est. 2007

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Thursday’s Vote

Five days to go to the 2018 General Election in Barbados and the speculation is rife who will win and the margin of the victory. The platform discussion has not ignited hope in the blogmaster that there will be significant change to how a new government will improve the lot of the people. What is certain is that the state of the economy will possibly get worse before it improves, IF it improves.

What factors will influence how the blogmaster cast his X on Thursday?

How have the key economic indicators moved since 2013?

  • international reserves
  • domestic borrowing
  • foreign borrowing
  • amount of fossil imports
  • unemployment
  • deficit
  • exports
  • imports
  • inflation
  • food bill*
  • greater sector integration

What about the crime situation since 2013?

  • murder rate
  • violence crime
  • drug related

Has the infrastructure improved since 2013?

  • state of the highways and byways
  • stadia
  • public buildings (health and safety)

Small island developing states because of the size must have an efficient waste management and policies attuned to a maintaining a pristine environment. Have we seen advancement in this space since 2013?

  • adequate number of garbage trucks
  • frequent garbage collection
  • effective public education about waste disposal
  • effective policing
  • management of sewage

  Have we observed change in the Governance model since 2013?

  • effectiveness of the working committees of parliament
  • adherence to financial rules
  • delivering justice to all citizens
  • holding public officials accountable
  • term limits
  • republican system
  • etc

Last but as important is whether the confidence of a people is higher (or lower) compared to 2013.

How can we create a more relevant regional and international outreach to sustain quality of life for citizens?

There are many other issues the blogmaster could have listed to point to the fact- if one is honest- that there has been a deterioration in the Barbados space since 2013. We can debate if the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the 3rd parties are ready to led the country if elected. Clearly based on performance the DLP has fallen short by the simple measure if the questions posed are answered honestly.

The electorate will have to decide if despite a poor performance by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) whether it merits a third term when compared to the alternatives. Does the electorate have the capacity to logically weight the issues to inform the vote?

91 responses to “Thursday’s Vote”

  1. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    David

    Yet you persist to disregard the events of the election period thus far, which go to the character of MAM. The DLP’s decapitation strategy.

    Character issues which maybe more fundamental than all the obvious technical categories cited. Issues on which the BLP should be winning. But that is no longer the question.

    The most critical question is whether Barbados will end up in the same place, or worse, in spite of a possible BLP government.

    Events of this election period may very well be suggesting a positive answer.

  2. Dentistry Whisperer (M. Pharm. D) LinkedIN Avatar
    Dentistry Whisperer (M. Pharm. D) LinkedIN

    If Jamaica can export Ackee and salt fish, why can’t Barbados ship out Pudding and souse? Not pickled pork? Barbados “sweet potato” is not available in N. America. 

  3. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David who wrote ” the speculation is rife who will win ”

    I thought it was a forgone conclusion that the BLP cannot lose.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Pacha

    To state the obvious, you have a view which collides with the blogmaster and this is fine. We have given context for our position taken. If one takes a pragmatic position the considerations that should influence the vote if one compares 2013 to current are clear. If the DLP have evidence let them put it on the table, the public will decide.

  5. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    Any comment on the absence of polls for the election?

  6. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    David

    It seems that we, some how, have to be mired within your political frame. We shall certainly continue a stout resistance.

    We certainly have no responsibility for what the DLP has or has not.

    What you should be doing is getting your BLP to answer the questions which have been asked of it and its leader, less we have more of this DLP under the cloak of a BLP.

    The classical duopoly.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    It came up in conversation this morning.

    The Nation newspaper under a healthy and active Harold Hoyte would engage CADRES and the polls would feed public discussion leading into general election. Either the new dispensation on Fontabelle has moved away from old policy or they are broke.Others are not stepping up. Interesting.

  8. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Mr Blogmaster, when I was a lad and even as a young-man it seemed almost a foregone conclusion that our election process afforded no more than two-terms to a government/party…then along came Owen Arthur and shattered that myth.

    The fact is however that based on the overall tone of the country, if one used your extensive list above, and the related dysfunction of the then opposition his third term was quite ‘earned’.

    If we step back beyond that unicorn moment in our system there is absolutely no reason (even Mottley’s character flaws) to contemplate for one minute “… if despite a poor performance by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) whether it merits a third term”.

    They absolute do not by ANY metric. The two and out concept works well, abysmal performance and too many examples of incompetence can also apply and surely our stagnant and regressing economy is the final straw on our backs.

    So of course “the electorate have the capacity to logically weight the issues to inform the vote”.

    This should be much more straight forward to voting Barrow out in 76 and Bree 10 years later!

  9. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    To drift in to the nonsense of personality politics is to sink in to the smut of amorality. What is important is personal integrity, since one’s ethics are central to how one performs in office.
    What is central at this point in time is a detailed programme of the various parties; voters should not, and must not, vote for a party on the assumption they will do the right thing. We have been betrayed for the last 52 years.
    We know the DLP has failed, so anything vacuous noises from their platform about policy is just that, vacuous. But that does not mean giving the BLP a pass. We want to know what they will do that is different, from going to the IMF o reforming the criminal justice system to radical overhaul of education.
    Voters should not wait until a new government is sworn in only to experience betrayal. Of course, they can promise the moon and the stars now and give nothing like that in office.
    But at the very least we will be able to hold their feet to the fire. Failure to deliver on their promises mean they will be in office for five years at most. A breakdown in the social order may make that even a shorter period.
    We should be discussing policies, not personalities.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    Unfortunately we operate in a time where voters have not been able to hold the feet of the politicians to the fire. We can discuss all the issues and proposals we want leading into the general election, however,what history has shown us is tat the political party will go the path it chooses to protect the status quo.

  11. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    “Others are not stepping up. Interesting.” INDEED, Mr Blogmaster. Quite.

    One can understand the DLP NOT contracting any polling for public dissemination but I don’t fathom why @Enuff’s party has not blanketed the media with negative DLP poll data.

    CADRES was also once considered to be a veritable gold standard of polling here and in the region very much in the vein of Gallup or Quinnipiac University in the US.

    That said though we are now very aware that statisticians are mining social media for poll trends; are also conducting more electronic based snap polling sampling and of course are using social media habits generally to guide behavior….thus the costly phone calling methodology may be a bit ‘dated’.

    But it’s still rather strange that there is a lack of poll data around the election. Looks like a burst of last minute poll data is a-coming!

  12. Bernard Codrington Avatar
    Bernard Codrington

    I am happy to see that there are no polls this close to Election Day. I believe they impact the behaviour of voters. Perhaps somebody has learnt something from history.
    We are not electing a Dictator so concentrating on one person’s character appears to me to be irrational. But then we are not always rational. Are we?

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    The BLP leadership is patently aware the impact a second CADRES poll had on the last general election to galvanize the DLP base. Even VoB has given Wickham a lower profile at this time given his scared (?) reputation.

  14. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    In some countries ie France, you cannot carry to polls near to a general election

  15. Bernard Codrington Avatar
    Bernard Codrington

    Enuff’s party are behaving rationally. Last time his party was trending for a win. The electorate stayed at home because they thought it was a foregone conclusion . The call to vote for a strong Opposition ended up in a vote for a weak government.
    Enuff please concentrate on getting the voters out. A large turnout benefits the BLP.

  16. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Mr Blogmaster, spot on @4:47PM. @Hal, you are making what can only be considered as an academic (tiring, really) argument.

    It is IMPOSSIBLE to separate the personality from the party and from the policies.

    It is also irrelevant here in Barbados now to demand any specific set of policy prescriptions from the BLP for the very simply reason that when they get in and actually see the state of the affairs its likely they will have to reapportion everything.

    Of course we expect to hear policy guidelines from them but do you really expect that they will offer some far left policy guide that will shatter electoral confidence; like for example that they will present same-sex common law legislation in line with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling. Of course they have said no to this.

    So their prescriptions are standard fare and the heavy lifting re IMF and economic hardships will come later.

    There is no option to NOT elect the BLP.

    On the matter of personality and party. Can you tell the blog that Tony Blair’s larger than life personality was not instrumental in propelling his party to power after the alpha-female Margaret Thatchers flamed out at the hands of her Tory members and Major took over?

    In turn wasn’t Cameron’s persona not very utilitarian in his Tory victory over Brown.

    Of course there were many, many others factors like a surging Lib-Dem and Scottish party pressure etc etc in the UK politics but how you can attempt to divorce such alpha personalities from the success/failure of their party is beyond my comprehension.

  17. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Foreday Morning bands are on the decline

    ” This year 37 bands will hit the road on August 3, including 11 new ones. Last year there were 47.”

    I hope the BLP should have a plan in place to add 10 bands by Aug. 3rd.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    You can add this to the basket what has declined since 2013.

  19. Are-we-there-yet Avatar
    Are-we-there-yet

    dpD

    Lets suppose that polling is indeed going on and the only real difference between now and previous elections is the OKaying of the publication of those polls, Could it be that the publication of such polling results might be expected to create unwonted last-minute galvanization of lazy voters to go out and vote for the other side? ….. i.e if the polling shows the results will be closer than expected would it suit either side to publish such results now? eg…, publishing polls that show a moderate BLP win might indicate that a last-ditch effort by loyal Dems who were disposed to sit out this election might be sufficient to overtake the BLP. Alternatively, it could be that current polls might be showing a moderate win for the DLP. In such a case it might definitely not be in the DLP’s interest to publicize such a poll using the same argument above neither would it be in the BLP’s best interest to publicize that poll as they must be seen to be in the ascendancy.

    However, realistically, most posters on BU appear to have acknowledged that the DLP’s ultra poor performance in the last 10 years does not merit a win for them at this time so the likelihood of polls showing them winning is low.

    That there are no published polls at this time leads me to think that the polls (and there has to be several partisan ones in the works) are likely to be suggesting a very significant BLP victory.

    QED.

  20. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    I like how everyone is referring to my “party” like I am an insider. I am not!

  21. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David you have shown enough of a ” DECLINE” to vote the DLP out.

    Can we have a list of reasons why you should vote the blp in based on promises in their manifesto ?

  22. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Maybe so Are-We, that it’s a QED status at play.

    The fact is tho that surely all the parties (well two anyhow) have done some polling. Yes as you suggested ‘tings dred’ for the DLP but any pollster worth his education can tailor some questions to flesh out nuggets of gold and then highlight that feature set ad nauseum.

    The point being that there are practical benefits to polling and it’s certainly not necessary to report all, let’s say 20, of your query points just the greatest hits!

    I take the point that polls can adversely affect voters, after all that’s one of the reasons they are commissioned – to affect voter response – but as blogger @Bernard noted above the political machinery of a party must always drive its get out to vote process. That’s ALWAYS the key.

    I would also offer that a late poll showing a BLP victory can be used by Mia and cohorts to put further wind under the wings of their members to say: …”Yes, we have the momentum thanks to every one of you who is supporting us, but unless you go out there on Thursday and mark that X den we can still lose. My friends, be early and get all your family members who can vote to be early too.”

    She could likely add, “remember we have a tax waiver waiting for you too”. ;-). Ok.., that last sentence is just a very bad joke!

    But seriously as the blogmaster indicated a poll can and should galvanize .. (frankly to either party’s base) Are they detrimental in small island states like ours? I dont think so, at least not to a savvy, literate and aware electorate they certainly should NOT!

  23. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Do you want to revisit your last paragraph?

    @Hants

    To do so seem academic doesn’t it?

  24. Fractured BLP Avatar
    Fractured BLP

    I have truly bought into the mantra of Mia CARES !

    Yes Mia CARES :

    • About giving income tax waivers to her father – when thousands of other Barbadians cannot do the same !

    • About hounding down young girls – for them to prove by cellphone (an illegal act) that they voted for her !

    • About getting campaign financing from any rogue around – thankfully Hugo Chavez is not around to be bombarded by her , this time !

    • About giving commercial banks million dollar 💵 tax waivers – even though the treasury is in need of all the cash it can get !

    Yes folks – Mia truly CARES !!

  25. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @David
    “Does the electorate have the capacity to logically weight the issues to inform the vote?”

    Nope.

    Plus the BLP’s unrealistic manifesto coupled with the DLP’s empty manifesto leaves nothing to work with or analyze.

    It boils down to leadership perception and generational dynamics. Will the 20+% of over 65’s turn out or will the 4-5% of new voters make the swing? Will the doubts about MAM shift that 3-4% elsewhere or will they go over to the Bees for the nail in the coffin? Will the undecideds stay home out of frustration or will they turn out and vote 3rd party?

    5 more days to go!!!!!! Time will tell. Should be fun!!

    Just observing

  26. Independent Avatar
    Independent

    The big argument against the BLP is that their leader doesn’t have the required qualities to be the leader of the country, the PM. I haven’t heard much more than that from the DLP platform, nothing more than bashing MAM.
    In PM Stuart we (supposedly) have a leader with the necessary qualities: integrity, moral upright etc. However, under PM Stuart our country has declined significantly both socially and economically. In other words these qualities don’t translate in the country doing well, quite the contrary.
    LOL: it’s about the economy, stupid!!!

  27. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Enuff
    I like how everyone is referring to my “party” like I am an insider. I am not !
    +++++++++++
    You doth protest too much….

  28. Are-we-there-yet Avatar
    Are-we-there-yet

    Hants;

    There are an overwhelming number of reasons to vote the DLP out.

    There are NO good reasons to keep the DLP in power.

    The 3rd parties, despite some interesting ideas, have no experience in Government. To vote them in would, most likely, lead to a worse economic and social situation in Barbados than keeping the DLP in.

    A Manifesto is not a good yardstick for grading a political party, especially one that is out of power. Consider instead, the relevant and relative experiences, breadth of qualifications, apparent honour, truthfulness, leadership abilities, community involvement, personal interactions, etc., of the average members of the party.

    Manifesto promises by an opposition party are merely an indication of strategic, time-based ideas or policies or programs that they will seriously work towards if adequate funding and other factors are right. As such, manifestos cannot realistically constitute immutable contracts except in such areas as cost or revenue-neutral changes in policies, social orientation, type of governance structures, changes in the pillars of the economy, etc.

    Small nudges of relatively insignificant factors don’t count, especially where the economy is at the nadir of its historical performance. However, in a relatively steady state economy / society where a few significant changes might improve certain aspects of the economy / society, strategically developed manifestos might be useful, but still with the caveat of the opposition party not likely to be privy to the real state of the economy

    If one uses the last 2 DLP manifestos and rate their performance vs. their manifesto promises it would even add to their failing grade.

  29. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Observing
    Unrealistic or unconvincing?

  30. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Mr Blogmaster, re ‘Do you want to revisit your last paragraph’. Not at this time!

    We can’t have it both way as a nation David. Either we are literate and educated and thus savvy enough to separate the Dee from the Bee or we are not.

    Let’s go with hard data for a moment. I was reading recently a study of the polling in the last US elections and some stiff is quite instructive to our situation.

    A key point affirmed was that despite general public opinion the overall polling really did NOT get it wrong. The polls certainly were right about the direction of the popular vote (she won by 2 points and she was projected to win by 3 points). Moreover although the electoral college poll showed her a winner that was also a tenuous mark based a few key battleground states…. where the state polls also showed her with SLIM majorities …in other words, a possible loser.

    Additionally in the last week of the elections it was evidenced that as many as 13% of undecided voters swung much more heavily to Trump in those three states (Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan).

    Oh and the poll review report also highlighted that educated voters (college degree types) are generally OVER represented in polls and that more of them were inclined to Clinton; that discrepancy was not weighted accordingly and thus some skewed under representation of blue collar support for Trump was ‘missed’.

    So here’s the Bajan deal from all that:

    1.Are we in the main NOT less divided re our political awareness between ‘educated’ and ‘blue collar’ political …due primarily to lots of detailed ole talk done about politics at rum shops, on de block and so on? Yes, I say. So we aint gine miss nutting like dat!

    2.Do you perceive that at this stage of the game that even 1 out every ten Bajan has NOT made up his or her mind about their political action? I cant fathom that. Nor can I fathom that after well over 25 plus years in public life with her ‘biting’ persona (sarcastic and otherwise) that ANY percentage of Bajans will now be turned-off by Ms Mottley’s character flaws.

    I have not reviewed a similar report after any of Barack Obama’s victories but based on those results surely most folks decided before that last week where their vote was going…I perceive the same here (unless some bomb drops). Thus the efforts as with Obama MUST be all about ‘get out the vote’.

    Frankly if the DLP can rock that machinery they still stand a chance of holding on to more seats that they should but I cant conceive how Bajans independents who see themselves as not aligned to either party would even think of staying home. Just as I expect some Dems to vote Bee…there is just too much filth. Period!

    So with all the filth flowing down the streets and from the mouths of these desperate Dees it is inconceivable to me that Bajans could still NOT “…have the capacity to logically weight the issues to inform the vote”. If so then we would all need to have craniotomies or some other form of neurological intervention!

    So no senor, no need to ‘revisit my last paragraph’ !

  31. BEAUTIFUL BEIGE Avatar
    BEAUTIFUL BEIGE

    So you all continue this “Catch 22” debate, over and over and over.

    Aren’t you tired of it yet?

    There is another alternative but there are none so blind as those who REFUSE to see.

    It is clear that the DLP has run Barbados into the ground. It is clear that the Leader of the BLP has questionable personal issues.

    It is insanity to keep on doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Why not give Solutions Barbados some support?

  32. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    Cadres was out all last week conducting interviews for a poll. So I expect one to come out, maybe as early as tomorrow.

  33. David Avatar
    David

    We will see however note that a poll can be commissioned but it does not have to be published.

  34. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    EWB labelled the Public Workers as “an army of occupation” What would have caused a political party “The People’s Army” This sounds so regimented.

  35. Independent Avatar
    Independent

    @ Beautiful Beige

    “” It is clear that the Leader of the BLP has questionable personal issues.”
    Really? What are those issues? Is not clear to me that they are questionable. That she’s a Mottley, her bloodline?
    Not really a problem.That she’s a lesbian? Not a problem.

    Solutions Barbados their stance re corruption is great, but I’m not convinced that their economic plans are workable. Things are so dread that I’m not prepared to take any chances. Would like to see them get 1 or 2 seats.
    The last 25 years or so, any time there was a DLP government “things bad”, the BLP comes in and the economy improves. That is my observation as an independent.

  36. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    It is very clear that like David Ellis said most people have already made up their minds.In my opinion I think it’s obvious the Dems realize that only yard fowls will vote for them.No sensible person will vote for a party that for that past 10 years inflicted such damage to the country and its people.
    Everyday it’s obvious that the DLP is playing catch up.They released their Manifesto with an addendum.Why did they have to await the Bees manifesto to issue an addendum to cover their asses on the economy.23 downgrades and you issuing an addendum to say what on the economy.You guys are ‘not nor never will be ready’ post Barrow.You only now can talk about possibly considering goin to the IMF?Give me a break.
    Then Ashton Turney saying to the credit union vote DLP.He could only be an ass when the same DLP almost decimated the Credit Unions by taking away the concessions the BLP put in place and failed to live up to their promise to restore them.
    I heard Bobby Morris since early in the week referenced the poll that is coming and which he must have heard is unfavourble.He looked dejected when he said the only poll that’s important is the one on May 24th.
    One of the reasons why the economy rebounds under the BLP is the investor confidence in the economy when the Bees form the government.A dyed-in-the-wool Dem made that observation way back in the 80’s when he observed aloud that when the Dems in government investors are not prepared to take the risk.

  37. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    @Independent May 19, 2018 7:00 PM

    The big argument against the BLP is that their leader doesn’t have the required qualities to be the leader of the country, the PM. I haven’t heard much more than that from the DLP platform, nothing more than bashing MAM.
    In PM Stuart we (supposedly) have a leader with the necessary qualities: integrity, moral upright etc
    ……………………………………………………….

    You people should really refrain from writing crap that Fumbles is a man of integrity.

    None of them cannot tell the other come back…………why do you think he could not touch any of his ministers.

    Do you know of the inner deals of the Cahill project or the deal that certain people were allegedly getting US$1 million dollars………..if only you knew…….but I cannot post details here so as not to put David in trouble.

    Integrity, my big toe!

  38. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” t-shirts being distributed, and contained within the folds would be . . . two Sir Grantleys and an Errol Barrow with a piece of scotch tape across”

  39. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    At every election time, in most democracies around the world, is the same deadbeat story of politicians and their party loyalists extolling the virtures why they deserved to be in power…promising the moon and stars along the way. And the sheeply electorate always fall for the gimmick. We never failed to disapoint these bridge and snake oil sellers.

    The next five years, nothing changes fundamentally, and the cycle repeats itself… the classic Einstein defition of insanity.

  40. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Good post, Gabriel.

    I have a friend who is a small contractor. As early as 2010, he told me that all he was doing was giving people quotes they were asking for but would then tell him that they are waiting to see what is going to happen.

    He shares work with another small contractor from St Philip…the man told me my friend……”boy, I am a dem but I prefer the Bees to be in power……when the Bees in power everybody does have money in their pockets…….my party in power and I cant get work”.

  41. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    @Gabriel

    Ashton turney has to be the biggest JA or a stupid dem.

    After all the gains the unions made under a BLP government, they sat back and without protest allowed the Stinkliar to take away all those gains and are now telling their members to vote for the DLP. He should be made to resign.

    Just think, Maxine McClean sat down in the cabinet and allow a rouge MOF to decimate the credit unions.

    What do we expect…….isn’t the DLP candidate for Bridgetown a big boy in this same credit union?

  42. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    @Hants…..where is this happening? I have some poor people that I help out and I would like them to get some of this freeness……..it would take some of the burden off of me. LOL!

  43. nineofnine Avatar
    nineofnine

    How could a world economic system in business as usual mode, then suddenly with a strategic, calculated narrative, in an announcement that there is “an economic collapse” and “economic downturn” that literally moved Governments and the corporate world into a tailspin of fear and uncertainty, creating a movement of initiating measures “unwarranted” upon world affairs.

    What was that all about?
    A Fake agenda in pursuit of a greater Fake agenda?
    Was not the next great reveal was that of “Climate Change”?
    Was there a conspiracy among Governments?
    How did it effect the economy of Barbados?

    Since 2008, draconian measures manifested in hardship across politic, policies and governance under guise of political bombast, rhetoric and innuendo resulting in gross neglect of the maintenance of society and its institutions.

    Come May 24th, 2018, it seems that most of society is demanding change. A change that is hopeful in eliminating the instruments that limits full expression and the livelihood of every citizen, of the middle and lower income earners as well as the poor and destitute, not forgetting the small and medium size businesses, artisans et al.

    A VOTE AGAINST (any member that represents )

    Any political party that does not put its citizens first.
    Any political party that has burdened its citizens by way of unmerited laws, rules, regulations, codes and taxation, Vote against any political party that allows foreign agents of deception by way of “documents” geared at controlling this society whether be it of Government systems and procedures, corporate business or its citizenry, a vote against any political pary which does not consult, converse, or communicate by referendum or national debate to gain a National preference before engaging being a signatory to any protocol or treatise. Vote any political party that promotes non alignment to wholesome existence by way of inferior food and medicines, also which allows the dumping of unknown substances in our air space, or aligning with those who by way of mandatory vaccines seek to make our sons and daughters infertile or autistic, that allows the compulsory use of chemicals in the production of food. A vote against any political party that takes the hard earn contributions to the Government purse, misuses and abuse it or behind sealed doors sells National assets at the behest of the public or any government that at the end of its Governing period that has engaged any of the above seek your vote, the overwhelming response must be an empty checkbox.

    A VOTE FOR (any member that represents)

    A POLITICAL PARTY that has shown a willingness and a track record of service to others within the community.
    A Political Party which its collective membership is knowledgeable and has experience in management and or political affairs. A vote for the political party which presents ideals that facilitate a collective, broad-base programs, at the community level that will institute development and sustainability.

    A vote for the member of the political party which is intent on forming the next Government to correct ALL THAT IS DECLARED IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAFT.. (A VOTE AGAINST).

    A VOTE FOR the political party……
    That is intent on creating the policies, framework and platforms that empower its citizens to freely express their thoughts, opinions, ideas, innovations and cultural expressions.
    That makes the road to recovery simple that is, to create the environment that makes level the playing field of Government -citizen relationship/investment, employer-employee investment and rewards,
    That ups minimum wage to a level that creates a balance and sustainable personal economy.
    That will pursue infrastructural development to provides future employment and opportunities.
    That engages forensic audits of the misuse and abuse of public office and its resources with the intent of plugging loopholes and malfeasance.
    That being representatives of the public domain, grant freedom of information, enact integrity legislation, return free education and assist in higher educational pursuits.
    That will revise and update outdated legislation, repeal harsh and unnecessary legislation and reduce like taxation where possible.
    That will, where applicable, renegotiate deals that are not beneficial to the economy.
    That will examine the impact of interest rates and “fees” on personal economies.
    That will seek to integrate the Diaspora as a National Economic Asset.
    Above all, initiate protocols of G.E.S.A.R.A. and N.E.S.A.R.A. and implement it.

    IN A NUTSHELL..
    VOTE for THE PARTY that is “voting” for you NOT against you.

  44. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @May 19, 2018 8:30 PM “Why not give Solutions Barbados some support?”

    This is why I won’t be supporting Solutions Barbados: Charged Persons: Only the charges and court cases of those convicted will be published. Publishing any such details of innocent and non-convicted persons will attract defamation fines. Fines will be quantified based on the loss of reputation and loss of earnings due to publication”

    This is a gross plan of attack on the freedom of the press. The press in Barbados is already too constrained by our current laws. And here is Solutions Barbados making themselves judge, jury and executioner of the press. Nope. No vote from me.

    And in addition suppose Ms. Beautiful Beige is arrested and charged, and remanded in custody, Forbidding the press from reporting this can enable bad police, bad politicians, bad judges etc. to keep people in indefinite custody, because the press for fear of being bankrupted would not be able to shed light on who has been arrested.What if it was you beautiful beige who was arrested and nobody knew? Nobody could report it?

    Those “in authority” could do whatever they wanted to you, and the press could not report on the matter. Not even your parent, spouse or children could WhatsApp a friend to say that you had been arrested, because to do so according to Solutions Barbados would be defamatory.

    Solutions Barbados needs to read their history so that they can learn that court reporting is not intended to stigmatize the accused, but rather it is designed to prevent “the authorities” from arresting, and imprisoning people while at the same time silencing any reports of any such arrests.

    Scary.

  45. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @David May 19, 2018 4:29 PM “The Nation newspaper under a healthy and active Harold Hoyte would engage CADRES and the polls would feed public discussion leading into general election. Either the new dispensation on Fontabelle has moved away from old policy or they are broke.”

    I guess that they are missing Harold.

    I am guessing too that the NSRL is impacting heavily on them.

    And a newspaper headed by a journalist is a different thing than a newspaper headed by an accountant/finance kinda person.

    Just sayin’

  46. Well, Well Avatar
    Well, Well

    Simple…..Grenville is a joke, he is not legally trained in law, he is an engineer, I have no clue who told him he can make up his own interpretation of the law.

    He is a violations of human rights waiting to happen, all by himself…

    ya will have to have Amnesty International, all the other human rights organizations and the UN on speed dial, if by some mishap, Grenville and his gang of misfits happen to stumble into the people’s parliament, that is no joke.

    By himself, with one seat and other more seasoned politicians to rein him in, he is harmless, but not with any majority seats in parliament….too much dictator tendencies screaming to be released from his head.

  47. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Fractured BLP May 19, 2018 6:43 PM “About giving income tax waivers ..when thousands of other Barbadians cannot do the same.”

    You lie.

    Didn’t the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Christopher Sinkler grant a waiver of penalties and interest to every Bajan who needed one just a year or two ago?

    Fill out a form, pay the principal, and the deed was done for everyone.

  48. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Simple……….it would help if you ignore the yardfowls……then they stay away as no one is taking them on.

    Just ignore them, they bring nothing of worth to the discussion. Just my take, my dear!

  49. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Gabriel

    Did you see Grenville on the campaign trail in a suit and tie………..this man is something else then. Why image does that send to voters when they see the rest of the cast in polo shirts and the leader dress up in suit and tie?

    And people talking about Mia’s bloodline and lineage?

  50. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Concern is being raised about reports of political parties footing the bill for scores of Barbadians to enter the country to vote during next Thursday’s election.

    BLP Christ Church West candidate William Duguid raised the alarm at the Silver Hill, Christ Church spot meeting.

    So yuh mean I cudda had a free vacation in Babadus ?

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