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.

Omar Watson Charged for Malicious Communications at the Instigation of Minister Michael Lashley

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Michael Lashley, Minister of Transport
Michael Lashley, Minister of Transport

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

One thing the late Prime Minister David Thompson will be remembered for is his love of social media and the opportunity it gave ordinary people to participate in our democracy. Of course some will abuse the privilege but the majority for the most part use social media platforms to discuss issues and exchange information which the traditional media is constrained to leave on the editorial floor. BU can only speculate if we were to have a conversation with the late David Thompson resting comfortably in the great beyond, what his view of the charge brought against Omar Watson and instigated by the Hon. Michael Lashley would be. What if private citizens were able to bring charges against members of parliament who hide behind the protection of parliamentary privilege?

BU remains hopeful that this matter will be sandwiched in the bureaucracy of court files like all the other high profile cases. Even if Omar Watson committed an error in judgement there is scope for amends without Mr. Watson having to be incarcerated. BU understands Douglas Trotman has offered his services at no cost to Mr. Watson.

See relevant documents:

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

248 responses to “Omar Watson Charged for Malicious Communications at the Instigation of Minister Michael Lashley”

  1. pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright

    There was a time….

    I dont know if you can remember but not so long ago, in a galaxy not far away, there was a time when the honorary cap of asinine statements was held by AC (the not so bright one)

    I can remember when every day people would offload a ton of verbal chastisement up AC #1 and some would talk about AC32 having left for Arkansas and thing like that.

    It is noted that AC#2 will post articles in the morning around 7 and in the evenings around 6.30 going seven and one is amazed at the Jekyllian nature of the posts.

    Notwithstanding, whereas Dompey will misinterpret the foal point of the thought/blog and run off on that tangent and then get offended when people tell him he is off the reservation, AC#1, like a AIM-9 sidewinder, used to make everything DLP is the saviour of all things, even if you were talking about buying shock absorbers for your Donkey (not Dompey) cart, the DLP had the best shocks.

    That styling has changed with the entry of AC#2, not saying that they are not staunch DLP supporters still, but he uses emotive reasoning, or acerbic repartees, to make a point instead of rabid blindless single track support.

    While new to the blog, Dee Word has a perspicacity and uncanny ability to assess people and has made a call on Brother Donkey in short shrift.

    Gearbox was the gentle village idiot of Bulbados for many years, the man who everyone knew to pass the other side of the road, if you did not want an earsplitting arghhhhh in ones ears.

    No one ever sought to stab him of beat him up, in fact once when the police were called to the hospital to arrest him for peeing on a doctors pants, the officers had a fit when the urinal/doctor related how it was while examining Gearboxes’ throat, Gearbox had taken out his *** and peed on his pants.

    I have an admission to make David [BU].

    There was a time when I felt that Donkey was in fact a concoction because I could not believe that there was actually someone loose from Bellevue who was so classically “gifted” The man is BU’s Gearbox who periodically “pees” on many of our “legs” and while it is repetitive and bothersome, it is sometimes good to laugh as BT and, of late, GP, have been able to do.

    AC#1 (not AC#2) just jealous because she has lost all of the attention she previously had.

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @pieceuhderockyeahright,

    I was told that Gearbox was a mechanic and a good vehicle driver whose ” head went bad”.

  3. pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright

    @ Hants

    That is what is said of him, a bright man as also with Professor La Ha and others who were all bright men who, in many cases were “jilted”, not horned, but left out when the woman of their interests did not think that they were befitting of the privilege of “mekking a respectable woman uh she”

  4. pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright

    ARE DLP POLITICIANS BLIND?

    I know that Richard Sealy is, after all he is a fellow dat does see spirits up in de corners uh rooms and always looking at them but I am led to ask this question of the current administration.

    Do you fellows notice dat when wunna attends a function where wunna ge big up and worthy mention en ting dat de bajand dat is dey does avoid wunn like we hear dat wunna got Ebola or HIV??

    I want wunna bloggers to check whu I saying and if de ole man telling lies i wants wunna tuh come back heah and say so

    People does leave a space of 3 to 6 feet around de ministers and it is only when de said minister mek it he business to shake a body hand, de body dat he single out does shake dem hand and pull out dem hand real quick.

    Tell me dat I is lying!!!

  5. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    PUDRYR;

    Yuh mean dah wusunt always soh? Yuh mean dat only now most people duz avoid getting close to dem in public?

    Or yuh mean dat it more noticeable now and that more and more people are letting them know in a fairly subtle manner, that they have lost what little respect they might have had for them?

    If so, it seems like the avoidance effect could be a verifiable sign of things to come.

    Hey! the BU team could measure the average empty distance around politicians when they appear in public and when that distance gets to (say) 8 ft on average, we could conclude that something is going to break.

    What say you?

  6. David Avatar
    David

    In any country there will be nuances and colloquialisms. Bush Tea says to Dompey, “you en know I wud lick you down wid a rock doah”. OR GP says to a BU family member, “you doan kno you want killin”.

    In Barbados we hear these utterances all the time at the height of an argument. Does this mean a Barbadians trained in the Barbadians way of delivering an argument now has to watch out for the politician who is thin-skinned?

    Do Online Death Threats Count as Free Speech?

    By EMILY BAZELONNOV. 25, 2014

      Credit Illustration by Javier Jaén

      Exhibit 12 in the government’s case against Anthony Elonis is a screenshot of a Facebook post he wrote in October 2010, five months after his wife, Tara, left him. His name appears in the site’s familiar blue, followed by words that made Tara fear for her life: ‘’If I only knew then what I know now . . . I would have smothered your ass with a pillow. Dumped your body in the back seat. Dropped you off in Toad Creek and made it look like a rape and murder.’’

      http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/magazine/do-online-death-threats-count-as-free-speech.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad&_r=0

       

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      David, no, not acceptable. It is the same thing for any published material.

      However, discussion and opinion on a matter of public interest need not be libelous and any attempt to discourage should be met with resistance.

      Authoritarian regimes are born out of an unwillingness to challenge inappropriate use of authority.

      That said, the libel laws are / should be the same as any previously published material.

      That current published material on the internet does not change the principles.

      For example, if I say that ‘David’ (must be an identifiable and stated person) is a drunk (which has certain connotations), there are three possible outcomes, based on it causing ‘David’ distress and harm.

      1) It is true, and I can prove it with witnesses. Hence, any claim to damages that ‘David’ may bring should be dismissed.
      2) It is true, but I cannot prove it. Claim for damages likely accepted.
      3) It is untrue and thus I cannot prove it and claim for damages accepted.

      However, if I say that David drinks, then the onus of proof is likely easier and also, where is the negative connotation? Context is everything, but still, onus of proof likely easier.

      If I say that David is an idiot or incompetent, that is purely an opinion.

      One cannot allege any malfeasance on my part.

      The above should surely apply, whatever medium the comments are placed.

      Electronic act whatever, is irrelevant, it is the content, context, truth and onus of proof that matters.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      David, what one should consider, is that now many will revert to using proxy servers and alternate identities on online commentary.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      Maybe not a bad thing, talk goes and thrives ‘underground’, just like our thriving ‘underground’ economy.

    • David Avatar
      David

      @Crusoe

      The case posted will begin today before the US Supreme Court.

    • Dompey Avatar
      Dompey

      Crusoe
      If I say that David is an idiot or incompetent, that purely an opinion.

      One cannot allege any malfeasance on my part. Really!
      I really hope that you’re not lawyer because you legal counsel based my little knowledge of jurisprudence seems quite incorrect.

      Crusoe, if you say the David is an idiot or incompetent which is an opinion true, but if your statement is founded to defame David’s character in any way, David can suit in civil court for punitive damages. Now if it is proven that David in fact is an idiot and incompetent then you’re free of such liability because what you have written about David is in fact true.

      And finally, there is a concept in the civil law called Mental and Physical Anguish. Now, enduring someone’s publication of a false statement can take a toll on that person’s Mental and physical health and those harms are compensable Crusoe.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      Dompey | December 1, 2014 at 8:14 AM |

      Nope, it is an opinion by definition.

      If I allege that David has taken a specific action or exhibits a certain disparaging behavior, a statement that defames his character, that is libel.

      Idiocy or incompetence? That is opinion. Mental anguish my foot, maybe in some western courts, try that crap in proper British Courts and see where it gets you.

      Probably be laughed out of Court for bringing and action because someone calling you an idiot or incompetent and you felt hurt and anguished’.

      But Carson, I guess you are jumping on a specific side now that you are trying to eliminate any verbal or written opposition.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      But, based on YOUR interpretation C/D , would you agree that you would feel HURT and Anguished if someone called you as ‘ignorant as a bald pooched cat’ and that you thus could bring an action for compensatory damages?

    • Dompey Avatar
      Dompey

      Crusoe

      I have said that the freedom of speech is liken to a two edged sword: one edge expressive Freedom and the other edge expressive Responsibility. And that is why we have to be circumspect with respect to what we publish about others on social media. The late justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Sir Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that the freedom of expression comes with a responsibility. He further stated that, “Just because one has the right of free expression, that it does not give one the right to going into a cinema and yell fire when there isn’t a fire.” That person will be held responsibility for yelling fire because that kind of expression causes some kind of harm. The Freedom of Speech which the First Amendment of American Constitution guarantees to every citizen, does not give a white supremacist the right to walk the streets of America with a shirt which reads shoot President Obama.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      @David ”The central question for the Supreme Court will be whose point of view — the speaker’s, or the listener’s — matters. The jury was instructed to convict Anthony Elonis if it was reasonable for him to see that Tara would interpret his posts as a serious expression of intent to harm her. The court could uphold the standard, or it could require that jurors be asked to convict only if they believe the speaker truly intended to threaten harm.”

      I call BS. So, you go outside a jewellery store and ‘measure the glass, take pictures of the layout, in full view of the people there.

      When queried, you reply (thinking it funny), that you plan to rob it (when you actually are setting up your own store and are copying the layout, because you like it).

      That, to you was a joke, but to the perceived victims, a real and present danger, aka a threat.

      Or for example you see a girl you like, don’t know, and tell her you would ‘steal her and keep her’.

      To you, maybe a joke, to her, a perceived real and present danger.

      Would you blame her for pulling a gun and kneecapping you there and then?

      I would not.

    • David Avatar
      David

      @Crusoe

      We have to be careful not to generalize about the issue of freedom of expression. We have to examine the case on the context. Omar Watson and the NY case is no different.

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      @Dompey, yeah yeah we all know about the rights and responsibilities thingy, no need to try to impress with quotes.

      And we know that one cannot issue direct threats, Duh.

      But, that same individual you quote, CAN freely call Obama, Bush, Nixon incompetent or stupid, quite freely.

      You are stating a case of a direct threat, I am clarifying an opinion.

      Apples and oranges.

      Which is exactly my point.

    • Dompey Avatar
      Dompey

      Crusoe

      So you’re telling me that if I walk around the island of Barbados with a shirt which reads: the prime Minister needs to be shot. That I am expressing an opinion which in my view can be interpreted as threat?

    • John Hanson 1781-1782, I SERVE 1788-1792 BARBADOES, Avatar
      John Hanson 1781-1782, I SERVE 1788-1792 BARBADOES,

      WHY WASTE A BULLET , ROPE CAN BE REUSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

    • old onion bags Avatar
      old onion bags

      Talk about license……

    • are-we-there-yet Avatar
      are-we-there-yet

      OOB;

      Dah one sweet. It even sweeter than Gypsy’s original version, if that is at all possible.

      Cro Cro is a boss.

    • old onion bags Avatar
      old onion bags

      @ Are- we-

      Wonder if Cro Cro would have seen D inside of a cell too….if he were bout here…

    • Dompey Avatar
      Dompey

      Crusoe

      What’s difference is there between saying, that someone is an idiot or incompetent, verses saying that someone is a child-molester? Both are opinions, however, the latter one can cause one financial hardship because if an employer reads such opinion on social media whether true or not, his or her first inclination is to stay clear of such person.

    • Due Diligence Avatar
      Due Diligence

      From: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=40195

      “PM assures right to silence is not in jeopardy

      11/29/2014

      Any claim that the right to silence is being ousted by the amendment to the Evidence Act is a false claim.

      So says Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. Making his contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday evening to the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2014, just moments before that Bill was passed, he explained that the right to silence is protected in the Constitution and in the Bill in question as well. His comments came in the response to suggestions from the Opposition that the right to silence was being undermined by the one aspect of the proposed amendment.

      “It is just not true that these amendments impose any judgement or enlarge any risks of accused persons or suspects if they elect to remain silent. The right to silence is an old right; the right against self incrimination and the Constitution of Barbados protects that,” he said.”

      Right to silence is not in jeopardy.

      BUT, use of right to free speech or freedom of expression in social media is is police (criminal) matter.

    • David Avatar
      David

      If politicians are keen to hold citizens accountable under the defamation laws why not relinquish their right to parliamentary privilege like Errol Barrow promised so many years ago?

    • Colonel Buggy Avatar
      Colonel Buggy

      @PDR
      People does leave a space of 3 to 6 feet around de ministers and it is only when de said minister mek it he business to shake a body hand, de body dat he single out does shake dem hand and pull out dem hand real quick.
      ……………………………………………………………………………………..
      Ably demonstrated yesterday on CBC after the Independence service. The GG , broke away from being escorted out , to stop and unpretentiously shake hands with the clergy and greet many others around. When the PM’s time came, he walked straight, briefly pausing to juck his hand in that of one of our 10 % populationist.
      But do know why people are so quick to pull their hands out of that of a politician ? Not that they are afraid, but they will will less of a job later when sanitising their hands, as many politicians hands, we know are a bit soiled.
      And that the very reason, too that you would never see a politician,especially Ministers who are entitled to such pomp, returning a salute to any member of the security forces, as these guys salute with the palms of their hands in full view indicating that their hands are clean and that all is above board. Maybe some day when we adopt the American type salute, our politicians will be able to respond likewise.

    • Smooth Chocolate Avatar
      Smooth Chocolate

      michael lashley could get rid of some of those ugly tooth in his mouth. he always looks like his mouth is stuff with bread or he just came of chimpanzee making machine…puke…black and totally ugly

    • Colonel Buggy Avatar
      Colonel Buggy

      @Smooth Chocolate
      puke…..black……and totally ugly.
      I do not know about the others on BU, but my mother always told me that I am a handsome fellow, so the totally ugly bit does not bother me at all. What bothers me, and many others on BU I am sure, is that you find a black person or persons so revolting to the point where it will make you puke.

    • Fractured BLP Avatar
      Fractured BLP

      Today the Boss of St. Philip North pulled off another successful carnival along with his Legundz Boys posse.
      kudos to the Hon. Michael Lashley MP.

      The jealous people like David of BU canh stop you.

    • old onion bags Avatar
      old onion bags

      @ Wait Fractured

      I did lookin for in today’s procession…..knowing you doan miss nuttin dat free (ur words)…..To tell ya D trute I neva see so many long and forlong faces for a celebration..Is like evabody either vex or fart frighten….so ya went carnival too nah …knowing you …(dat did free too) U did dey …. black cat in a bow tie escorting a fowl cock….carnival ent trute

    • ac Avatar
      ac

      Smooth Chocolate | December 1, 2014 at 4:18 PM |

      michael lashley could get rid of some of those ugly tooth in his mouth. he always looks like his mouth is stuff with bread or he just came of chimpanzee making machine…puke…black and totally ugly

      ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
      smooth chocolate have u looked in the mirror recently. cause u are one ugly baboon fuh real. before u disk people, first take a long real hard look at yuhself from the inside out,,,,

    • Georgie Porgie Avatar
      Georgie Porgie

      smooth chocolate
      stop putting peeple pun “DISKS” LOL MURDAH

    • de hood Avatar
      de hood

      @GP

      Smoothie putting ppl on “DISKS” but your nemesis “de donkey” putting words in my mouth [fingers really :)]. He’s now accusing me of attacking him on this thread when to my knowledge this is my first and only comment on this thread. He must really have ol’ hoodie on his mind! Lol.

    • ac Avatar
      ac

      http://gizmodo.com/what-todays-facebook-supreme-court-case-means-for-free-1665161378

    • ac Avatar
      ac

      Georgia porgie lil girl…dis ,,,is street lingo ,don;t expect u to unstan such thin ,,,uh need to be hangin in the in de hood,,, uh know dem not uh kind of peeps, they too black and backwards,,hav no intelligunce ,,

    • Georgie Porgie Avatar
      Georgie Porgie

      DE HOOD
      THAT FOOL HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS
      AS WE SAY BACK HOME “HE LOOKING FOR NOTICE”
      HE WAKES UP EVERY MORNING INTENT ON TEACHING YOU ME OR BUSH TEA EXTRANEOUS INFORMATION THAT WE DONT CARE TO KNOW
      I LET HIM BRAY OR GIVE HIM JUICE TO KEEP DEMONSTRATING THAT HE IS AN ASS

    • Simple Simon Avatar
      Simple Simon

      @Smooth Chocolate December 1, 2014 at 4:18 PM “…puke…black and totally ugly”

      Like ya foopin’ mudda

    • de hood Avatar
      de hood

      @ac

      But ac check your post. You did not writ “diss” your wrote “disk” in your original post. I have copied it and pasted it below.

      ac| December 1, 2014 at 6:44 PM |
      Smooth Chocolate | December 1, 2014 at 4:18 PM |

      michael lashley could get rid of some of those ugly tooth in his mouth. he always looks like his mouth is stuff with bread or he just came of chimpanzee making machine…puke…black and totally ugly

      ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
      smooth chocolate have u looked in the mirror recently. cause u are one ugly baboon fuh real. before u disk people, first take a long real hard look at yuhself from the inside out,,,,

    • ac Avatar
      ac

      look the word in stret lingo can be spelled any which way, no need for professional grammar spies,,.. ghetto lingo is just that, spelling and wording does no matter all that matters is getting the point out, get it,, disc, disk diss ! like piss and pee pea ! also jiobby shite pup poop in street lingo all mean the same thing.

    • Smooth Chocolate Avatar
      Smooth Chocolate

      I apologise for using attaching the word ‘black’ in a negative form to that person because they are some really beautiful knights in shining armour in Barbados.. never-the-less, the man is totally hideous and i feel like puking whenever i see him on the tv, i literally have to change the channel but then again i change the channel whenever i see any animal from from Party. All they do is grunt, bray and bark..last time i checked I never took those langs. at school.

      @ac | December 1, 2014 at 9:24 PM |
      “look the word in stret lingo can be spelled any which way, no need for professional grammar spies,,.. ghetto lingo is just that, spelling and wording does no matter…”

      (1) The fact that the word it is ‘ghetto lingo’ is the very reason you CANNOT give it the same spelling as a genuine word, Miss IDIOT.. (2) I look in the mirror several times a day, I am absolutely gorgeous. just because u identify with that hideous animal does not give u the right to be jealous of me..we can’t all be beautiful and intelligent at the same time

    • Crusoe Avatar
      Crusoe

      ”successful carnival” Hmmmm. though I was not pleased to be hearing of people allegedly thumping on a certain car, as it wound its way through the procession.

      Inappropriate behavior. But then, people are vexed.

    • bookworm Avatar
      bookworm

      Can Lashley spare some time in between abusing his powers to honour his promise to pay UCAL the $3.7m .
      Another minister making rash statements to divert attention from his incompetence
      .

    • watchman Avatar
      watchman

      The DLP ministers have to lie, you may or may not know but
      most of them got new teeth
      from Clico Policyholders money that was stolen ,
      The teeth in work in yet and are getting in fights with you know what

    • pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
      pieceuhderockyeahright

      @All who are in the least bit interested

      De ole man heah reading De Evidence Act of BULBADOS

      Wunna know dat if a nex fellow tek me name and post a ting bout Nuff Teets Lashes dat dem kin cum fuh me en lock me up?

      Wunna know dat if de madam, or de maid was to get pun my cuntputer en write an article while logged on as me and post it, you know dat dem cud come fuh me en lock me up?

      Member of Parliament of Curacao Herman Wiels was shot to death on Sunday the 5th of May 2013.

      If de ole man, in a fit of unadulterated idiocy, was to find heself in a public place, or pun dis here Internet, after not receiving my pension check fuh 2 months and income tax returns, and mek an exasperated statement, someting ingrunt like “dat I wud like to bring de same men’s dat bump of Herman heah fuh Minister So en So” wunna know dat I can get lock up?

      Furthermore even if i doesn’t say it, but two nex fellows, like de ones dat de Minister Sinckliar says did plotting to shoot he, say dat it is me dat put dem up to de deed, en dat it din just to be he Sinkliar but de nex fellow as well, did wunna know dat I cud get lock up, just so, pun hearsay?

      Does unna know dat de penalty for treason in Bulbados is deaf?

      I wonder if Nuff Teets study dis Omar ting through doah?

      Teets, you know dat yo gine be a past minister in 2019 and you opening an ants ‘ nest dat gine sting you and de rest uh de crooks in wunna pension years?

    • ac Avatar
      ac

      anybody knows what happened to the fireman thread,, talking about freedom of speech no holds barred, they made michael lashley accusations look like a walk in the park,, time to bring back the fireman thread hilarious,,a great novel in the making, :the Fireman who did all and F,ked all,

    • A commuter Avatar
      A commuter

      Increase in PSVs on the Road. Transport Board cannot get their schedule right. UCAL cannot get paid. Government collecting road tax and license fees. Tell ma wa gine on.

    • wmgittens Avatar
      wmgittens

      Those of us who believe in Law and Order MUST understand that there is really NO Justice. I would like to know how much about Transport does the minister of transport know.

    • pieceuhderockyeahright Avatar
      pieceuhderockyeahright

      @ WMGittens

      De Minister of Transport knows all he needs to know

      “transport all of these suitcases cases that wunnu put next to my table, to grease my palms, to my home”

      What else does he or Ralph Boyce, of Gline, Johnny “me boy” Tudor or all of them “ministers” need to know?

    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