est. 2007

Barbados Underground

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What About the Economy Stupid

Prime Minister Mia Mottley continued the recent trend of making controversial and contentious announcements. She revealed government’s recommendation to rename the University of the West Indies in recognition of the late prime minister Owen Arthur. To honour convention of parliament parliamentarians in the Lower House set aside yesterday to pay tributes to the late prime…

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Prime Minister Mia Mottley continued the recent trend of making controversial and contentious announcements. She revealed government’s recommendation to rename the University of the West Indies in recognition of the late prime minister Owen Arthur. To honour convention of parliament parliamentarians in the Lower House set aside yesterday to pay tributes to the late prime minister.

The blogmaster has no problem with recognizing Owen Arthur to recognize his contribution to Barbados and the region. The Vice Chancellor and her management team will decide if to accept the recommendation from the government of Barbados, who by the way is its biggest contributor to UWI’s finances.

There is a creeping feeling by the blogmaster Barbadians – as is our inclination – are being distracted by ‘political noise’ and the current dire state of the economy is being relegated. There are several national conversations on the go – recognition of same sex unions, push to be a republic next year, by-election in St. George North and the latest – proposed renaming of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. It does not help that the political opposition and media will be consumed by these events and there the masses.

Wait a minute – what about the economy stupid!

186 responses to “What About the Economy Stupid”

  1. John A Avatar
    John A

    For example what I think would do well here is a catch and release lake capturing our run off water and populated with fresh water fish. There you will have small oar boats where one could rent one and go and fish. As the name implies what is caught must be released. Some where say down by Lakes in St Andrew would work. You can also have peddle craft and such like there for rental too. In other words make full use of what we have.

  2. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ John A

    Since the late 1950s, and Ronald Tree, we have depended on sun, sea and rum to be our tourism mix. None of them is uniquely Barbadian. The reality, the crude reality, is that our tourism officials and politicians have no ideas.
    A few years ago a number of young Barbadians came up to the University of Surrey to read for an MA in Tourism Studies. Where are these people now? I know one has sadly died and one is now a lawyer, but where are the others?
    Where is our professor of tourism economics? Is there also a professor of the sociology of tourism? We interpret tourism as occupied hotel rooms; the worst bit is that we now see cruise ships as part of the mix, even if they are sailing towns and compete direct with long-stay tourism and the hotel and restaurant sectors. We even want to build a cruise ship port. How dumb can we be?

  3. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Hal

    I have always maintained you cant make money off tourist unless you get them off the ship or out the hotel room. We have a massive nature reserve stretching from Barclays Park to St Lucy that generates nothing for us. It can be used in a structured way to make money for us. The Catch And Release Lake would only be one part. Then you have the dunes and paths that can be used too. For example in California they have these 3 wheel sail carts with large balloon wheels which are moved by a sail like a windsurf sail. The Beach down there stretching from Belleplaine all the way north is ideal for such activity. My point is we have not begun to utilise our God given attractions yet as money earners.

    We also have the old train line,much of which can be cleared for tram tours etc. Wunna need to come out the offices at the BTA and look around.

  4. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @The0 8.20
    You are correct. Between Covid, Covid wave 2, Elections and ruling government’s in a precarious balance, the concept of aid beyond one’s borders is getting no traction.
    The ‘welfare state’ doesn’t stretch beyond one’s political zone.
    The GoB will end up expanding the MS to meet payroll and social payroll, to avoid converting the borrowed Fx. The CCP have already smelt opportunity. Who you think is buying those 0% coupon rate Corporate Euro bonds? Remember debtors rank above equity in any “reorganization”.

  5. Traveller Avatar
    Traveller

    If there were a rapid covid test available at the departure airport that was acceptable to the Barbados Ministry of Health for admission to the country, arrivals might improve quickly. Some airports are putting this into place. If a vaccine is close then waiting for that outcome might be a better option to boost visitor confidence. Can only conclude this season going to be very difficult. Time tells all things.

    With a view to passing on information to potential visitors who need a test, RVH in Barrie Ontario is now accepting on line appointments .https://www.rvh.on.ca/SitePages/coronavirus.aspx This is still a good site with a attached lab that will likely get you your results within 72 hours. Cold weather is coming to Canada. Drive through testing will be hard to do if it is minus 20F. RVH is planning ahead and hoping to relocate the drive though testing to a building that has a drive in with garage doors that close. Google RVH to find out more. .

  6. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    WARU,

    The institution is called CXC. That stands for Caribbean Examinations Council.

    CSEC stands for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate.

    The Ministry of Education of Barbados does not run CXC. It is a Caribbean agency.

    I really don’t understand what point you are trying to make.

  7. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Donna
    Lol….via multiple posts every day WARU continues her important work, which all essentially seek to make the same point from multiple angles. Just find the current angle, and remember understanding of an acronym or entities function is not her forte, but does not detract from her point.

  8. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Traveller
    I can find a Covid test easily, don’t have to drive to Barrie.
    That said, unless I own a place in Barbados, why would I go? Why are my neighbours going to Florida? If they didn’t own and could find no renters, they wouldn’t be going either. Snowmobile sales will boom.

  9. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Hal Austin September 24, 2020 4:33 AM “Thank you for your sharp perception. I am aware of the Barbados Condition, the back-biting, crab in a barrel, ‘don’t mind him, I know him’ mind set. The good thing about it is that I was lucky to escape from Plato’s cave, which blinds one to the wider world. I am familiar with the vulgarity, the foul-mouthed, abusive nonsense; it is a defensive trick to hide one’s ignorance. Watch how they come out like hungry dingoes looking for food.
    In the meantime, the nation drifts like a rudder-less ship.”

    According to Hal and we are back-biting, crab in a barrel, ‘don’t mind him, live in cave, blind to the outer world, are vulgar, foul mouthed, ignorant, hungry dingoes.

    It seems tome that Hal is exactly as he describes us, it seems to me that Hal has not escaped the cave at all.

    Why does not Hal admit that the reason he cannot return to live in the Caribbean and must forever remain in the cold, dreary, and now diseased England, is that his melanin deficient wife of Scottish heritage cannot stand the lovely sunlight.

    A happy and healthy winter to you both Hal.

    See I did not even use any bad words. I did not even refer to the people who nurtured me as hungry dingoes.

  10. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @NorthernObserver September 24, 2020 12:11 PM “I can find a Covid test easily, don’t have to drive to Barrie.”

    Dear Northern:

    Little Susie who works in downtown Toronto, lives in North York, wants to come home for Christmas. Please do me a kindness and point me to some covid19 testing places in the GTA, preferable south of Eglington, West of Don Mills.

    Sincerely
    Thanks

  11. Michael Campbell Avatar
    Michael Campbell

    According to Hal and we are back-biting, crab in a barrel, ‘don’t mind him, live in cave, blind to the outer world, are vulgar, foul mouthed, ignorant, hungry dingoes.
    It seems to me that Hal is exactly as he describes us, it seems to me that Hal has not escaped the cave at all.

    Cuhdear Bajan, you are right. I have noticed that Hal Austin like to insult people that don’t agree with his opinions. He always associates them with savages or animals.

    Let me give you a good example. Last week during a debate, Austin called me an idiot, told me that he now knows who I am and said he would not respond to me no more.

    Tell me something? Dismissing me after saying “I NOW KNOW WHO ARE,” is that not the SAME THING as the ‘DON’T MIND HIM, I KNOW HIM’ mind set?

    The truth is he has NOT escaped from from Plato’s cave, which blinds one to the wider world?

  12. Traveller Avatar
    Traveller

    @Cuhdear Bajan
    Here is a link to covid test centers. https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca/index.php/resources-list-of-ontario-covid-19-assessment-centres-their-individual-criteria/

    The Premier of Ontario announced today that many Shoppers Drug Marts will be offering Covid testing effective tomorrow. There has been a large surge in people wanting testing and it has overwhelmed much of the existing testing facilities. It also became public knowledge today that the lab facilities in Ontario are not able to handle the current volume of testing and so Ontario is sending samples to USA labs for analysis. Ontario is trying to get approval to use a quick test system similar to that now being used in British Columbia. That would help but would not meet the present Barbados PCR test definition. Your big challenge will be to get an approved test and have the results in you hand within 72 hours of your flight.
    Sounds easy but takes planning. Many people are waiting up tp 7 days to get results. When you look at the list of test centers try to find one that has a lab on site such as a hospital. And if you can make an appointment like you can at RVH , great.

    Good luck.

  13. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    Thanks very much. Travel won’t likely occur until December.

  14. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @ss
    I, and my family and friends have used Sunnybrook without issue. Unfortunately that is just N of Egl and east of DM.
    As Traveller note they instituted drug stores testing today for those who have NO symptoms.

  15. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    Thanks Northern.

  16. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Listen to Northern… Donna….the point is, i don’t give a shit…CAPE, SEC, CSEC, none of it means anything to me, has your son gotten his grades yet?…WELL THAT’S THE POINT…..I have seen more alphabet soup acronyms in US and they still meant nothing to me….the amount they got would make your head spin..

    my point is the colonial educated slaves were allowed to control the island post independence and they ran every shit into the ground…that’s the point…while still fooling themselves that they are so precious, special and educated…bunch of frauds…

    don’t know how much you know about the fragile state of mind of kids at this stage with their high hopes and dreams, but if this is not resolved the psychological damage can become irreversible, especially boys, they can be very fragile mentally…..

    BTW…querying is still 60 dollars, although Santia said it should be waived, lets see what CXC says with their arrogant selves, i have one goal right now and it as nothing to do with some shite acronym….i saw a news release from Grenada where they are trying to do something about the ungraded, so let’s see what uppity Barbados says about that one.

  17. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    They better get it fixed, because am real far from being in any generous mood….and will drag their asses everywhere..they repulse me..and am thisclose to going nuclear..

  18. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    WURA,

    I was involved with teenagers for years and therefore know very well how they feel about most things.

    The governments across the region are not happy with the CXC right now. As far as I can tell, the only arrogant fool in this case is the Registrar. I expect he will get his comeuppance in due course because he had been disrepectful to government ministers.

  19. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    @ I agree. In my opinion, his reported response was sub standard coming from a senior official.

    It was dismissive, undiplomatic and lacking in substance.

    As some do, I expect that once Guyana gets this years fracas sorted one way or the other, the people there will get an alternative quote from a supplier going forward.

    If Guyana moves, others will probably follow.

  20. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    Perhaps CXC should have a well educated, well trained public relations person on staff.

    I think that maybe CXC has forgotten that it is the tax money, and the exam fees from the parents and students in the region which pays all of CXC’s expenses.

    It is NEVER EVER wise to bite the hand which feeds you.

  21. David Avatar
    David

    This CXC matter is being dis in the Khaleel blog below. Please allow this blog to highlight the crime situation.

    >

  22. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Crime and educational level are linked. How many prisoners have degrees?

  23. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Since this blog is about the economy we could discuss convalescent tourism for covid infected visitors.

    “One of Barbados’ main tourism source markets, the United Kingdom (UK), is being placed in the high-risk category for COVID-19.

    https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/247833/protocols-placing-uk-risk-category

  24. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Canadians ‘unenthusiastic’ but ready for new restrictions to fight COVID-19 surge: report

    https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canadians-unenthusiastic-but-ready-for-new-restrictions-to-fight-covid-19-surge-report-1.5121153

  25. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Before Covid 19 there was talk about ” Medical Tourism “.

    opportunity knocks.

  26. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Before we talk about medical tourism we had better turn out attention to the mess at the QEH, where people can spend hours before getting any attention. Then the professional attitude of the nurses and doctors need sorting out.

  27. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Correction – the professional attitude of SOME of the nurses doctors needs sorting out.

  28. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hal AustinSeptember 26, 2020 4:33 AM 100%!

    How can a person be waiting hours to get even Triage??? Abysmal. And then we hear that we got enough doctors in Barbados.

    And please, no replies from anyone about , ”well, you have to wait in NY” too. Do not set your standards on another’s low standards.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    @Crusoe

    A big part of the problem is that Barbadians have not been obedience to the call to NOT visit the A&E for non emergency/non-critical matters. They are suppose to go to the polyclinics.

  30. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    DavidSeptember 26, 2020 5:47 AM Maybe. But that does not negate that Triage should be done immediately on entry. But many have to wait for hours.

    That is the answer, where non essentials can be put to the back and urgent to the front. And I have known directly of, heard and read many stories where the case was clearly urgent.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @Crusoe

    Agree that triage should be done immediately on entering the A&E but as you know every system has an optimum carry capacity.

  32. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    DavidSeptember 26, 2020 6:00 AM

    And if the system is perpetually shown to be lacking in that carry capacity, what does it say?

    Either the system design is inadequate, under-resourced, or the implementation is lacking.

    It needs resolution.

  33. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Crusoe

    We have had the situation where an elderly man, 101 yrs old, and seriously ill, was sitting in A&E for hours. Then a number of calls were made to get him seen to; when the porter came to wheel him away, the port er remarked “man you know people”.
    Such bad behaviour should be a disciplinary offence. Then the man was eventually moved to the ward. A relative called up to check on his situation (visitors are not allowed due to CoVid) and all she could hear in the background, while taking to the doctor, were people (presumably nurses and fellow doctors) laughing and giggling. I am not talking about weeks, or months or years ago.
    I remember years ago Sir Richard Haynes was carrying out an inquiry in to the QEH and, reasonably, asked for a copy oaf the payroll. He is now dead and has not yet received it.
    We are left to speculate why officials did not pass it on. I believe it was because they were people on the payroll who did not work for the QEH; they were relatives, friends and supporters of politicians and senior executives.
    If the hospital does not have capacity, that can be easily resolved. In terms of triage, all patients should be ween within 90 minutes of coming in to hospital by a nurse practitioner, who will then decide who should be seen and who should go to polyclinics and who should see a general practitioner and who a specialist.

  34. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hal AustinSeptember 26, 2020 6:09 AM 100%.

  35. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    He announced that Ajax Construction, Arthur Construction, C.O. Williams Construction, Infra Incorporated; and Jose y Jose, are the proposed contractors.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/09/26/multi-million-rehabilitation-of-highway-1-project-to-create-jobs/

  36. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Long talk ?

    https://www.nationnews.com/2020/10/08/investment-opportunities-blue-economy-says-mottley/

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