In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride was sprung
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood
[…]
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What is the mirror image folks!
Happy Independence Barbados!
Instead of getting giddy with our nationalism, this is as good time to reflect on what constitutional independence has meant to us and if we are where we though we would be all thos years ago.
What does Barbadians have to be happy about. Our people are suffering more now than at any time I can recall. There are people who, through no fault of their own, have to send their children to bed hungry. We are not our brothers’ keeper, not even the Government seems interested in addressing the plight of poor people. As a matter of fact, they have done more than anyone else to ensure that people remain poor. And you want me to celebrate?
Time to revisit our Constitution and Update it…!!! Quote… “Not envisage a Barbadian woman would marry a foreign national” for one!
“Caswell Franklyn November 30, 2015 at 4:13 AM #
What does Barbadians have to be happy about. Our people are suffering more now than at any time I can recall. There are people who, through no fault of their own, have to send their children to bed hungry. We are not our brothers’ keeper, not even the Government seems interested in addressing the plight of poor people. As a matter of fact, they have done more than anyone else to ensure that people remain poor. And you want me to celebrate?”
I couldn’t believe it when I discovered that they are young persons in Barbados at school leaving age that can’t read at this stage of our upward and onward inspired exultant free development. I still ask Caswell- to which forefathers are we referring , the white one who sowed the seeds of slavery or the black one who endured the hardship of labouring as a slave.
There is surely nothing worth celebrating in borrowbados! All this Government is doing is making sure that poor people remain just that, and the so-called middle class poorer. I wonder where all of the money will come from next year to pay for celebrations which are supposed to start in the middle of the year! From whom will they borrow that?
Well wunna dun know whu de ole man name is – Piece uh de Rock Yeah Right and if at me age I kin be still cynical, unto the grave, well it go widout saying dat I ent gine be saying no “Happy Independence Day” tuh nun uh wunna cause i wud be lying…
Happy Independence Day to David and the BU folk….having the independence to think for yourself.
This should be the start day leading up to our 50th for us to think on how we can stop the further decline of our country,in order for us to properly celebrate our 50th.
Extracted from BU’s friend timeline:
IS BARBADOS REALLY AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY?
Amidst the high emotions and nationalistic pride, flurry of online posts about ‘Happy Independence’, and endless remarks about how great Barbados is, I wanted to take a step back to reflect on the last 49 years.
I want to challenge people to thrust the lofty (and empty) pride aside, and undertake a serious discourse on this so-called ‘Independence Day’ and assess who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going as a ‘Bajan’ people. I have a couple of burning questions I would like my Facebook friends to answer if they care to:
1. Are we truly independent under a constitutional monarch where the Queen of England holds reserve powers?
2. Are we truly independent under a Westminster System of politics which has proven to be undemocratic, divisive, and largely ineffective in addressing 21st century human, social, and economic problems? The system has also shown that it panders to the lowest common denominator — Look no further than the leaders of both our political parties, and the horrible casts under them.
3. Are we truly independent where false nationalistic pride, absent political will, and xenophobia have prevented us from creating an effective Caribbean Union (CARICOM) or from building trade relationships with African states?
4. Are we truly independent where a population of 90% Black own less than 90% of the wealth in the country? Moreover, the economic disparities continue to grow at an alarming rate and none of our elected leaders are doing anything to solve these issues.
5. Are we truly independent where our education system is a holdover from the Industrial Age (memorize and regurgitate to perform mechanized roles), participation in STEM disciplines is ridiculously low, and the country does not have any significant patents in science and technology in the last 50 years? Moreover, the country has some of the highest technology readiness indicators in the world, and cannot use them to improve the lives of its citizens.
6. Are we truly independent and cannot achieve food security, or agricultural sustainability, and are forced to import garbage food from foreign nations?
These are just a few of my questions, and I am really open to hearing the thoughts of my FB friends.
Powerful questions.
Parade for independence. You can dress these people up in uniform but they are very far from doing justice to what the uniform represents. Just a bunch of useless and ineffective people.
@David November 30, 2015 at 8:15 AM #
Can you explain the two 90% in 4?
Agree with you on 5&6,eveything else comes from them.
@Vincent
Questions were extracted from our BU page.
pieceuhderockyeahright November 30, 2015 at 5:43 AM #
“Well wunna dun know whu de ole man name is – Piece uh de Rock Yeah Right and if at me age I kin be still cynical, unto the grave, well it go widout saying dat I ent gine be saying no “Happy Independence Day” tuh nun uh wunna cause i wud be lying…”
PUDRYR, I gine celebrate just now. I gine and drink a few Banks beer before AmBev or Ansa McAl tek ovuh BHL.
Wuh de @#&*%, yuh mean I en got nuh Banks and soon nuh Beer? The Trinis got de Bank and duh now want de beer, in fak, de Trinis own half a Bubaydus.
Duh even got Trini Massy Realty selling Barbados land and sending the profits to Trinidad.
The Trinis own most uh we wholesale and retail sector and flooding the Barbadian market wid dem products.
We gine soon celebrate Independence day on August 31, yuh.
Piece, the Guyanese come ‘bout hay getting jobs and squatting in de Belle, Gemswick and any whey duh got free land, and I have to pay the Credit Union through my eyeballs to get a mortgage.
The sex trade ent even in we hands nuh mo’e. Jamaicans and Guyanese in the clubs now, selling duh wares.
Look, I too “ent gine be saying no “Happy Independence Day” tuh nun uh wunna cause i wud be lying…”
“This should be the start day leading up to our 50th for us to think on how we can stop the further decline of our country,in order for us to properly celebrate our 50th.”
Totally Agree!
Bajans can start their 50th birthday of Independence by carrying out a massive clean-up and de-bushing campaign right through 2016. That would provide a much needed facelift.
Why not start with Bridgetown which is now turning into a rundown shanty town.
The white man left you with a good piece of real estate which you guys want to turn into a ghetto burnt-out neighbourhood. Little England no more, here comes Shantytown in the Republic of Stuartland.
BTW, what has become of the Empire Restoration project?
Independence was once a project to facilitate the complete development of Barbadians. It was a declaration that Barbadians would seek a state of existence that encouraged individual Barbadians to explore every aspect of their consciousness, unfettered by the negative and discouraging opinions of others and to engage the world without the need of the approval of those who thought they knew better. Independence meant that we would explore all options and associations and bear the consequences of our choices. Independence meant that Barbadians would be outward and forward looking not just consuming the ideas and products of others but reflecting, creating and contributing to the global storehouse of human endeavour.
What happened?
The DLP government has allowed the Barbados economy to continuously deteriorate over the last 7 years.
What have we BU bloggers done to contribute positively to “stop the rot”.? Write sheet on BU and in the mainstream media and talk sheet on Brasstacks.
What have I done ? Truthfully not one wrasse whole except to live a benign existence in Canada and thereby not contribute to the demise of Barbados.
The rest uh wunnah can stop de shiite rap and do something.
A politician thinks about the next election; a statesman thinks about the next generation. We have none of the latter; not any more. Now sailed by pirates, the good ship Barbados has become stranded on the “reef” of corruption.
Peter Jan Boos says it so well.
"As we celebrate 49 years as an Independent Nation there is so much to give thanks for.
Those of us fortunate enough to call this home will continue to work hard and do our best to make Barbados a place of peace, justice,caring, tolerance, integrity, transparency and shared values.
Pride and Industry again.
In recent years we have struggled to stay focused on a vision and set of values that we all share.
These need to be articulated again and embraced across Barbados.
Whatever happened to our National Strategic Plan ?
Today greed and corruption have become too prevalent and almost acceptable.
Indifference or perhaps a sense of helplessness
has grown amongst the population.
Whom can they trust ?
Our Democracy has been abused and we now have Political hegemony. Votes can be bought with impunity.
Callous indifference is shown to genuine concerns or offers to help.
Civil Society must play its rightful place in shaping the next 51 years and beyond.
The truth is that most of Civil Society is beholding to the Government and intimidated to express views openly in fear of recrimination.
Barbadians are really lovely generous capable friendly, hard working people.
Happy Independence to all.
Let’s aim to raise the value of the Barbados Brand."
It’s only those so blind they cannot see, or are pretending not to, but everyone else see the detrioration in the society, starting at the top, very clearly.
@David, hearty Independence to you, team and all others.
May I offer a hearty LOLL to your 10:27 post as I presume that Peter Jan Boos is the former long standing CEO of E&Y. He was what one would definitely as the quintessential establishment, corporate insider. One of the old guard, so to speak.
A distinguished man now retired who beyond any doubt has spoken well in his remarks.
The uproarious laughter stems from the fact that just yesterday you told me that another retired man who in his own way is a ‘distinguished’ old-guarder too was absolutely incapable of speaking truth to the masses and you completely dismissed his rhetoric.
Yet one day later…whaplax. Another old guarder’s rhetoric is acclaimed.
David, as I said yesterday I absolutely love your verve (I suspect one of the problems with this clear contradiction is that a team of editors cannot always be on the same page re opinions).
All good…it shows the reality of this thing we call life.
@dee word
Your wholesaling of the two positions is flawed but you have the last word, it is not that important to the debate.
Interesting observation to be made watching the Independence Parade this morning:
Acting Prime Minister, Acting Chief of Staff, Acting Commissioner of Police …
EVRYBODY IN BUHBADOS ACTING
@David you can bet there will be on ” actors ” at the the 50th.
@ GEORGIE PORGIE,
YOU WILL BE BUSY. WEST INDIES CAPTAIN AND COACH ” POSITIVE “.
@David, the wonderful thing about debate is that if you believe “Your wholesaling of the two positions is flawed” then without being too prolix say how. Very simple my friend.
As editor I readily appreciate that you act as provocateur, mediator, autocratic decision maker and many other roles to drive the blog and make it interesting. Yet, you certainly can’t expect to get a pass when your remarks are a bit (to say the least) contradictory.
The crux of your remarks yesterday centered on your dismissal of an opinion because the speaker in your view was badly tainted by his past affiliations. You said his views should not be considered in the discourse to move the process forward.
Today we are also debating going forward and you quote someone who was at the very top as an insider when all the type problems we are discussing were rampant. Obviously in your view he is absolutely not tainted by any past affiliations. Ok, no problem.
So you have no interest in explaining that contradiction because yesterday we were talking about party politics and today about the Nation. And too obviously you would accept comments from a person like Branford on today’s topic.
Perfect now makes sense why ‘it’s not important to the debate’.
LOLLL All good. I’ll take the last word as you offered.
Thank u Barbados for those many years of freeness..education.health.. freelunchfree bus fare and a list of many other freeness that many have enjoyed
Now today as a true patriot i can proudly say that your many gifts have blessed me and many bajan households in many ways of which we all should be grateful and proud
In the most patriotic manner i would like to give back whatever necessary for the best interest and love of country to make this homeland a better place
Thank you barbados and may God continue to shine on all its people.
Have a safe and Happy Independence Day.God bless
I have referred to this new leader in Tanzania before and I also remembered prior to EWB’s death he had left instructions that all MP cars were to be parked at central station with immediate effect.
Why are we overjoyed at the front page of todays Nation that the tourists have returned?
All it does is to substantiate the prophecy of EWB of us becoming a mendicant society,you mean we had wait for a few tourist dollars as opposed to being creative and find a niche area in order to command forex.
What use our education system?
……and a Farmer shall lead them…..
@Vincent
Isn’t it refreshing to observe the political class leading by example?
Mrs Banda said she was happy to “offload” the presidential perks, adding: “I can well use private airlines. I am already used to hitchhiking.”
It means that the 62-year-old head of state – the second woman to hold the position in Africa – will fly to the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in London this weekend with British Airways.
Andrew Mitchell, the UK International Development Secretary who is currently visiting Malawi, delivered a £33m cash injection for Mrs Banda’s government.
He said the move was a sign of the “seriousness Mrs Banda is applying to overturn bad decisions taken under the previous government”.
The former vice-president in Bingu wa Mutharika’s government, she stepped into the presidency in April when he suffered a heart attack. The jet had annual running costs of £220,000.
I am beginning to believe it’s the African leaders reading and understanding the BU bloggers. It’s costing this African leader half the amount of money and less than half the energy to do the rights things for his country and people, than it would take him and his ministers to be corrupt. Caribbean leaders finally have role models to follow, but will they want to, time will tell.
“In the most patriotic manner i would like to give back whatever necessary for the best interest and love of country to make this homeland a better place…”
Okay, tell the DLP to demit office.
@David November 30, 2015 at 2:02 PM #
Totally agree with you.
Mrs Banda bears it out even more and has parallels here at home ……
A member of the political elite,once her turn came refused to follow the old practices and instituted new measures to turn her country around.
Even the political elite can have an epiphany…..not so David.
@Vincent
We have to drill down to what is different in this case.
What will escape the Caribbean leaders is that the same way the international community is watching those countries that realize abandoning wasteful corrupt practices will be the only way forward for their respective countries progress, the very same international community will also be paying attention to those countries that refuse to give up corrupt practices.
Happy independence fellow bloggers and readers of BU.
The report about Joyce Banda is over 3 years old. She was kicked out of office and is accused of financial impropriety involving millions of USD.
@David November 30, 2015 at 3:53 PM #
Chuckle…..ah betcha after reading St George’s Dragon November 30, 2015 at 4:18 PM # post you do not want to drill down anymore.
Note she is accused……also she went against the the old boy network……sounds familiar…..
As a nation about to “celebrate” fifty years of independence we are left with only three options at our disposal:
Option one: we continue to place our fate in the hands of our two major political parties.
Option two: we look for a surrogate nation who would be prepared to colonise as in a benign manner.
Or
Option three: we have a full scale revolution.
An elegant design of dress and accessories using the colours of the flag.
http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2015/11/30/forde-steals-show-at-independence-parade
Tax payers money at work a joy and delight to see the our armed Forces in fine form as they salute our country in its 49th year of independence A call to duty A call to serve , God bless our armed forces
Lol!!!!
Option Four Would all the Naysayers please Leave
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