Should we privatize the Port?
A familiar voice speaks about Port workers and the Union. It’s difficult to find a brutally honest public figure these days. The call to PRIVATIZE the Barbados Port Authority and send home all of those workers is understandable.
It seems like they take long to do jobs and are involved in a high level of _ _ _ .
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Well,we’ll,we’ll, I am now left with the views point that not a single port worker resides in St James South!
This utterly amazing that this woman ( with personality of a Cardboard Box ) could be so insensitive to working class people and be willing to call them thieves.
Guess the old people are right again when they would say head ain’t brain, this thing Sandra Husbands certainly is totally devoid of brain, this is made worst by the knowledge that this was what sat in the Senate of Barbados representing the BLP and even more sickening is that this idiot is what the BLP is putting forward as a candidate in the next election?????????
The BLP are obviously struggling to find a slate of candidates that you can extract more than 1 from that is worthy of a vote, this certainly is a clear signal that they are scraping the bottom of the barrel to find candidates.
I thought this was an isolated attacks by an empty vessel Sandra Husbands but I am now seeing today was an orchestrated day of attack by the BLP on the workers of this island.
Who will they go after tomorrow. Or the day after will Mottley attack you daughter or your grand daughter in the same vicious and demeaning way???????
BLP takes NUPW leadership to task
11/16/2012
ACCORDING to the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), the recent comments from the leadership of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) are “entirely unacceptable”.
In a press conference at the Opposition office at Parliament yesterday, MP for St. Joseph, Dale Marshall, maintained that the NUPW declaring “war on the BLP” at a gathering of public workers is “reprehensible”.
According to reports from Marshall, union President Walter Maloney chose the platform of a Productivity Council seminar for public servants to state that the NUPW will only be supporting political parties based on their position on the issue of privatisation – one which the BLP has been quite vocal about.
“Our concern today is that the President of the union has now chosen the occasion of a gathering of public officers to declare war on the BLP. [Maloney] is seeking to influence the public workers of Barbados as a bloc…” Marshall said.
He added that the BLP respects the union’s right to use the power of its membership to influence the outcome of an election, but said that the “scare mongering” by Maloney is unacceptable.
Marshall further challenged the NUPW President to update his members about the status of the wage negotiations which apparently began last year.
Stating that it is inexcusable that the union should seek to convey the idea that the BLP will be sending home public servants should they regain office after the upcoming general election, Marshall highlighted some of the work carried out by that party as it relates to public worker benefits while they were in power.
“We are the party that changed the Constitution of Barbados to forever prevent any government from again cutting public workers’ salaries. We are the party that did away with the concept and reality of casual workers in Barbados…We are the party that introduced flexibility allowances in the Royal Barbados Police Force and productivity bonuses across the public service,” Marshall stated.
He further pointed to the last piece of legislation brought to Parliament by the BLP government which served to guarantee appointments to public servants who were acting in positions in posts for more than three years, and asked what the NUPW has done to see it to it that these statutory guarantees are given life.
Urging the NUPW to end its “terror campaign” against the BLP, Marshall encouraged any public workers to report any efforts of the union’s leadership to strong arm the workers of Barbados into not supporting that party. (AN)
The DLP has squandered the privatisation advantage with Sinckler’s intervention BUT the BWU and the NUPW have entered the fray. Is this the game changer?
It is obvious the BLP has bungled its political strategy.
I am so happy that the Barbados Labour Party and their cohorts are showing their true colours before the elections.
It is open season on Government workers. If you are a public worker, a vote for the Barbados Labour Party is a vote for LOOSING YOUR JOB after they become the government. I am glad that you are NOT fooled Walter Maloney.
The choice is clear, VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY AND STOP The Barbados Labour Party’s “PARO POLITICS” IN ITS TRACKS.
Dont pay Sandra Husbands any mind, she has never won anything in her life.
The privatisation matter has become swamped in politics. Perhaps it was a mistake for leading political scientist and pollster Peter Wickham to be or have led the debate.
@ DAVID
I find it hard to believe you POST THIS CRASS….. stupess not worth a conkie….and to think you wud overlook some other post…..this is just not worthy of POST IT….garbage.full stop.
“By Sir Ronald Sanders
“Make no mistake about it. Our region is in the throes of the greatest crisis since independence. The spectre of evolving into failed societies is no longer a subject of imagination. How our societies crawl out of this vicious vortex of persistent low growth, crippling debt, huge fiscal deficits and high unemployment is the single most important question facing us at this time”. That is not an assessment of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to be taken lightly. It is an assessment by a Caribbean prime minister who has also had the advantage of serving as legal advisor to the CARICOM Secretariat.
Dr Kenny Anthony, the prime minister of St Lucia, delivered this appraisal to a meeting of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 31.”
This the man(Kenny Anthony) who recently told St. Lucians that the Stevenson King Government didnt know what it was doing.
“Better days coming” he told St. Lucians, now he has been hit with a dose of reality!
@ David
Has been a long time since I contributed to this forum. Lol. Yes game changers! The election predictions made and the forecast of the infamous Wickham poll are clearly now in question. The privatisation debate, fears of loss jobs in the public sector and that large percentage of uncertain voters have now put the expected 6% swing against the DLP in doubt.
Wickham is a guy I have some respect for as a political analyst but while moderating on VOB, when he said that the privatisation debate would not affect the swing factor. I think he dropped the ball. With so many uncertain voters and with this fear surrounding the issue of losing public sector jobs, I think, much like Dr. Don Marshall, that this coming election will be decided based on which party has the most convincing narrative. So David, BU was too quick to make election seat predictions cause it is not quite done and dusted yet. We need to see a Wickham poll just after the election date is announced.
@Oilman
Good to see you about but surely you know that BU picks reflect the current state of play and is subject to review. You are correct the privatisation matter has gone ‘viral’ and public services supported by the Unions will have a say. The matter has come out of th blue whether by accident or design.
@David
Well I would love to see BU’s new predictions after the election date is announced. I am getting the feeling that the DLP scare tactics are working. I enter casual conversations with people to get a sense of their views and I am sensing a definite unease with Owen’s proposals.
I don’t know if it has been stated here before but is it possible for you to find out and tell the forum what is the latest date on which Stuart can call the election? I know there is this 90 day period after the actual legally required date during which he has some flexibility. Could you or one of the forum members please give some details on what the constitution actually says on this issue?
I just want to make some casual points about this subject of privitization and the DLP;s response to ti. The Dems have used it before and they should tell us if there were jobs losses and reduced inefficency when it was used. You cannot create your own fear and expexct people to buy into it when you have privatiized before. The hacks of the DLP cannot convince anybody about the validity of the argument when they have done the some thing before. This is a society where everyone has a secondary education and the politicians cannot think for the public and the public will make up its own minds about this. When Chris said that he has to borrow %70 million to pay casual workers that sould signal an alarm among bajans and they must know that this cannot continue. the government admits that it will have to cut expenditure by 15% going forward. Where are these cuts to be made? Some politicians think that Bajans are foolish. I trust the common sense of Bajans on this one,
Of some note here is that the two BLP hacks having maybe seen and heard this from this posting have retracted into their BLP condoms for safe keeping they ain’t sticking their heads in this one as they two know just how sad this reflects on this woman a candidate of their choosing to inflict pain and suffering upon people because she sees every Port worker and Customs worker as thieves and crooks who are hellbent oj stealing from everyone’s containers as they transit thru the Port.
How sad and how stupid a woman is this woman?
A DUMB ASS
@ true to form
The hacks of the DLP cannot convince anybody about the validity of the argument when they have done the some thing before. This is a society where everyone has a secondary education and the politicians cannot think for the public and the public will make up its own minds about this.
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POINT WELL TAKEN…..though your submission also seems to fall prey to the dropping letter BUG..
DLP HAS NO ANSWERS…..only criticisms and name calling…they failed miserably…..ONE TERM BABES….ONE TERM…. in doubt…call it
Rational ole boy…
I say again……the thread is CRASS and not worthy of posting.
@ Oilman | November 16, 2012 at 8:19 AM |
Section 61 of the Constitution requires that this current sitting of Parliament shall be dissolved by February 12, 2013 according to the following subsection:
“(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament,
unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the
date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand
dissolved.”
This must be done unless the following prevails:
“(4) At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may
extend the period of five years specified in subsection (3) for
not more than twelve months at a time:
Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended
under this subsection for more than two years.”
Unless any condition that satisfies subsection (4) prevails (possible war with Jamaica over alleged rape of its women folk) the PM under section 62(1) must call elections within 90 days of that dissolution of Parliament mandated at section 61(3).
“62. (1) After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor-
General shall issue writs for a general election of members of
the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from
that dissolution.”
The First Session of the Parliament of 2008-2013 commenced on Tuesday, 12th February, 2008.
So the PM has 90 days after the 12 February 2013 to mess around and play “hiddy biddy shut your lap tight tight” with the people of Barbados.
@DAvid
“The privatisation matter has become swamped in politics. ”
And as such we’ve lost the main point. Privatisation or not is one of the methods to get us back on the road to economic stability and national development. Nothing else. The debate really should be wrapped in that context. What we’ve had over the past 2-3 weeks is partisan snipping, blatant yardfolowism fear mongering, innuendo and accusation…noen of which does anythign to lift the level of national debate.
I concur, Wickham should have stuck to the results of the poll and that’s that. Leave the debate to politicians, policy makers and economists so that the electorate can make their own choice.
What’s unbelievable is that NO ONE can dispute that
a) Public Sector Reform has moved like a turtle in a global hare race
b) Service and efficiency within SOME departments leaves alot to be desired and
c) How we do business MUST change if we will survive or at the very least meet the goals we have set.
d) Focus on expenditure, programmes and human resource development is CRITICAL
All the extra arguments amount to fluff and election “gimmickry” on both sides. Ironic that Chris’ statements haven’t been played out more.
Good job by the DLP of taking the “10,000 jobs” cow and the “we will always provide for you” goat and milking them for all their worth. The BLP has botched their messaging on this issue and allowed it to override ALL other messages.
Advantage in the argument – DLP
Just Observing
@Miller
Thanks a million for the details.
She is absolutely right. She’s telling the truth. Everytime I had to go down by the port I had to psych up myself. Now I does send and pay a broker. Cant deal with some of those down there
@Kevin
What Sandra is saying we all can agree but be assured it will be used as political fodder. It is the season.
Ten soul searching questions for the DLP.
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1. What has become of the Millions from the NIS Fund sunk in Four Seasons? Exactly how much was it and when can we see audited financial statements for 20102011?
2. The Millions so sunk in Four Seasons…now pushing up bush and vines….close to a half Billion by now right ….will the NIS ( we the pensioners) ever get to see a red cent ?
3. How can one justify the $600,000 on the Waterman Commission, that still has to be finally decided on by the PSC? Why the long wayward road when as Caswell advised the PSC was the way forward? Why can’t we hear the FINAL DECISION are all that spend?
4. How can one justify the $400,000 on a new Audi vehicle(lease agreement or not) in a time of recession by BTI for Chairman Rice? Now a Further $12Million on Port concrete tanks?
5.The $4 Million given to Goal Airlines by Minister Sealy what did Barbados receive in exchange ?
6. Justify the $275,000 spend on a trip to Rio de Janiero by Minister Lowe & a 11 manned entourage on a greening escapade and rising water woos …..flying first class of course.
7. Explain the logic of Min. Health , axing $30 Million from the public health system and the resulting incurring undue hardship on the elderly by taking off many needed drugs from the formulary, then spending $3 million on a QEH entrance face lift? The plaque too was it necsssary ?
8. The CLICO debacle continues, leaving many pensioners to suffer not being able to access their pensioned savings… Was there not to be relief coming to ease their plight ? This is 4 years making.
9. What about the Deloitte report, was it really stolen? Does Deloitte not make photocopies of all important reports ? Is it still missing if so borrow a copy.
10. Finally, explain the swapping 19.9 acres of government dump lands in exchange for 9.9 acres of River Bay picnic grounds, and not a document ever passing thru Parliament ?
real hard questions come the day of the bell…
Ac
Girl..your new found zest re ; Privatization was short lived…..DLP pass mistakes run too deep….wanna going going gone…. the sword stuck in too deep
Kevin
“She is absolutely right. She’s telling the truth.”
what truth?
She does not know what she is talking about.
All she, and THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF BARBADOS(BLP), is doing is vilifying the workers of Barbados in order to push a PARO POLITICS agenda.
In order to justify selling all state assets they have set out to Blaspheme all Government workers in Barbados which they will then use as an excuse for sending home more than 10000 public workers. But Bajans will not be fooled.
The joke woman in the Senate chandler, she is doing her bit from the senate floor to denegrate Public sector workers as well.
It is duck season in Barbados. THE DUCKS ARE THE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS.
However it is plain and simple , when you go to the polls dont vote BLP unless you want to loose your job!
THE DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY IS YOUR FRIEND!
This woman is just a joke.
She is more fun than Bud and Lou!
The 5 year mandate of parliament will finish on I believe around the 12 or 14 February 2013.This is so because the first sitting of the House of Assembly started around that time.
Prime Minister Stuart can delay calling the election as late as the middle of May 2013 or 3 months after the expiration of the present parliament life.
I was in a office in Bridgetown and while waiting on someone to serve me I heard a gentleman who made the point that he was on his lunch break to carry out this function he said to an attendant that he is a public sector worker who Senator Chandler and Sandra Husbands describe as lazy and one who does not give of a full days work, he said it is ones like himself that Arthur, Mottley and the BLP that they want to send home from work as part of their plan to PRIVATISE the Public Sector and send home he and 9,999 others loyal sons and daughters of this Barbadian soil..
It is wrong to say that all the persons who work in the port are thieves.
They are persons who work there who are upright citizens and some who are thieves.
Let’s now hear Mrs. Husbands speak about the business people who under invoice so as not to pay the correct taxes on imports. Is that not stealing?
Let her speak about the big business people who ask that particular custom officers be sent to them when containers are being unstuffed. These officers’ hands are greased because some of what is in those containers is not what is on the invoice. That is stealing Sandra too.
millertheanunnaki | November 16, 2012 at 9:32 AM |
@ Oilman | November 16, 2012 at 8:19 AM |
Section 61 of the Constitution requires that this current sitting of Parliament shall be dissolved by February 12, 2013 according to the following subsection:
“(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament,
unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the
date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand
dissolved.”
This must be done unless the following prevails:
“(4) At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may
extend the period of five years specified in subsection (3) for
not more than twelve months at a time:
Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended
under this subsection for more than two years.”
Unless any condition that satisfies subsection (4) prevails (possible war with Jamaica over alleged rape of its women folk) the PM under section 62(1) must call elections within 90 days of that dissolution of Parliament mandated at section 61(3).
“62. (1) After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor-
General shall issue writs for a general election of members of
the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from
that dissolution.”
The First Session of the Parliament of 2008-2013 commenced on Tuesday, 12th February, 2008.
So the PM has 90 days after the 12 February 2013 to mess around and play “hiddy biddy shut your lap tight tight” with the people of Barbados.
WELL DONE MILLER…..the sleuth …..exposing all
Went to the port years back the customs officer asked me for some of the things in my barrel from beer to cornflakes , then the guy that said he had to pack back my barrel stole my containers of coffee from nestle flavor coffees 3 of them to be exact saw when he took them out when he was pacing them in his car customer service at it worst when christmas comes around free for all.
loose your job ?
loose ??
LOL
———————————-
All the foolish talk about the DLP loves you is careless talk. The DLP is being set up for a fall. A government is not won or loss for that matter in a year or five years. The field is being set. The DLP better be careful how they deal with the issue of Privatization because it might very well come back to bite them in the tail.
I would prefer that people face reality and stop playing games. The point is made that entities such as the Transport Board are causing financial hemorrhage
to Carson
With the coming of the Revenue Board and the merging of the ear-marked Government Departments, how many Public Officers will the Democratic Labour Party send home ??
They will send home Seethru, Mia, Smiley, wuk fuh wuk, duguid, cinty, pain .
That is who they will send home.
What do you call a man who has been to Parliament for less than 20 hours in the first four years of paliament yet collected his huge salary?
Why doesnt Sandra talk about that?
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS BE VERY AFRAID!
@ Carson
‘Fraid like the period 1991-94?
@Carson
tell him yes, thats why public sector workers would not want owen as he plans to lay of 10 000 workers with their privitisation crap.
Carson C. Cadogan
The joke woman in the Senate chandler,
—————————————————-
Could not agree with you more. Its difficult to listen to Francis Chandler. Her hate for the public workers is pellucidly clear. If she had her way she would fire every civil servant. I’m told she was a civil servant herslf its hard to believe.
Chandler’s anti worker views find comfort in the bowels of the BLP joining her soul sister the boring ice maiden Sandra Husbands and soul brother in dislike of public servants Kerrie chris brown Symmonds.
Seems like the gutter politics from 2007 is set to return–fear, lies, innuendo and no substance. The last 4+ years is living proof of the vacuousness of that approach and the results. Proceed,
As for the privatisation debate, I believe there is greater support for involving private sector interests in some state agencies than imagined. The peekaboo game that was being played by the DLP has also been exposed and brings their credibility into question. Don’t forget they continue to reassure the electorate that all is well yet the stats tell another story.
Am.mmm….schooling….essential…Obama is how it spells Carson prorogue.
In 2008 Owen give the imprssion to barbadians that all was well and durin the 14 years barabdians were encouraged to live irrsponsibly and the govt did like wise, the kesinton oval, the coast guardd, the prison, the meony paid to cruise liners . that was disgraceful, the gems what a waste, the greenlands, among other things and to ass insult to injury the wastage of vat.
Barbadians have now recognized that it will not be business as usual, they will not bee fooled. Look how the americans rejected Romney pie in the sky.
Carson
spell how u feel like we know what u mean, and u mean what u say.
What do you call a man who has been to Parliament for less than 20 hours in the first four years of paliament yet collected his huge salary?
the 10,000 dollar answer “a scoundrel”
Ac
you mean me?
Another thing that Sandra should talk about is the vote rigging by the BLP in Rawle’s constituency which he spoke about.
The Port is a scandal which needs sorting out. If the port charges in Barbados are not the highest in the Caribbean, they must be close. That impacts on everything we buy which is imported – so a lot. You and I pay for those inefficiencies.
Everyone knows how bad it is bringing anything through the port and how long it takes but no-one seems to be willing to do anything about it.
The port is inefficient. Do we leave it or do something about it? I say deal with it.
The job of Government should not be to employ people who are not needed. Government should be an enabler and let private enterprise run businesses (like the Port). Government’s role should be to act a social safety-net for those out of work.
Get the Port into private hands; as part of the privatisation set a plan for reducing the port charges; when it is profitable and paying taxes, use those taxes to pay support money to those who are out of work and were never really needed.
@ St. George Dragon
The job of Government should not be to employ people who are not needed. Government should be an enabler and let private enterprise run
businesses (like the Port). Government’s role should be to act a social safety-net for those out of work.Get the Port into private hands; as part of the privatisation set a plan for reducing the port charges; when it is profitable and paying taxes, use those taxes to pay support money to those who are out of work and were never really needed.
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NOW THIS IS THE MOST SENSIBLE THING SAID ON THIS BLOG…….go to the top of the class. Touche’ St. George…..
With your permission St.George Dragon….I would like to submit this as a possible thread….( ur reply)
Carson C. Cadogan | November 16, 2012 at 8:15 PM |
Another thing that Sandra should talk about is the vote rigging by the BLP in Rawle’s constituency which he spoke about.
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what about the vote rigging of Tan Abed?
i think we all can say Bajans are not stupid. History has shown that only one party in barbados has ever send home people.
history has also shown us that they was one party that create over 30000 jobs.
CCC and company can spin all they like. the truth shall set them free.
st george yuh mean that after the govt sell the port it should take the money if any left because the debt that the govt has gonna be more than the sale of the port anyway take the money and support the hundres that lost the job. so then in what way have the govt profited. you guys have a simple way of looking at things but in the world of private corporations the bottom line is the dollar .right now private corporations world wide catching hell and looking fuh safetynets from govt sometimes it amazes me how people only see one side of the coin .another question so what happen if the port under privatisation does not become profitable
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