Michael Carrington,Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly
The Presidency is preeminently a place of moral leadership,” Franklin Roosevelt observed in the midst of the Depression; but that was then and this is now. What has changed? – The Moral Authority of Government
A wholesome society many will argue is built on the pillars of law and order. Barbados like many others is a society built on law and order. But is it enough to enact and enforce laws if we want to build the optimal society? What role do human values play in the quality of life we aspire to -values like honesty, integrity, empathy, humility and the like. How are societal values modified over time to sustain the optimal society. How does a society mesh the individual values of the citizenry to honour the many. Importantly, who should be the ones responsible to codify changing values as time passes.
There was a period the citizenry acted based on norms and values influenced heavily by the world of the non secular. Today there is great haste to separate non-secular influence from how we govern. Have we been able to grow basic human values rooted in the society we have become to fill the vacuum previously influenced by Christian values ? Hmmmm
Through the years the BU household has posted several blogs about the weeds which have run amuck in the manicured lawns. When they were sprouts we ignored them because we were distracted by the appeal that is derived from social relativism. Underpinning the breakdown in the Bajan society has been our willingness to surrender and deprioritized Bajan values. Nowadays Barbados has become the warehouse for anything and everything. Again we are not willing to defend a damn thing that is Bajan. Errol Walton Barrow must be a disappointed man observing from across the Rubicon.
An apt analogy which describes the potta Barbados finds itself is that of the ZR/Minibus culture. Almost three decades ago voices in the proverbial wilderness sounded the alarm to alert the authorities we needed to address issues in the sector. Because of greed and ineptness of the authorities they have mismanaged the sector and in the process exacerbated the social ills of our country. Why should we worry though, after all, we are a society first and then an economy. If ever one wanted a definition of political rhetoric, there you have it.
Of all the immoral acts which have been perpetrated on Barbados by a public figure in Barbados in the last decade, it must be Michael Carrington’s refusal to pay an ordinary citizen his money. He had to be ordered by the High Court to pay a 70+ year old man his money. What makes the act so egregious is the fact he is the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The fact he has not resigned is bad enough, the fact this most ignominious act was defended by Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart caused every sinew in the body to go numb of all right thinking Bajans. The Michael Carrington matter now raises the issue of the moral authority of any government in the building of the optimal society.
Michael Carrington you are a cad and Barbadians everywhere should be so ashamed about what you have done to puncture the good reputation of Barbados. All the while the Leader of the Opposition is silent. The media is silent. His colleagues are unsurprisingly silent. And the PEOPLE are silent.
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104 responses to “Michael Carrington’s Immoral Act Goes Unpunished”
Kevin
Yawn, here we go again picking and choosing morality. What those two guys did to their wives wasnt immoral? Why do that person keep assaulting other women? Is that moral?
Flogging a dead horse? He was found guilty of a crime, and sentence was passed. He is an ex-con? If the PM sees no reason why his conviction should effect his ability to perform, then judgement day is polling day? Is it law an ex-con cannot be Speaker? If not, what is the opposition to oppose, the PM’s judgement?
I mean this is the same PM who last week in a supposedly unprepared speech to the CofC quoted words from a Simon and Garfunkel song, as the basis for further philosophical verbiage for which he is now infamous. Approaching Gairyesque levels?
Infamous sounds a tad benign,mild that is.I go for the jugular in describing what the man is known for.Notorious is more descriptive.
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Colonel Buggy
An apt analogy which describes the potta Barbados finds itself is that of the ZR/Minibus culture. Almost three decades ago voices in the proverbial wilderness sounded the alarm to alert the authorities we needed to address issues in the sector.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
We have moved from the ZR Culture to the “My Mother (or whoever) did no send me ” culture.
i.e From most of our MP’s “The Ordinary people of Barbados did not send me to Parliament to represent them.”
or “The People of St Philip,whatever, did not send me to parliament to look after the interests of people in St Joseph and St Andrew.”
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Violet C Beckles
Another dam crook , Oh same old crook nothing being done to remove his ass,what a cuntry called Barbados where crooks rule in the open , where is the un-WANTED POSTER to remove him and then lock him up?
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Hants
Willie D is back. The eagles are circling as they see another opportunity to dine on veal. lol
Welcome home! That was the general reaction of constituents of Christ Church West canvassed for their views on Dr William Duguid’s imminent return to active politics ”
“There’s no justice when the relevant people are silent.”
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Sunny Sunshine Shine
Lawyers in Barbados who steal clients money, especially if you are politically connected, are above the laws of the land The only court that calls them to account and condems their actions is the court of public opinion. Michael Carrington’s little thieving act was approved by the Prime Minister of the Democratic Labour Party and loyal followers. According to their ethics, Michael Carrington’s behaviour in the case of withhelding a client’s money that he, Carrington, spent is acceptable behaviour.
Imagine if Carrington had done this to your 70+ father, the mental anguish having to deal with a dishonest lawyer, who happened to be Speaker of the House. The effect it would likely have on his quality of life.
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HAMILTON A HILL
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. One in particular, every time BU reprints it {and by the way for obvious reasons only BU does}the moral compass that guides the ship Barbados is brought sharply into focus. Hundreds of ordinary Barbadians would have been disenfranchised allegedly at the hands of this well connected business person. Against the grain of traditional business practice, and amidst allegations of fraudulently obtained profits finding safe haven in the CENTRAL BANK OF BARBADOS, ministers of Government are seen shamelessly cavorting with this person. See the BU blog entitled “Sinckler Out To Sea”. If this administration had any true and genuine intent on building a society such outlandish repugnance would not have come to the fore. Simple common sense coupled with basic public relations strategy suggest such. THEY DON’T CARE!
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HAMILTON A HILL
In the face of this wickedness didn’t the leader of the country jumped to the defense of an obviously crooked speaker, just as he had done for ”green verbs” parris? Oh boy…aren’t we a peaceful people.. Wait a minute…does peaceful and dotage mean the same thing? just asking.
The issue here is that the country has become too damn politically polarized on the issues. Imagine if the BLP were the government and Hallam Nichols was accused of the same as Parris i.e. having a deposit at the CBB or some other assist, the cry from the DLPites would be the same as we are hearing from the BLPites. Recall when Mia was booted out of the LOTO position many of her critics swarmed social media, talk show etc howling about the injustice. We have not learned from Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua and others…we will eventually.
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Artaxerxes
Yeah, and they should also read the Ronald Jones script when he admonished school “schewdents” for being undisciplined, while he BREAKS the LAWS of BARBADOS, DRIVING with an EXPIRED driver’s license and without due care and attention.
Or the Senator Jeptar Ince script when he struck a 20 year old bicyclist while travelling along Bright Hill, St. Patrick’s, Christ Church. After hearing Ince’s version of the events, and under cross examination by his attorney, the policeman who investigated the incident said that given his 11 years experience as a police officer, he was not supportive of Ince’s explanation at the scene of the accident.
Yes David it is call politics the inability for an intelligent society to learn from the past but is reconciled to the fact of repaying evil with evil,
AS in the case of Michaelo Carrington he was held accountable by law and society held his foot to the fire
Yet not one BLP foot soldier ever held OSA accountable for monies derived by Clico as a residual for campaign financing which he put in his personnel account while he was PM of barbados
More so the BLP footsoldiers stand bodily and wave the flag of injustices in light of what should be merited to fairness and justice and accountability left still unattended at and festering at their doorsteps
Yet the BLP soldiers wants all to endorse that there righteousness is above excellence
How can that be ?
And the same continues with a DLP government in office for 8 years.
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Artaxerxes
The “BLP fourteen year script of illegalities” has been accomplished by the DLP within eight years of your beloved party forming the government.
The most blatant act is that of Richard Byer being paid over $400,000 by the Caves of Barbados, for proving a service another lawyer charged $17,000 to render.
Just goes to show, there are no fundamental differences between the BLP and DLP… ILLEGAL OR OTHERWISE.
As a country/people we need to get pass through shit over the fence to see who achieve the biggest pile.
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Artaxerxes
Yet not one of the DLP foot soldiers held David Thompson accountable for “assisting” Leroy Parris to “withdraw” $3.333M from the same CLICO and benefiting from those funds, as revealed by the FORENSIC AUDIT, while he was Opposition Leader of Barbados.
By their deeds, what makes OSA and JMHT any different from each other?
“Yes, AC, it is called politics the inability for an intelligent society to learn from the past but is reconciled to the fact of repaying evil with evil….”
How can society moved past when the insipidness of this blood sport called politics changes the rules with every changing of the guard
Is society now to forgive and forget those who made “it ” so and zoomed in on a new and present dispensation for recovery
How is society going to maintain a fervent and efficient guide to morality when the rules are constantly changed ?
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HAMILTON A HILL
Just last new years morning after leaving Buddies we decided to head to Coral Ridge to place flowers on the grave of my wife’s mother before we head home after a long night of intense partying. While headed there the driver showed me a piece of property that seemingly covered perhaps half of the parish. He told me that it was recently acquired by a government minister. One of several as he put it. Had to tell myself this. De ministers in Barbados aint doing too bad………..fah dem selves that is.
Another immoral act is the PM promising the nation, supported by his AG, that he will do what it takes to address irregularities exposed in the electoral process on voting day and not done anything about it we are aware.
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Artaxerxes
The most significant “immoral act” perpetrated by both BLP and DLP (but more so the DLP, since they promised Barbadians they would enact ITAL immediately upon assuming governmental office in 2008, and to some extent the Opposition for refusing to highlight the issue), is their continued refusal to introduce freedom of information and integrity legislation.
We have noticed that in the absence of such legislation, certain “events” relative to CAHILL and Cost-U-Less have been able to “slip under the radar.”
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HAMILTON A HILL
How is it that the masses seem so content buying into the con game being run by certain persons with influence in the country? Case in point…. A caller to the radio program made the point that even though its value might only be symbolic in nature, government ministers should show solidarity with the common man and the plight he experiences daily, by giving up these ministerial perks. “Sir such thinking is simplistic”. That was the response. Mrs Sandiford-Garner and co put a facility in place to stop poor people from getting a simple barrel of foodstuff through the Bridgetown port, and dat aint seen as simplistic thinking. That is seen as plugging a loop hole. Port Charles….Port Ferdinand. Port Diplomatic Status. Simple minds see these things.
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millertheanunnaki
@ HAMILTON A HILL January 31, 2016 at 10:35 AM
“While headed there the driver showed me a piece of property that seemingly covered perhaps half of the parish. He told me that it was recently acquired by a government minister. One of several as he put it. Had to tell myself this. De ministers in Barbados aint doing too bad………..fah dem selves that is.”
And both you and the same “driver” are contributing to the rape of ordinary Bajan taxpayers.
How else can the same ‘previously poor ‘politicians acquire wealth during their stint in office to buy or build those lavish properties unless through the ripping off of taxpayers in cahoots with so-called respectable business people?
Do you really feel these so-called business people bribe or offer kickbacks for contracts using their own personal or business finances?
Why not enlighten the BU soldiers for the cause of integrity in governance and let them know who is/are the minister(s) showing off such opulence in the face of massive unemployment and economic hardships over the last 7 years?
You don’t have to call names but innuendo and conjecture using references to people with assigned nick names like Stinkliar and Lowedown are effective techniques of information via social media.
Come HAH, fess up and stop being a coward like the typical Bajan ostrich!
Just remember, Hamilton, you must live up to the motto of BU bloggers:
‘For the cause that lacks assistance, the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that BU can do for Barbados.’
@ Hamilton Hill, What evidence do you have that he spoke the truth? It is easy to say anything these days about anybody, and it is accepted as factual.
@David,
Doesn’t BU show ,almost with every post, the photo of Gregory Nicholls, accused of misappropriating clients’ funds, and he is still held close to the bosom of the party he campaigned for? I thought that when a person had “paid his debt” to society, or otherwise, that he was exonerated. Hasn’t this episode with Mr. Carrington been discussed ad nauseum? The only purpose of this contribution is to keep the fires stoked, bt you should realize that after enough pain has been inflicted toe person feels no more pain. The public has grown tire of these charades, against politicians at large. OUR SOCIETY EXISTS IN AN IMPURE AND IMPERFECT WORLD WHERE CORRUPTION IS ENDEMIC. WARRINGTON COMMITTED A
CIVIL OFFENCE, JEPTER INCE AND THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION COMMITTED TRAFFIC OFFENCES, AND YOU WANT TO KILL THEM?
How much more immature do you want to get. Society has changed, the mores have changed, the standards, for what we older folk would consider “bad”, have become acceptable in the wider society, and the definition of “morality” no longer fits in the new dictionary. When I spent my first summer holiday in New York, pornographic photos were black and white, sealed in plastic and were of women in skimpy panties and bras. Playboy changed that, nowadays all sorts of pornography are available on cell phones. How does your definition of morality fit into this “new world”
Pillorying Michael Carrington is not the answer to society’s challenge with morality. It has nothing to do with yard-fowlism, unless you consider everyone with a conflicting opinion a yarifowl; or yard duck where applicable.
Let us understand your point, the Carrington matter has been discussed ad nauseum BU needs to stop because he is numb to what is being stated anyway.
JA
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HAMILTON A HILL
@ miller………like you I too am bajan to de bone……..like me you too are an ostrich, head buried in the sand. That from thousand of miles away there are times when this ostrich can borrow the eagle’s eye to zero in upon the nastiness going on right beneath the beak of the ostrich living there is astounding. Were you not the ostrich that took me to task for snooping into the mess in the hive down Roebuck St? Or dat aint nasty enough? Ah taxing mah brain to remember the Miller rant about VECHO and the prison….and MAM. Like today’s those wrongs too needed resistance. Where were you?
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Walter Blackman
Alvin Cummins January 31, 2016 at 11:12 AM #
“OUR SOCIETY EXISTS IN AN IMPURE AND IMPERFECT WORLD WHERE CORRUPTION IS ENDEMIC. WARRINGTON (sic)COMMITTED A
CIVIL OFFENCE….”
Alvin,
I have never studied law, so, as the Bajans would say, “if you find me wrong, I want you to set me right.”
A hungry man goes into a supermarket and takes two tins of corned beef from the shelf. He walks out without paying for the items. A security guard observes it all, and as soon as the man walks into the street, he arrests the man.
The supermarket renders an account which shows that the man took personal possession of the supermarket’s assets for 10 minutes, without the knowledge, permission, or approval of the supermarket.
Based on this rendered account, the commissioner of police realizes that the man has violated laws passed by the Speaker and legislators of the House of Assembly.
A few of the man’s friends approach the police and the owner of the supermarket and offer to pay 20 times the value of the corned beef as a solution to the problem.
“Oh no” says the commissioner, “we don’t know where that money has come from. How can we be sure that it is not money you are trying to launder?”
The end result is as follows:
The Supermarket recovers its 2 tins of corned beef (civil restitution)
The man is charged, found guilty, and convicted of stealing (criminal prosecution)
The man had the corned beef (valued less than $10) in his possession for 10 minutes. For how long did the Speaker have his client’s money in his possession?
The two tins of corned beef were forcibly recovered from the man unused and untouched.
Despite the embarrassingly great amount of psychological, political, and moral force applied, was the Speaker able to produce his client’s money unused and untouched?
The rendered account which showed that the 2 tins of corned beef were in the man’s possession for 10 minutes formed the basis for criminal prosecution.
Like any competent judge would, the judge presiding over the Speaker’s civil case requested that an account be rendered.
Has the commissioner seen that rendered account? Did the account show funds being diverted away from its true and intended owner, the Speaker’s client? Did that account reveal a violation of any laws passed by the House of Assembly?
Is it true that roughly 1/4 billion dollars were paid by third parties to handle the Speaker’s long standing inability or refusal to repay his client?
Does the commissioner have documented proof that this money was not laundered? Did any of this money come from the leper’s account at the Lazaretto? Oops I meant the Central Bank.
By the way, what did the Speaker do with his client’s money? Did he use it to finance a political campaign? Build a house? Pay off debts? Make a hefty contribution to a political party?
There was once a time in Barbados when the older folk, possessing nothing more than a 7th standard education, could be relied upon to chastise any member of the younger generation who they perceive as being up to no good. “Never follow multitude to do evil”, they would admonish.
Alas, consistent with the pervasive erosion of traditional Barbadian values, we are now beginning to see worrisome evidence of social and moral decay among some of the aged.
Imagine a lawyer who is Speaker refusing to pay over proceeds of a land deal to a 70+ year old client all the while driving a Mercedes.
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Hants
@ David,
If the man had died before the case went to court………..Doan have to read an spell for you.
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pieter pieper
That’s why lawyers PREVARICATE and PROSTINATE ! But I have seen some who became terminally ill and, realizing the end was near,rushed to make amends with their clients in the hope that they would have no problems in THE HEREAFTER ! Just be careful not to take their postdated cheques ! Wuhloss !
How many lawyers out there in Barbados land have been able to swell their assets by ‘sitting’ in the assets.
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Well Well & Consequences
Alvin….you are the other asswipe for the corrupt thieves of DBLP. Because corruption is endemic world wide, in your view DBLP is just doing what everyone is doing so there is nothing wrong with being corrupt governments in Barbados….so you should have noticed that the other countries are also locking up their corrupt thieving politicians, lawyers etc….don’t you think it would be fair for the same to happen in Barbados, remember, we are talking endemic.
Hamilton…I am one of the few on BU who would blurt out names, certain times I don’t because some people on BU seem to be known to others and although they can’t mess with me because the repercussions would be brutal, I do think of others….then there are the yardfowls aka carrion birds, who will tell you that ya can’t prove nothing, you need evidence, so that means that the corrupt ministers and lawyers are innocent, but one day I will jump them…lol
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Well Well & Consequences
Hants…..that is what Carrington was hoping for, but the elderly gentleman refused to die and in the interim, Carrington himself nearly died, twice….lol
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Prodigal Son
I like so many of Barbadians, am so fed up that I feel it makes no sense to talk, these morons could not careless what we mortals think or say.
I at times wonder whether we should continue talking or just keep quiet and let the government continue to do what the hell as they like cause they aint listening to anything a fellow says, they could not care less!
Can you imagine a man like Ronald Jones having the gall to criticise the student at the centre of the Springer fiasco? The student obviously has taken note of his behaviour. I remember some time ago he castigated the principals in front of students at the Gymnasium and the students cheered loudly. If he did not show respect to the principals, does he not expect students to disrespect authority? (I am not taking sides here as I do not know the facts).
Imagine Ronald Jones a minister of the crown who swore to uphold the laws of Barbados driving for years on an expired license…………they are a law unto themselves.
Imagine the acting Commissioner of Police who is responsible for administration came out and said that the police are hampered because they do not have the basic supplies to do their job………the brassbowl we have for an AG…………on my TV a few nights ago said that it is not true.
Only ’bout here.
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Well Well & Consequences
As a matter of fact, Alvin himself nearly died on one of his trips to Barbdos, but as you can see, his experience did not change his yardfowl/carrion bird views…..he is hellbent and intent on the people being victimized.
Walter Blackman have you taken to a new calling one of being a” Speech Writer” for Donald Duck
Seems as if you are on your way to Disney World
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Walter Blackman
ac January 31, 2016 at 5:01 PM #
“Walter Blackman have you taken to a new calling one of being a” Speech Writer” for Donald Duck
Seems as if you are on your way to Disney World”
Hi ac,
Haven’t spoken to you for a while. Let me take this opportunity to wish you and your family a prosperous 2016.
I admire you for your tenacity. You could have easily fantasized about me being a “Speech Writer” for Bumble Bee, but no, it had to be D…D…..D…..
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HAMILTON A HILL
@ Well Well &Consequences…….A friend of mine named Johnny Walker Black Label and I had spoken all night long at Buddies so my memory was quite fuzzy. In any event they aren’t very many well kept secrets in Barbados, and that sure aint one of them. The miller was not really seeking information. He was being provocative.
@Walter,(Happy New Year to you. Dr Edward Layne was here two weeks ago did not get to speak with him at length. Greetings to Atlanta (if you are there)
Shades of Les Miserables? Is it enough to provoke a revolution?
Societies are suppose to thrive based on the wisdom transfer of its senior citizens. You don’t qualify..
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Walter Blackman
Alvin Cummins January 31, 2016 at 11:20 PM #
“@Walter,(Happy New Year to you. Dr Edward Layne was here two weeks ago did not get to speak with him at length. Greetings to Atlanta (if you are there)
Shades of Les Miserables? Is it enough to provoke a revolution?”
Alvin,
Happy New Year to you and yours also. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and bless you with good health.
For the benefit of BU readers, Dr. Edward Layne is the mild-mannered, unassuming Honorary Consul for Barbados in Atlanta. He is also held in very high esteem in Atlanta as a medical doctor. I am sure you would have enjoyed confabulating with him.
Yes, I am currently in Atlanta. Having spent the last four years in Chicago, I am really enjoying the comparatively mild winter temperatures that Atlanta provides. Barbadians living in Canada deserve nothing but admiration and respect for being able to survive those psychologically depressing grey winter days and the bone-chilling sub-zero temps (along with the Lawsonian frigid women) that accompany them.
Lets get back to the matter under discussion (revenons a nos moutons, as your Quebecois friends would say).
You mentioned Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Do you see Speaker Carrington performing the role of Jean Valjean, and the bloggers on BU acting as Inspector Javert?
No, I do not believe this incident is enough to provoke a revolutionary response. However, I do believe that those voices which have been justifiably raised in indignation against the speaker’s action deserves our commendation and support.
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