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Department of Public Affairs Setup to Serve WHO/YOU?

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The news that government recently created the Department of Public Affairs (DPA) as a bona fide government headed by Director Pat Parris supported by Tyson Henry, Tyrone Lovell, Christal Austin and Lisa Lorde has set tongues wagging. If one separates from the political arguments there is no doubt concerns are valid in a scenario the government of Barbados currently holds a 29 to 1 seat advantage in parliament. Then you add to the mix the country is currently operating under an emergency mandate because of COVID 19 which extends extraordinary powers to the prime minister. Even if we are persuaded that during a pandemic any government in the seat will want to be in a position to make quick decisions unencumbered from the bureaucracy of parliament there is a razor edge balance to be managed all must agree. Who was it that said “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”?

The blogmaster will not be as extreme as others by comparing the establishment of the DPA to a Joseph Goebbels move, except to say on the face of it there are reasonable questions the prime minister must answer if we cursorily critique the resumes of those appointed. And this is after hearing a reasonable justification for the establishment of the DPA in the first place. They all qualify as Barbados Labour Party (BLP) supporters. The blogmaster is prepared to give Lisa Lord a bligh.

The blogmaster suspects the prime minister being the political animal that she is has an eye on a general election that has loomed large on the horizon and feels comfortable to establish a unit that will disseminate information and respond to concerns from citizens in the government’s/BLP interest. The prime minister is obviously prepared to write-off any political fallout in the face of a weak political opposition.

No photo description available.
May be an image of text that says "-2- Ms Christal Austin Senior Public Affairs Officer, Media Relations Email: christal.austin@barbados.gov.bb Ms Lisa Lorde -Public Affairs Officer Email: lisa.lorde@barbados.gov.bb These officers will be in contact with your Ministries/ Ministries/Departments in the course of planning and executing their duties. 5. I look forward to your collaboration as the new Department rolls out its activities. Senlra Philhno Sandra L. Phillips (Ms.) Permanent Secretary"

For the avoidance of doubt the blogmaster does not agree with the establishment of the DPA at this time. It is not a fit for purpose approach in the prevailing climate. There must be a more creative way the prime minister could have achieve the political objective. The is insensitively too naked a political move.

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105 responses to “Department of Public Affairs Setup to Serve WHO/YOU?”

  1. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Anyone whom has followed the history of politics and particularly American politics, would have known that in times of National Crisis, the Prime Minister or President is given a Unilateral Power.
    And these political happenstances haven’t been made more evident in America with Jackson Indian Removal Act, FDR Japanese Internment Camps, and most recently, George W. Bush Patriot Act, all of which were aimed at and to some extent encroached upon the rights of American citizens.

  2. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    And perhaps I am digressing from the subject matter here by referring to American politics to emphasize a point regarding the BLP 30 to 0 victory over the DLP, but the one thing the Framers of the American Constitution feared the most in their ratification of Constitution, were a one sided majority of one political party in both House and Senate.
    The Founding Fathers concluded that this would have ultimately resulted in a dictatorship or a dictatorial kind of political leadership in America.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    Dompey, enough.

  4. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    Wuh loss!!

  5. Lest we forget Avatar
    Lest we forget

    I have been following politics in Barbados from my teens and agree with your assessment that the PM is a political animal unlike others. She eventually like David Thompson shook off disappointments to become PM. She is now looking at records in the Caribbean as a woman to repeat that 30-0 victory .All of her actions point to that. She has the slickest PR persons working for her outside of this department for example on facebook as influencers. Today’s nation editorial puts it well. The St. George North playbook will work in all 30 constituencies, that is opposition members cannot do anything for you because the government will win again. Maybe enuff can tell you why a bloated cabinet needs so many PR persons. Remember the PM words that she needed a large cabinet because more hand makes light work.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Here is the Nation editorial.

    PR not in public’s interest
    THE GOVERNMENT OF BARBADOS has an abundance of media promoting its agenda across both traditional and new media platforms.
    There is the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) which for all intents and purposes has been emasculated despite having a pool of talented and experienced officers. This is an entity that has remained apolitical over the years since its establishment in 1958.
    The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), judged particularly by its news coverage, has become a full-fledged public relations arm of the Government and by extension the ruling Barbados Labour Party. The way it has covered gun-related crimes and the proliferation of Ministers of Government in its newscasts do not bolster the image and independence of journalism.
    This Government also has the services of a Director of Communications and Social Media and a Press Secretary who are both there to serve Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and by extension her administration.
    The Government’s emphasis on public relations became evident in January when Elizabeth Thompson was brought back from New York as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations to lead a newly established COVID Communications Unit to ensure a better flow of information related to all matters involving the pandemic. The public can come to its own conclusions about the Unit’s success.
    Then there are the bloggers, vloggers and social media influencers along with the party defenders on Starcom’s Brasstacks radio talk show there to defend and support the ruling party’s position and blast any opposing views. The propaganda exercise is on an all-out offensive.
    This is why the recent establishment of the Department of Public Affairs takes the cake. That this office has evolved into a department of Government must cause many thinking people to wonder what is happening.
    The public is well aware that the Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister is Pat Parris. She is a loyal BLP official who was named to the position soon after the party’s resounding victory in the May 24 general election three years ago.
    But the expansion of the role and duties of the Public Affairs section into a full department deserves a public explanation, outlining how it will differ from the BGIS and its relationship with CBC. Barbadians should also be told about the staff and whether they are political appointees hired on contract and their terms and conditions.
    This BLP administration has embraced the bad business practice of hiring people on contracts without the public having a clue about their arrangements. This may be an established custom and practice by governments over many years, but it is an unsavoury tradition. It does not promote either transparency or accountability and lends to poor governance.
    Minister of Information and Public Affairs Wilfred Abrahams needs to address the public’s disquiet surrounding the new Department of Public Affairs. He must give an assurance that it will not be the BLP’s megaphone paid for by the taxpayers.
    It does not promote either transparency or accountability and lends to poor governance.

  7. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Lest we forget
    Y’all really got free room in wunna heads for me. All governments/PMs create their machinery, whether new departments, consultants or Executive Directors. Wunna expected the government to sit down and allow all the fake news to undermine its efforts? Well them got a team in place. The electorate will decide. Rest muh!🤣🤣

  8. John A Avatar
    John A

    STUPES!

    Dem could of tek the money and hire 20 cashiers. Send some to BRA, Licensing authority and customs. If any left back send some to scotia bank too please! Lol

  9. John A Avatar
    John A

    Seriously though where are the priorities here? Right now this cash starved governments sole concern should be this. How can we improve our collections?

    Now mind you this is a mistake many private sector companies make too when it comes to cut backs. They would send home the cashiers and maids and the keep some of the useless management in place, so don’t blame only government for this. But could God wunna got 30 ministers looking after an economy that wunna own central bank say is at least 20% smaller today, you don’t feel it is time for a serous restructuring starting at the top?

    So let we left out wasting money pun more PR and talking heads. We gut much more basic needs that must be urgently addressed first.

    Right that is my 10 cents wut I going and pack the cooler!

  10. Lest we forget Avatar
    Lest we forget

    Enuff
    That is always your fall back position from following you on BU just say it was done in the past and it is Ok.Just remember that Donville said that it is customary for politicians to get money from the private sector and where is he going.So because it was done in the past does not make it right.Hate the Americans or not most of the behaviour we condone is exposed by the press and some ends up before the court with persons high up in government going to prison.

  11. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Americans do not play with corruption and when is discover it is dealt with and no one is exempted, no matter the privilege, prestige, or political persuasion.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    For Immediate Release
    6th May, 2021

    Ministry of Propaganda?

    For eons the Government Information Service has been the information conduit between the Government and the people of Barbados. It is stunning to learn of a new Department of Public Affairs headed by a known political operative and to whom all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department are now directed – we are told effectively the 1st of February 2021 but by way of a Memo dated the 1st of April 2021.
    The Minister of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister need to explain to the people of Barbados
    1. The need for this new Department which does the same job as GIS;
    2. The plan going forward and the fate of the livelihoods of the staff at GS;
    3. The cost of this new Department with its five named members and support staff.
    Or have we now, like the Nazis, established a Ministry of Propaganda?

    President of the Democratic Labour Party
    Verla De Peiza

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    WTH?????

  14. John A Avatar
    John A

    @David

    I got to admit that Verla asking relevant questions. Why in the name of God at this time would we want to start another state department, when it will generate no income but cost us money?

    I heard government after government come to the public and say that the GIS is underutilised. Wunna mean wunna know that and going form another entity to do the same thing that the underutilised GIS could do at no additional cost?

    Look don’t vexify my soul today do!

  15. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    Lest we forget
    Y’all really got free room in wunna heads for me. All governments/PMs create their machinery, whether new departments, consultants or Executive Directors. Wunna expected the government to sit down and allow all the fake news to undermine its efforts? Well them got a team in place. The electorate will decide. Rest muh!🤣

    Xxxxxxxxxxx

    THE ONLY THING THAT THIS ENUFF ASSHOLE DON’T QUESTION IS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MIA RED BAG USED TO TRICK MANY MANY TOO TRUSTING BLACK BAJANS ON THE 2X3 ISLAND in 2018.

    UNLESS ONE LEARN TO THINK FOR ONSELF AND QUESTION EVERYTHING ONE WILL ALWAYS BE SUSCEPTIBLE LIKE THE GULLIBLE WHO DRANK POISONED KOOLAID GIVEN BY JIM JONES IN GUYANA.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    We have been having many press conferences done with the PM present, it is not unreasonable to expect a reporter will feel emboldened to ask the question- why the need to establish the DPA within the bowels of government at this time.

  17. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    It just all sends the wrong signals to the public in terms of grossly misplaced priorities. Unless of course the plan is to make excuses for where we are and then try to explain them away. If that is the plan then I guess many hands would make light work.

    We have critical basic needs that should take priority over such nonesence in terms of requiring immediate action.

  18. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ BAJE May 6, 2021 1:50 PM
    “THE ONLY THING THAT THIS ENUFF ASSHOLE DON’T QUESTION IS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MIA RED BAG USED TO TRICK MANY MANY TOO TRUSTING BLACK BAJANS ON THE 2X3 ISLAND in 2018.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Great one there, BAJE!

    That’s what you would call the perfect riposte which must shut that ass’s hole for a mouth for the balance of this thread.

    That red-nose clown Enuff has proven himself to be nothing but the perfectly fitting johnny for a bleeding hole.

    OSA must be rocking with laughter in his grave as his vision of a despot appears in the light of reality as Barbados ‘slowly’ turns into a ‘fast’ ripening banana republic under a Goebbels-styled regime.

  19. TheoGAzerts Avatar
    TheoGAzerts

    Three steps forward, one step backward.

  20. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Now this bold faced up in yuh face govt has reinvented the PR wheel in the making of a spy machine
    Just watch next police pulling people over if they are not wearing a red shirt of blouse
    This govt is no longer hiding but exposing who they really are
    Things getting closer to Russia

  21. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David Thompson created how many constituency councils and the party hand picked how many councillors to sit on them? What Dem councils did beside served to spread the party propaganda? Verla is too funny. The same Verla that in 2007 called RDC and UDC duplications and vowed the DLP would shut them down once elected and when the Dems won she was one of the first elected to the UDC board. The electorate will decide.

  22. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Verbosed + 3degree/fake observing = 0

    Y’all can cuss me black and blue day in and day out it does not bother me. Had a lovely meeting earlier today now here fuh laffs.🎒🤣

  23. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Goebbels? Really? Stuuuupse!I 🤣

  24. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Look more jokes, Verla says “for eons GIS has been the information conduit between the Government and the people of Barbados”. But it seems GIS did shut down between 2008-2018.🤣🤣🤣

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Citing precedents to explain decisions will not cut it. We hope for change.

  26. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    Y’all can cuss me black and blue day in and day out it does not bother me. Had a lovely meeting earlier today now here fuh laffs.🎒🤣

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    LET ME EXPLAIN FOR ALL OTHERS WHO DONT KNOW.

    YOU MEAN CHAIRING THE MARKETING MEETING WHILST ON YOUR KNEES LICKING THE 2 WHITE MEN BALLS IN YOUR OFFICE WITH ONLY 2 BLACK WORKERS.

    NOW YOU COME UP FOR AIR DEFENDING YOUR NORMAL BLP SHITE IRREGARDLESS WHATEVER IT IS YOU HAVE TO DEFLECT AND FIND EXCUSES..

  27. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    From day one govt has tried any and everything to control what is said and how said on social media
    For months on ends since May 2018 I have noticed how BU has evolved into a think tank for govt rolling out articles that present a flawless side of govt
    Having an agenda to distract meander and take readers and those posting down a pristine rabbit hole which takes away from govt failures
    Some times I have to ask self what has become of BU
    Who are the puppet masters pulling the strings
    The voices known to speak freely in opposition to govt policies have all but disappeared those that remain are castigated..moderated or dumped along the corridors of Bu never to be heard of no more
    BTW what happened to Bush tea the one person with the bush whackernto keep things straight
    GP is no.more along with Hal and it seems like BU of yesterday has die a slow and painful death at the hands of mischievous people
    Still more to come

  28. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Your comment is awaiting moderation
    Let not your heart be troubled
    Thanks David

  29. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    I am not looking to cut anything! You want change but I must ignore Verla’s hypocrisy? How can change embrace hypocrisy? But tell me what I have said so far that is not factual? Meanwhile other posters talking shyte about Goebbels and all manner of propaganda. The irony! You realise if I say the capital of Barbados is Bridgetown there is a coven that would dispute that?🤣Anyhow, GIS is still functioning and its work may very well be more of a threat to Verla than Pat Parris and her crew https://youtu.be/pdWOMVEtFXA

  30. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    3degree aka fake observing
    Ouch, I touched a nerve? At least I don’t need to use two names on BU to make my position appear popular. FYI there were more than 2 white men to suck. Keep up!

  31. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Enuff May 6, 2021 6:01 PM
    “Goebbels? Really? Stuuuupse!I”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    So explain why there is that despotically crying need to create another department to replicate the role the long-established GIS is already mandated to perform?

    Is it because you cannot have two government entities with the same initials, that is “GIS”, in the same Ministerial portfolio so one has to go in order that the other can be ‘reformed’ into a properly-managed institution fit for purpose in a 21st Century society.

    Would the ‘government-appointed’ staff at the original Information Service be made redundant or would they be kept on the payroll to merely play the whittling game of fiddlesticks?

    In 2018 your ‘tricky-red’ administration promised better governance to be delivered in a more efficient manner; not an ‘additional’ albatross around the taxpayer’s neck especially at a time of significant reductions in the country’s GDP and, inevitably, the government’s tax revenues.

  32. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    3degree aka fake observing
    Ouch, I touched a nerve? At least I don’t need to use two names on BU to make my position appear popular. FYI there were more than 2 white men to suck. Keep up!

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    IS THAT WHY YOU WENT FROM CHAIRING OF MARKETING MEETINGS WITH 2 WHITE MEN TO BEING INVOLVED IN BILLION $$$ REAL ESTATE PROJECTS AS SOME KEY PLAYER.

    YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR LOCAL POLITICIAN MATES WHO WOULD LIE THEIR ASSES OFF TO GET AHEAD OR MAINTAIN STATUS QUO..NO WONDER YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PAT PARRIS WHO I BELIEVE WORKED UNDER MIA FOR A LONG TIME IN HER CONSTITUENCY OFFICE NOW USING TAX PAYERS DOLLARS IN HARD TIMES TO FURTHER THEIR AGENDA.

    NOT ROCKET SCIENCE THE 2 x 3 ISLAND IS SINKING IN QUICKSAND SLOWLY.

  33. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Go ask the person that created it. In the meantime demonstrate how Pat Parris crew is similar to the cited Ministry of Propaganda.

  34. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    It is nothing more than a vehicle for misinformation directed at those who have been underserved, neglected, under-educated and who argue among themselves incessantly about a political machine that they understand little about, something like the fowl Slaves on BU.

  35. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    3degree aka fake observing.

    If I were you, I would not accuse anyone of being a liar because pretending to be 2 different people on the blog is the personificayion of lying. 😭

  36. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Miller…they not only need a sign, but most of them need serious punishing with the rod of correction.. there are those who are deeply spiritual and believe that WAKE UP call is just around the corner. Don’t know who these earth things think they are…

  37. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    “It is nothing more than a vehicle for misinformation…”

    Oh RH, BU’s resident, unmatched Queen of misinformation of all people is accusing someone of spreading misinformation. Ah weak!😭😭😭😭

  38. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    @ WARU

    THE ONLY PERSON THAT DOESN’T LIE ON BU IS THE RED POOCHLICKER ENUFF THE BLP PROPAGANDIST WITH DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR AND FULL OF BULLSHITTERY.

  39. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    On moderation lockdown

  40. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    They need a bush bath. I remember when they used to be on here telling Bushman that all the time…he must be laughing.

  41. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    @ BAJE

    NOT ROCKET SCIENCE THE 2 x 3 ISLAND IS SINKING IN QUICKSAND SLOWLY.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    You Truffle you!

    Did you mummy shipped you out of the country because of the 20 pound breadfruit Incident that embarrassed de family??????????

    Please elaborate on de subject…BU community would love to hear your response????????

  42. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    @ BAJE

    Note this: 98 percent of my Dirt is donated. I research only 2 percent…

    Your friends (Tyrone & Pat ) have large mouths that exhales uncontrollably..

    Did de breadfruit fell on you while sun-tannin face up…???

  43. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Would have preferred if you refuted what was said instead of trying to deanonymize Baje.

  44. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    @ TheOGazerts

    Are you de redeemer or
    Wicket-keeper ??

  45. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    Would have preferred if you refuted what was said instead of trying to deanonymize Baje

    Xxxxxxxxxx

    WHY WORRY ABOUT A FOOL TRYING TO PROVE HE KNOWS WHO I AM EVEN THOUGH HE IS GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH.

    THEY CAN NEVER CHALLENGE THE TRUTH SO THEY COME WITH ALL THE PETTY TACTICS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO DISTRACT OTHERS ON THE 2 X 3 ISLAND FOR DONKEY YEARS SUCCESSFULLY.

  46. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    @ De TheOGazerts

    De spinner bowling quick. Back off de stumps a little. BAJE-2/3 is a habitual cheap Sushi eater and suffers with chronic gastritis.

    Don’t get hit, back off.

  47. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Not even the fowl Slaves believe their own shit anymore, or they would sound more believable, they just come out to poison the blog by reflex to collect what little they get..

  48. TLSN Avatar
    TLSN

    I hope that Bajans will not be fooled by this role out of government inspired propaganda machinery. The disappearance of several of our most prominent bloggers and writers from the BU platform is very disturbing.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tbak304MA6g

  49. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    If they want to believe MORE LIES and keep another generation in generational POVERTY….seeing that the last generation is more or less LOST to the minorities and their containers of drugs and guns and the prison pipeline, that’s on them…

    .hurriedly trying to roll out coding and robotics 25 YEARS AFTER EVERYONE ELSE have already advanced to bigger and better…proves that a whole generation of African descended on the island were MALICOUSLY DESTROYED to enrich corrupt politicians and racist minorities….with the BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MISSING…

    they can only fool Slaves.

    2 despicably corrupt governments only had control of the parliament, legislature and judiciary, because they are not any big players in the grand scheme of things like they PRETEND TO BE…….and they CORRUPTED them beyond recognition….when the OPPOSITE would have been easier and more PROGRESSIVE…for those who vote for and elect them.

    am sure now pointed out, they are realizing that they are the ones who will have to take the blame, they were in control of enough to make the requisite changes, let’s see them try to blame anyone else.

  50. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    “hurriedly trying to roll out coding and robotics 25 YEARS AFTER EVERYONE ELSE have already advanced to bigger and better”

    I differ with you here. Either we remain where we are or we try to catch up. If we criticize inaction and sloth, then we should be encouraging when action is taken.

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