Submitted by The Mahogany Coconut Group
The Mahogany Coconut Group (MCG), joins with all Barbadians in wishing the newly elected Barbados Labour Party government, all the best as it takes over from the badly beaten Democratic Labour Party, whose ten years stay at the wicket, is best described as anemic and unsuccessful. The former prime minister, Mr. Freundel Stuart displayed not only poor leadership skills but bad manners by scarcely having any meaningful dialogue with the public. He chose mainly to address constituency branches of his party.
The public therefore gave Stuart and his miserable group the severe beating it deserved by giving the then opposition Barbados Labour Party under the leadership of Ms. Mia Mottley, all thirty parliamentary seats. The Democratic Labour Party will have to find a way to make itself once again relevant to the political process.
We also congratulate, Ms. Mia Mottley on becoming the first female prime minister of Barbados. We know Ms. Mottley as a seasoned politician. She has gone through the hottest fires and has emerged as one made of the finest steel; we will now await her performance as a leader
The MCG having closely followed the election of May 24th, 2018, must sadly conclude, that both parties have determined that the real cure of the country’s economic ailments are to be found in the IMF’s medicine chest. Hence as expected the country will be heading straight to the International Monetary Fund, for some very bitter medicine. Fifty years after Independence, and with literally thousands of University of the West Indies (UWI) graduates occupying our Caribbean landscape, we still cannot get our economies functioning at any progressive level.
Barbados, to all intents and purposes, is a one sector economy, depending almost exclusively on the tourism industry to keep its growth in any proper shape. Over the last ten years the government of the Democratic Labour Party failed to devise any sustainable economic policy.
Ms. Mottley has been given a warm welcome by all the major players, including the Social Partnership, which includes trade unions, business organizations and other interest groups. While we wish the new Barbados government all the best, we fear that once the IMF gets its predatory claws into the affairs of the country, escape may prove difficult, if not impossible.
Ms. Mottley has already delivered a mini-budget, which was nothing more than an instrument to raise taxes and deliver some promises made by her party during the elections. These included reinstating payment for university education and an increase to old age pensioners.
However, citizens are waiting to see what kind of restructuring program the country will enter under the IMF. Any underperformance of the tourism industry will be disastrous to the island’s economy. The great irony of Ms. Mottley’s mini budget, is the fact that it attempts to extract money from the very tourists, who it is inviting to assist with the country’s current predicament.
We can only hope that she does not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
What Miller needs to get into his thick skull is that Lagarde works for International financial institutions and not for small island banana republic islands that thrive on corruption
Laggarde only object is to collect the debt and for sure this collection does not include rubbing shoulders
When Larggade take a look at that lopsided mini budget
Her first response might be one of grimace followed by a loud noise of asking Mia if she is crazy for wanting to kill the goose that lays the Golden egg
Sirfuzzy
Just like the ole man, I don’t qualify as a “knowledgeable commenter” and uh en too bright either (ask Hal Austin..….according to him, I are “appallingly ignorant”)……..
………“but I gine answer you anyways” as well. (PUDRYR, yuh gots to forgive muh fuh plagiarizing you words).
I agree with PUDRYR’s opinion that the GSC may be onerous.
Of the $1.50 households will contribute to the GSC, $1.25 will be allocated to the SSA for offsetting its expenditure relative to garbage collection.
But this “sleight of hand” move means that government reduces its transfers and subsidies to the SSA by approximately $456.25 ($1.25 x 365 days) per household per annum. If, “for argument’s sake,” the BWA provides water for 150,000 households, then the SSA would receive approximately $68,4M per annum. And I have not included commercial entities.
If we take into consideration that the new BLP administration has allocated $15M to purchase much needed garbage trucks……..
……….and the money from the Contribution is USED for its INTENDED purposes……..we SHOULD expect an improvement in garbage collection.
@Artax
sirfuzzy’s question appears to be more about the SLA that should be attached i.e. if garbage is not collected efficiently from households- implied by the new tax- what is the recourse for the citizen.
@ Mariposa June 14, 2018 10:58 PM
Aren’t you being the real ‘laggard’ by saying that Madam Lagarde has No knowledge of her own organization’s reports on the Bajan economy, especially the one issued for 2017 under the Article 1V Agreement?
By now she must be well aware that there is a ‘patient’ in a rather serious condition in triage for the past year with the name Barbados and screaming to the top of its extremely weak voice: ‘I need help, real help, and fast’.
Oh yeah miller byt when Lagarde look at that loopsided budget she certainly going to askbthe doctor at hand what kind a medicine she drinking
The IMF not just going think of a cuh dear poor barbados.Laggarrde at its team going go over that budget with a fine tooth comb and surgically cut out all the exposed fat like free tuition for University students along with wage increase making certain that the financial institutions get their fair share of the pie
Then it would be all left up to Mottley and come and bring another series of lies to the public about how bad things are when she has to do another Pr job by asking govt workers and students to hold strain in lieu of the IMF warning
@ The Sage Anunnaki
I pray that My GOD gives me breath to see what her tenure will bring.
Unfortunately de ole man like you will remain cognisant of where the man/woman is wandering while in possession of that rope cuase you dont want them to effect any Judas final move in your backyard lest it be reported that dem find a body at de ole man property and you dun know bajans going say dat de ole man kill dem
@ Artaxerxes
You may freely use any part of the submissions of de ole man or me grandson put here.
In fact, I am going to beg you to use that superlative storyboard material you provided at 11.37 for one of the grandson’s Stoopid Cartoons that he will produce in the effluxion of time
(man i using dat word everywhere…)
@ Voters always get tricked
You said and I quote “…Yes I do have an agenda and that is to expose the arrogance and deception in Barbados of the two parties D or BLP. Unlike you I have no allegiance to either…”
This is a downright superlative statement and de ole man hastens to add, this is precisely the point that us simple minded BAJANS CANNOT GRASP. Apolitical positions that are neither B or DLP complexioned.
“…I (well not de ole man cause nuffin in de cuntry is for me) pledge allegiance to my country Barbados…”
This, I put to you, VOTERS Always Get Tricked, is the single biggest fallacy of the Barbadian lifeline!!
I don’t talk much (heheheheh I lie) but in “42 seconds” I will show you “an embodiment” of what that plea that you are expressing to us ingrunt BRASS bowls should manifest itself as.
Here is the grandson’s submission
https://i.imgur.com/JprwHJO.gifv
We, a so called “highly educated people”, need to abandon this partisan politics and move to engaging in what we can do for “our nation and our community” as opposed to this tribal warfare and simplistic “we going wid Owen” dogshyte.
@ Madamoiselle Prime Minister Mottley
WHEN I posted my grandson’s ”42 seconds” Stoopid Cartooon, I know that you (AND SEVERAL OF THE PARASITIC TEAM THAT UNFORTUNATELY SURROUNDS YOU) are going to stop and say WHAT?
You, as a more intelligent Bajan” assuredly will see this Stoopid Cartoon as a continuation of my pledge to my Country, in fact, just an echo of people like – Voters Always Get Tricked or that of Brother in Arms Bush Tea or that of the Sage Annunaki or Pachamama and a host of others who de ole man can’t type de names here.
You ALONE will see it as my prayerful hope that you are going use the mandate received to do the best for our country as you create YOUR LEGACY.
HOWEVER, de ole man is assured that many of the dimwits who surround you, whose names you can be assured that the ole man is going to mention in other posts, (SO LONG AS GOD GIVES ME LIFE) will look at it as blasphemy.
How can he post this profanity and sacrilegious irreverence AGAINST our “saviour”? (Purposed lower case)
But the fact is that your hands are tied AS IS EVIDENCED BY THIS SEVERELY LACKING MINI BUDGET.
But what is also evident to the IMF @today, given this piffle, is that YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE ANY “THOUGHT LEADERS” IN YOUR TEAM TO REVERSE THIS DEFICIT in the short to medium term!!
Every single fellow, of the few of them that have ideas, is giving, and has given, you proposals WHICH REQUIRE YOU as MoF TO MANUFACTURE (nearly said “have Cleviston print”) $$ out of the air & SPEND MORE!!
AND barring the medium/long term savings on those ideas like (i) the renewable energy replacement buses or (ii) the solar grids on government buildings ALL UH DEM NEED MONEY TO DEPLOY.
Heheheheheh, doan axe how de ole man know you business cause I ent want to tell you me sources….
But you Madamoiselle Prime Minister NEED results NOW!!!
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 6 MONTH TURNAROUND else it is going to be devaluation and layoffs that you dread AND WHICH WILL KILL YOUR VISION OF BEING PRIME MINISTER FOR A LONG TIME (nearly said life)
Someone de grandson know is prepared to tek a performance based, irrevocable contract of service for $10 million under a GoB/private sector agreement with a perpetual** revenue sharing bolt-on (one that will favor the government 70%) to deploy a deferred compensation tourism marketing initiative for Barbados.
Such project for which the party is prepared to work under a deferred compensation scheme, (UNLIKE DE SENATORS YOU ARE PURPORTED TO BE IMPORTING) will cost you approximately 1/10 of that 90 something million that you allocated in your Onerous Mini Budget.
Said initiative will revolutionize Barbados tourism marketing strategy. De grandson even say something bout a joint patent prosecution with de GoB and de IP owner but de ole man ent know bout dam tings.
Now here is the thing though, in additional to the flow-through of tourisses, de grandson friend projects an ancillary FOREX revenue stream in the millions from ammmmmm licensing ***
[[Now de ole man writing in square brackets cause dis part is private.
ammmmm I as you can appreciate, ent got no trust in either de D or de BLP as it relates to their sovereign promises. So I had advised de grandson friend “NOT TO TRUST ANY GoB ADMINISTRATION unless he is paid a 15% mobilization fee. Whu dat is only reasonable considering dat fellers like Hal Gollop get $700k fun a contract and he ent do a ting. AND I GINE VOUCH FUH DE GRANDSON FRIEND AND SAY DAT HE IS GOOD AT HE CRAFT. heheheheh
PS. I don think dat wanna going engage wit tings like dis doh causing offing it do whu it is stated to do dat would mean dat Dale and Edmund ent going be able to do dem ting so…
anyways I got to go now so I going sign off and close dese brackets. ALL THE BEST WID DE IMF but de ole man going tell you dat you ent going be able to use no sleight of hand with them like we bajans lawyers does do bout heah]]
@David
yes it is an indicator, over time. As are debt to exports or debt to national revenue.
Yet GDP doesn’t service or repay Debt?
Japan has run a D-GDP of 200%+ for several years, and still has an A rating.
The debt to GDP ratio makes no mention of the various loan tranches and their terms which together form the Debt?
@ac
“small island banana republic islands that thrive on corruption”
are you suggesting that Barbados thrives on corruption?
@ millertheanunnaki June 14, 2018 8:28 PM
Madame Lagarde will not lower the IMF bar or her professional standards to accommodate a sister.
Unlike the majority of other islands in the Caribbean, Barbados has always had a monopoly on foreign investment. The Brits have long considered the country as their headquarters within the Caribbean region. This is why Barbados has been kept afloat over such a long period – until now.
It is evident to all that the whole island has become totally dysfunctional. You’ve witnessed areas that have been hit by natural disasters; the survivors are at a lost as to where to begin with the clear up. It is the same with Barbados.
I pity Mia, she has what she always wanted but i doubt whether this heavyweight politician can resuscitate the dying patient. The DLP’s second term signalled the end for any recovery.
Miller, i believe that you may be in possession of a UK passport. Time for you to dust it down.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/167196/lot-holes
Another reason to pursue exgovernment ministers for what they stole from the people, the neglect of the stadium and tracks is a crime all by itself, they should never be allowed to get away with it or even be seen anywhere near parliament again….none of them..
This is a national disgrace and they should all go to prison..
They neglected the tanks at the Bridgetown sewage plant until they grew trees and sludge making them inoperable, so nasty a bunch of exministers, if that is how they treated the properties of the people/vipers who paid their monthly salaries plus perks, I never want to see how they keep their own homes.
David BU
I understand sirfuzzy’s question.
My point is, SSA will soon be receiving $1.25 from households and 50% of commercial entities water bills per day, which will be used to offset expenditure. If these funds are used for the intended purposes, I believe we won’t have situations where the SSA’s trucks and equipment, in need of repairs/maintenance, remaining idle for months, waiting for parliament to approve a supplementary vote.
The funds from the contribution will provide the SSA with more than enough funds to repair and maintain trucks and equipment as well as pay creditors. In addition to the purchase of new garbage trucks, in my opinion, I expect an improvement in garbage collection services and I believe there will not be a need for people looking for recourse if garbage is not collected on time.
Please note, this is the opinion of an “appalling ignorant” man……..so tread carefully……
Hahaha
Piece, Miller….consideration will be given by Legarde to the negative impact caused by the corruption, mismanagement, neglect and lack of respect to the island and its people practiced by the last government..
….it was very clear to IMF and the rating agencies who beseeched the hardheaded, backward Fruendel and Gang for 10 years that they were using the wrong approach to the economic situation and could only achieve failure…which they did..
No international agency will blame the Mia government for what those corrupt jackasses and parasites did and they will certainly not punish the people for an exgovernment who used the shady now defunct Cambridge Analytica to tief the 2013 election through deceiving the electorate…., a little empathy will be shown and go a long way toward helping repair the damage done by the defunct government….to the economy.
so nasty a bunch of exministers, if that is how they treated the properties of the people/VOTERS who paid their monthly salaries plus perks for 10 long years, I never want to see how they keep their own homes.
“……..when she has to do another Pr job by asking govt workers and students to hold strain in lieu of the IMF warning…”
Mariposa
On several occasions I have suggested that, before posting your contributions, you should allow someone in George Street to proof read them first.
The work “LIEU” means “INSTEAD.” Therefore, by your above comment, you are essentially saying………
“…….she has to do another Pr job by asking govt workers and students to hold strain INSTEAD of the IMF warning…”
Are you employed by the IMF or have you attended any negotiations between the IMF and any country seeking assistance from the Fund?
Have you spoken to Lagarde personally and has she told you what transpired at the meeting between government and the fund, or has she given you her personal opinion on Barbados’ situation and what are her intensions?
Because I noticed that you have been making some very BOLD, DEFINITIVE STATEMENTS relative to the IMF and its PROGRAMS and POLICIES, as well as SPEAKING on BEHALF of Lagarde.
You should do some research on the IMF, before coming to mislead BU with FALSE or INACCURATE information or what you “FEEL” the IMF will do.
Bro what is the IMF objective to cut wages which is part of expenditure which includes smie of Mia promises of giveaways
What is Mia objective togive wage increases free university education which all requires large chuncks of expenditure. and deciminate the tourism industry (which is as close as she can get to home grown terrorism)
30- 0 for the DEMS
was always coming @ TheoGazerts Jnr
who is mocking who now?
who is laughing now at who ?
You do not understand predictions
People see things
It is better to take warning
Noah preached for 120 years
JUST ASKING
@ Artaxerxes
De grandson sent this for you.
He apologizes about the last Slide referencing what will happen behind the closed doors of the House of Assembly and the sweetheart deals made outside its walls heheheheheh but he hopes that he captured what you were and are saying
https://i.imgur.com/H9gujd4.gifv
@ Artaxerxes
THe grandson sent this for you and apologizes for his artistic latltude regarding the last page of the Stoopid Cartoon and its reference to “under the table arrangements” euphemism for bribes and kickbacks
https://i.imgur.com/H9gujd4.gifv
@ THe Honourable Blogmaster.
It would appear that none of my devices are posting to BU.
As you know I have valid reason NOT TO POST from elsewhere since dougie and stephen and dem two other fellows looking for de ole man and me grandson.
So I guess that could be a sin of omission and de facto BAFFY-like Ban heheheheheh.
Anyways Hit me up on the alternative facebook and let me know your thoughts
Artax
We will never understand the deceitful lying dems.
I am wondering if by refusing to go to the IMF at the latest a year or two ago if the dems thought that they would win again, thanks to Cambridge Analytical …………..when would they have admitted truthfully the true state of the economy.
You want to tell me that Freundel was so incompetent and “dont carish” that he did not now or was not told by Stinkliar that there was only 220 million dollars in foreign reserves and there was a loan payment due in early June that would take away half of the reserves? You mean to tell me that even with that knowledge he still dilly dallied and refused to call the election?
Are we to believe that Freundel really hated Barbados and was willing to spite MAM that she would have the hardest of times to deal with this economy? Tell me I am wrong.
Now the very people who should be hiding under the rocks are on BU and in the media wanting to tell our PM what to do…………..why the hell they did not stop Stinkliar as he was wrecking the economy……but no………Estwick and Inniss the biggest critics out of the House,came and voted for every measure that has Barbados where it is now…………having to beg the white man to bail us out!
Prodigal
Yuh mean. to say u up on Bu sqawking about wuhbthe dems had vote for ir against
WTF the people voted out the dema fuh better and now just in two weeks the people are being punished with bitter
So prodigal whose tv cbc is now ha ha think about that one before yuh open yuh stink mout
Annuda ting look how Mia pelt some licks in de people arse and u cant say a dam thing. NSRL replaced wid CPAP ( cat piss and pepper).licks hot so hot that dee people botsy on fire. Now motor mout prodigal tell the people dat is fair
“if the dems thought that they would win again, thanks to Cambridge Analytical ”
lol…..the visionless fools never took into account that Cambridge Analytica would have been exposed by the US and the brits, get searched, investigated, capsized, shut down and rendered defunct…and leave the brainless DLP exministers twisting in the wind, devoid of any sensible plans to tief the 2018 election all by themselves….
…they are all punks who got what they never expected after Thompson died……and like the losers they are, they managed to destroy everything.
Prodigal,
Put Big Sinck, Eastwitch, Lashley and the other so-called honourable ex-ministers into one of the delapidated sewage tanks and let them clean the place with toothbrushes and their fingernails. That would be a noble task for them. At least they would serve the common good at the very end.
Especially Estwick, Tron.
I am surprised that he is out and about after John King mauled him……..I thought he bragged that he had so much money that he does give a damn about anybody?
@ Piece Uh De Rock Yeah Right who wrote ” reference to “under the table arrangements” euphemism for bribes and kickbacks ”
That will never ever happen with the BLP in power.
They are as clean as the driven snow in North Bay on January 1st.
Calypsonians, bids start at $500 for this chorus
You call fuh Mia
You cry fuh Mia
You vote fuh Mia
IMF in ya gas
IMF in ya mas
IMF in ya a..
PUDRYR
I love the cartoon,,,,,your grandson is very creative.
” The just released Financial Stability Report 2017 showed that commercial banks continued to hold the bulk of the assets in the system, representing 53 per cent ($13.6 billion), followed by the insurance industry’s 15 per cent ($3.9 billion).
Credit unions ($2.2 billion); finance and trust companies ($1.5 billion); mutual funds ($2.2 billion); and private pension schemes ($2.2 billion) each account for under ten per cent of the total assets in the financial system.
Although the stability index showed a slight decline in profitability and liquidity last year, the commercial banking system remained stable.”
https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/06/15/still-stable/
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/167513/creditors-concern
Creditors’ concern
SHAWN CUMBERBATCH, shawncumberbatch@nationnews.com
Added 15 June 2018
…and complained that “the decisions taken thus far by Barbados have been unilateral in nature, and did not involve prior consultation with or input from members of the committee, the external commercial creditor community at large, or other key stakeholders…
@ Guest
Just yesterday de ole man was here commenting on the the remarks by Mr Bernard Codrington about the financial advice that was being used by Leaders of this administration
Look, the thing is this.
Madamoiselle Prime Minister Mottley HAS TO GET BREATHING SPACE to stop all the sweetheart deals the other demons made
(Ooops I said other but I need to remember to come back and delete that word)
So she HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP THE FOREX STREAM
What she should have done was to
1.Call every one of the creditors personally ask them for a meeting. She would have apprised them that she would not have been able to come to those meetings right away but she would have been sending her centurions who had her pescatorio.
2.assemble a series of high level teams who would have met each player IN HER STEAD
3.ask, beg, beseech them for time to manoeuvre
4.Do the same thing with her overseas creditors while using VOIP teleconferences
Reserve herself for Lagarde and the other high flyers
Here is the thing
Mottley is not a real strategist AND SHE IS SURROUNDED BY CHVNTS who haven’t got a clue about what sovereign debt negotiations entail
Her WoodOak restructuring cuntsultants ARE OUT OF THEIR DEBT and at this moment it is evident that NONE OF HER TEAM IS CAPABLE OF ADVISING HER WHAT TO DO.
She is floundering but in classic David Thompson style, WILL NOT REACH OUT FOR HELP, cause that would be weakness and such is not a characteristic of a human. CERTAINLY NOT A MOTTLEY
She has one of two choices.
Rely on the idiocy that is obviously being fed to her and “rough it out” hoping thst local creditors and international lenders will take compassion on the “first female Prime Minister ” and leh she and Barbados the 2×2 rock “pass through with these defaults”.
Or she can reach out to more seasoned warriors who DO NOT WANT TO RAPE HER OF THE RESOURCES IN THE TREASURY but want to build (note that de ole man did not say rebuild cause that presumes such existed previously) want ONLY TO BUILD THEIR COUNTRY.
But that too is “a bridge too far”
How can it be that the new gov fixes Bridgetown sewage plant so quickly and the slaveholders from the DLP did NOTHING for TEN years?
All the arrogant DLP-beneficiaries. Just look at the very arrogant and selfish former so-called Senator so-called Reverend Dr David Duran. His apalogy is not enough. He should drink sewage all day long. He and all the other cronies including all judges and state secretaries appointed by the DLP should scrub the sewage tanks and pipes from dawn to dusk.
However, Barbados is still a plantation since all these known crimes are not punished. As long as governmental crimes are not punished, Barbadians are still slaves and treated like 3rd citizens.
PM MAM must fire the police officers and the DPP who obviously refuse to investigate the corruption from 2008 to 2018. Until then, Barbados is no state with rule of law, but a banana republic.
Fixing. The bridgetown Sewer
Another Pr job to distract and to cover up the economic mess of poor inadvisable decision Mia has made so far.
The fact that it is now revealed that Mia made no contact with international creditors before defaulting on barbados debt would leave a bitter taste in the IMF mouth and long term consequences for the island
Mottley needs to understand that dealing with international creditors needs more than PR job but accountability and transparency which would be the first order of the day to renew trust and goodwill
@tron.
How can it be that the new gov fixes Bridgetown sewage plant so quickly and the slaveholders from the DLP did NOTHING for TEN years?
I am not sure it was in that state for ten years, but if that statement proves accurate then what a mess the BWA must have been in for those years. I will say probably more than ten years, but i have no prove of that.
Putting aside the excellent job that was done on the tank itself, it just shows how capable Bajans are when they do their jobs(work). We have a talented work(not job) force. I once heard a statement made by a company executive, he said ” we don’t have employees; we have workers”. The big two trade unions have the word “worker(s)” in their official names. How much better a place Barbados will become if we replaced all of those “job” , “position” , “titles” holders” with plain and simple “workers”.
The real question is who going to get dismissed for the neglect that was forced on the BWA from outside or inside when i am sure that this boils down to simple preplanned maintenance. Not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination.
No foreign person were required to make it happen, no special equipment had to be ordered. Case in point the other tank appears to have been kept in working order. I hope the BWA does not give contracts to severely short-sighted or almost blind (no jabs intended against BARNODs community) contractors or work orders to employees (they are definitely not workers); cause whoever was responsible could not see that there were two tanks on the compound.
We love to blame the “elected thirty”; but the other 300000 plus are often accomplices in these matters.
The civil service(permanent opposition) is more powerful than we want to accept, they need reforming so that Barbados and transform into the country we all want it to be.
sirFuzzy your comment is riddled with assertions that can be challenged. To make a long story short, we have to overhaul our governance framework.
@bu.
I know you have the right to disagree if you chose, with what you call “my assertions”.
Putting politics aside and looking at in in a cold professional manner, as the BWA teams manage an organisation so critical to national well-being.
So tell me what reasonable minded person will disagree with what i said about the BWA not having the tank in working order for soo many month weeks or years? And what it could have done if they wanted to address the sad sorry situation that it allowed.
Its much more than a governance framework that needs updating its the attitudes of many towards work; especially work in the SOEs and central Govt. Honestly, whatever happened to our “pride and industry” national motto.
Maybe our national motto is in need of an upgrade as well. “No pride and No Industry”? what says you?
JMT
@sirfuzzy
You have focused on the symptom. In Barbados we have a situation where we are unable to hold managers accountable, the fact that same managers were unable to maintain the upkeep of two tanks critical in the efficiency of the sewage process should therefore not be surprising.
Does anyone have the answer to this question? The Gov’t (PM) said that the Gov’t was in contact with the IMF prior to announcing the recent Financial recalibrations, why then did the IMF summon the PM and her crew to the US for consultations? Remember the PM said her trip was not in her daily planner when she woke up that day.
To paraphrase Iron Mike Tyson “Everyone has a plan until the IMF punches them in the mouth”
“pieceuhderockyeahright June 16, 2018 2:27 AM /…What she should have done was to…”
Or perhaps she could have followed in President John F. Kennedy’s footsteps when he said “…We choose to… and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we …” and go after the individuals and companies that have brought us to this point – those that owe millions in taxes: vat, income tax, corporate tax, property tax – those that are holding millions in foreign exchange in overseas accounts – those that imported products to trade and have not paid millions in duties, … But no, the PM first targets the investors. The PM applied and fought for the job for ten years and she knew it would not be easy, so why expect to take the easy way out. We want the hard decisions that will inure equitably to the benefit of all.
Does anyone have the answer to this question? The Gov’t (PM) said that the Gov’t was in contact with the IMF prior to announcing the recent Financial recalibrations, why then did the IMF summon the PM and her crew to the US for consultations? Remember the PM said her trip was not in her daily planner when she woke up that day.
To paraphrase Iron Mike Tyson “Everyone has a plan until the IMF punches them in the mouth”
@ Sargeant:
I often enjoy watching the play we call national politics. I pay close attention to USa politics especially since DJT is president.
DJT has a worship crew behind that cleans up whatever bowel movement he may deposit during the day. The worship team will even chastise you(non kool-aid drinkers) for not enjoying the smell and taste or the feel of his bowel movement in your nose, mouth and between your toes.
Its the biggest boxing match promotion in the world(digital and analogue) . Bowel Movement aka DJT vs the Truth. It round number (fiil in the blank___) the two opponents are in combat; going toe-to-toe, punch for punch. DJT and his worship crew don’t look a bit tired they are even looking invigorated. I say no more.
North American politically styles are often adopted by local parties and politicians. Its the narrative you create, the talking points you repeat. Sometimes its the lie you repeat so often that it starts too sound and feel like the truth.
I am confident that the PMs worship crew will provide us with a narrative regarding the issue you have raised. It is for us to see the trees from the forest. As Morpheus in the matrix showed us; either u drink the blue kool-aid or drink the red kool-aid.
@ Sargeant June 16, 2018 7:54 AM
The outcome of the IMF talk in the States will decide the fate of Bim for the next 10 years. We need to pray to Goddess Bim, Esu, Oya, the spirit of the sea, the spirit of the caves and the hills and to the other ancient forces.
All the Christian prayers during the last 10 years did not work. Many pastors sided the DLP and helped to commit economic terror against their own ethnical community. Like the so-called senior pastor Durant. He was quite for 10 years and is begging for redemption now. Where was Durant when Big Sinck raged thorugh the island like a hurricane cat 5. Where was Durant when Barbadians committed suicide after the CLICO disaster? Where was Durant when young Barbadians couldn´t afford to study anymore?
How can Barbadians forgive when hardship is just beginning?
You have focused on the symptom. In Barbados we have a situation where we are unable to hold managers accountable, the fact that same managers were unable to maintain the upkeep of two tanks critical in the efficiency of the sewage process should therefore not be surprising.
@BU
Unfortunately, that is what we have today in lil ole Barbados. Just ask yourself this question. These cilvil servant are the servants or the bosses of the people who put them there. If they are unaccountable; then we don’t have civil servants; we have civil masters.
If we pay them to do a job cant we fire or dismiss them? Maybe the new labour laws have made them totally un-fire-able. Somehow i think they were acting this way long before the new labour laws were enacted.
Something went wrong on the way to heaven and the destination we are at is pretty hot with no air conditioning to alleviate the heat.
Somebody please say a pray for me, Send us a messiah, cause i cant tek the heat no more. We need salvation.
Who in Barbados made enough money during 1968 to 2000 to owe the Government a meaningful amount of tax?
Who in Barbados made enough money during 1968 to 2000 to owe the Government a meaningful amount of tax?
@guest
Please define what is a meaningful amount of tax? Please use a dollar figure or value to quantify this please.
@ Guest
You said and I quote “…those that are holding millions in foreign exchange in overseas accounts – those that imported products to trade and have not paid millions in duties, … But no, the PM first targets the investors…”
Some years ago de ole man was returning through the Grantley Adams airport and saw a red cap rush to a shortish plump Indian woman with glasses.
We were all returning via Miami and were awaiting our baggage.
That Indian lady collected 13 bags and he and another 2 red caps escorted her to a specific line
I followed thereafter with my two bags and I watched from the aisle next to hers as many of those people preceding her had their bags search even after saying they had nothing to declare.
When it was her turn she said she had nothing to declare and she and her three red caps left the customs officers without being examined and certainly without paying a cent in import duty
Can you guess Guest who that Indian lady who ram sorry ran through the customs officers that way?
For any and all of this corruption to change you understand what type of Duterte stratagem she would have to employ?
You know how many of her close friends and relatives would have to get arrested?
You know how many people in that crew of summarily dismissed cases AG Dale Nuff Teets Marshall going dismiss are family to Madamoiselle Prime Minister Mottley?
If you can tell de ole man how this eradication going happen I promise to get de grandson do an honorary member Stoopid Cartoon for you.
In fact I would even see if he could do one of his Specials with AI for you dennnnn…
To write off amounts owed to the Government and talk about restructuring government debt is to take from the Government’s creditors and give to the Government’s debtors. It smacks of those ties that a now minister sang about in a previous life. I believe it went something like “…, the world around, is condoned, but in the background /furthermore, when we analyse, we see that it’s bound by….”
@Guest
You position is a facil one. Governments and citizens have historically written of bad debt for various reasons, we like to use Greece as a case study, that government wrote of billions because of bad tax collection policy_ sound familiar? People and companies that had become bankrupt, defunct, dead or otherwise unable to pay. What the government needs to do is be transparent by detailing the methodology rationale used to determine the number. The AG will need to do same when he recommends cases to jettison.
“sirfuzzy June 16, 2018 9:13 AM /…Please define what is a meaningful amount of tax?…”
Any amount, the write off of which is worth mentioning.
“David June 16, 2018 9:43 AM/…”
As I said, that is the easy way out.. the way that has to be repeated time and time again. Why, because the criminals do not bear the pain so they repeat their actions in the future.
Can you appreciate the resources required to collect money from a bankrupt company? A person that dies intestate, a company employing 60 people and have no cash flow etc?
Do not have a brief for government, playing a David Ellis .
>
Piece,
It is worse than that. As a matter of principle I buy my duty free at Grantley Adams. On one occasion I had bought more than was the legal limit; and the customs guy wanted to charge me. I pointed out I had bought it at Grantley Adams with the specific intention of keeping jobs in Barbados, rather than at Gatwick He insisted. In principle, I returned the booze and told him where to go.
Even our officials are hard-headed. Since then I buy my duty free at Gatwick.
Mr. Extravagant refuses to pay his taxes to maintain his mortgage payments so that he and his son may live a comfortable life. In the course of doing so, he builds up an outstanding tax liability of $50,000.
Mr. Conservative, pays his taxes, lives a humble life and in the course of doing so accumulates a $50,000 investment in government debt to finance his son’s education and provide him with an opportunity for a better life.
If Mr. Extravagant refuses to settle his tax liability, should the Government auction off his house or default on the Government debt to Mr. Conservative?
Your ‘scenario’ no doubt is real but it is still a generalization.
@ Guest.
In the spirit of transparency, I hope that all the tax waivers recipients are made public. All the accompanying documentation that was presented by all parties and on what basis the BRA decided on the percentage(zero to 100%) of waiver that was granted.
You may not or may not wish to see it, but “the emperor is naked” whether you accept it or not. Same old approach, same old results.
The point is guess, until you know the details of the write offs you are blowing in the wind.
Mr. Kings says it better…
No one can appreciate when the wealthy in ant society is given a free pass by govt to avoid paying taxes especially in an hostile economic enviroment when others are asked to tighten their belts
Look how govt employees who had to make sacrifices are being handed the shitty end of the stick while those on the top tier of the economic ladder was allowed to feast off the bony calf given tax write offs
Guest,
Morally and ethically you are right. Mr Extravagant should lose his home. But in the Barbados where each person believes s/he is entitled to a free ride, the government (whether BLP or DLP) will waive the debt. Moral decay. Barbados is a failed and corrupt state.
We are in a hard place. We seem to be always looking back and never realising that the past is paved with the efforts and decisions we make in the present. However i think as an educated bunch that we are we can do both. Learn from our mistakes in the past , but making fixes in the present to build the future that will eventual be seen as our past.
The tribal mindset and partisan political culture seems unable to do this. We talk lot and really do nothing about fixing things that we say really bother us; when we don’t have the keys to the treasury. “Lock them up” when you regain the Govt., but have mercy and forgive us of our sins when you fall outta Govt..
Thats why we want to maintain a two party political environment. Doing this merry- go-around thing with three or four strong political parties would required brain surgery. Not to mention the idea of a coalition Govt.. We are in a digital world, “ones and zeros”, it “off or on”, so why not stick with b or d labour party.
sirfuzzy there is hope. History is replete with damascene moments.
Guest,
Write offs are a matter of principle.
The PM’s statement has turned the fixed income market on its head – with bids of 50 cents on the dollar – and you cannot see anything wrong.
http://bse.com.bb/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/BSE-Trading-Report-June-15-2018.pdf
Didn’t we know something was wrong before the general election or were you hoping for a miracle?
Can you appreciate the resources required to collect money from a bankrupt company? A person that dies intestate, a company employing 60 people and have no cash flow etc?
Do not have a brief for government, playing a David Ellis .
@ david
If the professionals that make up the civil service(permanent opposition) did their jobs or were made to work as required under the contract we gave them as our employees. many of these debts will have been collected years ago.
if i know that i can count on the incompetence of a civil servant or their systems. That i will not have to pay the taxes, then i will wait. Better yet be in a position to collect (VAT)money that was never mine. That is the capitalist thing to do. I can use that money for another purpose. (Thank you auntie Mia; God Bless Barbados. The land of free money). Furthermore if i have the confidence that in a few years my legal obligation will be completely removed by an act that waives my tax debt and interest; the better for me.
Agree sir fuzzy, we must be careful not to conflate the issues. There is a more relevant and robust governance framework that is required that would ensure tax collecting is routine, like cleaning those sewage tanks. Than there is an operational decision to shed dead weight to give room for the system to correct, not unlike the reprofiling approach the encumbant has embarked to create fiscal sp@ce to resume development projects.
What those that have not paid their share of taxes and those that have held the country’s foreign exchange overseas have done to the country is no less than treason. These people do not love Barbados, they love what they get from Barbados.
I expected a leader that would go after the criminals, not ask others to pay their debts as done in the past. Same old ways, same old results.
Didn’t we know something was wrong before the general election or were you hoping for a miracle?
@david,
I dont know about you my boy; but i am a true believer now, God we truly need a miracle, I know u allowed the hurricanes in the past to miss us, and you kept us safe from all the other things that affected countries.
But Dear God let your abundance pour outta heaven on this rock i call home. I know we need some rain but i kinda hoping you will shower us with nuff nuff US dollar bills. I don’t mind if it don’t fall over every parish cause we got nuff ungodly folks bout hay and them doan need no more money.
If your going to let it rain you can do it over the Church Village area in the city. No No no not the other Church Village in Saint farlup. Just Church village in the City. Tell Mr Haynes that you delivering on the pleads that a humble servant was asking on the country’s behalf
@Guest
Thanks. Sometimes you hear a song that you might have forgotten and hearing it takes you back down memory lane.
——————————-————————-*
So Mia show you all a nice high powered automobile and instead of admiring it you all want to see the engine..
*If you can tell de ole man how this eradication going happen…
*In the spirit of transparency, I hope that all the tax waivers recipients are made public.
You all guys move foo fast for old Theo. I way back there with old issues.
Is the sewage problem fixed or is it still ongoing?
Constitutional amendment done?
Court cases already purged? This truly demonstrate that justice delayed is justice denied.
So much chum being thrown into the water., it seems as if they understand
1. our short attention span
2. the fact that we cannot chew gum and walk at the same time
.
“David June 16, 2018 11:14 AM /…not unlike the reprofiling approach the encumbant has embarked to create fiscal sp@ce to resume development projects…”
I now clearly see the problem that we have in Barbados. The Bees and Dees are the same IAHs.
It is not the Bees and Dees at all because they always represent the government of the people. The buck stops with us who define civil society.
I just love how Bajan talk.
Big words and long sentences.
Two weeks later and we will be having the same conversation, but with even bigger words.
Analysis paralysis
Iz dem two big wurds.
I iz goud. Me bajan
@ Theophilius Gazerts 250 June 16, 2018 11:11 AM
It just crossed my mind. “transparency my big toe”
The next time you on the road walking, driving or being driven or shunning a madman trying to kill yah on the same road.
Be conscious and aware, take a look at the high powered high end vehicle on the road.
The tint on those vehicle seldom allow you to see the driver or the occupants. There is no transparency for them when it comes to vehicles i doubt there will be any transparency in these waivers.
It maybe be promised, but the know how busy the civil service folks are, and how often they meet the deadlines given to them.
Like how timely they are in presents SOEs financial statement to parliament.
I am not holding my breath i gine watch the WorldCup football action instead.
“Furthermore if i have the confidence that in a few years my legal obligation will be completely removed by an act that waives my tax debt and interest; the better for me.”
No different from waiting for land and property owners to die to tief their properties or money, these days some don’t even have that patience, they just use the supreme court to stress their victims to death…….or……use the Supreme Court to prolong cases in the hopes that claimants will die and no compensation will ever be paid….
.a vicious gang of lodge demons who need to be systematically dismantled and made defunct also, just like the exgovernment….while exposing all of them so that they go down in infamy worldwide..
“No one can appreciate when the wealthy in ant (any) society is given a free pass by govt to avoid paying taxes especially in a hostile economic environment when others are asked to tighten their belts..”
++++++++++++++++++++++
You political yard-fowls sickens me. You always come to mislead this forum with your political propaganda.
You are implying that Mottley got up one morning and decided to write off taxes for the wealthy, when you know you are MANIPULATING the truth. In other words, you are a bloody liar….but, as a DLP yard-fowl, that’s the role you have to play in this forum.
To be fair……and as I have mentioned on several occasions, the PM, acting on advice from the BRA, decided to write off taxes the BRA (NOT Mottley)deemed to be UNCOLLECTABLE.
I hope you DID NOT appreciate when Thompson WAIVED $19M in taxes for the WEALTHY of the Barbados Turf Club, who were “given a free pass by govt to avoid paying taxes, especially in a hostile economic environment when others (were) asked to tighten their belts.”
I hope you expressed similar sentiments when your inept DLP administration gave 40 years tax free concessions to Butch Stewart, while disadvantaging the other hoteliers. (I know what your respond will be. So, PLEASE PRESENT THE STATISTICS).
You should also be APPALLED that tax free concessions were given to Hyatt, which has not been built as yet…….. and an individual is driving around Barbados in a $300,000 Mercedes Benz Coupe at the expense of the same poor you are hypocritically and deceitfully now trying to represent.
The problem with the Hydra is that as soon as one head was cut off, two more heads would emerge from the fresh wound.
Hoping that Mia is blessed with folks who analyze the problem with Barbados in their totality and and comes up with realistic solutions.
Having separate answers for each problem is not the solution.
The fix of purging cases to reduce the load on the court is not a solution as it rewards those who created the logjam in the judicial system. Waiving debts reward those who refuse to pay their obligations.
Indeed, we may be sending the message that if you manage to draw out processes and not pay r an extended period of time, then everything will be forgiven/forgotten. The cure is worse than the illness.
Barbados needs an overhaul.
Civics, pride nationhood, honesty and patriotism need to be taught in the school,
A day’s pay for a honest day of work need to be part of the national pledge.
Cronyism, yardfowlism and constitutional amendment for a select few need to be taken off the playbook.
Sunshine laws, where ALL government deals are brought to light after a fixed period of time (maximum ffive years)
Transparency legislation
Investigation of corrupt practices. This should be met with jail time for those who were corrupted or the investigators (if they cannot get the job done)
Time for us to abandon the politics of throwing scratch grain into the system. Is this the start of a next ten-year cycle???
2013 –> 2018
2014 –>2019
.
.
2028—->2030 30-0
@AWTY
I called the 2028 elections in 2018… Record it somewhere.
Guest,
You are right. Because the Barbados Revenue Authority says that a debt is ‘uncollectable’ does not mean it is uncollectable. The BRA makes a recommendation to the government, which can accept or decline the advice.
Why is the debt uncollectable? There must be numerous answers to that simple question. A responsible revenue authority would pursue the debt as long as the person or corporate still has assets, no matter how old the individual may be.
Unless the individual is dead and left no assets or heirs, or the corporation was bankrupt, then the debt can be recovered. Barbados is 166 sq miles, so the money is collectable through the courts. In the case of the deceased, pursue their heirs through the courts.
In the case of corporations, the nonsense of a company being a body corporate was necessary at the beginning of the concept of the limited liability company when the legislation was formed over a century ago.
This legal loophole is now used for corrupt directors (and their bent auditors) to launch phoenix companies in order to avoid their responsibilities. That is why we need a new companies Act which will follow directors for company liabilities if the corporate fails. They should also face long-term bans.
Now we have the BWU pretending as if they did the members a big favour in accepting the crumbs that fell off the masters table after fighting tooth and nail against govt 49 million proposal
Added to that insult is Toni Moore finally having to take it fromvthe a.ss in accepting that heading towards the workers is a bullet lodge in chamber tagged unemployment for the civil servants
Tomi Moore how is that good representation for your members
The long and short being that when dogs lie with lions the dogs would be mauled .
“with bids of 50 cents on the dollar”….you can bid whatever you want? Until one of the instruments sells at a heavily discounted price, all you have is fishers.
The entity CHARGED with the RESPONSIBILITY for the COLLECTION of TAXES in Barbados (i.e. Inland Revenue Department and subsequently the BRA), makes a DETERMINATION that taxes owed to the state by an individual or business…..is UNCOLLECTIBLE……..would have obviously made that determination based on their rules of collection.
And a paper boy is suggesting that if the entity made that determination, it does not mean the debt is uncollectible……..without having information relative what methods were used to make the determination…..or knowing what is the BRA’s collection statute of limitation………
……….shiite……I’m lost for words.
We often like to refer to the USA….while prefer love the UK.
The IRS’ statute of limitations period for collection of tax arrears is ten (10) years. After that period has expired, they are barred by law from continuing collection activities.
@Mariposa June 15, 2018 12:12 AM “Oh yeah miller byt when Lagarde look at that loopsided budget she certainly going to askbthe doctor at hand what kind a medicine she drinking The IMF not just going think of a cuh dear poor barbados.Laggarrde at its team going go over that budget with a fine tooth comb and surgically cut out all the exposed fat like free tuition.”
There is no free tuition, there never has been. By the time my first child went to university I had alreadypaid more than 250,000 in income taxes, + VAT + property tax. Besides “free tuition” is about “capacity building”. It is about educating the next generation of teachers, doctors, scientists, etc. It is NOT about “freeness”
@ Mariposa June 16, 2018 1:11 PM
“The long and short being that when dogs lie with lions the dogs would be mauled.”
Your analogy would have been most apt when the BWU was in the same cozy bed as the DLP.
However, both the emaciated union dogs and the weakened politcal lions are now in the same boat of starvation and neither can either hunt for herbivores or maul each other over any kill.
The snarling hyenas and soaring vultures called T Boone Pickens and friends are the only game in Bridgetown.
Barbados is in a rather frighteningly challenging place as predicted over the past 5 years by the prophets of the miller’s doom and others gloom.
If only Stinkliar and musty Freundel had taken the advice of going to the IMF since 2014 the Bajan dollar would not be under so much pressure today.
Now, Madame “ac”, should Madam PM Mottley go through with the sale of the BNTCL and the Hilton or should she lease the GAIA to a foreign entity and construct the Hyatt with local money arranged by Maloney & Co?
Nice manners Madam PM. Addressing the young journalist as “yes ma’am”.
Class is class.
I don’t recall previous PM’s addressing journalists as ma’am or sir?
I recall journalists being chased away from a “private” meeting on a very public beach.
Miller..Too late for Mottley to consider sale of any entity. In any case that type of question should be asked by the media in respect to Mottley draconcian policies and aggressive approach to place barbados creditworthiness in default for many years.
These new conferences are begining to take on similarities of dictatorships where only one side is heard and fed to the populace as being correct
@David June 16, 2018 7:59 AM “You have focused on the symptom. In Barbados we have a situation where we are unable to hold managers accountable, the fact that same managers were unable to maintain the upkeep of two tanks.
David I have to disagree with you and agree with sirfuzzy. Nasty attitudes from people from the bottom, up to the Ministers who feel that it is ok to get a job, to take taxpayers money, and not do the WORK. The tanks were dirty for years? We have not imported little green men from Mars, yet in a few days they are clean. Same BWA, same workers, same contractors? Perhaps is is helpful to have a Minister who insists that everybody, including the Minister himself that we HAVE to do the WORK the taxpayers PAY us to do.
@ Mariposa June 16, 2018 3:05 PM
“Miller..Too late for Mottley to consider sale of any entity. In any case that type of question should be asked by the media in respect to Mottley draconcian policies and aggressive approach to place barbados creditworthiness in default for many years.”
Barbados was placed in the inevitable credit default position from the time an ugly arrogant ‘powful-foolish’ jackass for a PM- who up to now still cannot figure out the difference between his own fiscal arse and his political elbow- and his ‘mal-functionally’ innumerate liar for a minister of finance were put in these important offices by Bajan brass-bowls to make the saying ‘square pegs in round holes’ have perfect meaning even to an accredited cretin like you, ac.
Even the majority of yellow johnnies from your parish of residence, St. John, have seen the light emitting from the cleansing blue dawn of a new day of which you are so blindly unaware as you continue your RIP sleep bedraggled in your dirty old yard-fowl yellow and blue feathers.
Bees, Dees, pigs, men, all the same
“NorthernObserver June 16, 2018 1:41 PM /“with bids of 50 cents on the dollar”….you can bid whatever you want? Until one of the instruments sells at a heavily discounted price, all you have is fishers…”
You may know that, but what about a pensioner that panics. The communication was inadequate.
Bees = Dees = Unions = Users of the masses for their personal objectives. The members of NUPW and BWU should consider joining UWU.
For those who are not aware, the only crimes not carrying STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS are murder, some places are adding rape, PARTICULARLY CHILD RAPE and one or two other criminal acts against state and people…which I can’t recall now because it is kinda convoluted……
….all other crimes carry a 7 – 10 year statute of limitations……including tax evasion, except maybe in the US…lol….when the criminals can no longer be pursued.
“1. There is an IRS statute of limitations on collecting taxes. The IRS is limited to 10 years to collect back taxes, after that, they are barred by law from continuing collection activities against you. 2.Dec 19, 2014”
Actually…the 10 year statute of limitations on collecting taxes also applies to the US, so thinking anyone can collect taxes from 1968 is ludicrous..
.amendments might have to be made to current local laws to collect taxes owed in the last 18 years…or just forego the whole episode and start seizing properties for non payment of taxes in last 9 years…no niceties necessary…
Carew, said it better
On another note..
I tell ya..lol
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/sajid-javid-conservative-leadership-new-prime-minister-a8402221.html
“I thought Theresa May would survive – now I’m not sure. Sajid Javid could be PM by the end of the year.”
@Guest
your take was a comment by the PM turned financial markets. My reply was nothing has yet turned.
The market for GoB paper is dominated by large players. If a small holder is stupid enough to sell at 50% off, you know what they say, a fool and his money are easily separated. Wait until a seller’s asking price is 15% off.
I noticed at the same BSE link, GEL has a special shareholder’s meeting without a currently provided agenda. What do they need shareholder approval for? Re-domiciling?