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Barbadians Wake Up, Time to Take Back Our Country from Ourselves

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drakes
Opposition Senator Crystal Drakes – Economist

The blogmaster listened to the contributions of Opposition Senators Caswell Franklyn and  Crystal Drakes yesterday and it caused the blogmaster to pause about the state of the country in 2018.

No surprise that Caswell’s response was pro labour and questioned why public sector workers are being sacrificed by BERT instead of pursuing other options. Caswell also made the point that the BLP made all kinds of unrealistic campaign promises despite the perilous state of the economy. Senator Caswell you negated your argument with your observation.

Senator Crystal Drakes clinically used numbers which her training as an economist influenced to question the decision to default on debt and the validity of revenue projections based on BERT extracting one billion in taxes from the economy by her calculation. Again Senator Drakes although earning points for being articulate failed in her presentation to connect some important dots. What are the underlying issues that caused Barbados to be the third highest indebted country in the world Senator? Has BERT addressed  those underlying concerns?

caswell_franklyn
Caswell Franklyn, Head of Unity Workers Union

A suggestion from the blogmaster to the Prime Minister and her Jong led Communications  Team is to go back to basics with the message. What are the key performance indices we have to turn around and the behaviours at the household and business level that must be modified to trigger real change to sustain a quality of life.

 

 

 

The blogmaster is a fan of the Financial Stability Report 2017 and lifted a few of the graphs that capture the economic performance of Barbados in recent years.

Commercial bank spreads - 2017
This graph is interesting given the accusations levelled at banks and exorbitant fees being charged. 1)Interest income on loans dipped a ‘little’ since 2012. 2)The interest spread moved UP since 2015 which coincides with central bank’s decision to not set a minimum rate on savings deposits. 3) Interest expense on deposits dropped to 0%.

 

credit card transaction - 2017
A central bank report confirmed that Barbadians racked up 347 million in debt up to 2017. This graph supports the spectacular rise in debt from 2008 which correlates with the value of credit card transactions in both the personal and business sectors.
credit cards issued - 2017
A picture is worth a thousand words who said? See the spike in credit cards issued from 2015!
currency in circulation - 2017
The upward trend of currency in circulation rose from 2005 to coincide with the cooling off of the global economic boom cycle and continued more aggressively in the post 2008 period to covers the start of the global recession in 2007/8.
International Reserves - 2017
It is worth mentioning the former government inherited 1.8 billion or 20 weeks of import cover in foreign reserves and when they were booted from office the reserves had dwindled to 6 weeks and about 400 million dollars.
net interest margin - 2017
This graph is interest for a number of reasons. Will allow the BU intelligentsia to share why this is the case.
total credit card debt % of toal loans
Another interest graph when we plunk a trendline on it. What can we say about household behaviour in Barbados from 2007?
public debt
See what happens when the printing press doesn’t switch off?

The adage a picture is worth a thousand words holds true.

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227 responses to “Barbadians Wake Up, Time to Take Back Our Country from Ourselves”

  1. T.Inniss Avatar
    T.Inniss

    WELL,WELL,WELL.

    If what I am reading in Barbados Today comment’s section is true – again I call on Ras Iley to sing the de song – “All of dey panties exposed”

    I am reading – (and I will wait to see if it is true) -that Corey Layne another one of VOB’s moderator who was part of the tag team on that radio station doing the job of the BLP – is going to be heading up the Household Mitigation Unit – which will be talking to those public workers who are sent home.

    That if true would not be surprising.Another moderator Lisa Gale – has so far already been given 2 appointments on Boards.

    David Ellis – Senior Journalist – who shamelessly now sees his role as blocking any criticism of this BLP government and rushing forward with all of the talking points Mia gives him to feed to the public.Paid Political Hack.

    Oh what a terrible web we weave when we first set out to deceive.

    All of the moderators aided and abetted by Ellis and the Head of News – Stetson Babb – have done a Jim Jones on gullible bajans – they gave them poisoned kool aid to drink.

    Then we had those who they Nation hired as Columnists,like their counterparts at VOB – whose job was to do they same – create and repeat negative stories,rumours,propoganda about the last administration etc and push the BLP’s agenda and talking points.

    The cake was already baked going in to the elections – and gullible voters were going into the polling booths filled with outrage which was nicely set up by those persons in the media domain that we see are now being handsomely rewarded.

    The Narrative was DLP bad – BLP good.

    Now the narrative is DLP = CORRUPTION,CORRUPTION,CORRUPTION AND POOR MIA REALLY CARES BUT THE DLP TIED HER HANDS AND MADE HER DEFAULT.

    Oh what a tangled web we weave …………………………………..

  2. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    Well written David

    The mess of pottage has recently been too much to get in a good comment or article and the purposeful communication obfuscation is almost out of a Trump playbook.

    We have switched an arrogant and ignorant group for a wily and manipulative one.

    “A suggestion from the blogmaster to the Prime Minister and her Jong led Communications Team is to go back to basics with the message”

    I differ with you here. They are exactly on message. It’s the message that allows 1500 to become 2500. A message that allows printing of money to continue despite being blasted as sinful. A message that keeps union leaders quiet (especially Miss Mary Ann Redman) despite significant ongoing concerns affecting their members. A message that allows Ministers to present no results, but to shout seeming success in a camera daily. A message that makes it seem our problems started in 2008 and that our key problem of forex earning has been solved (by borrowing).

    Any right thinking persons should read your article, read Barbados Today’s editorial, digest Caswell’s Senate contribution and then reflect without the emotional political blinkers on where we are and where we are going as a country.

    Our children and grandchildren in the heights, terraces, ghettos and backyards demand it.

    Just Observing

  3. David Avatar
    David

    @Observing

    Isn’t there a dichotomous position being debated here where there is agreement the public sector is bloated with hundreds of positions that add zero value to productivity, YET, there is a song and dance in response to retrenchment?

    Maybe the debate is why are people at the bottom end being cut? Is it true the positions are redundant? Do we want government to be the employer of last resort?

  4. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    It’s backward and we asked under the last government, why do they cut jobs from the bottom, no productive society does that, you cut from the top and get rid of the bloated salaries to actually see savings to the treasury.., but yet we have backward government #2 cutting workers from the bottom.

    At least somrone has the good sense to sue useless Fruendel for whatever in the same Supreme Court he helped and encouraged its destruction…

    “12 CV1378/2016 Delon Carlyle Wilson v. Freundel Stuart”

  5. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    This is what is so distasteful coming out from the lying mouths of Mia’s useless governmentt #2…..they claim the economy would have COLLAPSED if she did not default….economy collapsing because of a previous incompetent government…is CRIMINAL to say the least..

    …. it was not the people caused the economy to tether on collapse, it was her friends in DLP…why is she not pursuing them, they should be sacrificing their FREEDOM for committing such crimes against the PEOPLE..and the economy..

    …..and the people should not be making these sacrifices because of her friends,….knowing these dirty ministers and politician/lawyers, it is just a matter of time before they try to blame the island’s economic collapse on the people….the victims of her DLP friends.

    Why is Mia still protecting her corrupt friends in the DLP…making herself an enemy of the people..the only situation the people should want to understand is Mia’s REFUSAL to pursue the ministers who ripped off the people…that is the only situation the people need to understand.

    “We are asking all Barbadians to play their role in terms of those who have invested interest – the pensioners and the others and indeed the financial institutions. We are saying we understand what was originally due to you. We are saying understand the situation. It is a situation where we give you a bit less in an effort to prevent the entire collapse of the economy where you might get nothing, and that this was quite possible,” explained Walcott.

    “For the pensioners, we are trying to make it as . . . easy for them to bear in terms of the period in which they will have no return on their investment. Again it means calling on all of us to make some sacrifice in terms of the development of the survival of Barbados’ economy and indeed to take us through this process of restructuring and getting the economy going again,” he said.”

  6. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    People at the bottom end are being cut because we are moving to “digitisation” and BS.

    Have you ever heard a union say it will work hand in hand with government, promote programmes and projects or suport policies to increase productivity in the public sector?? Worrell was right with respect to ow productivity being our biggest headache. Changing methods and putting processes/technology in place for efficiencies will not solve the problem. We will just be more efficient at a slow pace.

    The explosion of SOEs happened under Arthur
    The 2007 Public Service Ac t was another nail
    The DLP’s attempts to “keep workers happy” slammed the nail in the coffin.

    Despite OPSR and NISE etc., we have seen little returns for the significant and increasing public sector expenditure. Actually, it seems as if we are going backwards.

    Now we are sending home “random” persons, forcing a way of operating down the throats of those that remain and believing that Amen our problems will now be solved. Methinks they need to spend some time in the right lunch rooms and on the right blocks to realise that all that glitters will never be gold.


    “Obfuscation is the obscuring of the intended meaning of communication by making the message difficult to understand, usually with confusing and ambiguous language. The obfuscation might be either unintentional or intentional (although intent usually is connoted), and is accomplished with circumlocution (talking around the subject), the use of jargon (technical language of a profession), and the use of an argot (ingroup language) of limited communicative value to outsiders”
    – WIkipedia.org

    Just Observing

  7. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    At least Comissiong says he is not backing down, let’s see if Mia takes umbrage since she is projecting that she believes she was elected by the people to PROTECT the corrupt..

    “Not backing out
    Article by
    Emmanuel Joseph Published on
    October 17, 2018
    Despite a recent announcement by the state tourism promotion agency that the US$100 million Hyatt Centric Resort slated for Bay Street will open in 2020, social activist David Comissiong has said he is not withdrawing the lawsuit, likely putting him at odds with the new administration.

    Since winning the first round of his legal fight, Comissiong, newly appointed by Government as Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), insisted today he has no intention of withdrawing his legal challenge to the building permission granted in February last year by then Prime Minister and Minister for Town Planning Freundel Stuart.

    Comissiong’s claim is that the hotel owners have not, to this day, conducted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or held townhall meetings as required by law for a major high-rise project such as the Hyatt, which is set to go up within the UNESCO-designated historic capital.”

  8. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    What we understand is, if jobs are being made redundant because of overlap…YOU STILL make it a mixed bag…cut from the bottom, but CUT MOSTLY FROM THE TOP…that is where the wastage of taxpayer’s money resides, at the top in parliament and top management in other ministries and departments..

  9. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Intellectual Corruption at its highest level.
    A productive narrative filled with optical illusions

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @T.Inniss

    Did you have a look at the graphs?

    What is the message the graphs are sending?

    The graph tracking the rise in public debt should be of interest.

  11. ks Avatar
    ks

    The final graph sums up the DLP solution that now have us in this mess ……………. ie: the Public Sector Debt now held by the Central Bank………..”SInckler economics”!

  12. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Those with eyes to see would be forced to conclude that events are being controlled by some kind of evil force that constrains our leaders to do shiite – even when basic common sense BEGS us to be sensible.
    The optics of this government giving themselves a 5% RAISE in pay ..and then systematically seeking to dismiss thousands of workers whose gross pay is not even as much as their recent 5% RAISE – CANNOT possible escape those in government.

    Only a complete brass bowl moron would take such steps ….UNLESS OF COURSE they are being driven by forces BEYOND their control.

    BASIC common sense would tell us that the approach that Sandiford SUCCESSFULLY used (before Arthur foolishly pass a law to end its future use) is the most OBVIOUS, FAIR, EQUITABLE, REALISTIC, and the EASIEST approach to reducing state expenses. It reduces pressure on the Forex; it improves the productivity index; it spreads the pain equally (even though it is really the TOP PEOPLE who should be bearing the pain)…..

    So what does a new BLP government do….????
    THE VERY OPPOSITE to basic common sense……

    To make the optics even WORSE…
    They casually CHANGED the constitution to add their friends to the feeding trough and get 5% raises…
    …but refuses to UNDO the childish stupidity that Owen inflicted on the same constitution to allow pay cuts.

    @ David
    How can we “take back the country from OURSELVES”…?
    When it really belongs to the Devil…?

    Grass is the ONLY possible outcome…. and plimplers.

    @ Caswell
    Too little .. too late
    You should have BUPPED.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Doesn’t it say something about the Governor and the Board in the seat during the period public debt held by the Central Bank spiked?

  14. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Why would any one belive the propaganda about the Hyatt being built by 2020 coming from the lying mouth of this govt
    A read of the Hyatt website says nothing about the Hyatt being built in barbados by 2020
    If what this govt said was true the Hyatt website would have detailed similar information
    This govt filter machine is beyond
    scraping the bottom of the barrell
    but has used a mechanism filled with lies and deception to deceive the people

  15. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    What governor what??!!
    That man has ALWAYS been an idiot – of the Hal Austin ilk…
    The ONLY good thing that Stinkliar EVER did …. was to fire his short donkey…..

    The place was going to the dogs for YEARS ….
    While he refused to talk to the press ….and facilitated the idiocy of the DLP
    Now he is loitering around the damned place issuing shiite ‘releases’…
    Steupsss…

    Did you not see that video of him explaining the ‘Barbados-USA currency peg’ in front of a group of bankers…?
    Embarrassing as shiite…
    Much like Hal’s take on Forex…..

  16. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    That Barbados Today editorial paints a vivid picture of our plight and the obvious solutions that continue to be ignored by successive administrations. These problems can be solved. I am beginning to believe that the politicians prefer chaos.

  17. David Avatar
    David

    @Bushie

    Finally, what does it say about Barbadians who stood silent why the government through the central marketed the guiltedge nature of government securities full in the knowledge public finances was in ducksguts? What does it say about the private sector who said nothing when government forced banks to increase holdings in government paper full in the knowledge the roof was burning? What does it say about the unions asking for pay increases when government is unable to stop the printing of money? The list of questions not exhaustive.

  18. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Worth reading

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/10/18/bteditorial-seeking-out-our-nirvana-on-bay-street/

  19. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    “While he refused to talk to the press ….and facilitated the idiocy of the DLP.”

    That is the appropriate word right there….FACILITATION. .

    The ALL facilitated the corruption, the collapse of the economy…the destruction to the same people who paid their salaries, both government AND the then Opposition, the ALL falicitated the crimes against the island…

    And now the Mia and Dale show got the nerve to believe they can change that reality…AND the narrative…oh really.

  20. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    THEY all FACILITATED..

    “Use the noun facilitation to describe helping, improving, or making something easier,”

    In this instance it was to make corruption EASIER;

    ..make the destruction of the Supreme Court much, much easier..

    …making sure the destruction in the lives of the majority population was made EASIER..in preparation for the next round of corruption..

    The Mia government will not get away with this…ah hope they also know that.

  21. john2 Avatar
    john2

    mariposa
    name the person in the government that said hyatt will be built by 2020.

  22. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David October 18, 2018 6:22 AM
    “Isn’t there a dichotomous position being debated here where there is agreement the public sector is bloated with hundreds of positions that add zero value to productivity, YET, there is a song and dance in response to retrenchment?”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Isn’t what is being played out in this BERT Sesame Street performance just another ‘enhanced repetition of the Ministerial Statement issued in December 2013 by Sinckler?

    We told you, Blogmaster, that the most equitable and indeed efficient and effective way to distribute the pain of BERT is by way of a haircut right across the board.
    Let everyone feel pain from the very top to the bottom of the social barrel. Then we will see who has the intestinal fortitude to survive.

    Agriculture is the bedrock of the Bajan economy and will always play that part in whichever ‘scientific’ incarnation, tourism or no tourism; and with the love affair with international tax avoidance peddlers almost over Barbados needs to go back to her old trusted friend to survive.

    A country which allows its once cultivable lands to fall into a state of decay is heading for an imminent economic fall.

    What you are seeing are the growing signs of dislocation of the country’s financial immune system.

    The 40-year era of Bajan sweet living on other people’s foreign money are slowly coming to an end.

    It’s time to get back to the wilderness of hard work and material sacrifices to value, once more, the basic things of life.

    Did any one shout “Devaluation” in the Bajan theatre of comedy?

  23. T.Inniss Avatar
    T.Inniss

    We now have to resort to bloggers or other forms of non traditional media, or in new media – people like the Bahamian journalist who called Mia a con and a clown – to get an alternative view outside of the public relations and propaganda pushed by this government.

    That is why Albert Brandford’s column in the Sunday Sun 2 weeks ago was so important.He was able to debunk the lie sent out by Mia – and pushed by VOB and The Nation and in some areas in social media – that Mia was so brilliant to be able to get 220% of the country’s quota.

    As Albert Brandford pointed out the norm is really 350 % of your quota over 3 years and not 4 years as the IMF gave her.

    Right now the spin being put out there is that this “HOW GREAT THOU ART MIA’ is doing wonders by just borrowing and borrowing and borrowing – as is their wont in the BLP – thus adding to the already high debt.

    Before the election Mia told us – the people were suffering under too many taxes – what does she do?

    ADD ON MORE TAXES WHEN SHE CAME IN – AND STILL KEEP ON THE ONES (EXCEPT NSRL) THAT SHE LAMBASTED SINCKLER FOR.

    When she was in opposition Mia told us – the government printing too much money and this should stop – so what does she do when she gets in?

    SHE KEEPS ON PRINTING MONEY THE SAME WAY AS THE LAST GOVERNMENT PRINTED MONEY.

    When she was in opposition and in campaign mode – Mia objected and got her cousin Commisung to file a lawsuit against the government to stop the building of the hyatt – so what does she do whe she gets in ?

    SHE GIVES THE GO AHEAD FOR THE HYATT TO BE BUILT.

    When Mia was preparing to be prime minister while in opposition she told David Estwick at a meeting in St Phillip – that he needed to cut the fat in the government instead of his suggestion to look at the public sector.

    So what did she do when she got in ?

    She immediately proceeds to cutting the public service and gives an unbelievably low number and then sends out one of her paid advisors to give a higher number afterwards.

    In an address to the Bdos Chamber of Commerce in 2013 Mia Mottley – Opposition Leader told the audience that Freundel Stuart should limit his overseas travel and ‘right-size’ his 17 member cabinet in light of Barbados’ financial difficulties.

    She also told P.M. Stuart that :” You cannot maintain a cabinet of this size if you are seeking to make adjustments of other people’s wages and terms of conditions of employment”

    What did Mia do when she got into government ?

    SHE PLACED ALMOST ALL OF HER 29 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AS MINISTERS AND CHANGED THE CONSTITUITION TO BRING BACK A PERSON OF UNKNOWN ABILITY – IN KAY MCCONNEY AND MADE HER A MINISTER.

    SHE BROUGHT BACK OLD,OLD RETIRED BLP POLITICIANS AND GAVE THEM JOBS.SHE GAVE HER FRIENDS AND CAMAPIGN FACEBOOK MANAGER,AND HER PERSONAL ASSISTANT,AND OTHER POLITICAL REJECTS -BIG APPOINTMENTS AS CONSULTANTS AND ADVISORS.

    ALL WHILE SHE WAS DECIMATING THE SMALL INCOME FROM GOVERNMENT PAPER THAT RETIREES AND PENSIONERS WERE RELYING ON.IN ADDITION SHE DID EXACTLY WHAT SHE WARNED PM STUART NOT TO DO AND THAT IS TOTOUCH THE PUBLIC SERVANTS EARNING NCAPACITY.

    What can I say now except MIA CARES.

    WHEN YOU GOVERN WITH SUCH DISHONESTY,AND LACK OF INTEGRITY – AND YOU HAVE NO SHAME ABOUT IT – THEN AS BUSH TEA STATED ABOVE – DEMONS HAVE BEEN LET LOOSE.

    Never forget Maria Agard warned us that she was a demon in white.

  24. Redguard Avatar
    Redguard

    “I am beginning to believe that the politicians prefer chaos”

    It may seem so because the majority of them are lawyers. Lawyers either deliberately or through incompetence use chaos as a tool to achieve their goals.

    Note I said “their” goals, because the point of chaos is to hide in plain sight

  25. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Mariposa,

    Once again Mr Commissiong is behaving like a loose cannon – and the prime minister and his boss, the foreign minister, seem unable to do anything about this renegade.
    Whatever we may think of his politics, the fact as I have already pointed out, is that Mr Commissiong is a part-time civil servant and therefore comes under the rules of the civil service.
    Are the minister, prime minister and permanent secretary unable to discipline the man? Our system of governance is anarchistic. No one is in control.
    Mr Commission cannot take the government’s shilling and yet not play by the rules – unless, of course, he is given that freedom by the prime minister..
    Barbados is a failed state.

  26. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ john2 October 18, 2018 8:40 AM
    “mariposa name the person in the government that said Hyatt will be built by 2020.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Didn’t the previous MoT Sealy confirm early in the year that Hyatt would have commenced construction in “a couple of weeks”?

    By using the DLP-brand arithmetic and with 20/20 vision a couple of weeks must end by 2020.

    What you should be asking, more pertinently, is to name the person(s) with the foreign money to build the Hyatt.

    Can’t you see the BDLP political Cyclops is taking you for a ride to the moon on the back of flying horse called Hyatt?

    Until Baloney is able to show the backing money Hyatt will continue to be a figment of the political imagination of mariposa aka ac

  27. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    I believe it was that Griffith dude from Tourism who jumped in the newspaper and said Hyatt is 2020…since he knows that he should also know where the money is coming from to build it and already done due diligence on those involved..to make sure they are not more criminals invited in by government to destroy the economy and rip off taxpayers and pensioners…while using bajans for low payibg starvation wages jobd….will not hold my breath.

    Mia was right in the middle of the 4 Seasons rip off of the NIS Pension Fund, while the clown Thompson made the rip off possible, she and Avinish Persaud helped FACILITATE that theft…60 million US dollars of pensioners money ..gone, never repaid to the pensioners, as per the Auditor General’s report the copy of which Mia seems to have lost…that tells us all we need to know about intent. ..did she ever once give an explanation…nah…that would involve honesty and a come to jesus moment.

  28. David Avatar
    David

    Reading a few of the comments so far targeting politicians and individuals demonstrate some of us still do not appreciate the issues affecting the country. There is the saying small minds target people and ….

  29. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    Ha, Ha…ya cant have it both ways, either Comissiong shut up and dont finish what he started and get labeled a fraud and sell out.and get a daily dise of cussing from everyone OR…or he speaks out to uphold and protect his integrity…despite being on taxpayer’s payroll…because that is whom he works for…not his cousin Mia…he works for the taxpayers, the same people whose rights he advocates to defend, he is surviving on their dime, not on Mia’s nor the civil service.., none of them got shit, they are all sucking on the people like vampire….they have been for 52 years…so it is the people need defending here.

  30. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    “some of us still do not appreciate the issues affecting the country. ”

    The issues affecting the PEOPLE and country were CAUSED by these same individuals…no one else’s names can be called for any of it….it was not done by ghosts…the crimes were committed by people…

    What we should really be discussing is HOW to STOP a REPEAT of the same malfeasance. AND corruption Part 2…since ya got the same individuals infesting the parliament AGAIN.

  31. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” BARBADOS: New departure tax and hotel room rate levy. Effective October 1, 2018, Government will introduce an airline travel and tourism development fee. As a result, passengers flying outside of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region will pay US$70 and for those within CARICOM US$35″

    “Over the course of 2017, the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) welcomed 663,441 visitor arrivals,”

    simple arithmetic.

    70 x 500000 = 35 MILLION USA DOLLARS.

  32. Dishonest Bajans Avatar
    Dishonest Bajans

    Blogmaster “Small minds calling POLITICIANS”.

    The same wicked POLITICIANS who have caused the havoc and destruction of the 🇧🇧 Economy whilst fooling the local masses.

    I am very happy to be in this group of small minds.

    Was Mia Mottley the one who gave Jose and Jose a contract to build Crab Hill Police Station a job they fuc*ked up having never been in Construction but in the Shit Waste Business.

    The money didn’t come out of Mia’s pocket but the taxpayers.

    Now the same Jose and Jose is upfront and center in the South Coast Sewage Project.

    Wasn’t Dale Marshall in charge of the Dodds Prison and didn’t know if the cost was 🇧🇧 $700 millions or 🇺🇸$700 millions?

    Was the taxpayers involved in these decisions or benefited from the corruption and kickbacks?

    Yes only small minded people would highlight these things which is why the island is bankrupt and borrowing due to the ongoing epidemic of systemic thieving of taxpayers monies.

  33. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Dishonest Bajans,

    You cherry picking on a shit disturber ? lol

  34. sirfuzzy (i was a sheep some years ago; not a sheep anymore) Avatar
    sirfuzzy (i was a sheep some years ago; not a sheep anymore)

    I think the DLP made the populace “down right angry” with “business as usual”. MAM shouted from the hill in the distance “Not Business as Usual”

    Not that the lady has come down from the hills to the “plains and gullies” where the majority live. We have seen what is behind the voice and the calls to arms. We now not so willing to adopt her brand “of business as usual” cause it doesn’t look very different from what was happening before.

    We all live in Hope(a small town in Arkansas)

  35. BEAUTIFUL BEIGE Avatar
    BEAUTIFUL BEIGE

    @ T. Innis:

    You have done an excellent job in putting the facts out.

    I was warning people on this blog before the election but nobody would even ANSWER me.

    Now, when the proverbial %#$@X is hitting the fan (and there is much more to come) WHAT ARE WE THE PEOPLE GOING TO DO?????

    WHO IS GOING TO MOVE THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION??????

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @sirFIzzy

    Developing the point earlier concerning small minds- our leaders, NGOs et al must continue to fight the fight to awake the civic mindedness/awareness in the citizenry. Our people must see the value in participating via all organs of the democracy we hold dear.

  37. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Bush Tea et al

    When all is said and done, the only people who still believe that the BLPDLP has the answers or ideas , to carry the country forward , are those who are completely blinded by a pathetic party loyalty.
    What Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford should ask is: Why after sixty three years of the BLPDLP we are still here?

  38. Lexicon Avatar
    Lexicon

    It comes as shock and rather surprising that someone here would alleged ad hominem … when the former minister of financial was the target of such behaviour here on BU for many years.
    Now in the interest of fairness, it is only fitting that people here be allow to express they dissatisfaction with whom they see because it was common practice when the former party was in power.

  39. Dishonest Bajans Avatar
    Dishonest Bajans

    @ William Skinner
    @ Bush Tea et al

    When all is said and done, the only people who still believe that the BLPDLP has the answers or ideas , to carry the country forward , are those who are completely blinded by a pathetic party loyalty
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    NAILED IT SIR.

  40. sirfuzzy (i was a sheep some years ago; not a sheep anymore) Avatar
    sirfuzzy (i was a sheep some years ago; not a sheep anymore)

    @BU

    I have being told the “to the winner goes the spoils” ; “elections have consequences” & “victors write the history books”. These impress on the mind that in a democracy it the elective politics that really matter.

    a) ” to the winner goes the spoils” = patronage and jobs for the boys/girls etc; u will never suffer under this duopoly.
    b) “elections have consquences” = patronage and job for the boys/girls etc; even the retired and over the hill getting a pick.
    c) “victors write the history books” = controlled media narratives and press engagements plus patronage and job for the boys/girls

    NGO are just that “non govt orgs” with little power to go any thing cause they are policy proposers not policy makers. If the govt of the day cares to take on their “passion” then some policy will be made that includes NGO proposals.

    Political parties dont really want ppl to be involved especially person that will provide “an anti narrative” or “dissenting viewpoint” or “non-kool aid drinkers”

    Currently the only organ of democracy the political organization fears is the “ballot box”. But you will not think that is the case in the 3.5 to 4 years that occur after the last election.

    They do as they please. Trying to Push “Bovine Excrement” down our throats and telling us that it is a “pudding substitute” and we that should get accustomed to the new flavor and taste, or its our national duties as proud Bajans etc. We know the difference but we seem afraid(most less afraid than before) to offend the selected and elected that sit in the HOA.

    Our participation is limited to marking an X. The politicians want no more involvement from us than that; so that in the meanwhile they can continue to feed at the trough without any botheration… They care little about what we think even if they “engage us” cause the meat of the legislation they produce say such.

    We want action on the wrong doers we are met with promises of in time it will be dealt with maybe weeks month years . Only God knows. The last part is true the other part you have some say in the proceedings.

    BLP VS DLP. DLP vs BLP. “like sands through an hourglass, these are the days of our lives” a national soap opera that has no cancellation date. Every year a new series. Same old plot and themes maybe some new actors in old and new roles with tonnes of flash back segments. Shown/performed every day on cable & satellite & FTA & IPTV tv services.

  41. WARU Avatar
    WARU

    If the BERT austerity created by Mia works, fine, then there will only be the corruption to contend with.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/10/18/government-senator-we-didnt-rush-to-imf/

  42. David Avatar
    David

    A cynical perspective but true. We have to keep trying. Changing it up. Always hoping that we find the tipping point caused when current events intercept with those of the past.

  43. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” The party’s plans for rescuing Barbados from its economic woes, she contended, were in place long before the May 24 general elections. ”

    Did the BLP make these plans Chrytal clear in their pre election manifesto and at political brass meetings ?

  44. john2 Avatar
    john2

    miller

    I really not interested in the hyatt saga.
    I want mariposa to give the name of the person from the lying government that said it would be build in 2020.

    you just made it as sealy that was a liar
    now I want know who is the liar from the BLP
    or is it MARIPOSA that is the real liar?

  45. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    David Mr Blogmaster, you know I love to rumble based on your often mesmerizing posts….

    The stats you highlighted were intended to show (I can only presume) that citizen consumption is out of whack and is driving the outsized life style ‘creating’ a significant component of our economic duress.

    You noted that “A central bank report confirmed that Barbadians racked up 347 million in debt up to 2017. This graph supports the spectacular rise in debt from 2008 which correlates with the value of credit card transactions in both the personal and business sectors.”

    However, the really spectacular rise (private) trends from ’03 according to the figures graphed. That’s not a political statement but just the facts as seen above. Between 2003 and 2008 card usage/card debt surged by about 200% at a glance…then there is an almost similar surge over the next five year period ’08 to ’14.

    On its face, seems a case of Bajans settling in and going hell for plastic regardless of party in power!

    So that brings me to your other points…

    If this is true that “Reading a few of the comments so far targeting politicians and individuals demonstrate some of us still do not appreciate the issues affecting the country. There is the saying small minds target people and …”

    … then can this also be true that “… our leaders, NGOs et al must continue to fight the fight to awake the civic mindedness/awareness in the citizenry. Our people must see the value in participating via all organs of the democracy we hold dear”?

    If we spend madly to satisfy our personal sense of grandeur -our wonderful champagne taste with mauby coffers lifestyle- and continually reelect these politicians who bamboozle us with grand talk HOW is it that the SAME bamboozlers are entrusted to awake our “civic mindedness”.

    As that editorial said, are we blissful inhabitants of Nirvana. Have the hens elected the fox as sheriff to govern our hen-house!

    If we spend ourselves to oblivion with consumption of things we DO NOT MANUFACTURE how the badword can we expect the govt NOT to implement DRACONIAN measures to save us from ourselves.

    The “problems can be solved”, of course….but WE obviously prefer chaos…the politicians simply facilitate our preferences!

  46. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    A good synopsis. The ignorance is that the Mottley government seems to be slavishly following a model that will support an unsustainable lifestyle of conspicuous consumption.

  47. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    The Hyatt Centric resort, a 15-storey hotel earmarked for the Barbadian capital is a go, said the government agency marketing Barbados abroad.

    The new high-rise hotel will transform the skyline of the capital which has earned a UNESCO world heritage status – a selling point the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) plans to make in ramped-up advertising

    “Hyatt hotel is slated to be constructed on Bay Street and it will be opened in 2020. Plans are continuing for that,” announced BTMI Chief Executive Officer William ‘Billy’ Griffith at a tourism conference here

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/10/02/hyatt-in-2020-btmi/

  48. Dishonest Bajans Avatar
    Dishonest Bajans

    The basic fact is the Politicians think ALL Bajans are DUMB cunts.

    Forget about BERT and ERNIE.

  49. Lexicon Avatar
    Lexicon

    Dishonest Bajan

    Prove them wrong by educating the masses!

  50. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David,

    When are the Barbados consulate websites going to be updated ?

    Jong too busy ?

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