Dear Underground, attached you will find a letter outlining concessions given to a developer in September 2016 with regard to Westmoreland Hills Development.
This development received exemption from VAT and Import Duties in respect of the supplies imported or purchased out of a bonded warehouse.
Exemption from the payment of National Social Responsibility Levy with the presentation of a certificate from the project manager.
Exemption from the payment of Import Duties, Excise Tax, NSRL and VAT on the vehicles and construction equipment (see attachment).
Exemption from the payment of VAT on the provision of services directly related to the project.
Exemption from the payment of corporation tax on income accruing to the company for a period of five years with effect from 29 June 2016.
Exemption from the payment of Property Transfer Tax and Stamp Duty in respect of the initial sale of villas/townhouses being constructed to purchasers.
Exemption from the payment of Withholding Tax for a period of five years effective 29 June 2016 in respect of dividends paid by the company to its non-resident shareholders; and fees paid to non-residents who are contracted to provide management services or technical skills.
Exemption from the payment of VAT and import duties for non-resident employees on their personal and household effects and motor vehicles.
Now could someone from the Ministry of Finance say if any of the sales revenue on this project is coming to Barbados and why would all of these concessions be given?
this is par for the course, nothing to shout about here. These concessions are given by the GoB. The Min of Finance whoever they may be; have done this in the past and will surely do something like this in the future.
let us not confuse capitalism with socialism or communism or patriotism or nationalism.
Just my take.
More COMPLAINTS about corrupt governments…
let’s not confuse bribery and corruption with anything else..
….the squatters are being offered 25,000 AND NO LAND…to relocate….don’t know what that pittance can do for black people with families…but that is what ya get with governments whose sole reason to EXIST…is to enrich everyone else but their own people.
….. these rats will continue to take these same people’s tax dollars/pension money to give away…and the blind see absolutely nothing wrong with that.
The transfer of wealth from the poor to the wealthy. This is perverse; it shows a government that has no idea of economic policy and one that has lost its moral moorings. The corrupt policy does not only apply to the company corporate, but also to its foreign employees and their relatives. Barbadians have been bullied in to silence by a President who believes she has a sense of entitlement and knows best. This is like gangster capitalism.
It will end in tears; Barbados is a failed state.
Who is the president? What does Trump have to do with the matter posted?
The document proves once again that Barrow, as founder of the DLP, was not a national saint, but the founder of a plantation where the black masses are exploited under the supervision of a small blue corrupt elite.
Barrow’s welfare state is not a blessing to the masses, but an economic concentration camp.
Nor should we forget, with all the concessions, that tariffs for imports are far too high. The concession should therefore become the rule. No company in Barbados is even close to being competitive with such high tariffs.
Import duties only serve to protect the worthless Barbados dollar, to conceal the unproductiveness of the locals and to maintain the illusion of prosperity for particularly naïve locals.
Like many things in the Caribbean, economic decisions in politics very rarely follow rational considerations, but a false sense of entitlement, fed by Barrow’s delusion of the Barbadian welfare state.
It would therefore be best if Barbados immediately withdrew from the World Trade Organisation, since Barbados obviously rejects free world trade.
Hal Austin
Corporate income tax exemptions, property tax refunds, excise and sales tax rebates, government grants, and various other fiscal incentives are offered as inducements to investors in virtually every state of the USA and every province and territory in Canada.
Exemptions from customs duties are popular incentives in many Asian and Latin American countries.
The European Union also makes limited use of tax breaks to lower the cost of doing business, particularly in eastern Europe.
Without detailed inside information, it is almost impossible to say whether any particular incentives package in Barbados is justified or over-generous. The devil is always in the details. To argue, however, on the basis of a few scraps of information, that the use of incentives is “corrupt”, or that it is “gangster capitalism” is utterly foolish. I distinctly remember the case of Intel Corp, which closed its doors after its tax concessions were not renewed. The proper conclusion to be drawn from that fiasco is that sometimes tax benefits are an indispensable tool for economic development.
If you have better ideas, let’s hear them.
What we can argue about is the lack of transparency surrounding deals like this one and many others.
If I am a coconut vendor, I must register with BRA so as to pay my “fear” share of taxes. Shoemaker, fisherman, small business, food vendor – “fear” share of taxes. As a pensioner, property owner, clerk or typist, I have to pay my “fear” share share of taxes. We are taxed through our ears, eyes, noses and a*ses for garbage collection that we don’t get, water rates to replace mains that aren’t replaced, public transportation that is unreliable or in some cases non-existent, duties on cars that border on the criminal – pay your “fear” share we are told.
And then this sh*t is going on and probably will continue to happen under this administration.
Well, watch muh.
@David
“Who is the president? What does Trump have to do with the matter posted?”
Are you so IGNORANT that you cannot read between the lines and RATIONALIZE, Barbados problems in a nutshell.
@ Ewart Archer August 22, 2019 6:22 AM
Dear Ewart,
Thank you very much for your profound contribution. Yes, the devil is in the detail. Unfortunately, the downward trend in currency reserves shows that the tax subsidy to the tourism industry is not working properly.
It would be too much to ask that the tourism industry could feed the whole island, with about 30,000 lethargic civil servants, many pensioners, and all the unemployed and welfare recipients.
Barbados is unfortunately divided into two parts. On the one hand the employees in the tourism industry have to work hard, on the other hand many arrogant civil servants suffer from sleeping sickness. The laziness of the civil service is destroying any progress in productivity in tourism.
Another government shame and disgrace, if this Rock Hall issue is 18 years old, it STRADDLES…both useless governments who am sure used the squatting issue as a political football every day for those 18 years and STILL are…despite the imminent DANGERS to everyone involved.
https://www.facebook.com/100005986451739/posts/1098005983742273/
Smoke and a Mirrors while corruption by political operatives continue. #RFLMAO no wonder no ITAL or FOIA are you all so gullible billy goats?
@ Ewart Archer
I am not interested in US states or Canadian provinces. You are wrong, but I do not want to get in to an argument. I suggest you go back to the 1960s Barrow government and the tax incentives we gave companies like Texas Instruments and what happened at the expiry of the tax free periods. Check the list of exemptions given to Westmoreland Hills, a property development, again and think of the cost/benefit to the nation.
@Tron August 22, 2019 7:08 AM “It would be too much to ask that the tourism industry could feed the whole island, with…many pensioners…Barbados is unfortunately divided into two parts. On the one hand the employees in the tourism industry have to work hard.”
Te’k ya dirty mouth offa this pensioner. Do not delude yourself nor others that I am being supported by the employees in the tourism sector. I have worked hard all of my life from a 4 year old picking pond grass, to years with very, very demanding employers, to now being a pensioner but still doing productive work growing food for myself and others. I grow more food each year than I can possibly consume. And this does not even include my very significant life giving volunteer work.
Pensioners are NOT dependents. Most of us have worked for up to 50 years and funded our own pittance.
We are entitled. It is OUR MONEY.
Bear in mind that the tourism sector borrows from the NIS. I have never borrowed a cent from the NIS, nor from the taxpayers. I owe them institution NOTHING.
They owe me.
Incentives are a means for States to encourage development and employee locals, however these must be be CAREFUĹLY ASSESSED WITH RESPECT TO COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. In the case of Barbados it would appear that most if not all these incentives(concessions) are attached to corrupt KICKBACKS to local political elite.
@SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife-August 22, 2019 8:19 AM :
You tell ’em……. many of us pensioners built up the NIS when we were working and contributing…. and we still contribute indirectly, pay taxes, etc. Too many of our current workforce, their employers and successive governments abuse what we built-up ….. my conscience free!!
I have never had to depend on a blighted tourism product to survive anywhere, it is ugly that generations have wasted their lives depending on this go nowhere means of income …when all ya get are COMPLAINTS..of discriminaltion, racism and disenfranchisement practiced against those caught in this trap of dependency.
Like
charles Skeete August 22, 2019 9:53 AM
Somehow i have no difficulty with the concessions as long as the granting of such translate into tangible benefits for the country and people. My question to the economic gurus like Vincent on the blog is
Have they?
@Tron
Can’t agree with you on the pensioners being a burden. They have contributed now they have every right to receive. The bloated civil services I agree with you still needs to be addressed however.
The biggest issue we have still not dealt with though, is an indirect taxation system that has more leaks in it than a big hole Strainer, which for whatever reason both parties have refused to fix.
Look at what was just done where we “rewarded” those that did not pay vat by forgiving them! Hundreds of millions in VAT owed to BRA just written off because we couldn’t be bothered to collect it. I have said the VAT owed and not paid in by merchants can be collected very easily, if you want to that is. Just advise all importers if their vat is not brought up to date in 60 days, customs will not clear their incoming shipments. Do that and watch them scamper like rats to pay it. But instead we will leave it so and in 5 years have another “forgiveness” again no doubt. In the meantime we will create a few more new forms of direct taxation to place on the backs of overtaxed Bajans to try and make up for the VAT we will forgive others.
Talk about a plan founded in economic lunacy!
Forget to add above if we collected taxes Like the VAT we are owed and the duties that slip through the net at the ports of entry, we would also be in a better financial position to offer development incentives.
Tron
We can both agree that in most countries, if you’re looking for an easy job, you should check out what the government has to offer.
Recently, a Canadian study compared the compensation of government and private sector employees in the province of Ontario. The findings:
Government salaries were on average nearly 10% higher than salaries for comparable private sector positions; Government workers took more time off for personal reasons and retired from the work force earlier than private sector workers; and most Government workers received a defined benefit pension, while most private sector workers received no pension at all.
Hal Austin
Back in the 1970s, some developers from New York met in Grenada with the then prime minister Eric Gairy. The rumour at the time was that Gairy collected a hefty (undisclosed) cash payment as consideration for approving any capital project on the island.
In 1976, various tax concessions were enacted in legislation launching St. George’s University, the first offshore medical school in the eastern Caribbean. Today, SGU has 7,000 students, and is one of the principal drivers of the Grenada economy.
That is how things usually work in the real world.
Clarification: All Canadians are eligible on retirement for public benefits under the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security Program and Guaranteed Income Supplement Program. However, the CPP is a contributary pension scheme, and the GIS has strict requirements that exclude all but the poorest Canadians. Moreover, the combined benefits available to individuals under CPP/OAS/GIS are usually not enough to live on.
Personally I don’t see one thing to complain about in respect to the letter content.There are pluses and there are minuses and in my opinion the pluses outnumber the minuses.I think there should be more transparency in these concessionary building stock and plant proposals but given the fools who repeatedly talk about failed state and live in one of the centuries biggest failed states and the crap that it will all end in tears,please spare us the garbage and write the editor of the Mirror instead.The UK in bigger doo doo than Barbados by far.
@ Ewart Archer,
You seem like a young man. Stop falling in to the Bajan habit of repeating the unsubstantiated nonsense about cash passing hands and stick to the facts. You do not know if Gairy was bribed or not. He was never charged and was not convicted in any court of law.
The reality is if the offshore university was/is good for the economy and reputation of Grenada or not? To corrupt Bill Clinton’s phrase, it is the policy stupid. Do you remember when the US Southern command invaded Grenada, a sovereign state?
What is not clear about the above letter is that Cliff Tops has VAT exemption for purchases, but does this carry over in to the collection of VAT? Or, if a firm is not paying VAT on purchases can it charge VAT on its sales and services? Is it a universal import tax exemption, or a selective one for certain imports? Whose responsibility is it to monitor exemption for NSRL? Is a certificate from the project manager enough? Who employs the project manager? Is there a conflict of interests?
What happens to the tax exempt vehicles and construction equipment at the end of the development, are they simply written off? With a five-year exemption from corporation tax, how long would the development take?
What in realty would be the real cost of the property transfer and stamp duty taxes on properties valued in the millions of Barbados dollars each?
What is the thinking behind VAT exemptions for the relatives and households of non-resident employees of the project? What is the benefit to Barbados? What happens to the tax exempt vehicles at the completion of the development? How many jobs, and what type, is this development projected to create?
@Tron, why don’t we shoot pensioners for tourists’ entertainment? Elderly, naked black men and women at the top of Broad Street every Sunday evening; build seats for the spectators? No, on second thoughts, just the poor ones?
@Ewart Archer
You forgot to mention that if your net income is over $70k, the government takes back the OAS from pensioners.
Many of these concessions are given in the hope that the projects will create employment. Why is it so difficult to realize this simple fact ?
” Mottley will be honoured as trailblazer in politics. She was the first woman elected to lead the Barbados Labour Party, and went on to serve as the first female Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados. She is also recognised for her work in spearheading the Education Sector Enhancement Programme, which aims to increase the amount of young people contributing to the social and economic development of the country through school facility and technology rehabilitation, along with teacher training and curriculum reform.”
Mia Mottley is a dyed-in-the-wool political animal cut of the same cloth as Tom Adams and displaying the same quailities as Errol Barrow in so far as the desire to put Barbados on a solid economic footing bearing in mind the ridiculous state of affairs her party inherited on May 25th 2018.
The electorate made the most damning political electoral statement ever made in the history of Barbados that will forever condemn Freundel Staurt among other things an incompetent fool of massive proportions and a political misfit if ever Barbados produced one,not to mention a liar without shame.To lose all 30 seats,to lose every constituency box save 2 in St John is enough to have him repair in self imposed exile to somewhere far and away from his native home.
By the way I almost puked when I heard Corey Layne allow the duppy clown from St Lucy kellman speak on Brasstacks yesterday.I turned off my radio in disgust.These azzoles are bad dreams.Barbados has enough of the Democratic Labour Party.Never ever again wunna will rule dis cuntree.Never again ,wunna hoes and primps and chopsutters.Get lost!
@Ewart Archer August 22, 2019 12:22 PM “Moreover, the combined benefits available to individuals under CPP/OAS/GIS are usually not enough to live on.”
So how on earth do low income Canadian pensioners survive then?
Maximum CPP amount: $1,154.58
Old age security, everybody gets this: $607.46
Guaranteed income supplement if you are a single, widowed or divorced pensioner: $907.30
More here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/payments.html
When you read the high grade virgin shite from Gabriel you see the cruel hypocrisy embedded in our society.
Transparency International is a respected global organization similar to Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and the credit rating agencies.
Moody and Standard and Poor’s downgraded Barbados numerous times and the Gabriel’s, the brown nosing blog owners and sycophants cheered lustily as if they won lotto.
They hailed the agencies as reflecting the true state of the economy and poor fiscal policies of former government.
When Transparency International upgraded Barbados every year during the same period for being among the least corrupt countries in the world and the least corrupt in the West and the Caribbean they dismiss or ignore the ratings.
Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s and the IMF are correct and their sister agency Transparency International is wrong.
You cant cherry pick results dependent on which political party’s arse you licking.
These agencies have international stature and are run by the same white foreigners to whom Gabriel, John and other motley collection of racists and uncle Toms pay homage.
Show us how Transparency International got it wrong repeatedly listing Barbados as one of the least corrupt on the planet but Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s are perfectly right in downgrading Barbados tens of times.
You cant have it both ways over to the fowls to clear up this stinking nasty contradiction.
The Biggest Scam In The History Of Mankind – Hidden Secrets of Money
https://youtu.be/iFDe5kUUyT0
Providing all manner of concessions for these kind of invetments shows how desperate we are. These kind of development add only marginal benefits if any at all. No wonder the the widening gap in income inequality.
Our desperation for any kind of investment at any cost will one day lead to us courting even used car importers.
SirSimpleSimon
Most Canadians use special private bank accounts to save for retirement. The account balances are usually invested in the stock market, and the government does not tax the income and capital gains accumulated in these accounts during an individual’s working life.
Is censorship now the policy on BU? Whatever happened to the free market of ideas? Why is my response to his Natalie Crichlow post not published?
A simple exercise: Do an in-depth study of all the problems we are facing to determine how many years they have been evolving.
The result would be that all of them were present under both administrations . Water shortages , poor public transportation, inadequate garbage disposal techniques and the perpetual housing crisis including the now hot topic squatting.
Having done that take an objective look at those who were in Parliament and we’re either in government, opposition or cabinet.
How can they now claim whether they are in or out of parliament, that they were unaware of these multitude of problems .
Hypocrisy is embedded in our country. These political parasites have collectively ruin the country and now both inside and outside of parliament they come daily with crocodile tears to a public that appears to be extremely gullible.
I looked in the Nation this morning and saw the faces of those seeking help with sending their children back to school. Look at them closely and perhaps pure common sense would reveal who really suffering in this country.
And then to come on BU and read the nonsense that some delight in writing really make you believe that our country has been invaded by aliens who just happen to look like us.
The Duopoly Rules
@William
Not to ignore your point which is real but you are aware in the most affluent of societies, check where you are for example, the poor and vulnerable exist?
You need therefore to breakdown the observation, to generalize is a cop out.
@ David
Need I remind you that I am a Barbadian regardless of where I am or am not.
If you want me to say that they are all Black or ninety nine per cent Black. They are.
You certainly do not know me. What cop out you talking about? Outside of WARU very few on this blog even like to talk about the influence of race on our socio economic landscape.
I have publicly identified and castigated the most powerful white Barbadians in the pages of the Nation and Advocate as recently as a mere two years ago and such offerings go back well over forty years. Where I am is of no significance.
My position remains that the traditional corporate elite in Barbados is not that patriotic. They pretend that they all exist in a state of perpetual penury. As WARU often states, almost daily, with the help of the political class and its lackeys.
@William
Do not spout nonsense. There was a time when BFP was active BU was branded a racist blog.
And the beat of WASTING taxpayer’s money goes on…probably have to find the right CROOK to get those kickbacks….as i said about 2 months ago Sam Lords Castle project got shut down and people were told to ASK Mia..
William…there were some evil bajan and other white racists on here spouting all their garbage ..trying to prevent their RACISM from being exposed…….until they were chased off….we already know that dumbed down black bajans..HATE TO ADDRESS THE RACISM PRACTICED AGAINST THEMSELVES by their wicked governments and lowlife minorities…….even if it kills them..
https://youtu.be/oYJnMB1idaE?list=PLf0Sp7jJwZzstE5lDjRolktq_VmGZsAvK
With limited beach,was this hotel not too large?
The machinations of the not so dark shadows. The headline in the Sunday Sun AND the DLP conference being held today. Interesting.
No surprise with Arthur in the limelight. Former Prime Ministers can be “ contracted” as well. Consultancies and contract work are the ways of political/ business class.
Arthur is very qualified for this piece of work.
The Duopoly Rules
@ David BU
OSA’s appointment is a very good choice. He has one of sharpest minds in the CARICOM region wrt Transforming Very Small Economies. This should bring some focus on the real issues. The grey areas of Global Warming and other natural vulnerabilities are not really susceptible to economic prescriptions.
These colonial minded lackeys who do not have the best interest of the majority population at heart should not be chairing anything to do with Black people’s wellbeing…
just look at the corruption and utter destruction Arthur too left in his wake…transport board…CGI insurance SCAM…just to name one..
OSA’s appointment creates a vacuum in the de facto ” opposition “.
A master class political move.
Buh doan mine me. wha i tink doan matter.
@Vincent
Let us hope he takes to a statemans role. Some are tired of the fractious approach to dealing with matters.
https://www.legit.ng/1241309-swedish-politicians-official-cars-offices-titles-public-trains.html?fbclid=IwAR07K7rzwOK3dsb3iwCAh3irqmxXADmzFUhx–IDBbQMJroSIKEV4_SQPBw
these are REAL POLITICIANS ..and representatives of the people in the REAL WORLD…, not ya hand to mouth shitehounds in Barbados pretending to be royalty, pretending to be higher up and better off than the people who elected them, as soon as they are elected…. when all they are good for is ..LOOKING FOR THE NEXT SCAM…or opportunity to sell out their own..materialistic asses with no substance..
@ Vincent Codrington
Do you care to say how Arthur “transformed” our small economy
WORTH READING TWICE…so the uppity negros who believie they are suddenly elevated above their people once elected can SEE WHAT REAL LEADERSHIP IS.
..always ready to sue…yall should be in goddamn PRISON…..YA FRAUDS….taking advantage of a weak ass colonial system that is not fit for purpose, never was…
“As interesting as it may sounds, Sweden does not offer luxury or privileges to its politicians as they live like other ordinary citizens of the country. Swedish ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) do not have official cars or private drivers, they travel and transport around like everyone else in crowded public buses and trains, Mail and Guardian reports.
Also, the Swedish ministers do not have any parliamentary immunity and are tried in court like anybody facing trail would be. Another interesting thing to note about the politicians is that they do not have private secretaries in their offices and their office are reportedly as small as 8m2. “I’m the one who pays the politicians, and I see no reason to give them a life of luxury,” Joakim Holm, a Swedish citizen said.
Politicians who spend public money on taxi rides instead of using the public train end on news headlines as even the speaker of the parliament has a card to use on public transport. Only the prime minister, however, has the luxury of using a car from the security forces on a permanent arrangement. The politicians also do not earn big as their salaries are just about two times more than that of an elementary school teacher. It is even way lower at the municipal level as Swedish councilors do not earn a salary or have an office, they work from home. Sweden is a country without excellences as it treats its public office holders as ordinary citizens without privileges. ”
Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1241309-swedish-politicians-official-cars-offices-titles-public-trains.html?fbclid=IwAR07K7rzwOK3dsb3iwCAh3irqmxXADmzFUhx–IDBbQMJroSIKEV4_SQPBw
If we were to ignore Erskine Sandiford, Owen Arthur was the first trained economist to be prime minster of Barbados and he was in charge for 14 consecutive years.
Thatcher was prime minster of the UK for 11 years; compare the two regimes. Thatcherism has left an impact, for good or bad, on UK society. Has Arthurism?
This needs looking into across the Caribbean and PARTICULARLY IN BARBADOS…i have never met such a bunch of nasty, repulsive, stinking arrogant lowlifes as the ministers/politicians/lawyers in Barbados once they are elected to PUBLIC OFFICE…it is a damn disgrace that they are even allowed access to taxpayer’s money AND pensions too…with their wicked, criminal attitudes toward their own people.
AND..it should NOT be allowed to continue.
It is time the PEOPLE who pay their salaries…TAKE A STAND….and rid themselves of these blights and stains on the island…until new politicins develop a better attitude….devoid of the colonial bullshit with the added twist of evil these backward lot in the parliament now pracitce..
He has one of sharpest minds in the CARICOM region wrt Transforming Very Small Economies
Can someone please point out to the Dullard – with real evidence – how Mr. Arthur transformed the Barbados economy?
Many thanks!
@ Dullard August 25, 2019 5:05 PM
Tron tells you. OSA has inflated the formerly lean state administration to such an extent that Barbados is no longer a market economy, but a socialist madhouse with a huge backlog of human “resources” in the bureaucracy. So OSA has transformed Barbados. I am really glad that our honourable Preminier Minister does not rely on his advice. OSA knows as much about bureaucracy as Burnham knows about statesmanship.
In contrast, Lord Sandiford was the only Prime so far who had the courage to fight the Kraken called bureaucracy and thin out the public service. Thank you Sandi!
@ David at 1 :08 PM
I am of the opinion that in this appointment OSA has no other choice than to behave as a technocrat. It is not a political assignment. Thus far in his career as an economist he has little if anything to be ashamed of. He has lived up to my expectations. He played the cards dealt to him with finesse. The historical record is there for all to see.
@Vincent
He has a choice how he wants to be recorded in history. The ball is in his court.
@ Hal Austin
PM Tom Adams studied Politics ,Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. EWB graduated with BSc (econ) from LSE London University.. Whereas the latter did not specialize in Economics, he would have taken enough electives to understand the intricacies of economics. Moreover they applied what they knew to the effective management of Barbados.
@ Vincent
All students of PPE do not specialise in economics. Look at David Cameron. Barrow was a student at LSE when Arthur Lewis was a don; discuss. In any case, |I do not consider undergraduate economics to be ‘training’; it is a mere introduction.
Arthur was the first trained economist to be prime minister of Barbados. As to being ashamed, what did he deliver after 14 consecutive years of stewardship of the economy. During those years Barbados underperformed the regional and global economies.
I have said before, Arthur’s great contribution to Barbados and Barbadian history, is to write: on CARICOM, his autobiography, on politics in a small island nation, etc. He has a big story to tell. He should walk away from the public stage.
I am sure he is not doing it for the money, since his pension is 100 per cent of his salary as prime minister.
@ Hal
OSA has played his part. I hope you have played your part.There are no Bajans in public life that pass your tests of achievement.It is a good thing that you have no clout.
@ Vincent
My test is not the individual, but the achievable. Without miracles, Barbados should be doing much better. I have no clout, I do not want any clout. I am just not prepared to compromise on what is achievable. Barbados deserves the best.
@David
Handing out tax and duty concessions by Sinckler is one thing but taking up tax payers money and compulsorily acquiring lands of one private sector player so as to give it, free-of-cost, to a private sector hotel developer, is a whole different kettle of fish. Hyatt is on high!!
OH CANADA.
” During a heated discussion on VOB’s popular Down to Brasstacks call-in show, Williams called in to declare that ahead of a sale of the polo club and adjoining golf course to Canadian entrepreneur Glen Chamandy, the development was not “in bush, like Lion Castle”.
Sir Charles said: “Apes Hill Polo Club is very much still active and properly groomed and in excellent condition.”
While admitting the 470-acre Apes Hill Golf Course was initially at risk of deterioration, the developer credited Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s intervention in getting the property sold to the Canadian businessman, who said he would revitalise the property.”
@ David,
So much happening its hard to keep up eh !
@Hants
All the result of mismanaging our affairs for many years now.