Prime Minister Mia Mottley Changes Cabinet
The Government has determined that it is necessary that we take fresh guard. The Parliament of Barbados will be prorogued on the 8th of August, 2020, with us resuming in a new session on the 15th of September with a new Throne Speech and with a new direction as to where we must go in order to meet these extraordinarily different circumstances from the original Throne Speech of two years ago – Prime Minister Mottley
Two years into assuming the government of Barbados Prime Minister Mottley tweaked her Cabinet by making changes to her team. The standout changes – Lisa Cummins and Ian Gooding-Edghill take over at Tourism and Transport respectively. Removed from the Cabinet are George Payne, Trevor Prescod, Lucille Moe, Neil Rowe and Edmund Hinkson.
Here is the new Cabinet:
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- Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley – Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment
- Dale Marshall – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, with responsibility for the Police
- Santia Bradshaw – Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
- Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
- Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic – Minister of Health and Wellness
- Dr. William Duguid – Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance
- Ronald Toppin – Minister of Industry and International Business
- Kerrie Symmonds – Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Cynthia Forde – Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs
- Senator Lisa Cummins – Minister of Tourism and International Transport
- Ian Gooding-Edghill – Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources
- Adrian Forde – Minister of the Environment and National Beautification
- Wilfred Abrahams – Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs
- Ryan Straughn – Minister in the Ministry of Finance
- Marsha Caddle – Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment
- Sandra Husbands – Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade
- Colin Jordan – Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations
- Charles Griffith – Minister in the Ministry of Water Resources
- Dwight Sutherland – Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment
- Kirk Humphrey – Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy
- Indar Weir – Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
- Peter Phillips – Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
- John King – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture and Rural Development Commission and eventually the National Development Commission
- Senator Dr. Romel Springer – Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
- Senator Kay McConney – Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology
Related Link:
GIS Release – Prime Minister Makes Changes To Cabinet
Barbados Underground 
so let me go down the rabbit hole with you.
what is our system based on then? if it is not based on the WM what do we call ours then? how do judge its flaws? are there any flaws if there is nothing to juxtapose it against? where did we get the system? if our system is not based on the WM, what system is relevant to Bim?
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@ Greene
Like most things, we are discussing the same topics round and round in circles. The last time we discussed this @Jeff Cumberbatch gave a definition, the exact words of which fail me, but something along the lines of a hybrid Westminster model; he also added in something about a Republican monarchy. I am sure they teach that at Cave Hill.
Our leaders claim they operate a Westminster model; if that is the case, then they should be held to account based on that model. I have said on numerous occasions they do not understand, nor operate, the Westminster model. In fact, many of our Westminster members of parliament themselves do not fully understand the system.
This is what Ezra Alleyne wrote above: “To fully understand the exquisite nature of this particular exercise of power, one must first recognise that the star of the Westminster system of government is the prime minister”. (Quote).
In Barbados we have two different systems: our Senate, the Upper House, does not have the powers of the House of Lords; our Select Committees are not as powerful as the UK’s; The UK House of Commons has the power to subpoena witnesses and if they refuse to attend, or to give fully cooperate, then they can be held in contempt; the passing of Bills is different; the committee stages are different; and even how Bills reach parliament is different.
I deliberately call our system presidential because that is what it functionally is, whatever the constitution says. My discussion of what Ezra Alleyne wrote was based his claims to constitutionality; the application in Barbados is not constitutional, but political.
I am not discussing the politics of government in Barbados. That is for another time.
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@David
Thanks for the Caswell column, BTW what happened to the BLP stalwart GC Brathwaite?
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You all want to debate ‘lofty issues’ and leave the little bolts that can be tightened unattended. When the wheels fall off then you act surprise…
https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/04/11/upp-expresses-concerns-over-covid-19-charity/
How much money has that charity collected?
How much was donated to citizens or the the government?
What are the administrated costs?
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:-)This is meant in half jest.
Commander: Theo Gazerts
Ship: Titanic
Promotion: For rearranging deck chairs
🙂
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@Sargeant
He has not offered an explanation. His appearances are infrequent on Facebook. Perhaps his job of political consulting is too demanding.
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If you can try to have a read of Introduction to Caribbean Politics by Gilkes-Barrow.
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i was just sitting on the loo and a thought crossed my mind- i wonder under what political system could a PM issue written invitations to known drug dealers to her first opening of parliament as PM?
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How will the Opposition respond two years into the BLP’s term, enough to capture the imagination of an inquiring public?
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Looks like Trevor Prescod has the support of activist David Denny!
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Bravo David. The dismissal of Trevor Prescod is more than just a ‘whim’, there is an ideological difference and all right thinking people must align themselves behind Mr Prescod.
We must also call out those who profess to be radical within or on the fringes of this government and who have chosen to remain silent while Mr Prescod is sacrificed on the altar of political convenience. This is a moment of truth.
The onus is now on the president to tell the nation what Mr Prescod has done so awfully that he had to be sacked.
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@Hal,
is Denny a contemporary? was he at school with you? if i have the right person i believe he gave a lecture to my 6th form and i dont know prior to that time i had ever heard a more radical speaker. certainly open my eyes and i dare say a lot of the girls and guys to a different world view.
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No. He was not a contemporary of mine, but he is radical and his heart and head are in the right place.
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He is a David Commisiong partner from Clement Payne Movement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Payne_Movement
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@ Greene
Comrade Denny has been in the trenches for ages.
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@ Hal
We still wait on Comrade Prescod to speak. Until he speaks no clear strategy to counter the dismissal can be formulated. Did he jump or was he pushed ? We can’t ask the PM why she did something without asking the Comrade to be just as forthcoming. If he never speaks we simply cannot just respond.
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@ William
I am sure at some appropriate point Trevor Prescod will make a public statement. Until then, we are left to speculate. It is unfortunate that at a time like this the nation remains in the dark. Where are our journalists?
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@ Hal
The Comrade should be man enough to speak. Silence is consent. No journalist can make him act or speak. Simple as that! If he doesn’t mind being fired from the cabinet he owes his constituency to say so , and that level of respect.
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@ William
We must allow him the freedom to make his own decision. Whether he speaks out or not has nothing to do with an incompetent government.
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What needs a heavy dose of reshuffling is govt persistent and long drawn out policy is spending millions of dollars on COVID testing on vistors from all over the world in haste to save the tourist industry which COVID has wrestled to the ground
Meanwhile right under govt nose are the many local businesses who are reeling under the effects of COVID while govt does nothing to help them
Over the years self empowerment has been used as a driving tool by which local businesses can make a difference in a country economic progress
Now that COVID might have open that door the necessary players in helping to turn the wheels are no where to be found
What a dam shame
List of closure in bridgetown presently and ongoing
What another sad, jolting spectacle, that Buju Variety Shop has joined the list
Voyager Gift Shop, Lower Broad Street..
Praxis, Manor Lodge…
D’s Mega Styles, Swan Street,
Thani’s Shoe Shop
IV Play Deli, Fairchild Street,
Start De Town, Swan Street,
The Square Restuarant, Swan Street,
5th Avenue Fashions, Bolton Lane,
Flam’s Boutique – Middle Street, City,
Nakunu, DaCosta Mall,
A and B Music Supplies, Sheration,
Africa Net, High Street,
PJ Fashions, Bolton Lane,
Pandora Plaza, High Street,
Massy Pharmacy, Cave Shepherd, Broad Street..
######miacares
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Prescod sure got a lot of people going to bat for him, I wonder where the supporters of the other Ministers who lost their positions are hiding or what the Kerry fans are saying about his demotion
I know this is a revolutionary idea but could Prescod be incompetent? I don’t think that any Minister in Barbados has ever been dismissed for ineffectiveness but it could be a first although Hinkson got part of his portfolio taken away in the early days of the Mottley administration. I’m not saying that Prescod was poor at his job but the only reason being proffered that his removal was “unfair” is his role as a Pan Africanist.
There are a few more Ministers that I think should be offered other opportunities but that could happen in the next go around.
Many hands make light work.
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What stupidity. Is this the limit of our reasoning as a people? Is it a Barbadian neurological condition or just a BU one? Or is it meant to be funny?
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@Sargeant
Has Prescod issued a statement on the matter? Did he attend Lower House sitting this week?
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@David
As I said it’s a revolutionary thought, but if one questions Prescod’s removal why not question e.g. Payne’s removal.
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@David
BTW didn’t I hear Mottley say that she has been observing (or words to that effect) the Ministers for the past two years? We criticized Freundel repeatedly for “standing pat”, now there is a PM who is prepared to make moves and some people aren’t happy.
Lest I be accused of being a Mottley fan I believe my previous posts speak for themselves but PM’s should be able to structure their Cabinets the way that they are comfortable with, the people will speak to the effectiveness of that approach.
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@Sargeant
We have to speculate her motives for dropping and moving ministers and the parliamentary secretary. This blogmaster is of the view Payne has gotten long in the tooth besides and represent a period Mottley would soon forget. Prescods shelf life has expired. John King is being carried and Sutherland is being given another chance to make a mark in a ministry less demanding. Not sure about Hinkson, his maybe a case of inappropriate conduct.
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Mariposa,
Really. Bridgetown was ailing and shops shutting for a few years now.
Sheraton and Warrens have killed it.
That is why there is an effort to turn Bridgetown into a tourist belt. To recreate life from deadzone.
You must have been sleeping, if you have not seen the long Nd anguished death of Btown.
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Cave Shepherd published is financials today, what a disaster!
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Is the much touted “politics of inclusion” any more altruistic than other methods of political approach?
Is it empowering by inclusion or emasculating?
To know whether actions will be successful, one should read the tea leaves.
The tea leaves tell me that one needs to be very careful in ensuring a future for all.
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David,
For sure worrying. Harrisons was part of Cave Shepherd and I confess without exaggeration, that when I passed it mid last year, 2019, being boarded up and closed, I felt tears spring to my eyes.
I knew that here were the last throes of a dying city. What our forebears walked and we knew was gone, for good.
Covid has accelerated the inevitable.
Let us hope that the rebirth is something worthwhile.
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The City of Bridgetown has been a slum since the emancipation, when former slaves left the plantations and headed for town. The decay of Broad Street did not start yesterday, yet not a single government since 1966 has put in place a policy to rejuvenate the City and its environs.
It is the major failing of this government, the ten years of Stuart and before that, the 14 years of Arthur.
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Crusoe have u ever heard of a place called So. Beach Fla i implore u to read about its death during the 70 ‘s until some one had a vision to breath new life into that area
The problem with bridgetown who life have been placed into incompetent and vision less govts
Bridgetown can be restored with a govt that has the vision to merge tourism and small business into an economic hub
With govt giving a helping hand to create a similar growth market as So.beach. with mostly local business and cultural resources and a definte upgrade of modern style restaurants captured with a historical theme
However the problem lies with govt who have decided that to rebuild bridgetown would involve creating economic space for the small business man to flourish
Hence to hell with bridgetown and rather take the spoils further inward for cream of the economic crop to feast thereof while the small business man peril in economic starvation
Oh btw bay street a place where the small black business man once flourished was handed the same death certificate
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Saw this on FB and I am here googling like mad. Unable to find the story
“The same way we find $16.5M to buy buses to sit down idle for months BECAUSE NO ONE CONSIDERED THAT AN ELECTRIC BUS WOULD NEED A FECKING CHARGING PORT…”
Perhaps, someone could send me the information for the ports.. I buy a few and Fedex.. and the two of us make a killing..
Wait a minute… Perhaps I should buy “batteries” as well.
Wunnah like to pat yourselves on the back.
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Lol. They got bout 10 charging ports that could probably charge 4 buses at a time because no one considered hummuch room a bus would need so they built them close together like they were for charging laptops or mobile phones. I cannot.
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Wuhlaus! Mariposa mekking sense. Good ideas! Bay Street used to be a treasure.
That is twice recently. The first was the COVID alarm except that our government did better than she expected.
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@David
Nice to see the E buses being fueled up so to speak. it is about time we embrace fully EVs in Bim. the delay is a worry. lots of cheap EVs out there and more are coming. what we need are more charging stations. i suspect that is the problem.
i have downpaid on a basic Tesla cyber truck. i have even outfitted my house with charging plugs in the garage and car port and have installed solar energy with hopefully 2 Tesla batteries to come.
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@Greene
They are still being fueled up, not sure why they have not been deployed.
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i know there was a worry that E buses may not be able to get up Horse Hill. but that went away went a school mate of mine retro fitted an old one with batteries and it performed admirably. i think these ones are big for Bim roads and may hit some electrical wires in some areas but i dont know whether that is the issue
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CANADA 4-5 hours
How long does it take to charge the bus? Charge time is a factor of battery size and charging capability. Current buses can charge at the garage at between 50 and 100kW. This is fast enough to ensure that buses can be charged in 4-5 hours.
BARBADOS 4 to 5 MONTHS…lol
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The buses do not have to be put on the road simultaneously.
Maybe they are waiting to create a photo op for a minister and a minister of.
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Need a new minister in the ministry of Agriculture with special responsibility for preparing to fast track the New Legal Marijuana multi tiered industry.
The competition is heating up.
https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/246947/st-lucia-exploring-cannabis-industry
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@Hants
The impression circulating that there are only four charging stations is incorrect. At on depot there are a minimum of about 8 installed.
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@ David
The above referenced Facebook post is rubbish from someone who is prepared to give an opinion without knowing all the relevant facts and then ‘pat themselves on the back’ for talking shiite.
Obviously, the new units will have to go through a ‘preparation stage’ before they’re place in service. This includes preparing them for inspection, weight certificates, insuring and licensing; installing fare boxes; as well as training and familiarizing drivers, duty drivers, electricians and mechanics with operating them. So, it will take a few weeks before all are in service.
Shiite, if we had to wait 14 years since TB last purchased buses in 2006, yuh mean we can’t wait a few weeks before the newly acquired ones are on the road?
The charging stations at Weymouth Headquarters are adequate enough to charge the units. Most likely, more charging stations will be installed at Weymouth, Speightstown and Mangrove Depots.
I saw one of the new BYD K9 electric buses yesterday, on the ‘by-pass’ route (Speightstown <> Oistins/Airport).
Is it because the buses are electrically powered people believed they won’t be able to ‘pull’ Horse Hill? That is nonsense.
And, the buses are not as large as the Mercedes-Benz Marcopolo Torino units or as tall as the Leyland DAF Utic, so there shouldn’t be any problems on the roads or with power lines.
I believe it is a step in the right direction for TB not to put all the new units on the road at the same time. In the past, TB would retire old units immediately after purchasing new ones…… all of which they would license, insure and place in service at the same time. Then they would have take all of them off the road, at the same time, for maintenance and repairs in preparation for inspection. This would obviously affect the reliability of service.
Soon, TB is also about to sell off the old scrapped buses at Mangrove Depot.
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Member of Parliament Trevor Prescod, who was removed from his post as Minister of Environment and National Beautification when Prime Minister Mia Mottley shuffled her Cabinet last week, is declaring that he has done nothing wrong in the country to deserve the treatment he said he has endured.
+++++++++++++++++++++
For those who were waiting to hear Prescod speak
https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/08/01/trevor-prescod-i-have-done-nothing-wrong/
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@Sargeant
What did he say?
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@David
What did he say?
+++++++++++
“Do you believe that I look so outdated that I cannot contribute to the development of Barbados? And I see men much younger and women much younger than me that can’t get up those stairs, serving at the highest level. I have a lot to tell you, but I am not going to tell you all now.
+++++
Essentially nothing, although he is teasing us with the last sentence so we will have to wait.
Is there some right to be a Minister that once bestowed can never be revoked? I’m not sure it’s the same but when Lowe was sick Kellman was appointed “temporarily” to replace him, when Lowe recovered Kellman stayed on in some Ministry cobbled together as if Stuart had to placate him.
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@Sargeant
Prescod should be reminded he served at the whim of the PM. It is noted there is a big falloff in the salaries of a minister and MP.
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The kind of answers where people have nothing to say but feel they must say something good. I issue my statement at the bottom.
“The coronavirus is going to have a negative impact on the Barbados economy and I think there was a need to shake up things a little bit and to bring in some fresh blood” into the Cabinet”
“Any effective leader will reassess, tweak and reinvigorate their organisations. This happens in all organisations, be they governmental, business, industry or the public sector. They must find an avenue to foster new thoughts, new processes and efficiencies. As long as there is a progressive government, there will be tweaks to accommodate societal shifts. Progression is the goal. An effective leader is in tune with the critical needs of society, thus reflecting paradigm shifts.””
“It is always good to change ministers and opportunities. People tend to perform better when they get into new arenas,” she said. “It augurs well for the overall performance of the party and the Government.”
TheOGazerts Statement on the changes
These changes will bring about changes in how we do business. As we move forward, we should not look backwards. New players mean new ideas; in fact, we can say we have a new ball and a new game. Great strategic move by Mia as she has energized more strategic partners. She has move from “many hands make light work” to “fewer hands work more effectively. We will refocus, re-strategize, re-brand, release and renew our efforts.
Questions: Do you all think I am ready for one of these ministries
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@Theo
Looks like you missed your calling, you are hereby designated Minister without Portfolio
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