A tribute by Ambassador David Comissiong
This coming Monday, the 21st of January 2019, is the 99th anniversary of the birth of Barbadian national hero Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, and will be celebrated in Barbados as “Errol Barrow Day” – a national public holiday.
In light of the recent happenings in the Organization of American States (OAS) when, on having to deal with a Resolution that purported to delegitimize the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our CARICOM member states found themselves divided on the issue, with some of them voting for the Resolution, others voting against, and some abstaining, I would like to focus this tribute to Mr Barrow on his role as an architect of the concept of a collective CARICOM foreign policy.
It was at the historic Seventh Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government Conference held at Chaguaramas in Trinidad that the idea of converting the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) into a Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), as well as the idea equipping the new CARICOM with a collective foreign policy were born.
The date was October 1972, and at that time there were only four independent Commonwealth Caribbean nations : namely, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Barbados, and these newly independent states were led by Michael Manley, Eric Williams, Forbes Burnham, and Errol Barrow respectively.
It was a time of great tension in the affairs of the world – the United States of America (USA) was ablaze with anti-Vietnam war protests; the Black Power and anti-colonial challenges to national and international structures of domination were going strong; and the so-called “Cold War” between the USA and the Soviet Union was still at a dangerous peak.
Indeed, by 1972, the Caribbean had come to be regarded as one of the primary theatres of the “Cold War”, with the USA making every conceivable effort to isolate and subvert the revolutionary Fidel Castro-led government of Cuba.
We need to recall that when—in 1959—the Cuban Revolution triumphed, that the new revolutionary Cuban government entered a Western hemisphere environment that was organized around the OAS—a multi-lateral organization dominated by the USA and dedicated to a USA inspired anti-Communist mission.
Indeed, in 1954, at the instigation of a USA steeped in Mc Carthy era anti-Communism, the OAS had issued the “Declaration of Caracas” which declared that all Marxist revolutionary ideology was intrinsically alien to the Western Hemisphere, and that Marxist revolutionary movements were to be treated as foreign invasions of the Hemisphere.
It was not surprising therefore that as early as June 1959, the USA began pressing the OAS to take punitive actions against Cuba—a founder member of the OAS, but now led by a revolutionary socialist Government.
In August 1960, the USA not only orchestrated a condemnation of Cuba at the OAS on the ground of Cuba’s acceptance of economic assistance from the Soviet Union, but also urged Latin American states to break off diplomatic relations with Cuba – an urging that Venezuela and Colombia adhered to in 1961.
And then the “coup de grace” came in January 1962 when, at the 8th Consultative Meeting of OAS Foreign Ministers in Uruguay, the OAS suspended Cuba’s membership, thereby effectively expelling Cuba from the OAS!
This was then followed by the US compiling a so-called “black list” of all countries still trading with Cuba and threatening to cut off US economic and military assistance to them.
But even this was seemingly not enough for the anti-Cuba forces, and during the 9th Consultative Meeting of Foreign Ministers held in Washington DC in July 1964, a resolution was passed urging all governments of the Western Hemisphere to break diplomatic relations with Cuba.
And—sad to say—in the following years, every single Western Hemisphere nation except Mexico and Canada fell in line with the OAS stipulation and either broke diplomatic relations with Cuba or refused to recognize the revolutionary Republic of Cuba!
This then was the scenario facing the four independent Commonwealth Caribbean countries—all newly installed members of the OAS—in October 1972!
And, needless-to-say, the leadership of the OAS was insisting that the four new Caribbean member states must adhere to the by then well established, USA supported, policy of non-recognition and isolation of revolutionary Cuba.
The magnificent response of the Right Excellent Errol Barrow and his fellow Commonwealth Caribbean leaders—Manley, Williams and Burnham—was to issue the following historic Declaration:-
“The Prime Ministers of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, meeting together during the Heads of Government Conference at Chaguaramas, have considered the state of their relations with the Government of Cuba and the obligations which the OAS has sought to impose upon its members in regard to relations with that Government; and make the following statement:
(1) The independent English-speaking Caribbean states, exercising their sovereign right to enter into relations with any other sovereign state and pursuing their determination to seek regional solidarity and to achieve meaningful and comprehensive economic cooperation amongst all Caribbean countries will seek the early establishment of relations with Cuba, whether economic, diplomatic or both.
(2) To this end, the independent English-speaking Caribbean states will act together on the basis of agreed principles.”
Here then were the four smallest and youngest states of the entire Western hemisphere standing on principle; courageously speaking “truth to power”; and setting a noble and principled example for all the other nations of the hemisphere to follow!
Indeed, six months later—in April 1973 – Mr Barrow gave an address to the Empire Club of Toronto, Canada, and explained the significance of the unified Caribbean stance on Cuba as follows:-
“……we have managed in our four countries, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados to sustain our independence to the extent that we were considered to have committed an act of defiance in October last year when we took a lead in the western hemisphere in deciding to open diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba, much to the chagrin of our neighbours to the north.
But it demonstrates that the developing countries can take a lead in conditioning the minds of people who should know better…………And I have no doubt that the other countries which are mightier and more powerful than the four small independent countries in the Caribbean will soon shamefacedly or not, have to follow suit……
And we cannot sit down in the Caribbean and wait for our strategy to be dictated or governed by the political or other economic or social prejudices of people in other countries because to entertain such a belief would be an abandonment of the sovereignty that we believe in and we have never subscribed to the doctrine of limited sovereignty. And I have been, myself, very firm right from the beginning of Barbados’ independence that we would be friends of all and satellites of none.”
Happy Errol Barrow Day to all my Barbadian and Caribbean brothers and sisters! Long may the spirit of Errol Barrow live in our beautiful sovereign Caribbean homeland!
Even on a submission to honour Barrow some of you must inject this US BS we have discussed many times already? Make a point and move on.
John
Andew Johnson was Lincoln’s vice president ( true) but he was still a Democrat … go back and get your facts straight …
John
When the Republican Party was formed there were no such thing as a Republican philosophy … the party was formed on the basis to fight against slavery … Slavery was written into the Constitution in 11 clauses … John, there was no such thing as a Democrat when European Americans decided to enslaved Black people … so stop with the bullshit that the Republican Party free the slaves …
Mr Blogmaster your assessment and that of @Artax re David Commissiong are of course accurate.
It is unfortunate but expected in the politically charged life we live that such blatant mischaracterizations of the man can be voiced so easily.
One does not have to AGREE with his political stances (as I do NOT on many) but to label the man as profiting or benefiting in some grand way as a result of his very public stances is mere political noise and slander.
Undoubtedly he gets some benefits as a lawyer due to his public image and surely he opens contacts due to the circles in which he moves which offer business gains but to suggest he sets out to gain personal benefit is crass.
If we are honest and recall pictures of EWB boating across the Caribbean sea in company of the then playboy PM Trudeau all looking dapper and vibrant in the pomp of their public acclaim then how can we NOT imagine Mr Barrow also ‘benefiting’ from that level of fraternization and the spinoffs of acclaim from the various very public actions he undertook….
Not trying to equate the two men but simply stated it is blatant lies to portray the man as some money grabbing sleeze profiting from his social activism…
Particularly coming from a political hack of Mariposa’s poor reputation.
What a total distraction from discourse on EWB.
@Mr Blogmaster if we accept the argument that isms are just window dressing for political power then how do we decry capitalism so vehemently when in almost all cases of true capitalism there has been some form of democratic governance whereas almost all forms of communism have been autocratic rule!
The argument of Russia as the enemy while China was embraced is very straightforward as noted above (re greed) but as is now seen the Chinese are literally stealing US economic power as a result of that greed.
It has NEVER been about an ism and has ALWAYS been about POWER.
That came home to many arguing Russia/Cuba vr US in 3rd and 4th form eons ago … so if that’s a revelation in 2019 then I am much surprised !
I see some commenter has actually quoted ‘Oxfam’ aka OxSCAM – this is one of the wholly discredited vehicles for perverts, thieves and the sticky fingered. What naïveté.
I am also puzzled as to why a blowhard Black Bajan should be resident in the hated US while moaning about how he is discriminated against there. Could it be parasitism?
I am really puzzled and preplexed as to why the Blacks who were forcibly taken from their homes and made to work under all sort of inhumane conditions haven’t gotten their reparation as of yet, and the Japanese Americans have gotten theirs for their treatment during the Second World War?
“It is strange how constituents of St John to this day complain of the lack of development in that constituency.One assumes EWB saw it first hand and choose to do nothing to bring the parish into the 21st century.”
Barrow was too busy enriching Simpson with his own people’s money instead of bringing the people who elected him into the 21st century…through their own development and self enrichment.
…….same mistake the blighted clowns in each successive duopoly government has made every time they entered that cursed, possessed parliament….for over four decades…their blighted handiwork of enriching others who are not deserving and themselves only…..continues even under the present government…leaving their own people to struggle and suffer and sacrifice, their favourite word…which is deliberate and malicious wickedness….total neglect of their own people..
They do it voluntary with no prompting from anyone, all any white, Indian , Syrian etc have to do, is smile in their dumb faces..and OFFER BRIBES………Barrow also allowed in the repulsive Ram Merchandani and her racist, slum mentality…look at the piles of filth she produced,,…he certainly never did his own people any favours…nothing that would lead to serious upliftment of the majority population……he was too busy hobnobbing with and in SHITE..and SUPPRESSING independent thinking among his people.
And then the current shitehounds of the exiled DLP now got the nerve to be telling young vulnerable minds, to be like Barrow…frigging unbelievable..
EWB campaigned in St. John by using some yard-fowls like (Mariposa T. Inniss), half cooked chicken and rum at certain locations .
After 52 years of independence we are down to 62 Transport Buses and and unruly MInibus and ZR culture that is more reliable that the state own transportation, Housing solution that only fits for persons within a certain tax bracket but leave the poor to squat hither thither . An economic environment that only the upper class can be comfortable going t the supermarket. Political parties that do not serve the interest of the people but serve themselves to partake of tax payers contributions. A prison that can only hold a certain class of persons when they go against the law. Two barbadoses after 52years. RIP dipper
David
January 21, 2019 9:36 PM
“Even on a submission to honour Barrow some of you must inject this US BS we have discussed many times already? Make a point and move on.”
David Pity you give a voice to those who corrupt the Truth and their comments are allowed to remain and erase the voices of others that clarify their lies deeming it US BS! However the Communist Voice of the Article presented accusing the US of meddling and interference in the progression of Communism throughout the Americas is Hailed and Welcomed in this forum!
@ bony man January 22, 2019 6:45 AM
“After 52 years of independence we are down to 62 Transport Buses and and unruly MInibus and ZR culture that is more reliable that the state own transportation….”
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And the black corrupt political imbeciles in charge continue to play a game of musical chairs in fooling the people about the viability of electric buses while ceding the largest slice of the ‘fixed’ pool of mass transit revenues to a hidden group of mostly ‘Indian’ profit-making opportunists hiding behind an environment and culture of indiscipline, lawlessness and unscheduled service provided by a bunch of wild west type cowboys called ZRs and minibus operators.
David
January 21, 2019 9:36 PM
Even on a submission to honour Barrow some of you must inject this US BS we have discussed many times already? Make a point and move on.
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I submit that honouring Barrow is viewed as even more BS if you read the majority of submissions!!
If this piece was supposed to honour EWB, it has backfired … bigly!!
@John
You are aware you have the opportunity by posting relevant comments to enhance the discussion?
A most interesting “tribute”, as I was left wondering tribute to whom or what?
As @Gabriel pointed out, David C was a D, and a Senator almost as soon as the ink on his professional qualifications had dried. He has adroitly chosen topics close to his own heart, to project or stamp the apparent approval of EWB.
Often in school yard games, as a team captain, you selected persons, who may not be stars of the game, but whose effort and tenacity could be a hindrance to success. Way better to have DC on your side, than against you. Kudos to MAM, better safe than sorry (as ac laments frequently)
The interesting part, as demonstrated in the video posted on ‘fingerprinting’, David C refers to democracy and the tools available. I hope he realises that today in neither Cuba nor Venezuela could he voice his disagreement with the ruling powers or any of their policies, and expect not to be in jail or worse.
“The proof lies in his acess and easement of manipulating the system in extraordinary fashion while massaging the weakness of a people looking for change in one way or another…”
What does this supposed to mean?
Take the Hyatt case for example.
On March 22, 2017, Commisiong filed a claim in the Supreme Court constituting an application for judicial review of the legality of the process by which the Minister Responsible for and Country Planning purported to grant permission to construct the Hyatt hotel on beachfront land at Bay Street, St. Michael…….and granted such permission without having the benefit of the results of an Environmental Impact Assessment to guide and inform him in the making of his decision.
The Court found that the EIA was NOT conducted, as stipulated by law in these circumstances and ruled in favour of Commisiong.
Could you please explain how Commisiong was able to “manipulate the system in extraordinary fashion while massaging the weakness of a people looking for change in one way or another?”
Like the man or not……..but be FAIR to him.
@ Artax January 22, 2019 11:13 AM
Artax, since Comissiong placed his professional head on that legal block don’t you think it’s high time Bajans demand to know what is going on in their name in respect of both the Hyatt erection and the Four Seasons financial fiasco?
Weren’t those two projects touted by the current Governor of the Central Bank as game changers for economic growth, future forex money-spinners and great opportunities to wrestle unemployment to the ground especially for those living in the inner city depressed communities?
Or has the Ross medical school replaced those two in the bag of bullshit tricks to be fed to the masses to buy their appeasement?
David
January 22, 2019 9:30 AM
@John
You are aware you have the opportunity by posting relevant comments to enhance the discussion?
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I believe EWB destroyed Barbados and I don’t think he should be honoured!!
But …. forget me for the moment, read the supposed dynamite in circulation!!
Hal Austin
January 21, 2019 5:39 PM
No one has said what is the collective CARICOM foreign policy designed by Barrow. What is it?
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… and as a follow up to my previous comment, no one has been able to answer this question of Hal’s so whatever he did in CARICOM seems to be an unknown!!
You see, I am a Barbadian first.
CSME was pure rubbish meant to get CLICO into Barbados
We need to get our house in order and repair the damage of the past.
@ John January 22, 2019 12:37 PM
“You see, I am a Barbadian first.
CSME was pure rubbish meant to get CLICO into Barbados..”
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Are you implying that Duprey had all the West Indian political leaders at the time in his pockets to the extent that his local gopher and doggie Parris was able to control three Bajan PMs?
Barbados would only get her house (back) in order when she returns to a culture of caring for the lands and its sources of precious on which the Almighty God daily shines Its Light.
No country can ever prosper when the lands are defiled and neglected and its waters -both inland and the sea- are polluted.
despite all the flowery rhetoric history would record that Barbados’s Ambassador to the Caribbean andLatin American States voted to expel CUba from the Organization of American States. I belive Sol Linowitz was the American Ambassador who led the charge. At that timeCuba was in the business of fomenting revolution througout Latin America.
Was not the break up of the talks on the ” Formation of Little Eight” which were held at Sherbourne attributed to Mr Barrow?
Exactly what about Barbados was there for Errol Barrow to destroy? What was Barbados like for the majority population?
“CSME was pure rubbish meant to get CLICO into Barbados.”
John
Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) was founded in 1936 by Cyril Lucius Duprey and by 1946, the company began to expand regionally, establishing branches in Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St Vincent, St Kitts and St Lucia………
……..and the CSME was conceptualized in 1989 and its Single Market component of the CSME was established on January 1, 2006?
Taking this information into consideration………would you care to explain you above comment?
And while you’re at it, could you please submit a name of a person you think should be honoured?
Miller
The Four Seasons project is a very interesting issue.
Given the investment of taxpayers and NIS funds into this project, which remains unfinished…….dilapidated and vandalised……would we be seeing an investigation into Four Seasons any time soon……..
………..or, now that Mottley is PM and Avanish Persaud is one of her “trusted” consultants………will we be WAITING in VAIN?
And Miller…..what about us…….after all, the NIS funds consist of our contributions towards pension and other NIS benefits.
Will we continually play the blame game by pointing “accusing fingers” at BLP and DLP……….or when we attend these annual conferences of these political parties or their constituency branch meeting…..
………..will we DEMAND our parliamentary representatives provide us with answers to the Four Seasons debacle?
“will we DEMAND our parliamentary representatives provide us with answers to the Four Seasons debacle?”
Yes this is the crux of the matter [forget Hyatt for now Miller]. Former Ministers Sealy and Sincklair are both on the record promising explanations before their terms ended. Persaud was involved not only as the guru, but he was also a director of companies associated with the project. I “believe” as a lawyer, MAM was also involved with companies linked to the project. The government vehicle to back loans, one Clearwater Bay hasn’t been heard of, since the Pharliciple story on BU.
Similarly, all these foreign millionaires who had reportedly put up millions for villas, have been quiet. The project is an eyesore.
Donna
January 22, 2019 2:33 PM
And while you’re at it, could you please submit a name of a person you think should be honoured?
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That’s a no brainer Donna.
It is so simple even you could figure it out!!
No one!!!
Reason: There are no results which are worth anything and for which anyone should be honoured!
Will a BU correspondent put up the now famous ‘Mirror Image’ speech by EWB.
Artax
January 22, 2019 2:29 PM
“CSME was pure rubbish meant to get CLICO into Barbados.”
John
Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) was founded in 1936 by Cyril Lucius Duprey and by 1946, the company began to expand regionally, establishing branches in Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St Vincent, St Kitts and St Lucia………
……..and the CSME was conceptualized in 1989 and its Single Market component of the CSME was established on January 1, 2006?
Taking this information into consideration………would you care to explain you above comment?
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Penny Bank!!
Google and you may understand why the political elite is familial and what families control!!
Gabriel
January 22, 2019 5:12 PM
Will a BU correspondent put up the now famous ‘Mirror Image’ speech by EWB.
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What for … who is going to read it!!
“Google and you may understand why the political elite is familial and what families control!!”
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Do you believe everything thing you read on Google or what people post to incriminate others on social media sites?
For example, this morning I read a contribution that quoted information from another site, in which it was mentioned that a certain individual dies under mysterious circumstances……..
………..another contributor refuted that story and said the individual died of prostate cancer.
Another example was another contributor posted information to BU, in relation to an article appearing in the July 4, 2013 edition of the Daily Nation, entitled “Drive to Revive The Gap,” in which a Hal Austin was identified as coordinator of the St. Lawrence Gap Revitalisation Project.
A photo of his majesty Hal Austin who contributes to BU…. at the top of the article….. MISLED the contributor into believing the article was about him, when in actuality, it was about another Hal Austin who is associated with the tourism industry.
Although one may dismiss this as a simple mistake………I saw ANOTHER article, dated March 31, 2014 and entitled “No Dead End” in which a photo of BU’s Austin appeared at the top and he was again identified as coordinator of the St. Lawrence Gap Revitalisation Project.
Perhaps that’s the power of Googling?
I have also seen contributions on BU claiming I am, or have claimed to be, an independent financial adviser, amongst other things.
I have seen the “independent financial advisor contributions…….but I’ve often read some saying “he was always an idiot” among other things…..and there are just somethings you don’t need Google to verify.
*****I have NOT seen the “independent financial advisor”…….
Maduro Consolidates His Dictatorship in Venezuela
The dictator has shown no pretence of relinquishing control.
January 20, 2019
Jorge C. Carrasco… Jorge C. Carrasco is a Cuban independent journalist and a coordinator of Students For Liberty.
https://fee.org/media/30740/maduro.jpg?center=0.27848101265822783,0.51833333333333331&mode=crop&width=1920&rnd=131922828730000000
Politics Venezuela Maduro Dictatorship Human Rights
On January 10, Nicolás Maduro took another step in perpetuating and expanding his power, carrying out a masquerade in the form of a presidential investiture that will initiate a new mandate, a move that has been regarded as illegitimate by a large part of the international community. It would keep him in charge of Venezuela (supposedly) until 2025.
With a country in ruins and an increasingly isolated regime, the inauguration, which many consider a point of no return in the very serious economic and institutional crisis the country is suffering, does not mean anything new in practice for the citizens. But with this, the regime, which controls all levels of political and judicial power, is consummating a seemingly insurmountable fracture in its diplomacy with the international community.
Maduro’s Reign
Maduro took the presidential oath before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) rather than before the National Assembly, as required by the Venezuelan constitution. The reason for this is that the opposition-majority parliament, elected in 2015, was declared to be in disobedience, and despite it still running independently from and parallel to the “official” government, it no longer exists for the regime.
That same court stripped it of its functions, and in July 2017 after three months of protests that left hundreds dead in the streets, a fraudulent vote was held on a National Constituent Assembly that accumulated all the political control of the nation, in which no representatives critical of the ruling party had a seat. In practice, this new assembly is a legislative branch—presided over by number two of the Chavista hierarchy, Diosdado Cabello—at the service of executive power.
Maduro’s Legacy
The legacy Maduro leaves to himself has broken all known records of economic and political disaster in the region. Venezuela has lost 53 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), spurring the third-worst inflation in history (prices increased 830,000 percent last year). The prisons are now filled with almost 300 political prisoners. Venezuela has been denounced by Amnesty International for mistreating and torturing prisoners and allowing extrajudicial executions of its most vulnerable citizens.
Everything points to the fact that Maduro’s onslaught against his critics will only worsen.
The lack of food, shortage of basic commodities, and the collapse of health care have become commonplace in the nation. This profound humanitarian crisis has already destroyed the lives of millions of Venezuelans and destabilized the region. About three million citizens have already fled the country, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. This represents more than 7 percent of the population. It is a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions in the recent history of Latin America.
Venezuela has descended into a new circle of authoritarian drift. Everything points to the fact that Maduro’s onslaught against his critics, hundreds of whom are held in the regime’s prisons, will only worsen, without any solution to the economic, political, and social crisis that is eating away at the country’s foundation. According to the Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal, more than 12,800 people have been arrested because of their links to protests against the regime, many of which were taken from their homes without warrants.
Power Will Not Be Abdicated Any Time Soon
Maduro has shown he has no pretense of relinquishing this apex of control, much less of accepting an electoral defeat that could lead to his departure from power. With the opposition neutralized by the regime and the subsequent division and exile of the dissident forces, there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about this situation.
With internal resistance cut off, the international chessboard is becoming more important than ever. Most of the democratic nations have condemned the dictatorial path the Venezuelan regime has taken. The Organization of American States (OAS) recently passed a resolution disregarding the legitimacy of Maduro’s new mandate and calling for economic, political, and diplomatic sanctions. Even the European Union qualified Maduro’s elections as “undemocratic.”
Without Mexico, the influence of the Lima Group could be diminished.
In this context, the Lima Group, which includes the major Latin American powers—formed in 2017 to facilitate a negotiated solution to the crisis—was called upon to play an important role. Recent political shifts in the region, however, threaten to ruin this instrument. Mexico refused to adhere to the joint position of the other 13 members at the last meeting, which called for non-recognition of Maduro’s regime, among other measures. This is the first change in the Latin American giant’s foreign policy since Andrés Manuel López Obrador became president. Without Mexico, the influence of the Lima Group could, in effect, be diminished.
How Much Longer Will This Last?
Although the socialist regime is more isolated than ever, it would be a mistake to underestimate the potential longevity of its power. Maduro may, to the contrary, be asserting himself in the plane of international conflict in a game of powers. The speed at which Russia recognized the legitimacy of the new government and accused the US of conspiring to overthrow it says it all. Recently, the presence of Russian Tu-160 nuclear bombers in the Venezuelan capital suggests the world may be entering a new chapter of the Cold War. For the Russians, it’s not about the oil—it’s about influence in Latin American politics disputed with the US.
China is also a heavy player, mainly for economic reasons. Venezuela owes the country billions of dollars in accumulated debt and pays them at the rate of thousands of barrels of oil a day. Who wouldn’t take care of a debtor of that magnitude?
No evil is eternal and it is very unlikely that Maduro can repeat the disastrous experiment of a long-standing dictatorship, as happened in Cuba.
It is clear that the longevity of the regime now definitely depends on the loyalty of the military, to whom Maduro does not stop owing “such loyalty and discipline,” rewarding them with vast powers in the government and economy. This is because he knows he sails with his generals on the same raft, and his dictatorship would sink overnight if they decided as much.
Nevertheless, no evil is eternal, and it is very unlikely that Maduro can repeat the disastrous experiment of a long-standing dictatorship as happened in Cuba because Venezuelans today think about how to survive famine. They don’t believe in utopian ideologies. The only uncertainties are how long it will take for the inevitable to happen and how the suffering Venezuelan people will be able to recover from the dark moments they have been experiencing.
Jorge C. Carrasco
Do you believe everything thing you read on Google or what people post to incriminate others on social media sites?
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Course not!!!
But there are historical gems that come to light like these two links to legal documents will give you the flavor of the familial links to the Penny Bank. formed in the early 1940’s.
http://creolelinks.com/barbados-penny-bank/barbados-progressive-co-operative-bank.html
http://creolelinks.com/barbados-penny-bank/23.html
This was also an interesting blog!!
https://barbadosunderground.net/2017/08/30/cl-financial-bailout-the-caribbean-connection/
For Commissiong just in case he is thinking of piggy bavk riding on the back of The right Honurable Errol Barrow to push his communist agenda
REMEMBERING BARROW: Quotes by Errol Barrow — NationNews Barbados …
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errol barrow quotes from http://www.nationnews.com
Jan 21, 2016 · TODAY IS ERROL BARROW DAY. The former Prime Minister of Barbados was known as a master orator. Some of the …
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QUOTES BY ERROL BARROW | A-Z …
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Errol Barrow Quotes. We will not regard any great power as necessarily right in a given dispute unless we are convinced of this, yet at the same time we will not view the great powers with perennial suspicion merely on account of their size, their wealth, or their nuclear potential.
I read through the “mirror image” and I must ask.. Have we done anything differently? It seems to me that this speech is as relevant/applicable /needed today as it was yesterday.
Barrow must be rolling in his grave when he sees the mirror image of guts and gore on a daily basis lying in the streets of barbados
You are too much…
theogazerts
January 22, 2019 8:41 PM
I read through the “mirror image” and I must ask.. Have we done anything differently? It seems to me that this speech is as relevant/applicable /needed today as it was yesterday.
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Having actually identified yourself as a reader and inward digester of speeches, can you give your fellow blogger, Hal Austin, a concise answer to his question regarding the CARICOM foreign policy designed by Barrow as alluded to by David Commissiong in his tribute to EWB?
… and I quote,
“What is it?”
We wait with bated breath for your erudite exposition!!
… not really, we just want to see what sh!te you can come up with!!
When will we ever learn .Barbados has been practicing the politics of self destruction socially and e economically
Now the reality of it all has washed up at our doors
This is just the beginning
Our borders still.remained easy entry for the villains to send their poisionous weapons through
@John
what was the connection, other than name, between the Penny Bank (Trinidad Co-operative) in Trinidad and the Penny bank (Barbados Co-operative) in Barbados?
Everyone refers to the “mirror Image” speech but was it the most important speech that Barrow delivered? I have a small booklet edited by Ronald Jones which I received by virtue of attending some function in Canada and it is titled “Quotes & Images” of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow.
Parts of the “mirror image” speech are included but it is not published in its entirety and it is interesting that it was delivered at a political meeting, but Barrow often used the word “image” as a metaphor when he was trying to make a point.
I have often lamented that no one has written a definitive biography of Barrow but Bajan PM’s are reticent in writing about their experiences. I heard from a reliable source that Arthur was on the verge of writing his memoirs after he was defeated by Thompson but he was drawn back into the fray and it never materialized, hope its not too late.
NO
I was wondering where he was going with this and was about to “ask” him to please explain what the links he posted and the Barbados Progressive & Co-operative Bank Ltd. have to do with his comment re: “CSME was pure rubbish meant to get CLICO into Barbados?”
Is he suggesting that all the treaties that were signed over the years for the establishment of CSME and the CARICOM heads of government meetings were al a ruse to “get CLICO into Barbados?”
I believe he is “over thinking” this issue.
I have often lamented that no one has written a definitive biography of Barrow but Bajan PM’s are reticent in writing about their experiences. I heard from a reliable source that Arthur was on the verge of writing his memoirs after he was defeated by Thompson but he was drawn back into the fray and it never materialized, hope its not too late.
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We have never had any leaders that are worth the effort!!
NorthernObserver
January 22, 2019 9:52 PM
@John
what was the connection, other than name, between the Penny Bank (Trinidad Co-operative) in Trinidad and the Penny bank (Barbados Co-operative) in Barbados?
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What is a “Penny Bank”?
How many pennies make a dollar?
John
January 23, 2019 6:50 AM
I have often lamented that no one has written a definitive biography of Barrow but Bajan PM’s are reticent in writing about their experiences. I heard from a reliable source that Arthur was on the verge of writing his memoirs after he was defeated by Thompson but he was drawn back into the fray and it never materialized, hope its not too late.
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We have never had any leaders that are worth the effort!!
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How many leaders have a definitive biography written about them?
Name 10 from the Caribbean and 10 from outside the region!!
Penny Banks, like Piggy Banks are for children!!
Piggy Banks provide teachable moments and worthwhile lessons in life.
Penny Banks however provide experiences we would often rather forget!!
Mariposa
We are cognizant the of the problems affecting our island so rather than talk about them … let us talk about the solutions to those problems or else our expense of time and energy is to no avail…
Our discourse shouldn’t be about who did this or who did that or who is responsible for that, but how are we going to prevent such from happening in the future … if we refuse to address our mistakes we are sure to repeat them again and again …
Mariposa
Some of you all behave like the kind of woman that gets up every morning and argue with her man about the same things over and over with little or not resolution … before you sit your Man down and make him understand the problems that are causing the friction in the relationship.
My point is until real solutions are brought to bear upon the problems; the problems will always be with us …
Mr. Lexicon
I believe in giving credit to anyone when it’s due to them.
Your 7:10 AM and 7:25 AM contributions were excellent.
Lexicon i am not govt . Govt is being paid to bring solutions
So bro Dont come here with your early morning dribble about solutions
This govt spent the better part of ten years crticising past govt policies
One would think that during that ten year period this govt would have drafted legislation which would help in tackling crime presently
For you to suggest that I talk solutions is political hog wash
As i stated i am not a member of any group organisation or political party
However i am in my right to crticize whenever i feel to do so
This govt passed laws in a short period to benefit the rich and in the same time period they could have implement legislation to secure our peoples security
Now all that is being sent as solution are miltary style intervention soon to be followed by citizen profiling
Bro by the way check and see how many advisors and ministers govt have onthe pay role to handle govt problems and find solutions
Btw my name is not one of them
Donna
January 22, 2019 2:33 PM
And while you’re at it, could you please submit a name of a person you think should be honoured?
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That’s a no brainer Donna.
It is so simple even you could figure it out!!
No one!!!
Reason: There are no results which are worth anything and for which anyone should be honoured!
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This from the man who cannot figure out that Donald Trump is a con man!
@ Mariposa,
You are again right. We elect politicians and pay public servants to come up with solutions. Watch out for the militarisation of civilian policing. Already the prison is controlled by a military officer (ex?, you never retire from the military, they can always call on your services). Watchout also for the RSS in the background and the Canadians.
Are you the same individual who spent a better part of the last ten years telling the then Opposition and those who criticized the previous administration that, rather than being critical, they should BRING solutions?
And it’s only NOW you realize “government is being paid to bring solutions?
You continue to harrow me with fear and wonder.
“However i am in my right to crticize whenever i feel to do so…”
But how come when people criticized the last set of jokers, you did NOT see it as THEIR RIGHT to criticize whenever they felt to do so…….but said they were being SELFISH, UNPATRIOTIC and NOT putting the country first………
……….and DISMISSED as nonsense, when anyone REMINDED you the DLP was elected by the Barbadians to “BRING SOLUTIONS?”
I’m happy to know you had a “change of heart.”
Hal watchout as the crime problem continues to escalate tbe blp yardfowls going to be on duty 24 hrs sitting on the fence asking for solutions as a way of hurling political attacks on critics of govt policies
This govt squandered the better part of the past ten years shooting bows and arrows against past govt security policies for the nation and the said court agree
Now presently finding themselves. (govt) in the cross hairs of violent crime gone.wild the yahoos of Lexicon grade asking joe and mary public for solutions
Now it is up to the Justice system and govt to find solution after all the Court snd present govt ( while in opposition) closed any security doors presented by past govt which could have stop intervention at the border
Now asking Me to usher a solution
Lexicon u got to be mad
Bro. Artax show where in any of Mariposa comments i asked for the blp brigade to bring solutions gor past govt
You KNOW I can do that.
@ Mariposa,
Unless I am mistaken, BU is a market place for ideas; a free market of ideas raise the level of discussion and, hopefully of policy making (ie solutions). Keep digging away.
The objective reality is that the prime minister spent 14 yrs in the Arthur government, ten years in Opposition and seven months in government and we are yet to get any new ideas or policy proposals – even if not implementation.
BERT is a slogan, best explained by the sacking of 1500 public sector workers. Otherwise there is fidgeting at the edges. May be Rawdon Adams, who has an MA in something called Political Sociology, and is a financial expert, can bring some solutions.
By the way, what was so urgent that we had to change the constitution to get him in the Senate, what has he brought to the table?
“Govt is being paid to bring solutions”
I wonder where you got that idea from
In Singapore yes, but round here NO!. Gov’t is paid to run a system, a system many believe is on autopilot, ask Freundel he thought so. There is nothing in the current setup that allows for rapid response to problems and implementation of solutions. This has always been our fatal flaw.
Solving problems and implementing solutions requires independent thinkers not conformists, but to make it to any position of influence in the Civil service requires towing the line, paying your dues and conforming.
To an insider like a PS who has dedicated 20+ years to conforming to the system, the one and only response to a crisis is “What did we do last time this happened”.
The Ministers are even more useless, their response is always “What did country X, Y or Z do when this happened”
@John
I am aware of the math. Yet what is the link you suggested between Clico, CLF, or Duprey and the Penny Bank as it was colloquially known in Barbados.
I recall in one of Austin (Tom) Clarke’s books [i forget which one] a story about a Bajan lady, transplanted to Canada, with concerns about the Banking system as she had suffered when the Penny Bank “burned down”, and according to the author, one Mr Toppin had immediately hightailed it to the USA.
I don’t know the exact family ties between the initial founding shareholders of the Penny Bank and political families?
Well the system requires govt to solve problems
Reason why people vote for change of govts when they are not satisfied with the way a govt is handling countries problems socially or economically
People voices are necessary as advocates towards change but not necessarily required though free to speak out on whatever the issue
Hey folks and Maduro lovers look what is taking place Venezuela
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155756506546573&id=684711572
Is there a collective CARICOM foreign policy? Of CARICOM member-states, which ones recognise Maduro’s election as president of Venezuela? Which ones recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state? If we have collective foreign policy is there a joint CARICOM office in Brussels? Or Geneva? Why is CARICOM not meeting with the OECD (the irony is that the OECD is the rich nations club)?
Still waiting to hear.
NorthernObserver
January 22, 2019 9:52 PM
@John
what was the connection, other than name, between the Penny Bank (Trinidad Co-operative) in Trinidad and the Penny bank (Barbados Co-operative) in Barbados?
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I have always wondered myself!!
Who was Winston O. Haynes?
Canada, once more interfering with the internal affairs of another country, has recognised the Opposition leader as president of Venezuela. What says CARICOM?
Now that Pres. Trump has recognized the Leader of the Opposition in Venezuela as the ‘people’s real president’ can we expect action similar to what took place in Panama and Grenada?
Venezuela still has loads of oil reserves which can be commandeered to pay for the cost of the military invasion and rebuilding of the country.
But would it be like Iraq Afghanistan?
Or would it be like asking Mexico to pay for a wall of soldiers similar to a Roman occupation building and defending Hadrian’s wall?
Wannabe DICTATORS…always bring this on themselves…be warned..
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/23/enezuela-trump-president-juan-guaido-maduro-recognition-news-latest
Hope the intent is not to make Venezuela pay fo the dummy trump’s wall.
Errol Barrow wake up. This country is in crisis. The mirror image gets uglier and uglier everday with daily shootings in broad daylight
Country lacking in leadership
Errol what are your thoughts on a leader hanging out with known low lifes.
Jesus take the wheel.
Why don’t you let Barrow’s ashes rest in peace at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean?
What is happening in Barbados in none of Barrow’s business.
And he has no solutions to offer.
Wunna D’s too believe in government by duppy.
What is the collective CARICOM position on Venezuela? What is the official Barbados position on Venezuela?
Hal
You are wasting your time!!
… then again, maybe not.
The more idiotic among us who are programmed to make party political statements about EWB may actually start to think.
The answers to your questions cannot be programmed!!
Winston O. Haynes was a solicitor in practice in High Street who operated in a partnership, Haynes and Griffith!!
And the Tudor mentioned is the father of Joe Tudor, still r-e-a-c-h-i-n-g to find the point in all this. Seems Symmonds was both the largest shareholder (initial) and the CEO.
The facade calls Caricom is not what Errol Barrow envisioned for tge Carribbean people
What we have as Caricom is a bunch of tin horn dictators relentless in their pursuit of power.
Dire situation
group of Venezuelans living in Barbados is accusing local dignitaries of deliberately spreading propaganda on behalf of the Venezuelan government by returning with fake news reports on the country’s situation after government-sponsored trips to the country.
Upset Venezuelans told Barbados TODAY that the “propaganda” was intended to give the impression that “everything is fine and dandy” in the country, which is widely reported as being in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, fuelled by a dictator
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The local group came together near Accra Beach to protest the tenure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – joining thousands of their countrymen living in 70 countries around the world, who are demanding that he be removed from office.
Political activists, including Barbados’ ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), David Commissiong and General Secretary of the Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee, David Denny, have on numerous occasions defended the Maduro-led government of Venezuela amid continued criticism.
However, some Venezuelans living in Barbados say their families are suffering in Venezuela and have dismissed the accounts of local activists.
“A lot of local dignitaries say Venezuela is fantastic, but I invite them and I have invited them on social media, to go to Venezuela and live with a Venezuelan family. Take your wife with you and when your wife is going through that time of the month that every lady goes through, take her to a supermarket to find sanitary napkins. Take your child with you and when he gets a headache, try to get aspirin for the child; you won’t find it,” said Jose Zerba, who has been living in Barbados for over 30 years since migrating from Venezuela.
Instead, Zerba accused the local dignitaries of doing a disservice with their accounts of the situation in the country
The government of Venezuela will invite you to Venezuela for a week, so that you can come back and talk about Venezuela. You’re going to fly first class if you don’t go on a private aircraft. You’re going to stay as a guest of the government. You’re going to get all three of your meals and if you want champagne with breakfast, you can have that along with a private car to pick you up and take you where you want to go,” he said.
Earlier this month, a number of Barbadians travelled to Venezuela to attend the January 10th Presidential Inauguration of Nicolas Maduro and reported that the election process was fair, despite reports from countless international media that the election was rigged.
Maria Gloumeau, another Venezuelan protester, however, told Barbados TODAY that their families were “dying and crying” and when they go against the government are being killed and imprisoned.
“We are supporting our Venezuelan people to take out Mr. Nicolas Maduro who has taken presidency as a dictator because he was not elected by the people.
“The news that comes from Barbadians who go to Venezuela is usually from people who are taken there by the government. They see a different country to what exists. There’s no medicine, there’s no food, there’s a lot of insecurity, there’s nothing,” she said in despair.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2019/01/23/dire-situation-2/
YOU CAN FOOL SOME BAJANS SOMETIMES BUT NOT ALL BAJANS ALL THE TIME.
THERE IS A REASON BAJANS HAVE NEVER ELECTED COMMISSIONG AND HIS ASSOCIATES.
But he is ambassador …
when Mottley was made PM he got a little closer to one of his ambitions
Having political clout throughout the Carribbean
As a matter of fact his ear is much closer to knowning what is going on through out the carribbean nations than before
Say what you like about Commisiong he is a chameleon
Britain ,once more interfering with the internal affairs of another country, has recognised the Opposition leader as president of Venezuela. What says CARICOM?
Hal, I guess we have an answer on CARICOM’s Collective Foreign Policy … CCFP!!
http://www.msn.com/en-xl/latinamerica/latinamerica-top-stories/as-crisis-in-venezuela-escalates-caribbean-nations-take-sides-haiti-joins-us/ar-BBSKsCq?li=BBKxOeO&ocid=spartandhp
…. we now await our Ambassador’s words!!
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Hilbourne Watson’s political biography of Barrow is now in the shops. This is what our so-called political scientists should be doing, writing up our history.