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Bjerkham and Maloney Combo Does Again!

The players in the Arts community had hoped the government approved its request to restore the Empire ruins. The group which did a lot of work hoping to win the favour of Minister Stephen Lashley’s is BEAT Foundation headed by Jim McGowan.  Sorry Jim but we told you so! Barbados Today has reported that a…

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BEAT Foundations loses to Beer proposal
BEAT Foundations loses to Beer proposal

The players in the Arts community had hoped the government approved its request to restore the Empire ruins. The group which did a lot of work hoping to win the favour of Minister Stephen Lashley’s is BEAT Foundation headed by Jim McGowan.  Sorry Jim but we told you so!

Barbados Today has reported that a competing bid by a group of local investors which includes Mark Maloney of Prenonco Limited got Cabinet’s approval.  Yet another major project in Barbados given to Preconco or its connections by the government. This is after the crossover in the Pine and the $12 million or is it $40 million plus molasses tanks in the Bridgetown Port…and the multimillion dollar housing project at Coverly. Yes we agree the Coverly housing project is on life support but given the sweet heart PPP arrangement how at risk is Bjerkham and Preconco?

The question we must ask the government: why is Bjerkham getting a significant chunk of the major projects?

79 responses to “Bjerkham and Maloney Combo Does Again!”

  1. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    Simple Mathematics ;

    Cost of Electricity from L&P = X
    Cost of Electricity from Sun/Wind = free + investment (Y)
    Y – X = Savings

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @Horatio Nelson

    Again your position is simplistic. If the vast majority of people are not motivated to save 100 or two hundred dollars per month compared to the significant capital cost. Also you have not factored that government entities like the QEH, Airport, BWA etc are responsible for 60%+ for fossil energy usage.

  3. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    @ David

    Using your analysis “if people can afford to buy systems” costing 25K and because free electricity is now seen as a need. Its really that simple. You are over analyzing a very simple equation.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Horatio Nelson

    Let us agree there is over analysis, why no significant take up?

  5. Observing(...) Avatar
    Observing(…)

    @horatio
    The question is, how many people are able/prepared to make the investment without guidance, legislation or education?

    If RE is the mutually beneficial policy to get us out of the doldrums as a country then government (whoever) must be the leaders in all ways.

    Just Observing

  6. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    The average home owner, both in the countries with the largest middle classes and strongest economies can’t yet afford the investment, and because people the world over may not for the most part afford any investments. Without the facts it is hard to support on this a bank holiday, but it seems a likely conclusion that solar water heater new sales are not what they were 5 years ago, for that matter it seems that MILK sales are not what they were….. maybe we can if only for a split moment to appreciate that the “take up” records are tied to peoples ability to ” take up” and which may be tied to the level of disposable income.

  7. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Horatio Nelson | January 21, 2013 at 10:44 AM |

    Pardon the simple miller if he simplistically over-analyze the RE scenario.
    But could you explain to us on BU how these magnificent earthmoving RE policies and programmes geared towards the substitution of fossil fuel generated electricity with that of solar and wind will benefit or assist those many households living in government’s rental units like Valerie, Eden Lodge, Country Towers, Ferniehurst or Gall Hill? What about those living in privately rented houses and responsible for the electricity bills?

    Please comment on how we are going to involve or incorporate this significant sector of households into the RE transformation movement.

  8. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    Sir if I can, ask you to answer your question by referencing how they benefitted from solar water heating. Its the same approach, why do we want to reinvent the wheel ? The power is FREE … kind of like the beach is free … just cost to get there. Forgive the simpistic approach but sometimes over analysis is worst than any poor simplistic approach.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting observation by a caller to the talk show today. The new BWA headquarters is currently being built and neglected in its design to accommodate alternative energy use. Therein we see the problem. A revolution needs a leader!

  10. Fiddler on Roof Avatar
    Fiddler on Roof

    David

    Who designed the new BWA headquarters?

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Fidler

    Do you mean who design or approve?

  12. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Horatio Nelson | January 21, 2013 at 1:46 PM |
    The power is FREE … kind of like the beach is free … just cost to get there.

    The real Horatio Nelson, despite what is falsely peddled in local circles among the chattering class against him, was a man of his people both on land and definitely at sea.
    We would therefore wish for you to at least live up to this image even if only in the simple task of using your commonsense.

    Yes, the ‘Power’ like the ‘beach’ is Free. That’s a given. But what is not a given is ‘ACCESS’.
    Could you please -for the enlightenment of BU and the benefit of those “deprived” householders- explain how people living on the third floor of Valerie Penthouses or on BLOCK D of the Eden Lodge rented units with individual household incomes under $30,000 p/a can have access, both technically and financially, to the facility that would allow them to install solar panels on their roofs or wind turbines in their back yards?

  13. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    The problem with alternative energy solutions for Barbados is a total and complete lack of leadership.
    The solution is not intuitive, but some things are VERY CLEAR and with a little thought, good solutions are possible.
    The problem is ….who will approve these “solutions”?

    Will the Canadians who own BL&P be motivated to find solutions that benefit BARBADOS? Or will they be more inclined to maximize their bottom line?
    Will Canadian banks be inclined to take such risks?
    Will the Trini owned businesses be inclined to make investments in strategies that will help Barbadians to reduce fuel import bills? Or will they be only interested in short term bottom line numbers?

    OBVIOUSLY, foreign entities are not highly motivated by what are really government challenges, except that in the longer term, poorer Bajans may not be able to buy their products.

    When you sell your cows, (or in our case, your Dairy), you lose control of the quality of the milk.

    The REAL solution for alternative energy in Barbados is for the Utility and the transport sectors to undergo massive shifts away from fossil fuels towards renewables.
    There should be an immediate BAN on all but electric vehicles.
    A duty CREDIT of 25% should be provided for the first 1000 electric vehicles imported

    Individual solar installations are impractical, confusing and ultimately unsustainable. The electric utility should convert its supply to renewables with very aggressive targets set.

    @ Miller
    One way that everyone could benefit from such an approach would be for a green investment tax on all electricity users, to be used to fund the conversion to renewables. As the renewables come on stream, dividends can be paid to those investors based on the fuel costs avoided by converting to alternative fuels.

    All of these various challenges are really only opportunities to assess the quality of our leadership, wisdom and resourcefulness.
    ….but we continue to fail miserably in every area….

  14. Additional Services Avatar
    Additional Services

    David

    didnt the bwa have and architect who designed the headquarters to their specifications? i would have thought that bwa would have designed the building they wanted, with or without alternative energy features incorporated.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @Additional Services

    You are correct of course. This is the point being made; are we serious if government has the major user of fossil energy continues to add to the problem?

  16. Additional Services Avatar
    Additional Services

    it is rumoured that the headquaters has a geo-thermal component and a turbine windmill is to be installed to the rear of the site to power the external lights.

  17. David Avatar
    David

    It should not be a rumour, we should know, it is the people’s business.

  18. Additional Services Avatar
    Additional Services

    I agree as well. Can you investigate and report back to the BU your findings?

  19. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Additional Services | January 22, 2013 at 12:25 PM |
    ” it is rumoured that the headquarters has a geo-thermal component…”

    Geo-thermal energy in Barbados a complete coral limestone geo-physical structure? What a surprise! Then Barbados’ electricity generation needs can be fully met from renewable sources.
    Do you know of any other place in Bim where volcanic activity is taking place and geo-thermal energy sources exist as is found in Nevis and St. Lucia?

  20. Fiddler on Roof Avatar
    Fiddler on Roof

    Miller

    The architects have included geo-thermal air conditioned by using deep bore holes for cooling the air which is pumped into the building.
    The first bore hole is 1,800 foot deep.

  21. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Fiddler on Roof | January 22, 2013 at 4:05 PM |

    Is that bore hole technique the Bajan equivalent of “Fracking”? These smart engineering alecks should bear in mind that Barbados is a very young and fragile island geologically speaking. This deep penetrative deflowering of its innocent geophysical virginity through our brand of ‘f(u)(r)acking’ could have tectonic repercussions leading to tremors of orgasmic proportions, something rarely felt by the local population in their lifetime.

    What else can be recovered from down there? Natural gas or the BWA in-house brand of ‘salted’ spring water? Can the water be used for any industrial use or otherwise?

    Come to think about it, the BWA HQ should have been sited somewhere in the St. George valley or the CH CH fertile plain where the bore holes might be more productive with their fecundity manifested by larger oil and gas finds instead of depending on offshore where hit or miss is the name of the game when drilling for oil- hydrocarbon or otherwise.

  22. Fiddler on Roof Avatar
    Fiddler on Roof

    Miller

    You need to get back on your meds man, you clearly in need of some chemical balancing.

  23. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Fiddler on Roof | January 22, 2013 at 4:59 PM |

    Well if you are so sure of your fiddling under the ground instead of on the roof like a solar panel then openly reject the miller’s contention and stop referring to releasing chemicals or their imbalance which is one of the side effects of borehole drilling bringing long buried dangerous chemicals to the surface.

    BTW, if what you are saying is really going on underground at the BWA site why all the secrecy; why not level with the people and tell us clearly what’s up?
    Why not solar panels as being pushed by this government? Why deep hole drilling?
    We await you reply without the ad hominems, if that is possible.

  24. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    The Villages in Coverley is not so bad after all.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2266377/Would-want-live-housing-estate-like-New-Chinese-villas-look-like-concrete-slums.html

  25. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    Anyone know if the villages houses have any alternative energy solutions ?

  26. Horatio Nelson Avatar
    Horatio Nelson

    @ Miller

    I have read your questions and comments, I reiterate that RE solutions are a need and as take up increases the cost will come down. Its really does not need over analyzing my friend. Patience.

  27. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Horatio Nelson | January 22, 2013 at 8:46 PM |

    We have also reread your comments and still at a loss to figure out how the majority of economically disadvantaged Bajans would be benefitting from RE installations other than through the country saving forex on fuel oil imports for electricity generation.
    Tell the many small income earning Bajans currently reeling from the financial burden of the electricity bill to be patient. While the RE grass is growing in the desert for them the desert horse is starving.

    This sector of the society is in need of immediate relief of some of the “artificial” burden imposed on their basic electricity energy needs. If they can’t be helped via the RE economies of scale cost reduction long-term model why not consider an alternative but not mutually exclusive model that can operate along with the RE long-term fossil fuel replacement solution.

    For instance, why not seek to remove all fiscal impositions on a minimum quantity of kWh deemed to be basic for the electricity needs of the ‘average’ household user; say the first 100-150 kWh with an energy conservation objective also in mind. The government through its commercial entity BNOC can also consider reviewing the actual cost of production, processing, shipping and storage and distribution of that portion of fuel oil sourced from local oil production. Should poor Bajans be paying world market prices for their own home grown crude? Again the price setting for the local component of the fuel oil comprising the FCA should take into consideration the basic needs of poor Bajans and their responsibility to conserve energy.

    Any loss in revenues to the government or profit to the BNOC can be made good through a ‘cross sector’ excise tax and an ‘ability-to-pay’ charge on the other fossil fuel imports like gasoline and diesel used in the many luxury and SUV vehicles on the roads. As it stands now Bajan motor cars (privately owned- some cases 2 and 3 at the same household) can bear another fixed imposition to help offset the cost of basic need household electricity especially aimed at those who are unable to make the individual switch to RE either now or in the longer term either because of financial circumstances or domestic physical infrastructural constraints and configuration. Which landlord would be willing to install RE infrastructure on rental units where the tenants are directly responsible for their own electricity consumption? How can Ms Jane Blogger living on the second floor in Apt. No 36 switch to RE at the Valerie Ovens housing development aka the SS (Sealy & Stuart) burning erections?

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    indian brides brides

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  29. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Loopnews – Barbados
    For 2021, The Barbados Lottery has paid over $31 million to the many lucky Double Draw winners. Starting from $1 per ticket with 4 draws per day, you can win up to $25,000 with the Double Draw game

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