Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning.
– Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
In recent days members of the BU household was given reason to pause and reflect on the state of affairs of the country. It is a matter of fact that both the economic and social wellbeing of a 166 square mile island – renown for punching above its weight – has been relegated in the last eight years. They are those who will translate an obvious observation by ascribing labels like doom and gloomer, unpatriotic and the like. It explains why there is the term ‘pushing ones head in the sand’.
When BU started the Tales from the Courts series in 2012 to highlight the fact that our judiciary was failing to deliver justice, many on this blog and in the traditional media rubbished our view. It is now routine to read the editorials in the traditional media lamenting the state of the judiciary.
How about the public debate during the Arthur regime about corruption in high office. BU lead the revelations about 3S SRL, a company incorporated to construct flyovers along the ABC Highway. Although some will struggle to remember the name Danos, the BU archive serves to remind. Another transaction, all local, is the Hardwood affair. Today’s version of 3S SRL and Hardwood is Cahill Energy and the GROTTO.
One does not have to be prolix to understand events playing out in Barbados in 2016. Have a read of the enduring classic novel Animal Farm. For those who are challenged to comprehend the written word, repeat after David.
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning
The Auditor General reports year after year about the blatant abuse of government’s financial rules. Successive governments (BLP and DLP) have frustrated the mandate of the most important working committee of parliament, the Public Accounts Committee. Why is this committee important? It is the check and balance embedded in our system of government to hold government and public officials accountable. Like the consternation generated post 11+ examination results, we have to suffer the same chatter when the Accountant General releases his annual report.
There is the saying “a rising tide lifts all boats“.
The price of oil has fallen significantly since 2008/9 when it pushed up to $150.00. All import configured economies, including Barbados, have obviously benefited from the stress on the foreign reserves. The bounce in the global economy – especially in our key source markets for tourism – has resulted in a significant number of tourists visiting the Caribbean. Despite these two favourable external conditions the fiscal condition of the Barbados economy remains in a perilously state. The fluff job staged by the Central Bank of Barbados on Thursday night merits no comment.
The 60% of Barbadians eligible to vote want to know when. Until then we wait until Napoleon takes over from Snowball.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.