Barbadians who are renown for being an educated people must be following the economic and political crisis unfolding in the Asian country of Sri Lanka with interest. Why is it interesting? Sri Lanka decided to enter selective default (SD). Events leading to the SD almost mirrors what Barbados faced in 2018, caused by; money printing, low foreign reserves and heavy debt stock. The only difference is that Barbados elected a new government, while in Sri Lanka, the government responsible for economic policies since 2019 which led to the crisis is still in office.
It is interesting to note the poor state of the economy that has resulted in high prices to consumers is affecting quality of life. Sri Lankans like Barbadians have been accused of supporting a high lifestyle supported by unrealistic borrowing from local and international lenders – sounds familiar? What is also of interest is that people protests is being led by the citizenry, read no political opposition.
Watch the short video which captures developments in Sri Lanka that are unerringly similar to Barbados with one exception, the people are protesting on the street demanding change to the political/system of system.
I would like to buy a house or two in Sri Lanka, and it may become more affordable now.
Barbados protested at the polls
@John 2
Don’t trivialize the point.
@ David Bu
Why should you expect Sri Lanka’s economic and financial experiences to differ from Barbados.? It is a SIDS. Commenters see MDCs struggling to manage their political / economic affairs and are upset when SIDs suffer similar problems. It is the International Capitalist System. AND it is not going any where soon. We should be grateful that we are still holding our own.
YES. There is too much wastage
Yes. Some of our priorities are misplaced.
AND
YES
.. We have too many square pegs in round holes.
Like the Sri Lankans changing governance systems and Political Administrations are exercises in futility. We simply need intelligent and aware administrators. Will you focus on that?
@Vincent
Not sure that is the point to be made.
Tamil and Sinhalese
@ David,
” In Sri Lanka, 13 years after the end of the civil war with the Tamil Tigers that lasted a quarter of a century, reconciliation appears elusive. Elected in 2019, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seen by the Sinhalese majority as a hero and accused by the Tamil minority of war crimes during the conflict, embodies this divide.”
@Hants
Unlike Barbados Sri Lanka is a country wearing the scares of a brutal civil war.
@ David BU
I am not sure that I am making a new point. that differs from yesterday’s. They are simply alternate solutions that create other consequential problems. The pressing need is to find out what is really happening on the ground and deal with the fundamental issues as best one can.
Secondly ,we live in a dynamic situation. Our strategy must therefore be adaptive. It is about survival. There is no magic bullet hidden anywhere. To the naive it may appear to be indecisive.; but not so one has to be nimble. Think on one’s feet.
@Vincent
It all points back to a corrupt system. One of incompetence, mismanagement and corruption.
Sri Lanka was in civil war for 26 years (23 Jul 1983 – 18 May 2009). Development was 30 years or more behind as a result. When war ended it’s leader Rajapaksa was hailed a hero. There was a lot of development after the war albeit on borrowed loans, corrupted bribes and nepotism of the Rajapaksa family in business and politics. Although it benefited business and investments it was less help to the poor where GDP per capita is approx $4,000. It is heavily dependent on tourism and the pandemic has resulted in some bankruptcies and redundancies in the industry. Replacement of leadership is about getting rid of the corruption.
Systems are never corrupt. People are.Those are the square pegs of which I keyboard. In any case,what make both of you think that this was not best for Sri Lanka in their particular situation.? One size does not fit all.
@Vincent
You prefer we live our lives without the ability to critique what goes on about us?
@ David BU
No. I prefer dealing frontally with unacceptable situations when they occur. Critiques are academic exercises, with no practical consequences. I have worked in applied economic and financial situations for most of my working life. I do not plan to change that approach to problem solving any time soon.
@Vincent
Understand how your training leads you to approach problem solving, however, there are always unknown variables that require what if scenarios to be developed.
@ David BU
Yes. In the real world there are unknown variables and they must be taken into the deciding equations based on our assessment of their probabilities. The latter vary from situation to situation. Hence our emphasis on fit for purpose.. Even then, we often get it wrong. But we try.
Poor Vincent, feet stuck on the ground and not tall enough for his head to reach the clouds!
What a cunt????????
I’m waiting!
Wink, wink!
@ Donna at 11: 49 AM
Unlike others on BU I come from the country ,so I know how country folks behave. And I intend to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground.
Nice try.
Sri Lanka used to have a vibrant agricultural sector. I had a friend whose family owned a copra plantation. The family was large, 13 children, nine boys. He did his PhD in economics here. I also had a school mate, Wimal, who came to do his Masters and was sad he had to leave his ‘house boy’ behind. lol. During those times in the 70’s, the country appeared to be prospering.
@Pat
If you watched the video there is the suggestion Sri Lanka like Barbados has been living about their means.
https://twitter.com/newswirelk/status/1516436047407636484
VINCENT, SIR.
YOU ARE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR……IT SEEMS FROM THE CLIFF SIDE OF ST JOHN
CLEARLY YOU ARE AN EDUCATED MAN, AND THOUGH EDUCATED IN OUR””FAILED EDUCATIONAL” (SO CALLED) YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, AS A WISE MAN, BEEN ABLE TO LEARN WHAT YOU LEARNED, AND APPLY IT APPROPRIATELY. HAVING DONE SO AT LENGTH, YOU ARE ABLE AS PETER DECLARES IN I PETER 5, “HAVING DONE ALL…….STAND!”
WISH TO GOD THAT THERE WERE MORE LIKE YOU WHO COME HERE. THEY CAN NOT STAND ALONE, OR WITH OTHERS.
THEY CAN NOT STAND FOR ANYTHING, BUT FALL FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING AND EXPECT OTHERS SO TO DO.
I OFTEN SINCE 198O HARP ON THESE WORDS ABOUT ONE OF MY TWO OT CHARACTERS, EZRA. IT SAYS IN NEHEMIAH 8 THAT “”EZRA THE PRIEST, THE SCRIBE STOOD UP ………”
I THEN SAY THAT EZRA COULD AFFORD TO STAND UP …….UNLIKE MOST FOLK IN BARBADOS AND UNLIKE MOST WHO COME HERE ON BU DAILY BULLSHITTING. UNLIKE EZRA THEY, UNLIKE YOU, HAVE NOTHING TO SAY OF SUBSTANCE.
SOME DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO ASK A QUESTION IN ENGLISH USING THE CORRECT ORDERING OF THE WORDS. IT IS QUITE PATHETIC.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY EZRA COULD STAND UP, AND WHY I CAN STAND UP ON BIBLE AND MEDICINE FEARLESSLY, ACCURRATELY AND RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH. AND EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH……….AND WHY YOU CAN DEFEND THE TRUTH YOU LEARNED WELL…..AND CAN DO SO COMPETENTLY.
WE CAN ALL LEARN AND MASTER AND GRASP MUCH FROM EZRA’S PREPARATIONS AS RECORDED IN EZRA 7:10 THUS
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
HE SOUGHT IT OR LEARNED IT
HE SHOWED OR DID IT OR PRACTICED IT OR LIVED IT
HE SHARED IT OR TAUGHT IT OR LEACHED
YOU CAN USE WHATEVER OUTLINE YOU LIKE
WHEN I WENT TO TEACH MEDICAL SCHOOL I HAD LEARNED AND PRACTICED MEDICINE BEFORE I DID
SIMILARLY WHEN I HAVE TAUGHT AT BIBLE CONFERENCES AMIDST FOLK THAT HAVE DONE LIKE EZRA
ONLY ON BU HAS FOLK SOUGHT TO CONTRADICT MY STELLAR TEACHING..IN MY AREA…….I THEREFORE HAVE LEARNED HOW TO LAUGH SOME OF THE SCUM AND SLIME HERE TO SCORN
BECAUSE NONE OF YOU HERE HAVE LEARNED OR KNOW MY AREAS WELL
NOW WE WONDER WHY BARBADOS ARE GOING TO THE DOGS….. IT IS SIMPLE
WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY PROPER FORM OR FASHION……
WE NO LONGER HAVE DEEP THINKERS, OR ANY THINKERS AT ALL……
WE NO LONGER HAVE PROPER PROCEEDURES AND PRACTICES ABOUT ANYTHING
WE NOW EMBRACE AND PRACTICE AND APPLAUD MEDIOCRITY AND EXPECT GREAT RESULTS
ANY AND EVERY UNLEARNED INCOMPETENT PERSON THINK (WHAT WITH I DO NOT KNOW) THAT THEY CAN PONTIFICATE ON EVERYTHING ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT EVER LEARNED ANYTHING ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME.
HILARIOUS! I LOVE TO LAUGH SO CARRY ON FOLK WITH YOUR PROVISION OF MIRTH AS I MULTI-TASK.
@ GP at 1 :29 PM
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
VINCENT
YOU DONT NEED ME TO ENCOURAGEMENT SIR
YOU HAVE LONG BEEN PATIENTLY RUNNING THE RACE SET BEFORE YOU AS TAUGHT IN HEBREWS 12 V 1
I SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE DONE IT WELL
I REJOICE TO COMMUNICATE WITH FOLK LIKE YOU —SO CALLED POOR COUNTRY BOY.- WHO DESPITE ALL THAT YOU KNOW AND HAVE BECOME,STILL HAVE TIME FOR GOD, AND DO NOT DISRESPECT HIS NAME OR HIS WORD, OR PERSONS OF LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH, I.E NOT A DENOMINATION , BUT THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (ACTS 2:44) = THE ONCE DELIVERED FAITH FOR WHICH WE ARE TO CONTEND (JUDE V3).
PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT, AT YOUR COMMAND TO RETURN TO THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, THAT I TUNE IN EVERY WEEK TO THE SERVICE AT MY FAVORITE PLACE IN BARBADOS AND THE WORLD. CH CH P CH. TO LISTEN TO THE BEAUTIFUL HYMNS AND POINTING OF THE PSALMS………EVEN THOUGH THE CHOIR HAS GONE TO THE DOGS, AS HAS MOST OF THE SEVERAL GOOD ONES OF OUR CHILDHOOD.
BY THE WAY YOU WERE WELL NAMED, JUST AS I WAS FROM THE ROOT WORD VINCO- VINCERE- VINCI- VICTUM
@ GP at 2:29 PM
Thanks again.
Spoke to my friend Anu today. Her sister is surviving because she lives in a village and farms. She grows all her food, but has resorted to cooking over wood fires. No fuel. She and her husband sends her money to buy necessities like cooking oil, candles, etc. I hope she manages and comes out ok. She had open heart surgery two years ago.
PO
DID NOT KNOW ALL THESE YEARS THAT YOU ARE A PRETTY GAL. LOL DID NOT KNOW PRETTY GIRLS CAME OUT OF ST JOSEPH. LOL MUST BE THAT GOOD BATSHEBA AIR. SWEET
@GP,
You are two funny. It is all the fish. For breakfast, lunch and dinner. Except on Friday when it was mutton soup and Sunday baked pork, or duck or yard fowl.
YES INDEED PO
WHAT EVER IT WAS………IT WORKED WELL FOR YOU,
SEEMS YOU GREW UP LIKE SOME PRINCESS AND YET THEY SAID THAT WE WERE POOR PEOPLE
FRESH FISH
FRESH BATSHEBA AIR
FRESH YARD FOWL
Political Parties are mere extensions of the retail private sector … people that need foreign exchange to thrive. They do not themselves generate any, so they rely on the Parties to borrow from the Chinese and who ever else is available while telling Barbadians that the monies are for other purposes ..!
Welcome back BAFBFP:
We have not seen you in a while. Wondered what had happened to you. Glad to know you are fine.
So, will Barbados follow Sri Lanka and have protests?
When a country begins to sell its ‘soul’ you know it is in bad shape.
https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/cash-strapped-sri-lanka-to-sell-golden-visas/articleshow/91105613.cms
Dillinger – Cup A Tea
Serious bit of sufferation music with killer horns!
SL president in the resident is paying drunken thugs to fight protestors
@Kiki
It is unfortunate you are on the blog 24/7 and is unable to contribute meaningful to this topic.
————————
Latest from Sri Lanka.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-protesters-attacked-rcna27877
Long time we no go to the Blackboard Jungle
Long time we no go to feel the sunshine
Long time natty living in a Concrete Jungle
Fires are burning,
Tables are turning,
We are living and learning
Thugs were paid 5,000 SLR (£11.23) to beat up peaceful protestors by the president, but now these thugs leaders are getting their homes burned
🔥 Burning 🔥 Burning 🔥 Burning
Let it Burn 🔥🔥🔥
Judgement has come mercy has gone
Blessed are the music that burns deep withing in my soul
It clears the brain and purifies the blood
The music makes my blood boil
My blood is hot my blood is on fire
Blood and Fire
🔥🔥 🔥 Fires 🔥🔥🔥
The craziness of a people. Barbados be warned!
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/18/a-food-crisis-looms-in-sri-lanka-as-farmers-give-up-on-planting
Sri Lanka!
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/20/we-are-going-to-die-food-crisis-worsens-misery-of-sri-lankans