est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

,

Warning to Caricom Leaders – Downside to Citizen By Investment (CBI) Sale

Several Caribbean islands have gone the route of CBI to shore up government revenues. However, as the video alludes, there is a downside to selling ones birthright for pieces of silver. Whether the report is true or NOT there is the negative publicity which does untold harm. The Barbados passport occupies a rung high on…

, , ,

Several Caribbean islands have gone the route of CBI to shore up government revenues. However, as the video alludes, there is a downside to selling ones birthright for pieces of silver. Whether the report is true or NOT there is the negative publicity which does untold harm. The Barbados passport occupies a rung high on the global passport power ranking. A word to the wise should be enough.

Source: Al Jazeera investigation (YouTube)

 

Read the following report left to right.

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16

96 responses to “Warning to Caricom Leaders – Downside to Citizen By Investment (CBI) Sale”

  1. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Miller at 9 :50 AM

    Thanks for that breath of fresh air. I was about to suffocate.

    @ Hal

    Thanks for keeping a straight course , when we are tempted to be distracted.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    The issues shaking out from our colonial past are not unique to Barbados. Hope we are not trivializing the psychosocial issues that are a legacy of the arrangement.

  3. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU
    If after almost 70 years of internal self government and 53 years of Independence we are wallowing in the “legacy of of the arrangement”,do you not think it reasonable for me to “trivialize” your perceived”psycho-social issues”?

    How many millennia do you need to grow up/man-up?

  4. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Vincent

    We live in a blame culture. We blame our parents because we are not all 6ft 8ins tall; or that we did not all go to Harvard; or that we not get the bright girl in the village.
    We blame the Brits for enslaving us; for colonising us; for granting us independence; for not giving us reparations; for not coming as tourists; for not spending as much as they should. We blame the psycho damage impose by the Brits for the number of murders on our streets.
    We blame the Antiguans because they would not buy LIAT at the price we are asking for; we blame foreign creditors because they ask for too much interest on their loans; we blame nature for giving us such a small island.

  5. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Hal at 12:01 PM

    Unfortunately we fail to see that this attitude will get us nowhere fast. That waste of nervous energy could be used in creatively conceiving ways forward and selling these ideas to persons who can implement. But we prefer to play games of one- up- man-ship.

  6. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Now if ya had an intelligent government they would see that the marijuana is actually a savior. and in the fullness of time the benefits will be seen…..but it has to STAY IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE…the Rastas and the majority population…or they can kiss their big plans to tief it goodbye…

    until then let them smell shite trying to please and appease IMF and all those owed billions of dollars, that is what they deserve…traitors…..they STOLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS…over decades, all of them….all their offshore accounts are packed with money, they love to boast of their millionaire status… and they refuse to bring back a dime to help the economy, and for that they will pay…

  7. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Vincent

    You are right. We talk about the insignificant things and allow the big ones to pass us by. Do you realise this government has just introduced legislation giving the minister final say in the appointment of staff at CBC, our only national TV station?
    Put another way, the minister will have direct influence on the news, current affairs and programming, or at the very least, influence. In other words, the new CEO (what a bogus title?) will forever be looking over his/her shoulder when making decisions. So, does that mean we will now be getting propaganda instead of news? Our democracy is at risk.
    Yet , silence from the commentariat.

  8. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    The intent is to keep the docile population even more backward and use them for voting purposes only, feed them more lies from that trashy CBC, keep their heads spinning with nonsense….there are no plans to have a well educated, well informed citizen, but they will be shocked to learn that everyone of them will still be kicked out of the parliament despite all their nasty moves…….there has been a shift.

  9. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    Human beings are by default blame-seeking animals. Rich or poor, black or white, we are all guilty. People in rich countries whine and complain for just about anything as those in poor countries. The only difference is the issue at hand. The man or woman at the bottom complain about oppression from those at the top, and those at the top complain about the most trivial of issues and unmet expectations.

  10. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Hal

    No surprise there. I noticed it from Day One.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Psychosocial issues are not derived from blame per se. it is how we are educated and socialized to think/behave. Moving from current state to a position born of a vision of where we want to be will always be a work in progress. Blacks in the UK and other places continue to slither down the social ladder and you ask why? This is not a Barbados problem.

  12. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    @Ewart. Winning the lottery after being poor for your life, how do you think most people would behave in those circumstances ? What’s the psychology impact on the individual or group who have attained power and wealth suddenly? In most cases the end is not a pretty one. The political sphere is littered with those stories. Gairy, in Grenada is just one of many.

    African leaders felt they and their tribes had won the state lottery after independence from their colonial masters. The concept of the common good and nationhood was foreign. State enrichment of themselves and the tribe was paramount.That’s how they were socialised in the traditional ruler culture.That’s why you can’t blame them totally back then.

  13. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David Bu

    I believe that we both passed through the same education and socialization process. I do not feel traumatized. What is it you want me to say or to do?

  14. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Vincent

    I had a very Barbadian education and have felt, and still do, very confident in myself. Nothing I have experienced in the UK has traumatised me. I competed with the best and came out smiling – thanks to St Giles and those wonderful teachers. Still have the book I got from the head, JO Morris, when I left.

  15. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Hal at 5 :15 PM

    Like you, the Barbadian socialisation and education processes prepared me adequately for life and the World. I wiould not change it if I could.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    A court action has been brought to block the election in Dominica. Never a dull moment this area of the pond.

  17. Piece the Legend Avatar
    Piece the Legend

    @ Mr Hal Austin

    Tread carefully with these comments or you may find yourself moderated INTO SILENCE!

    THAT REFERS TO A SITUATION WHERE YOU ITEM IS POSTED AFTER 15 BLOGS!

    a de facto silencing!!

    You said and I quote

    “…Put another way, the minister will have direct influence on the news, current affairs and programming, or at the very least, influence. In other words, the new CEO (what a bogus title?) will forever be looking over his/her shoulder when making decisions.

    So, does that mean we will now be getting propaganda instead of news?

    Our democracy is at risk…”

    You blog that sweet sounding post with our Democracy is at Risk AND DE OLE MAN POSTS

    “…MUGABE IS A DICTATOR…”

    But de ole man is a seditionist and is guilty of treason AND TO BE LOCKED UP, 2 YEARS WITHOUT BAIL, AND I I UNLUCKY LIKE THAT FELLOW BOYCE, 10 YEARS WITHOUT GETTING THE CASE HEARD!!!

    So are you finally getting the drift of why people, other than Ironside, post here, under pseudonyms?

    Well, if you have not Hal, it is because people here FEAR WHAT THE REWARD FOR DISSENT IS, UNDER MUGABE!

    You living in England now but the day you get powful foolish and go back to Barbados, you going learn you lesson HARD!!!

  18. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Beware painting with a broad brush.

  19. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @Vincent, why frame this as a “Follow pattern kills Cadogan.” Do you really NOT see this that the politicians are indeed thinking for themselves as they appropriate as much money they can from wealthy individuals … just as has been done over time by many others!

    You and others lambaste @Simple for her push back at the remarks from @Archer but in turn travel a path that also boggles rational thought.

    Of course we the citizens have to take ownership for the political leadership shenanigans over these many years and of course our civil service of these, so called above, ubiquitous 7th standard talented masters and mistresses did Herculean work but this trope that there was not mismanagement, nepotism, self-serving and blunt promotion of incompetence back then is RIDICULOUS.

    Does one have to repeat the indisputable truism of the massive shadow EWB had over Bajan operations of the day…we all recall the reference in the Duffus commission report surely!

    It is farcical nonsense to suggest that a nation which gave us a king slayer and a king who woukd abdicate to run off with his mistress; who gave us political scandals like Philby and Profumo to name but two; whose pre war PM befriended and patronized Nazis; whose civil service (some) and government gave us lies on WMD etc ad infinitum, ad nauseum and add folly of Brexit… just so happened to send ALL their most excellent civil servants to the Caribbean to tech us natives what governance integrity and efficiency was all about…steeeupse.

    Again I say we MUST surely accept our own folly re our current predicaments as we have facilitated our problems worst than any others before, but those here who frame our demise that ‘those jolly, ole wondrous Brits left us oh so well there, ole chap’ are propagating ridicule and good old fashioned BS!

    We all look back fondly but often the 20-20 hind sight is anything but; its fogged by old cathartic eyes and strange nostalgic musings…there were surely great men and women who did awesome things in the bygone era but there were grave failings too…maybe that script has flipped and there are more failings now than successes but still let’s not sanitize the old script so ridiculously !

  20. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ dpD at 7 :41 PM

    What point are you making? You have not addressed the issues raised in this particular discussion. Please deal with the issues. Your veiled ad hominem are ignored.

  21. GP Avatar
    GP

    AD HOMINES IS THE PLURAL OF AD HOMINEM
    PLURAL VERB PLURAL NOUN
    PLEASE DONT DESTROY THE LATIN

  22. SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife

    @Ewart Archer December 2, 2019 10:08 AM “The British civil servants who administered the empire, including those who ran Barbados, were following orders and instructions from the British government in London.”

    Ahh yes. The old “I was just following orders from my government in London said the British civil servants from 1627 to 1838.”

    Ahh yes. The old “I was just following orders from my government in Berlin said the German civil servants from 30 January 1933 – 30 April 1945.”

  23. SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife

    @Vincent Codrington December 2, 2019 9:19 AM “@ Simple Simon. Are you the genuine Simple Simon or are you another surrogate? What does the colonial civil servants have to do with the current ,economic , political and social issues in Barbados 2019.”

    It is I brother Vincent, the one and only Simple Simon. Just seeking to shed a little light for those who want to believe fairy stories of Barbados’ most glorious past.

    Please note that I am NOT in favour of bad government, bad decisions, stealing, incompetence, bad mindedness, wickedness nor nothing so.

    But I also feel no need to look back at the past, the recent past nor the distant past through rose coloured glasses.

  24. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Ah Vincent why are my remarks an ad hominem?

    I used your screed as the jump off point but I did NOT attack you or any others personally…ad hominem: (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining. accd. to the dictionary!

    I attacked the ridiculousness of the comparative reference to some halcyon era of the much above ballyhooed civil service of the 60s, 79s, 80s vrs the current incumbents.

    MY screed was more focused on @Archerx’s remarks but you and others seemed to agree with his central premise that the Brits were so wondrous and we then took over and fundamentally screwed things up.

    My point simply stated: that thesis is simplistic BS.

  25. SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife

    @Hal Austin December 2, 2019 9:44 AM “Vincent. You have a stomach for trivia. This revisionist nonsense, people writing about events they neither experienced or studied.”

    Can you point out exactly what is revisionist? I stated facts, not opinions.

    And by the way how do you know what i have studied or what I have experienced?

    Simple Simon

    Neither “B” nor “D”, citizen, taxpayer, blood donor, volunteer, worker, earned my own living by the sweat of my own brow (and by my brains too!! LOL!!) not a blowhard though.

  26. SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife Avatar
    SirSimple SimonPresidentForLife

    I don’t see how some people see a statement of facts as casting blame.

    I am not sure what they were teaching at St. Giles back in the day.

    Or what some pupils learned, or did not learn.

  27. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    GP

    Quite logical eh?. Except that Vincent is singular; hence hominem. Ad hominem when transferred to English usage becomes a collective noun ; therefore the phrase can have a plural verb. Language nuance? Lol. Scroll.

  28. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Hal A
    Put another way, the minister will have direct influence on the news, current affairs and programming, or at the very least, influence. In other words, the new CEO (what a bogus title?) will forever be looking over his/her shoulder when making decisions.
    ++++++++++++++
    So, what else is new? The Gov’t is just formalizing the process where every elected Bajan Gov’t has exercised control of the CBC, have you ever watched the CBC Evening news? Early in the tenure of the last Gov’t One Caribbean (parent company of the Nation) applied for a license to operate a TV Station and of course it was rejected. The Nation has been friendly to Mia and the BLP what are the chances of One Caribbean obtaining a license? I would think they are less than zero the Gov’t is not going to give anyone the means to “cut its ass”, politics is politics.

    We Gathering

  29. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Errata

    I would think there are less….

  30. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Simple Simon.

    Thanks for confirming that you are not a surrogate.
    However, with regard to the level of corruption in the Public Service of Barbados I lived through and worked during those years when Barbados was given high ratings for probity by international rating agencies. My views are based on facts;not anecdotes.. My training does not allow me that lassitude.

  31. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    The first sentence is correct

    Brain fart or someone has been messing with my coffee……

  32. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Sargeant

    Please trust your use of English. The original “they” is correct. It refers to chances.

  33. Tony Trotman Avatar
    Tony Trotman

    See article entitled “Malta’s ‘golden passports’: Why do the super-rich want them? at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50633820

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @Tony Trotman

    Just like some of us opined. It was never sustainable. Our politicians lack the ability to be creative in policy making and hunting worthwhile initiatives that are wholesome.

  35. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    We have unleashed a monster within our Caribbean region with regard to our various Citizenship by Investment schemes. St Kitts and Nevis is again embroiled in adverse publicity – reference link below.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62907926

    The BU heavyweight and UK journalist in an exchange with Quaker John on December 1, 2019 @ 3:45 PM quoted:

    “How about that invasion of Irishmen who came to Barbados in the 2000’s? Do you think they were all upright Catholic men? Not a single one was a Russian.
    Only recently we had some Irish builders working on our neighbour’s home and the subject came up. With the mention of every surname we all collapsed in laughter. Have a look around Barbados at the abandoned hotel projects then cross-reference the names with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office..
    The funny side is that somehow our central bankers think we have something to learn from the Irish management of their economy.

    By condoning the practice of CBI, we have to accept that our Caribbean region has tacitly accepted the growth of criminalisation within our region.

  36. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    TSLN,

    As much as I agree a moral high road, lets stop with the naivete.

    In ever country politicians prostrate themselves to those with dirty money from the “marginal dirty” of the tax evasion, to the “real dirty of illegal drugs, human trafficking etc”.

    Corporation executives too, only to blush and crocodile tear when caught. Petty fines solve that problem.

    Many a headbob has enabled incompetent square pegs to slot into round holes, in both public and private sectors worldwide.

    So the Caribbean is neither angel nor outlier rascal in this.

    A look around the globe today sees the reek of corruption.

    N’est pas?

  37. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    Mia Mottley was outstanding in her presentation to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services. She highlighted the inequity of western policies that have led to the De-Risking of financial services in the Caribbean.

    Her comments below cannot be refuted,

    “Look at the list of countries who are listed and you will see they are all former colonies and people of colour,” the prime minister said.

    “And look at the countries, in spite of being able to open a bank account in hours in Delaware or Wyoming, within hours in Luxembourg or Zurich, and they remain off of this list that speaks about the risk to money laundering and look and see where the divide comes.”

    I hear your comments Crusoe but we should never accept that because other countries casually accept corruption as a genuine extension to their economy then we should follow suite. Larger and more stable countries have the capacity to “limit” these distortions of their economies should they desire. We do not.

    On another thread entitled “MILLENNIALS POORER – WHAT IT MEANS FOR BARBADOS”. The main reason why Barbados is expensive and has become unaffordable for the majority of Bajans is that we have gone down the route of building our economy on dirty money at the expense of building a sustainable and corruption free economy. Our governments over the years have neglected their duties to serve their people.

    America is a mafia state. It offends them that small countries such as Barbados have the audacity to aspire to want a slice of the dirty money cake. The government of Barbados has to be clean. They should never allow those dirty countries such as America to impose their dirty and despicable economic culture in our region. Without all the dirty monies washing around in our economy we would have affordable houses, unlimited access to our beaches, a more robust economy which would not have to rely on tourism and the rest!

    Crusoe going down this route will spell the end for black Africans living within the Caribbean. Why would a people disenfranchise themselves and their descendants – permanently – for Judas money.

  38. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    @ David,

    If Donna had her way, I would not be allowed to post this link as it is sourced from The Guardian.

    The Barbados media house is minuscule and is controlled by the incumbent government.

    GP and Waru appear to have gone AWOL.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/11/golden-passports-dominica-citizenship-by-investment-cbi-scheme

  39. David Avatar
    David

    @TLSN

    Make your points respectfully and stop the flame throwing. It is what decent people do.

  40. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    @ David,

    Here’s a follow up from yesterday’s link.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/12/dominica-golden-passports-citizenship-by-investment-cbi-scheme

  41. David Avatar
    David

    Thankfully Barbados although desperate for forex avoided taking the CBI route.

  42. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David,

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/10/12/govt-considering-citizenship-through-investment/

  43. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    That is an error.

  44. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    The government of Dominica has provided the template for CBI within the Caribbean region. Their Prime Minister and others have benefitted, handsomely, from this “scheme”.

    https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/dominica-citizenship/

  45. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    There is this if true.

    https://www.imidaily.com/barbados-special-entry-and-residence-permit/

  46. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CyUS40OACvQ/

Older Comments
1 2

Leave a Reply to William SkinnerCancel reply

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading