Another Heather Cole Column – Republic or Monarchy?

Whoever has the gold makes the rules”

John Hart

Medieval Kings were created by wars and conquest and passed on their titles to their descendants. There are no kings in Western democracies. The majority in Europe are ceremonial relics of antiquity so it is highly irregular that successive governments in Barbados have created a strange phenomenon where they elevate men to the position of kings at the expense of the public purse after Independence legally ended colonialism. Perhaps it is intended to complete the gratification of the island being called Little England. It has been done decades ago for the Williams brothers and is now being done for Mark Maloney by the previous and present Administration.

The present Administration is now in the habit of sayings one thing and doing another. In theory, the Prime Minister says that she is moving the country to Republic status, notably with only a few cosmetic changes in the current system. In practice, this is not what has been happening. We have all been witness to a series of events starting with the last Administration, all of which seem bent on elevating one man in a position above all Barbadians by way of lucrative contracts and secretive sweet heart deals. In other word the making of a king. There was Coverley peppercorn deal, the Grotto, being on the board of the Central Bank, Chairman of the Boards of LIAT, the Government’s agent to buy vaccine that resulted in a scam and the list is not complete.

As far fetch as it may seem, is the change to republican status only an illusion? As act of cognitive dissonance as one writer called it a few days ago of saying one thing yet doing another.

This may be all speculative, however, what is fact is that for every asset given to Mark Maloney, there is a corresponding loss to the livelihood of present Barbadians in terms of assets that can earn revenue, to reduce taxation, to pay workers and revenue to provide for health care if the assets are put to good use.

The wealth present and of future Barbadians are also tied up in these assets so it is mind boggling why time and time again, the government is bent on giving them all away to one man. If this is what is happening, it is beyond logic that any sitting prime minister of Barbados would agree to such for financial contributions to their party or even worse if that person has sinister information on the Prime Minister. One might question what gives Mr. Maloney the audacity to approach government with these schemes and one must also question the integrity of persons elected to service who have the same audacity to misuse the funds from the public purse. It is instances like these that are the precursor to rampant corruption in any country.

In the quest for Republican status, one must not forget that the Crown owns a considerable amount of lands. The government has not mentioned what the status of the crown lands will be in the transition to a Republic. Literally, in a Republic land must belong to the people first and then their representatives. It will not like Crown land that did not belong to the people. In this grey period of transition what will happen to those lands will more be given away? Is there an existing list of crown lands to be viewed by the public?

Land is a scarce and expensive commodity in Barbados. The average man in the streets may not even be able to afford a 5,000 square feet plot of land a $25 per square feet. If he can afford it, then comes the difficulty of building a house on the said plot of land. It makes one wonder why the government of Barbados is continuously giving away this asset to a Billionaire who has already made his fortune as the expense of the public purse. Why can’t everyone else be able to enjoy their luxuries especially someone who sit in the majority 95%?

The latest acquisition that we now know of is that the 27 acres of land at Chancery Lane has been given to Mr. Maloney through a partnership with the government and is in the process of developing it at the disadvantage of the persons who live nearby. It was simply too good for them. There has been a video making its round on social media. This could be 235 lot of 5000 sq ft each for middle and low income housing!

One hopes that the Prime Minister realizes that with only 166 sq miles available, that this unnecessary giving away land is not sustainable. One may therefore have cause to wonder, if when the lands runs out will Mr. Mark Maloney will be given ownership of the beach and the sea.

If Mr. Maloney wants to be king, he has a choice, try his hand in elected politics since the Prime Minister already has her exit plan in place or start a war to conquer the 95%.

71 thoughts on “Another Heather Cole Column – Republic or Monarchy?


  1. An excellent post.
    It is extremely difficult to understand the reasoning behind actions taken by both administrations.


  2. TheOGazerts November 22, 2021 6:47 AM

    An excellent post.
    It is extremely difficult to understand the reasoning behind actions taken by both administrations.@@@

    What is so hard, they both agree to help each other cover up their Massive Land Fraud and PONZI ,LAND and Money Laundering RICO government, They can change their names but the DNA in their Crimes is Well reported and on stand by for the “COLLAPSE” !!Crooks Liars and Scumbags all need to be in Jail! No Rule of Law, they cant write no laws they have already broken! Constitution or Intergary false laws , all a set of Nasty lawyers, Thy Kingdooom come! Bajan Free Party BFP


  3. Bajans Truly Love Their Long Talk Talking Shop
    So here is a long rambling post in a Bajan stylee

    People travel on planes daily
    Many go skiing
    But, whenever people go on a Journey
    They may feel some apprehension, get the jitters or have niggling worries
    Will my plane crash?
    Will I break a leg or hit a tree and die?

    When people enter or break up from a relationship they have doubts
    Will we be happy?
    Will we grow together?
    Will we get divorced?
    Will I be used and abused again?
    Can I find someone else better?

    Seems like Bajans (black) are having doubts about cutting the cord with their rulers for last 500 years
    and are unsure whether to go it alone
    

    Here is a psychometric Questionnaire

    Do Bajans (Blacks) deserve to be free of their masters (Whites)?
    Yes/No/Don’t Know

    Can Bajans be succeed without British Crown?
    Yes/No/Don’t Know

    Scoring
    add +1 for Yes
    add -1 for No
    
    add up the Total to determine whether there is a positive or negative or neutral sum total for the unknown outcome risk factor
    
    (but at the end of the day you are still subjects and have no say in the final matter anyway)
    (so close you eyes and take a leap of faith and step forward to your future destiny)
    


  4. Yes it is another Heather Cole column . If we are already a republic de jure and de facto,what is there to discuss? Is there somebody with cold feet unsure what is required of him in a republic?. What is the issue we are invited to discuss?
    A change in the designation of the head of state underlines the fact that we have no body external of ourselves to blame if we mess things up. The last scape goat has been released of her colonial burthen. Amen..


  5. What an opportune time to change the tired passed by date narratives and be firm craftmen of our fate! How about looking into that mirror EW Barrow bequeathed to us and ask:”Do I like that fellow staring at me?” What do I need to do to make him more lovable? No more “long talk. No more moving with our begging bowl to another colonial master. No. We need more sweat from our own brows.


  6. RE Vincent CodringtonNovember 22, 2021 9:18 AM

    Yes it is another Heather Cole column
    VINCENT, HEATHER MEANS WELL………BUT IT SEEMS THAT SHE IS KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS——-THOUGH IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO MIA


  7. RE What an.opportune time to change hands from one slave master to another

    IT CAN NOT BE REFUTED THAT OVER TIME SINCE THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, WE HERE IN BARBADOS AND ELSEWHER
    HAVE JUST CHANGED ONE SLAVE MASTER FOR THE OTHER.
    ENSLAVEMENT TO THE BANKS
    ENSLAVEMENT TO EVEN UNREASONABLE DICTATES BY GOVERNMENT
    EVERYBODY THAINKS THEY ARE SOME KIND OF “MASTER” THESE DAYS


  8. RE If this is correct why was the name Crown not replaced by Independence lands?
    I SUPPOSE THAT THEY KNEW DAT SOMEDAY THEY WOULD NEED TO BE CALED REPUBLIC LANDS. UH LIE?


  9. “What an.opportune time to change hands from one slave master to another”

    Good sound bite
    not

    The Half that has never been told
    Shackles and Chains
    You are just a slave of your own mind
    and still feel the chains around your feet


  10. “Another Heather Cole Column – Republic or Monarchy?”
    By my calculations (30-22=8) in 8 days time BBD will be a Republic
    But, what time is kick off?
    When the Jolly Old Pirate Brits Union Jack Flag is lowered to a one fingered salute

    Post Republic, should Heather Cole’s column be rebranded as
    Another Mind Blowing Heather Cole Column .. .. or
    Another Mind Numbing Heather Cole Column .. .. or

    Do you remember the days of Slavery? Vs Still down here in Slavery

    Sound Clash
    Slavery Vs More Slavery
    Burning Spear Vs Joe Higgs


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ObaXgIEFh8


  11. The Anglican Church should sell the land to the people at low rates and do something for each community where the lands are with the proceeds.

    Last time I checked they did have more land than they should have.


  12. Listened to Brasstacks today another tiefin lawyer complaint from a woman in Canada.

    Barbados- Feel Free to lose your inheritances. CanBajans beware. Wunna are very ” trusting ” of members of men in wigs and robes.


  13. Barbados Edit

    In Barbados, the term crown land, extends to all land that is under the control or ownership of The Crown (a.k.a. the Government).[5] This can pertain to land seized by the government, (either through eminent domain or due to criminal activity), or toward lands with backed taxes. The term Crown lands has been used in relation to government owned farms, beaches, and other land areas also maintained by the National Housing Corporation.[6] The Government does not allow private ownership of Barbados’ 97 kilometres (60 mi) of coastal beaches in the country, and all areas below the high-tide watermark in the country are considered specifically as “Crown land”.

    Taken from Wikipedia


  14. REPUBLIC OR MONARCHY?

    I was of the opinion this question was already answered.

    Somewhere in de future years Bajans will cogitated Republic vs Monarchy.

    Today, are we a (free) people ???


  15. Religious soil.

    “The Anglican Church should sell the land to the people at low rates and do something for each community where the lands are with the proceeds.”

    Xxxx

    Grow some of de finest weed on this here earth 🌍.


  16. @ Heather November 22, 2021 11:32 AM
    “…………. If this is correct why was the name Crown not replaced by Independence lands?”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Heather, what is your position on the GoB’s plan to award the incoming British king with the highest honour of the Republic of Barbados (RoB) styled the Order of the Freedom of Barbados?

    What is the ‘ungrateful’ government of GB going to contribute to the imminent ‘royal’ divorce settlement other than an exchange of medals instead of rings and manacles?

    Apologize (again) and then cough up the compensation owed to the patrimony of the black Barbadian slaves which must be no less than the amount (today’s equivalent in pound sterling) paid to the slave owners by an Act passed in the British Parliament called the “Slave Compensation Act 1837”?


  17. De system arrives at a decision by having each side to a dispute present its best opinion and then permitting a neutral decision-maker to determine the facts and apply the law in light of the opposing presentation of the two sides.

    An inquisitorial system is a legal system where the court or a part of the court is actively involved in investigating the facts of the case/process going forward..

    No conflicts/opposition tolerated on this given day.


  18. Going forward, Crown lands are to be known as Republic Lands. The change has to be approved by the IMF and the Government of China who allowed the Gov of Barbados to mortgage these lands to 80% of their book value, as security for loans extended to the Gov of Barbados. This is known as conciliatory financing.
    Currently there are over 800 parcels of Crown lands on record. Unfortunately, when contacted, the Auditor General, speaking off the record, suggested his office had only been able to locate 425 of these. Of immediate concern to him were two large waterfront parcels in each of St.George and St.Thomas, while another in the parish of St.Stephen had not been located by surveyors hired by his office. He also was concerned that several had been counted more than once. However, while some requests from his office predated his term, his office was yet to receive a single reply. However, he had been promised a response by 2025. He has been advised by the office of the Supreme Leader, that all 800 parcels on record shall be duly transferred to Republic Lands,
    A spokesperson who cannot be named, told ONG that Republic day, will see the creation of a new Ministry of Republic Lands, and that a work permit was being sought for the new Minister, as a suitable local candidate had not been found.


  19. @ David November 22, 2021 10:49 PM
    “Is the transition to a republic designed to be adversarial?”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

    Should have been.
    Wasn’t it “adversarial” when Little England staved off Cromwell’s navy in order to retain the monarchy instead of pandering to the Roundhead’s republic?

    By tearing up the 1952 Treaty of Oistins isn’t Barbadoes simply attesting to the saying that: ‘history has a way of repeating itself’; even if, on occasions, in a reverse order.

    A show of defiance to show defiance to the removal of King Charlie No.1 and to usher in a ‘post-Republic’ king of England called Charlie No.2.

    Now a pageant to say goodbye to a king very long in waiting, Charlie No.3.

    By severing all monarchical ties and Constitutional association with GB Barbadoes has just thrown the reparations baby through the republic window.

    Barbados ‘was’ the country with the strongest case of a claim for reparations for the wrongs of chattel slavery in the British ‘West Indies’.

    Jamaica had Independence before Barbadoes and ceased loitering on the doorsteps of the Colonial Office since 1962.

    But why do you think it has been so reluctant to make that final move to republic status?
    To ‘walk away’ and leave those millions in reparations on the table just to show ‘We’ are a republic (man) and can stand on our own two financial feet while under the total control of the loan sharks called the International Monetary Force?

    Wouldn’t republicanism without a ‘fight’ be displaying the hallmark of an ‘open-and-shut’ case of: letting bygones be bygones including all adversarial issues like those nauseating calls for reparations despite the gift of your perceived ‘cultural superiority’?

    Clearly, that is not who “We are” in Little Chinbados!


  20. @ Miller November 23, 2021 2:03 AM

    “By tearing up the 1952 Treaty of Oistins”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    A clear case of taking a ‘9 for a 6’ .

    Should have read:
    By tearing up the ‘1652’ Treaty of Oistins.


  21. “Apologize (again) and then cough up the compensation owed to the patrimony of the black Barbadian slaves which must be no less than the amount (today’s equivalent in pound sterling) paid to the slave owners by an Act passed in the British Parliament called the “Slave Compensation Act 1837”?

    but did you not hear the Prof say that they DO NOT NOT INTENT TO GIVE A DIME of any reparations to the descendants of the enslaved, they said very loud and very clear that they already had the money earmarked for infrastructrue…read….right into the hands of the minority THIEVES AND CRIMINALS, as usual….and as documentation has shown, to prop up dependency slavery tourism by building a RACIST city in St. Lucy…what the descendants will get is 8 dollars an hour as dependant Slaves…for another 3 or 4 generations, if the people are dumb Enuff to allow it..the intent is to keep the survivors and descendants UNDERNEATH everyone else socially and financially as perpetual slaves at all cost..


  22. Freedom in Barbados is an illusion. Our naïve masses are just as economically and financially unfree as the slaves of the past. The only difference between slavery and conditions today is that slaves then did not have to pay excessive taxes and tariffs.

    Therefore, the people should elect Mia Mottley as president with omnipotence for life. So that she can change the conditions.


  23. Faith based organizations are letting their voices heard on the initiative to remove God name from laws and guidelines for good governance
    Only people with agonist ideologies would agree to such a change
    If Mia agrees to such change it would be a change one which would speak volumes and which exposes her hypocrisy of having a belief in God


    • False, reference to God was not removed. It was expanded to include Creator to recognize ALL faith based entities.


  24. The next train will be leaving from Platform 1
    It is now time to get on board the Freedom Train to Zion
    The Bottom Line is to start working on the Conscious Guide Guide Line
    as the Prophet Marcus Garvey of Black Star Liner expounded 100 years ago


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZx4jUNSR8w

    The Prophets Robert Nesta Marley, Winston Hubert McIntosh, Neville O’Reilly Livingston of the group The Wailers also carried the Torch of Freedom in their songs

    This Train
    Bob Marley and the Wailers
    When I was just a kid, children
    My mommy used to sing a song
    Now I’ve grown to be a man
    Well, it still lingers deep within my soul
    Lingers deep within my soul
    She said
    This train is bound to glory (this train)
    This train is bound to glory (this train)
    This train is bound to glory
    This train don’t carry no unholy (this train)
    This train it is bound to glory (this train)
    And she said
    This train carry no backsliders (this train)
    This train carry no backsliders (this train)
    This train carry no backsliders
    This train only carry God’s children (this train)
    Oh, yes (this train)
    Sing a song for me now…
    This train is bound to glory (this train)
    This train is bound to glory (this train)
    This train is bound to glory
    This train don’t carry no unholy (this train)
    Oh, yes, it is now (this train)


  25. The B-Line is the Bass Line
    I am a Rub A Dub Sodier
    Working on the Dub Line
    If it means I have to be working I have been working from 9-5


  26. DavidNovember 23, 2021 6:44 AM

    False, reference to God was not removed. It was expanded to include Creator to recognize ALL faith based entities.
    Xxxx
    Bull shi..it
    All Faith based used the word God in their teachings
    Those who don’t are agnostic or aethesist or lovers of witch craft
    Mia cannot use that flimsy excuse Bajans not going to entertain that type of manipulation where the replacement of God can be an introduction for the atheist and agnostic or whoever wanting to gain a foothold on the Constitution whereby opening up a door for any and all to ask govt to include or excuse whatever fits purpose unto themselves


    • Whither ‘God’?

      Faith groups see bid to sideline Him in Charter Of Barbados
      by ANTOINETTE CONNELL
      antoinetteconnell @nationnews.com
      FAITH-BASED GROUPS are challenging the Government over attempts to tamper with references to God in the coming Charter Of Barbados.
      Under the umbrella of Family-Faith-Freedom Barbados, they have issued a full-page statement in today’s DAILY NATION (see Page 14), while this morning a number of prominent individuals will speak at a press conference entitled Why We Need God Under A Barbados Republic.
      Chairman of the group, Pastor Paul Leacock, questioned Government’s “rush to a republic” and the tinkering with God as the Supreme Being.
      “We’ve seen Government introduce a whole bariffle of things which they had to walk back on constantly, the latest being safe zones. We’ve seen over and over, in this administration, the walkingback of legislation, policies and directives.
      “Why do that [with] something as significant as a republic that gives a new political reality to the country and portends to the future of the nation, the sociological environment in which we are going to raise our children, and the economic environment in which we will exist based on our relations to other nations?” he asked while speaking to the DAILY NATION last night.
      A section of the advertisement reads: “We, the undersigned representing the commensurate ministries and memberships, hereby call on Government to stay its arbitrary and hurried attempt to proclaim the Charter Of Barbados, 2021.”
      Their “strenuous objection” was based on, among other things, that “the Charter, without justification, removes the common, long-held, resolute and existing belief in the Sovereignty of God our Creator as enshrined in the Charter of Independence, 1966, retained and reiterated the report of the Forde Commission (1998) and overtly expressed in our Constitution and National Anthem”.
      Leacock wanted to know why the references to God were altered “without justification”.
      “It is only fitting that you say why, under the republic, you are making these changes when we are living in a country that is made up largely of Godfearing people. All the faiths in Barbados subscribe to the supremacy and sovereignty of God, so therefore, if the majority of the faith community, the majority of the people, subscribe to the sovereignty of God as Creator, why then is that being minimised? It is a question that demands an answer.”
      Equal
      However, Anglican priest Senator Reverend John Rogers, who sits on the Republican Status Transition Advisory Committee which is responsible for formulating the Charter, told Starcom Network yesterday the document acknowledges all human beings as equal in the eyes of the Creator.
      “Barbados is a multifaith society and, rather than putting a term that belongs to any particular religion, we put a term that could be accessed by all religions . . . . For example, with Christians the Creator is the Trinity, but not so for the Unitarian concept of God. Even within some Christian denominations the concept of a Trinitarian doctrine in relation to Creation is challenging for some to grasp and they will not accept that.
      “So the Creator was the term we utilised that could be accessed by all . . . . It is actually there to ensure all religions are grounded in the Charter,” Rogers explained.
      Family-Faith-Freedom Barbados was also concerned about what it said was the unexplained complex term such as “gender, sexual orientation”, adding it signalled a capitulation to the sexual rights movement.

      Source: Nation


  27. @angela cox November 23, 2021 6:28 AM

    People are supposed to believe in Mia Mottley. She gives them clothes, food and much more. She leads her people with a firm hand through deserts, pandemics, volcanic ash and hurricanes. Just as Moses once led the people of Israel and Mao the Red Guards.

    Those who believe in our Supreme Leader are among the chosen ones.


  28. @ 555dubstreetNovember 23, 2021 4:01 AM
    (Quote):
    July 2020
    CARICOM
    Beckles calls for High-Level International Reparations Summit
    (Unquote).
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Let us see if the same Professor is prepared to put his ‘republic-status’ head where his big mouth is and discontinue the use of that archaic monarchical title of SIR when Barbados becomes a full-fledged republic.

    Would he still insist on being called SIR Hilary under the old colonial dispensation of the new republic of Barbados of 2022 while holding out the begging bowl for reparations to a guilt-ridden illusion called “Gov. UK” burdened with so many modern social and economic problems at home?

    You Kiki, of all bloggers, know very well that the future political movers and shakers (aka policymakers) in the UK government will be made up mainly of university graduates and business people of (East) Indian descent and who are not burdened with that guilt of black chattel slavery in the West Indies previously carried by their white predecessors.


    • @Miller

      A man of your intellect do yourself an injustice with some of your assertions. Will Beckles have a choice regarding his title based on government policy?


  29. “Let us see if the same Professor is prepared to put his ‘republic-status’ head where his big mouth is and discontinue the use of that archaic monarchical title of SIR when Barbados becomes a full-fledged republic.”

    i made a close enuff wish and hope in my book, without calling names, when i go through the chapters again, will post an excerpt….

    the intent is to keep the survivors and descendants UNDERNEATH everyone else socially and financially as perpetual slaves at all cost….while they ALL enjoy what they tief…

    i don’t believe they will get a DIME and they SHOULDN’T, not these traitors….and they know it, that’s why they LATCHED on to the AU (Africa Union) when the 50 billion dollars did not emerge/materialzie….just in case they can get their slimy TREACHEROUS tiefing hands on the survivor’s inheritance through that avenue…..what they are still IGNORING is that any reparations in the form of paper MUST GO DIRECTED TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE ENSLAVED….the SURVIVORS….and not to minority criminals and black thieves on the island…


  30. China China where are thou

    CONTEMPORARY CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT
    UNCATEGORIZED
    Chinese Military Bases in The Caribbean?
    Lawrence A. Franklin • Winter 2021
    FacebookTwitterEmail

    Kingston Harbor in Jamaica. (Photo: Lucia Gajdosikova / Alamy)
    China’s Communist Party (CCP) seems to be implementing a multidimensional strategy in the Caribbean, reaping economic, political and potentially military gains a few miles offshore the United States. China’s ultimate objective of its Caribbean strategy may well be to confront the U.S., not only with its presence near the mainland U.S., but also with a situation analogous to America’s military presence in the region of the South China Sea. There, China created new islands in the sea, pledged not to militarize them, then went and militarized them.

    It is important to remember that China also promised Hong Kong autonomy until 2047, then, in 2020, jumped the gun by 27 years. “Hong Kong will be another communist-run city under China’s strict control,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared in July. China is clearly not a government that honors its agreements.


  31. Getting City in ship shape

    WORK IS UNDERWAY in The City in preparation for the upcoming Independence Day celebations and Barbados’ transition to a republic.
    Yesterday, various Government and private entities were seen preparing for the upcoming ceremonial celebrations, which take place in one week, with the highlight being the transition of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason into the country’s first president, a non-executive position.
    In National Heroes Square, members of the tree trimming unit of the Ministry of Transport and Works were chopping up and removing three neem trees near the cenotaph in order to clear up room.
    There was also what looked like a small platform in place.
    Across by the Chamberlain lift bridge, men from the building section of the Ministry of Housing and Lands were attaching colourful bunting in the national colours to both sides of the railing.
    More difficult
    The job was made more difficult by the high winds threatening to whip the bunting away but the men were up to the task.
    In nearby Independence Square, National Cultural Foundation painters were sprucing up a large stage while crews from Williams Equipment were installing generators and portable lighting. A Barbados Port Inc. worker was also seen sweeping the area and workmen from ARC Irrigation were ensuring the water fountains were clean.
    The work was not confined just to the heart of The City however, as bunting was also being placed along the wall of the Barbados Defence Force’s St Ann’s Fort.
    The step to becoming a republic is viewed as a natural progression from Independence by some and fittingly will take place on Independence Day. However, not everyone is on board as detractors say it is being rushed and will have adverse legal implications, while some Barbadians are still expressing confusion about the whole affair.
    The ceremony will feature a visit from Charles, Prince of Wales, and although it will signify a final break from the United Kingdom Monarchy, the red – or to be precise, the ultramarine, gold and black – carpet is being rolled out, though this too has raised the ire of certain interest groups. (CA)


    Source: Nation


  32. TronNovember 23, 2021 8:04 AM

    @angela cox November 23, 2021 6:28 AM

    People are supposed to believe in Mia Mottley. She gives them clothes, food and much more. She leads her people with a firm hand through deserts, pandemics, volcanic ash and hurricanes. Just as Moses once led the people of Israel and Mao the Red Guards.

    Those who believe in our Supreme Leader are among the chosen ones

    Xxxccc
    Supreme leader of
    Poverty
    Unfair practices towards the poor
    Food Baskets for the most vulnerable
    Open up business to foreign interest like Big Cruise to fleece the poor worker looking to make a living
    Even the name 8f God is under attack by the Supreme Leader
    Let her carry on
    God does not sleep


  33. @ David November 23, 2021 9:20 AM

    What is the government’s policy? To continue to use the title Lady or Sir in official state functions even though the positions which gave rise to those titles of the Crown like “GG” no longer exist in the new republic?

    Why should Beckles–a man of much greater intellect- who has riled against a system all his public life and then turn around to represent the epitome of that very colonial / monarchical system which he claims to be responsible for the dysfunctional state of the black masses in the ‘West Indies’?

    Why cuss the monarchy while continuing to adhere to their system of patronage with its royal bells and whistles?

    Isn’t it a case of hypocrisy at its zenith and double standards at their lowest?

    What is wrong with calling him “His Excellency” or the “Most Honourable” as is standard in ‘real’ republics?


  34. The Bible has a Name for the Senator Anglican Priest
    Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
    His reasoning does not aligned with the Bible or that of the Founding Fathers
    So what is his purpose of being called Priest if he does not stand for or understand the principles of the teachings in the Bible
    Throughout the Bible the leaders appointed refer to the name God which represent righteousness
    The Senator /Priest has adopted a principle and a style which diminishes the Word and Name of God in pursuit of what pleases an agnostic and atheist radical fringe
    Not Good
    Not Godly


  35. What is wrong with calling him “His Excellency” or the “Most Honourable” as is standard in ‘real’ republics?
    WHAT IS WRONG WITH CALLING HIM LORD BULLSHITER, HIGH JACKASS OF THE ORDER OF THE MOST LOWLY OF THE EQUINOIDS?
    OR JUST HIGH JACKASS OF THE ORDER OF BALLAAM’S ASS?


  36. angela coxNovember 23, 2021 9:52 AM
    YOU ARE 100%
    THE MAN IS A TWIT AND ENGAGING IN HYPOCRISY AND PROMOTING COMPROMISE …….WHICH IS OFTEN SIN ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN.
    BUT BEING A PRIEST IS MOST TIMES JUST A JOB, WHICH DOES NOT REALLY CALL FOR A COMMITMENT TO THE EORD OF GOD OR TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.


  37. In 2007, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles was made a Knight of St. Andrew, the highest national honour in Barbados, for his contribution to ‘Higher Education, the Arts, and Sports’.

    Reparations to make good for damages made to humanity are not out of line with British values of today.

    Blacks and other non-whites were deemed inferior to whites perceived superiority due to the complexion of their skin colour and more sophisticated culture.

    But, that same biased logic has been proven a fallacy, which they readily admit today.
    The biggest sin to hue-man kind in world history must be remedied to save the souls of the descendants of the perpetrators of crime and their legacy of the sins of the father being passed down to subsequent generations.

    In 2015 Wide Boy Cameron told Jamaicans that Reparations would unhelpful but he has received bad luck in abundance due to his fobbing off of the matter in hand. He lost Brexit and his leadership, and, has recently been called out for corrupted lobbying of Government for his business sponsors interests on multiple counts.


  38. Don’t know what any of you have been SMOKING, but regardless of bullshit titles…as long as you are in the west under the present RECURRING legal and other frameworks and STRUCTURES….you will ALWAYS be labelled as Slaves or descendants of….so keep fooling yaselves…it’s YOU fooling YOU and LYING to yaselves…no one else is doing it….especially those shite title holders.

    FYI…the real MEANINGFUL titles are RESERVED for innnercircle family members of another hue….


  39. Our future Afrikan descendants are QUITE CAPABLE of negotiating reparations for themselves without black face colonial agents…i say leave it to our FUTURE GENERATIONS to handle…and not these gangs of thieves and sellouts who are trying to get their hands on billions to impresss and prop up/support minority THIEVES and RACISTS…at our ancestor’s and our expense.


  40. I would imagine that the British government and monarchy will be over the moon not to be spending money and precious time on these small Caribbean nations. You think you have got rid of them but in truth they have got rid of us. Without the British influence Barbados will be robbed blind, it is a license for banditry. Being rid of the Monarchy will also mean less British tourists, they found comfort in the association. Of course Barbados will want to remain members of the British Commonwealth, because they will still want to catch some crumbs from the table. I suppose that now being a left wing society with a left wing government, you can become much closer to Cuba, Venezuela, and China, good luck for that future, what a choice.


  41. @MillerNovember 23, 2021 9:45 AM

    We now presumably return to the salutation on the plantation.

    formerly Sir, Dame, Honourable Minister, businessman = massa
    taxpayer = slave

    Prime Minister = Supreme Leader
    Tron = chief ideologue and whipper-snapper


  42. “@ jolly green, keep your green nose out of bajan affairs. Did I not hear that you are a Vincentian?”
    Oh my.
    Not the tolerance and mutual respect we usually find coming from one Nation’s capital.


  43. These hypocrite Christians! What does it matter if God is in our Constitution or not?

    What difference does it make?

    A word on a paper that nobody reads besides lawyers who mainly ignore it.

    Yuh tink putting G-O-D in a Constitution will convince the young people of ANYTHING?????

    Wunnuh does mek me laugh!

    G-O-D is not a magic word!


  44. By the way, John Rodgers is not compromising. He simply has no problem with recognising other religious faiths.

    Nor should he.

    Christians have no proof that they are right. Nobody has any proof that their beliefs are true.

    It never ceases to amaze me that people are so convinced that their book is right and everybody else’s book is wrong when which book you believe is mostly a function of where you were born.

    Steupse!


  45. Heather…you will find that depending on what you are using your website(s) for, you have to hand it over to programmers eventually so they can work their magic…..and that is ALSO VERY COSTLY….as PLT imparted, am just fortunate that i have a few of them in my family..cut down on costs, but still costly..there is no inbetween or cutting corners, not if you want to reach that goal..


  46. @ Northern Observer

    On reflection, I was wrong and your are, as usual right. I am not usually a screeching owl. Apologies to all who were offended. It was rude.


  47. Yuh tink putting G-O-D in a Constitution will convince the young people of ANYTHING?????

    DAT IS THE PROBLEM

    LET US ABIDE BY WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE TINK— THE DEAR UNEXPERIENCED DARLINGS

    G-O-D is not a magic word!

    TOO MANY ALL OVER THE WORLD HE MATTERS. AND HE IS A MAGIC WORD. TO US HE IS ALL IN ALL
    THAT HE DOES WILL SOON BECOME CLEAR

    PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY SO JUST AS THE UNBELIEVING AND UNGODLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY WISH AND EFFLUX FROM THEIR UNGODLY HEARTS

    SUCH FOLK ARE WELL DESCIBED IN JUDE IO-I6 THUS
    0 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
    11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

    12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

    13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

    14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

    15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

    16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

    THESE WORDS COULD NOT BE BETTER SAID

    their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration
    BUT VERSE I4 A & I5 IS COMFORTING
    Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

    15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
    HE WILL JUDGE THE UNREPENTANT UNGODLY FOR BOTH THEIR ORAL AND MORAL SINS
    HE WILL JUDGE NATIONS BEFORE DAT TIME…..JUST AS HE IS DEALING WITH THE USA TODAY…THE SO CALLED GREATEST COUNTRY IN DE WORLD EVER —– TOO SWEET

    Wunnuh does mek me laugh! G-O-D is not a magic word!
    HE IS TO MANY

    IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE STILL HAD THE GOD OF THE OT AND THAT HE STILL LISTENED TO MEN LIKE ELIJAH WHO COULD CALL DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN

    BUT GOD IS WORKING HIS PURPOSE OUT AND TRUE SINCERE BIBLE BELIEVERS COMFORT THEM SELVES IN THE WORDS OF DAVID IN PSALM 73.

    SO CALLED SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITES ACTUALLY KNOW AND REALIZE HOW SINFUL THEY ARE AND HOW AWFUL THE EFFECTS OF SIN REALLY ARE …AND THEY ACTUALLY SEEK TO LIVE GODLY LIVES.

    SO CALLED SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITES UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF JUDE I7 &I8

    17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

    18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

    SO CALLED SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITES ACTUALLY SEEK TO FOLLOW THE PRECEPTS OF JUDE I8 -24
    20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

    21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

    22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

    23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

    24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

    SO CALLED SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITES ACTUALLY EXULT AND REVEL IN THE THOUGHT EXPRESSED IN VERSE 24 IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE LORD HIMSELF PROMISES TO

    I- PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING …I.E STUMBLING AND FALLING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK UP IS THE SENSE OF THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED FALLING
    2- PRESENT US AS FAULTLESS

    NOW AINT THAT A SWEET PROMISE AS WE APPROACH REPUBLICANISM


  48. Let’s move away from colonial practices

    On Tuesday, Barbados will take the historic step of becoming a parliamentary republic and will declare its independence from the Queen. Yet the effects of colonialism are still deeply embedded within aspects of our society, including the workplace.
    Employment law has its genesis in the master and servant relationship.
    In the Caribbean, the relationship of master and servant evolved from slavery which represented the cruelest and most inhumane form of that relationship.
    Slavery eventually evolved to that of indentureship which removed the physical cruelty and absolute ownership of the masters, while retaining the significant control the master had over the indentured servant. The servant had no rights or protections and could be fired at will.
    The servant dared not question or refuse an instruction of the master as that was considered insubordination deserving of immediate termination.
    As employment law evolved, the servant became known as the employee, who the law described as being in a contract of service, that is, he was to be “of service” to the master.
    Over the last few decades, labour laws have progressed, both at common law and statute, to provide greater protections and rights for employees.
    In some respect, I believe the laws have slanted too far in favour of the employee. But when I observe how pervasive some colonial mentalities and practices still are within the workplace, I am reminded that these protections are necessary.
    Years ago I had a conversation with a business owner to explain various scenarios where an employee is considered in law to have been demoted. I explained that a demotion can occur where an employee is transferred to a post with less status and power than his previous post, even if he receives the same pay. The employer reminded me that during slavery, the house slaves felt superior to the field slaves because they did not work in the fields and enjoyed more privileges. But they were all still slaves.
    As far as he was concerned, the same applied to his employees, regardless of their position or misconceived status. I was speechless. This was not said by a white/ Caucasian man, lest you wrongly believe that these mentalities only exist among certain races.
    I am still shocked when employers discipline employees for simply speaking up against inequities or ill treatment, especially when the employee did not speak in a rude or disrespectful manner. Even the concept of paying certain employees the bare minimum (rather than a liveable wage) to ensure greater profits for those
    at the top emanates from colonial times when indentured servants existed solely for the profit of their masters and barely made enough to survive.
    A recent article on Forbes.com highlighted that some companies such as AT& T, Hertz, J.C. Penney and Whiting Petroleum laid off hundreds of workers during the pandemic, cut pay or filed for bankruptcy while managing to pay the chief executive officers millions of dollars in bonuses.
    I’ve observed similar scenarios in Barbados, though on a smaller scale.
    Compensation packages
    Fortunately, businesses run by millennials have shown a trend away from many colonial practices. They create work environments where flexi-work is permitted, employee engagement is encouraged and where adequate compensation packages are given to workers, including perks such as child care and mental health days.
    Studies show that these environments produce greater employee satisfaction which results in increased productivity and profitability for the companies.
    In my practice, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with some employers and human resources professionals who do their best to encourage equity within the workplace and focus on creating a healthy work environment. In their own way, they are encouraging the move away from colonial practices that still pervade the workplace.
    To them I say, without calling any names (you know who you are), I salute and admire you and hope you will influence others to do the same.
    Happy Independence, Barbados.
    Michelle M. Russell is an attorney with a passion for employment law and labour matters and a budding social activist. Email: mrussell.ja@gmail.com


    Source: Nation


  49. Simple but symbolic act
    By Ezra Alleyne The motto of the Economist magazine, when first published, spoke of dealing with “a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy timid ignorance obstructing our progress”.
    Events of the past week reminded me of this insightful motto. That this country should become a republic is a no brainer, but a severe contest has arisen.
    To change this independent country into a republic requires a single major and material change. One simply has to amend the Constitution, remove references to the Queen in the text and in the oaths of office.
    That is the essence of what has been done. It is a simple but deeply symbolic act; the moreso, given our centuries long history of domination and enslavement.
    The difference between our current parliamentary republic and the republic strictly so called, resides in changing the head of state from the British monarch to a Barbadian.
    The Oxford English Dictionary defines a republic as any “state in which the supreme power rests in the people and their elected representatives . . . as opposed to a country governed by a monarch”.
    To make it mandatory that the head of state must be a Barbadian or, in other words, one of us, underlines the essential definition of the republic as a state where the country (the res) is powered and ruled by the people . . . the publica.
    Ceremonial monarch
    On this basis, Britain is already a republic and so is Barbados. In each case we have a ceremonial monarch who reigns over us, but does not rule us.
    Hence the expression parliamentary republic because the power to rule has passed to parliaments elected by the people. So both Britain and Barbados, for example, are as much republics as is the United States of America.
    The difference between the American republic and the proposed Barbadian republic is that the Americans castrated the power of the president by insisting that he cannot be a Member of Parliament.
    The British more sensibly opted to transfer royal power to an “elected king” called the prime minister who must be a member of the legislature. It worked.
    On Independence, we followed the Westminster model but the British Queen Elizabeth II remained our head of state as Queen of Barbados. We are now changing this situation so that we become, in every sense of the word, a republic, as Britain is.
    To do that we do not need a referendum. Our Constitution never mandated a referendum. Prime Minister Errol Barrow was sensible beyond words and knew his onions.
    I never agreed with Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s
    promise of a referendum. A referendum is an obstacle to change. It is the most severe form of check and balance upon the exercise of Cabinet power. I have said this before.
    And let me say this now. Given the exercise of prime ministerial power, a decision of the Owen Arthur prime ministership cannot bind any successive prime minister, especially when that decision of the previous prime minister was not carried into effect.
    A clear understanding of how prime ministerial power is exercised does not bind a succeeding prime minister even if that prime minister was a member of the earlier Cabinet.
    Now, if the Oxford definition of a republic is correct, and I assert that it is absolutely correct, then our Independence Constitution of 1966, under which we have lived and progressed for 55 years, is as people-powered and people-protective as any other Constitution created in the world since the end of World War II. Every fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution remains untouched.
    Yet there are those who have never seen, far less opened, a book about civics and constitutional matters who seek now to confuse by aligning the change to republican status with a loss of rights and fundamental freedoms and, most strange of all, with dictatorship. Nonsense writ large.
    Some debaters also now argue that the Barbadian dollar will be devalued when we become a republic. Not true.
    Devaluation is a threat only when our foreign reserves fall to a very low level as in 1990/1991. That is a scare tactic born out of not knowing (ignorance) or mischiefmaking by someone who chooses to stir up apathy.
    Competent handling of the economy keeps devaluation threats off the political agenda.
    In my view, the change to republican status is timely. It is constitutionally correct and politically sensible in form and substance. My long experience in these matters informs my views. Long live the republic.
    Ezra Alleyne is an attorney and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.


    Source: Nation

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