The Act will require every person who is a ‘person in public life’ when the Act comes into force to make an initial disclosure to the Commission within three (3) months of the date of commencement of the Act. In the case of a person who becomes a ‘person in public life’ after the commencement of the Act, it will provide for the initial disclosure to be made within three (3) months of the date of his becoming a ‘person in public life’ – Extracted from a Speech delivered by the late David Thompson in January 8, 2008.
Even if a small number of marchers than expected turn up on Monday the government finds itself in a lose lose situation. The big picture that must remain painted in the minds of all Barbadians is the economy stupid. With less than a year to go before the next general election, it is unlikely even to the proverbial optimist this government will be able to infuse sufficient confidence in the marketplace to fuel a greater level of productivity. In summary, if the private sector through its executive fails to demonstrate that it has the support of workers on Monday it will retreat to other means, flight of capital is one example. A trip down memory lane to the period 1991 to 1993 is a reminder that a government that fails to enjoy the confidence of its private sector is doomed to fail.
On the other side of the equation is the Union in a fight some say it cannot afford to lose. With the private sector showing the Union support and about to execute the phalanx maneuver -the Barbados climate, not industrial, is about to become more elevated. How does one determine if the Union ‘loses’? Is it based on the hundreds, no thousands of man-hours wasted because of absenteeism, go slows, employees on the job who have disengaged, how about those who see no wrong in misusing government owned assets?
The right to demonstrate once done peacefully and the rule of law respected is the inalienable right of a citizen or group under the democratic system practiced in Barbados. The government operatives have pulled the race card which exposes a level of desperation and panic in the camp. Bear in mind this is a government whose political campaign was bankrolled by a White Bjerkham and company in 2007/2008, and to boot, rewarded him with a seat on the board of the Central Bank of Barbados.
The Stuart led government finds itself in an unenviable position in the political history of Barbados. It explains why the usually studied public utterances of Comrade Bobby Morris have of recent descended into a pit of defamatory bile. In the 90s the DLP Sandiford administration fell as a result of a public AND internal withdrawal of confidence in his government. Are we about to witness lightning striking twice on the same party? Are the political historians waiting with pen in hand to ink events as they are about to unfold that will include DLP déjà vu in the table of contents?
Part of the problem Barbados is experiencing is that the message of change promised to Barbados first by Thompson and then Stuart who won because the BLP got it wrong has not materialized. We have had more of the same from this DLP government with continuing rumours of corruption supported by Auditor General reports, ineffective Public Accounts Committee sessions, dissenting positions from within the bowels of Cabinet, questionable NIS management read Four Seasons and EMERA, defacing of the Central Bank’s reputation, Cahill etc, etc, etc. All of the forgoing has been compounded by a prime minister who refuses to use the power of speech to communicate to those he leads. It is at election time the sleeping giant feels emboldened to shout from Mount Olympus to the sheeple.
To the topical issue of march or not to march AND the motive of those who support the march. First a disclosure: Charles Herbert is known to the BU household and the attempt to smear a man who has lived his life so far to build a solid reputation in Barbados as a professional and citizen is to be regretted. It is a clear example why quality Barbadians resist getting involved in ‘giving back’ to society. He should have remained in his lucrative practice, make his millions and forget about the plebs. Members of the BU household have observed him sitting at town hall meetings quietly taking notes, asking questions when many of the BLACK yardfowls attacking his character today stayed at home watching TV or at Chefette purchasing takeaway dinner. One of the reasons the citizenry has to resort to disruptive methods to demonstrate against a government unwilling to listen is because our governance system is flawed. There is no avenue to recall the government in a structured and less disruptive manner, for example, support in the Constitution to cede the POWER to RECALL to the people.
At the root of our problem is the lack of integrity and transparency in public office.
311 responses to “The March to Déjà vu”
@David” a prime minister who refuses to use the power of speech to communicate to those he leads.”
He does not lead us. He is our servant. We pay him. He is one of those who sucks on the sore nipples of the taxpayers. Has he forgotten that?
We haven’t.
@millertheanunnaki July 23, 2017 at 10:37 AM “Is this the same stinking hypocritical OSA who came to power because of the same marching and back-stabbing that brought down the Sandiford administration?”
Owen has become old and [fat metaphorically] and comfortable, and I wonder if he has forgotten that the people made him.
Protests are the voices of the unheard.
Corey Layne has an interesting talk show going and Bizzy has his ads going full blast on the show. Bizzy will close his businesses to allow employees to march.
Glyne Murray has opened with a red herring argument about optics in the letter from Herbert to the PM because he used the word ‘demand’. This is after repeated calls for meetings and the lack of a well functioning social partnership.
ESCAPE HATCH????
“Local construction firm Preconco Limited has been awarded the contract for the second phase of construction of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bermuda.”
https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/07/21/preconco-on-ritz-carlton-project-in-bermuda/
These unions have no more relevance.
They attempts to interfere in the society with antiquated methods represent a desire to take us back to an inglorious past.
We have argued that these organizations missed many chances to transform themselves and thus our society.
This retreat of trade unionism, which is global in character, cannot now expect to solve any of our problems in the only way/s they know.
When they had their chances, workers’ owned institutions like BMLAS and many others should have been taken over.
Last time their leader, Trotman, was more interested in White people making him PM than taking control of workers dominated/owned institutions.
We wonder what his progeny is up to this time. And have little confidence that she is any less misguided him who brought her.
Instead of forming social partnerships with feckless governments and criminal corporatists, workers organizations should have used the failures of both to dominate the social-economic space.
We live in times where workers have made negative gains, for over 30 years
Times where old economy formations are in decline.
Where the unions themselves cannot explain the nature of financialized markets, economies and why the power to strike and such, now have little value for globalists able to move their financial assets at the blink of an eye.
I am listening to Brass Tacks Sunday. Will comment later.
@Pacha
Yet it is the same union supported by the private sector who must be at the van guard of the movement to bring government to the table.
Regardless of the success or failure of the march on government, a crucial voice missing from the conversation and hollow background noise is that of the people paid by taxpayers to explain such social phenomena to us: the academic economists and political theorists.
Recently, one academic told us of the virtue of consensus and it was presumed that he was talking about the so-called Barbados model, the Social Partnership.
But the proposed march has shown up one major internal contradiction: that of this tripartite grouping, capital and labour have joined together to force government to change a key part of its fiscal policy.
Implicit in this so-called consensus in policy making is what is called Pareto Optimality – that what is good for the workers or business is also good for society.
But where do we go from here? A few months out from a general election, government has lost its power to teach workers a lesson by sacking them, or by bribing them with the offer of jobs.
Government’s only workable strategic manoeuvre is to divide and rule, get worker against worker and heavily subsidised businesses against those small, family-controlled businesses.
But will it work? Alternatively, government can call a general election, reduce the campaigning time and take a chance.
Already the troops are massing: the BLP supporters plan to join the march, on the assumption that if it hurts the DLP government they will benefit; and DLP supporters are howling and screaming that it is a plot.
It is moment of decision.
@Hal
Agree with you, the social partnership needs to be positioned squarely under the microscope. Just made a similar point on Corey’s FB.
David,
It throws up many potential political and social crises, but no one wants to talk about such things.
The elections will come when Frenduel decides, not before.
@Hal Austin July 23, 2017 at 11:31 AM “But where do we go from here? A few months out from a general election, government has lost its power to teach workers a lesson by sacking them…”
You fool as they have before the workers will sack the government.
A relevant document.
https://barbadosunderground.wordpress.com/2017/06/16/deficit-committee-of-the-social-partnership-recommends-entering-an-imf-program-supported-by-aggressive-privatization-and-rationalization-of-soes/
David,
Are we going to get an analysis of Barbadian populism?
@Hal
Not sure there is sufficient evidence to support an analysis that there is rising populism in Barbados.
The march?
The march is an event in the future.
David,
A narrative has taken place leading up to the march. The march as action is an outcome which comes out of a popular conversation. That is what populism is about.
I hope that the march will be one of true association and integration and not one of segregation like they march on Kadooment Day and that the spirit of cooperation will continue into any business restructuring that takes place later in the year.
As David Ellis said, if the government was willing to talk there would be no march.
Clowns.
Government’s problem is not willing to bring charges:
* for illegitimately diverting the country’s foreign exchange,
* for taking bribes not to collect the country’s taxes,
* for giving bribes to avoiding paying the country’s taxes,
* for stealing the country’s property,
* …
@Alien
Should the citizens bring a people’s resolution to review government’s management of how it has responded to Auditor’s General reports issued during its administration?
We maybe persuaded it include the NIS scheme as well.
Btw have you watched ET?
>
the 2 worse tings every happen to barbados in its political history….but look, ewb died ah clown took over, djht died, and ah bigger clown took over
This govt is truly rattled with the number of threats going around to business houses as well as the use of the ace card…race….
One hopes for a succesfull march….once the genie leaves the box it cannot get back in i.e. labour and business together …..a force that once unleashed will now understand the power they have to influence any govt.
” UP DE TING ”
Who will use it as a slogan in the election campaign ?
The words of the Hon. Prime Minister
https://www.facebook.com/DLPBB/videos/1511621528900647/
The govt is not rattled at least not the PM .The unions and some in the private sector is using the wrong mechanism to affect changes. Yes deja vue all over again only a reminder if the last eight years of long drawn out marches which had no effect in changing govt.
The few in the private sector who has openly exposed their hand can wait but for certainty their voice at the partnership table has all but been muted
Wuhloss….lookah….who in town……dem juss ged de new instrucshens.
Looks like the govt intends to take on those private sector companies that march tomorrow….what a wonderfull well thought out strategy….one that will surely get them re-elected.
It was very noticeable that dlp yard fowls dominated Brasstacks today and all had the same talking points………..race.
There is now a whatsapp message going around with apparent threats of boycott of Popular in Kendall Hill……….asking them if any whites shop at Popular. One dem in the chat threaten not to shop at Woolworth again even to buy school supplies. I wonder where the yard fowl will be shopping now as I understand Cave Shepherd is to be closed as well.
I would never think that these lower level dems would bring up this 3% white man nonsense.
They do not even know that the 1% white men are getting all the big contrcts from this all black government. MP Toppin said in the last budget debate that so far this government has given …….as none of the contracts were tendered………..to Mark Maloney over 500 million dollars in contracts since 2008. Not to mention what has gone to Jada and Bizzy Williams.
The DLP pledged in their 2008 manifesto that 40% of all government contracts would be given to the small black contractor………….can we ask how many of them ever got even 1%?
So I find it rich that the big wigs in the dlp can take campaign finance from the rich rulers….. as their supporters are calling them but the yard fowls on the lower level have been told to go out there and talk about the unions letting white men controlled them.
What rich irony!
The dlp caller just before the news showed Barbados exactly how the dlp feels about us.
March all you want…………Freundel Stuart will not call the election. they prefer to see this country destroyed rather than admit that they have no answers. Hope that call spurred people to come out and march. Show the dems that they dont have all the power they think they have.
What do we always hear…………power corrupts!
By what criterion will the success of the march be judged? Numbers of marchers? Placard creativity? Will the unions get their 23% wage increase? Will the NSRL be revoked (or part of it)? Will a new political leader emerge? Is it a prelude to a coup d’etat ? Will the current deficits melt away? Will government’s position to argue strongly for a reasonable IMF stand-by be enhanced? NONE OF THE ABOVE. We have the government we deserve: happy-go-lucky people !!
“DUH UPPIN DE TING”
“In an effort to facilitate staff who will be attending the march on Monday, July 24, Cave Shepherd Main Store, Nicholas House and Colombian Emeralds International Broad Street will be open to business from 1 p.m.,”
@ Lee
You are correct. We have the government we deserve. But we have to keep speaking up and agitating or the next one will also be the one we deserve.
This PM never learns. A national issue, and he waits two days to address it at a DLP luncheon. The gift that keeps giving.
@the JAs pulling the race card.
NIS Dumps 21 Million Dollars in Apes Hill Development
Long, long ago… the politicians of Barbados ‘forgot’ that they actually work for the taxpayers. What other job is there that:
– pays you a good salary
– pension for life after 10 years
– allows you to give yourself pay increases
– use your money to travel 1st class
– stay in 5-star hotels
– wine & dine as much as you want
– cover all your expenses
– name buildings. roads, etc….. after yourself
– ‘give’ yourself a Knighthood
… the list goes on. No wonder they put Party before Country!!!
The private sector wants a strategy of an IMF programme which they know will be focused on cuts to social programmes and government expenditure that many of the marchers depend on and less on taxes that affect their bottom line. In other words the private sector wants the proposals to fall more on expenditure reduction as they would do in their businesses – send home some people.
So we will have people who think that some of the people marching should be sent home waving placards disguising their intentions as a need for more dialogue.
As a man said on a blog today,the unions marching with these political opportunists in the Private Sector Association is like the pig marching hand in hand with the butcher. The unions are selling out the workers right into an IMF programme. Keep it up Macdowall, when the shit hits the fan, you will hopefully get a pick in a Mottley administration as a reward for your efforts and being Mottley’s yard boy.
Bajanfuhlife
Didn’t they vote for your party in 2013 on the promise that they would not be sent home, and then were sent packing?
Wuh loss the dlp luncheon todayvwith featured speaker his Right Honourable Freundel Stuartbhad a recipe which contained licks like peas and exposed the dirtiness betwen the Unions and the Head if the Private Sector who dared to isse an ultimatum against the people and govt of this country if he could not have his eay
This old dirty white trash needs to be held accountable for acts of treasons against this country and if i had my way he would ruled the day he thought he had become powerful
How dare he issue statements of threat against this populace and country.
Who de hell does the head if the public sector think he is
Real desperation with some adherents of the trough,not realising that their days are numbered,they are still spreading false propaganda.
The whole of Bim knows the system needs restructuring.
…the whole of Bim knows that both parties are committed to going to the IMF with a plan that involves restructuring.
….the whole of Bim knows that redundancies will be in offing as restructuring is done.
….the whole of Bim knows that with IMF on board access will be allowed for grant funding and preferential loans for developmental projects.
We all know that this is all about Politics as stated on Friday…this govt wants to win a third term and is going about it ass backward as a number of its own have been saying…..but nobody listening.
You could really hush…………..this mushy nonsense from a party which have given nearly all government contracts to a few white men…………..
You idiots should shut the hell up……….you who have awarded no bid contracts to a few white men to the tune of millions excluding your fellow black contractors.
When black Bajans see these things………do you really think they care what the hell you talking about marching with white people.
Maybe they will begin to care when you morons stop taking the same white people”s money to buy votes…………so that you could stay in power……………then give no bid contracts worth billions back to the same white people you love to slam publicly but whose money you take behind the scenes.
Hypocrites.
The above post was in response to the nonsense from Bajanfuhlife.
Prodigal
And two big able housing communities!
@David July 23, 2017 at 1:04 PM “Not sure there is sufficient evidence to support an analysis that there is rising populism in Barbados.”—–
What will be the sufficient evidence Mr Blogmaster?
For our little island so often comfortable with a passive stance were we not showing populism when the marchers took on Sandi and that angst brought things to an ultimate conclusion unsatisfactory to him and his team.
With the array of grassroots and corporate support on offer now again surely we can claim that populism is afoot once more.
Must we go the way of our world wide village citizens in Greece who swept Tsipras to power or those in France who did similarly to an unknown Finance minister in order to earn the title as driving a populist wave!
The DLP are ‘wise’ to attempt to discredit this march with their absurd claims of racism and the like. The corporate elite need a stable, well-ran country as much – and one can argue even more – than we average citizens do thus as many leading companies are supporting this popular discontent then surely the DLP can smell an ultimate unsatisfactory outcome.
Indeed deja-vu!
Wait Angela Skeete………..I can see you all are getting real, real desperate to the point where you are now attacking and biting the hand that feeds the dems fatted calf trough.
If you cuss and devour these white people, who are you going to go to cap in hand to get money to buy votes?
Do you know that white people are a rare breed who stick together……….do you think they are like you dumbass black people who tear and devour each other?
opposition calls 48-hour general strike this week
These one armed bandits in the form of snakes like the head of the Private Sector needs to be aware that barbados has a population of 275thousand people and there needs also must be meet. Unlike what you might think or belive that your needs alone should come first
Bro issuing any kind of an ultimatum to destroy the social foundations of barbados is not a welcomed change or good idea by any right thinking barbados also your inflammatory remaks will be well noted as a reminder of whose interest u serve
Oh to be a fly on the walls of Messrs Inniss, Estwick, Lashley S and a few others as the government stands ready to take the brunt of the unions AND private sector. How did we get here again?
INTERNAIONAL NEWS
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Unions-to-March-in-Barbados-for-Workers-Rights-20170723-0016.html