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Walter Blackman’s Political Insights

It will be worth the time to study Walter’s brief odyssey into local politics to extract learnings; David, Blogmaster If we are going to extract learnings, we need to look at the dots and connect them. I have reaped no success in politics to justify the writing of a book or my memoirs at this…

It will be worth the time to study Walter’s brief odyssey into local politics to extract learnings;

David, Blogmaster
Walter Blackman,
Actuary and Social
Commentator Extraordinaire

If we are going to extract learnings, we need to look at the dots and connect them. I have reaped no success in politics to justify the writing of a book or my memoirs at this point in time, but there are a few revelations I can make exclusively on BU which would help Barbadians to understand the genesis of some incidents which extensively damaged Barbados, the lives of Barbadians, and the Barbados brand.

I do not know if this particular topic is the best place for me to start, but I am going to start. You, as blogmaster, have the right to package my writings and place them wherever you see fit.

I hope by taking this course of action that I will inspire other Barbadians who believe that they have a tale to tell to start doing so. William Skinner readily comes to mind.

The success of our oppressors stem primarily from the fact that they want to silence us and make us cower in fear. They want to make us feel that it is a sin for us to share our experiences. It is my deep-rooted belief that our shared experiences will help us to understand and appreciate each other more, and by so doing, will create a catalyst for change, however small.

These are my writings and I own them. I have attached my name to them so they are my intellectual property. I reserve the monopolistic right to use them as part of any book I decide to publish in the future.

Let me state, up front, that I have not been privy to any secrets created or held by any political party in Barbados, so it is impossible for me to divulge any. Almost all of the positions adopted by me arose out of deductive reasoning, or by analysis of events that stumbled into the public domain.

273 responses to “Walter Blackman’s Political Insights”

  1. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    GP,
    The studies and tests are making the claims.

    I understand the basic explanation from bio-chemistry which you have given and I believe you. I agree with you that the muscle type required for long distance races is different from that required for short distance sprints. Restricting Semenya to the sprints would effectively destroy her career.
    Maybe that is the objective.

  2. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE How come you have avoided, and deliberately so, that morally burning vexed fact that she is a same-sex relationship in which she is committed sexually to another biologically-proven female?
    What is your biblical exegesis on that ‘odd’ state of affairs?

    I HAVE IN MY WRITINGS ON BU TRIED HARD NOT TO JUDGE ANY ONE FOR THEIR OVERT SINS , EXCEPT FOR THOSE, LIKE YOU, WHO ALLOW THEIR DADDY WHO IS A LIAR FROM THE BEGINNING (JOHN 8:44) TO USE THEM TO MISLEAD THE FORUM SPIRITUALLY.
    HOWEVER, A READING OF ROMANS 1:18 ET SECQ WILL GIVE YOU YOUR ANSWER

  3. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    Miller
    November 22, 2020 3:58 PM

    “@ Walter Blackman
    Sorry to add a bit of diversion or a little levity to your blog.
    W.McM. B, you are certainly a true Xtian at heart and indeed in mind; even if not in thoughts. LOL!!”

    Miller,
    Try as hard as I may, I will never achieve Xtian perfection.
    I used to think that I was a pseudo-Xtian, whose “spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. Until I met you.
    I much prefer your assessment of me, my friend.
    LOL

  4. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    I served as a Director on the NIS Board from 1986 -1994. I received $108 per month for my services. No individual or company ever sought me out to bribe me, or to try to influence the way I voted on any matter that came before the Board.
    Two of the biggest issues that confronted the Board during that period were:
    1. Severance payments
    2. An attempt by some employers to categorize their workers as self-employed.

    Let us take a look at severance payments.

    The issue related to severance payments a generation ago demonstrated, to my young mind, the extent to which some Barbadian employers would go to get around a system that was designed to protect the rights of workers.

    Here is how the severance payment system was supposed to work:
    If an employee was terminated, placed on short-time, or laid off, the employer was legally bound to pay that employee his severance based on a formula related to pay and length of service. The employer would make the severance payment to the employee and then seek a rebate of 25% from the NIS.

    The vast majority of employers followed this practice.

    In the event that the employer decided not to pay, or contested the payment, the worker was allowed to take his/her case to the NIS severance payment tribunal. If the tribunal found the claim to be legitimate and justified, the NIS would pay the worker his calculated severance payment and seek the 25% reimbursement from the employer after.

    This attempt to protect the worker’s rights opened up the door of abuse to a minority of rogue employers.

    Here is the scam the rogue employers perfected:
    A rogue employer would be operating a business for many years. He would terminate his workers and refuse to pay them severance. The worker would take his/her case to the severance payment tribunal and receive the severance payment from NIS.

    However, when the NIS approached the employer for 25% of the severance payment, the department would discover that the business had been closed down. It no longer existed. The NIS was thus left holding the proverbial bag. The worker received his/her severance payment, but the Severance Payment Fund was robbed.
    To add insult to injury, the same business owner would soon resurface, doing the same business, but using a completely new business name.

  5. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    There is an easy answer. If some employers are scamming the system, then they should be barred from being involved in any business, as directors or shareholders.
    Further, I have called on a number of occasions for a new companies Act in which the shareholders and directors of firms will be held responsibility for any debt, post bankruptcy.
    These are the ones who get the dividends and bonuses – and massive salaries.

  6. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    this is barbados six days ago yet govt have money to bailout the crooks and thieves in the hotel industry
    Black lives does not matter

  7. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    Hal Austin
    November 22, 2020 5:41 PM

    “There is an easy answer. If some employers are scamming the system, then they should be barred from being involved in any business……”

    Hal,

    As a young Budget Analyst working in the Ministry of Finance 40 years ago, I submitted a calculation to the then Minister of Finance, Tom Adams. When the file came back from the PM’s office, this was Tom Adams’ only written response: “Are you sure?”

    I respected the man’s brilliance so I immediately tried to discover where I had made my mistake. I eventually realized that I had used a tax rate in my calculations that was one-thousandth of a percentage point off. I made the correction, re-submitted the file, and when it came back to me, I smiled broadly when I saw “Approved”.

    You said that “there is an easy answer’. In true Tom Adams fashion, I now ask you: “Are you sure?”

    As you reflect, please bear in mind that the economy of Barbados is small, underdeveloped, open, and vulnerable. We need to encourage as many entrepreneurs as we possibly can. More businesses remaining afloat mean more employment and an opportunity for Barbadians to earn an income, however small or big.

  8. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Walter

    I am aware that Barbados is a small island and needs all hands on deck.Yes, I am sure, in fact very sure, anyone trying to scam the system should be barred from being involved in any company, listed or private, as stated.
    Sorry about your calculation with Tom Adams. I cannot count to ten without making a mistake, so I admire you both. We need good financial regulation.

  9. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ GP November 22, 2020 5:06 PM
    “I HAVE IN MY WRITINGS ON BU TRIED HARD NOT TO JUDGE ANY ONE FOR THEIR OVERT SINS , EXCEPT FOR THOSE, LIKE YOU, WHO ALLOW THEIR DADDY WHO IS A LIAR FROM THE BEGINNING (JOHN 8:44) TO USE THEM TO MISLEAD THE FORUM SPIRITUALLY.
    HOWEVER, A READING OF ROMANS 1:18 ET SECQ WILL GIVE YOU YOUR ANSWER…”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    It seems we are both from the loin(s) of the same “DADDY” of lies and deceit.

    How else can you explain your oft refrain of Mo(o)tley being a PM the Prime Wicker or ex-Pres. Obama the Shitbama President?

    It clearly does not reflect your boastful position of not judging people.

  10. GP Avatar
    GP

    THAT OBSERVATION IS THE TRUTH AND CAN NOT BE REFUTED
    ALSO DESCRIBED IN ROMANS 1:18 ET SECQ

  11. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    I hate with passion when people make excuses for these scam artist
    Businesses like that hotel that scam govt and workers should have their assets seize no ifs ands ir buts
    These kind of lowlifes would never see light of day if they ever tried to puil scams in international countries
    Understandably these small.islands economy depends on business for employment
    But where does govt draw the line

  12. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    Hal Austin
    November 22, 2020 6:50 PM

    “@ Walter
    Yes, I am sure, in fact very sure, anyone trying to scam the system should be barred from being involved in any company, listed or private, as stated.”

    Hal Austin,
    That is your position and I respect it. Let us view scamming the system as the committing of business-related financial transgressions.
    My position is that the answer is not as easy as you make it sound.

    Take a look at CLICO for example. In that case, I agree with your suggestion that Leroy Parris and others should have been “barred from being involved in any company….” among other things.

    Additionally, I believe that David Thompson, for the role he played (please read the report of the Judicial Manager carefully) as PM and Minister of Finance in illicitly taking millions of dollars from CLICO and depositing it into Mr. Parris’ account, should have been expelled from the House of Assembly and prosecuted for betraying the public trust, had he been alive. We all know that Mr. Thompson was dead when all of the sordid details of the CLICO heist were revealed.

    On the other hand, it might be more appropriate, for example, to fine a “guilty” building contractor who has a small business with a few staff members for his transgressions.

    Facts and circumstances ought to be considered.

  13. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    The only thing these black face sell outs in the parliament seems to have perfected in 54 years is how to STEAL the populations money by the TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS and give it away to the fraudulent social partner THIEVES in the minority community and NEGLECT everything associated with the people that can ENDANGER THEIR EXISTENCE….it seems like DECADES St. Andrew folk have been asking to save their LIVES WITH THEIR OWN TAX MONEY and every fraud enters the parliament, take the tax money and give it away to minorities instead….. and they in St. Andrew believe they are forgotten, no they did not forget,, the self hating SAVAGES JUST DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU or anyone who looks just like you….

    now they’ve found a new way to enforce more poverty and dependency on the majoirty population by concretizing dependency on tourism and they feel so proud, it wont’ take long for that fallout to manifest itself.

    “Article by
    Barbados TodayPublished on
    November 22, 2020
    Promises made, but never kept. That was the unified cry from residents of the White Hill community in St Andrew, as they met Sunday on the anniversary of the main road into the area collapsing into a nearby gully.

    After years of promises from Government about rectifying the dire situation, residents in the area say they are no longer looking for talk, but instead demand action.

    One resident, Carlitha Andrews, says the situation for her area has grown from frustrating, to ridiculous, in terms of the silence from Government officials.

    “We have been getting promises on promises of this road being fixed. All that we have learnt, is from what has been said in the media. No one is coming to us and telling us anything about what is going on, and we are here today to let the public know what is really going on up here,” she said.

    Andrews said in addition to no realistic road connection being available to residents, the lack of any form of consistent bus service has been a never ending issue, leaving the community feeling even more cut off

    Andrews shared copies of a letter a sent to several departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office.

    “This letter was a letter that was hand delivered; there were three copies, one was made to the Prime Minister’s office, one to the Ministry of Transport and Works, and one to the MP (George Payne). The one person that acknowledged that they got the letter was the MP. No one from the Prime Minister’s Office responded and they were hand delivered. They have been very disrespectful to the people of White Hill, we are the forgotten lot,” Andrews said.”.

  14. Carson C Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C Cadogan

    There was never any intention by the Barbados Labour Party to keep their promises to the people of White Hill, it was all a Electric gimmick trick.

    Just to gather a few more votes. What will the use Barbados Labour Party in the next General election??????

  15. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    A company can outrightly lie and say there was an agreement with the BWU. The PM publicly confirms that the company lied and then bailed out the company by taking up taxpayers money.
    And then , in the same breath, expresses the hope that the same lying company (people) is going to honor an agreement.
    According to Senator Franklyn, the legislation is designed to protect the employers. From what I gather, if the employers do not pay the severance, the government is obligated to do so.
    This is the kind of ruthless capacity in the current BLPDLP. Now pray tell , why any progressive union leader , would want to be seen in the same room with these vagabonds. Why would anybody believe they can support such organizations and be identified with them.
    Well, if this is not approaching banana republic status ,I don’t even know what a banana is.

    Peace

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Did you listen to the press conference? The government via the NIS is bailing out the workers because of the action of the company and she said the NIS will be going after the company. One can only assume via some legal action. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

  17. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Walgter,

    Let us agree to ignore Clico. That process is now going through the courts. I know there is a section of Barbadian society that believes Mr Parris should be hung, drawn an quartered, mainly because he did not go to a so-called prestigious school (in reality just mediocre secondary schools) and mainly by people who themselves are not as bright as they think.
    I have read all the publicly available information on Clico and my conclusion is the same as what I have been saying for years on BU.
    Clico was the result of regulatory failure and bad supervision.. The DPP has an opportunity to take action against Clico, on behalf of the supervisor, and failed. Legislation needs to be amended to allow the insurance supervisor to prosecute insurance infringements. Why should s/he have to go to the DPP to take action?
    Further, David Thompson has been dead for ten years, so, presumably, his estate has gone through probate, which is a public record. That probate record should have been published in the press, given its importance. I prefer to let due process take its course.
    Thsese were not just shortcomings with Clico. The regulatory and supervisory incompetence continues, with the Donville Inniss case, in which not a single person named in that scandal has been held to account, and in the case of Sagicor, being allowed to enter the highly risky alternative investment field, at a time such as this, of residential housing and mortgages.
    This is so obviously risky it makes one wonder if the regulatory/supervisory was made aware of this investment before it was rolled out to the public.
    If they were, then my case of incompetence stands; if they were not, then that is a disciplinary matter and Sagicor should be punished.
    Let us get on to the substantive point. If a business person scams the system, either by committing a criminal act, or just by an unethical one. That person should be suitably punished.
    That can be done through the criminal justice system or, failing that, through the regulatory civil justice system. In either case, a person who has scammed the system has lost the moral right, moral and human, to be entrusted to be the leader of any registered company in Barbados, listed or limited. Punishment should range from suspension for a year, to a lifetime ban.
    The argument about job creation is untenable. If there is a market for the good or service produced by that person the vacuum will soon be filled. No one or business is too big to fail. That was the lesson of the 2008 banking crisis.
    As to the loss of revenue, that too is untenable. By definition, by trying to scam the system that person is trying to avoid or even evade paying taxes. S/he has proved him/herself to be unreliable by that very act.
    There is a more fundamental point to be made. By sending a message to the wider society that no-one is above the law, no matter how wealthy or well connect d, government will encourage trust in the criminal justice and regulatory systems, which at this point is badly needed in Barbados.
    One result of this incompetence and romanticism, is that when the EU and OECD blacklist us for money laundering we cry racism, rather than reforming our flawed and decrepit financial regulatory system.
    That is who we are. Unless we get real, it will end in tears.

  18. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    had

  19. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “A company can outrightly lie and say there was an agreement with the BWU. The PM publicly confirms that the company lied and then bailed out the company by taking up taxpayers money.
    And then , in the same breath, expresses the hope that the same lying company (people) is going to honor an agreement.”

    That’s exactly what is happening and she’s LYING ABOUT IT..,,,that is not the only lie she is telling, but as i said, this forum is not the place for certain things…it’s best aired where it will make a difference, we always knew there were limitations involved, if ya want results…

  20. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    The NIS going after what company that is BS and political fodder to place a lid on wagging and raging tongues who see the wrong
    If what the PM said is true why did it take months before any kind of resolution was sought to help the worker
    Govt have a legal right to seize assests from individuals who robs govt
    Only recently a black business man was sentenced to prison for not paying his taxes
    Only the white people when due legal process is necessary are treated with kid gloves
    David has become a boneheaded apologist for Mia he is far lost when it comes to understanding the difference between what she is says and what she meant to say and in the final analysis what govt should do
    Anyone with miniscule understanding of determination would have expected Mottley to say that legal action is or has been taken against by the govt of barbados against Hotel with urgency to collect all monies due and payable to govt
    No! But instead heard long winded political babble with intent to chastise those who were fighting for the workers rights
    I hope the workers find them a good lawyer that an file a class action law suit against the Hotel for breach of their individual rights to fair and equal process

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Maybe you are correct and it mirrors the UDC/Beautification and others sent home during the DLP’s tenure without a sent. Some things never change it looks like.

  22. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @Mariposa

    Keep up the good work. Your observations are very sharp. If the Mottley gang was being honest, all they have to do is to put a lien on the Club Barbados property. They won’t because they are talking bovine excrement. They are scared of these so-called business people.
    Where is the attorney general? Our president is herself a senior lawyer? Smoke and mirrors.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    How do you know what the government is doing? She stated that the NIS will go after the entity. We saw that they went after CHAPS (CIN CIN) and they are paying up.

  24. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    Did I lie or misrepresent anything in my submission? If so , please explain in plain English and publish on BU. I would apologise if proven. A pleasant day to you and yours.
    Peace

  25. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Hal Parris is black and their will be a lynchmob made up.of his own kind to hand cuffed him featherhim and burned him to a stake
    The white corporate elite such would never happen even when evidence shows that they have taken the benevolency of govt to the heights of thief
    As a matter of fact govt rewards them with all kinds of financial goodies at taxpayers expense and not a sounding word is uttered by those who are ready with handman noose in hand to hang Parris
    This kind of rot and unfair and unequal practices continues with the help of some so called intellectual blacks who does not see any value within themselves but holds the white establishment to a different stsndatd
    Hence a govt can hold a PR conference and utter meaningless words and deliver empty promises on behalf of the white establishment and the elite and pedigree amongst the blacks applauds because they see no wrong

  26. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Listen to the press conference. it is widely available online and already posted to BU.

  27. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    @Hal 6:11
    Very good post. You are at your best when you are not caught up in exchanging harsh words with others.

    “The argument about job creation is untenable. If there is a market for the good or service produced by that person the vacuum will soon be filled. No one or business is too big to fail.”

    Did you take our small size and limited resources into your calculations? It may take some time to fill the vacuum.

    Businesses may not be as big as you think they are and the fear may be for having a series of small failures and not the big failure you are thinking of .

  28. David Avatar
    David

    This is not a binary matter. Some sectors measured by their contribution to GDP, employment etc if allowed to collapse in an uncontrolled manner as discussed here is presumed by some to be a negative event especially given the lag factor. This is true is a small and unsophisticated market place like Barbados.

  29. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Willaim, don’t know if you saw this video i posted to BU last week, but Afra Raymond has a site that’s monitoring corruption in individual islands….the site address is in the video…there are other sites also available but no one wants the corrupt or their agents, fowls, anywhere near them…..running to jump on this board and that board to put up a front while selling out black people will no longer work, imagine she jumped on some corruption board and people are openly saying on a platform that well, she’s had a lot of experience being corrupt…how embarrassing..

    https://youtu.be/O6klV4lbWRs

  30. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I seem to remember a photograph of Michael Lashley touring the White Hill area and making several promises to the same residents. If anything the Mottley government has more of an excuse.

    DLP yardfowls can add nothing to this discussion because they have changed their positions since the DLP was run out of office. Their only argument can be, “Yeah, we were horrible! So far you guys are no better.”

  31. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    However small black business are allowed to collapse daily as if they never exited or does play any financial importance to the economy
    Ram might be a poor choice of govt heavy handiness and its quickness to seize assets
    However it is an indication that govt would do whatever necessary to give the white establishment whatever they want
    The same process of acquiring Ram property would have occured if it was predominately black
    My point being that govt only sees the white establishment as powerful entities to the economy
    Hence their leverage far outweighs the rights of fair and equal when it comes to black people

  32. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ WURA
    I will check it out. Have been following Raymond off and on for years.
    Thanks
    Peace

  33. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ TheOGazerts
    November 23, 2020 6:53 AM

    @Hal 6:11
    “Very good post. You are at your best when you are not caught up in exchanging harsh words with others.“ (Quote)
    I have been trying to tell Comrade Austin that for a few years. The man just hard ears.lol
    I have down years in his hometown ,the beloved Ivy and he very highly respected.
    They are some who come here to provoke and engage in petty fights. Even when you compliment them, they still look for drama.
    Peace

  34. David Avatar
    David

    In the opinion of this ignorant and illiterate blogmaster no scare funds should be spent to rehabilitate that area. It has morphed into a political issue like most things bout here.

  35. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Mariposa

    I have long worked out the attacks on Mr Parris had nothing to do with his business practices, but his background. It is the verminous underpinning of the Bajan Condition.
    Had he got an MSc in political sociology from the LSE or was a lawyer, in other words the right pedigree, then he would have been knighted by now.
    Some time ago a bright young Barbadian came to me and ask me what I thought about his returning to Barbados with the intention of entering politics.
    My suggestion to him was to make sure he first could support himself, if not they would not only punish him for having the audacity to enter politics, but they will get great joy from humiliating him. That is the Bajan way.
    And you are right; the chief culprits will be the very poor and hungry that he would be trying to help. It is a strange national psychology.

    @Theo

    There is a natural fear that if the merchant or manufacturer we have goes away no one else will come along. It is unnecessary. The barrier to entry in the hotel sector is very low.
    In fact, if the legal system was more competent and people were allowed to move their money around, a lot of Bajans in the Diaspora will gladly invest in the sector. They do not because they are not sure their money will be safe. Look at the number of cases of lawyers stealing people’s money.
    Do you have a bank account in Barbados or land with squatters on which the Barbados Water Authority has installed water without the landowner’s permission? Try getting a local lawyer to sort that out. Ours is a failed state. No amount of fake nationalism will hide our incompetence.

  36. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ William

    You sound like my mother. “Boy, you hard ears,” a refrain throughout my youth. “You like your father.” In a funny way, the man I always try to model myself on, even in old age, is my father.
    So, instead of chastising me, she was inadvertently telling me what I wanted to hear. But it is appreciated. She was a natural social worker and what people felt mattered to her. With my dad, he said it as he saw it; if you got offended, then as they say on BU, move on.

  37. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    However small black business are allowed to collapse daily as if they never exited or does play any financial importance to the economy
    Ram might be a poor choice which i might used to be of govt heavy handiness and its quickness to seize assets
    However it is an indication that govt would do whatever necessary to give the white establishment whatever they want
    The same process of acquiring Ram property would have occured if it was predominately black
    My point being that govt only sees the white establishment as powerful entities to the economy
    Hence their leverage far outweighs the rights of fair and equal when it comes to black people

  38. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    I did not expect you to seriously prove I lied or misrepresented anybody. I have dealt with obstructionists and apologists fir ages. All you do is give them enough rope.
    Peace

  39. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    But there is absolutely no problem picking up SCARCE BLACK PEOPLE’S TAXES BY THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND GIVING IT AWAY TO MINORITY RACISTS, THIEVES AND LIARS both local and foreign while the population suffers…….and no one sees a problem with that…

  40. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Please be careful, do not hang yourself.

  41. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    William…check other sites, they are more flexible and are results driven, BU has it’s own purpose. We always knew there would come a time when we have to use our skills to reach our goals, avenues have since opened up to do just that and more. There is a lot more going on than we’ve been talking about for years and to actually achieve anything, there are certain individuals that you must join..

  42. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    A good come back. Go to the top of the class ! I can take a good counter punch.
    Peace.

  43. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    I am trying to understand the genesis and root of the problem faced by the workers of The Club Barbados.

    I wrote:
    “Here is how the severance payment system was supposed to work:
    If an employee was terminated, placed on short-time, or laid off, the employer was legally bound to pay that employee his severance based on a formula related to pay and length of service. The employer would make the severance payment to the employee and then seek a rebate of 25% from the NIS.
    The vast majority of employers followed this practice.
    In the event that the employer decided not to pay, or contested the payment, the worker was allowed to take his/her case to the NIS severance payment tribunal.”

    If the hotel had paid the workers their severance and sought the 25% rebate, there would have been no problem.
    The mere fact a problem now exists suggests that the employer did not do what was legally required up front.

    Is The Club Barbados unable to pay the workers their severance?

    Is The Club Barbados contesting the severance payment claims of the workers?

    The route which forces the worker to go to the severance payment tribunal of the NIS is a time-consuming route. It should be the route of last resort.

    Why should a simple concept like this erupt into such a large, embarrassing, anger-provoking national spectacle?

  44. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    (Quote):
    There is a more fundamental point to be made. By sending a message to the wider society that no-one is above the law, no matter how wealthy or well connect d, government will encourage trust in the criminal justice and regulatory systems, which at this point is badly needed in Barbados.
    One result of this incompetence and romanticism, is that when the EU and OECD blacklist us for money laundering we cry racism, rather than reforming our flawed and decrepit financial regulatory system.
    That is who we are. Unless we get real, it will end in tears. (Unquote).
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    That’s the kind of sound patriotic advice- whether coming from the recommendations of a local consultant or another concerned Bajan living overseas- the powers-that-be in Bim don’t want to hear.

    Instead of dealing with the obvious deficiencies in the country’s financial regulatory system and glaring lack competence in dealing with the white-collar miscreants (as in the case of the internationally shameful ICBL affair) the only reaction is to scream ‘Racism’ against those who have a vested interest in protecting their own tax havens and fiscal incomes much needed to underwrite their own social welfare systems.

    Why should the EU or OECD not be concerned about or give a free pass to a country which cannot even deal with its petty financial criminals and fraudsters both in the incestuously nepotistic private and public sectors far less monitor international financial gangsters?

    The appalling deficiencies plaguing the existing justice system- whether criminal, civil or administrative, with over 1,000 lawyers on call in a 2×3 place- will be the undoing of the country and which, unfortunately, would only turn you into a fortune teller of some repute; only if ‘ill’ among those afflicted with the proverbial Bajan Condition of burying their heads in the sand.

  45. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    (Quote):
    If the hotel had paid the workers their severance and sought the 25% rebate, there would have been no problem.
    The mere fact a problem now exists suggests that the employer did not do what was legally required up front.

    Is The Club Barbados unable to pay the workers their severance?

    Is The Club Barbados contesting the severance payment claims of the workers?

    The route which forces the worker to go to the severance payment tribunal of the NIS is a time-consuming route. It should be the route of last resort.

    Why should a simple concept like this erupt into such a large, embarrassing, anger-provoking national spectacle? (Unquote).

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

    How come the head honcho of the government’s political fire fighting brigade can promise the disgruntled workers their severance pay before Independence Day?

    Where is the money coming from? A line of credit ( printing money) from the Central Bank to the (‘liquidity-challenged’) NIS?

  46. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Appeasing the workers is not the same as properly regulating the employers. One is PR, the other is conspiracy to commit crime.

  47. David Avatar
    David

    @Walter

    Senator Caswell contends the recent amendment to the Severance Payment Act because of Covid removed the NIS tribunal from the process. It therefore affected a narrow group of people laid off. There is nobody to appeal issues as a result now that the sun as set on the legislation. Hopefully Caswell will write something.

  48. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “Why should the EU or OECD not be concerned about or give a free pass to a country which cannot even deal with its petty financial criminals and fraudsters both in the incestuously nepotistic private and public sectors far less monitor international financial gangsters?”

    instead of crying racism when they get caught in their criminal activities against other people, Mia needs to tell the UN, EU and OECD just HOW MUCH RACISM IS IN BARBADOS…..it’s more than enought to take to any world court.

    one lady from US had to expose Royal Westmoreland for racism against herself…..the whole island is infected and infested with racist practices against Black people, as it’s always been…

    she should be ashamed to call UK or EU racist.

  49. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    David,
    I went through a first reading of the amendment but have not gotten fully on top of it as yet. It was convoluted and I remember that it gave the worker an open window to file for severance if certain conditions were satisfied. I also remembered that the process was time sensitive and the possibility existed that the window could be closed and the worker could be left stranded with no recourse if he/she did not know, or did not move in a timely fashion. I am not sure if that is the issue at play here though.

    I hope that the unions took the time to educate the workers thoroughly and effectively about the amendment.

    However my basic questions remain.
    Do you know if The CLUB Barbados is claiming that they are unable to pay the severance bill and seek the 25% rebate from NIS?
    Do you know if the employer is contesting the validity or amount of the severance payment bill?

  50. Walter Blackman Avatar
    Walter Blackman

    Miller
    November 23, 2020 11:22 AM

    “Where is the money coming from? A line of credit ( printing money) from the Central Bank to the (‘liquidity-challenged’) NIS?”

    Miller,
    You do know that the NIS is ultimately responsible for 75% of this severance payment bill, right?

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