est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

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Barbadians Asleep at the Wheel

It says a lot about some commenters on the blog that the blogmaster has to defend a position which says – Barbadians are too docile and in the process ceded key responsibilities in our democracy to the political elite.

In any political science 101 class the student learns that along with basic responsibilities of citizens to obey laws, pay taxes etc, there are other weighty responsibilities for the democracy to function successfully. There is relevance in the expressions a people get the government it deserves and the price of democracy is eternal vigilance.

Elected officials in our system of government are suppose to be servants of the people. Anyone living in Barbados knows that citizens have allowed politicians to do as they like for too long. Consequently, we have seen the duopoly become entrenched with citizens voting for B or D based on the prevailing level of frustration when elections become due.

The blogmaster is sufficiently aware that Barbadians have been promised enactment of transparency laws to include; integrity and freedom of information legislation by the duopoly. Believe it or not the promise goes back to the administration of the late Prime Minister Tom Adams, more than 40 plus years ago. The blogmaster is sure we have had more public debate about a 20% increase in the excise tax on sweet drinks than the refusal by the duopoly to enact transparency laws to enhance our system of governance.  

Barbadians have allowed malfeasance to go unpunished by public servants. We have allowed the NIS to come under the microscope. We have tolerated moribund working committees of parliament established in our democracy to provide checks and balances. What have we done to demonstrate our disgust besides going to the polling booth in dwindling numbers every 5 years or something 3?

The blogmaster’s unfavourable appraisal of citizen participation in our democracy includes the media and other NGOs in civil society that are mandated to ACTIVELY represent the interest of citizenry. Barbadians cannot be satisfied with electing a government and remain passive until the next general election is called. The people we elect as well as we the citizens have clear responsibilities to ensure the a healthy democracy.

230 responses to “Barbadians Asleep at the Wheel”

  1. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    Yup! Nuff said.

    Just observing

  2. hearinglists Avatar
    hearinglists

    Why are the current hearing lists for court cases in Barbados not readily available?

  3. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    “Anyone living in Barbados knows that citizens have allowed politicians to do as they like for too long. Consequently, we have seen the duopoly become entrenched with citizens voting for B or D based on the prevailing level of frustration when elections become due.’
    I agree that all those Bajans living outside of Barbados, are still waiting on the Sunday Advocate , after about thirty are collected, to be sent to them by boat, from those living on the island.That means they are at least two years behind as to what is happening in Bim.
    Barbadians living ‘outside” are not allowed to have subscriptions and therefore cannot access today’s Nation newspaper, that I just finished reading. They do not know anything about what goes on at home because they only come home for funerals or can only vacation there every ten or twenty years. Many Bajans living outside know nothing about the Barbados Underground blog because they don’t have any internet connection.
    However, Bajans at home are watching CNN Fox News and the BBC and while they don’t live in Ukraine they know how all about the invasion by Putin. Barbadians outside cannot access CBC or even listen to call in programs farless participate. Many still argue that Barrow is the PM.
    1. The people were promised integrity legislation. One party had a bill; the other party wanted a fresh bill and then it was unable to get pass in the senate. Since then according to my friend who is on the rock, there has been an election; and attempts to get a party supporter in the senate. The damn people are to blame for the government not bringing back an integrity bill;
    2. The same Public Servants now report to the parliamentarians from the well of the house. My cousin, who lives on the rock, tells me it is a waste of blasted time but the people are responsible for that too;
    3. My cousin also told me that a general election was called to heal division that was never explained and the damn people went and tried to keep democracy alive even though voting in a pandemic. These ignorant, uneducated people who dont take an interest in the country;
    Well my friend and my cousin live on the rock and they agree with you that Bajans are a pack of docile , uneducated, idiots, who get up every day and allow the country to be mismanged; public servants to engage in “malfeance” and the government is trying its best to make them hold it accountable.
    The major problem the government has, is that its majority is very slender and the opposition kicks its ass in de parliament. There are many policies in mind but the vibrant opposition opposing everything. If the government had more seats , it could amend the constitution and do the work that it promised to do .
    The ignorant people went and voted for a strong opposition and the PM , has very little wriggle room because she just aint got the numbers.
    Yep. The people should have given her more seats and then we would have better governance.
    Carry on smartly.

  4. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Two more senators seats would be appointed on Friday says govt
    Names are being held in secrecy
    So much for transparency

  5. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Every since Barbados became a Republic the highlight of govt attention has been on building parks and demolishing buildings
    Nothing has been said about Barbados having a new state of the art Hospital
    The QEH remains on life support barely able to provide sufficient and adequate care in areas that needs technological improvement within an adequate hospital settings
    These are the kind of issues that should necessitate questions and answers from govt as to how and where govt prioritize govt revenue when all is said and done parks and fountains cannot provide meaningful revenue for thevcountry
    Meanwhile after more than three years a promised remains unfulfilled to the many ex Harrisons cave employees on receiving their pensions as the cries from the ex employees continues
    Union’s have been found asleep at the wheel

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Constitutional reform for greater democracy

    by JOHN BEALE GRENADIAN POLITICIAN and lawyer Dr Francis Alexis QC and St Lucian-based attorney David Cox at the recent University of the West Indies town hall meeting emphasised the need for urgent constitutional reform in the Caribbean. Their contributions were excellent and led to certain logical conclusions.
    The decision of Barbados to become a republic was long overdue and welcomed by most Bajans. While the Government of Barbados stated that it would be reviewing the Constitution and making necessary changes starting in 2022, it should have done so before becoming a republic. It is widely perceived that the Government in their urgency to become a republic put the cart before the horse, and that prior wide discussion would have been preferred in order to gauge public opinion on fundamental issues.
    Term limits for Prime Minister and set election date Foremost among these issues are the widely expressed view that there should be limits on terms of a Prime Minister and, further, that the date for General Elections should be set by law at intervals of five years with no authority for the dates to be altered.
    Having a leader remain in office indefinitely is unhealthy. Whenever a prime minister or president stays in power too long, there is a strong tendency for them to become very arrogant, autocratic, hardly listening to any advice and believing that they are entitled to rule – many simply do not want to leave office.
    Just look at events in Guyana, St Vincent, Venezuela, United States, Nicaragua, Russia, etc. Even our outstanding former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, who was victorious for three fiveyear terms, tried to be elected a fourth time.
    Our present Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, who has many superb qualities of an exceptional leader, has stated that she believes in term limits for a prime minister.
    It remains to be seen if she maintains this philosophy and if so, how many terms.
    A political party that is an incumbent government has many advantages in an election. It is usually easier to be re-elected than for an opposition party to win. The ruling party has all the machinery in place and can take actions to win votes. In Barbados, the Government can use the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as a sort of political mouthpiece in communicating with the public. It is not surprising that every Leader of the Opposition says that the CBC should be privatised but whenever they get into power the CBC remains under Government control – despite losing thousands of dollars per month.
    Being able to call a snap election is also a huge benefit to the party in power because it allows them to be better prepared as only the Prime Minister sets the date. In order to have a more level playing field, all Bajans must know that elections will be called on the fifth anniversary of the last election.
    The reason for furthering proper constitutional development and improvement before becoming a republic is that once republican status is achieved, constitutional change slips from the Government’s agenda and important checks and balances fail to be instituted. Does anyone really think that a Government that did not pass legislation for an integrity bill with teeth will make meaningful constitutional changes?
    Does anyone really think that there exists any politician anywhere who supports restrictions and limits on their powers?
    Importance of governance and accountability A key factor in the outcome of any meaningful constitutional reform is to achieve better governance through increased accountability of politicians while encouraging/permitting more Bajans to get involved in governance.
    There are more than 400 communitybased organisations in Barbados. This shows that Bajans have a serious
    interest in contributing to governance. Our Constitution needs to empower our community-based organisations because that empowerment is unlikely to come from the politicians.
    Barbados has been blessed with a number of good leaders but we have experienced poor governance. It is therefore essential that our “constitutional reform” enables our population in general to get involved in governance and to exercise checks and balances that hold our public sector and politicians accountable.
    If the proposed constitutional reform does not accomplish this, then we will be “spinning top in mud”.
    Some topics for discussion are: 1. Do we need a nonexecutive, ceremonial head of state? It seems a very expensive title, filled with pomp and ceremony that we do not need. Instead of having our head of state toast our centenarians the Government can have that function performed by various ministers.
    Government House,
    now State House, could be made into a museum or historical attraction.
    2. Do we need a Senate when it has no power to reject Government spending and borrowing, and if its members do not comply with instructions, they can simply be removed and replaced by more compliant persons?
    Should we consider a unicameral legislature?
    3. Should there be more parliamentary oversight and compulsory accountability of the office of the Prime Minister?
    4. Will the public sector be held more accountable, especially as civil servants’ salaries are over $1 billion annually?
    5. How can we enshrine in the Constitution that transparent action must be taken on reports of the Auditor General on pain of removal from office of the Finance Minister or other ministers and implicated ministry officials as indicated?
    Bajans must guard against the ruling political party using constitutional reform as a means of further entrenching their position. Having too much power under the domain of too few is dangerous for a democracy.
    John Beale was a former Barbados Ambassador to the US and OAS for seven and a half years, appointed by the Democratic Labour Party, and a Barbados Honorary Consul to Brazil for ten years, appointed by the Barbados Labour Party. He has never joined a political party.

    Source: Nation

  7. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    Yep…time to use the influence of the blog TO WAKE UP THE BLACK MASSES.

    time to use that influence to PUT IMMENSE PRESSURE on lying, CORRUPT politicians…

    time to use that influence to EXPOSE criminal minorities, racists and THIEVES…and CHASE THEM OUT of Black/Afrikan lives…

  8. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    It is difficult to follow the flow of the argument. One moment, those of us in the diaspora are being whipped for what we said and the next moment those are home can make statements that are more outrageous.

    Just the an extension of the two faced system where good or bad depends on which party you support. A person can tell you how beneficial or detrimental the same action is based on the party proposing it.

    Let them rail against you, but never let them silence you.

  9. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Many great points have been made in the comments above. They are depressing, for I am becoming more and more convinced that we lack the will/strength to change.

    The problems and solutions are known and we discuss them ad nauseam. We rush to the dictionary and the thesaurus; we misquote the constitution; we pat ourselves and others on the back; we write volumes and treatises; we quote current scholars and historical figures, but … at the end of the day…. nothing is done, nothing changes.

  10. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Groundhog day:
    a situation in which a series of unwelcome or tedious events appear to be recurring in exactly the same way.

    Animal Farm. Read it again .

  11. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    ” but … at the end of the day…. nothing is done, nothing changes.”

    and that’s what i exhausted myself for all of 10 years trying to promote….that elusive change that will NEVER HAPPEN with pretty flowery words, political fantasies and wishes or maintaining the pro white.minority status quo…..

    ..there has to be A SUSTAINED ASSAULT on the anti-black system of disenfranchisement, oppression, discrimination, racism, apartheid, pro slave master corruptoin, and generational THEFTS directed at the Afrikan descendant…

    the colonial political system has to BE DISMANTLED, wiped out completely…..the bullshit D vs BLP and their brigade of limited intellect political idiots made extinct

    ..the only way is for the people TO REMOVE THEMSELVES, no Black people present to disenfranchise and enslave, no colonial system revived, no corrupt governments enabled and condoned….start chipping away at all of them until they are GONE………

    and let me tell wunna sumting…the Blogmaster knows that only too well, he read my book….

  12. David Avatar
    David

    Why do some of you try so hard to reduce lines of argument to nothing? All countries on the planet are challenged by governance issues, some more than others. We are operating with man made constructs after all. Because the blogmaster offer critique about our system of governance it does not mean the sky is falling, all it means is that there are opportunities to do better. This is the difference with some of you who believe Barbados is the most backward place on earth.

    #steuspe

  13. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    We do indeed need fundamental constitutional reform in Barbados. So far, treacherous opposition members sit in the Senate without democratic legitimacy. Either the Senate is abolished altogether or our Supreme Leader is given the right to appoint all Senators according to her free will as leader.

    Democracy means submission to the will of the leader. Because the people want it that way.

  14. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    ” This is the difference with some of you who believe Barbados is the most backward place on earth.”

    ya got it wrong NO ONE believes Barbados is the most backward place on earth, we believe that the corrupt governments, their supporters/enablers, hangers on, followers, and the criminal minorities who benefit at the EXPENSE of the Black population are the MOST BACKWARD and CORRUPT people on earth….

    BIG difference…

  15. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    It is you who think that Barbadians are the most backward people on the earth on this particular issue. It’s months now that a concerted effort was made to leave out the us and them Bajan bull shit, but you, with your back against the wall, on this weak ass position, has to go back to it. This time I will not be quiet.
    The way you talk about Bajans on this accountability issue is not even impressing those who want to make you some Jesus who is maligned and insulted by William Skinner and others. A blog without contributors is no blog. You know that but they don’t.
    That’s why I exposed your foolishness about the people stopping and not stopping this and encouraging that , when you know that Mottley could change the name of Barbados tomorrow if she wants to.
    Mottley has been given more than she needs to effect real change. Talk is not enough. You are more disappointed in this administration than anybody else because you were in the forefront of making sure it was elected. You are hurting politically and you want to blame the masses because all the integrity and transparent government you were promised is at ZERO. Not even a former Minister of Health knew what the Prime Minister was doing in his ministry. You have seen Mark Maloney get more now than he ever got before; larger cabinets; Chief of Staffs; senior ministers; and Mottley having three ministers to do her bidding.
    So, whom do you attack ? The damn struggling people. This ain’t got a shit to do with where I live. On this issue you are wrong calling people uneducated to protect your establishment.
    Peace.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    Constitutional reform must go further than a single focus on the Senate. The prime minister promised the country a conversation about a new constitution in 2022, it is 3 months since the general election. What is the status?

    This is what the blogmaster refers to regarding a lack of interest in governance matters by the citizenry.

  17. John Avatar
    John

    DavidApril 6, 2022 8:15 AM

    Constitutional reform must go further than a single focus on the Senate. The prime minister promised the country a conversation about a new constitution in 2022, it is 3 months since the general election. What is the status?

    This is what the blogmaster refers to regarding a lack of interest in governance matters by the citizenry.

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

    The squatters in the House of Assembly are holding us to ransom.

    They can’t have a national conversation on the constitution because some sharp tack is going to ask how can we have a Parliament without an opposition.

    Ms. Mockley’s own legitimacy would then be questioned.

  18. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    ‘All countries on the planet are challenged by governance issues, some more than others.’

    This is a true statement, but it comes from the ‘same thing happens’ elsewhere stock of answers.

    We do not expect the Garden of Eden, but we believe our small size gives us an opportunity to make changes faster bigger countries. Instead, nothing is done. We just see soft answers and standard phrases coming over the net.

    BTW.. we will be here debating constitutional reform in 2027, whilst some are giving us the stock answer …. ‘Constitional reform is complicated and take time’.

  19. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Wait! I AM SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING?????? FROM THE BACK SEAT???????

    Then the vehicle is probably voice controlled. Let’s hope I don’t talk in my sleep because that Brasstack call could be a disaster!

    The title of this piece is terribly funny. It suggests that we pay a Prime Driver, Four Senior Drivers and several other drivers and yet we are expected to drive. Many of us have other jobs and cannot stay awake for our unpaid gig.

    I stated before that the ONUS is on those who applied for the job based on a manifesto, who took an oath and take a salary for the privilege of driving. (And they do tell us what a privilege it is to serve.)

    The only reason we should have even to be watching the road from the back seat is if THEY are asleep at the wheel.

    Now….we know that they are human and so they often do fall asleep but that is on them. If we must prod them awake it is THEIR FAILING FIRST AND FOREMOST.

    Some people put the cart before the horse but David is putting the wrong driver behind the wheel and like a racist policeman, writing the ticket to the poor black man in the back seat.

    P.S. I will ignore most of the nonsense talk from the usual quarters. It is not relevent to the discussion. Suffice it to say that I will not be silenced either. And I do not have to exaggerate or lie to get my point across.

    Signed,

    Occupant of “Hell”

  20. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I say again that logic takes a holiday on BU. Emotions rule. And there are very few women around!

  21. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    There’s the expression ‘if you see something, say something’s

    Tired of getting talked to death and having new initiatives that go nowhere. Tired of manufactured crises and distractions as nothing is done.

    Let’s stop talking and move to
    ‘If you see something, then do something.’
    They are many quick wins out there.. pick up one

  22. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Anybody ready to have a rational discussion?

  23. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    All agree the onus is on those who applied for the job. If they are not performing what is the role of the citizenry? For sure it is not to be passive, a democracy doesn’t work so.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    The price of democracy is eternal vigilance.

  25. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I await David’s new piece, entitled –

    POLITICIANS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL!

    Average Bajan failed to poke them.

  26. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    First sentance –

    POLITICIANS have done what they like for too long.

  27. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    We discuss the failings of politicians all day in this space and elsewhere. The crux of the issue is that the citizenry to force change must be active in our system of government. Nothing will change if there is rising apathy and cynicism. When this occurs the politicians may give a token response like Mottley offering two seats to the Opposition. This is not what we want.

  28. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Sentence. Weird quirk I am developing in my old age. Turning ‘e’s in ‘a’s.

  29. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    Another round of this debate on citizen participation … with the SAME entrenched positions. Good luck.

    There is merit in the remark ” but we believe our small size gives us an opportunity to make changes faster [than] bigger countries.” …Barbados apathy has evolved much like in the bigger nations and so too has our middle class exploded with a significant crop of tertiary educated citizens and thus we have become just as ‘relaxed’ as they … but to that point we have NOT used our size to be nimble and responsive to needed changes and be better than they could be. … This endless argument is debilitating.

    @Skinner, particularly for a guy who was in the trenches YOUR entrenched view is remarkable … you walked the talk back then and as history is our guide it exploded into political nothingness YET you more than anyone bemoan this ‘duopoly’. I really don’t get that brother.

    Bajans DISMISSED your third party. That was ostensibly the BEST option to date for another path to an electoral ‘walk on the moon’ but the NDP rocket ship failed to reach orbit …exploding after a successful launch. Yet you want to condemn only the crew and pilot on board that mission – that political class like them, actually – and give no blame to the technicians back on earth who helped engineer and create that rocket ship and who have never since built another one with that power!

    Why is that brother?: why is that that not another one such has been built and why do you see crew leaders as your only bogeymen/women??

    So what would YOU have done or have be done?? How would you get new rockets to space?? Do we even need new rockets just for their sake?? Afterall, why are we even talking about new rockets when the older ones have – to your mind – not even worked properly. Moreover, when you tried your rocket propulsion the same ‘struggling’ people didn’t help build it properly enough. So I remain perplexed with this endless argument.

    We are small and we have refused to be nimble and smart….WE ALL. Pilots, crew and all ground supporting staff!!

    Lata.

  30. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    David,

    If a policeman came across a man beating his wife AGAIN would you expect him to run past the man and berate his wife for allowing him to abuse her?

    No. You would expect him to arrest the husband first and later ask the woman why she stays.

    The HUSBAND has committed the crime. The wife is the victim. We encourage her to seek counselling to empower herself. We do NOT blame her for the abuse.

    Your call to action is a good one. But you must not apportion blame to the victims!

  31. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    Don’t know WHY the victims, in this case, the Black majority are being blamed for what was CREATED JUST FOR THEM and perpetrated by their fraudulent misleaders….., when it’s CLEARLY OUTLINED in my book…HOW the social ENGINEERING was successfully done, i did not SKIMP on the information…

    ..and Blogmaster read it…

  32. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @Donna, your example – difficult one – but actually quite apt!

    Yes the man committed the crime but one must note the ‘again’. When the spouse spends a week in hospital from that assault and returns to the home for another attempt of harmony … then what!

    No one ever blames the victim first but ‘again and again’ becomes debilitating for everyone after awhile and reasonable people can then LEGITIMATELY blame and ask questions of the ‘conditioned’ victim!

    A painfully apt analogy!

  33. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    It’s very emotional.
    For some reason we seem to end-up in two camps.

    At times, some appear to have no core beliefs and will take the side of an argument solely based on who is proposing/supporting it. Right can become wrong and wrong can become right.

    Some may put me in the same box as I often encourage AC. The difference is I keep quiet when I believe she is wrong.

    Very frustrating.

  34. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    One of the main tools used by white people is to tell blacks they are “ emotional” whenever blacks make a passionate argument. When the whites speak they are so measured and “ balanced” but when blacks speak they are “ emotional “ unfortunately we have copied even the Massa’s debating style.
    Afro Americans confront this well known tactic on a daily basis.
    White= balanced, calm
    Blacks:= emotional, chip on shoulder, living in the past.

  35. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    don’t know why he PERSISTS in blaming the victims, when the well designed victimology involved was prominently highlighted and WELL DEFINED in my book…he could not miss it even if he tried and now pretending he did…

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    Understand the point you are trying to make but it simplifies the many considerations applicable to making our governance system fit for purpose. As previously stated a healthy democracy requires active participation by the citizenry of the country. Growing apathy based on evidence based indicators as well as other measurable observations clearly indicate there is a challenge. We cannot continue to do the same thing by satisfying ourselves with placing an x at election time and do renegade on picketing outside parliament, writing letters to MPs, encouraging quality citizens to participate, marches to protest, boycotts and other acts even if they border on civil disobedience.

  37. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    300,000 is small and it should be possible for people to have a say / influence
    in bigger countries they commit bigger atrocities
    UK US politics runs on immigrant hate (racism)
    Refugees reaching UK will now be stored in Rwanda
    Perhaps other nations can bid for £million contracts

  38. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David Bu at 9;32 AM
    Do you care to describe this ideal purpose that you have constructed in your head?You must bear in mind that we are not you. Therefore your reality may /is not ours. I think it would be more rational for you to find out what is our perception of Democracy in practice.
    What is the purpose your system of governance is seeking to satisfy?

  39. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    You’ve been ‘nudged’ at least THREE (3) times. Unless you admit, the nudging will continue ad nauseum, until you do.

    ‘The suspense is killing me.’

    Did you read the book or not?

  40. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    “We cannot continue to do the same thing by satisfying ourselves with placing an x at election time and do renegade on picketing outside parliament, writing letters to MPs, encouraging quality citizens to participate, marches to protest, boycotts and other acts even if they border on civil disobedience.”

    You made some good points here but I have two notes to make
    (1)BU was the platform for a letter writing campaign to MP’s by one citizen. His disappearance tells me one of the following is possible (a) issue resolved, (b) with a new administration, letters are no longer written or published or (c) the complainant ‘migrated’

    (2) Though I understand the concept, I dislike the phrase ‘quality citizens’.
    What does it mean? There is always an element of snobbery oozing into the conversation.

  41. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    We should all remember that Democracy was designed by man for man;NOT man for Democracy or any other ideal model of Democracy. So,what Barbadians regard as Democracy IS Democracy.We do not owe any apology to anybody.

  42. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ DPD
    The NDP did not fail or was not rejected by the people. The NDP was quietly euthanized. This occurred when Haynes realised that his ambition to become PM was apparently no longer attainable as far as he was concerned.
    I refused to be a candidate after 1991, because I suspected that would have been the case. I remained a member of the party until it was put to sleep.
    Revitalizing the party would have taken an effort beyond politics. To put it bluntly Haynes held on the cards: buildings, financing effort etc.
    These days, I see Atherley making some largely ignored steps with the APP. Hopefully, the APP will come around to grassroots/ constituency organization.
    My time in the trenches has taught me many lessons . One is our deep fear of white people and our love for the Duopoly. I came to term with those truths a long time ago.
    However, I refuse to allow anybody to blame people who can scarcely afford a meal for the atrocities and transgressions of the opportunists and frauds who inhabit the decadent Duopoly.
    Peace.

  43. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ” Nearly one-and-a-half years after Caves of Barbados Limited (CBL) terminated its approximate 60 workers and was placed under new management, some employees are still waiting to receive their pensions.

    One of those workers, said to be numbering about 10, who had applied for pension, is expressing frustration at being “turned around in circles” when seeking answers regarding the delay in the payment of his entitlement.”

  44. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    DDP,

    As we know, women have often been told that it is their actions that causes the beating. Some of the weaker ones can be manipulated into believing it. But I bet there is not a man alive who does not KNOW that beating a woman is wrong! We have a voice within.

    Just this week you had occasion to confront this twisted logic that seeks to place responsibility squarely on our shoulders for the obesity of our children. This tendency to blame the woman is deeply rooted. And we cannot escape its long lasting effects. Neither can we escape the religious pounding that reinforces the attitude.

    What is WURA suggesting here? Is it a conditioned response? This is not a novel concept.

    So instead of blaming the victims, let us seek to empower them to take their rightful place!

    How do we do that?

  45. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Hants at 10 :48
    Did CBL have a corporate pension scheme? Surely the conditions of transfer to the new entity would have included their pension scheme.?
    Have these individuals reached the age of retirement under that scheme? I believe they are not yet entitled to a NIS pension.

  46. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    Ignoring the real problem of WHY there is an environment where the VICTIMS are always BLAMED for the CRIMES that political criminals and their instigators/bribers commit, determined to keep that narrative alive, equally DETERMINED to mislead another generation into becoming victims of a colonial system managed and controlled BY THE CORRUPT….is what have us in this place…

    and blogmaster now SCRAMBLING to justify his 16 year old inertia, inaction, recent actions…

    “My time in the trenches has taught me many lessons . One is our deep fear of white people and our love for the Duopoly. I came to term with those truths a long time ago.”

    and has become a CURSE in Black lives because it is being KEPT ALIVE……

    still trying in VAIN to make a colonial slave system fit for purpose in the 21st century, determined not to LET GO AND MOVE to something more intelligent,sustainable AND FOR FIT FOR PURPOSE FOR BLACK PEOPLE…

  47. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ TheOGazerts at 10 ;20 AM

    You are on the ball. Every now and again David’s petticoat shows. I recall especially ” the meritocracy” and recently the “prerogative”. And now instead of examining the “apathy ” of the Electorate he seems to want to demonize them for indicating that they want no part in this charade.

  48. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I too am black and I too have emotions. I am also a woman, though strangely enough, nobody has ever tried that argument on me. And I have very strong emotions! However, even in the heat of a passionate argument, facts and logic do not let me be!

    If a white man says something and it has merit, I will acknowledge that merit. If a black man says something and it has merit, I will acknowledge its merit.

    And if the DEVIL says something and it has merit, I will acknowledge its merit.

    You are sadly mistaken and you obviously have not been reading my posts if you suggest that I would fall into any white man’s trap of racial tropes! Why, not even my grandparents did that! It is not in my DNA!

    But if I perceive that emotion is clouding logic, I shall say so! It is not a black or white thing.

  49. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    “What is WURA suggesting here? Is it a conditioned response? This is not a novel concept.”

    AS DESIGNED…it’s an INVOLUNTARY, carefully STRUCTURED RESPONSE…ya have NO CHOIC, until the whole stinking system is ERADICATED PERMANENTLY…

    and i wish the blogmaster will be honest and true to HIMSELF…

  50. African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved

    i don’t care how many times they go half a republic, fake republic….all the STRUCTURES of the political SLAVE SYSTEM are intact…to make it worse the SAME constitution is STILL IN PLACE…..the slave codes and slave laws WENT NOWHERE….

    so where are the changes, adjustments, upgrades away from all things colonial….in concept and design…is that the legacy being left for OUR GRANDCHILDREN and future generations…i just told the palace exactly what they SHOULD NO LONGER BE DOING as it pertains to our current and future generations in a whole article:

    In direct contrast to prior machinations, the next in line to the throne
    gushed glowingly about the equivalent to rapports and solidarity.
    Powerful words if applied to start the new journey of letting go of and
    getting over all intent to reorganize any perceived remaining tentacles
    and thoughts of ownership of people to redesign their lives and that of
    their incoming future generations.

    and here are BLACK PEOPLE on a blog that carries influence, bending over backwards and working overtime to keep the same system they did not create and that has already done SO MUCH damage to the descendants of the enslaved for OVER HALF CENTURY…..alive….so who is the REAL ENEMY HERE…

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