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Commissioner Frederick Waterman – Photo Credit: Nation

The final arguments from lawyers representing all parties in the Alexandra School Dispute have been submitted and Barbadians await the report from lone Commissioner Frederick Waterman. It is obviously the report will be delivered before the September school term begins.

There was a sense by BU during the last two weeks of the Inquiry that it was hurried along; and for an obvious reason. Theย  first school term is scheduled to begin on the 10 September 2012 and given known timelines the Waterman Report will be late. Therefore the 64k question is – what will be the next phase of the AX Affair?

It is early days yet to evaluate the performance of the Alexandra Commission. However, BU is concerned the Commissioner made some questionable decisions which will impact the quality of the final report.ย  For example, it is understood from our sources that the aunt of Miss X whom we reported on another blog the student in the transcript affair was to go to live in the USA to facilitate school there, was in Barbados and prepared to give evidence. BU understands she was seized with interesting bits of information as a result of her visit to the school to which Miss X was to attend and where the transcript was allegedly sent by the secretary. Our source has advised that she had proof no such transcript was received by the US school. A reasonable conclusion to be made, the transcript was never sent. We have been reliably advised that Commissioner Waterman refused to allow this witness to be called.

One would have thought if the Commissioner had access to a witness who promised to clarify if any witness committed perjury, it would have been allowed in the interest of justice.

Another issue which the BU family should be apprised is that legal counsel representing the different parties at the AX Inquiry were granted different times for closing submissions. For example, Hal Gollop who represented the BSTU was allowed 1hr 20 minutes. Counsel for the Commission was allowed 2hrs 20 minutes. Vernon Smith and Cecil McCarthy who represented Broomes spoke for 30 minutes. Counsel for Keith Simmons was allowed 1hr plus. How was time allocation determined by the Commissioner?

It is interesting though that the Alexandra School Fourth Fourth orientation scheduled for this week has be pushed back to the opening day of the school term.

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106 responses to “The AX Matter Moves To The Next Phase”

  1. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Caswell were you not involved in advising BSTU at the stage when they sent the matter to the CPO and subsequently went on strike?

    …don’t you think that you are experiencing a conflict of interest here?
    ……just asking….!

  2. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    @Caswell
    I am not au courant with the protocol of the Service but I am thinking that after the MOE’s failure to settle to the satisfaction of the warring sides,that the next move would be to send the matter not to the CPO but to the Ministry of the Civil Service which minister is the PM.

  3. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Bush Tea

    I do not know where you got that from but I was not involved in advising the BSTU at the stage of writing the letter or at any other time. Mind you, when they were on strike, I passed by their headquarters and showed solidarity with them.

    When they delivered the letter to the CPO, I happened to be at there on a completely different matter and when I was leaving, the BSTU delegation arrived and of course I stayed around and gave moral support.

    I was at the Personnel Administration Division to review some files that the High Court ordered to be turned over in a case that I have an interest. Without going in to too much detail, a number of environmental health assistants have taken the Government to court over their appointment. It would appear that their names were on a list of persons, sent from the Ministry of Health, to be appointed. However, when the appointments were made their names were excluded and the name of the son of the senior personnel officer and one other was substituted. Mind you, his son was not eligible for appointment but the commission was deceived.

  4. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    Caswell boy I gotta agree with Bushie’s December statement. you should have pleaded the 5th on this issue and kept out of it…on BU at least.
    Your objectivity, consistency and claims of searching for only the truth come into question via selective responses, seeming holes in explanations and a deduction process that wouldn’t pass the light of day with other scenarios or issues. Your knowledge and opinions are respected, admired and appreciated but your bias (at best) conflict of interest (at worst) is subtly glaring. You can prove me wrong by answering
    a) did the deputy actually receive the handwritten transcript in 2004?
    b) was a transcript actually sent?
    c) did the girl actually go to the USA (though this was denied by her father)
    d) Did the 2012 computer copy (which should be the final one) have on the University and correct personal information for the girl on it?

    All this should have been revealed under cross-examination by Smith/McCarthy, the witnessing and facts of which you haven’t quite confirmed as yet.

    @Amused
    when you start bad you end bad. This Commission now makes Commissions look bad in addition to education, trade unionism, politicians, the teaching profession and the Ministry.

  5. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Gabriel Tackle

    When the matter is not resolved at the level of the Ministry of Education, it would only be referred to the Ministry of the Civil Service if the matter was one of conditions of service. If the matter dealt with misconduct it should go to the CPO for transmission to the PSC who is responsible for discipline in accordance with section 94 of the Constitution.

  6. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    @Gabriel
    The CPO was chosen because a set and pre-determined course of action (ultimatum) was desired (demanded) by the BSTU and she would have to be the person to enact it.

  7. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Caswell

    Thanks for the clarification.
    Look Caswell! Bushie will be frank with you.
    The bushman is of the opinion that this matter is just a bunch on nonsense that is actually well beneath your level. Unfortunately, it has, and always had, the potential to do significant damage to your credibility as you seek to defend your natural allies.
    IT IS NOT WORTH IT!! You are much too valuable to this country in many much more important ways….- and your credibility is CENTRAL to that value.

    This is a simple matter of management incompetence in dealing with a simple case of employee discipline, a slightly more challenging case of management arrogance on the part of the Principal, and a useless Board.

    As is common in 95% of all organizations in Barbados, this incompetence goes ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

    …..why do you think that mediocre Trinidadians, Canadians, Irishmen, Guyanese and whosoever else can come here and find themselves running things…?

    The solution to Barbados’s problems lie in someone getting to the root of the national cancer. That cancer is associated with a deep rooted political and administrative dishonesty which leads to the placement of square pegs in round holes across the whole sphere of the island; It leads to the placement of personal and family interests ahead of national interest; it places secrecy and bribery ahead of transparency and openness.

    As the Bushman has been saying (well BEFORE you even came on this Blog) you are the ideal doctor to deal with this cancer. Bushie has also carefully proposed a methodology by which you can perform this operation BY THE NEXT ELECTION.

    …PLEASE do not go trying to treat this AX Ebola case without proper protective equipment and cause Barbados to lose any chance of dealing with the more critical national cancer…..

    ….leave the ebola to Amused….. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Amused “8. Broomesโ€™ counsel asks that the aunt be called to provide evidence that no such letter was received by the school, but Commissioner Waterman declines to allow her to give evidence.”

    But Amused, surely as a lawyer you can see why the aunt cannot give evidence on behalf of the school. The Commissioner should have contacted the school directly. And received the evidence directly from the school.

    The aunt does not work for the school and so cannot testify as to what documents are held on file at the school.

    Unless the aunt had been appointed legal guardian of the minor child, there is no way that the school will give her access to the student’s academic records.

    You are hot shot lawyer and and I am only a Simple Simon, so I know that you would have to know these things.

  9. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Bush Tea | September 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM |
    “The solution to Barbadosโ€™s problems lie in someone getting to the root of the national cancer. That cancer is associated with a deep rooted political and administrative dishonesty which leads to the placement of square pegs in round holes across the whole sphere of the island; It leads to the placement of personal and family interests ahead of national interest; it places secrecy and bribery ahead of transparency and openness.”

    Very sound principle which any right thinking and honest person would subscribe to without hesitation. We expect the same from its author and we will surely hold you to it, Bushie.

  10. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @Observing (…) | September 1, 2012 at 11:09 AM. I was about to respond to Casewell, but I have nothing to add to what you have said. And I agree โ€“ when you start bad, you end bad.

    @Bush Tea | September 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM. Agree with your general observations, but am not persuaded as far as Casewellโ€™s potential goes yet. His views lack transparent consistency, BUT, that said, if it was up to me, I would give him a chance. I agree that he has a role to play and that role would certainly be helped by taking your advice. Whether it is a major role or not remains to be seen. As for the ebola, well, someone has to deal with it and I have no problem being that person and I am glad to have your support.

    @Simple Simon | September 1, 2012 at 2:22 PM. Disagree completely the aunt most certainly could attest to the receipt or non receipt of the document from the school in the USA, if she had something official from the school stating that no such letter or document had been received from AX. Indeed, given that this is an inquiry, not a trial and therefore the rules of evidence as they apply to a court process do not apply to the Commission, the aunt could have given evidence that she had spoken to the school and that such and such a person had told her that no such letter/document was received and that if the Commission chose to write to the school seeking confirmation in writing that the document was not received, the school would be happy to provide it. AND THUS THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL WHICH SEALEY ALLEGES SHE HAS (CONVENIENTLY) FORGOTTEN!!!! So we have to seriously ask ourselves WHY the Commission would not wish to have this evidence and the name of the school before it? Could it be that if it did, it would be forced to send a report to the DPP recommending criminal prosecution for perjury?

    What staggers and disappoints me frankly is that counsel for the BSTU and the Commission agreed to allow this document in as evidence in the first place. What were they thinking of? If I had had a hand in it, I would have ensured that I had all my ducks in a row: (a) photocopy of the document with Broomesโ€™ signature on it; (b) cover letter; (c) proof of postage; and (d) I would have written to the school asking it to provide me a copy of the document as received by it with its stamp for receipt (they do actually stamp correspondence for receipt in the USA). AND, if I did not have at least (a) and (b), I would not have introduced the evidence in the first place. It looks fraudulent, conspired and contrived.

  11. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    @Caswell
    Thank you for your input.I submit for your comment that both grievances smacked of conditions of service.The first issue in 2006 when Broome sought to dock the teacher’s (or teachers)pay for going on a joyride instead of attending a set forum for Teachers Professional Day (or by whatever name its known.)Secondly,the failure of Amaida Greaves to teach as paid to do,smacks of a failure to adhere to her conditions of service.In my ignorance(cf latin ignosco and not the bajan derivative)I suggest that both cases should have been properly before the PS Ministry of the Civil Service for resolution.

  12. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Gabriel Tackle

    When you breach your conditions of service, most likely you would have committed an offence which would subject you to disciplinary action. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Civil Service has no role in a disciplinary matter unless he is dealing with an officer in his ministry or he is appointed to be a member of an investigatory committee by the PSC in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Code of Discipline in the Public Service.

    You suggested that Mrs. Greaves would have failed to adhere to her conditions of service if she did not teach. If and only if that were the case, she would have committed an act of misconduct in accordance with paragraph 2 (q) of the Code of Discipline and could have been dismissed. As a head of department, Mr. Broomes could have suspended her and refer the matter to the Chief Personnel Officer in accordance with paragraph 4 (2) of the same code.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @Caswell

    Have we not discussed this matter several times by opining on what the lack of precedent would have had?

  14. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    David

    There is no lack of precedent, other heads of department have crossed that bridge before

  15. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    When the matter is not resolved at the level of the Ministry of Education, it would only be referred to the Ministry of the Civil Service if the matter was one of conditions of service. If the matter dealt with misconduct it should go to the CPO for transmission to the PSC who is responsible for discipline in accordance with section 94 of the Constitution.

    ———————————————————-
    THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE—TOO MANY LAYERS OF SHIT TO GO THROUGH TO SOLVE A PROBEL,,,,,REFORM OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE IS THE ONLY ANSWER.

  16. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Agree with JUST ASKING.
    …..clearly this is a system designed to for Inaction and time wasting.
    It facilitates the protection of incompetents – which is needed if you have square pegs in round holes.

    How we can continue to pay those people in the Ministry of Education is a joke…. What do they really do?
    Hell, why not just pay every bajan a salary and hope that some of us do something useful….that seems to be the public service plan….

    That was a joke Onions! Don’t get any ideas…. ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ JUST ASKING | September 1, 2012 at 11:47 PM |

    What do you mean by “REFORM OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE”?
    The Public Sector has been allegedly going under ‘Reform’ for so many years it is now superannuated and needs to be sent to another correctional institution of higher discipline.

    The excessive weight carried around by this behemoth is the main reason why there is so much sluggishness, inertia and blockage in the system. Only a stomach bypass resulting in a 25% to 30% reduction in weight can improve the life and performance of this organism.
    This reduction- whether done locally or imposed from overseas -will make all parts of the system wake up in order to justify their existence or be part of the fat to be removed from the lumbering body.
    The Barbados economy and so-called educated society just cannot afford anymore the size and presently configured public sector. Especially in light of the changing economic order and the need for a new social contract between its citizen and State. Why would a so-called highly educated people still want to rely on the State for so many of its welfare wants? What about self reliance and entrepreneurship? What is our mirror Image? Is it one of State mendicancy? Where is the Pride & Industry?

  18. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    millerdeanuki wrote”What about self reliance and entrepreneurship? What is our mirror Image? Is it one of State mendicancy? Where is the Pride & Industry?”

    Where is the m oney going to come from to finance the entrepreneurship?

    BizzyCowJerkham an sons?

    Lotta long talk but wunna betta work with wha wunna got. startin wid agriculcha to replace imports.

    my boy Lewis crash on de firs lap so I gine an practice my Salmon fishin skills in case I have to spen de res a muh life in Canada eh!

  19. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    @Caswell
    “other heads of department have crossed that bridge before”

    But didn’t you tell us earlier that in those cases the suspension was either overturned or ended up under litigation? erego no successful precedent to date?

    @miller and asking
    A look at the public sector reform site and the associated white paper will make your hair cringe. One wonders what the hell has been going on over the years apart from alot of nothing. The proposal and document is fantastic. The implementation is far from stellar and the wastage and inefficiencies up to this day are embarassing.

    @bushie
    “How we can continue to pay those people in the Ministry of Education is a jokeโ€ฆ. What do they really do?”

    a very valid question.

  20. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Observing

    You should learn from the mistakes of others. If other heads of department used the wrong procedure, all other heads have to do is to avoid the mistakes that others have done.

  21. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Hants | September 2, 2012 at 8:24 AM |
    “Where is the m oney going to come from to finance the entrepreneurship?”

    “Lotta long talk but wunna betta work with wha wunna got. startin wid agriculcha to replace imports.’

    These two statements made by you, although contradicting each other, just happen to be just different sides of the same entrepreneurial coin.
    So letโ€™s settle for a common interpretation of entrepreneurship within the coming local economic scenario: Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Sounds like a new idea to you, Hants?
    The likes of โ€œBizzyCowJerkham ans sonsโ€ have had their days in the setting Sun of land deals, golf courses and concrete.
    Survival is the new kid on the block. May the devil take the hindmost!

  22. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    @caswell
    The fact still remains. No successful precedent has been set, far less when the head of department is the principal of a school..

  23. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Observing
    …don’t mind Caswell yuh…!
    There is no such thing a a correct procedure when it comes to addressing indiscipline in the public service. ….It is heads the boss lose, and tails the union wins…
    What ever is done…there is a rule or procedure or precedent waiting to prove it wrong…..especially if Caswell is “the union”… ๐Ÿ™‚
    The ONLY action that guarantees NO PENALTY is INACTION….. Which is what most public servants excel in…

  24. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Bushie

    You are not being fair to me. There are more than enough procedures and precedents in the Public Service. The problem is that senior managers are either promoted or recruited to their without being given any training in management, and in most cases they do not even know of the existence of the relevant disciplinary rules. Many managers in the Public Service are appointed because of party affiliation, lodge, familial connections, friendship or sex. They are hardly ever appointed to their post because they merit the position. As a result, when they encounter someone who knows the rules, they are often out manoeuvred. You cannot blame me or any other union official who equip ourselves with the tools to do our job.

    Shortly after we formed Unity Workers Union, I was asked to represent two young ladies who were accused of dismissible offences according to management. When they informed the Human Resources Department that I would be representing them, they were told to get Dennis Clarke from NUPW to represent them and they would only get a warning if they apologised. The Human Resourse Director had encountered me twice before and did not enjoy the experience. The young ladies abandoned me and only ended up with warnings on their files.

    If they had allowed me to represent them, they would not have been warned or anything because neither them, the Human Resourse Director nor Dennis Clarke realized that the offences for which the young ladies were charged did not exist.

    Government needs to train their managers.

  25. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    millerdeanuki wrote, ” Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Sounds like a new idea to you, Hants?

    I am well aware of “the idea” but I have also heard of “Investment capital required to finance the r&d of “inventions”.

  26. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Man Caswell, do you think that Bushie is unfamiliar with your reputation and abilities? You are a legend in your own time. Bushie’s point is that, like Saul on the road to Damascus, you need a conversion to the other side.
    The problem with the union side is that it is not using best talents for productivity …quite the opposite usually.
    National productivity NEEDS to have persons of your brand of competence working on the side of productivity. Let Sir Roy and Dennis represent the down trodden….
    Saul was a class act too, but it is only when his talents were unleashed on the “right” side that he was able to achieve true productivity and gain major results.

    Bushie could just see you running the Water Authority ‘den….or the Transport Board…. Not a boy could slack….

  27. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Hants | September 2, 2012 at 4:34 PM |

    What about the capital so easily found to underwrite the recently concluded soap opera from which only entertainment value was extracted? How did you, a keen member of the viewing audience rate the locally produced show up North with the “investment” capital ending up in the deep pockets of legal buddies and compensation for loss of high office to a forlorn secretary?

    What about the forex used to finance the many junkets undertaken by these pygmy politicians with a misplaced sense of importance about themselves on the world stage and whom no one notices, sought after by the media or cares a hill of beans about.

    BTW, the recent tour of Canada to drum up business, how did things go from your end? See any people queuing up to invest in R&D in Bim even under the guise of an IBC?

  28. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    JUST realize that the whole of Barbados is full of un-informed, cell -phone dependent jokers who seem oblivious to their own plight unaware of reality and living in their own stupid world. Good Friday could come on Sunday they would not even notice. Thsy are ripe for exploitation by whomsoever will and the Trinidadians have sensed it like a predator senses a prey in distress and ready for the taking. Ask David Seale from Rl Seale if

  29. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @millertheanunnaki | September 2, 2012 at 6:00 PM. โ€œ……..compensation for loss of high office to a forlorn secretary?โ€ I am a bit slow this morning (must be senility). I donโ€™t understand what you are trying to say there. Help me out? For the rest of it, agree, except about the โ€œlegal buddiesโ€. Commission (Government) would have chosen its counsel (Govt pays), BSTU its counsel (BSTU pays), Broomes (with his union) his counsel (union pays). I MIGHT be wrong and will try to verify, but all those legal charges would not, I believe, fall on the Commission. As for Keith Simmons, well I would think that some government agency would have paid for his counsel, but cannot state that with any certainty. If you can shed light on this, be my guest.

    Nonetheless, I agree with you, to the extent that I believe that the COI started as a good idea, but will likely end as a farcical and biased waste of taxpayersโ€™ money. But it is ever so in Barbados and, until we change the culture of thought, will remain so. My blood runs cold when I think that, but for the grace of God, these jokers might be teaching my grandchildren.

  30. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Amused | September 3, 2012 at 6:19 AM |

    You will have to show me the cannon ball that shot Lord Nelson or the torpedo that sank the Cornwallis before I accept your analysis of how the legal bills will be divided up for settlement.
    Are you telling us that the BSTU and Jeff Broomes legal representatives will not be drawing from the taxpayersโ€™ pot?
    One can understand why the BSTU would be willing to see this salem type trial take place to string up Jeff to public ridicule.
    But one would be surprised and even taken aback if Jeff Broomes or his Union would have agreed to this kangaroo exercise at his or the unionโ€™s own expense. It would be like an accused man paying the police money to find sufficient evidence to convict him.

    So the initial down payment of $600,000 (approx) is going only to help cover the upfront fees for the CoI and the legal and secretarial assistance? And presumably to pay for the rental of the gymnasium and the daily food and drink catering.

    Amused, you stint of living in the UK has not only broaden your potentially liberal mind but has also embedded a growing sense of humour (from watching too much UK TV). A psychological development path I would wish more Bajans to follow and extricate their psyches from the rigid religious cocoon of a mindset which militate against any subtle appreciation of the British sense of humour instead of referring to them as โ€œMADโ€.

    You must learn to read between the ironic cultural lines. Now here is a riddle to solve, Amused: A CEO of an agency- mandated to develop and promote the arts and culture to make Bajans learn to laugh at themselves like a form of psychological โ€˜pick-me-upโ€™- is removed from high office by a โ€˜lowlyโ€™ graduate from the Hitler Youth Brigade whose brain is so close to the ground that even you Amused would walk on, accidentally or otherwise.
    But being a committed party member some form of alternative financial accommodation was arranged before the end of the term for secretarial services rendered.
    Now have a good laugh at the expense of your humourless Bajan friends! โ€œEvโ€™ry skin teet ent a laughโ€, ya hear!

  31. Sittin Bull Avatar
    Sittin Bull

    Miller surely know how to ..RIP, RIP RIP,RIP..(calypso).LOL..this is a real one

  32. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Miller

    Section 24 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, Cap. 112 makes provision for the payment of all or any part of the expenses reasonably incurred by any person in connection with his representation before the commission out of money voted by Parliament for the purpose. The only requirement would be that the commissioner would have to recommend the payment. I believe that since the commissioner would have certified that some people and bodies had sufficient interests to be represented before the commission, he would have no option than to recommend their payment.

    Rest assured my dear Miller, all those lawyers would be paid out of public funds. I hear that the junior lawyers would receive $1000.00 per day: Queen’s Counsels would receive a bit more

  33. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Caswell Franklyn | September 3, 2012 at 12:27 PM |

    I was of that view that the lawyers for all sides would be remunerated handsomely from the taxpayers’ pockets. This is the way it will be.
    It is Amused who proposed otherwise and which I queried. Maybe he is looking for the torpedo that sank the Cornwallis to knock down Nelson from Broad St.

    BTW, can we rest assured that the $600,000 is the first and last instalment for this just concluded event or should we wait for the deus ex machina or coup de grศƒce when the big man of the land signs the warrant for broomseyโ€™s execution, figuratively speaking of course?

  34. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    There better be something positive n tangible coming out of this Inquiry…..either Jeff goes or teachers and Board, et al be separated or bothall.After this spend which is seemingly exceeding $1.2Mil….moneys we could have put to better use..Govt can ill afford another BLUNDER…not at an elections time…we await to see..strategy unfolding.

  35. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    @old onion bags
    positive AND tangible?

    Mercy me, you are asking for alot!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  36. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    Not to bother about the significant sums to be made by the legal teams.They will have to pay up all outsanding taxes first and be up to date on all statutory impositions and then be taxed to the hilt on the residual,so in the final analysis quite a substantial sum remains in the treasury.Not quite the cup of tea of these gladiators so called.

  37. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Gabriel
    They will have to pay up all outsanding taxes first and be up to date on all statutory impositions
    *****************************
    In all fairness… you need to qualify this…you mean “any BLP lawyers”……like you have forgotten the FAMILY FIRST POLICY…let’s not all fall for a Trojan ploy…..

  38. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Gabriel Tackle | September 3, 2012 at 3:36 PM |
    “They will have to pay up all outsanding taxes first and be up to date on all statutory impositions and then be taxed to the hilt on the residual…”

    To whom and since when does this laudable procedure apply? Certainly not lawyers and many professionals especially those keenly associated with any incumbent administration?
    A phone call or two to some timid wormlike unprofessional bureaucrat works wonders and lubricate the wheels of injustice and corruption in this incestuous little island.

    If most lawyers and doctors in private practice pay income tax then all prisoners pay. Filing losses or very low assessable incomes is a specialized art form practiced only to obtain the necessary tax clearance where required.

    One is prepared to put oneโ€™s head on the proverbial chopping block and contest that up to this day Leroy Greenverbs has not paid any taxes on that gratuity ($3.3 million) that passed through his lawyers hands but destined to the manโ€™s account as confirmed by the forensic audit report.
    If the man could be subsequently engaged as a consultant to this administration do you think your statement applies to him?

  39. erice Avatar
    erice

    Please tell me who are the New deputy Educational officers that were oppointed recently . B U T KEEP QUIET you are well rewarded maybe cousin walter maloney will get another too—sell out d workers we will promote you —-Caswell spoke of this relationship the the BUT leaders being promoted /using the union to help they party nd themselves —CEDRIC your wife got one sometime ago you may get another one

  40. erice Avatar
    erice

    Annemarie BURKE also got one –well lucky girl –well she maybe by the Coast watching the waves or the funds

  41. Observing (...) Avatar
    Observing (…)

    @erice
    In ignorance of the beginning of your comment, I have to ask you what I asked Caswell…when or how has the BUT sold out its members (for promotion or otherwise)? Feel free to be as explicit and go as far back as you like…

  42. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @Caswell Franklyn | September 3, 2012 at 12:27 PM. I understand that you are correct as to payment of legal fees and I defer to you on that point. I am not sure of the amount, but will, for the sake of argument, accept your statement that juniors are paid $1,000 per day, while QCs make more. Therefore, it would appear that both juniors and QCs are subsidising the Commission. A junior in Barbados would expect to bill their time at a rate of $250 per hour minimum and to bill 8 hours a day minimum. A QC would bill their time at upwards of $1,000 per hour and likely will for 8 hours a day minimum. And please, no one start screaming and carrying on โ€“ this is reality worldwide. In the USA, a senior will charge anything over US$1,000 per hour, in Canada it is CDA$1,000 per hour and a top British QC will charge anything over ยฃ750 per hour. So, on a worldwide basis, Barbados counsel are a very good deal. BUT, these counsel have been subsidising the COI.

    UNLESS, as is most likely, they have agreed that any shortfall in their usual fees will be met by the various essential parties making representations. In other words, BSTU would pay the shortfall for Hal Gollop, BTU for Messrs Smith and McCarthy (both QC) etc.

  43. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Amused | September 4, 2012 at 3:35 AM |
    ” In the USA, a senior will charge anything over US$1,000 per hour, in Canada it is CDA$1,000 per hour and a top British QC will charge anything over ยฃ750 per hour. So, on a worldwide basis, Barbados counsel are a very good deal.”

    The comparison of fees is not complete unless a comparison of the quality of professional service rendered in return for these fees.
    Would you be so bold as to make just a comparison in quality of service?
    Do you think what lawyers both junior or QC (soon to be KC) offer as โ€˜serviceโ€™ in Bim would be accepted in the UK?
    Many of the lawyers in Bim would have been struck of the roll in the UK or have a very limited practice probably working in the depressed areas offering legal aid, citizenโ€™s advice or dealing with immigration matters. Certainly not practising at the Bar or in Chancery Lane.
    Many of them would have been locked up too for swindle and fraud.

  44. nanci Avatar
    nanci

    when I was attending school years ago, there were some really good teachers who were willing to engage all children and help them to learn and understand, today there are still some of those teachers, but the ones who just is teaching to get a pay check and a good retirement fund, are the ones who makes the education system remain old and boring, without change, thats why so many kids are being kicked out of school at 14, so sad.

  45. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @millertheanunnaki | September 4, 2012 at 7:27 AM.

    โ€œWould you be so bold as to make just a comparison in quality of service?โ€ Certainly not. Canโ€™t! Not until the courts afford them the opportunity to practice law by firing the Registrar and a lot of the judges and getting the scheduling of cases properly dealt with so that the Constitution is not constantly being breached.

    โ€œDo you think what lawyers both junior or QC (soon to be KC) offer as โ€˜serviceโ€™ in Bim would be accepted in the UK?โ€ Unlike you, I do not have a direct line to God, so am unable to agree โ€œQC (soon to be KC)โ€ bit. On the rest, the UK universities and colleges turn out thousands of solicitors and barristers every year, to the extent that only about 6% or 7% manage to secure employment in the legal world. Of these, there are a goodly portion, not unlike Barbados, where law is a family business, and therefore talent is not of any real consideration. So, I would say that junior counsel would likely do as well in the UK as here. As for the QCs (and long may they remain QC as opposed to KC) apart from a very few (among which very few, I number Hal, in response to your comment on BU on another matter) they would not stand a hope in hell and, indeed, most would probably have to seek alternative employment, like selling computers.

    โ€œMany of them would have been locked up too for swindle and fraud.โ€ Unfair. The vast majority of attorneys are honest, hard-working people. Like any other profession, they are brought down by the few crooks.

  46. erice Avatar
    erice

    Nanci—ask Mr.Greaves Headmaster at Alleyne School how many children he kicked out of school —and these kids have move on to do well yes some have fallen into crime —-i agree with what you have said

  47. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Amused | September 5, 2012 at 2:38 AM |
    “The vast majority of attorneys are honest, hard-working people. Like any other profession, they are brought down by the few crooks.”

    You will have a very hard job convincing Bajans of that. When we see the ‘few’ crooks behinds bars where they belong like other common crooks we will listen to you. Most Bajans are god-fearing people and believe every word that is ascribed to their sweet Jesus:
    โ€œJesus replied, โ€œAnd you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.โ€ Luke 11:46

    Most lawyers survive only because of an archaic legal system that protects the cartel interests of lawyers. Many legal transactions involving civil matters such as the purchase and transfer of property, administration of wills, filing for divorce and recovery of small debts could be performed by educated lay people without recourse to solicitors as prevail in the UK. Form filling and paying the relevant fees to the appropriate statutory agencies are NOT the sole province of lawyers.

    No. I donโ€™t have a direct line with your god. On the contrary, I donโ€™t believe he exists as portrayed in the source book of your belief. . And if your god existed most likely it would have to be a โ€˜sheโ€™ and not a โ€˜heโ€™. Unless you view the Sun as male and the Earth as female then we can see eye to eye.
    What is a fact of life is that all of us will die sooner rather than later. So what do we do here in Barbados? Continue to award the title of QC on a lawyer who has done his political sycophantic time when a King- either Charles or William- is โ€˜soonโ€™ on the UK throne. Unless Lizy intends to break her great-great grandmotherโ€™s record, if she lives that long. What about when Bim becomes a Republic as promised by both political parties before its 50th year of Independence from the same British monarchy? Donโ€™t you think itโ€™s about time to stop hanging on to the coattails of a parent who abandoned you 46years ago to seek a haven in the CCJ? Its time you hearken to EWBโ€™s advice and stop loitering at the gates of the Old Bayley and look at your own image in the CCJ mirror. โ€œIf you want justice stay away from Coleridge Streetโ€ and now also Walrond St. still rings true, and more than ever today, Amused!

  48. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    So could now we could understand why Karen stood hog tied when BSTU called out their teachers and could not get BUT support in backing the strike action….A PICK at MOE, of course….President still ….is that not a conflict of interest ?Is these sorta appointments that put AX in its position today. Physical D shud learn sum ting bout planting from MOE….

  49. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    http://www.khanacademy.org/

    Any of you with school age children should see if this web site can help.

  50. David Avatar
    David

    Would like to hear some feedback about the meeting this morning called by Minister Jones. So far BU is hearing that there is some confusion in the minds of many teachers the purpose of the meeting.

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