est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Muslims Moving to Upscale Neighbourhood, TOGETHER

BU has withheld comment to the news that a Muslim group was given the go ahead to establish a community in the built up Clermont St. James neighbourhood.  Why has this news evoke a 7-day outcry from Barbadians? All the lots in the new Clermont community were purchased by Muslims. It strikes the sane among…

, ,
Ariel view of the Muslim Clermont Settlement
Ariel view of the Muslim Clermont Settlement

BU has withheld comment to the news that a Muslim group was given the go ahead to establish a community in the built up Clermont St. James neighbourhood.  Why has this news evoke a 7-day outcry from Barbadians? All the lots in the new Clermont community were purchased by Muslims.

It strikes the sane among us that in a country reported to be 90+ percent Black many educated Barbadians have reacted to the news with a Muslim phobia. The breaking news that 50 Trinidadians of a certain religious sect  have flown to Syria to join the terrorist organization ISIS will probably add to the hysteria by those opposed to the Muslim Clermont Settlement.

The majority if not all of the Muslims associated with the Muslim Clermont Settlement are Barbadians. Many if not all were educated in Barbados and are second generation immigrants. Some of them have dated Barbadians outside of the group although they are encouraged, and often do, return to the fold to chant marriage vows. Many Muslims have resided in the enclaves of Fontabelle and Kensington for decades  with a mosque built in 1950 in the environs to practice their religion. Could it be a case the Barbados middleclass feels threatened by a few hundred Barbadian Muslims because some of them aspire to live in a middleclass side of town, TOGETHER? It seems those opposed to the Clermont Settlement were happy to be silent when they traversed Kensington New Road and Fontabelle to attend cricket or do business in the area. We are truly a bunch of hypocrites.

The Closed Brethren have lived segregated lives in Barbados for decades although they control big business in Barbados? Will those opposed to the Muslim Clermont Settlement find voice and oppose those who live at Kent?

Full credit must be given to Abdul Pandor, Suleiman Bulbulia and others from the local Muslin community who have come to the public to explain and clarify the Clermont transaction.  Although many questions remain unanswered local Muslims have not behaved in a manner to compare with the Jamaat al Muslimeen in Trinidad to suggest Barbadians should fear local Muslims desire to live together. It is no a secret this is a group who relish their clannish ways.

They have gone about their business by attending to rituals and practices in the most unobtrusive manner. Have we have become intoxicated on a diet of US Cable news we are happy to label Muslims and other ethic and religious groups with a very broad brush?

The only concern BU has about the Clermont Settlement transaction is whether is was transparent. From arms distance it appears very convenient all of the lots were sold to Muslims. BU understands a few Muslims bought all the lots and on-sold to other Muslims. When did the lots go on sale. Did a non Muslim offer to buy any of the lots. Was there any ‘pressure’ brought to bear on the Town Planning department. When was permission requested from Town Planning and when was the deal consummated between buyer and seller.

The developers of the site have wasted no times, work has started in earnest at the site.

221 responses to “Muslims Moving to Upscale Neighbourhood, TOGETHER”

  1. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @DoktorBlack October 1, 2014 at 9:24 PM “True this, in its intention. But are the Tuareg really Arabs? ”

    No

    Do they speak Arabic?

    No

    “Are the Bedouin realy Arabs?”

    No

    The Druze?

    Don’t know

    Do they favour clitoretomy?

    I don’t know if they favour it, but yes some practice it

    Are they Arabs?

    Mostly no.

    But there is an explanation for it:

    Religious syncretism exhibits blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions. This can occur for many reasons, and the latter scenario happens quite commonly in areas where multiple religious traditions exist in proximity and function actively in the culture, or when a culture is conquered, and the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely eradicating the old beliefs or, especially, practices. Religions may have syncretic elements to their beliefs or history, but adherents of so-labeled systems often frown on applying the label, especially adherents who belong to “revealed” religious systems, such as the Abrahamic religions, or any system that exhibits an exclusivist approach. Such adherents sometimes see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. By this reasoning, adding an incompatible belief corrupts the original religion, rendering it no longer true.

    Which is why I practice Christianity [and what do I know about the man from the Middle East] but I never, ever sweep my house at night, and if someone in the house dies I will be sure to swing the babies and infants over the coffin.

    But shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Don’t tell my priest/pastor

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    syncretism is also the reason for Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

    What?

    Don’t tell me that you thought they had anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth.

    And Halloween coming up at the end of this month.

    syncretism again.

    We are all human.

    No better.

    No worse.

  2. DoktorBlack Avatar
    DoktorBlack

    The United Kingdom and the United States of America.

    In short, all the places where people born in basket cases want to go to live. Absolutely nobody on the planet is yearning to live in Nigeria. Count them: zero.

  3. ac Avatar
    ac

    it is interesting that in the PR letter after the hue and cry that a spokesperson for the muslim community would try to dispel any fears or perceptions attached to the muslim community, but the critical core of the issue is still one that has not been answered as to why the muslim community has resisted for years any form of integration within bajan society, understandably there may be a cultural problem,however when one visit large western countries muslim assimilation can been easily observed unseen or easily observed in barbados,

  4. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @DoktorBlack October 1, 2014 at 9:37 PM “Canada”

    The same Canada that has so mistreated its indigenous people?
    The same Canada where policing is so ineffective that it can’t prevent the slaughter of its indigenous women?
    Say English-Wabigoon
    Say M-I-N-A-M-A-T-A
    Say paedophile teachers and priests
    Say fracking
    Say goodnight

  5. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Say polar vortez

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. DoktorBlack Avatar
    DoktorBlack

    Yes, that Canada. That Canada that so many Bajans are so desperate to get into. That Canada that needs control on the lines outside its Bajan High Commission, to deal with the unrelenting tide of Bajans who want to live in Canada.

    Number of Bajans lining up outside the Nigerian legation for the Eastern Caribbean? Zero.

    Count them: zero.

  7. John Avatar
    John

    If for example the United Kingdom was cursed with Saudi Arabia’s geography (but without the oil) do you think that the U.K. would have been able to become a rapacious and wealthy colonial power?
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Long before oil and with the same geography, much of Europe was ruled from the same Islamic countries which today are “basket cases”!!

    The Moors from North Africa ruled much of the Iberian peninsula http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM8HnvuKbAo.

    The Ottoman Empire once threatened much of Europe and Russia.

    Today’s basket cases were yesterday’s seats of Empire, ….. kind of like England!!

  8. DoktorBlack Avatar
    DoktorBlack

    I is a pan-africanist who loves me some Bob. Gotta whole lotta shrts wid no colla to prove it. No colla=pan-africanist who should be taken real serious=I don’t want to live in Nigeria.

    But i got de shirt wid no colla. Does that count?

  9. MistaBlack Avatar
    MistaBlack

    @John:
    (Long before oil and with the same geography, much of Europe was ruled from the same Islamic countries which today are “basket cases”!!

    The Moors from North Africa ruled much of the Iberian peninsula..
    The Ottoman Empire once threatened much of Europe and Russia.)

    Very few Europeans are willing to accept those historical facts. Still pissed off that they had to be thought that water can also be used for bathing.

  10. DoktorBlack Avatar
    DoktorBlack

    Or are it just a fashion statement, one that makes me look like a bit of a dick?

  11. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Simple Simon | October 1, 2014 at 9:54 PM |
    “Religious syncretism exhibits blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions. This can occur for many reasons, and the latter scenario happens quite commonly in areas where multiple religious traditions exist in proximity and function actively in the culture, or when a culture is conquered, and the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely eradicating the old beliefs or, especially, practices. Religions may have syncretic elements to their beliefs or history, but adherents of so-labeled systems often frown on applying the label, especially adherents who belong to “revealed” religious systems, such as the Abrahamic religions, or any system that exhibits an exclusivist approach. Such adherents sometimes see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. By this reasoning, adding an incompatible belief corrupts the original religion, rendering it no longer ”

    Very informative post. If only you would let us know where to find the original writing.
    We can conclude therefore that Islam is to Judaism as Christianity is to Paganism or even Rastafarianism is to Judaism. Or probably Judaism is to Zoroastrianism or Mithraism is to Zoroastrianism.

    There is nothing new under the Sun. Hundreds if not thousands of belief systems have existed over millennia from the time humans were hunter-gatherers. We have not even begun to explore those in the East or among so-called primitive peoples.

    There is an excellent book called “World Religions” (The great faiths explored and explained) and written by a John Bowker that makes for very informative reading and research.

    The three “modern” belief systems stemming from the Abrahamic Faith tree are based on plagiarized Sumerian myths and legend and attached to the demands of some monotheistic desert god that can be easily traced back to its Egyptian origins with Akhenaten the heretic pharaoh at the centre of the Mosaic plagiarized stories.

    There is one common idol among the so-called followers of these faiths. And that is their real, real practical god called “Money”.
    And for pointing g the disconnect (hypocrisy) between the commands and demands of their invisible god and their day-to-day actions and practices the miller is deemed to be a devil.
    Yes I am a devil indeed who worships the gods called Truth & Knowledge.

  12. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Miller etc. “Very informative post. If only you would let us know where to find the original writing.”

    In Wikipedia

    See: syncretism

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @DoktorBlack October 1, 2014 at 10:44 PM “Yes, that Canada. That Canada that so many Bajans are so desperate to get into. That Canada that needs control on the lines outside its Bajan High Commission, ”

    The Canadian High Commission in Barbados does not issue ANY visa, so there are no lines, and no security controlling non-existent lines

    Your statement is a LIE.

    Troll.

  14. Easy Squeeze (Make No Riot) Avatar
    Easy Squeeze (Make No Riot)

    Colour, Colour Dub

  15. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    Caswell

    You are spot on. An utterly disingenuous piece of claptrap. In fact, the more they speak the more sinister it becomes.

  16. Easy Squeeze (Make No Riot) Avatar
    Easy Squeeze (Make No Riot)

    Dread Dreader, Dead Dreader Dub
    http://youtu.be/T6ByvwEP5hI

  17. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    There are reports of 100 Trinidadian Muslims fighting with Isis. How many Barbadians are there?

  18. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    CONTROVERSY IS GROWING within the local Muslim community over women’s access to some of the island’s mosques for prayer.
    The contentious issue flared up last Friday when a near-$2 million mosque opened its doors for worship at Clermont, St James.
    Muslim women took to Facebook claiming exclusion from the new salubrious accommodations, which they suggested were exclusive to male members of the faith.
    However, Ahmad Ashraf Kazi, president of the An-Noor Muslim Association, which spearheaded the Clermont project, has hit back. He is suggesting that women should adhere to the rules of the Islamic faith and say their prayers within the confines of their home, or build their own mosque if that was their desired forum in which to pray.
    In the Facebook post, on a page headed Masjid Space For Ladies In Barbados, one writer stated: “In 2019 Barbados, the men responsible for this mosque blatantly and arrogantly denied the request and pleading of many Muslim women, and refused to include a suitable space for ladies in this purpose-built masjid.(Quote)

    Which law rules in Barbados, or are some people above the law? If we do not rescue our nation now a decade down the line may be too late. Where is the prime minister, a woman? Where is the attorney general? Where is the local MP? Where are the women’s groups?

  19. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    RE He is suggesting that women should adhere to the rules of the Islamic faith and say their prayers within the confines of their home, or build their own mosque if that was their desired forum in which to pray.

    WHAT IS YOUR POINT JOHHNNY
    IF the rules of the Islamic faith IS THAT WOMEN SHOULD say their prayers within the confines of their home, WHY DONT THE WOMEN ABIDE BY the rules of the Islamic faith ?

    AND WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? JUST ASKING. LOL

  20. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Looks like the Saudi influence has spread to Barbados, those who pay the piper calls the tune and Wahhabism is showing up at the local level.

  21. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Singapore’s government hospital NUH put up a signage in the Hindi language, according to a photo put up by Singaporean Vijaya Kandasamy. The post went viral among the Singaporean Indian community, who expressed frustrations that the national language Tamil is not being respected.
    Some commented that the sign could have been put up by Northern Indians, who are notorious in India for being arrogant and racist against Southern Indians, who are the only Indians recognised as the official race in Singapore.
    An Indian Singaporean wrote to TRS:

    “The NUH has put up a sign with the four languages with the last being in Hindi. Hindi was never recognized as one of our National Languages, yet they have selected to displace the Tamil language. As a fellow Singaporean, who is a tamilan, I feel utterly insulted at this blunder! Why didn’t the PR staff vet this before the signs are put out? This is not the first time the government and its subsidiaries are making horrendous blunders with our language. They have been very nonchalant about this and seem to keep doing this blunder over and over again. There has been Typographical errors in the past and now my entire Tamil language has been replaced with Hindi! This is utterly unacceptable and not something we can just brush away then forget about! I kindly seek your assistance to publish this and create some awareness amongst your readers thank you.”(Quote)

Older Comments
1 … 3 4 5

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