While addressing the last annual general conference of her union, the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, complained about what she saw as union busting tactics being employed by Cost-U-Less. She sought to connect the granting of duty free concessions by Government as the reason why that company felt “empowered” to engage in such tactics.
To be honest, that reasoning escaped me but somehow it was sufficient to bring down the ire of the Honourable Chris Sinckler, on her. And in a nonsensical retort, while addressing his party faithful he claimed that it was logical to conclude that since Government has given the General Secretary and the BWU tax concessions on a Mercedes Benz, Ms Moore felt empowered to be bashing Government.
If that is the quality of the reasoning of the person who holds the portfolio of Minister of Finance, it is no wonder that the country is in such dire straits. The General Secretary has raised an issue that impinges on the constitutional rights of workers. Any half decent minister of the Crown would have been grateful for that information and join her in an effort to protect the dignity of the workers of this country, whom he is sworn to serve. What has made this minister so cocky that he can make light and be so disrespectful of the genuine concerns of the people whose votes he would be seeking in the upcoming elections.
Even though his behaviour is below that expected of a senior political figure, he has drawn attention to two issues, tax concessions and union busting. They are too serious to be sidestepped by the dismissive twattle of a government minister, who is more interested in providing comic relief for party members, at a branch meeting, than dealing with fundamental workers’ rights issues.
Union busting has become so pervasive, especially during this prolonged recession and the authorities have failed to adequately deal with the problem for the sake of maintaining jobs. Ms Moore has correctly stated that people are losing jobs because they have committed the cardinal sin of becoming union members.
In accordance with section 40A of the Trade Union Act, it is a crime to dismiss a worker because he has become a member of a trade union. However, in my experience, the police were not aware that it constitutes a criminal offence. Unfortunately, when such a matter is reported to police, they do not take it seriously and no action is taken against the offending employer.
In an attempt to put the General Secretary on the back foot, the minister revealed that BWU had benefited from tax concessions on a Mercedes Benz. However, in my opinion, while trying to embarrass Ms Moore, the minister effectively shot himself in the foot. He must now explain the basis for granting tax concessions on high end vehicles for the two major unions.
Before I go further, I must make it clear that I am not accusing any trade unionists of wrongdoing, by accepting charity from employers. But to me, as the Americans would say, the optics are bad.
If you were to hire a lawyer to represent you in a matter, and thereafter, discover that your representative was taking undisclosed gifts from your opponent. How would you feel? Now pray tell me, how is that different for trade unions to take undisclosed concessions/gifts from the employer, especially when the law requires disclosure.
In accordance with the Duties, Taxes and Other Payments (Exemption) Act, the Minister of Finance may, by order, exempt any person, business or undertaking from the payment of any duty, tax or other money. However, section 4 of that act provides that any such order is subject to negative resolution.
Section 41.(2) of the Interpretation Act explains, when a statutory instrument is subject to negative resolution, it must be laid in Parliament for forty days, and during that period, either house can by resolution vote to annul the instrument. Any such order must also be published in the Official Gazette.
I have made a diligent search and can find no evidence that any such order was ever published. I am therefore asking the honourable minister, when did he comply with the law, in relation to granting tax concessions on motor vehicles for the leaders of major trade unions? And if he had not done so, why the secrecy?
Champagne taste and mauby pockets have brought trade unions into disrepute.
Caswell
Is there a single honest man or woman in all of Gideon?
Pachamama will save us all if you could show us one, just one!
This is the nature of endemic corruption, it compromises the entire society
Those who make a living from it, whether official or unofficial
Those gone to the grave and those yet unborn
But for Pachamama all are just as guilty and will be appropriately judged.
Why must all of them drive mercedes at taxpayer’s and union members expense, which are not suitable for the island’s many potholed roads.
Violating the rights of the majority population starts with both governments, neither of them have ever observed, enforced or respected the basic humans rights of workers to join unions…then they enable, encourage and condone local and foreign employers to do the same.
…. most of the employers in Swan and Tudor streets and other areas are gunrunning, drug dealing criminals, but they are allowed, by bith governments, to violate employee’s rights and prevent them from joining unions.
…but they are allowed, by BOTH governments, to violate employee’s rights and prevent them from joining unions.
Should luxury auto imports be banned completely?
Communist countries (Cuba, North Korea) and countries short on foreign exchange (Iran) have prohibited imports of luxury autos for lengthy periods.
Seems to me that many places in the Caribbean and Africa cannot justify importing expensive cars when they do not always have enough foreign exchange for life-saving medical supplies and diagnostic equipment.
Why do most Barbadians support the right of wealthy individuals and their enablers to divert scarce resources to such questionable purposes?
Pachamama
Corruption is all around us like the air we breathe. It has become so entertwined into the fabric of society that it has become the norm. People are just not offended by it.
To stay focused on the point how is it possible for the NUPW and BWU to negotiate with government at the bargaining table if said government waived the duty on a luxury vehicle? This not about attacking Toni Moore, it is about principle. The last sentence is meant for Dennis Johnson.
Well Well, Those types of cars give you a better chance of living in an accident which allows you to keep living to get the gifts and to serve the people better,
So without the help of the crook MOF, they may not recover a good hit by COW s trucks, As you know many of People in positions were nearly killed by COWs trucks on the roads of Barbados and some have died.
These Hits are used as mere accidents to write you off the Books, I only drive American
made cars in Barbados, the Imports in Barbados are made of foil and buckle like a belt,
If the Union dont act like a Union the People in the Union can show their voice when time to vote this crook and the rest out of office in to the hands of a real DPP.
“So without the help of the crook MOF, they may not recover a good hit by COW s trucks.”
Cow’s new trucks are also bought with taxpayer’s dollars and pensioner’s stolen NIS money.
I now completely understand why trinis are taking to facebook to bring down the 2 year old Rowley government.
While we are at it ………could someone explain why the former head of a trade union in Barbados had the distinction of have flown more times on the BA Concorde than any other Barbadian?
Was British Airways unionized?
David
Relevance of that question/point?
How does receiving a complimentary seat on the Concorde compromise the work of the unionist?
@Caldwell
Do I detect a small note of gealosly, you have not received your tax free Mercedes courtesy of MOE.
I agree with you corruption in Barbados is now totally out of hand, the question is what can be done to correct this issue. We good fire every politician, civil servant, union leader etc, however more corrupt individuals would step forward as replacements. Barbados has to totally change its mindset, this however is not likely to happen. Welcome along for the ride on the DOWNWARD SPIRAL INTO THE ABYSS. Things are not going to improve in the near future, there is a better than average probability we are presently seeing the GOOD TIMES.
Wily Coyote
No jealousy at all. And in any event, I don’t have anywhere to park it.
Seriously, I am not a quid pro quo kind of guy so I would not contemplate asking the minister, plus I prefer a Toyota.
Sent from my iPad
@Caswell not Caldwell
DAM SPELL CHECKER.
Why the sudden focus on the General Secretary of the BWU? Is the duty free concession for her personal car or is she entitled to say “That is not my car. It belongs to the Barbados Workers Union and its members and when I leave office the car will not go with me but remain for the next General Secretary”. Further, the last car was inspected by the authorized dealers and their conclusion is that the car, while unsuitable for our roads, has reached its expiry date and would be too costly to repair. Anyway, she may be there for a very long time. Now I know that the GS would not be so stupid to offer such an explanation UNLESS she was of the opinion that she was speaking to fellow idiots.
Well well
Do you even understand trini politics? I don’t think you do. The “Trinis” looking to bring down the PNM are of a yellow political persuasion and majority Indian.
enuff…..do you really think it makes a difference, do you really think it is better under PNM since there is no majority population to speak of , same number of indo, black…it is same old for all, ecept for governments enabling a 1 percent, tsame PNM with Duprey and CL Financial…
even having a majority population as Barbados does makes no difference who is elected now does it, exchanging D for B…all corruption is the same…..same corruption with both governments and Parris/CLICO et al…when ya find a difference let me know.
to my understanding of trini politics, in the 80s, when it was a real hole, i lived there for more than a couple years, so i guess i would understand a little more than someone who never did.
Why do you assuming it was complimentary seats?
By all account it dozens of trips
Help us to understand the benefit and motivation for the complimentary trips.
Lion and the lamb, lion and the lamb, lion and the lamb. PM Stuart will be vindicated over and over again.
Political considerations, political decisions, political decisions
David
As the BA union rep at the time of Concorde I was not aware of anyone enjoying multiple free trips on Concorde, however I do know at that time we enjoyed the highest airline salary in Bim.
Mercedes, BMW, Miele washer and Hansgrohe-shower are the tools to bribe Barbadians into hell.
No wonder the German trade surplus is higher than the Chinese!
FearPlay October 8, 2017 at 10:50 AM #
Why the sudden focus on the General Secretary of the BWU? Is the duty free concession for her personal car or is she entitled to say “That is not my car. It belongs to the Barbados Workers Union and its members and when I leave office the car will not go with me but remain for the next General Secretary”. Further, the last car was inspected by the authorized dealers and their conclusion is that the car, while unsuitable for our roads, has reached its expiry date and would be too costly to repair. Anyway, she may be there for a very long time. Now I know that the GS would not be so stupid to offer such an explanation UNLESS she was of the opinion that she was speaking to fellow idiots.
So Funny that you would resort to defending the indefensible . using dialogue to convince yourself
However when the PM had his car change when the same analogy that is being presented by you was offered there was a loud and long ruckus coming from the inner bellies of you and other BLP operatives have you got no shame
There is also a diference between private money and taxpayers money.
By breaking the law and setting up the precedence of granting duty free cars to unions leaders, the government at the time of Dennis Clarke and Walter Maloney (Sir Roy was probably getting a duty car for decades)…………….the government at the time wanted the NUPW to agree to a secret deal of a wage freeze.
So to take away the priviledge now may be to expose what happened in secret. Remember that the workers were never told by Walter Maloney or Dennis Clarke about this deal until the government reneged and laid off 3000 workers.
These wildboys should be damned for all eternity.
Sorry Prodigirl
This government of rational thinking PM and ministers is here to stay !
Term 3 begins in 2018 !!!!
Don’t mind your myopic prediction that this DLP government of 2013 was to collapse since December 2013 !!!
Well we got news for you …….Dems NOW……Dems AGAIN…..
Tek dat !!!!
Prodigal Son
Toni sought to explain her acceptance of duty free concessions from Government by saying that it was going on for 30 years. All she did is to confirm that BWU was accepting bribes for 30 years.
Sent from my iPad
Prodigirl
Wait until the blast of war is sounded……!
Mia Mottley, if she does not come back from England with her LEC……she is in big TROUBLE !!!!!!
So you & Miller better make sure she brings it back
BLP jokers 🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️
You cant be that much of an idiot not to be aware that a LEC is earned from tertiary institutions in the Caribbean?
JA
Lol….
Brek Up dem
Nobody is interested in your gutter talk……we are listening to what is factual like the dire position in which you incompetent morons have put this country. By the way, what is the revenue from the killer NRSL to be used for? Care to tell BU?
Eddie Abed was required listening today but I guess you did not hear a word as you idiots do not like to hear how you have destroyed our fair land.
If you all are so confident of a third term, why are you afraid to call the election?
After all it is not a problem, you dems are never giving up the government…………….
Abed and his ilk are ungrateful for fourtern years they feasted off the fatted calf and now it is time to pay back he gets on radio and cries belly hurt. sumbody needs to tell that ole goat Country First
Yes Prodigal,Eddie Abed sure spoke the truth,the whole truth and nothing but the truth today on VOB Sunday Brasstacks.The man was incisive and devastating in his overview of this DLP administration since 2008.I think his comment is worth repeating on VOB,even if as talking points by David Ellis,Dennis Johnson or Peter Wickham
Caswell is very late to the party. Once upon a time the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union , used to drive nothing less than a Jaguar ! Perhaps Caswell should go back and find out if the jag was also duty free. This is nit picking of the highest order. if the cars belong to the union and not the officials, such a magnanimous act on the part of successive governments, is really in the workers interest because its the workers who actually pay to run the union , vehicles included.
It is most unfortunate, that a MOF, who has so much on his plate can find time to be embroiled in such pig urine. The bottom line is this : If the cars belong to the union and the duties saved the union X amount of money, that is a saving to the workers.
William
You lost me. The unions should rely on itself and not expect bribes from employers. If they can’t afford a Mercedes then buy a Toyota. According to your reasoning when Chefette gives the union food that is also saving the union money but the staff get little or no representation.
Sent from my iPad
@Caswell
Did you not hear Dennis Johnson last week share that one reason he stopped posting to BU is because he didn’t understand why some in the forum attacked Toni Moore because of the car etc etc etc? In other words the comments of a view supported by Carl Moore who frequents BU pages daily convinced him. Thought better of DJ although it might have something to do with pressure from work.
Obviousy William has bought in to this line of reasoning to which he is entitled of course.
David
I haven’t listened to Brasstacks in three years.
Angela
It is time you told those of your ilk that it is high time they put Barbados first, ahead of the dlp.
It is abundantly clear that your party has lost its moral authority to lead this country.
Your party has mismanaged the resources of this country and has impoverished a once proud nation.
Gosh…….if you all had any love for country, you would have admitted that we cannot get a thing right:
QEH is an absolute mess, a doctor told me that at times they do not have even a sheet of paper to write notes and that some have to resort to running around the floors to find essentials………and we wonder why so many obituaries are in the Sunday Sun?
The roads are a total mess…….potholes galore mashing up people’s cars
The country is in a horrible state……..where is the dlp’s pride?
Education is in a state of horror for those who work in it and at the last minute Fumble floating an equivalent to the ERT….right…..as if that has functioned so good…..
Garbage is piled up all over Barbados as a result of the shortage of trucks
This MOF has imposed 42 taxes on Barbadians since he became minister and what do we have to show………20 downgrades……….
And you dare talk about Eddie Abed feasting on the fatted calf……..look yardfowl, the only people who got to partake in the fatted calf are people of your ilk. All one hears as one goes around the country is about corruption.
This dlp has forever destroyed people’s faith in politicians because of your greed and incompetence.
You……..tell Fumble call the damn election do!
Caswell Franklyn October 8, 2017 at 8:44 PM #
When I was a medical student 40 years ago we had to go around with the Chief Public Health Officer inspecting restaurants, shops, Goddard Flight Kitchen etc
He forbade us from taking any food or drink…….as he saw them as bribes to cause him to be less strict. He was a pleasant man of principle.
Your note resonates with me and caused me to think of that rotation 40 years ago.
I agree with you.
I fear that there are not many like those leading Public Health inspectors then
For comrade Skinner’s benefit Comrade Bobby Morris always cautioned his people to accept only a glass of water if theythey must when collective bargaining was ongoing. The moral of the story, do not allow oneself to be compromised.
David
When I am negotiating I walk with my own water.
Why have you not listened Caswell? It is a good source to find out how ordinary people feel about the issues.
David
talking about Chefette
I stumbled onto something last year and lost 10 lbs and abandoned what i had done
I stumbled onto perhaps the same thing recently and loss 14 lbs without trying
today i stumbled on the Biochemistry and will pursue it for a month or two before reporting to BU readers
in the meantime our fat folk may have their fried chicken but leave out the fries bread and other carbs completely
our fat folk can make any needed glucose from gluconeogenesis and run on ketone bodies in order to triple fat loss
@GP
Our layman view is that we do not exercise enough coupled with poor diet that includes too much sugar and starches.
@ Caswell & David
Pardon me if I do not see a government extending a helping hand to the Trade Union as a bribe. This is nothing new because everybody in Barbados knows that Sir. Frank drove a jaguar for years and I have never met anyone, who said that any duty free breaks stopped him from developing the BWU.
I have benefited tremendously from attending many free lectures given by BWU where the union used its own resources to enlighten the masses. On occasion after the lectures patrons were given some refreshment by the unions . Am I now a bribe taker? It is my understanding that religious organizations also benefit from tax breaks. Is that corruption too? In other words, the BWU has been an outstanding contributor to the national good, and we can really be grown up, and understand that a practice that has been in effect for over three decades has certainly not placed us on the precipice of economic destruction.
Sir Roy Trotman was my teacher, my mentor and adviser for much of my early years. He drove a very ordinary car and on becoming Gen. Secretary of the BWU, he was given the top end motor car that comes with the office. Am I to assume that because it was duty free, he accepted a bribe ?
Caswell et al are now clutching at straws. All of the corruption that is now prevalent has roots and Caswell cannot claim ignorance because he knows better than most on this blog that both the BLP and DLP have elements of corruption . That is why I maintain that the level of corruption now being exposed cannot have miraculously sprang up in 120 months !!!
So to beat up the BWU for a tax break on a motta car is pure political nick picking.
Gimme a break !!
William
You are not naive but in this instance you let your hero worship of Sir Roy to cloud your judgment.
Do you know that workers at Sandy Lane went underrepresented for years because certain officer at BWU were able to get a room for the night.
Do you know that at the former Heywoods officers from BWU frequently entertained their lady friends to dinners and as a result workers could not get proper representation.
Do you know anything about the relationship between McEnearney and Freekz Customz.
Oh, by the way, could you tell me who gave the BWU its first Mercedes and then what happen to the workers’ grievances thereafter.
Speak to what you know not about what you believe to be so because you have elevated mere mortals, and corrupt mortals at that, to sainthood.
Sent from my iPad
William
I do not nitpick and I have no problem with anyone getting a tax break. My problem comes when the tax break is given clandestinely. Let me be clearer, the Minister broke the law when he gave both NUPW and BWU duty free waivers, in the manner that he did. Ask yourself, why do it illicitly when there was a legal mechanism to do it? The answer is simple, the unions and government did not want the workers to know that they were being deceived by the cozy relationship between the unions and Government.
Sent from my iPad
@William
You need to study the concept of conflict of interest.
William Skinner
You are the nitpicker
So let us deal with substantive issues.
Was it not the BWU, and others, which compromised workers rights, under your mentor Leroy Trotman, to form partnerships with business and government.
We doubt Frank Walcott would have done that
During that time the level of wage demands and industrials actions seemed to have been strictly constrained.
There was no consideration for shares in enterprises in exchange for such massive concessions from workers to business, government.
It was the same Leroy Trotman who preferred to be begging the local corporatists to let him become PM in the period of the early 1990’s when Sandiford was under pressure and workers could have had more material interests which were worthy of his protection.
Forgive us, we can’t claim to have known Frank Walcott well, but we never got the impression that he was the kinds of man who would so easily be inveigled by largesse from people with whom he was to have serious negotiations with.
We always saw him as too proud a man. Maybe we were wrong.
In any event the appearance of corruption should be avoided at all costs by people purporting to be representing workers’ interests.
You William Skinner, like to say one cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hound. Or something like that, is your old adage not applicable here.
You should have told that to Trotman.
In any event both you and the recipients of government largesse are dealing with small potatoes. A duty free car here and another one there merely serves to divide leadership from the rank and file. If you are unable to see that that smacks of corruption of the union ideal we must arrive at the conclusion that you have lost your ideological moorings. It represents nothing less than conquest by corrupting.
We would prefer to see the union leadership/s catching the bus and the ordinary workers receiving whatever benefits are in the offing.
And we could continue to excoriate you all day………………………
David October 8, 2017 at 4:52 PM
You cant be that much of an idiot not to be aware that a LEC is earned from tertiary institutions in the Caribbean?
David
Now you have finally sprang into action !!
I agree with you !!!
So her buddy – Edmund Hinkson – admitted that she has no LEC !!
And she claimed she was admitted to the local Bar in 1987.
Yet the Legal Education Act of 1985 …..states inter alia ….that all persons admitted to practice in the Caribbean from 1st January, 1985 must have an LEC from one of the Caribbean Law Schools – even if they achieved their Law Degree from an accredited institution outside the region.
So how come this woman who claimed – she studied & got her Law Degree in 1987 in England – did not follow the 1985 LEC Act – and go to one of the regional law schools ?????
Something smells fishy….,…don’t you think 💭…..Davito ????
Do continue checking & asking questions !!!!!
I beginning to hear 👂 the sound 🔊 of the BLAST …….of war in me ears 👂 !!
David
Dig and unearth the mystery to MAM and this supposed Law Degree that she claims to possess !!!
http://m.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/10892
Following the news link above – an Attorney at Law with an LEC qualification – should know what is an Expert Witness !!
Don’t you think ????
Many will sell they mamas to be seen driving a mercedes, the blight of the easily bribed negros.
Dont talk about the ministers who love free rooms at top hotels for their clandestine affairs, they would sell their children…to be in a Crane or Sandy Lane room.
Or all of them who love free meals and drinks even from the lowly fast food dumps that I wont eat at, they would sell out the whole population for that level of bribery,…..they have always been known to take bribes, just one step up from beads and trinkets…for selling out their own..
The minds that still see nothing wrong with that level of corruption in 2017 are the minds who allowed and enabled it to flourish for 40 years…that is why the island has reached this level of depravity, it all started with public officials and their selfishness, greed and covetousness. . ..and those who see nothing wrong with the practice.
@ Angela Skeete, Kevin, Fcuktured BLP
Since we are discussing “unions” and “BRIBES,”……….. and “you lot” represent the inept DLP administration in this forum, perhaps you may want to provide answers/explanations to some very pertinent questions.
On December 1, 2011, this inept DLP administration REWARDED former BWU Deputy General Secretary, Robert “Bobby” Morris, by appointing him as Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM.
“Commenting on the appointment, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said: “Bobby Morris’ history and parliamentary background should serve him in good stead. He is a REGIONALIST at heart; so, that and his commitment to the further development of Barbados would ensure that he adequately addresses this country’s interests. “Indeed, he is of the generation DEEPLY COMMITTED to the REGIONAL INTEGRATION movement, and this was expressly manifest during his time in Parliament when he spoke eloquently and passionately to these issues. The Ambassador designate is also well abreast of current affairs, and I am sure he will do Barbados proud.”….” [Source: Daily Nation, November 26, 2011]
What exactly are the DUTIES (or ROLE) of a Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM?
After 5 years and 10 months as Ambassador, other than giving history lectures or speaking to the party faithful at DLP Friday lunch-time lectures and constituency branch meetings……….what are Morris’ significant achievements, ESPECIALLY in RELATION to REGIONAL INTEGRATION?
Approximately 9 years after the late Thompson said a fishing agreement with T&T could be finalized “over a bowl of soup in Conset Bay,” an agreement has not been signed with the T&T government.
Has Morris communicated any information to Barbadians relative to the status of the fishing agreement?
As Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, has Morris made any official or unofficial comments to the governments and citizens of those Caribbean islands that were ravished by hurricanes “Irma” and “Maria?”
Is this Ambassadorship really a means by which this inept DLP administration can give Morris “free money” at the expense of Barbadian tax-payers?
Look this is a non-story. We claim to want progressive, transparent governance, yet arguing over a DF car for union leaders. The practice is KNOWN, admitted by Minister and Toni Moore, and also extended to the head of the NUPW. There is therefore some level of transparency. Our problem is that we are not ready for transparent and progressive governance, because we believe everyone is a thief. Accepting gifts is normal practice in progressive democracies, the issue arises when you fail to declare such gifts. The fact that we know removes the option of bribing. Should civil groups refuse financial assistance from government for fear of being perceived to be in their pocket?
@enuff
Why is it not written into the regulation as a benefit to ALL union leaders?
@ Caswell David and Pacha
I do not hero worship anybody. One of the toughest decisions I ever made was actually contesting a general election against Sir Roy. In terms of leaving my philosophical moorings; I would leave others to judge that ,at least they know my name !
The Elections should be called in a few months, BLP and DLP politicians will be taking money from every Tom Dick and Harry. Some of them will form the next Gov/Parliament. Many voices and fictitious characters on this blog will disappear and go off to serve the same corrupt politicians/parties. New ones will emerge and spend the next five years trying to bring down the government or destroy the Opposition , depending on their party.
This is democracy at its crudest and ironically its finest. Anybody on any given day for whatever reason can come on this blog and hide behind any name and destroy peoples’ character without fear of ever being asked to present an iota of evidence. Yet they are the first to speak of transparency and corruption.
If Caswell knows who bought the BWU’s first Mercedes , he should expose such corruption. Perhaps he even knows who bought Sir Frank’s Jaguar. If I knew and had hard evidence i would expose such in the public interest. I guess if tomorrow some fictitious character turns up on BU and states that Caswell was bribed to drop some effort of his union; I would have no choice, with no evidence, but to accept that he was bought out.
BTW Sir Frank was often accused of “selling out” the workers. However I still consider him the true Father of Independence. Not Errol Barrow.
As for Sir Roy, I sometimes regret that he left the classroom because he was one of the finest teachers/mentors this nation has ever produced.
William
Those donations to political are also illegal and hence they are corrupt. Have you ever seen any politician or the donors declare them as required by law.
I don’t know who gave them the Jaguar but when you get around to it, you should ask if Simpson Motors was ever paid for that Mercedes.
Enuff
I realise it must be hard for you to accept but I would suggest to you that it is not generally known that the general secretaries of NUPW and BWU get duty free vehicles. In order that it would be generally known, a notice should be published in the Official Gazette as required by law.
Sent from my iPad
William Skinner
You continue to make the small point that you are known by your slave name and Pachamama’s refusal to be as committed to a slave name as you are, no doubt somehow represents something good, to you.
We cannot be convinced of that, never
We also recall when you William Skinner use to hide under a moniker here on BU.
In the court of public opinion one should only approach with clean hands.
Now you might have known a former slave’s name associated with Pachamama.
We give not a fuck. Don’t hold any secrets for us. We hold none for you.
PS – we were never supportive of monarchy and will never address anybody with the moniker, prefix, you so liberally impute.
But for leaders of trade unions in a developing country to so proudly seek such trinkets has long been incongruent. A sell out! There are no exceptions.
No exceptions for Frank Walcott, Leroy Trotman nor Hilary Beckles – all fucking sell outs.
That alone represents a betrayal of all that you once pretended to hold dear. Such a betrayal is worthy of a meeting with a certain antiquarian device.
Notice Mia perched high on her soap box berating a man of Integrity the Hon PM Stuart.stating that he made a promise to the Unions
Well if my memory serves me correct. Mia also made a promise to the people in Parliament during a robust discussion with a concern to her LEC stating that she would produce said certification and up to present time she has reneged on that promise
Can sumbody tell Mia that people living in glass houses should not throw stones.
Caswell…that is what happens when too many people accepted corruption and bribery as the norm for decades, it becomes the norm….silence is acceptance.
… look at CGIs players and the level of bribery that has brought the judiciary to its knees, everyone complains about the judiciary’s destruction….but no one wants to admit it was caused by bribery of lawyers, doctors, police, the former CJ….and other officials…and corruption of politicians and government ministers, some even say certain judges.
they much prefer pretend the judiciary’s total destruction of which even the CCJ complains regularly, happened another way, but can’t say how…….makes them feel better.
With that acceptance of corruption and bribery…..was birthed the destruction and compromising of the ports of entry, because one thing leads to another, but dont worry according to some, it cant be that bad, it happens everywhere. ….the mind of the ignorant.
That is until, because of the common practices of bribery and corruption, which has become a daily staple on the island….one of their own relatives or they themselves get injured or killed.
re David October 9, 2017 at 4:26 AM #
@GP
Our layman view is that we do not exercise enough coupled with poor diet that includes too much sugar and starches.
Your view addresses causation. I am speaking of triggers to revert such situations even without exercise
Noted, seems unnatural, look forward to your findings.
In both cases when I lost the weight I did not exercise, but on reflection I note that I was consuming a diet quite similar to Atkins of low carbs but with increased fat/protein.
I could not quite understand why.
I now understand that one can lose weight by inducing a natural process called ketogenesis.
the biochemistry seems sound
David and Caswell
I agree wholeheartedly and get the need for following the correct protocol i.e. an announcement of the concession via the Gazette. This would indicate full transparency and lawfulness. The absence of such in this instance, however, does not limit the level of transparency to a point where bribery is sensibly an option. The fact remains that both Sinckler and the union leaders have publicly confirmed that the concession exists. To avoid Sinckler or any other minister inferring that it is a favour, the unions should demand the formalisation of the policy via the prescribed route. I still maintain that we seem not ready for the kind of governance we appear to crave, as we are too quick to demonise and accuse. Transparency is not to be used for malice.
@enuff
What you posit is correct where the issue becomes thorny is that we cannot compromise when it comes to governance. It is wrong or right, it is transparent or foggy, it is legal or illegal.
@enuff
What you posit is correct where the issue becomes thorny is that we cannot compromise when it comes to governance. It is wrong or right, it is transparent or foggy, it is legal or illegal.
This is becoming a hypocritical society. Here it is Caswell getting belly hurt about Duty Free status for cars belonging to The NUPW and BWU heads. What is the problem since that would not effect the outcome regarding union negotiations. If bribe was in the mix, would the two Union members head over 20,000 human beings to march up and down. If bribe was in the mix, would the BWU strangle the CBC regarding increments for over 7 days and won. Possibly it would have to be the union who would have bribed CBC.
Caswell, why are you so hostile against the BWU leader, possibly, this might be a man thing knowing that a female heading the largest trade union and a man just out of school heading the other union and a mature union man heading a small group of people. Workers are smarter than you think, and if you show hostility to a successful competitor, prospective workers would have serious question marks jumping ship to join your union.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20171008/news/rowley-explains-why-tt-must-pay-higher-fuel-prices
Would the BLP jokers ( Miller , Enuff , Artax , Prodigirl & Well well ) on this BU blog explain to rational thinking Barbadians……that PM Stuart & Finance Minister Chris Sinckler does not govern Trinidad.
Indeed , the decisions the Rowely administration has now taken with respect to removal of subsidies – the Freundel administration…….had taken years ago !
And Trinidad 🇹🇹 is an oil rich country !!!!!
We talk about Political Parties taking bribes, this is a worldwide behaviour that will never stop. However, what about normal people like Angela, Fractured and Carson from the DLP and Prodigal, Well, Well and a whole host of bloggers who have to defend a party. Should these people be labelled bribe takers or simply party lovers?
Enuff Tell me Why
You are absolutely correct. We may not be quite ready for transparency in any area of public life.
Caswell et all are really out of depth here with this poor- rakey argument about tax breaks for a motta car. The workers movement has been more active and activist over the past two years than it has been in the last ten years or so and this will be welcomed by genuine nationalists.
Anybody who has been active in our trade unions knows that within the membership there are BEES and DEES who often put their party before their own welfare as workers. Sometimes on the Executive and Committees , there are party hacks and supporters undermining the same union. We have a very highly polarized society and successful union leaders, themselves members of the same political party, they have to fight, have to skillfully navigate these waters.
I personally do not believe that Caswell has any ulterior motives. Caswell is a doer and I have benefited tremendously from his knowledge of several issues we raise on BU and those he writes about in the Nation.
Tell me Why……..LOL……….Not me…dough dough,
I am a private self employed person . I dont know a politician personally to get any bribes and would never be fortunate like angela skeete to feed off the fatted calf.
I attack this government because of its policies which have destroyed Barbados.
All I want from any government is to provide strong effective management that would see this country growing and from it the policies they implement, people can work and prosper…….they would pay taxes so that we can have:
Good roads
A good service from QEH for the poor people who cannot afford private care
Regular garbage collection
Provide the resources to ensure of our get a good education up to UWI
Make Barbados safe by providing resources for the police to do their jobs
That is all I want from a government………above all that they do not take bribes………
Brek up dem
When the BLP was in office, when any reference was made to what was going on in the world……you yardfowls used to say that wunnah dont want to hear anyhting about what going on overseas and that you dont live there………..
So I will tell you the same thing…….let Trinidad deal with their problems. You should be ashamed to even try to draw any references to Trinidad when your dlp has destroyed this country as well.
You dems should be thankful that oil on the world market fell to its lowest levels if not God help Barbados.
Prodigirl
You are wrong !
You BLPites always saying Barbados under the Dems is the only country facing hard times.
Now that you brutes have been exposed as LIARS ……yuh can’t bear it !!!
Wunnah gine face um till the day after the next general election……wait & see !!!
It is only gine get hotter !!!!!
jackass par excellence
@ Fractured BLP October 9, 2017 at 10:54 AM
So you like to compare Buybadus with Trinidad (a country that practically owns the commercial body of the same) when it suits your politically-tainted convenience?
So why not carry the comparison to its illogical conclusion and tell us if the former T&T CLICO policyholders were able to get some compensation but Bajans can only rely on fair-weather promises made since December 2012 and being fed like turkeys for Xmas in 2017?
We can bet on it that the Trinidadian taxpayers have been receiving their tax refunds (their own money made available to government as a short-term loan) since 2013.
You will soon eschewing such a comparison when the corporation called Buybadus is forced to devalue its Mickey mouse dollar to bring it in line with its ‘parent’ owner.
Prodigirl
You can bray as much as you like !
Three nil in yuh a$$ !
2008 , 2013 & 2018 …..!
You don’t have an LEC !
You doubt me …..ask Edmund Hinkson !!
George Payne is a THIEF…..ask Edmund Hinkson…..!!!
Mia Mottley is a CROOK…..ask George Payne !!!
Mia Mottley is a DESPOT…..ask Owen Arthur !!!!
Mia Mottley is a SERPENT in white ……..ask Maria Goddard !!!!!
Look 👀 at the calibre of candidates you bringing to the Barbadian electorate !!!!!
And talking bout BLP…….. unity ???
Away with your CRAP 💩
Miller
Go back to the sewer !!
You have been preaching…..DEVALUATION of the. Barbadian dollar 💵 since you join BU !!!
You have been preaching …..that the DLP govt would be a one term government by January 16, 2008 !!
Don’t mess wid we ‘ New Dems ‘ we ain’t easy …,,.we does tax yuh tail till yuh pay we – wha yuh owe ??!!
Do you think people want to hear this drivel at this time?
Maria Agard
“Well, Well and a whole host of bloggers who have to defend a party. Should these people be labelled bribe takers or simply party lovers?”
TMY…..please post the evidence where you have ever seen me defend any party in Barbados, Canada or US….particularly Barbados…everybody gets a piece of my mind….I love no party, never accepted anything that was not due to me from any government foreign or local or ministers or politicians. ….never bribed anyone to do their jobs.
,…I do not see the appeal of or aspire to become a yardfowl…it’s way below my intelligence level..
If you or whoever now have a sudden attack of conscience or fright and are waiting to see me back any political party, ministers or candidates….while knowing all the corrupt players and the criminals in the minority population who bribe them…yall got a long wait.
What I am patiently waiting for is to expose a current matter in the supreme court…and knowing their track record of being greedy and can’t help being dirty, I just might get the opportunity. …….that will serve the purpose of exposing all the nasty players in both political parties who like to take bribes from, be owned by and are slaves to the little nasty indian criminals like Katuppa-Harris who is destroying Barbados…with their guns and drugs, human trafficking and money laundering…..
….so ya better dont be within splashing distance when I start.
“that PM Stuart & Finance Minister Chris Sinckler does not govern Trinidad.”
Since when do you govern someone that you allowed to own you…
Yall can’t even control the minority criminals in Barbados….or lock them up, they do as they like….
….instead ya join them in destroying the country like the useless black cowards and wusses that ya are, always have been ….and always will be.
@ Fractured BLP October 9, 2017 at 1:45 PM
“Prodigirl
You can bray as much as you like !
Three nil in yuh a$$ !
2008 , 2013 & 2018 …..!”
Wouldn’t that then be even steven as in1994, 1998 & 2003?
The only difference is that in 2018 Buybadus will be a junkyard of an economic basket case with Haiti its running mate.
Well, if the multiplier effects on prices due to the NSRL and the 2% commission on forex purchases are not significant devaluations of the purchasing power of the Bajan dollar then Mia Mottley has an LEC (London Education Certificate if you can grasp the pique of sarcasm as a play on your ignorance) and Stinkliar has a PhD in econometrics.
It is not only the sewer rat miller you should be cursing but (as you put it) those lying slimy rating agencies and other lending institutions which have been expressing similar concerns and will soon be doing something about it come December as your much deserved Xmas gift.
But as the saying goes: it takes one sartorially-black sewer rat called Steve from the cesspool on George Street to know a ‘boar’ cat from BU chasing poor Steve around a dark ‘broken-down’ cabinet full of blind monkeys.
Oh Well, Well, you tink ah wud label u as a briber. I was showing Caswell that if within a democratic system someone use transparency and give you duty free to Tom, Dick and Harry…..Why would he state it is a bribe. What I would call a bribe is when any minister from any of the political parties who strike a deal with a massive contract costing tens of millions and an envelope is past with ah million. Some would call it commission, some will call it productivity bonus, some will call it a golden handshake, someone call it going beyond they duty, some will call it pay back time and we the taxpayers will call it bribery.
However, the nameless characters I mentioned will call a spade a spade and might be unfortunately labelled. We all know the real party dumberts. who will forsake family and principle for party.
The bottomline in this case is that the waiver of the duty is at the discretion of the MoF. It is not a standard offer.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
With all of the talk we are constantly hearing about kickbacks and overpriced contracts if the BLP does not appoint a type of a “Special Counsel” to go after what tok place with these major contracts, they will be forever damned as six of one half dozen of the next.
These dems’ behaviour in office have tainted Barbadians opinions of politicians forever.
Go to a cocktail reception and all you hear is who get what bribe. It is appalling. I was at a function recently and heard of a demand for a bribe of one million each for four people.
Their lackies are screwing the taxpayers royally, feeding largely at the trough…………any price they pull from their head is paid. Just look at the Caves’ contract, the BWA contract, and lawyers associated with the party are getting million dollars per legal matter. There are two names one hears all the time.
We hear of contracts now negotiated in the US and the kickbacks are left overseas.
Woe is we and as Bushie says our arse is grass.
“some will call it pay back time and we the taxpayers will call it bribery.”
That is why it’s their names knocking around on the blogs and being shared across each coast as corrupt and not those who are not involved in their criminal activities..
Up to this point, none of them are acting as though what their are doing is criminal and illegal, they are all waiting for people to forget the Weare murder to start up again, especially at those ports of entry….they know bajans got short memories for certain things.
But I am just waiting for that filthy one that believes the supreme court is his because he bribed the former CJ for years.
Hi David
Update your General Elections countdown clock.
It is not 4 more months to Election Day !
Miller & Prodigirl would be glad to know that date for the next general election in Barbados 🇧🇧 will be Tuesday May 22, 2018.
Now remember fellas I trashed you on February 21 , 2013 , last time out de gates !!!
Now I have chosen another date ……22 this time ‘!!!!!!
Dems NOW……Dems AGAIN ‘!!!!!!
Wake up, folks,
Every official in the Caribbean can be bribed. Bribes belong to the Deep South, like sauce and cheese to Pizza.
If you would like to change the course, very drastic measures need to be implemented.
@Caswell
BU understand that James Paul and Henderson Williams have taken a tight grip at COB.
David
That is not how I see it, Henderson Williams and James Paul among others have taken steps to protect COB from misguided members who would destroy the credit union if they can’t control it. This misguided group assisted by their incompetent friends at the financial Services Commission were trying to take over COB. Williams and Paul led the group that literally saved COB.
I know they are Dems but despite the mismanagement being visited upon the country by their colleagues, those two have gone against the grain and made a positive difference at COB without any fanfare.
Sent from my iPad
Caswell all of our entities in civil society appear to be under the grip of members of the political class. What does it say about civil society in general? The politician has one master, one agenda. Do not now what useful purpose it serves for politicians to be controlling the second largest credit union in Barbados. Before then there was Lynette Holder. Just the other day were you not highly critical of Paul for his ‘activity’ while on the Board?
David
I frequently complain about politicians infiltrating every NGO, from trade unions to PTAs. That said, however, you asked me about what I understood to be the current position of COB with Henderson Williams and James Paul serving as President and Secretary respectively. I tried to be fair in my response and indicated that their “firm grip” served the best interests of COB at this time.
You are correct when you stated that I was openly critical of James Paul in the past. As a result, he was not re-elected to the Board of Directors or Credit Committee. Five years after that, he offered himself to the members and was elected to the Board. The members re-elected him after that five year period so who am I to question that? This time around his actions helped to save COB, politician or not.
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