Walter, who is responsible you think in the society for building the framework to sustain employment? […]BU has always held the view that Barbados is a public led economy/society. On this premise therefore if government – by policy initiative – wants to move in a different direction one would imagine a sensible approach would be one of collaboration and preparation.
David King, Blogmaster of Barbados Underground
In 2002, I was part of a group of actuaries in Atlanta, Georgia listening to a speech being delivered by Ms. Anna Rappaport, a former President of the Society of Actuaries. At the end of the speech, I rose and asked Ms. Rappaport a question.
“Which country are you from?” she asked, recognizing that I was speaking with a non-American accent. “Barbados” I replied.
“You know”, she continued, “I am amazed at how such a small country could produce such a relatively large amount of young, bright, trainable people! It is truly a remarkable achievement!”
That incident alone was enough to convince me that the Barbados brand has achieved international status and acknowledgement.
Undoubtedly, there are many other Barbadians, working in various fields of human endeavour, in many countries across the globe, who have been filled with pride as they listened to similar complimentary remarks being heaped upon their small, but much beloved Barbados. Achieving international brand name status in the areas of training, education, and professionalism, made possible by the focus and dedication of generations of hardworking Barbadians that came before us, is a feat that we must now seek to leverage.
As a people, Barbadians possess enough talent, ability, ingenuity, resourcefulness, drive, and ambition to move their country forward for their and their children’s benefit. By Barbadians, I mean all Barbadians living “on the rock”, and in the diasporic areas of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. Collaboration and co-operation among all Barbadians are extremely crucial elements in our drive towards maximization of our available resources. This definition of “Barbadian” is simple and innocent sounding on the surface, but when properly understood and applied, it can become a potent asset in our quest to find economic growth. For example, we have a massive food import bill at the moment. There are Barbadians living all over the world, who use their foreign currency to purchase goods and consumer items for Barbadians living in Barbados. This activity should be encouraged since it represents a situation in which foreign goods are flowing into Barbados, for Barbadians, without a commensurate drain on our foreign exchange. As long as barrels contain no drugs, weapons, and explosive materials, they should be moved swiftly through our ports, tax-free, into Barbadian households. The more, the merrier. Barbadians feeding and helping Barbadians at cheaper prices.
Developed countries constantly advertise shortages that exist in their professional, technical, and religious labour markets. The governments of these countries use favourable immigration policies and provide millions of job visas yearly in order to gain global access to scarce human talent. A new approach, in the areas of government and politics, must now emerge to find effective ways to carve out a niche market for Barbados in the provision of high level global human resources.
Additionally, the populations of first world countries now view the Caribbean as an exotic, idyllic region capable of titillating and satisfying their taste buds in the areas of sport, art, music, and international entertainment. These areas provide unlimited opportunities and earning potential for the successful Barbadian company and individual. In the international entertainment industry, our very own Rihanna is an excellent example. We, as Barbadians, can offer these populations more.
At present, our educational system is geared towards identifying those students who are good in English and Maths at age 11 and shepherding them towards the “older grammar” schools. The traditional media houses are routinely used to highlight the successes and dreams of a dozen or two of the top performers who are supposed to be headed for great things.
Five years later, many of those who did not gain entry into the “older grammar” schools, that is, those who attended the “Comprehensive” or “Newer Secondary Schools” are jettisoned from the secondary educational system. Perceived as “failures”, these 16 year-olds yearly add to a pool of unskilled, and unemployed Barbadians. This forever expanding pool of unemployed youths provides opportunities that are feasted upon by politicians, businesses, drug pushers, gun smugglers, sex abusers, rogues, thieves, and vagabonds. It is also developing into a dangerous social powder keg.
Some of these 16 year-olds, technically gifted from birth, relish the idea of getting an opportunity to study at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, but their dreams are shattered as “underperformers” and “failures” from the “older grammar” schools eat into some of the limited spaces available at the institution.
Seven years later, out of an original cohort of almost 4,000 students, about a dozen or two top performers (Barbados Scholars and Exhibitionists) are highlighted and praised by the traditional media, and then encouraged by the politicians and policymakers to go away and stay away. They do exactly that.
Certainly, our educational system is flawed, and needs to undergo some adjustments. Be that as it may, all of these adjustments would now have to be implemented against the background of a country severely crippled by massive debt, a government that is broke, an agriculturally demoralized nation resigning itself to a high food import bill which gnaws at scarce foreign exchange, and a rising tide of angry Barbadians now beginning to recognize the damage that has been done by excessive political greed and corruption.
As a starting point in the discussion related to laying down an educational framework to serve the employment interests of Barbados in the 21st century, I now take this opportunity to offer some recommendations:
Primary Education
· The 11+ exams in Maths and English should continue as basic exams for all students, but the format and scope of the testing should be broadened to include computer fundamentals, French, Spanish, Chinese, art, music, performing arts, and sports.
· Scores achieved in end-of-year exams in class at ages 9 and 10 should form part of the overall 11+ score.
· Tapes and videos should be used to assist with the teaching of conversational French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
· Student exchange visits to and from Cuba should be pursued. We should be looking to produce bi-lingual Barbadians by 2035
· Performances in Inter-Primary school competitions should be used as 11+ scores in sports and athletics.
· Emphasis should be placed on building confidence and beginning to create a sense of national self-worth at age 11.
Secondary Education (Boys and Girls separated to correct the Biller Miller catastrophic blunder)
· Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) should be accepting 11+ students, based heavily on scores in computer fundamentals, and maths.
· CXC exams mandatory for all students.
· SAT exams mandatory for all students.
· Exams needed to qualify students for entry into international technical colleges and universities should be mandatory at SJPP.
· Focus should be on getting as many students as possible on to the tertiary level of education.
Tertiary Education
· Excellent scores in SAT may create scholarship opportunities at universities and colleges in the USA and elsewhere
· Excellent performances in sports, art, and music may create scholarship opportunities at universities and colleges in the USA and elsewhere
· Non-scholarship students will seek entry into the University of the West Indies and their education will be paid for by the Government of Barbados.
· Emphasis on math, science, engineering, technology, business, and sports
· Focus should be on producing workers, athletes, and professional sportspersons for the global market.
How do we find work for our graduates?
Eleven short years after Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World, the Spaniards established at Seville in 1503, a Casa de Contratacion, which, in their language meant a House of Trade. In 2015, we must now apply the concept of a House of Trade to the purpose and function of our embassies. No longer should our ambassadors and senior members of their staff be allowed or encouraged to believe that their purpose in life is to rub shoulders with international diplomats as a means of satisfying their individual thirst for social status and recognition.
Barbadian embassies must now be transformed into national institutions which are constantly on the lookout for educational, athletic, trading, investment, and employment opportunities that can be grasped by Barbadians. For example, the Barbadian embassy in the USA should be spending a lot of its time encouraging and incentivizing Sagicor (a Barbadian-connected life insurance company operating in the USA) to access the talent of Barbadian actuaries, accountants, investment managers, risk managers and other support staff living in the USA and Canada. It should also be analyzing the USA demand for doctors, priests, certified public accountants, physiotherapists, and other professionals, and advising young Barbadians who to contact, what processes to initiate, and how to position themselves to compete for these jobs. Similar efforts should be made by our embassies or “High Commissions” in Canada and other Commonwealth countries, and Europe.
Finally, the government of Barbados has suddenly relinquished its responsibility to fund the tertiary education of Barbadians. To ease the heavy financial burden that has been placed upon government’s shoulders, some ingredients of a self-financing mechanism must be introduced into our educational system. Those students who receive governmental assistance, in order to move from secondary to tertiary education, will be required to sign a contract with the Government of Barbados before they begin university studies. These students will be tracked and required to pay a percentage of their earnings for the first 5 years of their working life after graduation, regardless of whatever country they are working in. These special payments will be earmarked for spending on tertiary education.
It would be in the interest of everyone concerned to ensure that young Barbadians gain access to a tertiary education, compete for global sustainable jobs after graduating from university, and compulsorily pay back into the system so that the next group of Barbadians following them can grasp opportunities and repeat the process.
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137 responses to “Adjusting Our Educational System to Generate Sustainable Jobs for Barbadians”
Bush Tea
@ Walter
At what point did you establish the relationship between ‘Education’ and sustainable jobs?
Bushie would love to see such a correlation.
The period of most sustainable jobs in Barbados was probably during slavery.
“Sustainable jobs” are the result of long term vision and proper planning by leaders.
Those Slavers had a long term vision and a master plan for sugar….and for blacks….and no ‘education’ was critically needed… not even for the rich slavers.
There are also classes of persons in Barbados who NEVER had issues with employment – even though their children leave school as soon as they grasp the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. These people OWN BUSINESSES which they KNOW will guarantee the continued employment of their families for generations to come.
Education is NOT designed to provide ‘sustainable jobs’. It is designed to create wise, intelligent, knowledgeable citizens who are able to maximise their potentialities because they come to understand the reality of the life in which they find themselves; to rationalise the purpose of living; of loving; of suffering; and even of dying….
Education is really about ANTI-brass bowlery….
If the Jackasses who reversed Barrow’s vision of ‘OWNERSHIP AT ANY COST’ had not sold BARTEL, BS&T, BL&P ALMOND and every other shiite that this small country had accumulated in 30 years or so, employment would be no issue…. in fact we would probably still be arguing about the need to bring Guyanese to fill the voids….
…we would ALSO be still producing LOCAL leaders and citizens of the ilk of Owen Springer, Trevor Clarke, and the HUNDREDS of outstanding citizens who were moulded by those entities…
INSTEAD, we find ourselves saddled with a bunch of second class people from ‘over and away’ – reminiscent of the Plantation days, making decisions that CREATE issues with employment for Barbadians that are VERY MUCH like those of the old plantation days…. while our so-called ‘leaders’ drift around like female rabbits…
Our unemployment issues has NOTHING to do with the current shiite education of the masses, it has EVERYTHING to do with our shiite leaders ..who have sold out our birthrights for a few pieces of silver bribes….
The lotta Brass bowlery?….. now THAT you can blame on the education system…. 🙂
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Damian Hinkson
All we need to do is get rid of secondary school and replace with college. It will create the environment we need to progress.
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Artaxerxes
@ Bush Tea
Excellent contribution, Bushie…….. frank and true.
I hate to agree with Deputy Dawg. I think I might get strike by lightning today. However when one cast there mind back to the days when small village business were many and predominantly black owned by people with limited education it is very hard not to realise that there was an intent to tear or shred apart a vision of nation building owned and occupied by its people
Surely the world has morphed to a more complex place where education is a prerequisite to augmenting survival skills economic and social?
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Mockingbird
Not to flogg a dead horse ( or a dead cow if the cap fits M’s Cowan )
But enen in the awarding of major contracts we are missing the boat on the jobs front .
Most the the countries I’ve done work in demands a % of local content
Some as high as 30% . this prerequisite not only gives local companies to grow their businesses but allows them to upskill their work force for industrial type work and grows our skill base
The only thing that will be local on this chill farce will be the cement and the water
Again the government misses a golden opportunity to grow the local skilled labour base .
Shame shame
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Artaxerxes
@ Walter
What provisions you would suggest should be made for those students who are not academically inclined, rather than the old method of “sending them to learn a trade?”
You mentioned “Excellent scores in SAT may create scholarship opportunities at universities and colleges in the USA and elsewhere.” These ideas look good on paper.”
Some students may be fortunate enough to gain scholarships and pursue qualifications in areas that will benefit the development of Barbados. But after graduating they are confronted with the reality that they are no employment opportunities available to them here.
Another reality is we have a situation in Barbados, as Bushie also alluded to, where many companies are owned by regional and international interest.
As it stands now, they are many individuals graduating from university with degrees in disciplines such as Banking and Finance, Accounting and Hotel Management.
Yet, each time after I read a vacancy advertisement from CIBC FirstCaribbean, SoctiaBank, Deloitte, Price Waterhouse Coopers, KPMG and Sandy Lane, I would subsequently read a notice stating they did not receive any suitable applications, and it is their intension to apply for a work permit for a non-national to fill the position.
“To add fuel to fire”, Sandals Barbados’ management is predominantly from Jamaica and other countries, and will benefit, at the expense of tax payers, from waivers of:
(b) All import duties, taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on all vehicles required for the operation of the hotel including vehicles assigned to senior managers.
(f) All import duties, taxes, imposts and levies of any nature whatsoever on personal and household effects and vehicles for staff who are contracted to work in Barbados and are not citizens or permanent residents of Barbados.
How do you think situations like these would make a graduate with the requisite experience in the hotel industry feel, if he gained, for example, his post graduate degree in Hotel Management, through a scholarship from “universities and colleges in the USA and elsewhere,” or at UWI, and his training, experience and qualifications are deemed to be unsuitable, just because that company wants to hire a non-national. Especially knowing “full well,” because of dependency, they have the government’s “balls in their hands.”
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de Ingrunt Word
Solid presentation by Mr Blackman. Absolutely, on track re realignment of key metrics at the 11-plus stage particularly re language, sports and tech focus. I think it is fair to say that in many cases some of this has been ongoing for several years but done individually by parents (and community leaders) who clearly understood the nexus of these skills and opportunities down the road for scholarships in US (in particular). So Blackman’s call for it to be done as a national policy makes good sense.
That Billie’s policy has been savaged over the years and as much as I understand the criticisms I cannot 100% agree that it itself it has caused some of the issues that the critics has laid at its feet. There is a case to be made for single sex schools but equally a strong case to be made for coed.
Blackman crystalizes our rather strange perspective of education when he alludes to kids who don’t have five or six academic CXCs but good manual, conceptual and creative skills as being labelled “underperformers” and “failures”. In a world where carpenters, mechanics and skilled craftsman generally are more ‘sustainable’ than the average college grad it is still amazing that we funnel our youth into those ridiculous ‘cubby holes’; but we do.
I thought there had been a concerted effort over the years to rectify that but maybe I am mistaken.
We should have turned that corner many years ago and now in an era where coding, programming and other tech skills are in high demand, in addition to the aforementioned craftsman skills it would be a beyond strange that our local ed system has not responded to that trend (now over 15 – 20 years in the making).
Thoughtful perspectives; change and refocus certainly needed.
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Bush Tea
@ David
Surely the world has morphed to a more complex place where education is a prerequisite to augmenting survival skills economic and social?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What is more complicated about today’s world in that regard?
Economic and social survival (success) is tied to control of assets ..and the vision to put those assets to productive use…. FULL STOP.
No damn need for any ‘education’, lotta training, or long talk.
Any jackass who controls assets, has a vision, and works hard can be successful.
The Middle east was poor as shiite until they gained control of oil…
The Iraqis and Libyans were some of the best educated people on earth ..and are now poor as shiite after losing control of their assets.
Trickidadians now run things in the Caribbean BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THEIR ASSETS …even while displaying some of the most idiotic politics and social dynamics anywhere…
There is no more complexity at all….
What we are seeing now is the SAME SHIITE as back in the days of slavery, where we are ceding control of our assets to foreigners. We will again end up as chattel – no matter how many damn degrees Sir Cave hand out to brass bowls.
..the only REAL difference now is that we are being led into this colossal national idiocy by people on whom we spent millions of dollars to ‘educate’ their tails…
…at least our foreparents were overpowered with gunpowder and subterfuge …and did not claim to be educated…
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Shaft
I’m a UK trained expert in Education… I’ve spent over 30 years developing various models of curriculums. I’ve taught Secondary, Tertiary and Higher Education… I became Principal of one the largest Academies in London (UK). I’m now semi-retired and living here in Barbados. The so called experts on Education here are not interest in anyone from overseas, with vast amounts of knowledge and understanding, telling them how to do things…! I’m still waiting for an appointment with the Minister for Education 18 months on after he pleaded with the people to help reform the education system…! Ah well, off I go to London, for 3 months, to help develop new strategies for Special Needs Children…! God knows Barbados could with some help…!
A simple example close to home: the language of business requires an understanding driven by business education. Interacting with industry partners, acquiring loans etc it is a must.
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Bush Tea
@ David
…the language of business requires an understanding driven by business education. Interacting with industry partners, acquiring loans etc it is a must.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
…says who?
…not the OWNERS of assets?
Who sets the criteria? Who makes the selections?
Not the OWNERS of assets?
Here is an assignment for you…
Check the CVs of many of the second class jokers who are sent down here to run what used to be OUR businesses …and who then set these ‘criteria’ for Bajan employment, for required skills etc…
Skippa…
The ONLY really important criterion is OWNERSHIP….
…those who are forced to run around seeking to make themselves presentable and acceptable in hope of attracting the attention and largesse of the owners, are nothing more than beggars at the gate…
Think Bushie would sell his home to some damn foreigner and leave his children in the position of having to meet all kinds of ridiculous criteria in order to rent a room…?
…only brass bowls do such things.
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Dompey
Shaft
I don’t how to say this without being accused of being controversial, but what you have alluded to above regarding the unwillingness of those who are charged with the academics affairs in Barbados is a trend one sees throughout the island.
@ Bush Tea
I shall counter your unintelligible argument by saying that some forty or so years ago, India was amongst the poorest country in the world, but due to new innovations in its academic-system, today India produces a workforce that is second none.
Who do you think commands that most influence in the High-Tech industry in this country? Who are countered amongst some of the best doctors in this country?
American Corporations now outsource a lot of the telemarketing work to India, and not because it is cheaper to do business there , but because these people have the necessary High-Tech Skills that the average American worker does not have. The same High-Tech jobs President Obama was talking about creating during his first presidential run.
And consequently, if you walk down any major American city street today, you would see a new trend emerging; the contracted High-Tech Indian worker, who are housed round and about these major cities by these American corporations. And this is all due to the India government foresight regarding its innovations in its educational system.
Intel was in Barbados because it was cheaper to do business there. Intel was in Barbados because of the reputation Barbados had had as the most progressive educational system in the Caribbean sir.
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Bush Tea
It would be interesting to hear what Mr/Ms Shaft proposes to bring to the Bajan education table at this time?
The British experience is one of having spent centuries exploiting the peoples of this world driven by an attitude of superiority and dominance ….and of now having to adjust to the reality of their relative insignificance…..while the Bajan experience is one of having been subjected to demeaning, self-depreciating slavery…leaving a state of low self-esteem, and almost self-hatred akin to a state of brass bowlery.
Only someone who has been freed from the mental slavery that binds our people, and who UNDERSTANDS true history and legacy of the black race on this earth, can help to heal education in Barbados….
…best for you to help with those new strategies for special needs children in London boss…
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Bush Tea
@ Dompey
You duplicitous liar…
You deceitful low-life.. You have been lying ever since coming to BU under all the various names you have used to pen your idiocy…
Mean you can’t keep a simple promise…? Were you not LEAVING…?
shiite man, you are a parasite of the worse kind….
Have you EVER been to India?….
Go …and come back and tell us what you think…. BB!
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Dompey
Bush Tea
Let’s not going down that road again sir. Let me make this simple for you sir, now you have alleged that I am lying right? Then provide me the evidence to support your claim that I am lying? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, so provide me the evidence to the contrary and I shall kindly admit that I am a liar.
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Bush Tea
You said you were LEAVING Dompey …and you are still here …and this is a whole new month… 🙂
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Dompey
And by the way Bushie: I have visited India on two occasions sir. I have been in the United States Army for six years that ought to tell you something sir.
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Dompey
Bush Tea I am here to be your Achilles heel sir. You don’t like me deal with it brother. I am a Bajan like you and I have alright to be on this blog so get use to it sir.
OK lot of commentary .Now let’s take a close look at Barrow Model one grounded in complete ownership propelled by an educated work force and see if it could withstand the forces of globalization
In believe it could !borne out of the simple reasons that a different Barbados would have emerged … A Barbados that would have been physchologically deprogrammed from the trappings of a master slave mentality and free to express a willingness and a desire to be self reliant in the same way there forefathers did.
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lawson
dompey …. army intelligence …. an oxymoron if ever I heard it, having gone to india you would know reincarnation is making a comeback….although when you die you just change your blog name
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Dompey
Lawson, I am quite serious about the discussion involving our educational system, so can you please do me a big favour and cease and desist from infusing the blog with your useless garbage. Lawson, my question is this: if we refuse to look abroad for workable solutions to enhance or revamp our educational-system where else can we.
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Bush Tea
LOL @ Lawson
“…when you die you just change your blog name”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ha ha ha … mean like when a fella called ‘Fenty’ decided to quit with BU …and lo and behold one Dompey was reincarnated …?
@ Dompey
What Achilles heel what?!? shiite fella…!!!
You are more like a haemorrhoid .. a pain in the ‘dompey’…. that leaves your victims feeling much better when they think that you are gone… but you keep coming back.. 🙁
But to be honest, Bushie is glad that you did not have the courage to run from BU. You play a vital role in keeping us focused on the kind of people we have running the damn country…. You, Ac and now Alvin… and of the hopelessness of our present state..
Without the opportunity to interact with people of wunna ilk, regular bloggers may have concluded that there was some kind of limit on the level of idiocy that is possible from grown adults….
It is clearly boundless…. as will be even more evident in coming months…
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Hants
@Bushie,
Too far east is west.
You are a moron.
Dompey is a highly intelligent person
David I hope you allow me the same opportunity to respond to Bush Trea continual disrespect? Now Bushie, do you care to share your name with the wider BU readership? I guess not because your selfless-service of lugging Grantley Adams briefcase around Barbados would reveal who you really are.
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lawson
You can change your system, you can have trades instead of university , but the end result is the jobs are not there and probably wont be, nobody is building, oil sucks, fishing lol, banking its under scrutiny old fellas aint leaving there jobs to let young ones in because they need them to live. No ..if you cant accept the tried and true step and fetch for a living you have to start a war….Lichtenstein or Monaco..maybe doable
That is why the educational-system needs to be directed towards the high-tech jobs which are in great demand here in the States.
Now, all of the literature that I have read told me that the reason why Intel chose Barbados was primarily, for the high level of education there, and not solely for operational cost.
Intel subsequently relocated to Asia where the operational is cheap than that of Barbados, and where the population have the necessary high-tech skills that their were obviously looking for. Barbadians have to market themselves in the same way as the East Indians have, to attract the interest of the large corporation.
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Exclaimer
@ Walter Blackman,
Did you really say “……Certainly, our educational system is flawed, and needs to undergo some adjustments…..”?
This statement is revealing and explains in full why Barbados is in the departure lounge, waiting – patiently – for the undertaker to carry out his ordained duties.
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pieceuhderockyeahright
@ Venerable Blogmaster,
I think I posted an article that spoke to Bush Tea, Blackman and Shaft just after you posted earlier today but I don’t see it, just wondering…
Curious about what you have reported, there is no evidence of a comment posted. Tell us more.
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Bush Tea
@ Hants
Even though Bushie is indeed a moron, that in itself, is not enough to elevate Domps to ‘highly intelligent’ status…. 🙂
…well – at least not in the eyes of his ‘life-saver’ neighbour …LOL ha ha ha
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Artaxerxes
I don’t want to deviate from the topic to focus on Intel, but to suggest that the relocated to Asia “where the population have the necessary high-tech skills that their [they] were obviously looking for,” is not entirely correct.
Intel’s closure was basically a financial decision rather than a decision based on the qualification requirements of the company’s employees, especially since those employees benefited from a significant amount of training in countries such as the Philippines.
According to an article written by Donna K. H. Walters in the August 6, 1986 edition of the Los Angeles Times, headlined: “Workers in Barbados, Puerto Rico Affected: Intel to Lay Off 1,320 at Caribbean Plants,” Intel decision to lay off employees from its operations in Barbados and Puerto Rico was based primarily on the company accumulating loses from its Caribbean operations.
“Intel said Tuesday that it will lay off 1,320 workers at its Caribbean operations, the latest in a series of job cutbacks at the computer chip maker in the past 18 months.”
“The layoffs will occur between now and the end of the year. Intel will shut down its Barbados plant, which employs 900 in the ASSEMBLY of SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS.”
Intel Chairman Gordon E. Moore was reported as having said: “Intel is the largest employer on Barbados”, and “We particularly regret the impact this will have on our employees, WHOSE PERFORMANCE AND COMMITMENT TO INTEL HAVE BEEN SUPERB.”
“The remaining 420 layoffs will be at its Puerto Rico manufacturing operations. However, Intel will retain 450 workers at its systems manufacturing division there.”
“An Intel spokeswoman called the latest action a further step in the slimming-down process that Intel began during that slump. Last year, it shut down two plants that did WAFER FABRICATION–a PROCESS THAT PRECEDES WORK done at the Caribbean facilities.”
“Industry analysts, too, see the move as continuing a restructuring process that has turned the technology-oriented company into a manufacturing powerhouse. Intel has doubled assembly productivity in the past year and expects to double it again in another two years.”
“A recently signed trade pact between the United States and Japan is expected to bring higher prices for some chips, which will aid Intel and other domestic semiconductor makers. But Intel still has excess manufacturing capacity and needs improved demand as well to push it back into profitability.”
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Artaxerxes
Another article published in the August 6, 1986 edition of the New York Times under the caption “INTEL WILL LAY OFF 1,300 EMPLOYEES” also “spoke” to the issue:
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5— The Intel Corporation, a semiconductor manufacturer based in Santa Clara, Calif., said today that it would phase out its plant in Barbados, laying off about 900 employees over the next several months. The company said it also plans to lay off about 420 employees in Puerto Rico by year-end.
Intel said it expects these actions to result in a charge of $35 million to $45 million against third-quarter results. The company did not offer an estimate for the third quarter, but it lost $20 million in the second quarter, ended June 28, on revenues of $305 million. The third-quarter charge would primarily reflect the diminished value of buildings in Barbados as well as severance costs and costs incurred in moving equipment.
”We have been investing steadily in manufacturing improvement programs for a number of years, and the resulting increased productivity, coupled with a slow recovery of demand for our products, left us with substantial excess capacity that contributed to our net loss of $42.5 million” for the first half of 1986, Gordon E. Moore, Intel’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.
Dr. Moore said a variety of short-term measures to balance capacity and demand, such as shorter workweeks and temporary plant shutdowns, had not been adequate. The company said it had doubled its productivity per worker during the past year and expected to double it again in the coming year, leaving it with substantial overcapacity.
With the shutdown of the Barbados plant, WHICH WAS USED FOR COMPONENT AND SYSTEM ASSEMBLY, Intel will no longer have operations there. In Puerto Rico, the company is phasing out a test facility that accounts for 300 employees, and it will cut 120 jobs in component assembly. The company said it would continue to employ about 450 people in systems manufacturing in Puerto Rico.
Adam F. Cuhney, an analyst with Kidder, Peabody & Company in San Francisco, CALLED THE CLOSING ”ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THE INDUSTRY’S POOR HEALTH” but said it would be a good move for Intel. ”In the next 12 to 18 months, Intel will probably be the best positioned for a recovery of any of the semiconductor companies,” he added.
The International Business Machines Corporation, the nation’s largest computer company, owns a 20 percent stake in Intel.
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lawson
Dompey what are you saying ?? is trump not building a wall to stop people coming in and taking jobs from your unemployed? I waited in a line at Barbados scotia a few weeks back and it was painful to watch and had the other lemmings laughing when I suggested that a casket salesman could make a good living just from us dying in line. Getting bajans up to speed may be a slow process
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TheObserver
A very interesting article and some good comments from the first ‘responders’. Surprised that it degenerated into a personal battle.
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SuckaBubby
Everybody want a job but nobody aint want nuh wuck!
Barbados needs to develop a society of professionals.Each man , each woman to their calling.Jobs are just political pieces on the chessboard.3000 people can testify to that!
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Hants
@Bush Tea, who wrote ” elevate Domps to ‘highly intelligent’ status”.
……..Only in the context of the bajanism that “too far east is west”, lol
Listen barbados was built upon the labor and hard work of an able bodied society,complete and competent of being innovators and self reliant, resilient and resistant people, Not waiting and hoping for others to make things happen but drew from an inner will of strength vowing not to let anything stand in their way to achieve,
There was the brick layer, The electrician. The plumber , The baker , the teacher /social worker . the mechanic, the shopkeeper, the boat builder . the mason the carpenter, the nurse, the policeman. a poor uneducated nation but with a source of wealth disposed of by poor people to build a nation
Now in the long term Barbados must catch up with an technological educated world all because some one /s did not have the vision to seize ! secure! and control the knowledge of our forefathers using that knowledge as the measuring stick and the foundation of an emerging barbados and transferring that knowledge unto the newer generation,
Instead gave up on its people throw away the baton. raise hands in the air and surrender to a source which was foreign and known only unto themselves .
Now a barbados sitting on the back burner and asking”what must we do”
How do we adjust our educational system/ are u kidding. do you expect a Barbados who in now a lover of materialistic and easy way of life to adjust their thinking, hell would freeze over,
Firstly every mother or father want there child to be a professional, No dirty hands like being an agricultural scientist, too much Sweat, ,yes one of the dying areas of barbados education.
How about the youth on the bloc does one expect him to re-adjust his/her thinking whereby having to give up a fifty dollar an hour illegal drug trade as a business Yes i say business because that is where he/she makes a livelihood in favor of returning to school for five or more years to earn a degree and then be told to start from the bottom with minimum wage, blasted wasted years they will say.
Oh on the subject of education and minimum wage have any body thought that most of the illegal trade business pays more money than an legal enterprise and most of the youth is attracted to money and not degrees
How about adjust a pay scale as an incentive / /one which will attract the youth attention with a riveting affect sufficient enough with a positive goal giving the youth a fifty fifty chance of returning to school fully satisfied that when their five or so years of college is over they can feed themselves and family and would not be force to return to a life of crime
If Trump should ever get elected, it would be in his best interest to keep the borders wide open. Because lets us be serious for one moment: what kind of employment do you real think that these South Americans and Mexicans who crosses the borders illegally are really taking from the Americans? The agricultural and menial jobs that the average American black and white won’t even be caught dead doing.
Listen! Trump like any other republican knows that the GOP position on immigration doesn’t favour the Hispanic community, so his hard-line on immigration does not suprise me at all.
The Republican Party position on immigration appeals to the white conservative republican, so it would be in his best interest to act as though he is strong on immigration, to capture the vote of the conservative republican.
Trump, isn’t intelligent enough to formulate a message which would appeal to both the Hispanic community and the white conservative republican without offending
the base.
AC
That was an excellent analysis of the evolution of the Barbadian society.
Can you give me a definition of the word intelligent without
googling for the answer Hants? Now I hope you do not take affront with what I am about to ask you? Do you not intend to grow up? Or will you remain the instigator in the playing-ground? You have long left the base and you are now on a steady decline from the summit.
I must agree to some extent with your interpretation of those 3000 expendable governmental employees.
But those 3000 unemployed workers also tells me that there was a heavy reliance on the governmental-sector, and that there is a pressing need for the private-sector to assume a much greater role in the Barbadian economy.
It further indicates that government was too big in this first place because if a government can layoff 3000 of its employees and still function reasonably effective, then this layoff was probably warranted in the first place.
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Exclaimer
@ AC,
Your recent comments are very reasonable. Mr Blackman is living in a fool’s paradise if he believes that our system of education requires slight tweaking. Let’s get real:no amount of tweaking will salvage our decline.
I know that some of you will not admit it but I believe that Barbados is beyond resuscitation.
I say, time for us to pull the plug on Barbados; or we take the advice of our Brother Piece and we commence the revolution. Which one is it going to be?
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Walter Blackman
Bush Tea September 1, 2015 at 7:33 AM #
@ Walter
“At what point did you establish the relationship between ‘Education’ and sustainable jobs?
Bushie would love to see such a correlation.”
Bush Tea,
Clearly you jest.
Part of my view of ‘education’ embraces the acquisition of solid academic or technical qualifications in the individual’s chosen area of study or interest, reinforced by on-the-job training and experience. That is the view I would project to your 19 year-old son or daughter, or mine.
For example, let us say that there is a global need for an additional 1 million doctors annually.
We have a lot of young people, intellectually gifted, showing interest in becoming doctors. Their dreams have been clouded by the recent imposition of burdensome fees. Additionally, we are hearing loud rumblings to the effect that the QEH cannot accommodate all of these young doctors coming through the system. Presumably, the Barbadian market for doctors has reached full capacity. So here we are, as a country, getting ready to push a potentially scarce international human resource towards “the block”.
On the other hand, there are Barbadian doctors who had long recognized that health care is not evenly distributed in the USA. So they used their medical training at UWI to gain entry into the USA medical system. Today, having meandered their way, they now work as doctors throughout the USA.
We need to tap into the experience of these doctors to see if we can create a road map to help some of our young doctors who successfully complete their medical education and training at UWI to continue with their medical career in the USA.
Using the experience and expertise of Barbadians who have “walked the walk” to create opportunities for our youngsters who want to do more than “talk the talk” is also an important part of our ‘education’.
If Barbadians landed a thousand, out of the one million global jobs for doctors, then our collective ‘education’ would have helped to create sustainable jobs for Barbadians.
This example looked at doctors, but there are many other professions and trades that could have been used to make the point.
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Walter Blackman
Artaxerxes September 1, 2015 at 9:15 AM #
@ Walter
“What provisions you would suggest should be made for those students who are not academically inclined, rather than the old method of “sending them to learn a trade?””
Artaxerxes,
Remember, we would be broadening the student’s interests at the primary level. For example, suppose a student doesn’t do very well in the 11+ English and Math exam, but he has captained his primary school’s cricket team, and was the top batsman in the primary schools’ competition.
Suppose that Combermere is the top secondary school in cricket. Guess which school this talented cricketer will get a chance to go to?
After secondary school, it is hoped that he would play for a top division club, for the University cricket team, for Barbados, and finally the West Indies where he will begin to earn money.
A path had been opened up to him from as early as age 11 that led to the West Indies team. He only needed to provide the talent, commitment, and dedication.
You can apply this concept to students with ability in art, music, the performing arts, computer applications. However, a pathway must be mapped out that leads to earning money at the end.
The point I am making here is that we need to identify gifted (in non-academic areas) students early at the primary level, and get them to the secondary school that can best develop that talent. If students are gifted with their hands, the sooner we get them to work with them, the better. I must admit that there are financial constraints which will limit how much non-academic areas we can cater to.
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pieceuhderockyeahright
@ David [BU]
De Ole Man been having a problem with the ole computer as with all things de IPAD doing strange tings.
Chrome crashing regularly but i feel that apple doing dat pun purpose causing nobody doan use Safari but besides the fact that after say two pages of a blog here on BU if i click on an article it does not go to that article it only goes to the penultimate page then I have to click on newer comments and press the “down key” to see that post
No in that post I made the observation that
a) Walter’s article was thought provoking but
b) Bust Tea really in his inimitable style put a “in living colour” spin on it that spoke to what is really going on on the ground, the serious disconnect that we Brass Bowls are encouraging as we replace Massah with Massey
I recall saying that a few others might have sought to tackle this topic here on BU and made particular reference to how this article has more serious thought and depth to it than that of Grenville Philips III which was shalllow as he make his promotions for the new solution for Barbados and what our Education needs to be.
DE ole man want on to say that he agree wid de pint bout de irrepable damage that Billie Miller made to the education structure of Barbados when she instituted co-education to our schools in a society where co-habiting sexes in schools was NOT THE WAY TO GO AT THAT TIME.
I then mentioned that it would appear that sonorous voices, hers and Mia’s and those of Steve Blackett and John Whisper Boyce ARE ERRONEOUSLY INTERPRETED by the electorate as wisdom yet history has show us that they are not.
Certainly with regard to Mia’s tenure as Minister of Education while she is light years ahead of “The Chilrun are is learning well” Ronald We Jonesing, she too has shown her intellectual paucity with the famous one day off for all the schools to go see Edwin Yearwood at Sherbourne and the Eduteck fiasco to some, millionaire maker for others Illuminat and Hose & Hose.
De Ole man could continue to tek pot shots at the various “actors” who have come and gone and have PHVCKED UP the system royally simply because they do not know what they are doing
The ole man could mention that the remark by Shaft regarding a desire to assist which slowly gives way to not really giving a jobby and finally packing up and leaving is par for the course because we need to realise that these “actors” SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!
So what am I suggesting?
Do I continue to cry the sky is falling or propose a solution?
I am reliably informed that a white man came to Bulbados the other day, a millionaire, Melnyk, who, because he did not want his kids to societ with the natives, decided to Build Own Lease and Teach and his built to purpose Providence Private School (We ent going axe de question how many uh we going to that elite institution is we?)
But more to the point why is it in the face of what is obviously such a poor educational model Black mens whom we laud as men who are stalwarts of our nation, Harry Hoyte, Lavon Gibbs, Proper Pork, Brandford and de rest uh dems (not to be confused with DEMS) dont do a Melnyk and invest in our own elitist school AND SHOW THESE PHVCKERS that IT CAN BE DONE and that a curriculum can be effected that WILL MEK A DIFFERENCE!!
De Ole Man does get tired talking when de day come rather when de night come bout self determination and Jes Doing IT instead uh talking bout it.
But that would mean that we did was had men wid balls and wumen who serious bout we cuntry and right now we is jes talkers.. (note dat de ole man did say we)
Thanks for reconstructing that last comment. Brillant!
We like the last piece:
But more to the point why is it in the face of what is obviously such a poor educational model Black mens whom we laud as men who are stalwarts of our nation, Harry Hoyte, Lavon Gibbs, Proper Pork, Brandford and de rest uh dems (not to be confused with DEMS) dont do a Melnyk and invest in our own elitist school AND SHOW THESE PHVCKERS that IT CAN BE DONE and that a curriculum can be effected that WILL MEK A DIFFERENCE!!
We know you know the answer. There is nothing these fellows like more than their guts, a piece and you know what.
At the end of the day when all have been educated whether one becomes a professional craftsman or computer engineers the nation still need innovators coming out of all these areas . The question still remains how does a fully equipped educated society transfer whatever knoweldge acquired into action/?
Yes i agree that all children are not genetically engineered to absorb the acadmeics of generalize education ,therefore it is necessary for educators to take the “cue” and use applicable learning tools that would be beneficial in the areas of education for the child with a deficiency to higher scholastic learning,
However at the end of the learning years when all are given a certification of “proof” of knoweldge, there still remains the daunting reality that living in a global market requires more than certification and not all would be successful in acquiring the relevant or high paying job or for that matter “a Job” which means that a smaller but significant percentage would be left out and that percentage no matter how small it would be remains susceptible of failing or falling through the cracks .
The question now must be asked how does govt fill in the blanks in avoiding a pitfall of social decay after spending million of dollars trying to plug the holes of an educated system.
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pieceuhderockyeahright
Wunna dun know dat de ole man does try not to sleep when de night come cause “The Harbingen of Death” does come when a man sleeping and whaplax so de ole man does be up and awake tuh fight it bad.
But de ole man did was went tuh de Providence Website and jes tek a look around
Under de PTA section de ole man was did reading “By default as a parent or guardian of a Providence child, you can volunteer for PTA programmes and events…”
It go on to say “However, in order to vote on annual PTA Board representation you must be A RECOGNIZED MEMBER by completing the attached PTA Membership form stating your desire to participate and also to vote on PTA related matters and to return this form to the Providence Main Office.”
Membership is free
Now besides the non-agreement between subject and verb and the incorrect use of “and” in this sentence dere is three things dat de ole man notice bout dis institution dat melnyk done built
1) Dere is no “Admission Requirements” Information posted
2) Dere is no “Online Application” forms available for eider de primary or de secondary school applicants and of course de ole man dun already say dat
3) Dere ent no membership by which one can become part uh de PTA Membership to participate AND also to vote on PTA related matters AND to return this form to the Providence Main Office
De ole man does wunder doah.
We niggers got to be real blind when we CANNOT SEE the sign on the wall, the one that never left the one which says “No coloureds or DOGS allowed”
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