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 […] National Anthem of Barbados
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
[…]
@David,
On this issue of BU, twenty-five people have seen ONLY a half empty glass. They see no hope of the glass holding anything more. They do not even see the past as having gone by. They see no improvement since Jordan’s lane ceased to exist. They do not see that over two thousand of the young people study at a university campus, located in the island, where none existed when we became Independent. They see no difference between when students attending secondary school either had to buy second or third- hand books or go without any books (if you could even get them).All they can see is what they call suffering. They see no hope; not because of the system, because the same model of governance exists in many many other Commonwealth countries, but because they seek political demise of the governing party. Not because the governing party has taken away any of their freedoms guaranteed by the constitution that guarantees these freedoms. Not because previously there was NO CONSTITUTION, but because the in their myopia they can see only three alternatives; including revolution.
And yet the new cars; costing over fifty thousand dollars or more, are still selling. The island is set to have another bumper tourist season; although some of these negative nabobs would wish that the tourists would not come. And yet the supermarkets are full of produce, and they have the money to buy. And yet there is no restriction on their ability to book a passage to anywhere, without hindrance. They complain about lack of Independence and support of Caricom, and yet the passport they carry is a Caricom Passport.
Shall I go on counting our blessings,and naming them one by one. See What God has done.
We have had governance, peacefully, over the past forty-nine years. When we have become dissatisfied enough, we have changed the actors, and the play has gone on. This alone is enough to be happy about.
See the glass, not as half empty, but in reality it is three quarters full. Give thanks.
We, as a people, have lots to celebrate. Give thanks. Give thanks.
@Caswell Franklyn November 30, 2015 at 4:13 AM “What does Barbadians have to be happy about.”
The conkie which I ate today. The best thing I’ve had to eat all year. Truly a five star conkie.
@ Simple
That is the blessings of being simple.
Small things amuse small minds….
Back in the tenantry, Massa used to provide a special treat via the pig guts, head, and other entrails just for those like you….
Don’t worry – your ‘good times’ will soon be here again…
@ David 7:41 PM
How about those who are too smart to engage in politics, but who just buy (bribe) the damn politicians – with the COUNTRY’s money, retrieved tenfold through building empty houses, massive buildings, and molasses tanks – in order to get their own way..?
Should our Laws make provision for HANGING the traitors who offer and accept such BRIBES? …and who sell out our widows and our poor?
We are NOT being governed by the dumb, but by the GREEDY …who are pulling the strings attached to the dumb…
This sheet has got to stop.
Police confirmed the incident which occurred around 7 p.m. and said a victim was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a result.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/75069/shooting-ruby#sthash.Gw3XwMMw.dpuf
@ Mr. Cummins
You does reallg get a man vex wid de jobby you does be talking!!
Whu part uh Canada you does live again?
You real retartet (not “ed”)
You see whu Hants jes publish?
You unnerstan dat all dat new car shyte dat you jes love to talk bout and dat ingrunce bout de cunstitution is jes dat INGRUNT TALK!!
You doan know dat 50% uh de students at de university does be buying second hand books?
YOu does jes get an old man vex doah.
Dem gine name a street after you later dis year?
@ pieceuhderockyeahright,
The poor and the unemployed are discounted in Alvin’s “progress report”.
To engage in post Independence review is not to accept we have a lot to be thankful. Read the latest blog to appreciate the position.
>
@ David, from Hants cutanpaste.
I guess you will get your “original” copy soon. lol
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/letters_to_editor/75024/help-coming-barbados
@Hants
Thanks, let us wish Grenville well.
@Piece, David, Hants.
New Govt of Malawi:
Private Jet…running costs 220,000.pounds plus,annually. sixty Mercedes cars..Currency devalued.
.Compare with Barbados…and we have nothing to be thankful for? Forty-nine years and the currency has NOT been devalued, in all that time. Hants, I contribute to the forex position by booking my passages home through a Travel Agent in Barbados and paying for it in Barbados, using Canadian currency, or through a Visa account with a “Bajan” Bank; never mind all Baanking head offices are outside of Bim, they still have to be considered Bajan banks, and paying for the debits with foreign exchange when I come into Barbados.
Hants, the poor and unemployed are a hazard of any capitalist society. We have poor and unemployed in Canada. What is important are the safety nets available. We at least have provision (noe) for such people. Before there were NO safety nets. Pennies from the Vestry and the soup kitchen in the Park sufficed. I was among the poor and unemployed. I have never forgotten that and I never will. That will always live with me.
Piece:
So the students at UNIVERSITY have to buy second hand books. At least they are in University. You saying that is nothing? You telling me that get you vex? Man get a life and get real. All of you should give thanks you can go there; to a university.
@Bush..2018 or there about.
Alvin……the taxpayers and no one else had to work hard so that they and future generations could make it into university. How do you think you made it into SUNY, yeah I know all aboutvthe process of SUNY, it was not on a wing and a prayer or some lying politician’s mouth. Generations of taxpayers of taxpayers paid forveach generations privilege.
Alvin’s answer to everything is “at least” it seems. His bar is aimed rather low for us. Wait! That’s right! HE DOESN”T LIVE HERE!
Sometimes when you don’t live there you can have a better perspective since you are not in the fish bowl
Well Well for example I can see why she is taking Alvin on about his stance on university because the only way she was getting to go was in a jar. I am very happy she also found a use for white people….paying for free education.
@Well Well and David,
Well Well,
I went to SUNY on a Tuition Waiver; a scholarship that was available to anyone in the world who reached the required academic standard. I had to work for everything else; wash dishes, mop floors, etc. etc.. No taxpayers in Barbados paid anything for me. Actually at that time very few of us had anything to pay taxes with. If Bajan taxpayers pay for the partial tuition (Don’t forget, Government pays the economic costs for each student; thousands of them) that should be accepted with thanks and every effort should be made, by the students, to justify this expenditure, with thanks and good performance. They are the children of Barbadians; so every Bajan has a stake in the education of each student..
Why is it that you attribute lying to every politician, every lawyer, every government official, and everyone in public service. You are truly the most cynical person I have ever communicated with. In ‘The Sound of Music’, Julie Andrews sings a song, in which she attributes her good fortune in falling in love with her boss, and having it reciprocated, because; “Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.”
Is there somewhere in your youth or childhood that something, or somebody, has done something bad to you or yours? There has to be something that happened to contribute to your attitude. You need help. But who can give you that help? You don’t trust doctors either. I can’t help, you don’t trust me at all because you perceive me as a “yard fowl”. At least I am not a yard duck. But, then again, you don’t know me.
Oh Well, time will tell.
@David, I commend Dame Billie Miller’s Independence speech to your attention. You will have some answers to your questions.
@ Alvin Cummins,
I am a DLP supporter ( not a party member ). I try to help the party by shutting up and
listening. get my drift ?
However I will continue to beg the government to CLEAN UP DE NASTY STINKING PLACE
and I would not support a WTE plant in the middle of the island because in my opinion it is unwise.
I will “shut up” and read.
Two men shot dead in St Phillip, the neighbouring constituency of the Attorney -General
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT AFFORD TO BE A USELESS SPECTATOR
@Donna,
My navel string bury in Wellington street. I follow everything that goes on in Barbados. I may reside in Toronto, but my soul lives in Barbados, and it always will.
I am a Bajan til’ I dead.
@Alvin,
He who FEELs it knows it. Your navel string may be here but it cannot feel. And your soul…. I’m not sure what that means. You need to stop telling us how good we have it here because I suspect you have it better where you live.
Lawson,
Sometimes, but not this time.
Alvin…..you, of all people who is hooked on being a long distance yardfowl and always trying to set the lowest possible bar for your own people, while you live in Canada, is trying to pschoanalyze me, what a hoot. I can assure you I have always been well adjusted, but I live in the real world with real life experiences where I don’t see politicians as perpetual saviors.
Unlike you, I know that humans are fallible and having a title, lawyer, doctor, minister, politician, does not render anyone a saint, too many people are paying to learn that….you of all people who sat and swallowed the Cahill scam without any information, being told it is dangerous to you people’s health and still backing your greedy politicians in the endeavour, will not be expected to understand, now would you, since you continually regurgitate the same nonsense trying to convince those who know better.
Alvin, you went to SUNY on a waiver program, taxpayers had to pay for it, US taxpayers, if you had gone to England or Canada, their taxpayers would have had to foot your bill, someone had to pay.
Lawson…..I was blessed wi h education from several cultures, North American being one….globalization at work….lol
Once you look you will see there are always things to be thankful for, but that doesn’t mean that we must be satisfied with mediocrity. A bit surprised to see BU assisting in perpetuating the myth that ‘Barbados’ is (politically) ‘independent’ wishing people a happy celebration of an event which never occurred. To call the place ‘Barbados’ is in itself legitimizing the european pirates’ claims to have any right to name anything. Peter Boos’ words are as empty as Leroy Parris talking about the struggle and were ignored equally easily. Promises to implement someone else’s standards (ISO) do little to give hope that things will be much better. The said civil service which is currently thought to be paid to do very little is highly unlikely to support an initiative (or government) which will force them to do actual measurable and qualitatively-assessable work, all day every work day… sounds like productivity will go up and up and up Granville, but whither wages…? Seems kinda trade-unionist; come in, act like they with you, vent off the pressure and get the ppl back to work at least cost. If they wished to show the true power of the PEOPLE, and not the union, they would shout “boycott”, not “strike”. Show me the business that can stay open with no money coming in. Boycott the right players long enough and they will squeeze whichever MP’s balls they have to til we get what we want so that they can see big money again. As for the freeness: taxes way up but health, welfare, unemployment and education bebefits down…? Ppl speak of education as though it was manna from the Creator, but everything made has both pros and cons… it is a true trojan horse; a seeming gift within which is the virus covertly planted in the mind, and the means by which the slavery is perpetuated. Someone mentioned it- mechanized tasks, which keep wages low, and labour unskilled and easily replaceable (thousands put out each year- understand division of labour). The qualifications can be used for financial mobility but through its included and inherent falsehoods of current and past information the education system is why 99% believe in lies like ‘independence’ and the europeans’ masturbatory view of Caribbean HIStory in the first place. There will never be any improvement until as Bob said we “tell the children the truth” so the next generation can grow to base their decision-making in the real world and not in this fantasy ‘Barbados’, a racially integrated utopia where you can trust the administration, justice is served and the whole point of it all is a “piece of the rock”. Until such time, brace for another generation of drones, just like the last. Except worse.
Well Well are you saying you are the result of some global educational experiment? Wait till bushy hears you are cobbled together from a bunch of different schooled pieces.. like some sort of frankenswine. You should have gone to the school of hard knocks like myself who doesn’t mind paying for someones education if they make full use of it to elevate others
“Okay, tell the DLP to demit office”
Since all or I should say most of the commentators on the blog including myself do not see the BLP as an alternative government Arta how will you propose the country to be governed If the DLP demits office?
Interesting to hear your thoughts.
Lawson…..you would be surprised at the amount of people who have been educated in several different cultures at the white man’s deep pocketed expense…lol
Happy independence Barbados. !!!! Finally we has understand de diff tween argued and argue, tween comment and commented. It are we has expeck of an educate people.
@Well Well,
I am often tempted to stop writing on this blog; not because I am down- spirited or scared, but because some of the- Bushie words-I read fill me with loathing at its stupidity7 of the person writing.Although according to many of you I write-bushie words- often. .
One of our esteemed bloggers opined that if there was a breakdown at the proposed WTE plant it would be like Chernobyl. In other words he is comparing a Plasma Gasifier with a Nuclear Plant Meltdown. And I am supposed to let something like that to be sent into the “atmosphere” without reply?
When Donna could write and advise me that;as she surmises, I have it better here, and therefore I should stop telling the people in Barbados how good they have it, should I let that slide? Whether you, Donna or anyone else believe it or want to accept it, compared to many other places, the people in Barbados have it good! If you are homeless in Barbados and have to sleep on the beach, it is better than being homeless in North America, or even Europe, in February or March and have to sleep (if you can) in temperatures of minus 15 or 20 degrees celsius, you would know which person is the better off or who has it better. As long as Bajans believe this nonsense of how badly off they are, perpetuated by people who should know better, I will have to come and draw comparisons, whether I am considered a yard fowl or not. One thing, I will always tell the truth, and tell it like it is. Exactly..
As long as people try to brainwash Bajans into believing that they are worse off now, than before Independence, I will have to come and deprogram them, or at least try to, so that they would have some true understanding of the real world.
And dear Donna, I don’t have it especially better than many people in Barbados, and whatever I have achieved, academically or financially, it has been through hard work; study lasting many years, working, sometimes three jobs at the same time, and from having lived many more years than you, in, and visited, many different countries.
Until the BLP find good leadership they will never (read my lips)”never” regained the coveted prize of being in charge of the countries affair
One of the yardfowls major mistakes is having a “marriage of convenience to OSA which many believed was a King
Now the job of replacing the King seems unreachable due in part to the height of his status during his fourteen year reign and a bestowed reverence which his followers had acclaimed as that of beyond reproach
The new King ( No i did not say queen) would by all accounts fill the masters shoes in more ways than one having the aura and political suave to woo and captivate an audience
As it stands now on the scorecard the BLP does not have or posses that person within their ranks
Their best bet would be to look outward to find
balance December 1, 2015 at 5:22 PM #
“Since all or I should say most of the commentators on the blog including myself do not see the BLP as an alternative government Arta how will you propose the country to be governed If the DLP demits office?”
In my opinion, even the man on the “Cream of Wheat” or the “Quaker Oats” box will do a better job of providing good governance for this island than Freundel Stuart and his band of misfits.
Can you envisage Patrick Todd, Ronald Jones, Jeptar Ince, Irene Sandiford-Garner, Esther Byer (suck who), Denis Kellman, Richard Sealy, Mara Thompson, John Boyce, Michael Lashley, Maxine McLean, Denis Lowe, James Paul, Steve Blackett, Adriel Brathwaite, Donville Inniss or Harcourt Husbands being any viable alternative to what the BLP has to offer?
Would you HONESTLY describe what Fruendel Stuart exhibit GOOD LEADERSHIP?
Shiite buckets in BOTH parties.
If you could feel comfortable with these DLP jokers, surely you could feel equally comfortable with the BLP jokers.
Come on, Balance, I know you have better sense than that.
Alvin,
My comment remains the same. You are on the outside. You DO NOT KNOW. Our problem is rampant and unchecked corruption, and that, more than a little hardship is what is bothering us. There is a feeling of helplessness in the face of bold-faced lies told by our political leaders who seem to think they can do as they like without answering to the people who elected them. That takes away the feeling of security we used to have when we believed our nation was in good even though imperfect hands. You would have to be here in the same sinking ship to understand that. But you DO NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEGDE THAT because it somehow does not fit your agenda.
Donna,
I have family living in Barbados. I have friends, in all social classes living in Barbados. I listen to Brass tacks almost every day, and other programmes when I can, via stream on my computer. I read the Nation Advocate, and quite often the Barbados Business Authority. I think I am aware of what goes on in Barbados.I don’t have to be on a sinking ship, to observe that it is sinking. From my observations and information, Barbados is not sinking. It has been in difficulty for a long time but it is not sinking.Japan has gone back into recession but it is not sinking. (Their growth last year was less than 1%$) Many people4 who think they are dying do not die4.
And part of those bold-faced lies, include the painting of a pretty picture of Barbados,when these same politicians address those Bajans who live in Boston, Toronto and London,UK.
@ ac December 1, 2015 at 9:39 PM
Why are you so royally enamoured with the use of monarchical titles and verbal paraphernalia to describe the real blood sport of kings called politics?
Don’t you think after the rule of black King Fumble of the House of Stuart any commoner can do a better job for the tripartite republic of Trinbimgo?
The coming year 2016 (the year of the monkey for many) would witness the confluence or convergence of events which will have major Constitutional ramifications for the politically ruptured Bim.
Not only will 2016 herald the 50th anniversary of Little England letting go of the coattail of her motherland but it will marked as in 1652 be forced into making her real first adult decision; one way or the other.
Will Bim just amend her Constitution to reflect the abdication (for whatever reasons) by the present female monarch on the British throne by way of minor changes of ‘His Majesty’ instead of ‘Her Majesty’ (cases where HM exist remain the same)?
Or will Trinbargo seize the opportunity to go the full republican route while still holding on to its heraldic relics of KA and KC’s and all the symbolic representations of a monarchical circus of black buffoonery?
Will King Stuart give a monkey’s about the necessity of expensively rebranding Bim or would he rule by decree and just say: ‘Hail the Republic of Black Brass Bowls, Long Live the King Beheaded Charles of Stuart’?
miller your use of bigoted and racist terms which you have seen fit to interject in your commentary to depict the PM Charactersitics is more a reflection of a low down dirty minded scalawag and a personification of your own image negro.
The PM is who he is black brown or red, If you do not like it too bad
@ ac December 1, 2015 at 11:13 PM
Let’s agree to refer to King Fumble as Royal Black, shouldn’t we?
BTW, Negress, Do you know what the word “negro” means in Spanish?
millertheanunnaki December 1, 2015 at 10:45 PM # Will King Stuart give a monkey’s about the necessity of expensively rebranding Bim or would he rule by decree and just say: ‘Hail the Republic of Black Brass Bowls, Long Live the King Beheaded Charles of Stuart’?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
From the Royal House of Stuarts.
http://i.imgur.com/DnKNcA9.jpg?1
@ David,
read page 18 of Barbados Today.
Barbados has a new political party named SOLUTIONS BARBADOS.
@Hants
That is Grenville’s party first mooted on social media.
“If you are homeless in Barbados and have to sleep on the beach, it is better than being homeless in North America, or even Europe, in February or March and have to sleep (if you can) in temperatures of minus 15 or 20 degrees celsius, you would know which person is the better off or who has it better”.
Alvin…….here is where I will press on you to tell the truth, yes, it will be warmer, as a homeless person to sleep on the beach in a year round summer clime in the Caribbean than in the winter, but, you neglected to add that there are homeless shelters throughout North America, churches etc, soup kitchens etc, people who choose to sleep outside in negative degree temperatures do so at their own peril, these programs are also taxpayer or privately funded. I believe a program was started in Barbados some years ago privately funded, for the homeless, the Salvation Army provides meals for the hungry and there was a dude at Queens Park, don’t know if that’s still in play, who provided breakfast for the hungry. The YWCA provides breakfast for school kids whose parents are having difficulties. In every country you will find someone picking up the slack.
Regarding the other stuff that bothers you, I can’t help you there, as long as you continue to view everything through politics and politicians, you will continue to be lost Alvin. The population has realized that they are responsible for their own existence and their successes depend on how hard they work, lately, opportunities are not what they should be, but politicians have a job to do, it’s a job like any other job, but with more responsibilites and if they do everything else but that job, you get what you see. Maybe if they stop trying to turn everyone on the island into yardfowls and political pimps, they will be able to focus completely on their jobs and also see their successes..
Just for you Alvin…….intelligent people think of and care for future generations.
Alvin,
Second hand news is never as accurate as first hand. YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW WE WHO ARE COMMENTING HERE FEEL. DO NOT TELL US HOW WE SHOULD BE FEELING.
A perspective that is based mainly on what the mainstream media reports could never be accurate. For almost everything they print there’s an ulterior motive, whether to distract or to misinform. For example no investigative journalist revealed in the imaginary cars debacle that you cannot register a car unless it is issued a weight cert, and only MTW weighs cars; how do you weigh a car that doesn’t exist? The obvious MTW involvement was totally ignored by the press. Also, they are not talking about the huge betrayal that is the removal of the savings rate floor’ but some trivial sh*t always makes it to the cover…
@ David,
I notice the new political party has not ” included ” BU.
They have made their “announcement”
” in main stream media “. what’s up wid dat ?
If you want to win favor with the Establishment Grenville would have been advised to avoid BU. To be fair to Grenville he tested the water on BU a few months ago.
>
@Well Well:
Mr. Zucherberg is worth how much?
Is it possible for a country to have genuinely gained independence without having first waged a revolution? How do you define a revolution? Does blood have to be spilt on the streets to give legitimacy to a revolution? In order for a revolution to occur it requires the mind-set of the individual to become re-animated. In simple words, the individual has to be woken up from their slumber. It is evident to me that the BU forum contains a large number of individuals who harbour revolutionary ideas. Such individuals have the capacity to spread their philosophy to the intellectually indifferent. The impoverish masses are under tremendous pressure to support themselves and their families. They are in survival mode and have little time to truly consider their miserable plight.
Just for the record, I do not believe that all revolutions equate to blood being spilled. I would say that the ideal revolution is when the masses assemble and join together as one: when brains are unified and pitched against the enemy.
The film below (which I have cited before) highlights what can be achieved when the masses unite with one voice and shrieks in a high pitch “enough is enough!” The film also highlights how difficult it is wage a revolution.
Why did someone not take the Acting Prime Minister aside, before the Independence Parade and demonstrated to him the correct way to stand to attention?
At one point he was seen standing with feet wide apart,and arms at his side . Reminiscence of Bud and Lou.
During the Independence day parade broadcast on CBC, subject to correction, a commentator was heard to say the the early mounted police of the then Barbados Police Force were utilised in protecting the plantations from being robbed on Thursday paydays.
The Thursday payday is a comparatively new thing.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.