Submitted by William Parker Successive governments including the incumbent have teased Barbadians about transitioning to a republic. Now that we have witnessed the decommissioning of Nelson statue the question being asked is- are we there yet? David, blogmaster
Successive governments including the incumbent have teased Barbadians about transitioning to a republic. Now that we have witnessed the decommissioning of Nelson statue the question being asked is- are we there yet?
David, blogmaster
Apologies to the BU for straying out of the lane but I have strong feeling about the issue of Client funds.
@ David BU
Normally I would recuse my self from commenting on this posting; but pray tell:
What do Mr. Beale’s nationality,colour of skin, and alma mater have to do with his expression of views in a democratic country such as Barbados?
@Vincent
Colour – nothing. It was brought up by people who are always shouting that Barbados is racist.
Alma mater – it was injected to support the point he was schooled in BIM and how would Mia be able to toss a bona fide Bajan out of the country.
@ David Bu
Thanks on two counts. Wuh Loss!!
FWIW I agree with Beale, as “David” wrote he hasn’t said anything that hasn’t been said multiple times on this blog, he is a Bajan and entitled to his opinion like everyone else. I don’t know anyone who can support the large number of cabinet ministers with a straight face. One of the first acts of the PM amounted to a betrayal of the electorate who were supposed to fall for the “many hands make light work” tripe from a PM who when in opposition was very critical of the governing party for its number of ministers.
“How in God’s name can you have CARICOM that changes management every six months?” Beale queried.”
Beale must be drinking too much, why would he want any of these small minded PMs sitting between the Caricom chair and the Bureau for more than increments of six months to corrupt it..
notice the new CJ is not telling the older lawyers not to tief, they play that game everytime there is a new batch of lawyers…yet the older ones are exposed right through the year for tiefing client funds or sabotaging their cases.
In the current ” bloated ” cabinet some ministers are just over paid ineffective de facto civil servants obstructing competent Permanent secretaries from doing their jobs.
@ Mr. Skinner
It may be true ‘real men go straight up.’
This is NOT a reference to you, but I’ve seen several ‘real men….. and women’…. go straight up from the rum bottle and directly into the stomach. And, when those two meet, a battle ensues. It’s not usually a ‘pretty sight.’
Q Beale must be drinking too much, why would he want any of these small minded PMs sitting between the Caricom chair and the Bureau for more than increments of six months to corrupt it..
A HE IS OBVIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT STABILITY……….WOULD YOUR LIFE BE STABLE IF YOU GOT A DIFFERENT MAN EVERY SIX MONTHS?……….WOULD YOU NOT BE CONSIDERED A WHORE AS EXIBITED BY CARICOM that changes management every six months?
BEALE IS NOT STUPID JUST BECAUSE HE WHITE…..IS HE?
Just as true today as it was when figured out..
RE I’ve seen several ‘real men….. and women’…. go straight up from the rum bottle and directly into the stomach. And, when those two meet, a battle ensues. It’s not usually a ‘pretty sight.’
THIS PRACTICE OF THE USE OF ETHANOLIC IMBIBATION FOR GASTRIC LAVAGE IS AN EXCELLENT PRECURSOR FOR PANCREATITIS AND CARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS
“Apologies to the BU for straying out of the lane but I have strong feeling about the issue of Client funds.”
Apologies not needed.
Thinking that you have put away enough to have a comfortable retirement and then have someone shave off a big percentage would give rise to strong feelings.
We don’t want to hear “don’t steal”, “penalties” and of some fund that don’t have enough to make one victim whole..
Trinidadians call that a pappyshow
There was a time I would have advise a young man to look elsewhere if he is being frustrated. I have changed my advice…
Hang in there, no matter how tough
Get big ass pockets
Make some political connections
Don’t be boastful, loud or obnoxious.
When your time comes, if it is not nailed down put it in your pocket.
Obviously, with a 30-0 win, Mottley had to find ‘some work’ for the majority of her newly elected members of parliament. She knew the public would remind her that, as opposition leader, she often criticised the size of Stuart’s Cabinet and would similarly criticise the size of her Cabinet.
It’s all about political strategy. Recall a few days after the election, she and Marshall appeared before the press, waving about documents and sharing information to suggest the former DLP administration left the social and economic affairs of Barbados in such dire straights that she needed ‘all hands on deck’ to rectify the situation, hoping Barbadians would buy into the narrative.
So, we all know the “many hands make light work” tripe” is only a political gimmick to justify her bloated Cabinet.
@William
You owe me a drink. I do not promote gin; I drink it. But you are right about rum being our only international product. The reason why our governments, tourism officials and professional middle classes do not promote rum is because it is a manufactured product. They prefer services, and not just services, but some services.
They live in a dream world. First, we need a legal definition of Barbadian (Bajan) rum, then we can talk about training staff and setting up distilleries. It does not appeal to the lawyers who think they are on par with others.
@William
There is another myth that if you were born in a country you cannot be deported from that country. Nonsense. International law states a person cannot be deliberately made stateless. There is a difference.
One such case is now going through the high courts in London. Tell that to home secretary Priti Patel.
#amazing
.”WOULD YOUR LIFE BE STABLE IF YOU GOT A DIFFERENT MAN EVERY SIX MONTHS?”
looks like you’re drinking too…none of that works in SLAVE SOCIETIES..
WURA-War-on-UNovember 28, 2020 1:02 PM
ARE YOU STUPID?
CANT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I AM SAYING THAT YOUR LIFE WOULD NOT BE STABLE IF YOU GOT A DIFFERENT MAN EVERY SIX MONTHS?”
CANT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MY ANALOGY WAS AN ILLUSTRATION?
FYI I DONOT NOW DRINK , NOR DID I EVER START
“The reason why our governments, tourism officials and professional middle classes do not promote rum is because it is a manufactured product. They prefer services, and not just services, but some services.”
Yet we have a whole Food and Rum Festival. SMFH!
GP…keep ya drawers on, wuh happen, things slow at the WH…
HOPE BARBADOS DOESN’T BECOME A BANANA REPUBLIC LIKE NORTH KOREA
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kim Jong-Un is reportedly displaying ‘excessive anger’ over the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, ordering the execution of two people
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is said to be angry about the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact, South Korea’s spy agency said on Friday.
According to the Associated Press, Kim has ordered the execution of at least two people, locked down the capital of Pyongyang, and implemented other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
One of the two people who were executed was a well-known money changer in Pyongyang, who was reportedly blamed for North Korea’s falling exchange rate.
North Korea’s economy has suffered in recent months as the country was forced to seal its border with its biggest trading partner, China, back in January.
According to The Associated Press (AP), Kim is also said to be ordering “irrational measures” to slow the spread of COVID-19, including ordering the execution of at least two people, banning fishing at sea, and locking down the capital, Pyongyang.
The latest information from the Hermit Kingdom comes from South Korean lawmakers, who spoke to reporters on Friday after having a private meeting with the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the country’s chief intelligence agency.
The NIS reportedly informed officials that one of the two executed people was a well-known money changer in Pyongyang, who was reportedly blamed for North Korea’s falling exchange rate.
Kim also implemented a ban on fishing to stop seawater from being infected with the virus, the NIS said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/kim-jong-un-reportedly-displaying-170526831.html
Kim sounds frustrated, guess North Korea is not on anyone’s travel list..
Commisiong got some real hard knocks against his big egotistical head for criticizing Beale words of truth
Couldnt help but throw a few punches against his big head
The nerve of Commisiong running to the media to defend govt extra large cabinet after two years of him doing nothing whilst holding the title of Caricom Ambassador
As a matter of fact he owes the treasury a refund
@ Hal
I owe you a drink , you don’t promote GIN You just it. My apologies. Name the place and time. Are we doing Roebuck orGeorge Street bar?I have good friends in both places. 😊
Open for foreign investment, says Toppin
Minister of International Business and Industry Ronald Toppin says Barbados is keen to welcome new foreign investment despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and monitoring by international bodies.
Last week he issued an invitation to Scotland businesses to invest in Barbados, adding the hope was that some of the digital nomads here on a Barbados Welcome Stamp visa would eventually transition to become business owners here.
He was speaking at the opening of a virtual Scotland trade mission.
Toppin said the 12-month Welcome Stamp “has proven to be very popular with the international business community and is a signal that Barbados is so much more than a leisure destination”.
“As a result of the Stamp, our real estate sector is enjoying healthy traction and there is an open invitation to our nomads to transition and establish businesses of substance in Barbados, further contributing to the country’s development,” he told officials, including Scotland’s Minister of Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee.
“Ours remains a welcoming climate in which to live, work, play and invest. Our borders have never closed and we are very
much open for business.”
Toppin said Government was “extremely desirous of attracting foreign direct investment and actively seeks to encourage businesses of substance to establish here. The opportunity to engage in partnerships and joint ventures is also a feasible option.
“Our vision for future investment is to build world-class financial platforms and services in several new areas, including medicinal cannabis, e-health, e-education, the management of life sciences, culinary sciences, robotics, retirement villages, data and cloud engineering, FinTech, cybersecurity and an increased menu of exports.”
“Our aim is to become a leading hub for experiments, for pilot and scale ideas, while seeking to attract investment that helps to propel the continuous pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
He noted that in spite of Barbados’ reputation for transparency, judicious governance and compliance, the country, like a number of similar jurisdictions, “has found itself under the monitoring regime of international organisations which on occasions impose stringent judgements on global financial centres and tax jurisdictions.
“Nonetheless, Barbados has been resilient in attaining the requirements of the consortium of international financial regulators as it diligently presses to maintain its image as a globally competitive and compliant jurisdiction.”
(SC)
Culture is our greatest export
A lotta tings I been tru To express myself, and hold a meds and sing tune What you allow will continue Believe in yuhself, trust de instincts dat in you – Chief Diin, “Believe in Myself”These lyrics from Bajan dancehall artiste Chief Diin, could speak on behalf of the entire Caribbean.
The product of its turbulent history is a rich, vibrant and dynamic culture that has impacted and continues to impact the world in a way that is beyond its small size. Where the Caribbean has truly punched above its weight is in the arts and culture.
And yet it is doubtful that the region has truly reaped the full economic and social rewards of its innovation in this area. Far less, has it reached its full artistic and cultural potential.
Culture is the Caribbean’s greatest export. It is not sugar, ganja or tourist memorabilia that leave these seas and uniquely influence the rest of the world. It is the Caribbean vibe, which travels in vessels of music, dance and style. But a look at Caribbean cultural policy and the region’s handling of the so-called creative industries would not necessarily tell you that.
A survey of the Caribbean public’s attitudes to the role of art may not reflect this reality.
And so we export culture practically for free. In fact, possibly at a loss. This should come as no surprise. We farm sugar and lose money to export it so that foreign companies can use it as a raw material in value-added products to be resold to us at a profit.
We spring the raw talent and potential of a Bob Marley or Rihanna, for them to be exported and repackaged overseas to build up other people’s industries and culture. From reggae to RiRi, we produce only to lose out to others who are ready to value and reap what we take for granted.
We have to stop undervaluing our own cultural and artistic ingenuity.
Too often, we don’t appreciate our own till someone else does. I remember meeting an American journalist who came to Barbados to
research spouge after being amazed by Lew Drayton, of the Draytons Two.
Drayton had opened for a reggae artist in the United States. Little did this journalist know that he was coming to retrieve spouge from an overflowing, Bajan cultural waste bin.
I’ve been told that at one time spouge was rocking the entire Caribbean.
It seems that we didn’t believe in ourselves and the instincts within us.
So, we threw spouge away.
Chief Diin goes on to sing, Let me down when I wanted
support
I stand firm and never fold Because I believe in myself
The arts and cultural industries of the Caribbean need support but have been let-down by governments and private sectors which failed to see the wisdom and vision of investing in them. Narrow numbers based economics cannot account for the power of intangible heritage.
It takes a deep sense of identity to invest emotions or capital into works of art when immediate profit is not sure. Modern day pirates and plantation owners of the Caribbean are only interested in the booty of sure votes or a quick turnaround on investment.
On this eve of Independence, there are signs for hope. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley expresses a deeper understanding of the importance of art and culture to self-image and the relationship between national selfimage and societal progress than previous leaders.
It is an understanding that is rare in an age where so many only seem to understand dollars and cents. The National Cultural Foundation is harnessing the disruption of COVID19 to explore new avenues of cultural development.
Barbados is full of artists who stood firm and never folded despite the lack of support, who’ve supported and shaped national consciousness often without reward. They’ve been independently Bajan all the while, inspiring
us to believe in ourselves as Barbadians and as Caribbean people.
They are ready for the nation to be ready for them.
Adrian Green is a communications specialist. Email: Adriangreen14 @gmail.com
Barrow’s legacy: the two-party system
By Ezra Alleyne
The celebration of Independence which Errol Barrow brought to Barbados is as good a time as any to reflect on aspects of the two-party system which he helped to bequeath to Barbadians.
When Barrow and his breakaway colleagues from the then ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) formed the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in 1955, the seeds of two-party democracy were well and truly planted. It is a major part of the Barrow legacy that the DLP has done so well enough to have survived for 65 years.
Free secondary education and tertiary level education established within the first five years of Barrow’s tenure of office were potent fertilisers of support for our democracy. The founding of CBC radio and television station soon deliberately followed. Communication was a key aspect of a true democracy. So too, was an informed electorate.
In 1976, when he accepted the people’s verdict and ceded office to Tom Adams, political analysts could glowingly contrast Barrow’s mature sobriety, with the power-drunk attachment to high office of some global leaders.
Having regained office as Prime Minister in the 1986 election; his death in June 1, 1987 was a body blow to Barbados. It shook his beloved DLP to its foundation. The aftershocks have not yet subsided.
Barrow’s directive
A few months before his untimely death, Barrow did say that after him it was Lloyd Sandiford and after Sandiford it was Philip Greaves, and thereafter any number could play. Barrow was a clear far-sighted thinker and he must have been wondering how his party would have fared after his death.
I suspect however he would now be pleased that the Prime Ministers from the younger brigade of BLP leaders have embraced two of his more progressive and uplifting flagship policies, namely tuition free tertiary level education and restriction of the fiscal deficit to small and controllable percentages of GDP.
Equally, he would be shocked that the two DLP regimes that followed his time in office, have failed to manage the economy in such a manner that they could have maintained these policies which are clearly in the national interest but that the BLP leaders have succeeded in doing just as he did.
But then he would simply remind us all that as he often said, there is no copyright in a political idea, and that a policy, if beneficial to the nation, can be adopted by any party.
The truth is that any seriously reflective analysis of the Sandiford and David Thompson/Freundel Stuart regimes have left many of Barrow’s fellow Barbadians wondering loudly about the DLP, and trying to work out how and if it can bounce back, after the red wash election defeat in which all seats were won by the BLP.
The first point of departure for any analysis would have to be the accession to the leadership after Barrow’s death. It was a matter on his mind. Barrow’s judgement was impeccable. Sandiford was the best choice to succeed and his election victory in 1991 confirmed his genius. But the seeds of the 1994 destruction (and the red wash too) had been sown right from the day of Barrow’s death.
Questions were raised about Sandiford’s appointment. Nobody, not even perceptive rivals like Dr Richie Haynes and Branford Taitt ever came under starter’s orders. There were no leadership stakes and no leadership race. It was not what was done, but rather how.
The genesis of the “current problems” within the DLP is of cardinal importance to all political parties in this country. Political leaders must be chosen by crystal clear transparent methods.
The 2008 election victory was a lesson to both the parties. It was misunderstood by both parties, and they both suffered for it. There was a looming generational shift by the electorate in their choice of leaders. The late Owen Arthur sensed it when he said in 2005 that he would be retiring before the 2008 election.
Lost to Thompson
Alas, he did not and lost the 2008 election to David Thompson. The BLP then
chose Mia Amor Mottley to be their Leader in Opposition. Good move, and then the unfortunate death of David Thompson left the DLP exposed.
The choice by the DLP of Stuart as Prime Minister meant that Mottley, on sheer electoral preference, if nothing else, would be the winner whenever Stuart called the election. But the shift back to Arthur as Leader of the Opposition was a serious mistake if one took the signals for generational change from the electorate seriously.
Those signals were not accepted by the BLP and the electorate, in order to drive home its point and its utter disgust, gave the DLP an election victory by the slenderest of political margins.
The red wash was forming in the skies and the episode of the Eager Eleven in a strange kind of way, tried to head it off, but once again we have an example of the right idea badly executed.
The 30-0 victory was an emphatic response by the voters. Arthur and Stuart were both gone. Now, we can all wonder why Thompson, on his death bed, appointed Chris Sinckler as Minister of Finance. Was Thompson, like Barrow, looking to the future?
And what was the Eager Eleven all about?
Ezra Alleyne is an attorney at law and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
@ William
As it is you \I will go down market and slum it. How about Champagne? I leave gin for special occasions.
The blogmaster will join you for a Mauby or lemonade.
Republicanism is an excellent move to cement our Supreme Leader´s reign as first President for life.
@ Hal
Once @ David in de do , it will be fun. Like I tell you he ain’t a bad fellow , he just loves his country more than anyone else. I sticking to white rum and a dash of cranberry. Maybe you two can bury the hatchet hopefully not in each others back.😊 Peace
My soul brother Adrian Greene understands that our culture is what sustains us. Our culture, when nutured, can produce nuff dollars and cents. It is the beginning of prosperity.
Political parties and transparency
THERE IS AN INCESSANT DISCUSSION about integrity in public life and the promise to root out corruption in Barbados. This optimistic objective which all citizens should support will not, however, be realised as long as the lawmakers continue to look in the wrong place and ignore the obvious.
The Mia Amor Mottley administration is determined to get this legislation on the statute books since it will score points for fulfilling a key manifesto promise.
But, if there are gaping loopholes in the draft bill, then it will be an ineffective law.
The introduction of legislation in Parliament which requires political party registration and financing, and disclosure on campaign financing, is an absolute necessity. This must happen if we are truly serious about addressing corruption.
As important non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political parties are critical institutions in our nation, particularly for the party occupying the seat of power. They represent the interests and issues of the public in Parliament and are lobbied by the rich and powerful who have their own agenda.
This is why we must get our governance arrangements right, as they relate to these organisations. In the same way the Government plans to introduce legislation to ensure greater transparency of how other NGOs operate in Barbados, political parties must not continue to be the exception to this rule. The true financial operations of both the Barbados Labour Party and Democratic Labour Party, the two main political institutions, must not remain top secret.
There is unlikely to be any obligation by the political parties to share their audited annual accounts with the public and disclose their major financial backers, especially in the lead-up to an election campaign. The law must be in place to make them adhere to good governance by having their operations opened to public scrutiny.
This can be achieved through annual independent audits which should ideally be under the control of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC).
In 2018 there was a spending spree in the general election campaign and the source of those funds was never made public. The public will remain in the dark even to the true amounts shelled out in the by-election campaign held last month in St George North. Citizens are very conscious that those sources of funding do not come purely from members’ dues or even the staging of special events.
The desire is not only to have disclosure about the top contributors to the parties, but to ensure those with deep pockets and vested interests do not corrupt the system. Our political organisations must not be on auction to the highest bidder, which is why full transparency is necessary. We need to amend the Representation Of The People Act and the laws governing the EBC.
Those measures, correctly done, will allow for greater scrutiny and accountability of our political parties. Our clarion call is that there must be greater oversight and disclosure.
There is unlikely to be any obligation by the political parties to share their audited annual accounts with the public and disclose their major financial backers . . . .Nation Editorial
The most important event since 1966.
Barbados could become a Republic in less than 6 months from now.
@Hants
It appears from the little info in public it will be a ceremonial one give the sprint to November.
@ David December 7, 2020 5:40 AM
(Quote):
In 2018 there was a spending spree in the general election campaign and the source of those funds was never made public. The public will remain in the dark even to the true amounts shelled out in the by-election campaign held last month in St George North. Citizens are very conscious that those sources of funding do not come purely from members’ dues or even the staging of special events.
(Unquote).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blogmaster, how would you rate the above Editorial from this financially compromised member of the struggling fourth Estate which might soon mourn the final passing of that old lady on Fontabelle?
Some of your “radicalized” polish from the Fifth Estate must be rubbing off as the politically constricted members of the remaining Fourth Estate mine the pages of BU in order to up their readership game.
I think it is ‘Excellent’ and goes to the heart of the future governance of the coming republic.
There can be no functional democracy under the new republic unless the people are allowed to know who are those ‘shadows’ paying the piper playing the decision-making political party tune at the Cabinet level.
It would interesting to ‘hear’ your views about the method which ought to be employed to appoint the First President of the Bajan republic.
The PM must have already identified and prepped the ‘puppet man’ to be selected for the sinecure post but without the ceremonial title of KCMG which could be replaced with the Order of Roebuck Street.
@Miller
There is no country persons existing in the shadows will not exist. The challenge is to try to ensure more lighted than dark places exist for cover.
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