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Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur is Dead

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On behalf of the blogmaster and BU household our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the late former prime minister Owen Seymour Arthur.

Barbados Government Information Service
16 m
Former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honourable Owen Arthur, passed away earlier today at 12.26 a.m.
Starting today, Monday, July 27, due to the passing of the former Prime Minister, there will be a period of national mourning for three days. In addition, all flags will be flown at half mast.
Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan, will be the coordinating Minister for the funeral arrangements.
The Government of Barbados extends sincerest condolences to his wife, Julie, his daughters, Leah and Sabrina and his extended family.
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182 responses to “Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur is Dead”

  1. Dame Bajans Avatar
    Dame Bajans

    Owen was a good person.

    Mrs. Gibson probably reminded him of his mother who was a very, very good cook. For a little fellow (although he was kinda muscular), he had a good appetite. We met him when he was about 16 and studying for exams…Latin to be exact. He and my sister remained friends all those years and every year when she went home he would take her out for brunch …..at the Hilton. We also met Tom Adams who was a regular at out house in summer when he vacationed at Grand View, and before him his father Grantley, who always stopped by our house to see what was on the fire. In those days we actually cooked with a wood fire. That fire made the food too sweet.

    Personally, I don’t like eulogies. This is after listening to epistles and private things that should not be spoken of by anyone. I told my son no eulogy. People who know me, know me and those who don’t, don’t need to know anything after I am dead. I told him he can have his party with fish cakes, pone, coconut bread,,,,the whole works. However, since I will not be there to enjoy it, to use his own money.

  2. John Avatar
    John

    MariposaJuly 29, 2020 12:16 PM

    Yuh cud tell when some people had bad brougtupsy
    They have no time to compromise no matter time of day our place
    All i say is cuhdear to them

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The art of compromise has nothing to do with broughtupsy.

    Churchill would not compromise with Hitler.

    It was referred to as appeasement.

    Broughtupsy teaches principle and principle and compromise often do not mix!!

  3. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    John new found historical utterances mouthed by Churchill might also reflects the manner or method of broughtupsy he was taught in his household
    Anyhow i gone no time for rehashing

  4. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Cuhdear Bajan,

    You have said those things before therefore you are consistent.

    Don’t recall you ever referring to anyone as “a devil in white” either.

    MRS MULTIPLE MOUTS

    Disagreeing with someone’s politics is not the same as calling him corrupt.

    PS. What some people call broughtupsy, I call brainwashing.

    When my mother chastized me with “Honour thy mother” I countered with “Parents, provoke not thy children to wrath!”(adjusted for gender)

    Incidentally…… I have never been a “lady” either.

    Fact remains one cannot be a corrupt patriot. Those who said one should not be now be saying the other. Which is true?

    These “compromises” enable the so-called corrupt system bemoaned here every day to continue as though we like it.

    I guess you guys like it.

    No need for change!

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Reshuffle: A blow to Pan Africanists

    THUS FAR, there has been significant discussion around the decision by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, to reshuffle her Cabinet, a little over two years since its initial formation. However, the main issue which will be discussed presently, is the Prime Minister’s rationale for removing Trevor Prescod from the Cabinet and its possible meanings and implications. Other issues will await a subsequent article.
    It can be boldly asserted that Prescod’s removal from the Cabinet is a slight and a blow to the constituency broadly associated with a Pan African and black-empowerment agenda. As part of a collective associated with a body of ideas, associated with an agenda which includes, inter alia, republicanism, black economic empowerment, black racial and cultural pride and dignity, the pursuit of links with African states and overtly socialist and social-democratic nations, Trevor Prescod was the only member of the cabinet who could be relied on to speak with clarity and consistency on matters relevant to the advancement of the outlined agenda.
    It is for this reason, that his firing from the Cabinet was the only genuine shock and surprise, coming as it did in a moment when the demands for the reversal of racist historical and contemporary practices are now occupying centre-stage.
    Coming so shortly after Prescod placed his body where his mouth has always been in demanding the removal of the Nelson Statue from Bridgetown, and where he put his more vacillating colleagues in the shade, his firing from the Cabinet can be seen as pouring cold water and putting a brake on his enthusiasm.
    Welcome firing
    The enemies of the project of black empowerment will no doubt welcome his firing. The promise of the Prime Minister to utilise him in other capacities can be of little comfort, since there is nothing that he can do to promote black empowerment outside of Cabinet that we cannot do from within with greater authority.
    Finally, the other significant dimension of Prescod’s removal from the Cabinet, is what it suggests about the Prime Minister’s own sense of comfort of her solidity

    in the chair. It would be recalled that during the darkest days of her climb to the Prime Minister’s chair, when she was deposed as political leader by Owen Arthur, Trevor Prescod was amongst the existing members of the parliamentary group who had stood most firmly by Mottley’s side. Today, with the 30-0 electoral victory, it appears that the currency of trusted loyalists has been devalued. A door has been opened for opportunists to thrive.
    All in all, the removal of Prescod represents a perpetuation of the gradual distancing of the Mottley administration from the Pan Africanist constituency.
    First they came for the Pan African Commission, and we stayed silent. Then they came for Trevor Prescod, and we stayed silent. Who or what will be next?

    Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, specialising in regional affairs. Email tjoe2008@live.com.
    Source: Nation Newspaper

  6. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    interesting but i wonder if the writer isnt reading too much into the removal of Prescod?

    i must admit, tho, that, i found it very instructive that MAM who love to ran her mouth on any topic, steered far away from the Nelson discussion when the protests started. instead, it would seem, she sent Johnny to trial-balloon his private thoughts on the matter. Prescod was up front at some of the protests. when Johnny’s private thoughts encountered backlash there was talk of a referendum. when that did not gain momentum, the private sector gave cover by saying Nelson should be moved. Cabinet shuffle, and either just after or prior, Johnny comes out and say no need for a referendum as the public had expressed its view 20 or so years ago.

    the things that make you go ummmmm

  7. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @David
    How soon we forget, why didn’t you place Joseph’s article under “Mia reshuffles her cabinet”?

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @Sargeant

    Thanks, that was an error.

  9. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    This is the first real attempt in any Barbados publication to assess the real reasons for the removal of Trevor Prescod from the government.
    As usual, the president does not see the need to explain or apologise for her actions, so those of us who are concerned must draw our own conclusions.
    It is clear that Prescod was sacrificed on the altar of the Social Partnership. The author mentions the showdown between Mottley and Arthur for control of the BLP.
    Some of us may remember when Arthur was scheduled to give a speech at the UWI and Prescod and a number of his associates walked in and sat in the front row, putting Arthur off.
    Prescod gave Mottley undying support while in opposition, and many of his neighbours talk about her visits to his home at all hours of the day and night to discuss matters with him.
    That does not mean anything if he was underperforming in his job. But, was he? Many young members of the Cabinet saw Prescod as someone they could turn to for advice and this was encouraged by the president; he was a reliable elder statesman. I understand on the |Monday night before his dismissal at the Cabinet meeting she could barely contain her anger and when challenged about her behaviour garbled some nonsense..
    Further, that the president was in tears when she sacked him, according to some of his supporters, tells us that the decision was not hers. She was clearly under pressure and I believe that that pressure came from the Social Partnership and its supporters.
    In the build up, over the last few months, the president made it clear, at every opportunity, that Mr Prescod did not have her full confidence. Why not? If it was a matter of a difference of style or conviction, as the author suggests, then why not give him the opportunity to resign and walk away with dignity? It is called management.
    However, that was never the intention. After years of service, to dismiss a senior minister within fifteen minutes is unforgiveable. Then to add insult to injury, as the author suggests, to offer him other positions such as, according to rumour, an ambassadorship to Africa, working from her office as a bag man with a title, is meant to be humiliating. He is not John King.
    What is also significant is the part played by some of the so-called Pan-Africanists and radicals in and out of the Cabinet. Not a single one has expressed public support for Prescod, or even more principled, walked out in support.
    When I talk about the bullying and autocracy of the president I am often condemned. The removal of Mr Prescod in a symbolic execution says a lot about the style of the Mottley government.
    The curious and concerned should look more closely at some of the policies and incidents that Mr Prescod was involved in as a minister, but with local business people and with other state bodies.

  10. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I guess we are now to be excused from being disrespectful on this blog of inane tributes.

    So… before we move on I have a few more nuggets.

    One, it is not my responsibility to abstain from speaking the truth about a dead person out of respect for his family’s feelings. It was the responsibility of the deceased to have lived the life that allows me to speak the truth without hurting HIS family’s feelings

    Two, contrary to what DPD said, it is not at all practical to attempt to bury any wrongs done by a person at his death because “the evil that men do lives after them”.

    Three, a gangster with a gun usually kills a few people and affects a few families. A corrupt politician with a pen can indirectly cause the deaths of many more people and many more families by creating the circumstances that lead to premature death.

    White collar office criminals often pave the way for street criminals, stealing the resources that were meant to create opportunities for the masses. Yet somehow you guys see their crimes as forgivable and forgetable. You lambast the street criminal and pay tribute to the other kind.

    PS. This is meant to be thought provoking. I have no evidence, unlike some of you if your pre-death comments are to be believed, that the deceased was a criminal. I did not like him and I did not agree with most of his policies nor politics but I did not call them or him corrupt. THAT is what I call being decent and respectful and that was my takeaway from my broughtupsy.

    Not damn twist mout hypocrisy!

  11. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    This seems to us to be a misguided criticism of the government.

    Of course we cannot be convinced that Trevor Prescod is any worse than most other Cabinet members but to associate this level of political seniority to him, to us, appears undeserved. Seniority beyond mere years.

    To believe that there could have been a conspiracy to remove him, one would first have to concede that Prescod was a political heavyweight and threatening to the corporate class. This seems hardly likely given the unprecedented power of the government, known proclivities and the lipservice which is expected to place on African issues. Issues, it is alleged, Prescod supposedly has some interest.

    That such approaches could threaten local corporate interests would first require a cold day in hell given the predominant political mindset

    We are unsatisfied that the removal of Nelson, in and of itself, could have created, or could ever create, such a perceived fissure within the ruling one-party regime.

    More fundamentally, this Prescod must have had some sort of Damascus road conversion from those material charateristics longed associated with and has become some sort of a local polical doyen. We possess no such evidence.

    Of course, theere is also a fair possibility this writer is misreading events, but we think not.

  12. John Avatar
    John

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Friday farewell for Arthur
    Barbadians will bid final farewell to the longest serving Prime Minister Owen Seymour Arthur next Friday.
    Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, who succeeded Arthur as Member of Parliament for St Peter, gave the details of the state funeral, which will be held at 2 p.m., during a press conference yesterday at Government Headquarters.
    The service will take place at St Peter’s Parish Church, followed by the interment at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens also in St Peter, a stone’s throw away from All Saints Boys’ School where Arthur received his primary education.
    His body will lie in state on Wednesday and Thursday at the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown.
    Jordan said the casket would be closed in keeping with Arthur’s wishes.
    Condolence books will be available from Monday at the University of the West Indies, Government Headquarters, Parliament and the Speightstown Library. There will also be an online condolence book at http://www.owenarthurtributes. bb in an effort to ensure all could be accommodated within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    On the day of the funeral service, the cortege will leave Lyndhurst Funeral Home, proceed to Bridgetown, making stops at institutions held dear by Arthur, including Parliament Buildings and Kensington Oval. The cortege will then proceed to Speightstown, where the last honours would be bestowed on the distinguished son of St Peter.
    “We all know that Arthur was a very avid fan of cricket and was very instrumental in the development of Kensington Oval. So the cortege will pass there and then along the Mighty Grynner Highway, then on to Highway 1 up to Speightstown. The casket will be transferred from the hearse to the gun carriage in Speightstown and proceed to the church.
    “Mr Arthur was very fond of the schools he attended, especially those in St Peter, and he was also very clear about the impact that education had on his life. So schoolchildren will be standing and lining the routes,” said Jordan.
    The minister said COVID-19 protocols would be in effect so the church and Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens would not be able to accommodate as many people as would want to attend.
    “We have to observe those protocols but there will be tents on the precincts of the church to accommodate additional persons,” said Jordan, adding that Government officials, family and dignitaries would take precedence.
    “We have, however, created some satellite locations that have allowed for viewing in relatively comfortable surroundings,” he said, noting that the key parts of the funeral would be televised live as well as streamed online.
    (CLM)

    Nation

  14. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/-_Jw37AOnF4

  15. John Avatar
    John

  16. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    It was very good to see the 8/8 post by the blogmaster. Care to prevent covid-19 spread 👍is being taken as they honor the decease.

  17. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @Donna, on this day of his funeral ceremony let me briefly address your remark and say again let’s put politics to the side and recognize that a great Bajan is being laid to rest today … a man who truly built on the awesome legacies of Grantley Adams, Barrow, and the many others. We do not anoint him a saint, nor we do herald him a man without the blemishes of over-arching ambition which led him to unnecessarily defile others…yes… he was a quite formidable political animal but he was not by all accounts an inherently evil or corrupt person.

    Dislike him all you want … that’s your prerogative. Simply give him his due on the merits of his entire life achievements as a man and as the the leader of this nation.

    Now… re your remark: …contrary to what DPD said, it is not at all practical to attempt to bury any wrongs done by a person at his death because “the evil that men do lives after them”.

    I did not last week nor do not now suggest we bury the wrongs of men at their death… I simply offered then as now that: “Why prolong anxieties and anger beyond his mortal realm…to what avail!…We all know Arthur was not a saint…But his soul has left this earthly realm….Let the anger and distress about and for him…be released…as we did for multiple others…we revere none of them as a saint but speak kindly of their achievements even as we note their political sins.”

    At death we release the anger…or allow it to be transferred to a place of refection and introspection for future improvement and guidance … we do NOT bury or dismiss the sins. That would be a very tragic case of not being guided by history.

  18. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Deceased

  19. GP Avatar
    GP

    EXCELLENT TRIBUTE BY E.O. DOUGLIN!
    A CLASS ACT

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Yes it was.

  21. GP Avatar
    GP

    WITH RESPECT TO THE CHOIR: IT SEEMS THAT THE ALTOS AND BASSES WERE ABSENT

    THE MEN MADE A MESS OF RUTTER’S “THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU”
    INTERESTING CHOICE OF HYMNS & MUSIC

    THEY OUGHT TO HAVE SUNG THE REQUIESCAT IN PACE AFTER THE NUMC DIMITTIS INSTEAD OF THE GLORIA, IN THIS CASE

  22. Lorenzo Avatar
    Lorenzo

    A solemn and a sad day for me personally to see in my view one of our greatest Prime Ministers laid to resMr Arthur was a politician i had great respect for, especially for his ability to make things happen for the benefit of bajans.Once again condolences to his family and may he rest in peace and rise in glory.

  23. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Once a member of the BLP party for almost thirty years
    Today he took his final resting place to be remembered as a professor a PM and a person who.once tongued lashed his once beloved party the blp telling them the party had lost its way
    With those words he committed himself to be an independent man free from being tied to the coat tails of any party

  24. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    It is very nice that our government still has the money to let so many Mercedes drive up at the state funeral.

    Even if many citizens in Barbados will soon have no roof over their heads, the purchase of the Mercees at least ensures the continued employment of Mercedes workers in Stuttgart, Germany. I call this globalization, that is, redistribution from the naive masses of the South to the rich North.

  25. BMcDonald Avatar
    BMcDonald

    Should the gratitude that Barbados owes the former Prime minister be expressed on its own merit at this time? Absolutely. And on behalf of a grateful nation the Governmenti and people of Barbados have done exactly that in conveying our thanks to Mrs. Arthur and the other family members. Requiescat in pacem.

  26. GP Avatar
    GP

    cant be “Requiescat in pacem” please!.
    “in” is still always followed by the ablative
    it must therefore be “Requiescat in pace” thank you!

  27. GP Avatar
    GP

    IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO COMPARE THE SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD SUBLIME SENTENCES RELAYED BY E. O DOUGLIN TO THE HIGHFALUTIN DIATRIBE USED BY HILARY BECKLES AT SIR EVERTON’S FUNERAL

    E.O INJECTS HUMOUR INTO HIS SIMPLE SCINTILLATING SPEECH, AS HE HAS NO NEED TO IMPRESS, FOR HE KNOWS WHO HE IS, WHENCE HE CAME, AND HOW HE ASCENDED
    BECKLES HAS A NEED ALWAYS TO STRUT LIKE A PEACOCK.

  28. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    What if I don’t see him as a great man, DPD? What then? It was not that much of a personal dislike. If I don’t agree with his politics then how on earth would I see him as great? What are his great achievements?

    Steupse.

    I did not even know when the funeral was and had no intention of commenting until you addressed me.

    I just do not understand you people! Lorenzo is consistent. You guys are not. A man does not become great simply by dying. One cannot decry our duopoly for corruption, lack of vision and implementation deficit and then depict its longest serving leader as great. If these people were that great so would our country be.

    I remain consistent. Just another day of no particular consequence until somebody can list me a list of great acts.

    SMH

  29. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Dr. GP at 9:53 AM

    Ouch !! That hurts.!! Is it not a matter of different styles and orientation?

    But yes. I do prefer Dr. Douglin’s tribute.

  30. GP Avatar
    GP

    Some people get a chance to serve- they get a job and seek to do it. If they do it well, some say they are “great”.
    Others are brighter, better, more effective, but they are denied opportunities because they are seen as threats—consequently they never get a chance to be “great”– in fact they never get a chance.

    Mr Codrington, I have said what I wanted to say, and without apology.
    It is not a matter of different styles and orientation, here. EO Douglin is simple sincere and humble. He ever was, and continues thus still. He is one of our best and brightest, and ever was. He puts on no ears and graces. He is just naturally a nice person. He has always been thus. and continues thus. He does not have to put on anything, because he is genuine.

    Beckles is synthetic!

  31. David Avatar
    David

    Perhaps the overbearance Beckles exudes comes from his preoccupation with using post-grad lexicon. This would contrast starkly with the downtoearth delivery of Douglin.

  32. GP Avatar
    GP

    Beckles is not in Douglin’s class as an academic.Even as an undergrad in Med school “Dougla”is said to confound his teachers on the ward rounds! Ask any of his peers from HC or Mona, and they will tell you that “Dougla” was simply sincere supreme and stellar!
    Sir Harry Anamunthoda and most of our teachers at Mona, spoke simple English. They were not preoccuied “with using post-grad lexicon.”
    Beckles is a synthetic snob!
    One uses flowery language for fun, not to impress!

  33. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    I have refrained from saying anything about the late prime minister. After hearing non-stop the platitudes to his greatness, one could be forgiven for arriving at the conclusion that he was on par with Jesus Christ, such was the adulation being displayed. My position on his achievements or lack thereof are well known. I give him kudos for the infrastructural improvements ( for example widening of roads, putting in place sidewalks and making provisions for easy mobility of the handicapped). I found him wanting in his lack of foresight in forging a pathway in changing the developmental map of Barbados. Remember, he as a trained economist talked about selling land to achieve the greatest financial return. He even went so far as to say that the only survival path forward for Barbados was the selling of land. I came to the conclusion that he had to be bereft of ideas to arrive at such a conclusion. You have a leader with a paucity of ideas ( he apparently was not very keen on the sciences: he seemed to have the impression that scientist thought of themselves as Gods- for those who are wondering how I can make such a statement, the answer comes from my scientific associates who inter-acted with him at the estimate meetings).The so-called economic windfall under his tutelage was actually a mirage all centered on borrowed money which was used to fund an expanded civil service and pander to an illusion of financial and economic well being. Having realized eventually that his developmental path was one of profligacy, he borrowed a billion or so dollars to shore up the foreign reserves. He accelerated the mess that Barbados is in today. As Dr. Neville Duncan said of him, he had a golden opportunity to reshape Barbados’ economical development pathway and he flunked it. Some will be offended, they can feel free to do so.

  34. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Robert Lucas,
    was simply playing to the gallery. Barbados underperformed the regional and global economies not only between 1994 and 2008, from 1966 to 2020.
    Welcome back. You are right. It is right and proper in the days following the death of someone to be polite to their memory, and be gracious to the dead person’s family.
    But people have gone over the top with Arthur. The president’s speech, in particular, was, to be polite, not very honest. For about 40myears we have had very low inflation, in fact the global economy has been deflationary, mostly imported from China.
    Since 1990, the Chinese working population has increased by 240m, and since 1989, the collapse of the Soviet empire, Eastern Europe has added a further 200m workers. Now we are importing workers from Africa.
    None of this have our governments been prepared for, DLP and BLP. Arthur was prime minister during the greatest global economic growth in human history, so any improvements in Barbados were just the slip-stream of this development.
    We need to seriously analyse the period of Arthur’s rule. But that is not the same as being rude and brutal about him even before he was buried.
    @ Robert, here is a test: take the 14 years of Arthur (year zero), ten years of Stuart and two years of Mottley, 26 years. Look at Singapore from 1965 (year zero), when it got independence, to 1991, 26 years. Look at the economic progress Singapore made in that time.

  35. GP Avatar
    GP

    Robert LUCAS ,
    Its nice to see you, although I think you are wise to stay away from political confrontation with the BU “KNOW IT ALLS” .
    iF YOU DONT AGREE WITH THEM YOU ARE NOT ONLY WRONG BUT EVIL. THERE IS MUCH MERIT IN WHAT YOU HAVE SAID. YOU WILL NO DOUBT STIR UP A HORNET’S NEST, FOR. WHO THE DOG LIKES HE LICKS.
    SINCE THE DOGS LICKED AND LIKED OSA, ONE IS NOT PERMITTED TO SAY THAT HE WAS NOT REALLY A GENIUS. BUT IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND, ONE EYE MAN IS KING.

  36. John Avatar
    John

    GREENLAND

    APES HILL

    GEMS

    CLICO

    CSME

    MONEY LAUNDERING

    FBI REPORT

    WORLD CUP CRICKET

    These were a few of the events that occurred during his watch.

  37. John Avatar
    John

    Then there was the blatantly overt political appointment of a Chief Justice.

    Court’s not been doing too well now for a while!!

  38. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Gracious my foot! Polite my foot!

    I have no respect for fakeness of any kind at any time.

    Death is a fact of life. We all have to do it.

    Wuhnuh could tell the truth about me the minute I am dead!

    My son wouldn’t even be listening.

    The only way I would see as improper is if I called the family up or wrote them a letter or sent an e-mail or walked up to them on the street.

    Or wrote my opinion in the book of condolences.

  39. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Not exactly the great list I requested. What about the Dodds prison affair? And it wasn’t just the land he sold off for quick cash, was it?

    Dr. Lucas tells it as I remember it!

    As I recall my mother was driven almost to distraction by the deterioration of the QEH under his watch. The patients took it all out on the nurses. Every day I had to listen to the litany of woes. She took early retirement from a job in which she took great pride. She could not take the stress she felt in not being able to provide the standard of care she was used to providing.

    You guys make me laugh! You really do.

  40. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    From what I am reading, it appears that we have two version of Barbados and an OSA for each.

    I do not know the man, so I cannot comment.

  41. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE One uses flowery language for fun, not to impress!
    One OFTEN uses language for fun.

    I HAD A FRIEND WHO DID JUST THAT

    I MET HIM IN 1979 AT THE BACK OF THE GEORGE CHALLENOR STAND DURING THE SUPER TEST AGAINST THE AUSSIES, A FEW HOURS AFTER THE NEW JEWEL MOVEMENT OUSTED GAIRY

    HE GAVE THIS SIMPLE PUN WHEN HE SAID THAT THE SLUMBERING POLICEMEN “WERE CAUGHT UNDERWEARS”

    SOME YEARS LETTER HE BROUGHT HIS SON TO ME FOR THE PRE-UNIVERSITY MEDICAL.
    I SAID TO THE LAD “NOW DONT FORGET, YOU ARE GOING A WAY TO STUDY.
    MY FRIEND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY “NOT TO STUD”

    I SAW HIM LAST AT CRICKET IN 2003 BEFORE I MIGRATED, AGAIN IN THE GEORGE CHALLENOR STAND. AT THIS TIME HE INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF MY FEMALE PATIENTS HAD TOLD HIM THAT I HAD ORDERED HER TO GIVE THE BUBBY TO THE HUBBY!”

    OF COURSE I HAD SAID NO SUCH THING

  42. John Avatar
    John

    I am sorry to hear of his death and offer my condolences to his family and friends.

    https://www.msn.com/en-xl/northamerica/top-stories/donald-trump-s-brother-robert-trump-dies-of-undisclosed-illness/ar-BB180rwu?ocid=msedgdhp

  43. John Avatar
    John

    Looks like we will have a genuine wet season.

    The ONI index has finally gone negative after the first 6 months of the year.

    0.5 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.0 -0.2

    BWA will be breathing a sigh of relief.

    Similar to 2016 when we had the “flood” that washed out the 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

    https://origin.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ONI_v5.php

    Could get some storms/hurricanes also.

    Down to the J’s (Josephine) already.

    Janet in 1955 didn’t appear till 22 September so we are more than a month ahead this time around.

  44. John Avatar
    John

    Last month was bad.

    Levels in the cave at Bowmanston were extremely low.

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/246451/low-blow

  45. John Avatar
    John

    https://www.facebook.com/bwa.bb/videos/bowmanston-cave/2521361861523939/

  46. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Well I lived here for the fourteen years of his tenure and so I can comment.

    And not a boy or a old man, especially those who did not live here, can tell me when I should!

  47. Robert Avatar
    Robert

    And it wasn’t just the land he sold off for quick cash, was it? {Quote}

    @ Donna

    As far as I could remember, Arthur said land should reach its highest economic value.

    Wuh part of that means that you was suppose to sell land?

    Wuh part all this land I hear people say Arthur sell was? In St. Peter, St. Peter or Christ Church?

    And who the land that wunnuh say he sell did belong to? The government or he compulsorily acquired people land and sell it?

    Suppose a man had a plot of land worth, leh we say, $50,000, and he decide to grow some crops or build 2 houses and rent them out, or he lease to somebody for commercial purposes and that body build something and employ a few people. You don’t think that is letting the land reach its highest economic value?

  48. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @Donna, let me say thanks for the opportunity to slip back to this debate of ‘political and life greatness’!… And let me repeat these base levels so that we can be clear:1) It’s definitely your prerogative to disagree “with his politics”, 2) My description of the man as a “great Bajan” is a simple assessment based on his life achievements and 3) what the man achieved as our longest serving PM MUST of necessity be comprised of successful projects/programs and too failures.

    1.If you determine that your dislike of a politician’s main ideological/policy positions is enough to render him or her lacking of any solid merit then so be it.

    2.We all attended school and then graduated to forge a life … and there must be one from among us who becomes “preeminent”, show “markedly superior” quality or greater “skill” than peers. By all accounts this man was such a person… circumstances elevated him to be the leader of his party and then the nation and allowed him to ‘bamboozle’ us to reelect him three times in that role… so either that’s a testament of his ‘preeminent greater skill’, the marked incompetence of his opposition or the crazed fanaticism of a majority of Bajans. Whatever the reason he superseded many peers to reach that pinnacle… thus in very, very simple terms the ‘man himself’ displayed peer equated greatness.

    3.Scholars will validate or invalidate dispassionately one expects what @Austin and others speak about re the economic legacy of the Arthur years… thus whether he can be described as a “great leader” is open to opinion based on the political ledger of great policies vrs ineffectively poor programs ….. That the QEH deteriorated, according to your assessment, so badly under would be an ineffectively poor program, no doubt… I do not know the details of the evolution of health matters then to render any sold opinion.

    All that said I therefore find it hard to square your assessment that bloggers here are being “inconsistent” re Arthur… to refer to @Austin again…“It is right and proper in the days following the death of someone to be polite to their memory, and be gracious to the dead person’s family.”…. Gracious simply means allow the family to grieve at their personal level and put aside momentarily any displeasure towards the deceased.

    I missed the Douglin tribute but did hear the interview of Arthur’s close friend and cousin who then became his political adversary, H. Benn. Those remarks was also sincerely said…. Surely folks will be over the top as that is a very natural occurrence when big name politicians die… so we listen to the friends like a Doughlin and get a glimpse of the person we may not have known and put aside the ‘over the top’ platitudes.

    NO POLITICAL leader can reach the TOP without being crass and conniving and this one was no different … he also had that awesome ability called the ‘common touch’ that made paupers feel like princes and the simplest lady like a princess.

    Love him or hate him… the fact is that as a son of the soil his story is impressive and inspiring and compares as “preeminent” whether compared to his many peers of very successful and accomplished men and women or to those who went before him!

    That’s a simply effective measure of life… if one keeps score … objectively!

  49. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ de Pedantic

    Well said.

  50. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Steupse! Becoming prime minister etc. for me is not an achievement. Becoming a good prime minister etc. is an achievement. I don’t respect positions or titles. That is how you wind up in the state you lot are in where you currently reside.

    Steupse!

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