est. 2007

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An Angry Black Man

How does it make you feel that already one man can boast that he has the biggest solar energy operation in Barbados? Obviously it is his intention to replace the generation department of Barbados Light and Power. It is only the sun and a few pieces of hardware and this is what it has to…

How does it make you feel that already one man can boast that he has the biggest solar energy operation in Barbados? Obviously it is his intention to replace the generation department of Barbados Light and Power.

It is only the sun and a few pieces of hardware and this is what it has to be?

How does this make you feel as a Bajan, black, white or Indian? (BU’s emphasis)

Every opportunity the same people feature. I am really worried this. While some of us are hurting and frustrated by the circumstances of our country, you mean we can have an elite that is getting on with securing their succeeding generations?

These thing don’t bother you, they don’t anger and demoralised you?

I have been crying out about this all year, only to hear Bizzy William’s boasting about his latest economic coup. He did it with desalination and sea water, now he is doing it with the sun, Jesus.

What will be our end?

Can see we are heading for a major political fall out over this. That I should have to rent my roof to some body to get solar power? Or for expats to turn up as investors. This model is wrong and it is time to speak up. Gov’t needs to revisit its policies as it relates to renewable energy and economic empowerment. Years ago the sugar industry was restructured but the white people were allowed to cut off the plantation houses and yard, and rent the lands to BAMC. Everything we do in Barbados, white people get the cream.

When is this all going to end man?

It is making me angry and frustrated man. And black Gov’ts always?

Everton Cumberbatch (with minor edits by the Blogmaster)

Everton’s comment is interesting because it highlights how Blacks in Barbados – for whatever reason – are grasping the opportunity to create wealth in an emerging new economy.

Who are the key players in the renewable sector as Everton observes?

COVID 19 has fast tracked movement of financial transactions to the online world, who are the key players in the electronic transactions space?

Who are the key players in technology and telecommunications in Barbados?

The time has come for ALL Barbadians to advocate for policies from our leaders that will unleash economic empowerment with equitable distribution in mind. We are an educated people, let us behave like it. Blacks resorting to blaming the problem will not help, blaming successful Whites and other minority players will not solve the problem. Can you guess who must solve the problem? WE must solve the problem if we want to create an equitable society.

209 responses to “An Angry Black Man”

  1. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU at 4:43 PM
    Barbadian citizens and corporations had an equal chance to purchase BNB and ICBL. The shares were put on the local market and few ventured to purchase. They believe, since l government owned them ,there was no need for them to own..There is an embedded fear of private ownership .

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Are we an educated people or not.

  3. TheoGazerts Avatar
    TheoGazerts

    @Hants
    Here I thought you were a man of the people.

    6000 sq ft is a big house. Knees will not be hurting, just tired from walking.

  4. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU

    You should know by now that there is no correlation between education and a shareholding society. Some people are just risk averse. Bajans of all hues prefer sole ownership.,where they are in complete control.

  5. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “So it wasn’t anything to do with a car in the port or drugs.”

    cartels traffic both guns and drugs in case Black John is pretending not to know….besides the Goddard/Herbert drug bust went from 2 Million plus in Cocaine, to 500K in Marijuana to Herbert was not on the boat therefore he is innocent, to he was on the boat but he is still innocent to the Black dude on the boat did it….so spare me the bullshit, they had all the time in the world to reduce any large drug or gun shipment to 50 bullets…..

    “this white bought the land.”

    more like STEAL the land, that is what the Williams do, that is how they ended up being able to boast, tief land from the elderly and then tief the money from the treasury or pension fund ….FROM THE PEOPLE… to start the project, they are notorious THIEVES.. stop the pretending Lawson…another.pretender..

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Why would an educated person fail to seize the opportunity to own capital in a market where there are zero other opportunities to create wealth?

  7. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ TheoGazerts,
    I thought you were rich. That is why I suggested a ” Big house “.

  8. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @David BU
    They are some people who are obsessed by owning things and creating wealth. The average Bajan has other more worthy personal goals. We should respect that. In addition acquisition of “capital” is usually achieved at the expense of other groups in the society. If one does not have the intellectual and other capacities to play the investment market one should participate.

  9. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    Correction
    One should NOT participate.

  10. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Vincent

    The problem with that is if Bajans leave their money on the bank at a savings rate of 0.25% and inflation runs at even 3%, they are getting poorer by the day.

  11. TheoGazerts Avatar
    TheoGazerts

    @Hants
    The party is at Greene
    Not rich. Not poor. Getting by.

  12. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ John A
    And if they invest all their money in a Dry Ice Manufacturing factory it may disappear overnight. They must view the negative interest rate as rent for parking their digital money.

  13. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Vincent

    As the old people say you dam if you do and dam if you dont. Reality though is many of this generation will end up poorer than their parents and that is an unfortunate reality.

  14. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Someone should do a psychological study of some returning nationals to build a big ass house. My take, we mostly grew up poor and de ‘upstairs house’ was seen as a sign of having arrived and as being well off and that itch never leaves thus when some return they still want that house sometimes to show their friends that they haven’t wasted their time in the cold. They build these houses even when their knees are creaking and when they descend in the morning they never make it back up until nightfall. A friend who was in the construction business told me he would advise his elderly clients who desired these kind of homes to ensure they have a bedroom on the main floor because illness is bound to creep in and they may become prisoners in that upstairs bedroom.

    The decision to return or not is up to the better half but one thing we agree on is that if we do it is a bungalow or bust.

    This is not meant as a criticism of anyone’s personal choice just a reflection of what I have observed.

  15. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    The typical chinese, indians, arabs or caucasian would rather build a DREAM business first, than a DREAM house. Because building generational wealth is what matters. I can’t say the same for our people. Unless you plan to own a diverse portfolio of these real estate mansion assets as rental properties, then good for you.

    Many a returning residents with small families build humongous houses for no other purpose but to show off. Many even died before they moved in, only to be sold or fight over by their families. And in most cases those families living overseas are not giving up their first world living for Barbados. I have a very small family. I am old school. Built my 1500 square foot house without a mortgage. Never bought a new car in my life and live debt free.I believe in living off the land. And that is why I invest in land ownership and farming.

  16. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    @Sargeant. I think you are on to something. Probably some of us are suffering from the GREAT HOUSE SYNDROME .

  17. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ Greene September 8, 2020 4:49 PM

    The black population mainly desires to work in the civil service, which is de facto closed to minorities. There they only have to work 20 hours a week and receive a high pension for idleness. It is therefore unattractive for the black population to work 60 to 80 hours a week as a businessman.This is a rational decision, not dictated by the color of the skin or history, but wanted by politics running the deep social welfare state. Why make an effort when you can earn your money in your sleep? If I had the choice to get 10000 BBD for doing nothing or to slave 60-80 hours for 20000 BBD per week, I would also choose the first alternative.

    In other words, the public service designed by Barrow is a racist institution that prevents the black population from socially advancing to the status of businessmen. It would not surprise me if Barrow had made the following deal with the white businessmen in the 1970s: he may expand the welfare state and inflate the civil service to drug the black masses and prevent them from competing with the whites in the private sector.

    The black population must therefore pay close attention when radical populists like Presscott spread their conspiracy theories. These individuals clearly have no interest in freeing blacks from economic slavery because, as bureaucrats of the system, they benefit from it themselves.

    We should therefore follow the BLM movement in the USA and demand the following: Defund the public service! Let us break the chains of economic slavery of the civil service!

  18. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Greene
    Save your breath. We like it so! Perhaps now that we have a special envoy on enfranchisement , things may change.
    You are absolutely correct: the question here is why every viable opportunity ends up in the hands of a select few. We talk about land reform , ask them who owns a third of all the arable land in the country.
    Don’t worry soon , if the trend continues, they would own: the port; airport; sanitation; waterworks; QEH; primary schools; UWI…….
    Like the old people say: Just wait and see.
    Save your breath.

  19. John Avatar
    John

    DavidSeptember 8, 2020 7:32 PM

    @Vincent

    Why would an educated person fail to seize the opportunity to own capital in a market where there are zero other opportunities to create wealth?

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

    Having read the above back and forth and thought long and hard, I conclude that educated people with both EQ and IQ appreciate the concept of a balance sheet where assets balance liabilities and that they also realise that the profit and loss concept is central to creating riches.

    They also appreciate the vast difference that exists between riches and wealth.

  20. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/09/09/pm-says-population-hasnt-grown-enough-in-last-40-years/

    “Asked by Kenny what provisions were in place for a visitor who, at the end of the 12-month period of the Welcome Stamp, wanted to stay on in Barbados, Mottley said the Government was working on new laws.”

  21. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Barbados is just over 100000 acres in total, with a population of just under 300000 and with 40 per cent unemployment, most of them young men and women.
    Why is the president so obsessed with growing the population? It is another one of those bogus ideas that are never articulated so people are left to guess the reasons why she is putting them forward.
    Let me make one such guess, the drop in revenue. If this is the underlying argument to grow the population, whatever the impact on the nation’s demographic make up, it is economic lunacy.
    What will grow the economy is productivity and we do not need a larger population – of a dangerous mix of ethnics – to increase public sector revenue.
    What she needs is greater output from the 30000 public sector workers and a better and more competitive private sector. All this is in the hands of the government of which she is leader.
    To bring in more non-black ethnics to Barbados will create such a hostile environment that it will be the end of old Barbados. I think, however, this is her intention. Mottley thinks political power has elevated her out of being black.
    She now sees herself as part of the Cattlewash Mafia and has no interest in ordinary working Barbadians, apart from a vote every five years.
    W£here are the opposition political parties? Where are the media? Where are the public intellectuals? Where are the social media voices? More important, where are her Cabinet colleagues.
    This looks to me like another barmy Persaud idea.

  22. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Barbados is struggling to reign in crime and Mottley catching at the wind to create a whirlwind
    At present govt is spending millions of dollars to prevent stopping the spread of COVID after opening up its borders for tourist
    When will this govt come to a realization that gimmicks cannot sustain an economy
    This is the same Mottley who had introduced World Cup and Eductech and both fell flat like pancakes

  23. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    What Barbados needs to do is engage those young people who are falling by the wayside and enable them to be productive.

    You mean to tell me that they have nothing to offer?

    NONSENSE!

    What increase population what! Increase productivity!

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    Productivity is nebulous, what does it mean in the context of Barbados. What are the skill sets required to sustain our competitiveness on the world stage given we are an ageing population – read NIS? There is a reason the USA, Canada and other countries issue visas to persons with certain skills.

  25. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    you fellas have a lot of jokes. do you all think that every white person and Indian and Syrian in Bim own, run or want to own or run a business. the bottom line is that most businesses fail and what looks like glamour from the outside is not always that way on the inside. as much as we pigeonhole blacks as only government workers and consumers, we do the same to others. how do we know that some white people, syrian or indian dont want to be a cop, a fireman or a carpenter. do we really think that every business own by non blacks are successful?

    and do we really think that in Bim they are or were no black successful business people. read Hen Carter’s book on black businesses in Bim.

    i have many friends from school and abroad who do their thing quietly. some barely eek out a living and some do well but they are there.

    when it comes to this big house business, i dont care what anyone says, i dont care what psychological angst it goes to, i had the money and i built a big house. i will try to enjoy it as long as the knees can bare up. after that i can pop off or go the assisted living apt there in boarded hall.

    i am leaving no money as inheritance to my kids- none. i have given them the best education their brains can hold and the best nurturing i could give. they will inherit about 3 -4 houses; a better start than i had. if they cant work with that i am sorry. they will have to find their way.

    all the money i have, what little bit i have left, will be spend on me and the wife. i came with nothing and i will leave nothing. i think we take life too seriously. with or without owning a business, with or without being a millionaire, black, white or indian or syrian we all die.

    saying all that, the credit unions as representatives of blacks in Bim can do more to own businesses.

  26. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    On March 19, 2014, while making his contribution in Parliament on the Appropriation Bill 2014-2015, former Minister of Education Ronald Jones said it was urgent that Barbados’ population should be increased to 325,000 within 10 years.

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/48557/story-babies

    In June 2017, former Industry Minister, Donville Inniss also called for the population to be increased, by women having more babies, by way of immigration or both.

    https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/news/inniss-population-needs-be-%E2%80%98rebalanced%E2%80%99

    On several occasions both men went on to further articulate the reasons why they felt the population should be increased.

    Presently, Mottley is making a SIMILAR SUGGESTION for an increase in the population…… for REASONS SIMILAR to those of Jones and Inniss.

    Did Jones and Inniss believed “political power had elevated (them) out of being black,” or “saw themselves as part of the Cattlewash Mafia and had no interest in ordinary working Barbadians, apart from a vote every five years?”

    Was it their intention “to bring in more non-black ethnics to Barbados (to) create such a hostile environment that it (would have been) the end of old Barbados?”

    Perhaps they ‘bought in’ on “another barmy Persaud idea.”

    I’m NOT IMPLYING Mottley is justified in her call for increasing the population because Jones and Inniss made a similar suggestion as well. But, why not let the debate be focused on productivity in the public sector and a more competitive private sector as an alternative to increasing the population, rather than making silly, ‘scare mongering,’ unsubstantiated assumptions?

  27. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Mariposa, could you please remind BU when Mottley introduced World Cup to Barbados?

  28. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    You are SKI-ing? Spending your kids inheritance. You are right. I once worked with an English girls who desperately wanted her parents to die so she could inherit what they left. It was horrible.
    A parent’s duty is to provide their children with the best possible srt in life, and that is mainly education. Then they are on their own. You owe it to yourself and your wife to enjoy your early retirement.

  29. Lawson Avatar
    Lawson

    Greene ya should have put a lift in it would have helped with the knees. Dont be ashamed of enjoying the money you worked for.it. My only piece of advice I have for you is when your leaving a store act natural you paid for it.

  30. David Avatar
    David

    There is no right or wrong position when it comes to how a person allocate their estate to offspring when they pass on. It is a preference. That said when some on the blog compare how Blacks as a group compare to others as it pertains to creating generational wealth there can be no hypocrisy.

  31. John Avatar
    John

    DullardSeptember 9, 2020 4:27 AM

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/09/09/pm-says-population-hasnt-grown-enough-in-last-40-years/

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

    What has Ms. Mockley done to actually grow the population in her productive years?

  32. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Quaker John

    You are right. This is a frightfully important policy proposal, one that should be included in the Queen’s Speech and debated in parliament. To reveal this in a so-called interview, no doubt a question prompted by her PR team, shows a disrespect for our parliamentary system, for our democracy and the people of Barbados.
    And to do it during the prorogation shows her mind set. Our democracy is in crisis.

  33. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Mr Blogmaster… how and why is “Productivity […] nebulous” … in Bdos specifically or anywhere else???

    And what and how does it link to our aging population and a desired competitive advantage???

    Doesn’t productivity simply speak to the need to get more from the same resources… can you realistically assert that Bajans at necessary production levels, those at the service levels of the economic activity or at the service levels of govt generate 100% output for their 100% remuneration???

    Anyhow that a straightforward debate so let’s not “waste time” there. I presume you are doing the devil’s advocate thing!

    The issue of competitive advantage is much more complex … or rather more difficult to establish and sustain, so therein is the endless debate!

    I have absolutely no idea what is our true advantage “on the world stage” because 1) we have squirted away the ‘people friendly, we are highly educated’ platform, 2) we are no longer considered as the exporter of wise folks and 3) our nation has no specialized industrial/technical development incubation model of proven innovation.

    Ideally we can come storming back like a new ‘Janet’ and develop/redevelop those and more.

    And BTW what’s the point about our aging population … are our demographics skewed unevenly in that direction. Never seems so at a glance !

  34. John Avatar
    John

    The magic number for a population to grow is 2.1 children per woman … atleast that’s current wisdom.

    2 doesn’t cut it.

    In 1960, statistics show that women in Barbados produced children at a rate of 4.4 children per woman.

    It has steadily fallen, Sir Clyde Gollop, got his knighthood for his services to women, and is now at 1.74.

    The birth rate reached 2.1 in 1978 or thereabouts and thereafter it has steadily fallen, in 2018 it was 1.6.

    https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=ID-BB

    Barbados however has defied current wisdom.

    The population has actually grown and is now about 300,000 up from 250,000 in the 1970’s.

    How is this possible?

    Barbadian women are not to blame for this increase so the only culprit left is immigration..

    Here is what the population looks like since 1960.

    https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/barbados-population/

    So here is the question.

    If immigration is responsible for the state of play in Barbados with all its attendant misery then why would we want to create more?

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Think, how can we increase productivity in areas/sectors that are giving diminishing returns. We need to inject the population with different skill sets so that it creates the impetus for new sectors to emerge.The USA, Germany, UK, Canada, Singapore and other countries use this approach.

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @John

    Why a professed god faring man l8ke you has to be disrespectful of the prime minister on the blog?

  37. John Avatar
    John

    An example of immigration!!

    Same lawyer as Nadur!!

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/247583/trinidadian-gun-drug-charges

  38. John Avatar
    John

    DavidSeptember 9, 2020 9:21 AM

    @John

    Why a professed god faring man l8ke you has to be disrespectful of the prime minister on the blog?

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

    I’ve been referring to her as Ms. Mockley since the 30 zeroes appeared.

    What’s the big deal now.

  39. TheoGazerts Avatar
    TheoGazerts

    It should be pointed out that some have always opposed the sudden increase of the population through immigration. The high unemployment rate and water scarcity are problems that need to be addressed before topping up the population.

    Also, it is silly to believe that 80,000 rich Martians would not put up candidates and elect other Martians and transform the politics. The new combination of both political and economic power may split the island in two.

    Given the Barbadian mindset, we may throw out the welcome mat that turns out island into a nightmare. We cannot let our politics/country become that of Guyana.

    Apologies to Guyanese who knows what I am talking About but are still offended.

  40. John Avatar
    John

    TheoGazertsSeptember 9, 2020 9:36 AM

    We cannot let our politics/country become that of Guyana.

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

    Or Trinidad, or Ireland or any other country.

    … and if you can get there you clearly support the proponent of “Make America Great Again”

  41. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    i would like to know where we are going to get these new people from? i am willing to help out if the Govt would assign a few nubile young ladies for me to do my civic coition duties. i have no kids in Bim and wont mind having at least 2.1. the Govt should of course explain this to my wife. i have the room for them once she (my wife) doesnt object.

  42. lawson Avatar
    lawson

    Guy goes into a book store and asks for trumps book on immigration, clerk says f..off , get out of here, get lost. the fella says yeah thats it.. do you have it in paperback
    Funny how people change policy when it affects them, well spotted john.

  43. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Think, how can we increase productivity in areas/sectors that are giving diminishing returns. We need to inject the population with different skill sets so that it creates the impetus for new sectors to emerge.The USA, Germany, UK, Canada, Singapore and other countries use this approach…..(Quote)

    Is this the rambling of someone who has no idea of the economics of growth? Barbados is more than an economy, it is also a society. The truth is that the president has been told by one of her consultants, probably Persaud, that this is a good idea and, like the village parrot, she repeats it without qualification.

  44. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    Never underestimate the president. Every step she makes she knows the direction she is going in. If she is thinking of an additional 80000 New Bajans, then she has a waiting list of at least 80001. She is the leading political trickster of her generation.

  45. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    @Hal,

    where are we going to put these new people? do we have the resources? are we sure that we need 80k? what about 100k or 150k?

  46. John Avatar
    John

    The birth rate fell below 2.1 in the 70’s.

    What politician have you ever heard between then and now bemoaning the inescapable fact that the population of Barbados would fall?

    What ever they did do or did not do, the result is the population has risen!!!

    It has to be immigration, legal and illegal!!

    It isn’t our women that are to blame.

  47. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    It is a silly idea not deserving of serious discussion. It is a reflection of the desperation of the government to get revenue to spend on their pet projects.
    That is is not even getting the serious consideration that it should, not even on BU, must speak to the state of mind of the average Barbadian. At a stroke, she plans to destroy Barbados as we know it. The Muslims breed like rabbits. Why import foreigners when all the Muslims need are Viagra.
    I have been saying since May 2018 that her plan is not to be around after 2023. In a single term she plans to reshape this wonderful island.
    I say again, always look at the backgrounds of the people making decisions about Barbados, their marriages, their heritage, their loyalties. Who are the Guyanese; who are the Trinidadians/Grenadians; the Dominicans; who are the English; the Syrians/Lebanese; who are the Irish; who are the Scandinavians.
    They are all there hiding in the wood work, while proclaiming how much they love Barbados. Ignore them at your peril.
    .

  48. John Avatar
    John

    GreeneSeptember 9, 2020 9:51 AM

    i would like to know where we are going to get these new people from? i am willing to help out if the Govt would assign a few nubile young ladies for me to do my civic coition duties. i have no kids in Bim and wont mind having at least 2.1. the Govt should of course explain this to my wife. i have the room for them once she (my wife) doesnt object.

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

    You are not going to find too many nubiles in Barbados because of the natural aging process due to the falling birth rate.

    You will have to import them.

    So Mrs. Greene, don’t worry about Mr. Greene, he is just dreaming!!

  49. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    @John, Hal

    first off, do you believe there is a need to increase our population? if so, how should we do it? from where should we get the people? would it cause social problems?

  50. John Avatar
    John

    Greene

    What is the rate of unemployment?

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