Barbados Gone Dark
The following is a statement issued by the MD of Barbados Light & Power a few minutes ago. Prime Minister Mia Mottley has demanded a meeting with the Chairman of EMERA this evening.
Several stories have been floating about social media in the last 24 hours, BU will stay with the official positions issued by the BL&P for the moment.
Roger Blackman, Managing Director of BLPC
The Barbados Light & Power Company Limited (BLPC) wishes to update Barbadians on the electricity outages that have occurred this week. We recognise that this affects our nation’s productivity and ability to serve your own customers and clients. For this, we sincerely apologise and wish to assure you that we are taking this very seriously. Our teams are assiduously working to bring full restoration back to our island.
BLPC uses Heavy Fuel Oil to produce electricity to meet the needs of our customers. At present, we are experiencing a Heavy Fuel Oil quality issue, which has been plaguing us for an extended period. The presence of contaminants detected in the Heavy Fuel Oil is the main cause of the challenges we are experiencing.
The outage events which occurred this week are extraordinary events originating with a switch failure in one of our Spring Garden substations, and during that restoration process, a second event occurred on Tuesday morning with a fault on one of our generating units. In both cases system protection response is being investigated.
Over the past few months, to compound the restoration and supply issues, we have been investigating oil quality issues which are prematurely damaging equipment used to feed oil to our generating units. At present, generating units that we would normally rely on to supply electricity demand have periodically been shutting down due to the fuel issues and this has slowed the pace of restoration.
We are working with our fuel supplier and other stakeholders to hone in upon the specific cause and source of potential contamination from their suppliers, which is ongoing. We have been staying ahead of these issues while we completed other maintenance and repairs to the remainder of our generating fleet, however, this week highlighted the challenge we have been working through to prevent such an event from occurring.
We wish to thank you for your patience, support and encouraging words as we work through this period. We are meeting with the Prime Minister, other Government officials and the Barbados Water Authority this evening to give a comprehensive update and to provide an update on our status and plans going forward to resolve our challenges. We will of course keep you updated of any significant changes as things evolve.
The Chairman of our Board Rick Janega from Emera is on island and will be a part of the meeting with government.
@ peterlawrencethompson November 20, 2019 7:46 AM
Your point is noted. However in sampling inspection there are three inspection levels employed: Normal. reduced and tightened. Reduced level of inspection is used when the supplier is of long standing and tightened when the supplier is new .Even with reduced sampling inspection, the onus is still on the buyer to implement his own in-house testing. As for testing for ketones and aldehydes one would expect such to be the norm, since crude oil would contain these derivatives, Let me again emphasize that the buyer sets the specifications needed not the supplier. The buyer in this case BL and P is sloppy if it did not include the absence of ketones and aldehydes in its specifications. under HACCP/ISO 9000 the onus lies with the buyer.
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@ PLT
The problem runs deep here. In my view when you have ANY monopoly responsible for essential services, they should not be given the right to undertake their own operation blindly. There should be in place the requirement at least on an annual basis, for a state review by a board of independant engineers.
If I can’t instal an elevator without it being certified by the state, how can an entity as critical as water or electricity get away with it on an annual basis?
My reason for having an indpendant annual certification body is that we can then go to the next step and introduce hourly fines to any entities who fail to supply service as a result of poor maintenance, or the disregard for addressing discrepancies listed in their annual survey.
I even got office space for them in Green Hill as the FTC could easily vacate the building as they ain t serving no purpose anyhow.
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@ David.
The NIS is a whole other can of worms for another day for sure! You know my concerns there already.
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@John A
Do you admit BL&P is headed by our brightest Bajans? Williams is Chairman and Blackman is Managing Director. You are following this train of thought? Where does it lead?
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@ David.
You mean where has it already lead! Lol
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peterlawrencethompsonNovember 20, 2019 10:16 AM
@DonnaNovember 20, 2019 9:52 AM
“Seems like a good reason to kick their asses off and bring in somebody else.”
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Any other private sector replacement for Emera is going to behave exactly as badly as they have. That’s how capitalism works. If you want a different outcome you have to change the structure of the utility. If a public utility is privately owned then the private profitability will always trump the public interest.
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That is why we are supposed to have effective regulators. It is a battle we are fighting. Surely the government can regulate a utility company! How hard can it be?
These people were allowed to operate on ALL OLD EQUIPMENT PAST RETIREMENT AGE. Surely we can keep a check on when last they purchased equipment! Surely we can match the equipment against the expected useful life! Surely we can carry out inspections or hire somebody who can!
How hard can it be?
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DonnaNovember 20, 2019 10:52 AM
“…we are supposed to have effective regulators.”
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The ONLY thing that a regulator can do is enforce written regulations. There are no written regulations which speak to the age of the generation infrastructure, just regulations which specify standards of service and penalties for failing to meet the specified standards. You can read the most recent Annual Standards of Service Report here:
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@ Donna
Don’t worry my blog above fixes all of this when I form my new “”Department of Oversight ” I going now and call Grenville and see if he want a little pick”😊
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@ PLT
Regulators in developed countries have powers to order a correction of the wrong within a deadline and/or fine the individual or company. They also have powers to ban individuals and companies. They also must approve all influential appointments ie all executive staff. If not, why have regulators?
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This is a govt that made promises to correct all the past efficiencies if elected
But here barbados is today a failed state
No water no electricity
helllo
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It seems as though some contributors are vying for the title of “professional critic,” since they are making certain assumptions without presenting any underlying support for their arguments, and then “intellectualizing” their criticisms in response to those assumptions.
How many of them took the time out the read NOT only information relative to compensation, but the ENTIRE information provided in the FTC’s Standards of Service Guidelines for the BL&P……. or sought clarification on how the FTC plans to deal with the “power outages?”
The political stooges put here to do a job on behalf of their political parties will obviously lay the blame of Emera/BL&P’s problems at the feet of their counterpart.
And who would be brave enough to ask Caswell Franklyn to explain how government selling its NIS shares in BL&P shares to Emera, is responsible for “Barbadians now paying the price with a rash of power cuts?”
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What regulators
Last thing u would find in banana Turd world republic
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@ Hal
Look back at our record of regulation and tell me where our regulators ever stepped up to the plate.
We can go from Clico to the Central Bank and back and the answer is the same. Our regulators are paid by the state and appointed by the state. They therefore are civil servants serving their time.
Regulation will only come when an independent body free from politics is put in place. Will it ever happen? Probably not.
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@Peter
The FTC has the authority during rate hearing exercises to attach decisions to conditions? On what basis does the regulator approve rate of return etc if the equipment and capital related cost; amortization etc are not factored? Would be good if Chris Halsall can add to this discussion.
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John A
To be fair, former acting Supervisor of Insurance Vernese Brathwaite “stepped up to the plate” as it relates to CLICO…… and was sent on special leave…… with pay.
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@ Artax
Yea that is true and confirms my point that to get true regulation we must move away from having them appointed by the state and paid by the state. They must be indpendant and free from political interference. As I said it will probably never happen though.
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@ Artax
What we need is a state oversight board that is made up of private specialist in various fields. So say a board has 8 members it may have say an engineer, an accountant, a retired senior manager from the BWA and light and power, a renewable energy person etc making up its membership. They will then do annual certifications in collaboration with the relevant entity.
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The current government is at fault. Why do we have to wait until 2030 for BL& P to fully implement clean/ renewable energy? Barbados needs renewable energy now . Corrupt politicians & officials at BL&P responsible.
Where is Minister Abrahams?
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@David November 20, 2019 11:18 AM
The FTC regulates to allow BL&P an approved regulated return on rate base of 10%. The can indeed write new regulations which impose new conditions which attach to their decisions, but if those conditions impose costs then revenues also have to be adjusted so that they meet the approved regulated return on rate base of 10%.
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@Peter
Are you saying conditions underpinning FTC decisions are hard coded based on the regulation? There is no wiggle room to determine rate of return based on state of BL&P plant?
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@ John A converted. We do not have competent or proper regulations. As to state appointed regulators, nothing wrong with that, but they must be independent by law, reporting annually to parliament. I will also give regulators power to prosecute. We are too dependent on the DPP.
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RE…akenatenI November 20, 2019 11:43 AM
“The current government is at fault. Why do we have to wait until 2030 for BL& P to fully implement clean/ renewable energy? Barbados needs renewable energy now…”
If we had PV now we would have no Electricity for Fifteen Hours out of a Twenty-four hour period and as far as I know even those with PV when the Power goes off also do not have Electricity. There has not been a Battery yet invented that can store the PV power that you and I can afford. So akenatenI you are wishing for a Suicide on Barbados. Call up all your friends that have PV power and ask them that when the power went off if they had power and please report back.
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Let’s for the moment give the BL&P the benefit of the doubt and say the problem is with the fuel.
How would regulators address such a problem?
If Emera functions to make a 10% rate of return then the state of their equipment is regulated from within.
When it breaks down they get no revenue.
So they make a negative rate of return.
But if they have no control over the fuel source and there are powers that be that dictate its origins, then we gets what we gets.
If I were them and was faced with running sub standard fuel through my capital equipment which would damage it I would shut it down until I could get the required fuel.
I would then apply to the FTC for a rate increase to assure myself of a 10% return on both the capital I had that operated with the fuel and the capital that did not work and was reducing my rate of return,
But they won’t do that because of the politics so they will accept a reduced rate of return for as long as is necessary for the politics to sort themselves out.
… and preserve and maintain the capital for a later date.
If all I could get was diesel at the pump and my car operated on gas I would stop driving my car!!
If all that was available was a gas that was known to destroy the carburetor in my car, I would also, stop driving till I got the right fuel.
We’ve been through all that already!!
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Look like the cocktail parties crowd, friends, bosom buddies, business partners are in the middle of a having out.
.
“Irvine Maloney
2 hrs
So guys
Here’s what the Senior Vice President of Emera Caribbean, which is basically the parent company of the Barbados Light and Power had to say. He just came back from a general meeting of the board, and apparently the BL&P knew this was going to happen years ago. Six years ago the BL&P noticed that their system and equipment were getting old and outdated, and they asked the government (the DLP at that time) for permission to build a newer plant in Trents, St Lucy. They didn’t get permission even though they warned the government that in a few years the equipment would become so old that it would stop working. When the BLP came into power, the BL&P tried again to build their plant up in Trents. But the Minister of Environmental Affairs said that Barbados is not investing any more money in burning fossil fuels, and that the BL&P would have to use a renewable source, which would be ten times more expensive and take a lot longer to construct. So it’s basically the government’s fault.
Also, the reason the BL&P have faulty fuel is because the DLP made them sign a contract with the Barbados Oil Company, which basically said if the BL&P wanted to continue operating in Barbados they would have to buy oil and fuel ONLY from the Barbados Oil Company, which does not provide fuel of the right quality for the job. One of the members of the board of the BL&P has tried to buy they Barbados Oil Company so that they can import the correct type of fuel, but Mia’s government stopped the sale. So the faulty fuel also isn’t their fault. They’ve tried refining it but, as I stated earlier, the equipment is too old to work efficiently.
ALSO, the BL&P has nothing, I repeat NOTHING to do with the water being off. The BL&P’s engineers and technicians visited the water authority years ago and told them what equipment they needed so that water could continue to be pumped EVEN IF the power was off. They even offered to buy and install the backup generators for them. But the water authority didn’t want the backlash in case something went wrong with the pumps, so they decided it was easier to let the BL&P take all the blame in case of a water shortage.
Basically it’s mainly the government’s fault, and Mia is on the radio telling us now isn’t the time to point fingers, it’s the time to get things fixed. But the BL&P cant fix this problem unless the permission for the plant in Trents and the oil company sale are given. It’s government’s fault, and the employees at the BL&P are suffering a lot of backlash for an issue that isn’t their fault.
Please spread this message so the public knows the truth that the government doesn’t want getting out.”+
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In the case of the BWA similar logic applies to contaminated water.
It might not damage their equipment but it would open them up to all sorts of litigation.
So just like sources of water used long ago were replaced because they were known to cause illnesses like cholera and Typhoid, new ways of getting purer water were found.
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We’ve made it to MSN!!
http://www.msn.com/en-xl/latinamerica/latinamerica-top-stories/barbados-suffers-second-day-of-major-power-outages/ar-BBX2rTA?ocid=spartandhp
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I seem to remember a time when all sorts of newer cars were breaking down side of the road in Barbados because of the fuel used by the owners and the newer engine technology that was present in these cars.
https://itstillruns.com/leaded-fuel-affect-catalytic-converters-7826145.html
How did we overcome the problem?
Change the fuel!!
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PLT,
Read those FTC reports yesterday. Thought they were sadly lacking.
I am reminded of the song “There’s a hole in the bucket.”
Then write them, dear somebody, dear somebody, dear somebody!
Then write them, dear somebody, dear somebody, write them!
How hard can it be?
Seems to me that the retirement age of the equipment is an estimate of its useful life. It should not have been a long stretch to assume that equipment past its retirement age would be “delicate” to borrow the word of Mr. Blackman of Emera in describing the situation.
This should have been anticipated by the FTC and recommendations should have been made to the Minister of Energy to include this in the regulations.
Suffice it to say that as a simple householder I understand that proper maintenance of equipment can extend the life of the some equipment for a short while past the norm but sooner, rather than later it shall stop dead.
If I were Minister of Energy with a monopoly provider of power to the island I would have thought of that. Mr. Abrahms cannot be blamed for this. He has had his hands full and it has only been eighteen months.
Artax,
A former boss of mine used to say, “When fools are talking they believe that fools are listening.”
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Emera Incorporated is a publicly traded energy company. As of 2018, it had revenues of more than $6.5 billion, and assets of $32 billion. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada,
Revenue: 6.5 billion CAD (2018)
Number of employees: 7,500 (2018)
Net income: 266 million CAD (2017)
I believe Emera Inc. will fix the BL&P problem short term while strategising a long term solution that is profitable for them.
As an aside, The PM is demonstrating that she is truly PRIME. She could fire half her ministers and no one would care.
Time to end this Minister in the Ministry of spin bowling.
Buh doan mine me. I jus writin my usual…..
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There is a photo voltaic farm in St. Lucy.
Huge from what I saw on the outside.
So let’s say BL&P replaced generating capacity with newer, cleaner etc etc generating capacity.
Retiring old equipment should then not be a problem?
https://xenogyre.com/2018/11/19/barbados-first-utility-scale-solar-pv-farm/
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So, who owns Trents now?
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https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/141588/solar-farm-saving-millions
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If large acreages of land are converted for solar farms the issue of heavy rainfall and water runoff become a biggy!!
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BNOTCL imported heavily contaminated quality fuel from PetroJam . The head of the BNOTCL is at fault for this catastrophe. They never tested the quality.
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Correction:
….heavily contaminated fuel
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Boss lady leading from the front.
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3′
Barbados getting oil supply from Petrojam
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) says it is now getting its supply of oil from Petrojam in Jamaica, following the closure last November of the State-owned Petrotrin oil refinery in Trinidad and Tobago.
BNTCL Chairman Alex McDonald said the new agreement with Petrojam has resulted in Barbadians paying much less for fuel after the company had received several quotations and had been able to negotiate a better deal.
“It was much more competitive than the Petrotrin deal. The Petrojam, I can’t remember the actual number and I would not want to tell you the number that we negotiated for, but what the closure of the Petrotrin refinery did was allow us to actually get into a position where we could be very competitive,” McDonald said.
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@ Hal
My concern after all the talk is where do we go from here?
For Instance will we implement a system where each shipment of imported fuel must be lab tested before delivered?
Who would do this testing enema or the state?
Who in the future will be responsible for confirming essential service equipment is maintained to standard?
Will the BWA now seek funding to install generators at their main pumping stations?
Will the FTC be able under current legislation to fine the power company by the hour for service lost? If not will we make that doable?
In other words when we done bitching what is the next step going to be, or will we sit back and wait for round 2?
It amazes me how something so simple can be made so difficult.
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@ Hal
My concern after all the talk is where do we go from here?
For Instance will we implement a system where each shipment of imported fuel must be lab tested before delivered?
Who would do this testing enema or the state?
Who in the future will be responsible for confirming essential service equipment is maintained to standard?
Will the BWA now seek funding to install generators at their main pumping stations?
Will the FTC be able under current legislation to fine the power company by the hour for service lost? If not will we make that doable?
In other words when we done bitching what is the next step going to be, or will we sit back and wait for round 2?
It amazes me how something so simple can be made so difficult.
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This a a blogmaster disclaimer:
Many voice notes and WhatsApp messages are being floated in social media. Be aware the copy paste stuff posted to BU.
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@John
QA is standard in this scenario. How is it different to what the environmental unit does to the quality of water?
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David
November 20, 2019 1:11 PM
@John
QA is standard in this scenario. How is it different to what the environmental unit does to the quality of water?
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Translate, I will see if I can answer!!
Does the environmental unit do anything to the quality of water?
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Will the BWA now seek funding to install generators at their main pumping stations?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BWA deals with water!!!
Electricity and water don’t mix!!!!
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If PM is /was leading from the front how is it possible for PM not to have know the catastrophic possibilities of using cheap oil for running a country entire energy system
The PM as usual would jump to the frontline for photo op
However country needs to know what alternative solution that are viable in resolving this catastrophe with immediacy
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No sense BL&P getting into the pumping and distribution of water.
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If BNOC is able to foist unclean fuel on BL&P, maybe the numerous complaints that we, the ordinary motorists, made over the years were not entirely without merit.
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All fingers eventually points to present govt
A govt who in 18months have prefer quick fixes rather than planning and looking for long term solutions
Garbage in garbage out
Question When is the minister of the environment going to issue a press release on severity of the impact on tge sewer system
Or is he awaiting to hear a public outcry when sewage begins to back up in the pipe lines that are linked to homes
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@ John.
Your argument makes no sense. If their job is to distribute water and the distribution requires a stable supply of power, how can you say they should not ensure their revenue stream by installing generators?
The problem is the BWA does not look at what it does as a business, nor do they see water as a saleable commodity like say cheese or bread.
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@John
The environmental unit periodically test water quality no so?
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@John A
The BWA should have been weaned from BL&P power supply a long time ago given its strategic importance,
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@David
Yes sir and that is a failure of BOTH governments over the years.
Today is day 5 that most of St Thomas has been without water.
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David November 20, 2019 1:52 PM
“The BWA should have been weaned from BL&P power supply a long time ago given its strategic importance…”
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Easier said than done!
Without large customers like the BWA and QEH tied to its transmission grid- which is controlled effectively by its Spring Garden generating plant- how would Emera justify its recently acquired ROI ‘expected’ existence?
The BL&P is a monopoly in the ‘true’ sense of the word.
But ‘Size’ does matter when it comes to economies of scale for this kind of business profit model.
The Bajan electricity demand market is just not up to the scale to justify its long-term survival without large customers like BWA effectively tied to the BL&P grid.
It’s the previous government(s) which effectively gave away any control over the decision-making power of the BL&P just for a mess of forex pottage in order to keep the Bajan middleclass at the trough of imported conspicuous consumption.
Lady Karma is just paying Bajan consumers a visit.
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@Miller
My view would to give the business to Emera but have a back up generator system at the main pumping stations. These would basically cover the pump loads and some basic lighting.
How much money you think the BWA has lost from not supplying water over the past 5 days alone to the higher elevations?
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@John A
The BWA bills whether or not they supply water, so their financial losses are minimal.
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@Miller
Your comment supports the government is in collusion with EMERA, until recent events created a wedge issue.
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@PLT
They would get only the base monthly rate but no additional meter usage. Then they have to subtract from those earnings the cost of sending out the water tankers with crew.
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@JohnNovember 19, 2019 11:17 PM “Water back on … had a shower …. return to civilization!!”
Lucky you.
I still have no water. I do field labour in the 30 degree heat and near 100% humidity. Digging sweet potatoes this morning. I need to wash my hair. Right now I am ashamed to go out in public, because I smell very bad.
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Barbados as a NATION is LEADERLESS, that’s why country is a FAILED STATE. Infrastructure continues to fall apart, Sewage, Water, Light & Power, Justice, Legal System, National Insurance, Health Care, Roads and the list is growing daily.
Ultimately there is NO ONE in charge, no oversight and NO CONSEQUENCES for those supposedly responsible. It all boils down to ULTIMATE GOVERNMENT FAILURE. The general populace are the only ones suffering the consequences, is a HONG KONG style REVOLT in the offing.
Too Bad Barbados does not have an effective military that could assume power and sack/lockup all present incompetent government leaders and civil service flunkies.
REVOLUTION IS A SERIOUS EN-DEVOUR NEEDING DISCUSSION.
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@TLSNNovember 20, 2019 4:02 AM ” If you go on the Chinese website Alibaba you can purchase a complete 4KW (adequate for a family of 4)photovoltaic solar system that will allow you not to pay a single cent to an energy provider. The costs vary but you can purchase a system for as little as £3000. Simple Simon if you do your research you will be surprised.
Thanks TLSN.
I have also done my demographic research. Based on the deaths of my closest relatives i estimate that I have 14 years left. Right now I pay $73 BDS per month for electricity. If I buy a system for 3,000 pounds + shipping, handling, customs duties, installation charges, and interest charges if I have to borrow the 3,000 pounds, I estimate that I will be dead long before i recoup my money.
I don’t owe Barbados Light and Power nor Barbados Water Authority a single cent, so why should I expend up to $10,000 BDS which I don’t have when I have already paid BL&P, and BWA to provide me with electricity and water?
Companies which have the capacity to hire “big brains” and the capacity to pay these ‘big brains” well, and to keep shareholders pockets warm and happy, yet can’t provide little old ladies with $73 BDS worth of electricity, and $84 BDS of water each month?
Shame. shame. shame on them.
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@ David November 20, 2019 10:46 AM
I was wondering about that. Aren’t there other Barbadians who can do the job?
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@MariposaNovember 20, 2019 6:21 AM “Barbadians want to have their bottle and spoon and not pay for either.”
Not true.
Don’t blame Bajans for the inability of Emera/Barbados Light and Power to do what they are PAID to do.
We are not engineers, accountants nor company directors, however WE BAJANS PAY THEM whatever is demanded every month.
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It is said positioning is the art of gunnery.
Why was BNOC chairman seated with discredited private sector BL+P officials in Mottley’s doomsday meeting?
The maximum leader appointed MacDonald chairman of the para statial BNOC owned by government. Macdonald’s seat is next to Mottley on the government side. Ponder on it.
As a government functionary he bragged he mastered the ‘art of the deal’ with Petrojam saving the country 10% of what was paid the defunct Trini refinery. Country saved millions he smirked.
Emera admits ‘ the deal of the century’ fuel is contaminated. Bajans ass is no electricity grass as a consequence.
The government cannot distance itself from culpability. The BNOC deal with Petrojam was ordered by government the chairman followed instructions.
That’s why positioning is essential in hitting the right target.
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So there has been no discussion about the brief statement made by the Chairman of EMERA. Of particular interest was his foreboding warning for Barbadians to be safe. Words to ponder.
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@John ANovember 20, 2019 10:12 AM
You forgot one item for your invoice.
Loss of conjugal comfort. (Priceless. But for two days loss i will accept $2,000)
Who wants to make love to a nasty, stinking, unwashed person?
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@ Simple Simon, may I suggest that you pool your resources with others in your community. In that way you will all benefit. And you will get the chance to see a return in your investment before you pass away in 14 years.
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@David et al…
I don’t have the time to render a deep analysis about what’s going on, and who is to blame.
I will, however, say that most people have absolutely no idea how difficult electrical generation, transmission, and distribution is.
It just works, right? No, it doesn’t just work. It takes a lot of very skilled and dedicated men and women, who are only notest when things aren’t working.
To make an important point: there do exist such things as “natural monopolies”. Power transmission and distribution is an example. Power generation isn’t.
IMO, Barbados would be well advised to move to a more distributed generation environment, including at the household and business levels. Yes, PV only works during the day, but that’s when a lot of power is consumed by cooling air in tropical climates. And battery storage has advanced considerably in only a very short few years.
I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing, and appointment of blame over this.
But simply encouraging small-to-medium-sized wind and solar (with sane taxation and feed-in tariffs) could go a long way to not sitting in the dark unexpectedly.
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Is PLT and Donna one individual are they filters making palatable the maniacal utterances of puppeteer Waru?
This query is elicited since that threesome murder the defenseless helpless DLP whenever they post.
The former overkills the practically dead Dems with less violent verbiage than the maniacal Waru who throws 24/7 tantrums ignored by all.
For war buffs Waru is Hitler/Himmler/Stalin axis with ovens and all, PLT and Donna are the Goebells twin.
The names referenced are urged in their desperate hunt for credibility to forego affixing blame to the DLP or any other party for the chaos the society has descended into.
Heed three philosophical corner stones the maximum leader laid on taking office ; 1) ‘gimme the vote and watch muh;’ 2) ‘I got this;’ 3) most germaine ” my government and ministers shall be held accountable for whatever takes place under our watch.”
PLT, Donna, thimble rigger Wauru and like minded commentators the DLP’s shift/watch ended 13,140 hours ago.
They are past tense with nil/zero influence on the affairs of state. Sheeple kicked them to the curb 30 times did not reprieve a single one. Blaming them for the intractable problems the country faces is unethical and dishonest.
No advance in the credibility you crave is imminent from independent thinkers if you stay on that road.
Today our former modern day paradise is lost in this maelstrom:
Highest ever murder rate, Highest level gun violence, dread and fear in previously safe communities, highest bus fare, least buses, least garbage trucks, no electricy, no water, largest cabinet ,most consultants, frequent flyer miles by leaders in 18 months that eclipse past three leaders for a quarter of a century,prices climbing, standard of living diving, defaults on debts, taxing or withholding pensions, a laundry list of pressing societal issues thicker than Union of Las Vegas hookers address book.
On the plus side the IMF declared the future looks glorious. No date for our entry to Valhalla was given.
PLT and co deal with the above noted concerns in the context of the current administration only they have the constitutional power to alleviate the dangerous whirlpool in which the citizenry finds itself.
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Buying cheap gas was Mottley present to the country for saving money
The one thing she did not understand is that cheap thing no good
One would belive that after her many years of being a lawyer she would be astute enough to know the difference between good and bad
Now as a result of lack of commonsense on her part the whole thing blew up in her and the country face
Wait is this the same Mottley who was of the view that a small mega watt waste to energy plant would put barbados in darkness
Who would have thought that she was wrong
Now today under this govt barbados has been downgraded to the dark ages of no electricity coal pot burning and no running water
But come to think no stan pipes either
Wuh loss muh belly
Dont pay PTL any mind he had his little project on stand by to eat out the govt trough so he has to sing for his supper
Anyhow the duppy dust might be too hard fuh he to handle and he might hurry back from whence he came
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@sirsimple
I had something in Miscellaneous to cover that but you right I need to revisit my invoice! Lol
I going put it ” councelling due to undue marital stress!”😁
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“PLT, Donna, thimble rigger Wauru and like minded commentators the DLP’s shift/watch ended 13,140 hours ago.”
me thinks ya missed the part where the toxic DLP CLOWNS are trying their best to POLLUTE THE PARLIAMENT ONCE AGAIN…
“PLT, Donna, thimble rigger Wauru and like minded commentators the DLP’s shift/watch ended 13,140 hours ago.”
then ya really missed the part where both former and current governments ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL YA LISTED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT…the ills now PLAGUING …using Rams one-eyed crocodile tears…lol
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SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife
November 20, 2019 2:47 PM
@JohnNovember 19, 2019 11:17 PM “Water back on … had a shower …. return to civilization!!”
Lucky you.
I still have no water. I do field labour in the 30 degree heat and near 100% humidity. Digging sweet potatoes this morning. I need to wash my hair. Right now I am ashamed to go out in public, because I smell very bad.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Get a 50 gallon drum and let someone put it on your roof and connect it to your shower.
It is no heavier than a Solar Heating System.
Used to be available from Roberts Mfg. cheap or free.
Fill it from BWA incoming water.
See how far that gets you.
If you need more water get a few more 50 gallon drums and put them on the ground.
Connect them together and either fill them from the rain off your roof or the BWA.
You can use a cheap pump to fill the 50 gallon drum on your roof.
There are hand pumps for drums you should be able to get.
No electricity needed.
Try Carib Supply, maybe Carters.
The water can be used to wash clothes and flush toilets … probably not a good idea to drink without treatment but chlorox might work.
Failing that, if you can’t get a shower, wait for the rain to come down, take off your clothes and go outside.
It is a well known fact that “Country girls never bathe their skin till the rain come down”!!
St. Thomas gets plenty rain.
There is no excuse for folks up that side not to have water easily available for basic needs!!
Just takes a little imagination.
Call one of your male minister friends about whom you seem to know so much and have a ball in the rain!!
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For those unaware Chris is regarded as a subject matter expert and has done the country proud on occasions as an intervenor at FTC public rate hearings.
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We have seen how many times govt has slithered its way across the landscape of barbados without being transparent and being accountable
We saw with the Ross deal and selling of govt land
Land parcelled out for further development for govt housing stock
We now see it with Rams luquidation centre
Now all once again to see the worst if all back room shenanigans that tossed barbados into total darkness because govt thought it best to sign an agreement for contaminated oil
Once again i would like to know when is govt going to post a press release on the enviromental impact referencing the sewer plant which most likely would have caused severe damaged to our undersea natural habitat when the blackout occured
Most notably the sound on this most important piece of information is silence
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@SSP
Who wants to make love to a nasty, stinking, unwashed person?
++++++++++++++
What happens if both persons fall into those categories?
This black out may have unintended consequences and the country could see a short term spike in birth rates (not enough to fulfill the PM’s wish for a larger population)
“What did you do in the blackout Daddy?”
Never let a good crisis go to waste.
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Why donât you take a pause and breathe?
-#steuspe
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Take what break
Maybe u the person who should take your own advice
Now that thr shoe is on your foot u hate seeing govt a ss being kicked to the curb
Tell me what has govt done in the last 18months that is worthy of praise
Crime and murder at an all time high
Water problems got worse
Electricity non existent
Grocery bills off the chain
Taxes well …u can comment on that
Bus fare gone up
No growth plan
Cant imagine what the next four years would be like
Stay the course only if you are crazy
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Knowledgeable people are responding to your comments and instead of understanding by your follow up comments you continue with your predictable vacuous politically partisan BS.
This matter has been stoked under both parties including the sale of BL&P shares, instead of accepting the lack of leadership prevailing in the country regarding this strategic asset. your dedicated mission is to view everything through a partisan lense. Continue into the next general election and accept the result.
Barbadians seem generally in agreement with Mia taking charge of this matter. Some of us will not forget Freundel ignoring and dismissing warnings about the south coast sewage plant for two Rh years. One thing for sure, Barbados will not change because of yard ducks like you. At least Alvin Boots Cummins know when to run from the kitchen.
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@David et al.
To share, this kind of tribal diatribe is why I stopped hanging out here at BU.
Rather than analyzing based on “first principles” and logic, instead any signal which might exist is drowned out by the partisan noise.
I’m not sure the rational; echo chambers rarely get much done…
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@Chris Halsall
You maty find this hard to process but the politically partisan will always be with us.
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@David
Yeah. I understand that, while not understanding it, at the same time.
We now live in an age where a few million dollars, thrown in the right direction, can cause Brexit and Trump.
Where an opinion can be multiplied by way of AIs, and cheap humans being paid a few dollars a day, to screw up a democracy.
May we live in (very) interesting times…
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@Chris Halsall
Oh yes, long live the bots!
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David your voice represent what u believe is truth
My voice now speaks not as a lone voice but coming for the voices heard across social media who see this govt as being deceitful
Couldnt care less if you categorized my comments as partisan
Needles to say what i say is true
I dare you to dispute the fact that govt measures have negatively impacted on the socio-economic environment of this country including the latest catastrophe
As for Mottley presence during this horrible crisis she is doing what she does best mopping up the floor after the damage is done
Not to mention her gladiator presence with a captioned photo op
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The Prime Minister pointed to IADB officials sitting at the press conference tonight? That was fast to get those boots on the ground tp keep an eye on EMERA.
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Yuh think so. Dont get it twisted by the photo.op what u need to know is why the IADB would show up at a press conference all having to do with energy related problems
Maybe out of transparency Mia can tell the country
But knowing how Mia can pull off backroom deals would not be surprised if this invite to the IADB was a slight of hand to get sympathy from them and to get a faster draw down on money from them
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@Mariposa
It is very likely that the IADB officials have read both Machiavelli and Sun Tzu et al.
Exceptionally unlikely their presence was not thought through carefully (by themselves)…
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@John at 5:30 p.m. “Failing that, if you can’t get a shower, wait for the rain to come down, take off your clothes and go outside.”
Sadly just as BL&P and BWA deprived us of water, so too did Mother Nature. No rain for the past 4 or 5 days.
‘Wha’ to do?
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Chris Halsall
I think u are correct
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@SargeantNovember 20, 2019 5:57 PM “What happens if both persons fall into those categories?”
On first thoughts I would have said nothing happens.
On second thoughts, you ideas are much, much better than mine.
Maybe we will get a baby boom. Perhaps David can follow up and at the end of August tell us if anything good happened during these November blackouts.
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Donks and Gripes,
Let me get this straight – you are cussing me for being a BEE????? Lol.
Lorenzo, where are you?
HELP!
Murdah!
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it is noteworthy that SOLUTIONS BARBADOS HAS NOT UTTERED EVEN A MUMBLING WORD ON THE MATTER OF NO WATER AND NO ELECTRICITY FOR THE PEOPLE
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@sv
Your head is like moon rock. Go and listen to the PMs press briefing last night and the answer to why IADB officials were present at tonightâs briefing will be made clear to you.
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Nobody listens anymore to what Mia says except the koolaid drinkers .Mia lies with a straight face even the IADB officials looked confused
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When Mia starts to take some responsibility for the energy meltdown maybe some might take her utterances as truth until then her utterances are political hogwash wrapped in gift paper
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SirSimpleSimonPresidentForLife
November 20, 2019 9:05 PM
@John at 5:30 p.m. “Failing that, if you can’t get a shower, wait for the rain to come down, take off your clothes and go outside.”
Sadly just as BL&P and BWA deprived us of water, so too did Mother Nature. No rain for the past 4 or 5 days.
‘Wha’ to do?
++++++++++++++++++++++
Porey Spring still running?
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Did you know that Porey Spring once supplied water to the public?
Colin Hudson used to point to the 2″ cast iron pipe coming through Edge Hill yard where he lived.
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Too many sources of water in that area to complain.
You could also try the spring in Springvale.
Go down the hill behind Carrington Village, and I think it is at the second right angle corner go up the gap and ask.
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You could try Farmer’s/Plumtree Gully but that water is 50 feet down in a well … plus all the bush would scrawl your skin.
… or you could go and bathe in COW’s impoundment just before Farmer’s after you pass Dunscombe.
Cole’s Cave is nearby.
Too many options near you to complain.
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