendering rather than improve the mains infrastructure as the 60% increase in water rates was meant to have funded
13. absence of major road works outside of Warrens roundabouts after the increases in road taxes implemented in the Budget (so where have our road tax money gone?)

What ever happened to the after-Cabinet press conferences which were promised by late PM David Thompson? What about the Freedom of Information legislation as promised? This would have made a significant dent in providing information to the public.

Now if there was an effective PR Machinery, this is not a plug for Hartley Henry, some of the questions would have been answered.

@ David,

You said “12. the Water Authority building a new headquarters without open tendering rather than improve the mains infrastructure as the 60% increase in water rates was meant to have funded”
What evidence do you have to support this allegation?

@Rodney Martin

Why zoom in to #12 what about the Michael Lashley allegation of US visa revocation? In the US Obama’s right to challenge for the presidency has been challenged. Do you want to tell us what he and his handlers have been doing to answer the critics? Here is a hint, check his website, check his facebook page, check press conference he and surrogates have held about the matter.

There will always be a gap about what the public wants to know and how it can be fulfilled by government. However, a successful government will try damn hard to fill the gap with quality information. Quality information can only come if there is a relevant structure guiding the process. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall at Thursday cabinet meetings because it is difficult to accept others around the table are unconcerned.

The PM and co must think on these things.

@rodney & David
one “doubt” out of 13 statements….not a bad accuracy rate. Not good for government’s PR.

@Caswell
Persistent is an apt description.

@ Caswell Franklyn .
Since you are satisfied that ” someone in government is wide enough ” to protect you from a defamation suit , why can’t you ” be more specific ” but would rather rely on other bloggers to ” supply any details ” which we can assume that YOU ARE ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF ? Do you not consider this a manifestation of NAKED COWARDICE ? Most BARBADIANS would be shocked at your own admission that you are indeed a coward who would seek assistance at putting across the details of a ” PERSISTENT RUMOUR “. You should go ahead and do your own dirty work and not seek to involve less skillful bloggers who might not know how to ” protect ” themselves from defamation . SHHHHHHHAAAAAME on you Caswell !

Observer

I not legally trained and qualified like you. I cannot afford to pay your usual retainer of $10,000 plus you are so vexed with me for my stance on Freundel that I would worry about the quality of the representation that you might give me.

Who does Ms. Redman reallty think she is tho????
At the press conference she is “demanding that Mr Boomes be sent on special leave? ” Why , what evil has he done?” I thought the purpose of any union was to negotiate; but not this BSTU this is belligerent and obnoxious to say the least. Are unions in BIM now at the stage where they can hire and fire sfaff who they are not paying?
If Mr Broomes is to be sent on leave I believe the striking teachers should go too! If the commission is an enquiry in to the happenings at AX a case now has to be presented so on what basis would he be sent without implying wrongdoing by Mr. Broomes? I notice that the BSTU had a peculiar experience this weekend.
A revelation that they ought to be professional and that they should act in the interest of the children..
MS.Redman, because BSTU is of teachers ,the public does not need you to read ,write nor interpret for us.

@Pringles: “If Mr Broomes is to be sent on leave I believe the striking teachers should go too!

While I am not a fan of US President Ronald “RayGun”, I think he did do something correct when he fired every Air Traffic Controller who refused to show up for work, and replaced them with those who understood the importance of the work, and were willing to work.

Teachers are as important as Air Traffic Controllers.

Think of the children who actually show up at school, but find they have no one to teach them….

Hi ‘Rate this’, I had frankly given-up on Bim but I suddenly remembered about her today for some unknown reason. c ur all still ‘fighting the good fight’. will contribute my sagacious insight from time to time, until wunna annoy me again!! LOL!! 🙂 sorry, can’t say I remember u though, RT!!

@Pacha

There is a thin line between good PR and propaganda 🙂

All many are asking is for the government to efficiently state its positions on the myriad of issues and let the people filter what they must. It gives us a departure point to filter the information. When there is a vacuum it makes the business of holding feet to the fire equally as difficult.

@David
Have you ever seen a dead American solider or live fighting in any war since Vietnam on American TV. Why? Because the Vietnamese were able to win the war by use of American media. You must also know that in war you use the military to achieve political objectives. The Vietnamese never won a single battle but because they depended of Americans turning against the war, based on what was on TV, the Vietnamese won the political war as America was forced to withdraw. Since Vietnam American military strategist consider the home front as a war front. A war for the minds of Americans. So were is the difference between PR and Propaganda?

@Pacha

The good and bad in any thing is in the use. We live under a system of government which is underpinned by the good that our government promises to do. The examples you cite emanate from scenarios of war or operate from systems underpinned by control. This is not wher we are located currently hence the strategy has to be different.

@ David

I think FS gets a raw deal albeit he does help his own cause with the protracted periods of long silence. There is wisdom in the Commission of Inquiry but only if it is expedited, say concluding with 3 to 6 months maximum flowed thereafter by quick Cabinet or PM action. Otherwise this PM maintains a squeaky clean image, something we are not quite accustomed to given the past.

@Rodney Martin: “Otherwise this PM maintains a squeaky clean image, something we are not quite accustomed to given the past.

So, then… Are we now electing our leaders on their promise to not do anything?

Women have been able to gain root and get away with nonsense because a lot of foolish men have supported them in attaining whatever.
Some of these same men have suffered because dont care how much you give a woman, you ” aint give she nothing”; “you never do nothing for she “—she will tell you

Cuss me all you want but women are not Saints and if you doubt me ask Ralph Boyce the amount of problems that WOMEN GIVE TO MEN IN Barbados

You all think women easy ?
They are giving bare problems

ASk David Ellis

ASK any man who after educating a woman to degree level , the same man aint good enough after she graduate

The situation at AX is not dissimilar to anywhere else that have workers and bosses that workers dont like but the situation is compounded by Mary Redman–a woman—ignorant , inflexible —hate men and the deputy head –Woman –ignorant –inflexible –hate men — always running competition-everything is a competition and they must win at all cost.

Men who are not sissys and who aint frighten will agree with me.