The duration of the lecture is over two hours but worth the listen. Many of the views shared my Dr. Ronnie Yearwood last night have been mooted repeatedly on BU. It is important a greater number of Barbadians from the academic class step out of the comfort zone to challenge the establishment. It is evident- even to the ignorant -that our system needs remodelling. We need our brightest to lead the way.
The Ronnie Yearwood Lecture
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123 responses to “The Ronnie Yearwood Lecture”
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David,
In Anglo-Saxon politics referenda are the rage. In our system we elect governments on the basis of their manifestos.
But Ronnie is a cut above the second-rate lawyer/politicians we generally have. What is interesting is the venom, bile, savagery that is now coming out for Ronnie, rather than debating the issues he has raised. -
At 2 hrs and 16 minutes in to his responses Dr Ronnie Yearwood declared his hand.
All of what he says is an artful regurgitation of Barbados Underground and other blogspace commentary
The white bajan Herbert entrapped him to declare his objective which is to say to the Barbados Labour Party that he is critical to the “invigoration of the party” full effing stop.
Wunna can talk all the sweet talk wunna like bout this being the next best thing to sliced bread but this is all pup, articulate pup, akin to Walter PPK’s style but with a cool accent.
Wheel and come again
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The problem with too many of the newbies is that they are repeating the same catchphrases and soundbytes: good governance, integrity legislation and FOI. Sadly not one individual has articulated a pragmatic framework for how either of these will work in Barbados. In Trinidad & Tobago both FOI and IL exist yet corruption persisted under the UNC/PP government. So to simply repeat ad infinitum the need for such legislation without setting out how they will work in Barbados reeks of bandwagonism. We have this knack for “copy & paste” without considering context. Case in point, someone above promoting a model of a digital participatory system with a team of qualified professionals, blind to the downright discriminatory nature of such a system. I hear of a mini-silicon valley, manufacturing of electric cars, black belly sheep leather goods and I cringe–Alice in Wonderland is alive and well.
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Not impressed by this smooth talking salesman with his well polished and prepared sales pitch most of what has been heard and said before by many with political earnings .
this is the same person who came out of his comfort zone to display an eagerness and authoritarian style on local radio to tell people of differing point of views how to think and react .
He is very good with his smooth and angular way of projecting his message of recommendations but beneath all those words i sense a person who is hurried !condensing !intolerant and aloof . -
Yes Joseph Herbert’s call to action was the most relevant intervention of the evening.
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Bush Tea, for the time being I might have written ‘support as a potential candidate’ rather than ‘vote’ but I do believe the man has the gumption needed to effect positive change.
I am now convinced that an apolitical grouping with honorable intent and willingness to serve, in conjunction with an engaged citizenry will trump the status quo. Any referenda undertaken must be well balanced, with subjects given equal opportunity to be understood. -
@ Hants April 15, 2017 at 1:11 AM
It would have been more informative if he could explain how such a proposal would become operational.
The little 2×3 country cannot even collect the student revolving loan repayments far less taxes from people living and working overseas. What about the millions own in VAT and |NIS contributions collected from the customers and employees but which do not find its way into the Treasury and NI?
What Dr. Yearwood has done is to argue a watertight case why students should be made to pay for their university education either through upfront personal funding or by way of guarantor-back student loans enforceable in a court of law.
Now what does the goodly doctor have in store for local agriculture and turning those once arable lands that formed the economic bedrock of Barbados into profitable points of economic activity?
But he probably does not deal with that sort of ‘dirty’ stuff when Barbados can always import its food requirements (even from Brazil or Venezuela) devaluation or no devaluation; lost of international business because of ‘blacklisting’ as a tax haven; Brexit or international hostilities to disrupt leisure travel (tourism); or even peace on earth despite growing crime in paradise.
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@Miller
BU is not here to defend Ronnie but what do you expect in a 90 minute presentation? His was a rallying call and he used governance and the abdication of the people in our democracy as the key talking points. Cut the guy some slack. How many politicians AND prominent politicians who would have been able to fill the Grande Salle at the central bank? Let us give him some support and see where it leads, we have nothing to lose at this stage.
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@ Enuff April 15, 2017 at 5:38 AM #
Well said…Bushie gets it now….
When you use the capital “E” is when you are shooting…. 🙂 -
Bushie
Should Ronnie and Walter wait like Godot on your pie in the sky BBE or seek to make a contribution now within the existing model? Y’all need to stop promoting fantasy, it further fuels voter apathy. -
@Bushie
No comment in response to Glyne Murray’s revelation on radio this week that Facebook and social media is foolishness?
Yet he was complimentary of the Water Warriors that gathered tremendous support from their rallying call on Facebook. Note the effort included his son.
A reminder this is 2017 Glyne.
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@ Enuff
Since this is the capital ‘E’ talking, Bushie would respond that what intelligent Bajans such as those two (and a few others) should do, is a full re-evaluation of our current situation and a deep strategic analysis to determine if we should not completely redefine our vision as a country.We all can clearly see now that what we have been doing HAS NOT BEEN WORKING….
It is not even working in the ‘successful, developed model countries’ that we seek to copy…What Bushie can ASSURE you, is that any such re-evaluation….. by genuinely intelligent and wise Bajans WILL point to another vision, and another way of doing things …that is not only do-able, but one that fits perfectly with our natural instincts as BBBBs.
BTW…
That you have no regard for BBE is not shocking to Bushie….after all, you had full confidence in CSME….. which tags you as ….. (well you pick the word…)
Perhaps a personal strategic review is in order for you too….
LOl
ha ha ha -
@ David
Much respect to you… you are able to listen to him…Bushie is pained to listen to Glyne Murray on VOB….
Not only does he talk total shiite…. but he stumbles, mumbles, stutters, repeats himself, distracts, …and generally represents the very worst of talk radio.Boss, if he was not a personal friend – and highly respected for his work in culture, Bushie would be tempted to say some very harsh things about him being on VOB.
Murray has managed to get Bushie to listen to turn on Tammy when he is on … a woman who has the knack of playing REAL nonsense music right after the palatable John Doe…. She has a great introduction piece ….then it is usually all downhill….
But Murray is worse….
LOL
ha ha ha -
angela Skeete April 15, 2017 at 6:21 AM #
And likewise, “Freundel Stuart is very good with his smooth and angular way of projecting his message of (Shakespeare, Chaucer and Greek philosophy), but beneath all those words I sense a person who is hurried! condensing! intolerant and aloof.”
HOWEVER, “Your need to pontificate on any and every given matter is astounding.” [Source: angela Skeete April 12, 2017 at 8:42 AM #]
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Bush Tea April 15, 2017 at 7:45 AM #
Everything works for a time,some short and some longer.The writing was on the wall since the early 90s and in fairness to the Bees they started to address it in the late 90s unfortunately it all stagnated by the 2000s which was due to 9/11 according to George….I dont buy that.
As I have stated before we need to deal with the sheeple by starting pressure/special interest groups…..not the old time clubs/associations foolishness with minutes and Roberts rules of order,that is for somewhere else.
Ronnie,does have a point that direction must come from the sheeple and your point is equally taken hence the sheeple must be educated by the groups afore mentioned along the correct thinking path so they can offer sensible/doable goals for their leader(s) to attain for this country.
We should look at the make up of our first parliamentarians….does prior to 66 as the rot started at Independence……their lifestyle and monetary compensation…..EWB was another example of living within your means with the old mercedes that used to breakdown regular.
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@Vincent
Ronnie,does have a point that direction must come from the sheeple and your point is equally taken hence the sheeple must be educated by the groups afore mentioned along the correct thinking path so they can offer sensible/doable goals for their leader(s) to attain for this country.
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So why re-invent the wheel?
Don’t you realise that the Cooperative movement has institutionalised and refined this requirement (among many others) for the ideal human democracy to thrive?One where the people have absolute power in general assembly, and at the same time, the leaders are constrained to EDUCATE them in ALL matters (no shiite secrecy and confidentiality allowed) since everything MUST be open and above board at all times.
Then there is the Supervisory Committee with power to suspend EVERY SHIITE and refer matters to the members. ..and with FULL and uninhibited access to ALL information.
Now if this philosophy ALREADY exists…..
and if it ALREADY works in Barbados …and outstandingly successfully so….
and if we ALREADY have numerous EXPERTS in the philosophy
and if THOUSANDS of Barbados ALREADY participate in Credit Unions…Kindly tell Bushie why you want a completely NEW set of political novices to come and re-invent something that ALREADY exists…..
BUP!!!
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NorthernObserver,
Strict Integrity Legislation infers a system with REAL TEEEEETS that transgressors would not want around their testicles. Just because wishy washy shyte does not work somewhere that means you must learn from jurisdictions where it does work.I”love” no politician but some I admire like Lee Kwan Yu, who turned Singapore into one of the very best nations on Earth, starting from being an entrepot.
Assuming you are referring to Trump, I never loved him but did make it clear that I hated HRC and therefore considered that those who loved her are/were very deluded. That couple is pure EVIL. Ask them what happened to the Haitians $$$$$$????
I have always stated that Trump is an ego maniac, schoolyard bully etc. My main point is that the Cs are every bit as bad or worse and multitudes could not grasp that, hence my stand to elucidate.
Anyway if Trump can find a relatively peaceful way to FREE the millions of enslaved people of Nth Korea that would be fantastic eg using relatively unknown sophisticated space based weapons to decapitate the regime.
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@ Bushie who wrote ” if he was not a personal friend – and highly respected for his work
in culture, Bushie would be tempted to say some very harsh things about him being on VOB.”
Good to see you are loyal to your personal friends.
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Shit man your obsession with one angela skeete mystifies.
Ronnie Yearwood is an intellectual in the same vein as a Comissiong and he can artfully weaved and frame his words together to attract an intelluctual class of his ilk but when trying to delivered his message to those of lesser intellectual he used legal jargon witih an intent to confuse his performance on local talk radio reminds me of one who has a message that is deliberate and one which he belives is right and which cannot and should not be questioned
Barbados a small nation has done relatively well through out the years by having good leaders with vision.
However what is being protrayed as good leaders making their way across the landscape are a new breed if reactionaries who fir tge mist part have nothingbto iffer of relatively wannebees with no vision but speakers with longwinded messages and no solutions that can push barbados towards a more progressive society. -
@Hants
Are you suggesting that Bush Tea is part of the problem that one of the questioners at the lecture referred t as the ‘relationship culture’?
@Artax
Do not get distracted especially under an important topic as scrutinizing our governance system. ac is a yardfolw, enough said.
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he can artfully weaved and frame his words together to attract an intelluctual class of his ilk but when trying to delivered his message to those of lesser intellectual he used legal jargon witih an intent to confuse his performance on local talk radio reminds me of one who has a message that is deliberate and one which he belives is right and which cannot and should not be questioned
……………………………………………………….Hmmmm…..looks like we are talking about our Honorable PM above……..not nice Angela.
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I tried to get as much information about Ronnie Yearwood PhD and came to the conclusion
that he should be a candidate for the BLP in the next election.
He does not appear to have any skeletons in his closet and could be Minister of
international business ( if Donville does not cross over ).
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Bushie
We have to include all sheeple….possibly its time for cooperatives to get a community arm and bring all into the fold.
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LOL@ Hants & David
Fellas, Bushie is part of a BIG problem for ANY and EVERY kinda shiite bout the place….
Relationship or not…. the whacker will whack.
The only exception in current recall is the one and only Islandgal, for whom the whacker carries a light nylon…..
NOT because of any 2X4 that she may claim to wield,
but simply because she is cute as shiite….
LOL
ha ha ha -
@David,
Yes Bush Tea is part of the problem just like the rest of us Bajans.
We all have friends and or family connected to politicians directly or indirectly.
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@ Vincent
…possibly its time for cooperatives to get a community arm and bring all into the fold.
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Absolutely brilliant thinking Boss…
Bumpy did not labour in vain…. -
Bushie
Well start doing it then…..I have time on my hands for computer work and when in Bim quite willing to assist with field work.
Yours and Millers reference to Bumpy Moore,shows that you were under his headship…..I was under Stanton of…Jesu(i)s I am,a fool thou art….fame.
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@Vincent, Bushie, Miller, Gabriel
Salvete Oh Elders of BU!
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The Basque country is the only place with a tree? Bearded Fig Tree is the Caribbean’s tree, Banyan is the Phillipines tree…seeing green veins through your skin is natural to many people…some people are disturbingly myopic and narrow minded
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The folks from Waterford are all over this blog..lol.
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Loyalty of the ” alumni “….. Cawmere Kolij Lodge Foundation CP.
Another part of the problem.
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Hants April 15, 2017 at 9:57 AM #
Loyalty of the ” alumni “….. Cawmere Kolij Lodge Foundation CP.
Another part of the problem.
………………………………………………Chuckle….one thing that can be said of the Cawmere alumni is that they do not rice from the same bowl.
We were schooled under “up and on” to think critically and not to accept even from our fellow alumnus things that are not factual or cogent.
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Bushie, I am actually with you on most of what you have written on this topic. I am not so sure that we are seeing the ground swell that should be already very apparent. Where are the true patriotic ACTION oriented leaders?
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No @MB I was referring to HRC, wasn’t she the one with e-mail issues? Our skipper McGuffy’s ‘office’ (as he had nuttin to do with it??) erased thousands of e-mails off a government server. ‘Love’ was used tongue in cheek. The pols en want nuttin with teets. They want something with holes but something they can say ‘we got it’.
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@Vincent at 10:03 AM re “….one thing that can be said of the Cawmere alumni is that they do not rice from the same bowl. We were schooled under “up and on” to think critically …”
So you surely you can’t be saying that peeps from Foundation or St. Michael or Deighton Griffith under the sterling early work of Blackman are any less ‘cogent’ and able to ‘think critically’. LOLL, oh mi, oh my!!
@David April 14, at 8:46 PM # We generally dissect political leadership into its tiniest parts but realistically it is what it is and has been for centuries.
So I suggest there can really be no great fear in your remarks that “How does one define leadership if it must be in step with what the people desire all the time” for a few very simple reasons.
Every politician must equally lead from behind or if you prefer, ‘follow from the front’ as I believe the Bushman said above, and also decisively take actions that are broadly unpopular.
In modern times of course polling has become the pervasive weather-vane for political direction as almost every act is measured. But again realistically those polls are no more than technological ‘overhype’ of an old fad. It is all about shrewd consultants and universities using tech to make an excellent living.
What is a poll if nothing else than a snapshot of popular opinion at a given moment..it can be absolute meaningless in properly capturing the real will of a society…as indeed a referendum can be sometimes—- And that is a key aspect of your point I suspect!
Anecdotally, can’t it be argued that EWB responded to ‘poll data’ when he pressed for independence! No big argument (he was a decisive leader) but on that matter as much as he surely seemed to be leading from the front he was also ‘directing’ the will and desires of many!
So in brief: the very essence of a political leader means that you have risen to the top because you can be decisive and that you can also carefully harness the intentions and ‘collective desires’ of a majority of the populace ….
Of course the politician can never fulfill the majority desires all the time but let’s not fool ourselves that a political career doesn’t come to a natural end as soon as leaders stop acting towards that objective.
After all, that is the goal of politics: self aggrandizement while fooling the masses that you are pandering to their desires!
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dpD
Chuckle…….feel free like I did to highlight the critical thinking nature of your schooling……no put down was intended,it was but a simple defence against the insinuations of Hants……my apologies are available if needed.
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Bushie
The following is the reason why the sheeple must be led along the correct path:-
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@ David April 15, 2017 at 7:05 AM
“BU is not here to defend Ronnie but what do you expect in a 90 minute presentation? His was a rallying call and he used governance and the abdication of the people in our democracy as the key talking points. Cut the guy some slack. How many politicians AND prominent politicians who would have been able to fill the Grande Salle at the central bank? Let us give him some support and see where it leads, we have nothing to lose at this stage.”All that has been said is just a rehash and regurgitation of what has been discussed ad nauseam in the BU talk shop and other mainstream media.
Isn’t what this guy discussing the same old hat which gave rise to the call for ITAL and FOI prior to 2008 and enticingly re-listed in the both parties 2013 manifestoes especially promised under the DLP’s four sound pillars of administration?
David Thompson was supposed to have been the Messiah in 2008. Has Ronnie Y taken over the baton?
It’s time the talk ceases and action begins. Who are you going to listen to? A parrot speaking about matters discussed even before 2008 or Grenville the engineer who, like OSA, has given you 90 days to save the country’s sorry ass?
First save the economy from imminent collapse and you might just be able to entertain the luxury of what ought to be in a blissfully blind state of so-called good governance in 2×3 incestuous Barbados where all the right laws are on the books but enforcement a major disaster.
It’s the economy, stupid! No economy means no functioning society for people to complain about.
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@Vincent, no put-down taken. For the purposes of BU debate I am school-less…i.e. no affiliation needed.
To paraphrase a line from that old, old cop show ‘Dragnet’: “Just the facts bro… the stories you read here are true, just the school has been changed to protect the innocent …. or in some cases the guilty!” LOLL
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David
You have too charitably underestimated the borrowings from BU of this Ronnie Yearwood
Indeed, it is only the leading lights of BU you have shown the courage to engage these issues at the highest philosophical levels and with a radical creativity.
Unlike you, we heard the voice of Bushie and others, we must say.
Do not be fooled, we are almost sure that most of the ideas being discussed by Yearwood come from here, need we repeat!
On the other hand you have your fair burden of the ugly man from england. A man who has never said anything worthy of serious contemplation except in their level of ignorance.
Yet he is one of those who is so delighted by this Yearwood. That’s a fool’s errand.
We remember well how Hillary Beckles was so able to enthrall the people of Barbados with his good looks and and chosen ‘superior’ mother tongue – the perceived most handsome man around.
Yearwood is disadvantage by a lisp. We invite the women to determine handsomeness.
Beckles was acting in the service of self and lacked intent to rush the Bastille. We see the same malice and forethought here with this Yearwood.
This Yearwood has no larger goals than self.
Ugly idiots rush in where fools never tred.
And the ugly man from england was never an original thinker. But a follower always looking for somebody’s bandwagon to jump on.
People like Bushie and Piece, for example, always have some original idea to present.
William Skinner has some unique ideas for tourism development which are worth millions of dollars in consultancies fees, not so with that ugly man.
Unfortunately, they seem to often agree. Well ……….
We are not at all persuaded that Yearwood’s argumentations are complete. For us they are untenable at the root because he seeks to enter a new world with one foot, while having the next firmly planted in a decadent system. Transformation from thus cannot therefore be spawned.
Yearwood ignores and confuses the potency of new-economy dynamics while assuming that old-economy norms, thinking, should be traditionally rated, measured, depended upon. Poor ‘fellow’.
Of course, we have a broader critique.
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@Pacha
It doesn’t matter where the source of the inspiration for those willing to be advocates in our fragile democracy come from. Let us support them until we have reason not to because there are no guarantees anyway.
Yearwood from young has obviously shown a healthy interest in the civics and politics. His track record of community work seems thin and this is probably why he ran second to Sandra Husbands. BU will take him ahead of many who have gained the nomination to run for both parties. The culture in Barbados will not allow anybody to successfully run a message to dismantle the establishment. It is not a pragmatic approach and you know it.
As far as who are the purveyors of wisdom in the BU family – see the any achievement linked to the collective read the dullards and the intelligent.
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@miller
“It’s the economy, stupid”
Correct!
Put that next to Forest who said that “stupid is as stupid does!”
Still Observing
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@ the Honourable Blogmaster
I posted this before but it did not come out the “bin” as yet so I will post it again
I wonder how many bajans are listening to the call in programs?
I wonder how many observers realize that the apathetic and those who now don’t vote outnumber those who do?
I wonder if Ronnie Yearwood is hearing the clamour?
I wonder how many are seeing the shift? and those like Andrew Simpson who are starting to comprehend The Third Movement?
You think that Ronnie Yearwood heard it?
You think that he heard the Word? spoken in the quiet storm while he resorted to The Word of The Almighty Living GOD?
Did he hear how a representative of the most affluent people came and tossed down the gauntlet in the sand and stated what their change agenda is?
You think that when he reads this article that he would comprehend that running on Mugabe’s coat tails is a waste of his talent?
I wonder if he will be true to that “forlorn” state he speaks of hearing for the first time on Brass Tacks as recalibrate his gun sights?
Does he not understand those prophetic words spoken at The Grande Salle Room?
Come to badword out from among the “female mutilation crowd” and run with a new Change Agenda and stand behind the words he used so eloquently.
Mugabe and Fumbles will fear men like you and the Peter Lawrence Thompsons’ who when you speak, inspire hope
My man Ronnie Y there are enough of you, white, black, Indian Syrian change expousers who, armed with the correct tools can MAKE THIS WORK AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Why stay with the sheep like Ralph and Eddie and the rest of them who were in the back row on thursday night, and with Sandra and Jerome etc WHEN YOU CAN CHART that path which I am relaibly informed that you have copied, albeit rather nicely.
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Be careful of aspiring politicians who have a ‘gift for gab’. It is crypnonite to Suckers and Brass Bowls.
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The Skippa and Tom could talk sweeeeet??????????
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We were told almost all we need to know nearly 30 years ago
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David,
There is no silver bullet, but at least Ronnie has intervened in a national debate that lacks analytical input. The usual predators, who have nothing of real interest to contribute, are out there once more attacking Ronnie rather than critiquing his views.
Of course a lot of what Ronnie has to say is off key, but at least it is intellectually interesting. For example, his vies on the tax on the brain drain and the mobility of income taxation, taken from the authoritarian American system, are untenable.
Let us debate those opinions rather than attribute unethical behaviour to the man. I suggest a close reading of Archie Brown’s The Myth of the Strong Leader.
I would have liked to see more attention given to the state of education in the island, given the meltdown of our education unions and the inept leader of the present minister.
A progressive educational system is the foundation of modern society, and no such debate is taking place in Barbados.
For starters, how about getting each and every secondary school to publish the full unredacted results of its CXC results? Let parents know which schools are underperforming and which, if any, are over-performing; let parents and taxpayers know if we are getting a decent return on the investment we out in the educational system.
Trust and integrity come out of a society in which merit and fairness are the underlying pillars of our public culture. Ronnie could have dealt with some of these wider ethical issues. But he has made a start and is of a generation that must take up the baton and lead us out of the new slavery. -
@Hal
Agree with the thrust of your comment but it is always the expectation that those offering themselves to be disrupters or leaders must table perspectives that serve to stimulate and mobilise the people. We have entered an era where populist positions is the lazy approach and exposes the pretenders. Ronnie must not fall into following this well trodden path.
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Agree.
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