Is Guy the Guy?

Barbados Underground posted a view on May 22 in the blog Is Guy Hewitt the Way, Truth and Light for the DLP. On June 2 the goodly Reverend Guy Hewitt in a turnabout from a couple weeks earlier declared his interest to challenge Verla De Peiza for the presidency of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

This is an interesting development for many reasons. At the top of the list – two years from a constitutionally due general election the DLP should have its slate of candidates available to the public to take advantage of the little time available to sell an alternative message. Ardent political supporters will vote for the colours. What about members of the electorate who want to be given the opportunity to process what the DLP candidates have to offer? We have allowed our political parties to take the vote from citizens for granted.

We will not agree on every issue. But let us respect those differences and respect one another. Let us recognize that we do not serve an ideology or a political party; we serve the people.

John Lynch

The DLP is led by Verla De Peiza, a lawyer who has managed to retain the leadership of the DLP for 3 years at a difficult time. According to political talking heads Peter Wickham and George Belle, Hewitt does not have a ghost of a chance of winning and by presenting himself at this eleventh hour, he is essentially making himself a nuisance to the process at a time the party should be advancing its preparation for the 2023 general election. That said, the process to elect the president of the DLP is democratic and unless the Reverend withdraws before the vote, it presents another interesting development on the political landscape of Barbados.

The blogmaster has followed Guy Hewitt’s journey from the early 2000s when he was a junior priest at Christ Church Anglican Church- never one to mince words he has always articulated his messages with panache and of late his social and political missives have infused the political mill with fodder worthy of commentary. 

The Reverend throwing his hat in the ring raises a couple of imponderables. Will the DLP apparatus seriously elect a political neophyte to lead the party at this juncture of its resurrection post 2018? How would electing a priest as President of the party be perceived by the electorate? There is the perception ‘politics’ is a blood sport. Reverend Guy Hewitt is a man whose primary role as a priest some will argue diametrically conflicts with that of a politician. 

The local landscape is crying out for a new kind of politics. Political apathy in the general population continues to rise especially in the youth segment. The upside for the DLP is that challenger Reverend Hewitt brings an effusive personality to the political equation in stark contrast to the incumbent. Is it the difference maker that will get him elected? At the bare minimum it may be infectious.

116 thoughts on “Is Guy the Guy?


  1. History of BLP failing children
    Former United States Vice-President Hubert Humphrey spoke about the treatment of the weakest members of society as a reflection of a government.
    “The moral test of government”, he asserted, “is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”
    If I apply his standard, I have to give the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) a failing grade on education. Any possible bias on my part is informed by the fact that in Barbados, education remains the key to opening the door of opportunity; and much of what we enjoy – free secondary education, the Barbados Community College (BCC) and UWI Cave Hill Campus – is attributed to the vision of Errol Walton Barrow and the policies of the Democratic Labour Party.
    What students and their parents are being put through by the Ministry of Education during COVID-19 is cruel and unusual punishment. While Cambridge International Education examinations, which my daughter sat, and other major international examinations such as the International Baccalaureate were suspended due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education, aided and abetted by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), rushed in where angels fear to tread.
    Across the globe, examinations were suspended as a result of major school closures which made it difficult for students to properly prepare for exams. But not in Barbados. However, there is a history in the BLP of a lack of a coherent education policy framework to inform decision-making.
    We recall the decision to make the majority of secondary schools co-ed. While life is co-ed and so it seems to make sense for students to spend their formative years in a coeducational learning environment, one also must appreciate that females mature differently from males, which locally is complicated further by the absence of male role models.
    It would have been and remains useful to see if there is a benefit of having single-sex classes in co-ed secondary schools, especially for 11 to 15-year-olds. While we applaud the fact that females are accessing tertiary education locally at a much higher rate, there can be severe social consequences of high male student attrition. Empiricism should inform policy, not wishful thinking.
    Then there was EduTech 2000, described as “a bold initiative by the Government of Barbados to place technology in the hands of the stakeholders in education”. In the 1995 White Paper, EduTech 2000 was to focus on enhanced teaching and learning through redesign of the Barbadian curriculum at all primary and secondary levels. The use of ICT was to support teaching and learning activities in relation to new curricula. Over US$200 million was spent but the benefit remains elusive.
    Among the many failings of EduTech is that it presumed sovereignty over its education system when, in fact, much of it is determined regionally through the CXC. As a strong supporter of CARICOM, this is not problematic but the implications are considerable.
    Governments are no longer able to decide their domestic policies due to the impact of regional commitments and bureaucracy. If education is going to remain the primary means for social transformation, the Ministry of Education needs to provide effective leadership. Right now CXC seems to be calling all the shots; the tail is wagging the dog.
    Therefore, while examination bodies around the world, including Cambridge, cancelled their examinations due to the abnormal learning conditions, CXC – despite the mayhem of 2020 – has demanded that students undertake assessments in the traditional way. Furthermore, parents and students were forced to frantically wait for a date for the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) – the 11-Plus examination. Whatever happened to Santia Bradshaw’s portent of the end of the BSSEE?
    The Minister of Education seems to have little awareness of the stress on parents and the mental health issues for these children. The continuous comment by the ministry of it not making a difference whether a child graduates at 17, 18, or 19 shows a complete and utter disconnect from the psyche or fragility of adolescents.
    The failing of our Minister of Education and her regional counterparts is such that UNICEF, the world’s watchdog over the rights of children, had to call on CXC and ministers of education to adjust examinations to avoid disadvantaging students.
    UNICEF noted that “no change has been made on the multiple-choice paper, which will still cover the entire syllabus, and no clear structure was shared as to how those students who meet deferral requirements and choose to defer will be supported to sit the exams at a later date in 2022”. This is a serious indictment.
    The UN agency further said it was aware the COVID-19 pandemic had further exacerbated the gaps in preparedness among the most disadvantaged students, and that this year there was a higher risk of those students in vulnerable conditions never taking the exams. Heaven help these children and their parents. May the Lord continue to be the people’s guide.
    Guy Hewitt, a former director at CXC, recently announced his candidature for the leadership of the Democratic Labour Party. He currently lives and works between Barbados and Florida. Email guyhewitt@gmail.com.

    Source: Nation


  2. Wait David you seem to be rather fixated with Hewitt
    He hasn’t done or said nothing that is relevant to the betterment of the country and people
    Yet more articles in less than a week about Guy than have been uploaded on BU about this incompetent govt
    But let me say this at the rate barbadians are suffering under this govt with high taxation
    It won’t take much to beat this govt

    Xxxxx
    Did u read the recent embarrassing story one which places a govt who ushers hot and sweaty policies and garners no results
    I am speaking about Harrison Cave new management Chukka who made all these glorious promises after govt handed them the cave on a golden platter and has delivered nothing by way of investment progress
    And you up in here talking about Guy Hewitt


  3. Guy spins a wondrous tale, but our issues with education did not begin in 2018. If Edutech was around year 2000, then the intervening years should have moved us towards a remedy. Add Covid-19 to the mix and you see that education can be buffeted by winds that are outside of our control.

    His article should be fairly titled “History of BDLP failing children”. His tale of woe is incomplete.


  4. So, all Guy has to brag about is the usual political talking points of “free secondary education, the Barbados Community College (BCC) and UWI Cave Hill Campus.”

    He has essentially admitted the Democratic Labour Party HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING for education since the 1960s.

    And, he has also implied Ronald Jones was an abysmal failure as Minister of Education.

    These guy(s) are always referring to Barrow and his ‘vision,’ which clearly indicates they do have a vision of their own. I won’t be surprised they don’t mention something about independence, NIS and NHC.

    It also demonstrates they believe this tired, over used strategy from the 1970s will win them the elections.


    • @Artax

      One has to imagine his first Herculean task is to replace Verla which means his messaging has to be two fold, to feed his national brand but more important is the internal party message; to the people he wants to vote him president. Most of them will argue the DLP is the party of Errol Barrow. It is no different to what politicians generally do at election time, promise x but have to deliver Y because of an obligation to those in the shadow they have to serve because of campaign financing ties.


  5. The DLP, the party of overflowing sewers, rotten sewage treatment plants, corruption, money laundering, the party that confirms all the racist prejudices of the North, is dead. Mr Hewitt, a typical DLP grandee, won´t save this syndicate.

    Time for our Most Honourable Prime Minister to prepare mass dismissals for all civil servants with DLP party papers on suspicion of treason! It is time to dismantle all monuments in honour of the megalomaniac Barrow. True anti-racists know full well that it was not only Nelson who was a promoter of slavery. They also know that Barrow drove many black families to economic ruin through his overhasty and economically totally nonsensical declaration of independence. Only the exalted caste of DLP bureaucrats benefited from independence because from then on they could plunder the black masses without control from London.


  6. David

    As usual you’ve made a number of good points.

    Still too heavily tinged however with a duopolistic unreality presented as unavoidable.

    This thing about an “effusive personality” is presented as the most important characteristic of the misleadership class. Not that Verla has given a modicum of assurance that she has the makings of which an effective politician is made, by no means.

    To set up a construct where politics and religion are poles apart is unrepresentative of the longer history of these bedfellows. Maybe you will be able to cite evidence of a socalled man of the cloth already being an principal actor at the centre of the duopoly.

    Too also is the reliance on Belle and Wickham. For surely, these could not be considered as independent arbiters of social phenomena given their recent past, especially relating to their anti-DLP stances, or more appropriately, decidedly pro-BLP leanings.

    Notwithstanding, we well recall how you were pilloried by some when last you brought this preacher of falsehoods to this Rubicon.


    • @Pacha

      The duopoly is all we got for the immediate future. Mention of effusive personality is important for a leader to win hearts and minds at a time apathy is thick. It is always good to open the mind that anything is possible read a man of the cloth serving society in a political capacity.

      Commenters may pillory all they want, the blogmaster sets his own agenda and will always call it as he sees it.


  7. @ David

    My problem with Guy is, he isn’t ‘bringing anything NEW to the table.’ All he has been doing is feeding the electorate with the same ‘warmed over soup’ that all potential DLP presidential and political candidates repeat when internal and general elections are imminent.

    Verla has been engaging in a similar activity as well.

    How does Guy Hewitt expect rationally thinking individuals to take him seriously, when in his articles he always seek to make irrational comparisons of the DLP’s tenure between 1966 – 1976, with the 1994 – 2008 tenure of the Owen Arthur and the current Mia Mottley BLP administrations respectively……….

    ……………… without including or referencing any significant achievements of the Barrow/Sandiford 1986 – 1994 and Thompson/Stuart 2008 – 2018 administrations in his analysis?

    Writing political newspaper articles criticizing the current administration or even rushing to give the Court a laudatory speech of ‘epideictic rhetoric’ on Donville’s behalf, thereby displaying loyalty to his friend, unlike other members of the DEMS who preferred to remain in the ‘background’ and say Donville’s circumstances were unfortunate……. is one thing.

    But, what is his vision for Barbados?


    • @Artax

      A reasonable critique but does he have time to articulate a plan? It seems up to now like you stated his strategy is to make ‘noise’ to force himself into the national political conversation.


  8. But why is the blp making so much noise about Guy throwing his hat in the ring
    Under a democratic process he is free to do so
    If he has a desire to pursue such a path that is his right
    To be honest i belive the blp sees him as a force to be reckoned with because of his influence in the Windrush Matter
    A story that made world Headlines giving him plenty exposure in the international world of politics
    My question to the blp.protestors
    What are they afraid of ?


    • It is a political development that political pundits will see reason to comment. It has nothing to do with those commenting being BLP. Of course the BLP will try to take advantage, it is an adversarial system. If George Payne or another was challenging Mia Mottley you would be all over the blog. When George Pilgrim challenged there was comment as well. There is a reasonable perspective that only two years from an election a political party should have determined it’s leadership to focus on performing to its best. This is unnecessary activity the DLP would have preferred not to deal at this time.


  9. David ,(quote)

    .This is unnecessary activity the DLP would have preferred not to deal at this time.
    Xxxxxxxxxx
    Why is it unnecessary and who are u to determine what is necessary or unnecessary for Hewitt or what the party can handle
    The Democratic process does not limits a person potential or desire to be robust and persistent in their goals towards a political life
    With all certainty Guy making his political ambition known has rubbed against the political core of those nestled within the underground belly of the blp party causing them much discomfort and pain having them send out there henchmen like Wickham and Belle to stand guard
    What a thing doah
    Stay tuned


    • You are a real yardfowl if you do not appreciate that a challenge for political leadership in any of the two main parties should not be of interest to Barbadians. It is the the government in waiting and a main part of the system of government and adversarial politics practiced in Barbados. You may have the last word.


  10. DavidJune 5, 2021 6:05 AM

    You are a real yardfowl if you do not appreciate that a challenge for political leadership in any of the two main parties should not be of interest to Barbadians. It is the the government in waiting and a main part of the system of government and adversarial politics practiced in Barbados. You may have the last word

    Xxxxxxc
    Steupse speckled fowl


  11. The belly laugh in this issue is how early Hewitt has mashed corns and ruffled feathers in the blp.propganda machine
    Questions of the asking
    Well What has he done
    The Editorials mean nuttin
    All kinds of rubbish commentary coming from the blp mechanics armed with screwdrivers and wrenches to put a full stop on Hewitts image
    Mia in the past days image has been beaten to a pulp
    Therfore it should only make sense for the blp propaganda machinery to block any positive image that Guy might have projected ( earlier sooner than later) an image which can cloud …block or overshadow Mia image an image that have been planted in the minds of being a caring person
    Right now Guy image seems relevant and cannot be easily disputed as being a caring person
    History has that on record
    A problem and an issue which the blp might have to deal with and one which the blp machinery has set out to stop dead in its track making sure Hewitt power play of being a caring person is dissmised and disregarded early by the people
    Yes image is a strategy well used by political strategist
    Wickham and Belle sees Hewitt image as being problematic and the earlier the take down the better
    As of now the blp strategist real concern is Hewitt ability to connect with people
    Guy politics on issues going forward is one that they would have to wait and see


  12. TO REVEREND GUY HEWITT:
    Now that you have announced plans to run for the presidency of the Democratic Labour Party, will this mean you will be focusing less on the priesthood and more on politics? Similar to when you took up the post of High Commissioner to London, will the priesthood take a back seat again? Or will you be able to move between church and chapel smoothly?
    – PARISHIONER

    Source: Nation (Eff I Wz: Question time…question time)…


  13. Lawd have mercy
    The above comment / question by the Parishioner makes for a good belly laugh followed by a rum and coke
    The blp termites just would not quit
    Guy got them on the move
    Lol. Long and hard


  14. Practice Interplay between Movement and Stillness

    Guy says AC/Hal is doing a disservice to the DLP Party and should STFU shut the fork up

    the power of simplicity is the opposite of trying too hard


  15. @ David June 4, 2021 4:56 PM

    Right Wing / White Propaganda is insidious

    with a bit of luck Benjamin Netanyahu will fuck off

    fingers crossed touch wood


  16. Mari

    Guy got to take down Verla first before he can even think about Mia. Seem like you already jump from Verla’s ship like the other bump You know who on election night.


  17. Yes image is a strategy well used by political strategist
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxx

    Million dollar question is whose image is the DLP strategists trying to pump up? Is it really the guy or is it the lady?


  18. John 2 AC nervous now as it looks lile Rev Hewitt will take out the political nightwatchman before the next elections.This is not surprising given her record and lack of inspired leadership.Almost everyone except AC knew Ms Depeiza wad just a syop gap leader until the real one step forward.In my view whether Ms Depeiza , Rev Hewitt or vhoever it will make no difference they will still lose the next election as bajans have not forgotten their incompetence generally for ten years except for Mr Sealy and Mr M Lashley.I gone.


  19. Guy Hewitt is a man of action. You can be the greatest public speaker in the world. You may have the capacity to speak without notes or you may not require the assistance of a teleprompter. However, in my book, actions speak louder than words.

    The link below, clearly, highlights that Mr Hewitt has the capacity to think outside the box; and is a man who is not deferential to the crown or bowing down to our old colonial masters. In short, he appears to be his own man and has a proven track record. He is the antithesis of Mia.

    When Mia came to the UK several years ago she refused to highlight the Windrush scandal. That speaks volumes.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/15/guy-hewitt-how-i-forced-uk-government-act-windrush-scandal


    • @TLSN

      Peter Wickham one of our trusted talking heads stated last week Hewitt’s role in Windrush is overrated.


  20. Tsln states Rev Hewitt is a man of action.Please point the blog to this action you speak of.I do not recall any thing of signifcance he has done.I recall hiim as chaorman of the QEH hiringDr James and apparently extending his contract shortly before the elections although his previous contract had not expired This is what you call thinking outside the box? TSLN we are not talking about running to be bishop of Barbados but to be the PM of the country.Rev Hewitt is a political flyweight compared to Ms Mottley a virtual no contest from the start in my view once the econo.y rebounds from covid 19.I gone.


  21. @ David

    I would be surprised if the BLP “sees Guy Hewitt as a force to be reckoned with,” or be concerned or intimidated by his intensions of challenging Verla DePeiza for presidency of the DLP.

    After three (3) years in the wilderness and without any official presence in Parliament, (other than the Independent Senators), the DLP seems to be still in shock since their 30-0 defeat at the 2018 polls.

    Here we have Mottley who has been involved in politics from a young age; was in Parliament since 1991 when she was a Opposition Senator; elected to the House in 1994 and held portfolios such as Minister of Education, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development and Attorney General; was appointed Deputy Prime Minister; and soon after the BLP’s defeat on January 15, 2008, she became Opposition Leader.

    With such a sterling record (on paper), who would’ve believed since becoming Prime Minister after winning all 30 seats in the 2018 general elections, with the largest Cabinet in the history of Barbados, (justification for which we were told ‘many hands make light work),’ as well as several consultants and committees……..

    …………. she and her Ministers have been consistently making ‘blunder after blunder’ on simple issues.

    Rather than capitalizing on these ‘advantages’ Mottley has gifted to them on a platter, by offering alternative policy proposals, (for example, solicit assistance from economists and social workers to formulate economic and social policies), the DLP is steadfastly approaching a fourth year in a state of confusion, without naming candidates or outlining their socio-economic policies for the future development of Barbados……. and preferring instead to talk about Edutech and Crab Hill Police Station. The same issues they focused on during the 2018 election campaign, but the people voted resoundingly for change.

    To present that ‘warmed over soup’ to the electorate in 2021 and going forward is, according to Freundel Stuart, “a monstrous perversion of common sense.”


  22. “When Mia came to the UK several years ago she refused to highlight the Windrush scandal. That speaks volumes.”

    “The problem first came to light in April 2018 at a meeting at the Jamaican High Commission in London that saw politicians, diplomats and campaigners demand that ministers provide an immediate remedy for a “developing situation” in which, due to changes in the immigration system, Caribbean immigrants were being deemed “illegal immigrants”.”

    “This meant that elderly Caribbean immigrants were being denied access to NHS healthcare, losing their jobs and even being threatened with deportation.”

    https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/windrush-generation-scandal-sitting-in-limbo-anthony-bryan-documentary-a9552281.html

    At the risk of being called ‘an apologist’ by Mr. Skinner, I’ll ask the following question.

    If the ‘Windrush Scandal’ first came to light in 2018, then please explain how could Mottlery have highlighted it when she visited the UK “SEVERAL years ago?”


  23. DavidJune 5, 2021 9:12 AM

    @TLSN

    Peter Wickham one of our trusted talking heads stated last week Hewitt’s role in Windrush is overrated

    Xxxxxxx
    Bulls eye

    As I previously stated Wickham and Belle would have a serious problem with Hewitt image
    Not surprising that their first open attack is to try to destroy Hewitts image on Windrush
    What Belle and Wickham needs to be paying close attention is the Mia image which has resulted in a heavy dose of severe backlash in the entertainment industry
    A group which backed her financially and politically in the last election now spouting mouthings to threaten their livelihoods
    Mouthings which might have been costly to her financial campaigning backing in the next election
    Yes Hewitt image would be of main concern
    Now it will be all about image


  24. ohn2June 5, 2021 8:06 AM

    Mari

    Guy got to take down Verla first before he can even think about Mia. Seem like you already jump from Verla’s ship like the other bump You know who on election night.

    Xxxx
    The subject Matter is about Guy


  25. The Windrush Scandal did not come to light in 2018. This problem existed sine the early seventies. Our respective leaders would have always been cognisant of this fact.

    The year 2018 only represents the period when a brilliant young white female British journalist published the results of a long investigation.


  26. David

    You will always be looked at with disdain when as a Bajan you dare to anticipate future events.

    In the Bajan mentality that is the exclusive province of White people, people from over and away.

    One of your most fervent commentators even argued that nobody saw Covid coming, as s way to avoid economic blame being given to the regime. And more!


  27. @ David,
    Peter Wickham is operating out of a limited fish bowl where journalists are severely censored.

    The Guardian is a credible newspaper source that requires its journalists to carry out rigorous research.

    If I had to chose between the credibility of a Guardian journalist or a domestic based Barbados journalist I would always opt for the Guardian journalist

    I would ask Wickham, the self acclaimed Political Scientist, to carry out proper research rather then shoot from the hips.


  28. Okay, you’re disputing the newspaper’s report. ‘Fair enough.’

    If “the problem existed since the early 1970s,” then, by your own admission Barrow, Adams, St. John, Sandiford, Arthur, Thompson, Stuart did not highlight the issue as well. So, why single out Mottley?

    Also, if “Our respective leaders would have always been cognisant of this fact,” then, it is reasonable to assume Hewitt would have been AWARE of it as well.

    So, we have a situation where BOTH Hewitt and Mottley “refused to highlight the ‘Windrush Scandal’ several years ago,” with Hewitt choosing to speak about it AFTER the “brilliant young white female British journalist published the results of a long investigation.”

    How does this make him “a man of action and someone who thinks outside the box?”

    I would’ve agreed with that assessment if he had addressed the issue BEFORE ‘the results of the long investigation were published.”


  29. Peter Wickham one of our trusted talking heads stated last week Hewitt’s role in Windrush is overrated.
    ########

    This must be irony.
    Why don’t you let Google be your friend?


  30. Human beings are generally weak-minded. All of us are taught by our parents not to place our heads above the parapet.

    Some of us come to the battle – belatedly. I cannot comment if Hewitt came to the battle late. What I do know is that he ended up the trenches.

    I also understand that the Windrush problem was a slow evolving car crash. What cannot be refuted irrespective of one’s political bias is the non-intervention of our Caricom leaders to the blatant discrimination faced by their citizens in “mother” England since the arrival of the first boat from Jamaica called the Windrush.

    Our Caricom leaders remained mute. The heavy load was placed on their citizens to fight and defend their space. Mia Mottley would have attended the London School of Economics sometime in the late eighties during the Thatcher era which was a traumatic period in British history. So she would have had first hand experience of the UK environment.

    Would it have been possible for this daughter of an Attorney General to have lived through this period in a London (a city with the highest numbers of Caribbean citizens) for her not to be cognisant of the severe problems that this group faced.

    I cannot recall Mia ever passing comment on the plight of the UK Caribbean diaspora.

    I am certain that all of our leaders during the sixties would have been cognisant of this land mark story dating back to the early sixties.

    https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/bhm-heroes/the-bristol-bus-boycott-of-1963/#comments


  31. Here is today’s Nation editorial.

    Leadership bid could bring trauma to DLP
    The current state of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is a matter of growing concern. Since the resounding 30-0 defeat at the hands of the Mia Amor Mottley-led Barbados Labour Party (BLP), there has been the expectation that the party would put its house in order.
    As we are not privy to the internal workings and mechanism of any of our political parties, our observations have to be made from information in the public arena and from our reading between the lines of actions and movements of the principal officers and friends of the party.
    The recent emergence of the Rev. Guy Hewitt, who has declared himself a contender for the presidency of the DLP is a signal that two years away from what will be an important election, the party’s members will be putting themselves through the uncomfortable trauma of a leadership contest.
    Whatever the result, it will harden attitudes at a moment when party unity needs to be at its highest and when the full focus of the party’s ammunition should be directed at the policies and the practices of the ruling Government.
    Encouraged
    Clearly, some sections of the party are not happy with Verla De Peiza’s leadership, if we are to accept that Hewitt has been encouraged by some members to throw his hat in the ring so soon as they heard he was back on the island.
    As members of the Fourth Estate, it is our duty to hold feet to fire and to represent the public interest. The DLP has a mass-based structure and, once it becomes fully operational again, should have the capacity to carve out policies which might be acceptable to a future Barbadian electorate. At least that is what its track record suggests.
    But it also has a record of late of not letting “peace reign” within the party when it changes leadership. Ms De Peiza needs time to settle, and she had begun to show signs of coming to grips with the heavy burden which leadership of any political party imposes on those at the top.
    This may not be the best moment to even think of a change in leadership in midstream and the party will need to know what it is that Hewitt will bring to the table and whether it is sufficient to merit the upheaval and acrimony which may flow from what has been described elsewhere in the media as bloodletting.
    Untapped potential
    Hewitt can boast of stellar leadership of the Caribbean response to the Windrush repatriation policies of the British Government, but he is not able to show any ministerial experience or leadership in the front rank of local politics over and above that of De Peiza, whose stint in the Senate clearly suggested that there was some untapped potential.
    The DLP missed the chance then to expose her to possible future leadership roles and she is now carrying the burden of captaincy without even a settled batting line-up.
    Hewitt and his supporters may mean well, but in making clear that a new hat is in the leadership ring, they may have forgotten Dr Richie Haynes’ farsighted observation that in politics impressions matter.
    A leadership challenge at this stage gives the distinct impression that the DLP is still unsettled and not yet united behind a single leader. Such a situation cannot bode well for the DLP’s immediate election chances. Impressions create political realities.
    The DLP has a public duty to get its house settled and in order.


  32. IMPRESSIONS IMPRESSIONS

    What can the IMPRESSION of the night watchman outlasting Two strong batsMEN do for her status?


  33. I’m having a problem with the reasoning or method of logic used to advance the discussion and make these assessments.

    I noticed a strategy (I won’t ‘say’ a ‘trick)’ used by some people, especially those in the UK, where they would begin a discussion on one topic, but when ‘placed on the back foot,’ they would automatically switch the discussion to another topic, while using the same arguments from the original discussion.

    In this situation, the ‘discussion’ seems to have shifted from ‘immigration discrimination’ of the ‘Windrush Scandal’ to that of ‘racial discrimination.’

    This takes me back to the original comment, which more or less began the original discussion, “When Mia came to the UK several years ago she refused to highlight the Windrush scandal. That speaks volumes.”

    Based on the evidence, my point is and remains, the’ Windrush Scandal’ began to surfaced in 2017 and broke in April 2018, after it was discovered that hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, many of whom were from the ‘Windrush’ generation, had been wrongly detained, deported and denied legal rights, as a result of a new immigration law announced in 2012 by then Home Secretary, Theresa May.

    Guy Hewiit, who coincidentally was born in the UK, was Barbados’ High Commissioner to the UK at the time the scandal broke.

    To ‘say’ Mottley “refused to highlight the Windrush scandal” when she visited “the UK several years ago,” especially when it was NOT AN ISSUE at that time…………. is being disingenuous.


  34. Seems it is hard for some to give Credit to Hewitt on the Windrush Matter
    The long and short being that his name would be mentioned in history for whatever part he played in Windrush
    Those who have problems with that truth only sees truth from the lense of politics and needs to take a bush bathe


  35. Let us detach the year or the perceived year of the Windrush scandal from when it first became public knowledge to make it clearer for all of you who reside in Barbados.

    The Windrush scandal dates back from the mid- seventies. For example, members of the diaspora, particularly Jamaicans, would return to their country for a vacation and would never be seen again. After a couple of years it was common knowledge amongst citizens from the Caribbean diaspora that they risked been exiled from the UK should they visit their country of birth.

    Caricom governments would have been aware of this problem from way, way, back. I am not certain when Mia last visited the UK to address members of the diaspora; whether it was pre or post the last general election. Either way she was a politician and would not have needed a British journalist to instruct her as to when the Windrush scandal commenced.

    Mia, is no dummy, and would have been fully aware of this scandal before it was accorded a name.

    And yes, we can conflate the Windrush scandal with all the racist shenanigans that were around during that period and now. Without the input of UK racism we would not have had this Windrush scandal.

    So yes, both parties failed to take a stand to protect their UK based diaspora. In the same manner that they have consistently failed to protect the majority population that exists on the island.

    The bottom line is clear. Hewitt made a stand; unlike the rest of our politicians who remained mute.


  36. @angela coxJune 6, 2021 8:54 AM

    Hewitt enjoyed white luxury to the fullest as ambassador to London. He may look like an indigenous inhabitant of the island, but he is clearly in the service of our white upper class.


  37. TronJune 6, 2021 9:58 AM

    @angela coxJune 6, 2021 8:54 AM

    Hewitt enjoyed white luxury to the fullest as ambassador to London. He may look like an indigenous inhabitant of the island, but he is clearly in the service of our white upper class.

    Xxxxxxxxxx

    Tron
    Did Mia find a plane which can carry Gline Clarke to Canada to take up his prestigious job as an ambassador
    Answer that


  38. The diversion is on. The spinners are on.

    The search for an EWB, Tom or even a Mia is on. Can you remind me of how we got here?

    We have to move beyond personality politics. Swapping out Mia the solution. We see that with a 30-0 keeping her is not a solution.


  39. Based on what I’ve read, I do not agree with the arguments that are being presented on the issue because of the ‘bobbing and weaving’ or manipulation of information to prove a point. It is dishonesty.

    Ironically, we’ve had arguments on BU between the so called ‘stay at home and overseas Bajans,’ in which the former has been suggesting they have a better and unique understanding of issues confronting the Barbadian society, more so than the latter.

    This is usually countered by the latter’ ‘saying’ they get their information from sources such as overseas editions of our local newspapers, the internet, social media platforms, friends and relatives who remained in Barbados.

    I believe ‘stay at home Bajans’ could use similar sources to avail themselves of information relative to issues occurring in countries where their overseas counterparts reside.

    To suggest a detachment of the year or perceived year of the ‘Windrush scandal,’ would have to made so as to provide clearer understanding of what occurred, seems to be suggesting the situation is better understood by those people living in the UK and is perhaps questioning our ability ti understand such matters, as well as a snide condemnation of our sources of information.

    In other words, the sources of information, whether it is Google, relatives or friends, interchangeably become accurate and credible…… or inaccurate and untrustworthy, depending upon who is using them.

    Therefore, it’s ‘best to agree to disagree’ and move on.


  40. I like how we are able to drag various topics into the discussion and ignore pressing problems.

    Our ADHD may be a benefit in disguise. Faced with numerous problems and a crumbling world, we are still able to take a gentle stroll through the park.


  41. Our problems are known. Some solutions are known.

    Lacking leadership, will and courage to make changes will keep us failing.

    I am not convince that swapping out Mia with Guy is the solution. When you change a bulb in a searchlight, you know what will be the outcome when you switch it on. I also have doubts that keeping Mia is the solution.

    But we are a people of words are not of actions. Also, I doubt if Lil Ric singing christian songs is the solution.


  42. The same voices
    The same attacks are being levelled at Verla from the same operatives
    A strategy designed to destroy the image of dlp leadership or any potential candidate
    Hewitt is yet to lay out any policy but the Gangsta force of blp
    political executioners laying in wait couldn’t wait to shoot
    Why does it matter to the blp Gangsta executioners if Hewitt role in Windrush
    was not significant to be even bringing the issue to fort


  43. I’ll always maintain my view that BU is an amazing forum. ‘Yuh just can’t win wid some people.’

    To question the reasons behind someone making a specific comment, means you’re not giving credit to Guy Hewitt for the role he played in the ‘Windrush affair.’

    If a contributor makes an unreasonable criticism of Mottley that may not be necessarily true and someone gives an alternative perspective, they are accused of being a ‘BLP operative’ or ‘an apologist.’

    Neutrality means ’embracing’ criticisms of all politicians, whether they are questionable or not, while throwing being ‘fair and balanced through the window.’

    It seems as though we some of us can never engage in discussions based on facts, while being reasonable and rational at the same, without politicising and confining our arguments into a BLP versus DLP scenario.

    Perhaps now is the appropriate time for Artaxerxes to retire his keyboard. I’m sure it would be a decision welcomed by many.


  44. Reminds me of an argument I heard yesterday about the word ‘foreigner.’

    One guy said ‘foreigner’ could be defined as someone who is an outsider, they do not belong to particular place, community or group. So, a guy coming from St. Vincent is a foreign national in Barbados.

    Another guy said he was wrong because, according to what he heard on the radio, the word means someone who is from England or America.

    He was told the dictionary does provide not that definition, to which he responded the dictionary is wrong because it was written by man and he preferred to accept what he heard on the radio. And, if a Vincentian is a foreigner, then, the West Indies cricket team would be a foreign team.

    The same guy was involved in an argument about ‘Orange Hill’ in St. Vincent. He told the crowd there isn’t any district in SVG known as ‘Orange Hill.’ When someone attempted to explain where it is located and could be found on the map, he said the map was wrong.


  45. To be quite honest, though I find Guy to be a personable fellow I have a problem with his abrupt change of position re challenging Verla for the leadership role.

    I also have discomfort with religious leaders in political roles. Having said that, Anglican priests of the younger variety are not dogmatic or intolerant of different views and do not seek to control people. They are more likely than most to be able to divorce religion from politics.

    I have in my mind a newspaper image of Guy in which he was discussing the Windrush situation before it was resolved.

    Long time since I see a man looking so vex! Not the face of a diplomat!

    Not sure if it is the face of the politician we need but we shall see what happens. Not my choice to make – yet.


  46. Go ask the former Deputy HC bout Hewitt’s role in Windrush. I watched her spill some ah de tea in the Senate.🤣🤣


  47. @ et al
    All this Hewitt talk seems like a rush of wind to me.
    In the mean time: Attempts to destroy the NUPW and $24 million destined for poor Black people cannot be seriously accounted for according to the Auditor General.
    Are we passing wind or air ? The question here must be , what smells stinker the rush of wind or the air from the Auditor General’s report and efforts to destroy the NUPW.


  48. @ Mr. Skinner

    Isn’t this thread about Guy Hewitt?

    Isn’t there a thread dedicated to the Auditor General’s report, where the issues you raised could be or should be discussed?

    Surely you can’t be serious?


  49. Anyone in the UK at the time knows the impact that Guy Hewitt involvement had on the Windrush affair.

    Was his the most important voice? No. Was it the first? No.

    But the impact of his involvement was obvious to see at the time. Or should be for any one who would take the time now to do a bit of research.


    • Does it matter if his role materially impacted the outcome? What matters is that he stood up and represented the cause. Something that many many more of us must do if we are to improve the qualify of life.


  50. Does it matter if his role materially impacted the outcome? What matters is that he stood up and represented the cause.
    xxxxxxxxxxx

    Are you trolling your own blog?

    Of course it matters.

    Or do you prefer for people to “stand up and represent the cause.” just because they have nothing better to do?


    • @Dullard

      This will go over your head but representing the/a cause, having the courage of your convictions is all that is required as the necessary first step to making a difference.


    • You may have the last word. Time is too precious. You should retreat to Barbados Free Press.


  51. Wolf in sheep’s clothing (Part 1)

    A NUMBER OF PERSONS contacted me wondering whether I was going to speak to the outrageous Trojan Riddim video. Although I share the indignation that the nation feels about this vulgar display of deviance and immorality, I was curious about the timing of the eruption of rage as I was aware that this video has been in circulation for some time.
    Having lived under the Donald Trump presidency, I understand the art of distraction that formed the core of his political strategy. Whether Trump was routinely threatening to shut down the government or bomb Iran or close the southern border or commence a trade war with China, these were all distractions. But Trump wasn’t just trying to distract, as his intent was misdirection and certain media houses were complicit.
    Misdirection has nothing to do with distraction and everything to do with controlling people’s attention. Consider a magician’s sleight-of-hand card trick. Often an audience member selects a card, memorises it and returns it to the deck. After shuffling the deck, the magician, through some elaborate process, reveals the correct card.
    While magicians don’t reveal secrets, they often admit the trick is only possible by creating a distraction that keeps the audience’s focus exactly where it is needed and away from the actions the magician didn’t want them to notice.
    While Barbados was deservedly rebuking the artistes involved in the music video seemingly endorsing gun violence, we were misdirected from two important occurrences: the 2020 Auditor General’s Report to Parliament posted on May 25 and the serious concerns raised by the Barbados Bar Association about the planned Anti-Corruption and Anti-Terrorism Agency (ACATA) Bill.
    Anomalies raised
    Without going deeply into the Auditor General’s Report, especially as it is available online via the Barbados Parliament website, I want to highlight a few anomalies raised, which all Barbadians should be concerned about: 1.13 “The audit of the National Insurance Fund is substantially in arrears, and during the year, although some work was conducted, not much progress was made.”
    How much money is left in the National Insurance Scheme is a guestimate.
    2.10 Although “the Accountant General [is] to . . . submit to the Auditor General . . . financial statements . . . within four months after the close of each financial year . . . the Financial Statements were, however, issued . . . a year after the regulatory deadline and approximately 15 months after the close of the relevant financial year.
    This situation is unacceptable and needs to be urgently addressed”.
    2.14 “As at the end of the financial year 2018-2019, Government has yet to publish any consolidated [financial] statements. The absence of consolidated statements presents challenges, as the total debts and liabilities of the Government are not being accounted for . . . .”
    Another guestimate
    What we owe and to whom is another guestimate.
    2.15 “There was a total of $209.4 million representing Other Equity Investments shown in the notes to the financial statements [without explanatory notes] . . . of the type of investments undertaken and any risks associated.”
    No clue as to where this money went.
    2.26 “In the 2018-2019 financial year, the entire $124 million investment in Clearwater Company in the Four Seasons Hotel project [Paradise Beach hotel] was written off.”
    How and why was this done? The Auditor General is at a loss, as are we. You remember who the man in charge was and who was the lawyer?
    3.10 “A review of the accounts and accounting systems of the Prime Minister’s Office [PMO] revealed a number of control weaknesses. These included some omissions to the fixed asset register, absence of a contract register as required by Financial Rule 229, and the absence of invoices for credit card payments.”
    Albert Einstein asserted: “Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.”
    Who guards the guards?
    The report goes on to state in
    3.11: “In addition to the above, there was the incorrect classification of expenditure [in the PMO] totalling $1.85 million.”
    Who guards the guards?
    Writing in 1840, French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about despotic government emerging in democratic America. Tocqueville held that a “crisis” could create the precondition for the expansion of state power. He saw the democratic state creating a new form of tyranny, being part “despotism”, part “tutorship” and part “paternalism” of the people. He argued that while various external forms of liberty remained, the “will of the people” is reduced to a “timid sheep-like status” with the state acting “like the national shepherd”.
    Barbadians need to consider this as we are pushed headlong towards an undefined republican status. Recall how in Guyana its then prime minister used the art of distraction to contort the country from a constitutional monarchy, to a ceremonial presidency and on to a despotic executive presidency.
    Guyana’s former President Cheddi Jagan once referred to this manipulation of the constitution and the people as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”, using the biblical idiom derived from Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
    Who guards the guards?
    With regard to the planned ACATA Bill, the Bar president, while endorsing a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, made the point that this zero tolerance must pervade the entire society “from top to bottom”. Further, the point was made that this agency would only be effective “if it is accompanied by a modern anti-corruption act to complement the Proceeds And Instrumentalities Of Crime Act
    and other relevant legislation”.
    The Bar also expressed concerns about the Prime Minister’s lead role in appointing the Director General.
    Who guards the guards?
    Guy Hewitt currently lives and works between Barbados and Florida, and recently announced his candidature for the leadership of the Democratic Labour Party. He can be contacted at guyhewitt@gmail.com.

    Source: Nation


  52. I missed the part where he admitted the culpability of the DLP.

    Very disingenuous.

    This is just more of the same kind of politics.

    Very disappointing!


  53. I don’t know if Guy is the man or not but the same people that have criticized Verla in the past are heaping criticism on him now, whomever is leader of the DLP should have a thick hide.

    Why should Wickham opinions count for anything? Wasn’t he brownnosing Mia recently in an interview with the Advocate providing excuses for her large cabinet? Wickham effectively said she had no choice if she was to prevent her large caucus from infighting, so to solve the problem she gifted almost everyone with a Ministry which in Wickham’s opinion was “a prudent political decision” in effect the end justifies the means but although 30 -0 is unprecedented it was hardly the first time that a Barbados Gov’t had an overwhelming majority but somehow those PM’s didn’t feel the need to give away the store.

    As per Wickham
    “I think the Prime Minister as a result of that made a prudent political decision in making the Cabinet as large as it is, as that is the only way you can preserve the integrity of your government, because if you can’t then the government will face infighting. The fact that within days of the Cabinet being appointed, three people were left out and one of these persons immediately decided to cross the floor and become Opposition Leader, that to me provides the best proof that the Prime Minister made a prudent decision to setting up the Cabinet in the way she did, and frankly I would not advise her to change her at this stage,”

    One of those three is now the non resident High Commissioner to Canada, the fatted calf is dead, politicians now living high on the hog.


  54. Well the old guards have decided to make there present officially known
    Here comes Guy Hewitt
    Interesting times ahead for the Dlp
    Truly interesting times


  55. Hewitt: Trying to save country’s soul
    In officially launching his campaign to become the next leader of the embattled Democratic Labour Party (DLP) yesterday at Hilton Barbados, former diplomat Reverend Guy Hewitt revealed that a week before deciding to challenge current leader Verla De Peiza, he had no interest in elective politics.
    What changed was what he was seeing in Barbados, Hewitt told a small crowd gathered at the Needham’s Point, St Michael venue, that included former ministers Ronald Jones and John Boyce, as well as former Speaker of the House Michael Carrington, former MP James Paul, and another former diplomat and senator, Haynesley Benn.
    In a 40-minute speech punctuated with references to the DLP founder and Father of Independence, National Hero and former Prime Minister Errol Walton Barrow, Hewitt said his challenge of the current president was in no way a sign of internal issues, but a true test of democracy at a time when preservation of the country’s soul was most important.
    “A few weeks ago, I affirmed I had no desire for there to be a contested leadership of the DLP. However, my perspective quickly changed as persons both inside and outside the party made it clear that the time has come for new leadership.”
    The clergyman reminded all present that challenges of DLP leadership was nothing new. He recalled that Sir Frederick “Sleepy” Smith had challenged Barrow, while Brandford Taitt had come up against Clyde Mascoll, who was later challenged by former Prime Minister, the late David Thompson.
    “Today is the first step in the quest to reclaim the soul of our nation,” he said about his desire
    to lead the country’s largest mass-based political organisation.
    Hewitt, the former High Commissioner to London, said the Dems needed to get back to basics since the way Barbados voted as a single constituency in the 2018 election was not to vanquish the party forever.
    “We need to restore democracy, social values and cohesion and create opportunities for economic empowerment. It cannot be that our young unskilled males are faced with the binary choice of drugs or cleaning the public road.”
    The fledgling politician noted that though Barbadians had spoken in no uncertain terms during the last election, he did not believe they did so to create a one-party state.
    “However, I’m equally aware that the populace wanted to send a clear message to the type of leadership and politics that will not be tolerated,” Hewitt added. (BA)


    SOURCE: NATION NEWS


  56. Time proves rumours true
    In true RPB style, this week’s CouCou offering is a bag of riddles.
    If you are an avid consumer of this column, by the end you should be able to guess who or what am I.
    It seems the rumour mill wasn’t so wrong a few years ago when it kept insisting that a certain person had aspirations to move into a top position as a means to an end.
    Back then some political observers warned that it wouldn’t be too long before you start to see movement in a certain direction. While it took a while to come to the fore, recent unfolding events showed that a lot of behind-the-scenes work had been going on all that time.
    Curiously, the individual at the centre of attention and who is being pushed has not come out and pointedly state that this is what they want. No. Rather, we are hearing: “This is not what I want but what the people are calling for and therefore I am bowing to the will of the people.”
    To ensure the spotlight never leaves them for
    too long, just as things seem to be quiet, an event, orchestrated or not, happens and the individual seizes upon the opportunity to have the national attention back on them.
    However, the individual’s actions have caused such a disturbance that many of the old guard have come out. Some are offering support for democracy at work while others are concerned about the damage that could be done to the image of the respected institution.
    Old faces emerge
    Some of the old faces emerging have not been seen in a long time, especially since that big event a few years ago and even further.
    But the public spectacle of naked political ambition at the expense of the institution is not sitting well with some who are looking on from the outside. This is especially so when raw ambition is coupled with what could be perceived as forcing out another person in order to achieve a dream of power.
    Public sympathy most times goes with the underdog, the one who was there in good times and bad times; the one who has shown an undying loyalty to the cause and has been steadfast in the face of adversity.
    The individual would do well to take heed of the ruin that followed Macbeth’s observation of “vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other”.

    SOURCE: NATION NEWS


  57. https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/sites/barbadosadvocate.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1DSC_6583.jpg

    https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/sites/barbadosadvocate.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1DSC_6578.jpg

    Hewitt promoting a new dawn for democracy

    Sat, 06/12/2021 – 5:00am

    Reverend Guy Hewitt has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the presidency of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), contending that his love for Barbados has propelled him to stand up, step forward and urge others to join him on a “journey to preserve this country’s democracy”.

    He made the comments yesterday evening at the Hilton Barbados, where he officially launched his candidature. Addressing an audience that included party members, formers Members of Parliament, Senate and Cabinet, and members of the private sector, he effectively signalled his goal to speak out against the shortcomings of the current Administration, to lead the DLP into the next general election and inaugurate a new dawn for democracy in Barbados.

    “Barbados has been blessed with a few great leaders, some good ones, and given the law of averages, one or two not so good, and that is not for us to debate tonight. But the strength of our democracy, the strength of our society has been the conviction that both our leaders and our people held a responsibility to this fair land of ours. But tragically, our tradition of outstanding leaders and statespersons have given way to those who use politics for personal glory and advantage and are preoccupied with creating a personal legacy. Equally tragic is the culture of fear that now permeates our politics,” he told those gathered.

    Hewitt said while he had no intention previously of getting into politics and did not think he had the “psyche of a politician”, he has since changed his mind, indicating that persons within and outside of the DLP have made it clear that the time is ripe for new leadership, not just in the DLP but, he argued, more importantly in Barbados.

    “Today, today comrades is the first step in the journey to reclaim the soul of our nation. We need to renew confidence in the party of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow. We need to restore democracy and social values and social cohesion and create opportunities for economic empowerment,” he maintained.

    Hewitt continued, “It cannot be, it should not be that our young, unskilled males are faced with a binary choice of drugs on one side, or cleaning the public road on the other. That is not good enough.”

    The political first-timer’s comments came as he expressed serious concern about the management of this country and contended that the last three years under the current Administration have not been good for democracy, society and our economy.

    “I know that Barbadians never intended in 2018 to go to the polls to create a one-party state, or to vanquish the Democratic Labour Party for eternity. However, I am equally aware that the populace wanted to send a clear message of the type of leadership and politics that would not be tolerated. And we in the Democratic Labour Party have to say to Barbados, ‘We hear you and we get you.’ But now we have to send a message to the current Administration…” he said.

    Hewitt lamented that the country is once again in a severe recession, with the debt-to-GDP ratio skyrocketing and unemployment rates at “catastrophic” levels. Contending that people are suffering, the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said, “We can and we should do better.”

    “We have seen and I have articulated how the promises made on integrity, and transparency and good governance have all largely been broken. We must do better,” he maintained. (JRT)

    SOURCE: BARBADOS ADVOCATE


  58. ” the Hilton Barbados, where he officially launched his candidature ”

    uh wunda why an who pay fuh dis magnamatious event ?


  59. . It cannot be that our young unskilled males are faced with the binary choice of drugs or cleaning the public road.”
    The fledgling politician noted that though Barbadians had spoken in no uncertain terms during the last election, he did not believe they did
    so to create a one-party state
    Xxxxxc

    The above comment is true
    Not only true but a ringing slap and an indictment in the face of failed govt policies a govt who have pursued a path of towing the line of big business whilst thowing crumbs for the most vulnerable amongst society to clean up

    Xxxxi endorsed those comments


  60. HantsJune 12, 2021 8:22 AM

    ” the Hilton Barbados, where he officially launched his candidature ”

    uh wunda why an who pay fuh dis magnamatious event ?

    Xxxxxxx

    I would hasten to bet nothing was donated or given by the underground world driven by illicit or illegal activity


    • Thanks for your opinion.

      The blogmaster takes note you have no issue discussing the matter of Hewitt challenging De Peiza because it is carried in the traditional media.


  61. DavidJune 12, 2021 8:43 AM

    Thanks for your opinion.

    The blogmaster takes note you have no issue discussing the matter of Hewitt challenging De Peiza because it is carried in the traditional media.

    Xxxcxcc
    Please note I have not espoused a view on his challenge to Verla
    But have endorsed his comments in reference to govt policies


    • The point is you have no problem commenting on the matter now that it is covered in the traditional media. When BU posted you as per usual fitted ulterior motives to the blogmaster.


  62. DavidJune 12, 2021 9:34 AM

    The point is you have no problem commenting on the matter now that it is covered in the traditional media. When BU posted you as per usual fitted ulterior motives to the blogmaster.

    Xxxxxx
    So what !!!
    If the shoe 👞 fits wear it


  63. If Rev. Guy Hewitt wants to “save the soul” of our democracy he has first to exorcise all the demons from the DLP. He has to confess the sins of the DLP, repent and ask for forgiveness.

    No wishy washy statement about “Barbadians have spoken on the kind of leadership they do not want” or some such drivel.

    This was not all about Freundel Stuart!

    He cannot exorcise him and move on with all the rest!

    If he wants to play the REVEREND let him do it properly!


  64. DavidJune 12, 2021 11:34 AM

    So predictable but the regulars know you well.

    You have zero credibility on the blog

    Xxxxx
    Don’t care even think to care what “regulars” think about me
    I rice at no one
    Xxxxxx


  65. DavidJune 12, 2021 12:56 PM

    Images of the event showed Ronald Jones, James Paul et al, the old guard

    Xxxcccccc
    Oh 👕
    Blouse and skirt


  66. Verla not ruffled by criticism
    President of the Democratic Labour Party, Verla De Peiza says she is hearing the noise from her latest challenger, this time coming from within the bowels of the party.
    But the attorney-at-law yesterday said she remains committed to serving the DLP, even as Reverend Guy Hewitt continues to speak publicly on his reasons for putting his hat in the ring, and why he cannot stand beside her in leading the party into the next general election.
    “This is internal party politics. Like any family we have our differences and we move on,” she told the Sunday Sun yesterday after a voice note with Hewitt was circulated on social media explaining why he could not support De Peiza.
    She added: “In the spirit of good democracy, Guy is allowed to continually change his position. And I remain committed to serving the party as leader.”
    Hewitt’s public comments came less than 24 hours after he had officially launched his candidacy to be the next party president at Hilton Barbados, where he said his decision to challenge De Peiza was not about internal strife, but more so about democracy. He even cited instances where party presidents such as Errol Barrow and Clyde Mascoll were challenged internally.
    In the voice-note Hewitt detailed reasons he felt De Peiza was the wrong person to lead the Dems and said he also wanted to clear the air about rumours circulating which indicated he was challenging De Peiza because he could not get a nomination to be the DLP candidate in the constituency of St John.
    “That is absurd. I have not sought a constituency
    because I am unable to support comrade De Peiza as the leader of the DLP, as I could not be a candidate and stand behind her,” the former diplomat said.
    “I am aware, as many are in the party and the country, that she does not possess the competencies to successfully lead us to victory. The byelection in St George North said it all,” he stated, pointing to the huge loss of first-time candidate Floyd Reifer suffered to the Barbados Labour Party’s Toni Moore last year.
    Hewitt said both the party and the people of Barbados were telling him they needed the leadership and the type of competencies, ability to mobilise people and resources, for the DLP to seriously offer itself as the next government of Barbados.
    (BA)

    Source: Nation


  67. The issue of integrity(PartII)
    By Guy Hewitt

    I concur with former United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower that “the supreme quality for leadership is integrity”. Even politics should be informed by rules and principles; it should not be just to win at any cost. The perspective of the Barbados Labour Party on integrity was laid bare for all to see when it allowed the Integrity In Public Life Bill to fail last year.
    Andy Armstrong, as chairperson of the Integrity Group Barbados Inc. (IGB) has this to say: “We are disappointed and in disbelief that that could have happened . . . . We’re not the experts in parliamentary procedure but it would seem like it was guaranteed to fail. One would have thought since this is one of, if not the most important piece of legislation they [the Government] had committed to pass in this first five years, I wouldn’t like to think that they really didn’t want it to pass.”
    As Barbados, being one of the few countries with no integrity legislation, this was for me this administration’s statement of intent that they had no plan to pass anti-corruption legislation. Lest we forget, the implementation of laws to eliminate corruption in public life was one of the pillars of the Barbados Labour Party’s 2018 election campaign.
    But why make it fail? What would motivate a Government to not want transparency and accountability in its operations? A good starting point is the Auditor General’s report that points to serious irregularities and breaches in good governance. Let the other actions speak for themselves: Five days after Mia Mottley was sworn in as Prime Minister and two days before she announced the Government would default on its debt, the firm White Oak Advisory was engaged for just over $27m to assist with restructuring roughly $7bn of debts. The Financial Times (FT) the world’s leading global business publication, described the contracting of the “two partner, small firm” as “absurd”.
    The FT, one of the world’s leading news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy stated, “A little-known UK advisory firm stands to make about $27m from the restructuring of Barbados’s $7bn of debts, close to what Lazard earned seven years ago when it advised Greece on defaulted debt nearly 40 times bigger.”
    The article noted, “Barbados is not Greece, which had a massive debt stock, multiple debt instruments and huge political tensions . . . . Double-digit fees are for very large transactions that are super complicated with a large number of instruments and a large number of different creditors.” We further learned from the article that Citigroup earned roughly $3m from restructuring Jamaica’s $9bn of defaulted debts in 2013. Jamaica paid $3m in fees for $9bn of debt restructuring; Barbados paid $27m for $7bn. But we were forewarned: “Give me de vote and watch muh.”
    Several increases
    Bus fare was increased, VAT was increased, land tax was increased, National
    Insurance rates were increased, and personal income tax was increased. A Garbage and Sewage Contribution (GSC) levy was introduced, VAT on online transactions was imposed, airline travel and tourism development fee imposed and a surcharge on credit card use was imposed. The one tax that the administration was able to reduce was corporate tax.
    At a time when unemployment is at its highest and the economy at its weakest, we have the largest Cabinet in the history of Barbados and as I have highlighted in my articles, many are non-performing. It’s noteworthy that India, the world’s most populous country and sixth-largest economy, has only 21 cabinet ministers, 29 junior Ministers, and nine ministers of state.
    We are learning that Government appointments seem to be predicated solely on political considerations. We see a Department of Public Affairs created to duplicate the work of BGIS but staffed by political operatives. We saw how a post of executive chairperson at the QEH was fabricated and the wife of a Government minister installed despite her having no prior experience running a tertiary level hospital.
    But we were forewarned: “Give me de vote and watch muh.”
    Barbados struggles to attract foreign direct investment due to its default on loans and the scalping of investors that followed. Notwithstanding, we witnessed an international dispute between an Irish investor and a local hotelier. It was a source of embarrassment for Barbados as an investment jurisdiction as the investors pointed out serious failing in governance, including “court delay tactics”, and ‘abuse of personal relationships to circumvent creditors.’ All the while, the local hotelier received appointments from Government.
    We recall just a few years ago while in Opposition, Ms Mottley in her 2017 Budget Reply castigated the previous administration for “questionable deals” and what were deemed to be “special favours” for Mark Maloney and Preconco due to the numerous contracts awarded. We recall the BLPled public outcry over Mr Maloney’s plans to build the Hyatt Hotel.
    Now we learn that Mr Maloney was awarded a contract to build 265 houses on Government-owned lands at Chancery Lane. We are also hearing rumblings of non-competitive awards in the Sanitation Services Authority, Barbados Water Authority and MTW. We can’t blame Mr Maloney for doing what businesspersons are meant to do – making money doing business.
    This follows closely on behind the Government reneging on the sale of land at Lancaster, St James, to low- and middle-income earners. The common-law husband of a government minister is spearheading this project. But we were forewarned “Give me de vote and watch muh.”
    Highly valued
    I spoke previously to how, despite being aware that China values seniority highly and after deploying Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, the Hon. Dr Chelston Brathwaite, and a diplomatic star, Francois Jackman, we are sending Hallam Henry, the youthful son of Hartley Henry, as our ambassador there. This is in addition to our struggle to discern
    what Ambassadors Liz Thompson and Clyde Mascoll do on a daily basis. But we were forewarned: “Give me de vote and watch muh.”
    Bob Marley said: “The greatness of a [person] is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Let us hope this Government wakes up to this reality and puts integrity back into public life. However, given their track record, it would be wise for good citizens to make contingency plans as they probably won’t.
    May the Lord continue to be the people’s guide.

    Guy Hewitt announced his candidature for the leadership of the DLP. He currently lives and works between Barbados and Florida. Email: guyhewitt@gmail.com


  68. Excellent response which I wholeheartedly endorse from Verla Depezia

    Xxxxxxxxxx

    Worth repeating especially at a time when govt policies are hell bent to protect the wealth of a few
    Meanwhile the 99 percent are being told by govt to hold strain
    Xxccccc

    Bob Marley said: “The greatness of a [person] is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Let us hope this Government wakes up to this reality and puts integrity back into public life. However, given their track record, it would be wise for good citizens to make contingency plans as they probably won’t.

    Quoted from Guy Hewitt statement


  69. Dems ‘chances good’

    Candidates say they see many dissatisfied Bajans
    by BARRY ALLEYNE barryalleyne@nationnews.com
    THE FIVE NEWEST CANDIDATES picked by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) for the next general election are confident of toppling their opponents, charging that Barbadians are very dissatisfied with the current Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration.
    They are long-time candidate in St Joseph, Randall Rouse, attorney Bertnul Ricardo Harrison in St Michael North, former Young Dems president Courie Cox in St Michael Central, former senator Damien Griffith in St Michael North East and Oldwin Skeete in St Andrew.
    On Sunday, DLP president Verla De Peiza announced the additions for the poll, constitutionally due in 2023. The party has now named eight candidates, with the other three being De Peiza (St Lucy), Andre Worrell (St John) and Ryan Walters (St Michael North West).
    Griffith, who served as a Government senator from 2008 to 2010, will be attempting to unseat Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in St Michael North East. He said he was far from intimidated.
    Seats ‘winnable’
    “I think my chances are very good,” he told the DAILY NATION yesterday. “The last election showed us that all seats are winnable. Many people may feel it’s not the most optimistic of seats, but it is about what the electorate feels on the day.”
    The 38-year-old account manager said that in spite of the long time Mottley has served St Michael North East (since 1994), “there are significant areas where nothing has been done”.
    He said many people in the constituency continued to suffer, and that was where he would come in. “I believe there is an opportunity for a young candidate to take the seat away. I consider it a difficult task but I do that every day as the acting general secretary of the DLP. Everybody left us for dead but we are here now, like Phoenix, rising from the ashes.”
    Best opportunity
    Rouse, a four-time loser in St Joseph, who also ran as an Independent candidate last time out, said he was now older and wiser in the politics game, and felt this election could be his best opportunity since 2008.
    “I’m always positive about what I do and this time will be no different. I believe my chances are greater than ever before. What I will do is approach this campaign in a different way altogether, as before in some instances I was too relaxed, based on my heavy involvement in the communities of St Joseph. The support I’m getting now is more than I’ve ever gotten before.”
    The 65-year-old businessman said he had already identified the high level of unemployment among young people in the parish as his main area of concern, and one that was not being dealt with frontally by the current Member of Parliament, Attorney General Dale Marshall.
    “Too much of our young
    men continue to fall through the cracks and that I will be dealing with the most,” he said, adding that St Joseph had not gained as a community from the BLP’s tenure since 2018.
    Cox, 41, a businessman, said though he was confident, his focus was not just about winning St Michael Central currently held by Speaker Arthur Holder.
    “It is solely on the welfare of the people within these communities. We also have high unemployment and many issues with flooding. The dialogue I have been having with people is very encouraging. I’m heartened by it,” Cox said.
    Harrison, who will be going up against Minister of Industry and International Business Ronald Toppin, said his work on the ground had uncovered that many Barbadians were feeling a sense of “buyer’s remorse” about the BLP win in 2018. “A lot of people are upset about how things are going, and the fact that there is no real level of Opposition,” he said.
    Level of taxes
    He said Barbadians were also offended by the high level of taxes they were being asked to pay at a time when disposable income was at a minimum.
    “I feel my chances are as good as anyone else,” he said, while citing the shock loss by former Prime Minister, the late Bernard St John (later Sir Harold) to Anderson Morrison in 1971, and the 2018 win by the BLP’s Neil Rowe over the incumbent Chris Sinckler as examples of why one should never count out any candidate on the day.
    Skeete, a 46-year-old businessman and farmer, said he thought highly of his chances, as did others in the St Andrew constituency represented by BLP veteran George Payne. “There will be challenging and difficult times in this, but I’m confident I can overcome them,” he said.


    SOURCE: NATION NEWS

  70. Pingback: Barbados Underground | Gold Club Properties Real Estate


  71. Hewitt: We are to be Govt’s nightmare
    THE DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY (DLP) will not be able to survive another national embarrassment at the polls, says presidential hopeful Reverend Guy Hewitt.
    The man who has publicly challenged leader, Verla De Peiza, in the August party elections has been outspoken in the past two weeks in presenting his case to Barbados. He continued to do so yesterday as a guest on Starcom Network’s
    radio call-in programme
    Down To Brasstacks,
    where he was also questioned by callers about the timing of his move to lead the party.
    “People believe the leadership of the Democratic Labour Party is its best gift. I take that seriously. Our role as an opposition party is to challenge the Government. We are to become its first nightmare,” he said when pressed on why choosing to challenge De Peiza at this juncture.
    The Anglican cleric said that coming out of the 30-0 thumping at the polls in 2018, he had heard members and supporters crying out that the Dems needed new leadership, even though at that time it was not directed at him.
    Hewitt said a lot of work had to be done and the Dems could not afford to spend time just getting things in order.
    “I have an obligation to Barbados and to my sense of patriotism to do something about it. We cannot go into the next election hoping to pick up on or two or three seats and replace Bishop (Joseph) Atherley as the
    Leader of the Opposition,” he stressed.
    The former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said that as a matter of urgency, the Dems needed to show they were ready to once again govern the affairs of the country. “There is a lot of work to be done, and we have spent too much time focusing on internal things in the party and getting ourselves election ready.”
    He said a political organisation ultimately was formed to win votes and form a government, as it was not a social grouping.
    Hewitt also reiterated he had no ill will towards his opponent. “I want the president to be a success in St Lucy,” he said about De Peiza’s decision earlier this year to seek her first win in an election in the northern constituency where she was born and spent some of her childhood.
    “I want the party to be a success at the polls, and to do that there are certain things that are essential. We are still paying off the debts of the St George (North) by-election. This is one constituency, and we are still paying off debt. How are we going to mobilise those resources we need in possibly 24, or likely 12 months from now?” he asked.
    He said if the Dems did not project a sound, inclusive voice, there might be no other election to follow because the party could not take another massive defeat at the polls.
    “It is about Bajans following effective leadership, and if the DLP does not give effective voice or leadership, whether in St George North or St Lucy, we are going to find ourselves with a problem.” (BA)

    Source: Nation News


  72. Wrong step, Reverend
    By Ezra Alleyne
    The assault on the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leadership by Reverend Guy Hewitt reminds me of the famous curate’s egg. The attempt is bad . . . in some parts . . . and good in others!
    Mr Hewitt has some talents. He speaks well and has a way with words and he is a loyal friend . . . but then he steps into political hot water so effortlessly and is burnt. That is the bad part of the egg, so to speak.
    Now, during the past week I had to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). As I entered the foyer, I saw to my right a plaque bearing the name of Donville Inniss as Minister of Health, who opened the remodelled foyer in 2012.
    A light bulb went off. It occurred to me that the best prospect for DLP leadership (after 2018) that the DLP never had; was in the United States, where Hewitt had been a character witness.
    Collaborated
    I recalled that Hewitt told the American court that he knew Inniss from secondary school, university and working together professionally. He said they collaborated in his prior role of chairman of the Board of Management of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital when Inniss was Minister of Health.
    I quietly applauded Hewitt’s loyalty. But if Hewitt had been chairman of the QEH board, he had some political, managerial experience, and his role in the DLP affairs could not be simply representational and not policy making, as he publicly stated on the Brass Tacks interview. He was in London only from 2014 to 2018.
    But here is the bad part of the curate’s egg. Before the ink dried on my thoughts, he found himself literally in some kind of water, cold tepid or hot, but water nevertheless. He got involved in a tsunami of a dispute with the Young Democrats, which originated in something to do with a contribution to a water drive campaign.
    This group took exception to Hewitt’s mention of the recruitment of women in politics. Having studied Hewitt’s recent statements, I knew this mention of recruitment of females would draw potent political fire from the Young Democrats. He must have missed the fiery response of the Young Democrat on Brass Tacks recently and her bold declaration that she was candidate for St George South.
    Anyway, here is part of the Young Democrat’s response: “The executive members of the Young Democrats find the statement to be misleading as the Young Democrats have a female president, vice-president secretary and education officer. We also have a slew of young, vibrant female members who will be joining the Young Democrats soon.”
    Then there was some issue about securing the Young Democrats’ vote at the upcoming general conference.
    The gospel truth is that whether coincidence or not, Reverend Hewitt’s political utterances since coming out as a politician have focused on Verla De Peiza, Mia Mottley, Senator Lisa Cummins, Senator Alphea Wiggins and Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, all prominent women making their way in political or state contributions.
    Representing the state
    According to Hewitt, De Peiza did not have the competencies; Cummins was a greenhorn; Bynoe-Sutherland is a minister’s wife with no experience in running tertiary level hospital; Senator Wiggins should not have accepted an assignment on behalf of the State.
    Mind you, he conceded that as High Commissioner he was representing the State and no particular party. Wiggins is an Independent Senator and was doing a national state-sponsored contribution in an area where she brings special skills.
    He says that he has made contributions to the cause of women and gender issues at the United Nations level but one wonders why, since coming out as a potential candidate,
    women have felt the end of his criticism. Tangling with the Young Democrats is a huge mistake.
    Latest misstep
    Hewitt showed himself up to the battle and that is a good part of the egg. Clearly he will not be cowed, which is a good leadership attribute, but this latest misstep dooms his leadership takeover chances, although I maintain he has a contribution to make to politics once he masters the basic rudiments of party and elective politics.
    But the successful politicians have to be politically street smart.
    Like The Gambler in the song, they have to know when to hold and when to fold.
    Until then, Rev. Hewitt needs to understand the tale of the curate’s egg!
    Ezra Alleyne is an attorney and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Source: Nation


  73. Old face our new face what I observed is the country in dire need of an economic face lift
    Fifty plus years of independence and still waiting for tourist from high risk countries to bail the country out of it’s economic woes is madness
    When will the electoral find a voice that bloster call for changes that put Barbados on a road path for economic self empowerment
    The economic path Barbados finds itself on is littered with financial booby traps and land mines
    Money owed to financial international lending houses while our local economy lies starving waiting for tourist


  74. I have always criticize Ezra’s contribution, but I feel this article is much better.

    Naming five women is a very good attempt to separate Guy from the females’ votes. The D’s already have a hard task appealing to voters and to possibly stop some females voters from support Guy is a masterstroke.

    He also linked Guy with Donville. However, apart from pure political froth, Donville does not carry a high negative rating (my belief) to the average Bajan.

    Going to give EA some credit here. Improved bowling.


  75. Didn’t the past Dlp govt have a sleuth of women
    So far the present Dlp line up of contestants have only placed one woman on the list
    So all this long talk about woman vs men would only give credence if the woman can display a great deal of political strength and can out maneuver Mia political strength and power which is not an easy task


  76. Why must the women be able to “out manoeuvre Mia’s political strength”? Shouldn’t this same criterion hold for a male?

    Your statement supports Ezra’s criticism. A next dead end.


  77. TheOGazertsJune 27, 2021 8:39 AM

    Why must the women be able to “out manoeuvre Mia’s political strength”? Shouldn’t this same criterion hold for a male?
    Xxxxxxx
    BTW I did not read Ezra article
    My comment stems from what is being tabled as being a plus for the parties having more woman involved as contestants for the election
    As I stated that the past govt had a bevy of woman placed in high positions of governance but that was not a sufficient guarantee to win even one seat in Parliament
    One cannot deny that Mia presence on the political landscape for years has borne significant gains
    Woman as early entries must have more than being a female to entice females voters to vote for them


  78. Skip to main content
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    Former UK High Commissioner, Rev. Guy Hewitt, says he is ready and willing to take the DLP forward.

    HEWITT VOWS THAT DLP WILL BE READY
    Sun, 06/27/2021 – 5:30am
    Reverend Guy Hewitt is taking issue with how the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Government has been running this country over the last three years, and he is vowing that should he get the nod to lead the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), it will be ready to present itself as a credible alternative to the BLP whenever the bell is rung.

    Hewitt, the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, made the pledge in a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, as he maintained that contesting the election to win a few seats cannot be the goal going into the next General Election, which is constitutionally due in 2023. In that vein, he dismissed the notion from some quarters that winning a few seats or forming the official Opposition is enough.

    The former UK High Commissioner is adamant that if the DLP does not offer itself as a credible alternative to the Government, it will not be taken seriously at the polls and will find it difficult to secure the votes of not only the unattached electorate, but its members as well. He made the point while noting that the by-election last November was a dry run for the General Election, and it is imperative that the Party is able to better mobilise financial resources and support across constituencies than it did then.

    “We can’t be committed to making somebody a Leader of the Opposition, we have to be committed to forming a government. Political organisations, their primary task is to win elections, and so we have to become ready for the election when it is called and most people are anticipating it’s going to be called early,” he said.

    Hewitt’s remarks came as he argued that Barbados is in a precarious economic situation and the current Administration should not remain at the helm. He asserted that the country is in no better position economically than when the Government took office, and they are “simply borrowing money to pay bills”. The reverend added that even as efforts are made to help tourism rebound, that will not be enough, and is adamant that COVID-19 has underscored the need to truly diversify the economy, to guarantee the country can be in a much better position in the future.

    “Their solution for employment for young people is for them to clean the public road. There has been some spending on construction projects and small projects to circulate money and yes COVID happened, but the reality is there is nothing that they have done to show that they have moved the economy, structurally, from where it was before 2018 to where it should be,” he stated.

    Hewitt ready to lead

    As he readies himself for the potential leadership role in the DLP and to lead the Party to victory, Hewitt said he has been in receipt of “sound economic advice” on how to move Barbados’ economy forward, as he acknowledged that the DLP has often been criticised for not having the economic knowledge capacity to speak on such matters. His remarks came as he said that with the “politically charged” environment that currently exists, persons are wary to come forward publicly to offer support, for fear that it will cost them work. But, he pledged to continue to let his voice be heard.

    “We need to hold the economy and the society together, and so I would say between now and when we get to an election, I have every intention, if I’m leading the Democratic Labour Party, to give people confidence that we have an economic team, and we understand what is needed going forward. I respect people’s need for that reassurance and it is a commitment that I will give tangibly, and substantively by speaking to these issues going forward. Over time, and as we get closer to an election, there will be an opportunity to bring that team forward, but the reality is that this time, it is hard to do that because of the culture of fear that exists,” Hewitt said. (JRT)

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  79. This is an Independent view of this writer

    Look people this man is nobody to vote for to be the President of the D.L.P.
    He was made a high commissioner to London by the Stuart Administration, this writer believes, recommended by the Sealy Report.
    The woman that was his deputy High commissioner was a B.L.P known to be rank and file B.L.P looking for a high post and landed it.
    The woman came back to Barbados and walked right into a senate seat that was “being kept for her”. These are the words of the present Prime Minister not mine.
    The woman was named for a Senator post by Barbados’ Present Prime Minister. No Prime Minister don’t put they political enemy so close to them.
    Getting Back to the man and woman in London Representing this country.
    Each day 1 open the paper to read there was the man who wants to be the leader of the D.L.P President inside the paper in conflict with the woman ,his deputy up in London. I learned from home you should know how, when and where.
    The next day the woman who was the deputy high commissioner to London in the paper telling the nation news her side of the story.
    Each or nearly everyday both use to make noise with each other but when i read the woman wasn’t frightened for him.
    One does not want someone of his kind, or elitism to lead or be in-charge of a party so great as D.L.P.
    One might get up and hear him addressing us from the radio or newspaper .
    The then Prime Minister I read in the paper went long up there to try to make peace between the two of them.
    As soon as the then prime Minister turned his back and landed in Barbados they used to quarrel again, he first in the newspaper about her ,then she would come after him.
    The then Prime Minister of that day had a right to tell them to come home as the late Hon Errol Barrow former Prime Minister of Barbados told his High commissioner to London the late Mr Walton Ramsay to come home when he Erred. Also the late Hon Seymour Arthur told Mr Simmons to come home from London also, or he should have been coming back home with them.
    Where he wants to lead the D.L.P out in the sea next to the Hilton and the yacht club?
    I thought i hear the “integrity Commission” said the Caribbean Court of Justice say no bribes, he told the moderator of V.O.B “he has $250,000 to put in the D.L.P if he wins the presidency of the D.L.P and that Verla De Pezia can’t lead him and he would give her his blessings to run in St.Lucy.” A lot of bilged or gibberish comes from his mouth.
    Who that man thinks he is, the Hilton hotel? Who is paying their sub for him as president of the D.L.P to carry him and who is running behind him up at the hilton and yacht club for receptions and I outside looking in as for the yacht club ! I don’t know if I’m allowed on the sands or at the door in front. This is something I have to find out.
    LOOK PEOPLE
    Vote Verla De Pezia for President & Leader of the D.L.P her vision for this great party is conceptualized,realistic and can work. She and her team Damiem Griffith, Andre Worrell, Jeff Shepherd, Rayan Walters and the others who are aboard with her ideas to take the D.L.P and this Country forward in these times.
    This is not about fame and fortune here. This is about this team caring about the D.L.P base, and the D.L.P supporters out there and wanting to see the betterment of Barbados.

    Written by a member of the Christ Church West Central Branch

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