St.John Polyclinic, a Case of Political Corruption
It rings hollow for sensible Barbadians to be expected to applaud government for completing the St. John Polyclinic 27 long years after it was first mooted. It is no mistake we have not referred to it by its official name, a subject for another blog.
[…]
Perhaps if we were building a gasification plant or some other complex that required a very technical design the long period taken could have been reasonably explained. To have demanded airtime from CBC TV to broadcast the opening ceremony was a blatant disregard for the intelligence of Barbadians. Of course the obvious PR event would have served to make the DLP yard fowls crow.
It is also worth the mention that the construction of the St. John Polyclinic straddled both political parties. This fact ensures that the clinic deserves to be remembered as the proverbial political football of all projects in our post Independence period so far. The BU household is pleased nevertheless the East is to be served by a state of the art health delivery unit so described at the opening by member of parliament for the constituency Mara Thompson (by the way Mara, the dibby dibby outfit worn by Oya was in poor taste for the event, especially compared to you, Esther and Maria). However, the willingness of BOTH political parties to have played politics with healthcare delivery should be of bigger concern.
In all the political rhetoric being spewed, how many will ask why has the clinic taken so long to be completed. How many will ask what is the final cost to tax payers. How many will ask how will we prevent a recurrence by those entrusted to guard the public purse. How many will ask if the decision to complete the clinic aligns with a sustainable health care delivery strategy in Barbados.
What do we know about the dollars expensed by the government so far to shore up the legacy of the dearly departed David Thompson.
BU research reveals the original estimate to build the clinic was 16 million dollars and the final cost appears to be about 30 million dollars. The research further reveals it was originally to have been completed by this government in November 2012 when Donville Inniss was minister of Health yet here we are three years hence and a reported 100% overruns to add to the inefficiency. Does this mean the DLP government does not have the moral and other authority to challenge the BLP on overrun projects of the past?
Those who had the opportunity to peek at the facility know the government will have to add to the 8 million dollar supplementary of 2015 and the several others tabled in previous years to properly equip the clinic to deliver the state of the art health delivery Mara Thompson boasted about yesterday (20 November 2015). The financial gymnastics of this government has become legendary. The government would have known final cost associated with the completion of the project in the 2015 financial year yet it is obvious it has purposely decided to go the supplementaries route. The decision to defer was obviously designed to massage the deficit number and deceive the ignorant. This is what is meant when some declare we cannot trust the Central Bank and by extension the minister of finance Chris Sinckler when speaking to the financial state of the Barbados economy. How many other projects have similar political decisions impacted.
It brings us to the matter of the 100% cost overrun of the St. John Polyclinic. Unfortunately the wing of the Auditor General is clipped and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is deserving of its earned reputation as another ineffective committee of parliament – a failing of the governance model fiercely defended by the traditionalist which has been exposed as irrelevant to the times. The opening of the St. John Polyclinic serves as an opportunity to review the wastage of public funds with zero accountability over the years by both political parties.
Why as an educated people we should accept that the project has incurred 100% overrun and there is no vociferous call by ALL Barbadians to account for every cent spent on the project from start to ‘finish’. The passive manner Barbadians appear to accept the cavalier approach by successive governments to table supplementaries to cover overruns needs to be challenged in a new dispensation. We all know the current system encourages corruption and successive governments have been unwilling to slam the door on the sucking of the nipples of the fatted calf, the greedy lot!
One is left to question why the planners of the clinic decided to construct a mill wall costing hundreds of thousand of dollars at a time when government is strapped for cash. Shouldn’t common sense have dictated the construction of such a wall – at this time – scrapped from the design? Who is the project manager representing government who approved the construction of a mill wall. Who will explain to taxpayers why an irrelevant part of the design was approved given its significant cost. We have allowed our governments to be too cavalier with spending dollars from the public purse. It is OUR money NOT theirs. There appears to be no legislative philosophy to create tension on members of parliament to reduce the deficit devoid of financial gymnastics. Future generations will have to contend with a 9 billion dollar deficit and what do we have to show for it given the incremental increase in the last 6 years?
Last week Caswell Franklyn column we discussed the challenge posed by government not ratifying (enacting in local law) treaties/convention signed. In 2003 Barbados signed the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the time is now to lobby for its ratification. The time has come for a new way to manage the business of government. The Political Class needs to be disrupted by a new way of doing business. We the PEOPLE must insist. The Barbados Labour Party as the government in waiting has an obligation to show the population it is prepared to depart from the cronyism of the past. Mia Mottley has the opportunity to infuse the political landscape with an optimism to stem rising political cynicism.
Governments of the past had access to largess the umbrella of preferential treatment afforded, it is a different time. We have to suck from the knowledge pool our significant investment in education gives us.
Barbados Underground 
Can anyone locate the operational cost in the last budget or in any supplementary since then for the polyclinic?
LikeLike
@David;
The Polyclinic was mooted over twenty years ago. The BLP was in power for 15 years. They have been in opposition for the past seven years. The BLP has chairmanship of the PAC. Matter fixed.
Polyclinic opened. Dog dead! Polyclinic named after David Thompson, Appropriate!
LikeLike
@Alvin Cummins
It would be remiss of BU if we did not express our disappointment at your lack of questioning given yoru purported involvement in Public Unity Hearings in Barbados. Your reluctance to question this government on governance and related issues exposes you for a political yard fowl. You may have the final word.
LikeLike
@Alvin Cummins November 20, 2015 at 9:27 AM #
I find this thing very suspicious.
You found David’s blog on a consumer’s complaint against Metal Craft “very suspicious”. Anything suspicious about the St. John Polyclinic, sorry let me give it its proper name the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex.
Any steel in dey?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alvin…how much did it cost the taxpayers I beieve that is fair question and they have the right to know it’s their money paid for the clinic.
LikeLike
The naked and most revealing truth shows clearly thst the Blp foot soldiers have sorely lost their souls along with digging a hole to bury themselves.
Does the benefits outweigh the cost that is the quesion.Not the diversion and devious attempts of political opportunist being the rider on which to place and question cost.
The long and short of the story are those question asking who will the clinic benefit and who are the beneficiaries
LikeLike
“IT’S BEEN almost three decades in the making, but yesterday the people of St John, and St Joseph, St Philip and St George, too, finally got their polyclinic.”
That is the opening line in the Nation’s story on this polyclinic. It is very telling!! That we believe a polyclinic located at the Glebe is a good investment shows our lack of strategic thinking and disregard for value for money.
“..their polyclinic”?
LikeLike
Political play on words. Th poliicians would much prefer the people to believe that Thompson, his wife and Fruendl built the clinic from their owñ pockets and so would Alvin, it fits into their nasty vote pimping plans.
Which ever party builds a sandcastle in Barbados, the taxpayers pay for the building and own it. Which ever foreign country builds hotels, airports etc in Barbados, bajans not even born yet will be paying for it and own it……..they use the taxpayers money to perpetrate political pimping and would be happy if bajans never found out…..right Alvin.
LikeLike
Enuff
I hope the day your BLP scoundrels ever decide to finish Greenland……they will remember to inscribe your damn name on the plaque…..as a stark reminder to all of your staunch support for garbage!
LikeLike
The WTE would be up and perking Fractured, no need for Greenland.
LikeLike
@ David,
The “Mill wall” is the most Architecturally pleasing external element of the building.
No project this size should take more than 2 years to build in Barbados.
It is only the incompetence OR political interference of the 2 political parties that caused this debacle. 27 years ?
Most of the Architects, Engineers and project managers are competent and qualified.
Only government interference caused a 2 year project to take 27 YEARS.
LikeLike
By the way, the dibby dibby outfit worn by Oya look like she was pick up on BaySt and somebody lend her a jacket , maybe the attired was a rebellious act and the smiling was self amusing, I await the ACs
LikeLike
Hants…that’s a real shame, disgusting that the current party is proud and the sidekick party is angry that they are not in the spotlight to be proud too. A real sideshow filled with idiots. I don’t know how they could be so proud of wasting taxpayer’s money for 27 years….must be something in the water.
LikeLike
@David, Well Well, Miller and any applicable Yard ducks;
The Cost? Check the estimates of expenditure and add in any supplementaries.
It is the peoples’ money? It is their Polyclinic to be used by them. Not by people from Mars.
It did not require 27 years to build, but the indifference of the party that held the reins of power for 15 years delayed its building. The negative nabobs can’t say that this promise was not kept. Many more promises will be kept. We have the patience
From the days of slavery the Plantation bell, the windmill, and these symbols have to be shown to remind people of where we came from. It is aesthetic and appropriate.
Dibby Dibby minds would concentrate on the Dibby Dibby skirt. Very small!
Be specific about the “steel in day.” Contractor? Bajen. Worker? Bajen. Trucker? Bajen.
All Bajan money…circulating. Cost? Paid workers in Barbados.
Well Well, go to Mars. At the moment that is the only place you will not find “steel in dey.” Not saying it is right and should be encouraged, but we live in a real world, not the utopia your mind envisions.
As the young people are won’t to say; “Get real.”
Why do you people concentrate on what your grand children will be paying for? Let them look after themselves when the time comes. Do you know what WE are paying for from before? Concentrate on today and let the future look after itself when the “future” comes.
@David:
Re the last word; your skirt (red? Libby Dibby? ) is showing.
LikeLike
@ Fractured BLP November 21, 2015 at 3:28 PM #
“Enuff
I hope the day your BLP scoundrels ever decide to finish Greenland……they will remember to inscribe your damn name on the plaque…..as a stark reminder to all of your staunch support for garbage!”
No need to inscribe his name on that toffee-less sinkhole when there is Cahill WTE for easy pickings. After all, that is what you have done to the Boardwalk on the South Coast.
Richie Haynes would have been proud of the St. John Health & Social Complex being named after him. Even Edwy Talma would have been proud of a little recognition in Christ Church instead of Richie the Snow White Prime Minister who never was.
So when are you going to name something after George Fergusson? Why not the Sugar Point Cruise Terminal?
LikeLike
@ ac November 21, 2015 at 2:09 PM #
“Does the benefits outweigh the cost that is the quesion.Not the diversion and devious attempts of political opportunist being the rider on which to place and question cost.”
Should such a sound Cost/Benefit Analysis also be applied to the Dodds prison? The very prison you and the Governor of the Central Bank have been blaming over the past 7 years for the dwindling foreign reserves?
Which is most important? A hotel or a country-side polyclinic or a PRISON?
You decide!
LikeLike
Wait ..they name it after a thief? Cuhdear…
Congrats to the people of St John, pity it gine be stained by the name!
Why not somebody dat wasn’t a lying tiefing scoundrel?
Clico invoices like manna for the degenerate they named it after.
No wonder the youth ain’t got no respect for the “tiefing class”.
LikeLike
LikeLike
The disrespect for the edifice name after the lying crook is showed by his own daughter’s attire at the opening
LikeLike
So far not a concern by commenters that neither political party has promised to make anti corruption laws a priority. This government promised but it was for the comfort if only fools. The media to be expected is being pushed towards the popular issues often manufactured by the politicians and cohorts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Watchman et al,
Leave the young lady alone. She is not responsible for the sins of her parents if any.
LikeLike
@David, ” promised to make anti corruption laws a priority”
Another 27 years ????
Politicians and big ups do not want the public to know what they are worth. plain and simple. Too many layers of connectivity.
LikeLike
@Watchman (Another yard duck),
If I call you a Yard duck does that make you one?
Because you people (yard ducks) say David Thompson was a “tief” does that make him one? When was he convicted by a criminal court? It is not even the consensus of people, other than yard ducks, that he is what you say he was. He has done enough good work among the people that it should be named after him.
LikeLike
@ David,
Sorry for not going back as far as 2007. But some of it makes interesting reading such as:
“It was heartening to hear the Democratic Labour Party issuing some political rhetoric designed to piggyback on the emotions which are currently running hot. All sensible Barbadians are aware that a DLP government if driven to office before the “ink dries” to use Thompson’s statement can do absolutely nothing about the merger if it is the desire of the shareholders. However it is refreshing to hear David Thompson nailing an issue in public which coincides with the Barbadian public.
There was a time that the different statements being issued on the same subject from a Barbados Labour Party government would be in unison like the proverbial barber shop quartet. In recent times we have had Rawle “Diabolical Forces” Eastmond, Clyde “JAWS” Mascoll and Lynette “So Cold” Eastmond making statements which all combine to confuse Barbadians on the merger between BS&T and Neal & Massy and other matters.
By the way, the Bay Street Marina was a Private sector aired by BS&T. How did it get to be included by Miller as a government initiative? A “promise” to be kept.
LikeLike
Boy the PM sure told u blp apostles the truth in the video , no SHAME NO SHAME
and still after fourteen years of turning the backs on the people ST john the BLP supporters arguing cost NO SHAME NO SHAME
Guess the foot soldiers would have been in political adulation if THE DLP had followed the trade mark of political vindictiveness which the BLP dished on the St, John people just to have the pleasure of saying to the people of ST, John ‘we told you so
However that was not to be and the govt did not stop short of making the polyclinic a reality in spite of economic challenges and major delays
Yesterday was another proof of govt in action by making a promise to fulfill
LikeLike
Catchment area? Public transport access? I foresee nuff taxi fares or under utilisation.
LikeLike
@ Hants
Unto his 4 and 5 generation ,she is not responsible for the sins of her father only the ill-gotten inheritance
LikeLike
@ACs
What good work ? starting Barbados in a free fall 6+ years to now,
LikeLike
Yes Alvin……the anti-corruption laws. I won’t want to have to go to Mars and return to Barbados and still no anti-corruption laws implemented. When Alvin, when.
LikeLike
Wait they name the St. John polyclinic after Thompson in truth?The man who said I will not lie,cheat or steal?
Alvin,what about the Clico cheque for 3.3 million that they tried to seal from the public and which judicial matter exposed Thompson and his madam to an unpleasant scrutiny?
LikeLike
How easy is it for a poor man without private transportation to get to Gall Hill?
LikeLike
The DLP finally completed a project and the hate is predictably coming out on here. What dibby-dibby outfit this author talking about. She looked very good to me. Jealous much!
LikeLike
When will the powers that be see that there is merit in upgrading the centrally located Glebe Policlinic? Do they understand that for some people living in St. John it would take two buses to get to Gall Hill and one to get to the Glebe?
LikeLike
Ignore the dibby dibby comment. Obviously some people do not know what dibby means.
LikeLike
Kevin says, ” The DLP finally completed a project…..” LOL I can’t even deal with that one. Bushie, bring out the whacker! After all these years – A PROJECT!
LikeLike
If I’m going to be a hater I’m going to hate somebody whose success is enviable. How many “projects” has Rihanna completed in the last few years? I think I’ll hate her.
LikeLike
@ David ,
Pray tell : What is the difference between the money the taxpayers have to pay Mr. Barak and the cost of The David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex?
You also speak of Mia Mottley having a chance to “infuse” proper governance. She has been functioning as a MP for over twenty years; has been a Deputy Prime Minister , why has she not been able ,in such a long political career to effect any meaningful change?
The simple truth is that for the people of St John to have been denied access to this facility for nearly three decades is a telling indictment on BOTH the BLP and DLP.
Once again we see the bankruptcy of policy and ideas of these two political monstrosities in full action !
LikeLike
Monstrosities indeed!
LikeLike
“Polyclinic opened. Dog dead! Polyclinic named after David Thompson, Appropriate”
if a highly educated man as you claim to be can consider the naming of the polyclinic after David Thompson as appropriate given the unflattering revelations unearthed in the CLICO investigations then the dog really dead in truth.
LikeLike
@William
Definitely a crisis of politics not only in Barbados but the Caribbean. We appear to be witnessing a decay in our societies.
LikeLike
@ David
The Caribbean?
….or is it the World?
LikeLike
Firstly it is important that issues are put in their true perspective We all know of twistorians who have blurred necessary facts to forced a conclusion in order to depreciate the content or validity of valuable information in their novel remake of history barring the TRUTH
The Truth the polyclinic was birth under a DLP administration for construction in 1990
The truth is that the BLP cam e into office in 1994 four years after start of construction had a fourteen year term in Office and callously with punishing motives refused to continue the construction of the polyclinic
Truth and Fact ,the DLP regains office fourteen years later and within a seven year period finished the polyclinic
No if and/s or but/s
LikeLike
Relevants Facts dealing with the History of The St John Polyclinic /Donville Inniss
In giving a historical background of the polyclinic, Minister Inniss said that by 1990, the $6.1 million contract was awarded to Rayside Company for work to be completed in 72 weeks. However, due to economic challenges in the country, on February 25, 1992, the Government decided to suspend work at that polyclinic
He noted that at the time, the DLP Government had spent over $2.3 million on the project and by February 1995 the BLP spent another $250 000 “providing security to a building that had no roof, no windows, no doors”.
“By 1993, the number of people attending the Glebe outpatient clinic was 20 000. Over the years, the Ministry of Health has had to deal with the pressure on the Glebe Polyclinic, the Six Roads Polyclinic, Randall Phillips Polyclinic and the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic. The people of St. John had to travel that far to get polyclinic services.”
“In 1996, David Thompson, as your parliamentary representative, provided measures as to what he wished to see for the people of St. John in a new polyclinic facility here and that included a welfare office, skills training, day care for the elderly, disaster management office [and] library. So David Thompson envisaged that the St. John Polyclinic should not just be a health care facility, but provide much needed social services,” said Minister Inniss.
“But the BLP could never find it fit to start work at the St. John Polyclinic and I say to you to the people of St. John, for 14 years, they did it out of spite, they did not care for you…,” he contended..
“On May 16, 2008 David Thompson toured the site and gave further guidance on the future of St. John Polyclinic and the DLP administration, we engaged the consultants … and that polyclinic will be constructed.”
Minister Inniss said that on January 6, 2010 a tender appeared for the construction and completion of the St. John Polyclinic. Fifteen companies collected the documents and ten companies tendered and those who tendered the prices ranged between $15. 9 million to $22.7 million.
“The matter was considered by the tenders committee, who made their recommendation to the Ministry of Health a few months ago and since then we have sought permission from the Ministry of Finance a supplementary to acquire some funds to pay off the professional services outstanding as well as to commence work on the St. John Polyclinic this financial year.
He said that he hoped that the re-commencement of the work would put the matter of the St. John Polyclinic to rest.
LikeLike
What an idiot. It has taken less than a year to build the BWA headquarters on St. Barnabas. Instead of questioning how BOTH political parties gave misspent public funds, played politics with everything we have yardfowls par excellent who resort to the point, we finished it so all is well. So the status quo remains and the public is expected to meekly wait until the next project which stretches for say 30 years. How about asking for anti corruption legislation which. Tom Adams government tabled 40 years ago and died in committee. Now we have a DLP government who promised similar transparency laws in 100 days, seven years later …
JAs
LikeLike
The other point made in the blog the yardfowls will avoid. The cost to build the clinic was significantly funded supplementaries. There was no budget, there was no opportunity for the public to scrutinize expense items. Do we even have laws to demand accountability? O yes we do, the Auditor General, whose annual reports have been ignored by successive governance. Oops we have the PAC, whose work has been ignored by successive players.
JAs
LikeLike
David the idocy lies with those arrogant flame throwers supporters in the BLP who rather than accept and appreciate the opening of the clinic , goes on a political tangent of throwing salt where there is need for healing into what was a wounded project at the behest of playing political games to score points, there is were the idiocy lies,
The Fact being that after so many years of stalemate especially done under the fourteen year reign purposely done( so) by the BLP the financial stakes would have become higher as economic and financial cost would apply with in each year that is a fact,. With out doubt one can also argue that any additional cost added to the ST,John polyclinic therefore should and can be blamed for the BLP closed eyed politics of retribution and vindictiveness which has placed the monetary distribution of the increased cost in the hands of the taxpayers,
LikeLike
Even worse is the fact that THIS PARTICULAR DLP LOT were elected on campaign PROMISES and COMMITMENT to the people of Barbados, to CLEAN SHOP.
…to pass Integrity and FOI acts WITHIN 100 DAYS….
…to END the graft
So ANY kind of justification based on what was done previously is idiotic, deceitful, malicious and downright insulting to the people who voted for them….
..and Bushie don’t like being insulted by people who stole CLICO money…
Someone NEEDS to tell this to AC, Froon and Stinkliar in particular.
LikeLike
David November 21, 2015 at 7:49 PM
“So far not a concern by commenters that neither political party has promised to make anti corruption laws a priority………”
CORRUPTION IS EVIL: DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN IT; DO NOT TOLERATE IT!
Meanwhile in far flung places other countries are trying their best to legislate against corruption. They may not have a 100 percent success rate however they are trying their best. On a recent trip to East Africa, I was shocked to witness signs outside government buildings making it clear to the public that they do not facilitate those individuals who may attempt to offer bribes in order to gain favours.
This approach is both refreshing and unambiguous. Owen, Thompson and Stuart should be held to account for the spread of corruption in our country. What is the point of being in power if you knowingly turn a blind eye to corrupt practices? Those leaders who have turned a blind eye to corruption in Barbados have sent out a clear message to the masses; in their eyes the practice of corruption within their government and private enterprises does not constitute an offence.
We need to challenge our leaders and to ask them one-by-one what is their definition of the word corruption. You will be very surprised with their answers.
Click to access SPEECH%20FOR%20THE%20CHAIRPERSON-%20LAUNCH%20OF%20EACC%20SP.pdf
LikeLike
@ Boxcart, for it takes some people living in St. Philip two buses to get to the 6roads polyclinic so thats a non-issue. The Gall Hill polyclinic will take some pressure off of the same Glebe.
LikeLike
@Kevin
If the St. John clinic was meant to play such an important role don’t you think it would have been given priority by this administration? By the way what is your point about Gall Hill?
LikeLike
@david, I mistyped, I meant the St John Polyclinic not Gall Hill. It was a priority since they got it completed. I thought you guys on here would be happy after more than 20 years its finally done.
LikeLike
@DAVID, WELL WELL, AND THE YARD DUCKS (THE USUAL SUSPECTS).
“TOM ADAMS TABLED ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION 40 YEARS AGO. Since then we have had both BLP and DLP parties winning elections. Neither one has brought back the legislation”.
I remember the BLP MAKING A SONG AND DANCE SOME YEARS AGO ABOUT DECLARING ASSETS, AND MIA GETTING UP IN THE HOUSE AND PRETENDING TO EXPOSE HER ASSETS. NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED. I keep reminding you people that rumour and innuendo does not cut it. Bring actual evidence. Even the accusations against David Thompson were brought to the electorate before the 2008 election, It was brought back again before the last election, the people still ignored it. When are you people going to accept defeat on this issue. The government (DLP) had nothing to do wth the collapse of CLICO. The only people who should be brought and tried are those who bought the CLICO instruments; (EPA, and EFPA) in the hopes of making a quick buck. Like going to the races and buying a horse because a so called “expert” recommends it, the horse runs last and you have to beg for bus fare to get home.
Therefore BUSHIE, you have to realize you were not “insulted” by the DLP government; who were not even elected then. You have to blame the salesman from whom you bought the EPA, and the President and CEO of the company (Head Office). Leave out the government. Don’t forget, the Supervisor of Insurance was responsible, to whom at the time? Mia Mottley. She should have acted on his report.
Isn’t the completion of the Polyclinic an election promise kept? If you ask Donna to marry you tomorrow, and, by chance, she says yes, but decides to make it in January, are you still going to complain in March that she should have married you in December? She would have married you in any case. Of course she would probably divorce you in April (probably April 1st.) Having discovered truths about your whacker. Inadequate! LOL.
And David you wrote: “It has taken less than a year to build the BWA headquarters on St. Barnabas. ”
Isn’t this something to commend the government on, in these harsh economic times? Give credit where credit is due, even if you do so reluctantly snd grudgingly.
@Well Well: Eventually!!
LikeLike
Alvin……I am in an expansive mood today, but eventually don’t cut it, the situation re corruption is critical in Barbados, beyond the governments control, outside of complete reform and an overhaul of all the laws allowing the corrupt to slither through loopholes, your eventually is a death knell for the island.
The African nations that no one even thought were capable of thinking without corrupt thoughts, are making a concerted effort to eradicate the practice because they PAID, like Barbados is paying right now to learn that corruption destroys the very existence of a countries sovereignty.
Eventually will not help anyone, particularly your government since it’s clear to see they have lost control.
LikeLike
@ ac November 22, 2015 at 9:30 AM
“The Fact being that after so many years of stalemate especially done under the fourteen year reign purposely done( so) by the BLP the financial stakes would have become higher as economic and financial cost would apply with in each year that is a fact,. With out doubt one can also argue that any additional cost added to the ST,John polyclinic therefore should and can be blamed for the BLP closed eyed politics of retribution and vindictiveness which has placed the monetary distribution of the increased cost in the hands of the taxpayers..”
And all of this miasma of managerial incompetence, squandermania and blatant disregard for the people of St. John took place under the same paro economist who has become the chief economic advisor to the ruling DLP administration.
What a hypocritical event that will be!
LikeLike
Alvin Cummins wrote “. The only people who should be brought and tried are those who bought the CLICO instruments; (EPA, and EFPA) in the hopes of making a quick buck.”
Are you serious ?
So you want to punish the victims ?
Given that you are more than 20 years older than me I will politely decline to tell you what I really feel about your callous and insensitive comment.
Care to tell us how many DLP politicians bought Clico instruments?
LikeLike
Hants…..Fruendel Stuart himself admitted he too holds Clico instruments, Alvin forgot…lol
I can’t even bother to address anymore of Alvin’s madness today.
LikeLike
@Well Well & Consepuences,
.Fruendel Stuart would have been a victim too.
LikeLike
@Alvin
If the government is not responsible why is it working to resolve the issue by creating NEWCO?
@Kevin
Why is it so hard to see the bigger point being made by BU and others? It is one of governance; lack of transparency corruption etc. The completion of the clinic is hardly the point. With your attitude it means any government can do their own thing and expect a docile taxpayer to take it.
We need to demand the organs of our democracy work, better. We need as citizens to become more engaged by holding our elected officials more accountable.
LikeLike
@David
Agree and to add to the anti-corruption laws etc, the need for evidence-based rather than political ONLY based decisions when it comes to conceptualsing projects.
LikeLike
Exactly, but according to Alvin, the only people who should go to jail are those who invested, in saying that, it’s public knowledge that Parris is Fruendel’s “esteemed friend and not a leper”, so, that makes the taxpayers and clico’s victims not privy to what happened behind the scenes.
One would think that as a ‘victim’ Fruendel would be outraged, along with his ministers and yardfowls, while vigorously working to get pay all clico’s victims, presuming he is indeed a victim..
LikeLike
@enuff
We need to finds ways to make the system better. Who wants to be caught stagnating when everything around is changing.
LikeLike
Everyone keeps telling them the world has moved on, but just like when the credit agencies were telling them from 2006, do something about the econmy and they lived to regret it, well those hard heads refuse to listen in 2015, again.
Hants….as a matter of fact, what Alvin is parroting there re clico victims, those are Donville’s words, I remember vividly him saying those words just after clico’s collapse”the policyholders deserved to lose their money because they were greedy”. Alvin is just upped the anti and what is curretly being discussed among them that the policyholders should be jailed. These are the people taxpayers trusted with their country. The government know they are responsible, Alvin is just being wicked…lol
LikeLike
Well Well & Consequences November 22, 2015 at 11:13 AM #
One would think that as a ‘victim’ Fruendel would be outraged, along with his ministers and yardfowls, while vigorously working to get pay all clico’s victims, presuming he is indeed a victim…
. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
By now you should realise that the Prime Minister is a Political Hypercondriac. When he was Attorney-General, he declared that he was a victim of back yard burning.
At the last election, he saw people buying votes. He says things that he believe others want to hear.
LikeLike
@Kevin
Big man, do you live in St. John? The bus service up here is not like down town. Big man, do you know how long people have to wait for one bus in these parts?
LikeLike
Alvin Cummins November 22, 2015 at 10:35 AM #
“I remember the BLP MAKING A SONG AND DANCE SOME YEARS AGO ABOUT DECLARING ASSETS, AND MIA GETTING UP IN THE HOUSE AND PRETENDING TO EXPOSE HER ASSETS. NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED.”
Alvin the yard-donkey, you are (as usual) misleading BU.
In June 2008 (5 months AFTER the DLP was elected to form the government), Arthur and Mottley declared their assets in Parliament against the background of Thompson suggesting (during the election campaign), parliamentarians should sign a mandatory “code of conduct that promises good governance” and declare their assets.
I refer you to the page 46 of the DLP’s 2008 election manifesto, under the heading “Good Governance.”
“The Democratic Labour Party has selected a team of clean, caring, competent and committed POLITICIANS WHO HAVE SIGNED ON TO A CODE OF CONDUCT that promises Good Governance.”
“GOOD GOVERNANCE ASSURES THAT CORRUPTION IS MINIMIZED, the views of the people are taken into account and that THE VOICES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY ARE HEARD IN DECISION-MAKING. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Barbados needs Good Governance now like it never has before.”
The following excerpt is taken from page 48 of the same 2008 manifesto:
The Democratic Labour Party will also:
IMMEDIATELY introduce integrity legislation requiring:
a DECLARATION OF ASSETS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS,
a CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MINISTERS,
a new Freedom of Information law,
amendments to the Defamation laws and
new constitutional provisions to rationalise the powers of the Prime Minister.
However, you are correct in writing: “NOTHING FURTHER HAPPENED.”
What has occurred in Barbados relative to issues such as CAHILL; CLICO; St. John Polyclinic; Richard Byer not being reprimanded for charging Caves of Barbados $766,855.24 as fees to give a legal opinion on a loan (and cussing the CEO because she questioned the amount); the embarrassing situation with Speaker of the House, Michael Carrington, with-holding a former client’s funds and refusing to respond to the client’s requests; and Fruendel Stuart repealing the Public Accounts Committee Act, thereby creating difficulties for the PAC to investigate financial infelicities.
Surely “Chipmunk” you must admit that your DLP LIED to Barbadians. Without ITAL, good governance cannot prevail.
LikeLike
@ Alvin
Do you care to “tell” BU if any DLP parliamentarian has or intend to declare their assets or have any of them signed the CODE OF CONDUCT as they promised in the DLP’s 2008 election manifesto?
LikeLike
Hants;
I would like to add to your question above;
“Care to tell us how many DLP politicians bought Clico instruments?”
….. and how many of them were able to cash out their policies before the sheet hit the fan.
LikeLike
@Are-we-there-yet
We need whistleblowers t step forward for the good of country.
LikeLike
@ David,
The duplicity and complicity of the BLP/DLP is nothing new. Back in the 70s Errol Barrow abandoned the principle of collective bargaining and legislated salaries. Then Opposition leader, Tom Adams, made a very passionate speech and said that he will never legislate salaries . Lo and behold, Adams won the 1976 elections, and he too legislated salaries and abandoned the collective agreement principle. same as Barrow did!
As for CLICO, it is very important to note ,that under the BLP , CLICO was allowed to ignore depositing the statutory requirements to the Supervisor Of Insurance. This should have never happened, so neither party’s hands are cleaned on this issue. The complicity and duplicity will continue until citizens demand better governance. However, once the BLPDLP polarisation continues , we will get no where.
LikeLike
@William
Can’t fault you, it is an incestuous business supported by a cohort of yardfowls. Not supporters, yardfowls. You always need supporters who will be critical for the good of the party. What we have is party paramountcy pursued at the expense of national interest.
On 22 November 2015 at 17:42, Barbados Underground wrote:
>
LikeLike
@ David,
You may well be interested in the link below:
Ghana
Justice!
We follow one man’s astounding undercover crusade to expose judicial corruption in Ghana
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2015/11/justice-151122124135186.html
LikeLike
David wrote ” You always need supporters who will be critical for the good of the party “.
True dat !!!!
LikeLike
Colonel…..they are horrible, the prime minister makes the same mockery of the people and country as his ministers, his yardfowls, they are all horrible.
Dude from Ghana, Anas, is a real hero and shows a genuine love for his country. That is the true meaning of the word patriotism. Caribbean governments should take note.
Hopefully, but I doubt it, Alvin sees what a complete ass he is and mend his ways….Alvin you should be ashamed and so should DBLP. Cahill/Cowan is as bad as it gets, then there is Bjerkham, Tempro and all the other parasites running around unchecked on the island spreading the disease that is corruption laced with destruction and chaos, what a shame.
If the African countries can work so hard to clean up corruption in teir judiciaries, what is wrong with those on the tiny rock that is Barbados.
LikeLike
@ Hants:
I AM serious. Prior to the collapse of CLICO, Bajans had the example of the collapse of Trade Confirmers. They had the examples of the demise of a couple of Insurance companies with the policy holders losing their money. They bought the EPAs and EFPAs without due diligence, They allowed CL Financial and Lawrence Duprey (Trinidad again) to raid CLICO subsidiaries in Barbados, Other Caribbean countries, and never questioned.They allowed CL Financial to use these funds to invest in questionable ventures. It is these investments to cause the collapse of CLICO; especially the Barbados branches. Have no knowledge of who bought the instruments, but I have no sympathy for any of them; even if the Prime minister is one of them. They ALL gambled. I am sure the problem, and panic, has arisen because; contrary to law, and best practices, some of them (money managers) used Pension funds to make a quick buck, and lost.
Why are Private entities in Barbados not held to the same standards you want to apply to Government? It is the same citizens of Barbados’ funds.BS&T held Barbados assets (money) in trust for the shareholders and sold out to Trinidad. I have not heard of any revolt of shareholders.
I said over two years ago, and will keep insisting; CL Financial has to be held responsible for the collapse of CLICO. Has any entity tried to recover the money that CL Financials borrowed from the branches of CLICO? It is in the Judicial Manager’s report.
@David, you wrote: “…If the government is not responsible why is it working to resolve the issue by creating NEWCO?”
Have you people not been asking for the GOVERNMENT to resolve this issue so that policy holders can get back at least some of their money? How should it be resolved? Doesn’t this show they are trying? Don’t the other islands have a part to play?
You can’t have it all ways.
But then again I have just been named a yard donkey, still a yard fowl. No apologies. The important word in the first sentence of our National Anthem is LOYAL. I am a loyal son. Would that more Bajans were indeed loyal, to something.
@Well Well,
We will never see eye to eye.We are both strongly opinionated, but coming from different perspectives. You are cynical, I am pragmatic and a realist,
LikeLike
Thank Jesus for the opening of the St. John pardon me the David Thompson Complex at long last. We now beseech government to switch its attention to street lights. Kellman was voted in a BU straw poll the lead idiot in parliament based on his unintelligible rants. Do the streetlights upkeep reside in his ministry ? Who ever is Minister of the Electrical Engineering Division has much work to do the incompetence of that department is appalling.
The street lights on Spring Garden from Weisers to Spring Garden Foods were out for so long nobody remembers when that stretch was lit. Similar examples are seen on long stretches of the ABC. At Spring Garden poles were erected during Crop Over without lights and remain that way. Instead of the name change to the Mighty Grynner Highway consideration should be given to naming it the Coal Black Dieway. Its so dark the placing of a fluorescent sign is in order warning pedestrians against walking in the area. The long distances of darkness lends to dangerous conditions for driving and safe havens for criminals. The new pedestrian crossing at Spring Garden joins the no lights queue. The negligence is shocking and makes for a scary experience traversing that highway at night. Who will bell the cat.
LikeLike
@David: To clarify, because I know some of the yard ducks, even before the have reached the end will be after me, I am talking of the first words of the CHORUS of the National Anthem.
LikeLike
Notice when the BLP yardies backs are against the wall they switch the topic,lol
LikeLike
Alvin….it’s not about seeing eye-to-eye, it’s about seeing what is best for the island in it’s present eroded and corroded state.
LikeLike
Alvin Cummins November 22, 2015 at 8:01 PM #
“They allowed CL Financial and Lawrence Duprey (Trinidad again) to raid CLICO subsidiaries in Barbados…..”
Alvin the yard-donkey, as usual, you are misleading BU.
You have been constantly implying that Lawrence Duprey was responsible for the collapse of CLICO Barbados, and absolving Leroy Parris of any wrong doing in this debacle.
All Barbadians (except you, so it seems) have read the two forensic audit reports prepared by Deloitte, which gave an in depth analysis of CLICO Barbados’ operations and the financial infelicities undertaken by Leroy Parris and other directors/ managers of the insurance company.
Rather than contribute your personal interpretation of any given situation, perhaps you should present the relevant documentation and the “Judicial Manager’s report” to BU to substantiate your claims. Otherwise, please refrain from spewing your usual unsubstantiated rhetorical political diatribe.
LikeLike
It seems we now have the nucleus of a new party in the Arthur/Agard corner of the House. Unless, of course, FooFoo sent his best friend Gollop to Agard’s trial to send a message of DLP support that Agard is willing to follow through on by sitting on the DLP side.
What a load of old shite.
The DLP must hold out hope for a 3rd party to split the BLP vote next election.
LikeLike
Something is happening for sure, the yardfowls are noticeably absent this morning.
LikeLike
I hope we have enough money around top run the hospital now this polyclinic is going to get FIRST PICK with the money allocated.
LikeLike
@Roverp November 23, 2015 at 3:40 PM #
That was the question of the first post and it is still unansewered.
LikeLike
Yesterday many smiling faces of first time visitors who entered the brand new spanking St. John polyclinic another promised delivered to the people from the Dlp govt.
LikeLike
My God! Do you yardfowls of both breeds intend to continue this incessant clucking until the sky has fallen on our heads?!!! Bird brains!
LikeLike
@ Donna
…and what do you suggest as an alternative THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED by brass bowls?
…like all empty vessels, we are best at making uncoordinated shiite noises….
LikeLike
It is sooooo annoying I can hardly stand it! Clucking away and fighting over a handful of scratch grain with no idea of the vastness that exists beyond the barnyard. In the scheme of things how prestigious is it to be Prime Minister of this barnyard?
LikeLike
Bush Tea November 24, 2015 at 3:17 PM #
“…like all empty vessels, we are best at making uncoordinated shiite noises….”
I could not agree with Bushie more, especially against the background that yard-fowls feel proud to celebrate the ONLY ACHIEVEMENT of this DLP administration during the past 7 years…… the completion of a polyclinic on which CONSTRUCTION STARTED 30 YEARS AGO, and naming it after an unscrupulous individual.
These yard-fowls should hang their heads in shame when there are situations where:
The former Beautify Barbados employees are still AWAITING their SEVERANCE PAYMENTS after being RETRENCHED OVER ONE YEAR AGO.
After Stuart ADMITTED there were “procedural missteps” relative to the retrenchment of NCC employees and subsequently referring the matter to a non-existent ERT.
Barbadians have been AWAITING INCOME TAX RETURNS, REVERSE TAX CREDITS and VAT REFUNDS since 2010.
Barbadians have been EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES IN RECEIVING their MATERNITY, SICKNESS and UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS and the NIS admitting they have a “back log” of over 20,000 claims.
Money could not be found to fulfill these obligations, but Stuart could find funds to instruct Sinckler to send US$100,000 to Dominica and to complete the polyclinic.
LikeLike
For a country to measure their true worth it is imperative that they use all of their analytical tools at their disposal in order to objectively measure and compare their system against all others. When a country and a government refuses to carry out such initiatives in order to get a true picture of the state of the domestic affairs of their country; then, that country is left with a void which can only be filled with myths and lies.
The myths and lies that have gained ground in Barbados over the last twenty years have lulled her population into a complacent and a vegetated state. This nonsense that Barbados represented the centre of the Caribbean or the Rome of the region was one of the biggest myths perpetuated by consecutive governments and lapped up by a docile and infantile population.
The so-called good times were in reality a pre-cursor for a famine in perpetuity which we are now witnessing.
Take a look at my first paragraph. We may foolishly believe that we are miles ahead of our African brothers and sisters. However for the wise ones amongst us, Africa for all of her faults has been making great exaggerated strides in a forward direction. Whilst within the Caribbean region, particularly Barbados we have been moving in the opposite direction.
I would instruct you to watch the video link below which paints out clearly how far behind we are in the Caribbean with our leaders. The Kenya President Kenyatta has just made an extraordinary address to his people stating how his government will root out corruption in their country. I was close to tears as I listened to his address, in the knowledge that we do not have anyone of his standing within our region and that the issue of corruption within our region is not even on our politician’s radar.
As for me I have already set in train my position. I am on the point of renouncing the whole region called the Caribbean. As we regress; Africa progresses.
http://ntv.nation.co.ke/news/national/-/2725528/2968332/-/x6basbz/-/index.html
LikeLike
I dont know how this St. John Polyclinic is supposed to serve St. Joseph. How are the people going to get there? There is no direct bus service to that area from anywhere in the Parish. Most times the bus does not even turn up. Poor people will have to take two buses and there is no short-cut. They will have to go to town and then take another bus. In all we are looking at at least one and a half hours if not two. Bad location. It should have been in St. George. Putting it in St. John is equivalent to putting it on Horse Hill and tell St. John people to go there.
LikeLike
@Bajans
The government is responsible for designing bus routes, nothing the minister cannot approve with the stroke of a pen. This is where the MPs for areas on the East side will be able to make a contribution for their salary.
LikeLike
@Bajan,
It is customary for patients in St. Joseph, going to a polyclinic, to go to the Maurice Byer. There is a bus that goes there from Bathsheba.
LikeLike