Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

Snakes and Ladders in Public Administration: Putting Barbados in a State of Economic Viability

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

George C. Brathwaite, founder and interim president of BAJE
George C. Brathwaite, founder and interim president of BAJE

There can be much to be derived out of the sober utterances that are spilled by a man not seemingly daunted by drowsiness or other lethargic effects of prolonged sleep. This article takes as its starting point the simplicity of the game – snakes and ladders – an Indian inspired, all-time favourite of many pre-adolescent children. The minimalism of snakes and ladders stems from its lack of any meaningful skill component in the execution of the game or in the attainment of the victor’s crown.

Notwithstanding, snakes and ladders was conceptualised with a deeper, moral, and sensitising agenda. Inherently, the choices of good and bad are included to signify the dialectical transformations emerging out of the contexts of values versus vices. There is the dynamism that links with performances to produce upward mobility in contrast to downward or backward falling. The aggregate difficulties (i.e. snakes) to be encountered are significantly more than the available opportunities (i.e. ladders) for climbing. It is by a mixture of self-determination and fortune in relation to similar circumstances facing at least one other participant/competitor that the outcome is manifested but never assured.

Read full article

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

164 responses to “Snakes and Ladders in Public Administration: Putting Barbados in a State of Economic Viability”

  1. Caution Speaker Avatar
    Caution Speaker

    we’ll see who is right in the end. the people are going to turn to OSA but he will not answer the call until he is installed as the real Leader. Listen carefully and call your friends.

  2. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Okay Dr. Michael Howard, how can you contribute to the solution … by example of course, as opposed to advice.

  3. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Caution Speaker | July 1, 2013 at 1:03 PM |

    The BLP is the least concern or challenge to this moribund administration.
    The muses at work here are not to bring comfort and praise to this administration but to exact from them the cost of revenge and retribution for lying to and deceiving the people.
    When the trust of the people is betrayed a government’s right to rule becomes exceedingly questionable and confidence- both business and moral- quickly dissipates.

    Given the amount of pain and misery you will soon be inflicting on these people especially the poor and on those who have to access services currently provided by the government against a double whammy of a backdrop of a real possibility of a devaluation there is clearly only one possible outcome in any future general election: Rejection and ejection of the DLP from office.

    Even if the BLP elects an ass for a donkey as its leader or some other party comes on the scene the DLP will be sent to the political dustbin of oblivion unless they intend to breach the Constitution and by force remain in office to rule over the natives in what would have become a stinking backwater banana republic where the poor would have to eat one another to survive since no tourists, investor or food suppliers would come as close as 1,000 miles to visit or transact business with, not even with a financial barge pole.

    The people for the time being have dealt with the BLP. The DLP administration must deal with the problems facing the people or they the people will deal with the DLP too.

    You can lump it and let it spread like a cancer to devour you!

  4. Caution Speaker Avatar
    Caution Speaker

    miller
    you are man of very many words. Too many for me but her is a question and in the answer you might find a moment to shine. what are the first 5 things, in order of priority, prime minister stuart and the dlp do now?

  5. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    miller,
    Don’t answer…………they came to power in 2008 and had ALL the answers to whatever ailed Barbados. We now know they had none, no solutions, no focus and their sole intention was to feast on the fatted calf.

    I am a very sad person today! Our country has been taken down the river and over the fiscal cliff!

  6. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Brian Francis offered advice, Stinkliar and Inniss cuss the poor man because he is not Bajan. Yet they have a non Bajan in charge of our NIS so that he has to do what Stinkliar tells him to do.

    Tennyson Joseph offered advice, they cuss him, he aint Bajan, why he don’t go back to where he come from.

    Dr Howard offered advice, they ignored him. He’s Bajan so they could not cuss him.

    Ryan Straughn has been giving advice for the longest while, they call him…doom and gloom.

    The head of ICAB…..Mr Brathwaithe offered advice, they ignore him.

    The pig headed Dems are know it alls. They put us in this mess, let them deal with it. The days of free advice are gone………they will now listen to the IMF.

    You cannot offered these wild boys any advice or criticise them….Stinkliar called Caswell a street character lately. He will soon be brought so low that he would not be able to insult his opponents!

  7. Caution Speaker Avatar
    Caution Speaker

    Prodigal Son
    I was not addressing you. Let the man speak for himself, you afraid by what he going to say?
    Why you dont go with Onions and find out about the pow wow meeting held in St. Lucia over the weekend to discuss the future leadership of the BLP and the return of OSA?

  8. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Caution Speaker | July 1, 2013 at 2:03 PM |

    The miller has no magical powers even to shine on the dark side of the moon.
    However, after taking the medication via the right orifice as prescribed by the enlightened Bushman here is a piece of advice from an old-timer who has seen many a drunk recover from his ordeals and binges of ballistic stupor.

    The first thing Mr. Molasses and his band of ‘brigands’ have to do is to adopt some of the steps recommended by the AA (not automobiles but DUI’s) to be followed by an alcoholic who wishes to heal himself and decides to go on the road of recovery.

    Once they have confessed they have a problem that is much bigger than they can handle and stop blaming others for their current state then they can advance bit by bit on the road to recovery. This confession must be unconditional and not loaded with excuses and scapegoat tactics.

    Once they have taken ownership of the problem(s) they can, without arrogance, ask those who can help for guidance and assistance along the way.

    Once these initial steps are taken the burden along the road would be a shared burden each according to his social weight and financial ability to carry.

    Let the DLP tell the people true state of economy including the amount of forex available.
    Let the DLP tell the people where they intend to cut the $400 million that they have accepted must be cut. They are the managers and know where and how the money is spent. Not John Public the householder; Not the Private sector managing director answerable to a Board or shareholders.

    Just remember, my cautious friend, the longer the delay the harsher would be the pain as terminal cirrhosis sets in and eats away at the fiscal liver of the body politic.

  9. lol10 Avatar
    lol10

    Prediction:

    Sinckler will be ousted,This will be Sinckler’s last budget. Donville “porno” Inniss becomes MOF. When all else fails, sex sells!

    I know many Bajans beating themselves for voting for this inept set of misfits calling themselves Ministers. Sinckler aka “bald pooch cat” and arrogant Donville are a waste of time.

  10. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    What $400m what!!! The deficit is projected to be $1.2b, cutting $400m is back to the pre-2013-14 deficit. We can’t afford a $600m deficit. Unless my arithmetic bad. Wey the economists?

  11. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ Enuff

    The plan is to cut it in 3 installments..3 x $400…..$1.2b…..

    whaloss !

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Enuff

    Isn’t the deficit reduction meant to be phased?

  13. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    Here is a reproduction of a broadside of lies and deceit fired from the DLP quiver of propaganda and aimed at people who dare stood up for the truth and common sense:

    From: Fractured BLP | February 8, 2013 at 2:30 PM |
    To: Miller and Onions

    “….after months of bellyaching about ” call de elections ” the best the BLP can offer the electorate is a CAKE SALE plan ?
    Sell CBC !
    Sell TRANSPORT BOARD !
    Sell SSA !
    Sell NHC !
    Sell Mia Mottley ….to the DEMS !
    Barbados deserves….BETTER
    NOT….BITTER !!”

    We now know who will be the ‘biggest and bitterest’ salesman on the 5&10 block!

    This is not going to a Cake Sale but a Fire Sale in a few months if a dent is to be made in that $400 million empty money bucket!

    Sorry Fractured BLP & CO including ac but a government that is broke has no choice but to offload its burden. Ask the GS of the NUPW!

    “The man who has won millions at the cost of his conscience is a failure.”~B.C. Forbes

    “A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.”~Doug Larson

  14. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    ….a sweet bred and RED J-uc sale……..small dollar wine den….Some people like to extend things to the last day when they under stress, instead of using they lil leverage….common sense aint that common…..nor need $$$$

  15. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    I join Prodigal,Miller et aux and say:Wunna Dems have a majority of 2.Govern the country.Wunna got de answers.Do de math.Nobody gine inves’ in buhbaydus while the dlp is the guvament ‘o bim.Wunna deceitful,lying,
    parasites=DLP.Stop asking others what they would do!It’s too late for you.

  16. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    David
    Why did Bjerkhamn fire Philip Tempro from JADA?

  17. Bag Juice Avatar
    Bag Juice

    You all heard Dennis Clarke on VOB 5:30 news? talking SHIT……..E as usual about a meeting on Friday with the executive council of the union. Today is Monday and people have to wait until Friday before a meeting can be convened? Dennis Clarke, the foolish members of the NUPW know that you and this government wrap up tie up in each other. You barely sallow-boxing. The lay offs coming. Those persons could have at least a couple hundred dollars better off if they had stopped payment to you union. You all sell the workers. UNITY WORKERS UNION is the way to go. Caswell defend workers fairly

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting to listen to Donville on Sunday when he indicated that a study was commissioned by government and submitted to rationalize government agencies i.e.merge etc. This has to result in job losses pure and simple. To be fair the MoF indicated this was in the works before and during the election campaign.

  19. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Commissioned .. Useful word. Now you see how academics ply their trade.

    … David, cuss me … give a shit

  20. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David | July 1, 2013 at 6:08 PM |

    Which agencies is he referring to? Does he mean those exiting revenue collection agencies to be “subsumed” under the long in the works Central Revenue Authority (CRA)?
    Or is he referring to agencies in addition those revenue collection agencies?

    Do you really trust this guy when he can propose such widespread corporate and departmental rationalization and still keep the existing complement of staff?
    So we would have 4 CEO’s or Department Heads for just one new agency?
    Utter madness and intellectual dishonesty if not a downright liar!

    We await G S Clarke explanation of what he meant by the three statutory bodies that serve no function or valuable purpose and should be eliminated.

  21. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    millertheanunnaki

    You are partisan … admit it. Only then will I take you seriously … or not

  22. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ BAFBFP | July 1, 2013 at 6:39 PM

    The miller is as partisan as the PM is a man of action and of the highest integrity.

    “The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.”

  23. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Not …! 🙂

  24. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    One can always tell when trouble brewing in the DLP camp ….Ac and Carson goes quiet….Since GOC let go his hand on DEM… and inform of the $400 Mil immediately needed to be addressed…..all HELL BREAKIN LOOSE….Denis Clarke is first out wid the privatization card…. notice how ee introducing it softly so the lil ole lady pensioner don’t drop dead….People on Brass tacks today want to know how things said to be STABLE could go down hill so fast since February….4 months….
    ….Fool me once, shame on you….

  25. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    old onion bags

    You are partisan … admit it. Only then will I take you seriously … or not

  26. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ BAF
    What ails you lad?

    So what else is new mr. lodge boi Baffy?….Is better to be honest than be called a liar and a bald pooch cat…Do you agree?

  27. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @ Old Onions and David
    Thanks, but I am still lost and my hair aint blond.

  28. David Avatar
    David

    There is a lot that is not coherent at the moment. Guess we will just have to wait. So far have not been able to read the strategy document.

  29. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    I am beginning to believe Ryan Straughn that this government is not serious and as David Commissong said the consultation was a side show. Has there been any action since Thursday.

    These people for real????…….Maxine McClean in Trinidad, Richard Sealy in St Kitts, the PM is due to head of this week and believe it or not the picsqueak minister is jetting off to India. These people just dont care, they intend to bleed the treasury dry.

    I would like to know if Fruendel Stuart only find out before Thursday from the Governor of the Central Bank that the country is on the skids heading for the cliff, is he so dumb? Is it true that the PM does not always attend cabinet meetings? Was Stinkliar hiding all the real info from the PM?

    Just asking!!!! By the way, David what has become of “Observing (….)? Hope all’s well with him!

  30. David Avatar
    David

    @Prodigal

    Observing (…) appears to be in shock at the recent election result 🙂

  31. DLP (formerly CBC) TV Avatar
    DLP (formerly CBC) TV

    The DLP yard fowls must be hard at work trying hard how to spin a $400m problem in a positive light but drawing blanks. DEM trying to figure how such a “spectacular” plan like the MTFS could have failed so miserably. The DEMs that were drunk on the election victory starting to feel the effects of a serious hangover man .
    I got a serious question to ask the DEMS though. How can you seek to maintain a bloated public sector that is also inefficient in an economic crisis? And now looking for solutions to a $400m problem, is not going to address public sector staffing as it is? To try to bypass this, is lunacy of the highest order. Also borrowing to continue pay the public sector as it is, has to be lunacy squared. No political party wants to send home workers but they should have thought of that 3 YRS AGO!!! The ecomomic problem is running away from the DEMS control!!!. Asinine comments about not sending home workers is actually worsening the economic problem as it is!!!

  32. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David | July 1, 2013 at 8:21 PM |

    What about “Observer” the academic who tends to put a good spin on everything this beleaguered administration does. But he is admired for his decent loyalty and respected for his informed intellectual contributions.

    However, one wonders what he has to say regarding the need to trim $400 million by the end of the current financial year. He is a guy full of ideas and quite knowledge with a panoramic view of economic issues even if looking through slightly tainted yellow goggles as the miller sometimes does in his bright red for MAM rose tinted frames.

    After all when a man of sound intellect can go about convincing others that carrying a designer label marked “Junk Bond”- equivalent to a positive HIV status in the international financial markets with no Chinese sought after natural resources to back you up- is nothing to worry about and might even attract more investors promiscuous with their monies what else can he say about finding $400 million in cuts other than with a magic wand.

    Come on Observer comment on the current situation announced by your friendly cousin the PM last Thursday. Do you think such a neat trick of financial sleight of hand can be performed without terminating the services of some employees?

  33. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    The election of the DLP IN 2008 and 2013 demonstrate how stupid some Bajans have become,

    Solution : I need two MPs from the DLP to show some gumption and save Barbados,
    Here is the plan–

    Two DLP -MPs will not show up for an important debate. Government loses the vote–Fresh Elections called –Change in Government
    BLP to the rescue
    The economic giants-Mascoll/Arthur save Barbados
    The BLP always saves Barbados
    BARBADOS NEEDS OWEN ARTHUR NOW MORE THAN EVER-

  34. ac Avatar
    ac

    man wunna bLP yardfowls giving me some much ammunition for 2018 . I am just sitting back and rubbing my hands in glee . Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

  35. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac | July 1, 2013 at 11:07 PM |

    What’s your plan? To kick out the IMF in 2018? Once you end up in the arms of these bloodsuckers and international loan sharks they rarely let you off the hook.

    If we were you, ac, we would lower that time horizon to 2014-2015 or thereabouts.
    Can’t you feel how time is really speeding up behind of us?
    After all, it was just February when everything in Bim was fairly rosy despite the few thorns and thistles here and there. So cocky self-assured was the DLP that they had no moral compunction in offering iron clad assurances that there will be no layoffs, no privatization and university education will always be free even if EWB comes back from his watery grave and pour cold water on his hot-headed experiment.

    Now in less than 4 months with much of it spent on leave from Parliament things have taken a turn for the worse as to have the current situation referred to as a Crisis of Emergency proportions with the forex tank leaking badly and the country soon running out of vital economic petrol.

    Ac, do you realise that even though your boss admitted to the crisis and has issued a dire warning, you have not even been so gracious as to offer at least one idea or proposal to throw into the pot of solutions?

    Is it that you are selfish or do you really lack the intellectual capacity to even think sensibly?
    Remember you staunch argument for a WTE plant based on burning everything dumped under the Sun?
    Can’t you come up with at least a teeny-weeny little bikini skimpy size proposal to help out Fumble from turning all grey and facially bloated from stress and save the Stinkliar sorry ass from total humiliation and eradication?

  36. Observing(...) Avatar
    Observing(…)

    @prodigal and all
    Nice to know I’m in thoughts!
    I’ve reverted to the essence of my nom de plume fully (for now).

    BT always said we get the guvment we deserve so I’m quietly observing with bated breath the “real” impact of the results of February 21 and the subsequent reaction of the populace when that time comes.

    There are MANY unanswered questions from that day and even more since then. The upcoming Budget should be interesting to say the least. Have a read of John Boyce on page 3 in Monday’s paper.

    @david
    My eternal question about us still leaking forex while in the holding pattern now comes to the fore in a big way.

    Btw, has Dr. David Estwick ever publicly defended or supported the current economic strategy? Food for thought.

    The tide’s coming in. Get your life jackets ready.

    “You can delay, but time does not” – Benjamin Franklin

    Just Observing

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @Observing (…)

    Not sure why you have decided to curtail your comments but it is time like now we need robust commentary from sensible Barbadians.

  38. Observing(...) Avatar
    Observing(…)

    @David
    not curtailing so to speak. Just observing the “will of the people” in action for a bit and putting my personal house in order before I “juk in muh mout.”

    Leadership, politics, economy, governance, education etc. are all related. We shall soon see which direction Barbados will be heading in the years to come.

    In any case though…

    Just Observing

  39. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    Observing
    I don’t think Dr E supports any part of the current or past economic strategy of the DLP.

  40. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting to listen to Peter Wickham attributing credit to Sinckler and Inniss for carrying the DLP platform message in the last campaign on the talk show yesterday. BU maybe wrong BUT we got the clear impression that Estwick was the trump card on the platform night in night out. PW seem very reluctant to mention Estwick and did so only after he mentioned the other two.

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

    Dr. David Estwick
    – Heroes Square, 2008
    – Haggat Hall, 2008
    – West Terrace, 2013

    No one (on the government side) has been more consistent on economic matters, the reasons for the problems and the prescription for the way forward than he has been.

    As Dummy mentioned and I asked….has he ever publicly supported the DLP’s financial and economic strategy since 2009-2010?

    When last anybody heard star boy Michael Lashley? When last anybody see Kellman “rollling out” a housing project? Wait, has Todd uttered a word since last election? Have any of the new “social saviours” called the Constituency Councils ever laid a report as mandated by law? Will we ever see the NIS audited financials? Will our domestic debt be our achilles heel? Will we just keep borrowing and borrowing without a clue about the impact of the payback? Will renewable energy ever get its full day in the sun?

    Too many questions, can’t ask or answer all. The voice of the people have spoken. Now to hear the choir of the government sing.

    Just Observing

  42. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    BTW
    Did I hear Lashley wid entourage (of course) now en route to China….discussing a film festival and somebody else in first class off to Timbuxtu…. Was it not Donville just come back from…..Wait I hearin right? These peoples fa real?…….TALK BOUT SPENDING aint got no limitations…$400Mil CUTS…..is a bare laugh….

  43. LIKE IT OR LUMP IT Avatar
    LIKE IT OR LUMP IT

    A bunch of misfits who are only interested in themselves. That is why the people down Deacons have to gather under the tree and just accept money and Ipads for votes.

    Next election will be worst. They will gather is specific houses.

    DLP has failed Barbados AGAIN.

  44. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ The Dummy @ Dumo | July 2, 2013 at 7:57 AM |

    Are you implying that Dr. E is more prone to the OSA/Mascoll school of economics? After all he was tutored in the art of economics ‘bullshittery’ by the same Mascoll.

    Barbados economy given its historical foundation and modern social factors acting of agents of change like education and demographics (movement from villages to fancy ghettoes called Heights, Terraces and Gardens)- is fashioned primarily to be dependant of the provision of services to both local and overseas markets.
    The main power supply to this economic arrangement is the importation of both goods and services channeled through layers of distribution outlets providing opportunities to the 10% and in some cases 100% commission rip-off agents to rake off their share of the fat without adding real value to the chain.

    As a result of this economic configuration the only mandate for Bim’s survival is to earn forex at all cost and this objective can only be achieved by selling itself to the highest (and in some cases any) bidder either in the form of tourism, as an international business centre or the professional and technical skills that should be available in the general population after the billions invested in educating its population.

    Some form of agriculture is necessary for the local ecology and provides for a mix of economic activity not only as a source of food to save forex (every forex dollar saved is one gained to finance our extravagant lifestyle like importing German made Mercedes Benz to drive on makeover donkey cart roads). But to promote this as a major engine of growth and modern economic development is to be disingenuous and living in a 19th century Barbados.

    Dr. Estwick knows this and is talking crap for pure political expediency about agriculture being a major foreign exchange earner and a generator of significant economic activity and growth employing many young people.

    If he were serious about agriculture he would not allow the only industry in that sector of economic activity that earned or had the potential to earn significant forex to die under his watch. King Sugar is dead and let him say that is a big lie.

    How can we have a viable sugar cane industry when most of the productive lands are embedded in the CLICO fiasco now safely buried in the legal morgue called the Barbados judicial system?

  45. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    AC writes of 2018,while high up,bigtime DLP legal beagles confidentially speak of elections within 18 months.I got it from the mouth of a DLP horse who lost 1n ’94.
    Nero fiddled while Rome burned.The insipid and insidious banker of note plays with his toy cars while Buhbaydus is on its last breath.

  46. David Avatar
    David

    Why is the government sending economic neophytes to the talk show? And to engage Ryan Straughn to boot. How can we cut expenditure when we continue to borrow from NIS? Consumption never dropped!

  47. Yagga Rowe Avatar
    Yagga Rowe

    Why is the government sending economic neophytes to the talk show?

    that’s all they have
    yaaaaaaaaagggaa
    thats why the country sick
    country aint well
    plastic bag is a fraud
    stephen off to china
    per-diems tawking loud
    lisa gale
    yaaaaaaaaaaaagga

  48. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    David

    Peter Wickham is playing politics when he makes claims that Inniss and Sinckler carried the message on the political platforms in 2013. Neither of those gentlemen closed out a major political platform during the last election, its was either Estwick or Stuart.

    The night before the elections in Heroes Square Estwick spoke just before the PM came and closed the show, so don’t mind Wickham and his nonsense. We all still waiting on 20 – 10 BLP victory Wickham was ‘paid’ to predict days before Election Day 2013.

    The real tragedy is that Inniss like Sinckler (eager 11 in 2011) is now believing the BLP mischief makers who (with the help of the Nation News) are promoting him to be challenger of PM Stuart. He will meet the same fate as Sinckler, maybe worst.

    Dr Estwick is steadily making head ways in the Stuart administration and they are a lot of people, inside and outside of the DLP who are taking notice and are none the happy about it.

  49. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    The Ministry of Finance much like Prime Ministership for DT, has turned out to be a poison chalice for Sinckler. Remember the old Bajan saying:-

    ‘Don’t throw your hat where you can’t reach it’

  50. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    The past economic strategy of the DLP is a creature Thompson, Darcy, Sinckler and Worrell and more recently Stuart.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading