est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Butch Stewart and Parasites

Submitted by Crusoe The Barbados Today digital newspaper has reported that Butch Stewart stated that Barbadians are too entitled. This is a remarkable statement from a hotel magnate whose company has received forty years of tax free concessions from Government, when small hoteliers get nothing. Entitled much? For a government to maintain services, it must…

, ,
Submitted by Crusoe
Sandals Butch Stewart

The Barbados Today digital newspaper has reported that Butch Stewart stated that Barbadians are too entitled.

This is a remarkable statement from a hotel magnate whose company has received forty years of tax free concessions from Government, when small hoteliers get nothing.

Entitled much?

For a government to maintain services, it must seek revenues. By allowing one company to be exempt of all taxation, much revenue for services is lost.

Is the problem lost revenue, or excess services? Many countries, especially in Europe, provide excellent social services and are able to function well.

The problem is not the social services.

As for Stewart’s own operations, at a time when Barbados is in urgent need of foreign exchange injections, can we ask whether room revenue from international sources, all of it, is banked in Barbados? Many companies, through their corporate structure and international banking arrangements, have revenues banked in say, Panama, sending only funds for operating expenses to the location of the operations.

Therefore, significant foreign exchange flow loss results, for the source of operations.

One wonders what is the process for Stewart’s operations? Are your revenues all banked in Barbados, Mr. Stewart?

This revenue business is all the more critical, when international jurisdictions such as Canada are penalizing companies for sending operations cashflows out of foreign jurisdictions.

Are we adhering to international standards, by allowing those companies that profit from Barbados’s economy, to do so?

93 responses to “Butch Stewart and Parasites”

  1. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Sargeant January 13, 2018 at 4:22 PM #

    The conspiracy theorists will have fun.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon Butch Stewart, speaking to the media at Sandals Royal Resort last Friday.

    Jobs hope

    AddThis Sharing Buttons

     

    Sun, 01/14/2018 – 12:00am Barbados

    WHEN the US$400 million Beaches Resort is completed in the north of the island, an estimated 1 800 new permanent jobs will be created.

    In addition, it is expected that during the 32-month construction period, which should start in September this year, about 2 000 workers will work on the major project which will replace the existing Almond Resort, St Peter.

    Word of this came from the Chairman of Sandals, Gordon Butch Stewart, who told the media during an interview at the Sandals Royal Resort, Dover, Christ Church last Friday, that Barbados will become the only country in the Caribbean – other than Jamaica and Turks and Caicos – to have an all-inclusive Beaches Resort which caters to families.

    “It is going to be magnificent. It is going to do a lot for driving airlift. Those products use a lot of air seats and the airlines love it because the airlines are in the business of flying people…

    “And that Beaches product has a huge demand from everywhere in the world – South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the entire North America,” Stewart said.

    “We are very advanced. We know what it is going to look like. We know what the design and layout is. It’s a huge development. It is easily the biggest development, I think, Barbados has seen. It is 540 keys.

    “Now, when I say keys, some of them represent four bedrooms suites, three bedroom suites, a lot of two bedroom suites, a lot of one bedroom suites. All of the accommodations are family suites. There will be a lot of restaurants and entertainment for kids and adults,” he said.

    Beaches Resorts is an operator of all-inclusive resorts for couples and families in the Caribbean, founded in 1997. Beaches Resorts and Sandals Resorts are part of Sandals Resorts International (SRI) which is a parent company to five resort brands across seven countries.

    The Chairman indicated that there is much work to be done on the beach at the proposed location for the new Beaches Resort. He said the area is beautiful, but needs to be refined to complement a world class resort.

    “I have full solid cooperation from the communities and from all the political forces. There is nothing that has held us up. We are hoping to maybe break ground by September.

    “This could easily be the best Beaches product we have. We are trying to take whatever experience we have been able to learn over the years, and putting it all into that whole area to modernise it,” Stewart said. (AH)

  3. David Avatar
    David

    Dr. Justin Robinson, as he delivered the first Astor B. Watts Lunchtime Lecture for the year yesterday at the DLP Headquarters.

    Report in Govt’s hands

     

    Sat, 01/13/2018 – 12:00am

    Government is in possession of a report from the oversight committee set up to monitor state-owned enterprises and statutory bodies, outlining some recommendations on how best to manage those entities and the challenges posed by providing financing to them.

    Word of this has come from Chairman of the State Owned Enterprises Oversight Committee, Dr. Justin Robinson. He made the disclosure yesterday afternoon during the first Astor B. Watts Lunchtime Lecture for the year, of which he was the featured speaker.

    Robinson, while remaining mum on the details of that report, told those gathered in the Errol Barrow Gallery at the ruling Democratic Labour Party’s George Street headquarters, that it contains “a framework for adapting and some preliminary recommendations”.

    This document, he revealed, the culmination of just over three years of work, was submitted to the relevant authorities approximately two months ago. The disclosure came as he explained that Transfers and Subsidies cover a number of areas including retirement benefits; subsidies such as the free bus fares for schoolchildren; grants to individuals including those on welfare; grants to non-profit organisations; and grants to public institutions of which there are 57 state-owned enterprises.

    “If you are going to attack this you are really going to need some detailed analysis as to what you are going to do, so it is more a framework for adapting,” Robinson stated.

    He added, “We have tried hard in a way not to give tight, specific recommendations; it is more to give a framework and a menu.”

    Though not providing details on the contents of the report, in his presentation entitled “Fiscal Problems in Barbados: Transfers and Subsidies”, he outlined possible solutions to deal with the challenges facing Government as it relates to state-owned enterprises. The possible approaches include: to continue as is, which would require a revenue solution; abolish or wind-up entities which are no longer needed or have reached the end of their useful life; or merge entities that are performing similar function, thereby achieving economies of scale. He stated that private sector/commercial delivery is also an option, where the service is outsourced to the private sector to provide. In this respect, he explained that this can be achieved through an outright sale, a joint venture or management leases.

    Robinson, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus and Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme Board, spoke to the growth seen in relation to the percentage of Government’s revenue that accounts for Transfers and Subsidies. He noted that in the 1996-1997 financial year it stood at 25 per cent, a decade later it moved to 39 per cent, and by the 2016-2017 financial year it moved to 41 per cent.

    In respect of the latter, he said even though there are a lot of these entities, the money is really only spent on a few, among them the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Transport Board, Sanitation Service Authority, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, the National Conservation Commission and the UWI. Moreover, he explained that three quarters of the transfers goes towards paying wages and salaries in these entities. As a result, he lamented there is no money left for capital expenditures and improving the organisations and so the entity remains dependent on Government.

    “So if you are collecting this transfer and all of it is being spent on salaries, how do you fund the new buses? How do you buy more energy efficient buses? How do you buy more modern equipment?” he queried.

    Robinson noted that these are the realities that have to be addressed. (JRT)

  4. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Northern

    Government has had revenue/expenditure problems long before 2008 when it is argued the recession started.

    That for a similar period, in fact going back to the early 1990’s, government has been selling off state assets to balance the budget must lead to a number of questions.

    These should include, why have previous sales not made our situation any different. In spite of these sales the imbalances between revenue and expenditure kept getting worse.

    Now that we are coming to the end of having things to sell, what is going to happen when we have nothing else to sell.

    It seems to us that we maybe facing a massive destruction of primary social services. A more and more predatory form of capitalism, neo-feudalism.

    Public capital is being used to pay public expenses. This is a calculation always destined to fail.

    Now if all of the sales of state assets have not ameliorated what presents as an intractable revenue/expenditure problem and when such a problem was present since modern Barbados existed might it not be reasonable to presume that a deeper problem exists.

    A problem departing from the orders of magnitude hithertofore.

  5. jean Avatar
    jean

    And just like these companies do in the US. They accept the concessions and in a year or so they close up shop or lay off employes and take the money and run.

  6. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “……..even those social programs geared to keep children off the street like foot ball tournaments…”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++

    A 6 weeks football tournament is a “social program geared to keep children off the streets.”

    So what happens to the children after the football tournament ENDS?

    Do they return to the streets or do they remain indoors in anticipation of next year’s tournament?

    The more the ac yard-fowl writes………. the more it exposes its “yard-fowlery.”

  7. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    That’s all they do, like Sam’s Club owned by Walmart which got a very recent 7 billion dollar tax cut, Walmart has always paid slave like starvation wages and always being sued for mistreating employees, well as soon as they got the tax cut, they raised their slave wages from 9US an hour to 11US an hour, gave out 1000 dollar bonuses and shuttered 63 Sam’s Club stores, at least 10,000 employees will be fired and up to 250,000 if Walmart shuts locations of walmart, they took the money and ran..

    It’s all about greed and small island governments would do well to stop giving out these tax concessions to uppity thieves like Sandals, just to collect bribes to put in their pockets, for once start negotiating deals to benefit the population and not rob them with low paying jobs as the only benefit..

    And put Butch Stewart in his place unless he is speaking about his business and how it benefits and not steal from the island and people….shut him up, he does not pay taxes and will not for 25 years, he has no say in the island’s business and will not have any say for 25 years, then he will only have half a say, because he will only be paying 50% in taxes while everyone else will be still paying 100%.

    Put Butch in his place, he is disrespecting the people while he benefits and they dont.

  8. jean Avatar
    jean

    And the products he is proposing sounds like the fledgling time share business that everyone wants to get out of. All inclusives are a wadte of your money unless you drink alcohol 24/7.

  9. jean Avatar
    jean

    And the products he is proposing sounds like the fledgling time share business that everyone wants to get out of. All inclusives are a wadte of your money unless you drink alcohol 24/7.

  10. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Who could feel more ENTITLED than Gordon “Butch” Stewart?”

    Sandals Resort in Antigua and Barbuda pays no direct taxes to the government treasury, an agreement that extends for another 25 years. It also pays no taxes on imported capital items, food or beverage, and on items needed for resort improvements.

    In September 2006, then ruling administration of Antigua, the Baldwin Spencer’s United Progressive Party (UPP) replaced the Hotel Tax and Guest Levy with the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST).

    In January 2009, the UPP administration signed a tax concession agreement granting Sandals compensatory relief from a portion of the ABST.

    In 2016, the new Gaston Browne Antigua Labour Party (ALP) administration, citing their disagreement with the concessions which allowed Sandals to collect 100% of the ABST from guests, with the hotel retaining 65% and remitting 35% to government……..decided to rescind the 2009 UPP/Sandals tax agreement.

    Sandals also made a request for the Antiguan Cabinet to waive the duties and taxes on food and beverages. The request was denied on the grounds that it would significantly reduce Government’s tax revenues. Government explained to Sandals officials that public finances were in a very precarious position, and if duties and taxes were waived on food and beverage, it would plunge the finances into a crisis, especially taking into consideration government abolishing over $35 million in Personal Income Tax. However, government said they would review the request in 12 months.

    And what was Butch Stewart’s response?

    In a letter dated July 14, 2017, Sandals served notice of its intention to TEMPORARILY CLOSE the Dickenson Bay property (for the FIRST TIME in 25 years), from September 20th, 2017 for a five-month period, which includes the BUSY WINTER PERIOD, “to undertake essential maintenance works,” thereby affecting over 700 employees.

    Clearly, the Antiguan government decision was not to Butch Stewart’s satisfaction and closing the hotel was his way of enforcing ENTITLEMENT.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    As small island economies we have to be wary of the danger of facilitating the too big to fail players. Let us learn from Clico and Stanford as two examples.

  12. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    That is what an intelligent incoming government would do, reverse and rescind that 40 year scam agreement between crooked Butch and this bribetaking government…or it will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are all thieves, ripping off the taxpayers to benefit themselves and the business sector only.

    If all the weakling governments across the Caribbean roll back Butch’s scam, put him in his place, let’s see him shuttering all his hotels, he uses extortion and bribery on weak Caribbean government ministers, he is in the US trying to get investors fot his Sandals properties because he is not liquid enough to go it alone…so he cannot afford to shutter not one Sandals hotel..in the Caribbean,

    The problem is the weakness in governments in the Caribbean who are easily bribed.

  13. ac Avatar
    ac

    See what i mean rather that see the negative impact social programs are geared in developing positive input in the minds of the youth the early morning paling rooster Artax uses his political poison pen to ask an asinine question Steupse
    Social programs designed to create a positive mindset in early childhood development becomes an economic asset to a country long term
    Involved in the process is a model which helps the child to build a foundation formulated on a social and psychological framework which is beneficial to country and create positive attitudes in the child’s mind in adult years

  14. ac Avatar
    ac

    http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-8216-if-gaston-browne-wants-to-become-a-8216-butch-8217-stewart-let-him-try-8217-adam-stewart-sets-the-record-straight-on-sandals-antigua-fiasco_116228?profile=1373

  15. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    How is it someone can be deemed as being political only on the basis of their disagreement with the DLP “paling roosters and hens?”

    I often mention that, for reason of political expediency, you dabble in EVERY TOPIC despite the fact you do not have the requisite knowledge or qualifications to give an informed opinion.

    Today you have assumed the role of a Social Worker.

    In your January 13, 2018 5:03 PM contribution you wrote: “……social programs geared to keep children off the street like foot ball tournaments….” This was an obvious reference to the “David Thompson Memorial Constituency Council Football Classic,” which, as a DLP yard-fowl, you must defend at all cost.

    How can asking the simple question re: what happens to the children after the football tournament ends…. do they remain off the streets or return to the streets after the tournament ends?….,….which under the circumstances, is a REASONABLE question…. be described as “asinine?”

    How can a 6 week “out of season” football tournament, which caters to MEN that play first, second and third division football, keep CHILDREN off the streets?

    Assuming the same football tournament attracts children, how can 6 weeks of playing football “create a positive mindset in early childhood development becomes an economic asset to a country LONG TERM?”

    How can 6 weeks of playing football be “a model which helps the child to build a foundation formulated on a social and psychological framework which is beneficial to country and create positive attitudes in the child’s mind in adult years?”

    Similarly to government, you want to mislead this forum that constituency football and night cricket tournaments and all the other shiite politicians do pre-election for political aggrandizement, (which ends after election) are beneficial to children.

    Please PRESENT the EVIDENCE to SUBSTANTIATE your claim?

    You like to put together “sweet sounding statements” that makes it appear as though you know what you are “talking” about.

    “Critical dimensions of child development are self-regulation, the establishment of early relationships, knowledge acquisition, and the development of specific skills. These dimensions are affected by individual neurobiology, relationships with caregivers, and physical and psychosocial exposures in the care giving environment.”

    What are the government’s and the Child Care Board’s LONG-TERM child development programs, especially under Ronald Jones, the education system is a mess…… with cases of pupils violently attacking each other, mini-bus drivers and conductors, sexual assaults, assaults against teachers, and engaging in sexual activity have increased significantly?

    I remember the DLP’s youth manifesto, which contained some “grandiose promises” to the youth.

    After 10 years of neglecting the youth and a clueless Attorney General that has not been able to enact any policy initiative curb the recent increase in gun violence among the youth……..

    ……..and you expect us to believe a shiite political football tournament will solve all the youth’s problems.

  16. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Stupid example by the resident, clueless DLP yard-fowl…….

    The JA neglected to inform BU that Jamaican Observer is OWNED by Butch Stewart.

  17. ac Avatar
    ac

    maybe so but as usual you pounced on political instead of substance needless to say you read the article with jaundice eye

  18. ac Avatar
    ac

    Gaston Browne needs to receive a medal for Throwing out the Baby with the bathe Tub

  19. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    At least Gaston Browne does not have to worry about international policing agencies putting out arrest warrants for him and his ministers because they practice greedy corruption with pigs like Stewart. …

    ….Browne is cleaning up the corruption, bribery and thefts from taxpayers…himself…to keep a clean country, it does not stop the country from getting opportunities, progressing but certainly prevents it from regressing into a sewage strewn shithole.

  20. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Lol…..

    https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2018/01/13/caricom-condemns-trumps-reported-statements-on-haiti/

  21. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “At least Gaston Browne does not have to worry about international policing agencies putting out arrest warrants for him and his ministers because they practice greedy corruption with pigs like Stewart. …”
    +++++++

    True…………..Gaston Browne may not be one of my favourite Caribbean leaders, but, unlike the cowards, Allen Chastinet, Keith Mitchell and Freundel Stewart, he had the courage to stand up to the shiite.

    The ac consortium of yard-fowls would have us believe that writing to DEFEND this inept DLP, while CRITICIZING all other political parties, they are NOT BEING POLITICAL……

    But those that criticize the DLP are being political.

    No wonder George Street is in a mess.

  22. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Dont mind the yardfowl….yardfowl only know corruption and thievery, thst is what they were rsised on, Broene might have his issues, but at least he is cignizant that that likes of Butch, cirruption and bribery will destroy Antigua….they already had their mess with Allen Sanford and one or two of their ministers got extradited to US….and convicted.

    The governments of Barbados are too backward and hardheaded and refuse to lock up or keep away from greedy, corrupt business people and stop colluding with and enabling them in their crimes against the people. ..

    …..I cant wait for the day a couple ministers are dragged off the island in handcuffs with their corrupt business sidekicks.

    …..US, UK and Canada cracked that whip on the government re the unheakthy sewage leaking into the streets that they themselves created, the idiots in parliament have to fall in line, they brought it on themselves and have only themselves to blame….they have been playing fast and loose with the lives of their own people for decades as soon as they are elected, those countries will in no way allow them to play fast and loose with the lives of their citizen in order to implement their dirty political plans to be reelected.

  23. ac Avatar
    ac

    Alright to stand up ! but when the “real Shit” called social dislocation and economic depression hits the fan all the powerful words and political posturing dont me a dam thing to those lives that are being affected
    These small island undeveloped economies are threading on slippery ground electing tin horn dictators who think that outside investors are going to engage or tolerate the small minded way of thinking while their leaders grasp for political straws
    Pray tell if Investors like the Sandal Group pull up stumps and leave what does Browne has to offer the people whose livelihood has been affected.
    As for one who has accumulated mass wealth maybe Browne can become the pied piper and distribute some of his wealth to those people affected

  24. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Yardfowl…those same lives are negatively impacted now, they are stuggling and suffering now despite all that the government has given away to Butch Stewart…

    ….and the government still cannot pay it’s bills, it’s debts are facing international default, the forex is shrinking alarmingly, the downgrades are onging……the shit can start flowing on the south coast again at anytime this time triggering a travel ban on the island because there is no permanent solution, the sewage system is still overloaded, supermarkets are still price gouging,

    ……they can’t even get insurance companies properly regulated and that is usually the easiest thing to do in any country,

    so what did the government gain from giving away the island for 40 years and still have nothing to show for it….again.

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @Crusoe

    You heard from VOB News that Butch Stewart denied the BT report? It seems the BT is being accused of inaccurate reporting of late.

  26. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    You keep worrying about Gaston Browne, when last did Fruendel pick up his lazy ass from partying with tourists to travel and look for business for the island…or pick up a telephone and made calls looking for investors who are not international criminals.

    Leaving it to Dumbville will only see the island infested with more international convicted criminals…those are the only business people he can relate to, that is his reputation.

    You keep worrying about Antigua. Their ministers are too afraid to be corrupt these days.

  27. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    So Stewart should sue barbadostoday for false reporting and ask fir a retraction, let’s see if that happens, at least Stewart now has the message load and clear that he pays no taxes in Barbados and to keep his mouth shut and out of the island’s business, no one wants him as a leader no matter which idiots in government he bribes.

    we are still waiting for Grenville to ask the newspapers for a retraction about what he said he did not say….couple months ago…lol

  28. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    The yard-fowl’s main reason for defending Butch Stewart is to defend her inept administration for granting 40 years of tax concessions to Butch and his expatriate employees, while Barbadians are saddled with increased taxes to “build up the short fall” in tax revenues.

    If this DLP administration was to rescind the tax concessions, the ac consortium of yard-fowls would make an “automatic turn around” and find all conceivable and inconceivable means to defend that decision.

    That’s the stuff yard-fowls are made of.

  29. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    What happened is Butch did not like the blowback…lol

    As scummy as barbadostoday and it’s owner are, after Grenville’s denial and refusal to ask both newspapers for a retraction, ya can guarantee they started taping those interviews…lol

    Butch thought the Bajan population was as dumb as the government ministers.

  30. ac Avatar
    ac

    Boy did Browne learn the hard way almost tremble in his boots and piss in his pants when Butch told him they were closing the hotel for maintenance boy was he ready to talk concession to Butch and time limits for reopening of the hotel .
    What these small island dictators need to realize they can not have their cake and eat it too and be realist and know when to hold them and know when to fold them
    his country is economic doldrums and Gaston trying to mash corns at the wrong time

  31. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Pacha
    you restate the mathematically obvious. No one time injection, is going to solve what is an ongoing operational imbalance. And the asset base declines with each sale.

    To conclude the eventual solution will see a destruction of primary social services, will depend on what is deemed “primary”. It would appear to us, currently, there is fat mixed in with the meat?

    And the base framework must see the role of government as a protector and provider of essential social services. And social goods. And this can be achieved, IF, they keep their noses out of endeavours where the ‘social value’ is questionable.

  32. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @ac
    it amazes me the clarity with which you see issues, ONCE they do not relate to Barbados.

    By the way, that letter fall off a truck anywhere yet?

  33. Theophilius Gazerts 255 Avatar
    Theophilius Gazerts 255

    “If this DLP administration was to rescind the tax concessions, the ac consortium of yard-fowls would make an “automatic turn around” and find all conceivable and inconceivable means to defend that decision.”

    If a fowl wants to live, it has to follow the grain..

  34. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Shaggy ??

    “Sandals issues clarification on social welfare story ”

    “…..has given a wrong impression to the amazing people of Barbados with whom we have been friends with and supported for years.”

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/120010/sandals-issues-clarification-social-welfare-story

  35. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    So what does the yardfowl say now that Butch has changed his tune, she cant call him a liar since she already agreed with him and she cant say he is wrong after claiming all the IMF and this one and thst one is saying the same thing…the welfare system should be ct…says the yardfowl, when ya are mindless yardfowl ya find yaself in these awkward and embarrassing positions…lol.

    We will wait to see if Butch ask barbadostpday to print a retraction.

    “Home News Sandals issues…
    Sandals issues clarification on social welfare story
    PR,

    Added 14 January 2018

    51 3 18 0Google +0Instagram0Print
    sandalsbarbadossign
    MORE ARTICLES
    LIAT appoints new chief financial officer Read More ResLife takes Clico portfolio Read More Dorsett eyes Gold Cup treble Read More Holder, young Chanderpaul impress Read More A place for Christian leaders in politics Read More God’s party will win Read More MUSICAL ICONS: Anthony ‘The Mighty Gabby’ Carter Read More
    Sandals Resorts International wishes to clarify a story carried in the Barbados Today online publication headlined “Too Many Entitlements” referencing comments made by Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart with respect to the social welfare programme in Barbados.
    …
    The story has been presented totally out of context and gives the impression that Mr Stewart was criticising the programme, when in fact the Sandals Chairman was complimenting the country for its ability to provide such a programme, where many other countries have been unable to do so.

    It is also important to note that while Mr Stewart did give official statements to the media about the upcoming Beaches project during that lunch meeting, the issue that has been reported on was part of a personal conversation between Mr Stewart and Director of News at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Ms Michelle Arthur.

    During that discussion Mr Stewart said that while he was mindful of the challenges such an effort entails, it is important for those it impacts and assists, and was entirely complimentary to Barbados in this regard never once suggesting that the system be terminated or taken away, as the headline would tend to imply.”

  36. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    In reading thst story…it sounds like Butch is lying anyway, he had a personal conversation with Michelle Arthur, so he told Michelle Arthur one thing in private and told the other media something else..

    ,,,, either way it’s none of his damn business, he does not pay taxes on the island, his idea of good salaries are starvation wages, he has a bad reputation across the Caribbean, he contributes very little to the island’s economy while reaping millions in benefits that the island does not benefit from, so he can keep his opinions to himself.

  37. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    For all the nasty people who do not want to see black people taken care of, this is how the country considered to have the highest standard of living in the world, and the happiest citizens in the world, Norway, ….treats her people…it’s welfare from cradle to grave, so her people can strive better in between.

    And for all the trump wannabe parasites sucking as much as they can out of the Caribbean while believing they can denigrate and discriminate against the majority population, this is not 10 years ago, people’s eyes are wide open, well except for the stupid yardfowls, they will die stupid…but trying to promote whiteness while destroying the lives and wellbeing of the majority black populations….will not work anymore.

    No Thank You, President Trump
    By Martine Aurdal

    Updated 1654 GMT (0054 HKT) January 14, 2018

    (CNN)Donald Trump wants America to have more immigrants from Norway in contrast to what he reportedly called “shithole countries” in Africa.

    Although we love to visit America, Mr. Trump, it is highly unlikely that Norwegians are going to flow into the US to live. As a citizen of Norway, I can tell you we’re not flattered, but offended by the President’s eagerness to have us emigrate.

    Even though Trump has denied making the particular comment, members of Congress who attended the meeting say that the reports are true.

    The offer has left Norwegians offended, not flattered.

    President Trump is judging immigrants by where they come from, and it is hard not to see this as a question of ethnicity. Norwegians have had a history of being positively discriminated for our race and have resisted those ideas before — we will do it again.

    We like where we live. In fact, Norway is the happiest country in the world. We are that way because we live in an egalitarian society where we strive to give everyone good and equal opportunities — regardless of ethnic, gender and social background.

    A century ago it was different. About 800,000 Norwegians migrated to the US, including my great-grandfather. We were a poor country, and the migrants were searching for opportunities and fit the phrase on the Statue of Liberty: They were our tired, our poor. America welcomed them, and they found what they were looking for.

    Today, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world, and we will not give up on our cradle-to-grave welfare. Our parental leave is a generous year, kindergarten is cheap, and our higher education is free. Health care is also free for every Norwegian citizen.

    Our society strives to be tolerant. Every political party promotes liberal values, gender-equality and human rights. The plumber´s son goes to school with the CEO´s daughter, and social mobility is high. Hence, our leaders have diverse backgrounds and anyone could meet the NATO secretary general skiing in the woods or our Prime Minister at the supermarket doing her own grocery shopping.

    So instead of trying to import our whiteness, the US President should try letting some of our ideals in.

    Also, immigrants have been and are shaping Norway. Our history is formed by migration, from the Vikings traveling the world to the German Hanseaten coming to Bergen, a city on the southwestern coast. Nearly 17% of our population is made up of immigrants or have immigrant parents. This includes Somalis, Eritreans, Iraqis, Syrians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis.

    This is not to say that Norway is perfect — and Trump needs to understand this part too.

  38. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Wait a minute, isnt Bjorn Bjerkham from Norway, so why is he still in Barbados making himself such a damn malicious parasite on the lives of Bajans for the last 5 decades…..with all his corruption, bribery, discrimination against black people, attempt to practice modern day slavery against Vincent workers, starvation wages and made a career of stealing from Black Bajan people….when Norway is such a comfortable financial paradise.

    Oh I get it, the shit he can do in Barbados he cannot get away with totally in Norway, he cant bribe politicians and government officials, not enough black people to rob, he cant rob Norway’s treasury or pension fund and he sure as hell cannot create thiefing scams like Cahill…against Norwegians..

  39. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “If a fowl wants to live, it has to follow the grain..”

    Hahahahahahaha………… true dat!!!

  40. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Dirty useless yardfowl she is….soon to become extinct. ..never to be seen again.

  41. ac Avatar
    ac

    Where did i agree with Butch statement paling cock. i simply stated that giving the out pouring of negative feed back to Butch statement he would be ridicule and criticized and given a negative grade meanwhile the blp operatives and leadership are in close agreement with IMF policies which targets the poor and elderly who are dependent on social services

  42. Well Well & Cut N' Paste At Your Service Avatar
    Well Well & Cut N’ Paste At Your Service

    Yeah, yeah, you have made yourself so insignificant and irrelevant why bother. ..tick tock…lol

  43. charles skeete Avatar
    charles skeete

    “Bernard Codrington January 13, 2018 at 9:53 AM #
    I was always under the impression that if you owned something you were entitled to it. But this is a New World where the magnetic poles are reversed. Barrow’s prophecy is certainly being fulfilled. And we like it so. We are too short sighted.”

    It appears that it always fashionable to quote Mr Barrow’s comments whether fabled or mythical but in this case Mr Barrow was the architect of his own prophecy.Research would indicate that the sale of Barbados if we want to so describe it started under Mr Barrow. What measures did he put in place to arrest it ?

Older Comments
1 2

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading