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Nation Publishing MUST Do Better

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There is the saying often posted in this space that the price of freedom (democracy) is eternal vigilance. A necessary component to safeguarding our freedom (democracy) is a relevant media. An extract from The Role of Media in Democracy: A Strategic Approach authored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) states:-

A free, objective, skilled media is an essential component of any democratic society. On the one hand, it provides the information which the polity require to make responsible, informed decisions. On the other, it performs a “checking function” ensuring that elected officials uphold their oaths of office and campaign promises and that they carry out the wishes of the electorate.

The blogmaster is reminded everyday since March 2007 when Barbados Underground (BU) went live on the WordPress platform the importance of a relevant media. We recall the VOB Sunday Brasstacks show when social commentator and retired hotelier Adrian Loveridge was forced to contribute to the program from a separate studio because it was the condition for the participation of former Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch.

During one of last week’s VOB’s Brasstacks shows the blogmaster was again reminded of the naked manipulation of traditional media by a caller (was it you William?) who questioned the Nation Publishing company’s decision to anoint Khaleel Kothdiwala a columnist to replace Dr. Kristina Hinds. The caller’s simple and well articulated logic was – with the BLP in total control of the Lower House, why select Khaleel who is a BLP card carrying member. It does not mean Khaleel lacks the capacity to share a perspective on a myriad topics, however, making Khaleel a columnist ensured the leading publishing house in the country slammed the door on an opportunity to improve vigilance in our democracy.

This is not a personal attack on Khaleel, he obviously is an intelligent young man who is committed to be a BLP sponsored politician. And it is his right, to align with a political party of his choice. This is an attack on the Nation Publishing for allowing itself to be manipulated directly or indirectly into making Khaleel a columnist. We may speculate this is the Nation Publishing being opportunistic by contracting a young man whose star is rising or that ‘someone’ made a telephone call.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

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119 responses to “Nation Publishing MUST Do Better”

  1. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Casting pearls before Swine
    KK should not bother with Politics in Barbados
    Never make a politician (aaa-aaah) grant you a favour
    They will always want (aaa-aaah) to control you forever
    so if a fire make it burn (make it burn, make it burn)
    and if a blood make it run (make it run, run, run)
    Rasta up on top (aaa-aaah) can’t you see (doo-doo-doo-doo)
    So you can’t predict the flock, Eh eh (doo-doo-doo-doo)
    Bob Marley & the Wailers Revolution

  2. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    I see that you are not below using the n word.

    Funny that those who cast stones live in a glass house.

  3. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    if someone accuses you of something
    you may as well do it
    you view and others on BU has been consistent about KK from day one

  4. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @David, LOL yes indeed the BushMan does incite moments of pure WTBadword 🤣😎!

    “spending nights under French dictatorship” was surely such an example!

    But I am a lil amused and bemused that your mentor labels the Nation as a ‘Trini Trojan Horse’.

    I have to imagine that this BushBath reasoning was long held by him because way back then prior to the OCM merger the Nation was a close partner to the TnT Express and had their paper printed there on a few occasions when there were problems here.

    @BushTea, I say that to note that you would have known or perceived that our Trini brethren were trying “to keep Bajans foolish and subservient with slave-minded propaganda” for many years now so why did you not mount a serious rebellion … or did you!

    These mild rumblings now that the die has surely been cast with their effective take-over is warmed over “stinking” nothings, not so! 😎🤦🏾‍♂️

    BTW @David, surely if we do an audit bureau review of Nation readership I suspect one would find that who they select to write columns is rather insignificant to that readership bottomline, not so!

    They are too many avenues to read and comment on those with bold opinions that this matter of KK as a columnist is quite irrelevant and immaterial!

    Just saying.

    I gone.

  5. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Under 21 + Over 21
    1 seat in Senate to represent Barbados youth Under 21
    would only apply for one term until the Senator reaches 21
    and would only be a casting vote in event of a tie in Upper House

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    How does your last paragraph excuse a media house from taking the best ethical journalistic decisions?

  7. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Last/last
    I agree my view has been consistent and will remain so.
    However, it does not match what you think my view is. Stop mind reading and you will find out what your own views are.

  8. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “I agree my view has been consistent and will remain so.
    However, it does not match what you think my view is”

    My own view is I never did like you
    you engage like scum do

  9. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “How does your last paragraph excuse a media house from taking the best ethical journalistic decisions?”

    Newspapers tell journalists what to write and how to write it
    staff have to toe the line and produce the spin as directed
    meeting the deadlines for their paycheque

  10. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Does it matter if you like me or not?

    Well if I engage you like scum do, then perhaps I am dealing with scum.

    You say a lot of nasty racist things here and then want to shout racism when someone makes a political comment on a political actor. But I believed you have already exposed your own ass.

  11. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    1/x
    What was your previous racist comment about blacks.. it had something to do about reading..

  12. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    I have called out You, Waru and Wiiliam out for your racist views about Asians and KK on Bu
    the youth is better than you and your children who god bless let no man curse

  13. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    KiKi why don’t you find a nice coolie blog to troll?

  14. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “KiKi why don’t you find a nice coolie blog to troll?”

    what is a Coolie? David?

    Recommended reading for people of colour*

    The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors

    Pedagogy of the Oppressed

    (*) You should read the Intro of the first book as a must it is powerful as fuck

  15. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    2/x
    Let me ask you four questions
    (1) Given that you have use the n word, would you use it to describe KK black parent?
    (2.a) Are you one of those Asians who embraces a black mixed child only if it is doing well?
    (2.b) Would you be one of those who taunted and insulted Kamala in her youth but became claimed her after she was nominated for VP.?

    (3) Given your knowledge of blacks and their reading habits, do you believe that his black parent read to him or was all of the reading work shouldered by the Asian parent
    (4) Do you have any idea of where KK got his brains from, both parents or just the Asian parent

    We are probably as proud of the youth as you are. We make no distinction of his black side or of his Asian side, but you seem fixated on the part of him that is Asian. Accept the whole person. You need to call yourself out before calling out others, You have continually made many racist statement here, but most prefer just to ignore you.

    Called out or called in, I will comment on KK as I se fit,

  16. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    I’ll Be Back Again

  17. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @David, re “How does your last paragraph excuse a media house from taking the best ethical journalistic decisions?”

    I see nothing unethical about the Nation’s decision on their columnists per KK. I agree broadly and specifically with the position of @Codington: 1) broadly that an opinion writer is by trade going to have a bias and in MOST cases is 2) hired to espouse that very clear bias.

    The inference made in the piece above is that 1) the Nation publisher was mandated to offer KK that column and 2) they are in some way reducing the voice of opposition to this admin. I cannot speak to either of those allegations but based on my prior close attention to such media matters and too the pervasiveness of social media I deem both of them as IRRELEVANT to our current world.

    There has ALWAYS been room for opposition views on the Nation’s editorial/opinion pages so I would be shocked if there are no strong DLP nor other party hacks allowed to give voice to their views these days.

    But moreover, as I noted, the over exposure of FB, Instagram, TikToc, websites, podcasts, talk radio etc makes the who’s who of traditional media columnists a NON issue, IMHO.

    I put it to you, brother that if, for example, ‘Muff’ Holder was a prominent columnist today that he would be taken to task comprehensively by netziens in a way he was NEVER assailed back then…. because people would be mouthing off all across the spectrum noted. Back then u had to get a letter to the editor published to battle him and of course he would smack u down with his depth of data and books … now sir the data retrieval and research available to us all makes him and folks like him less IMPACTFUL, more easily challenged and often shouted down..

    This KK brother is a liliputian in comparison so who cares (other than him and his peeps) that he gets to display his smarts and opinions every week in the Nation!

    If you can find me 10 bloggers here who do then I will stand down 🤣😎!

  18. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @David, this post deals with a media house being tasked to offer better reportage on their opinion pages but the bottom line demands that also be done on the news pages.

    In that vein I want to speak to how this pervasive social media 24-7, very personal and intrusive environment causes the traditional media houses like the Nation to offer too much SENSATIONAL reporting!

    Fah sure, this is NOT a new phenomena but it’s much more damaging now because it so quickly has a VERY LARGE reach.

    Exhibit, this headline: “Uvalde funeral attendant who encountered gunman says he tried to go after shooter, was held back”

    This is an NBC headline … and it’s ABSIRDLY misleading, ridiculous and sensational in the most damaging way!

    That sir in my view is the very epitome of unethical journalism. 1) it encourages a false narrative that this man could have saved those 19 kids and teachers killed but was stopped by the authorities; 2) it suggests the cops on site were not executing their responsibilities effectively and 3) it fosters this mentality of vigilante justice: I have a gun too and will kill u if you try any of these attacks in my neighborhood!

    This is dangerous and very inaccurate inference of what was actually possible. We are all the worst for this type of scandalous reporting.

    There are too many mediums to be satisfied and thus there is too MUCH erroneous, half true and often times absolute BS used to fill the spaces.

    We need to be more discerning and wrap our heads around what are the ethical standards truly being breached and plunging us down a very perilous slope!

    I gone.

  19. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
    “(1) Given that you have use the n word, would you use it to describe KK black parent?”
    I used it to reply to your comment for being a snide cunt bitch like you do

    “(2) (2.a) Are you one of those Asians who embraces a black mixed child only if it is doing well?”
    I have never ever met an asian like that
    I assume you have never ever known any asian as friends and family from previous lack of response if you had

    “(3) Given your knowledge of blacks and their reading habits”
    that was a joke like you and lawson like to crack
    if it hurt you and you want to make a big deal about it so what

    “(4) Do you have any idea of where KK got his brains from, both parents or just the Asian parent”
    50-50

    “We are probably as proud of the youth as you are.”
    I read the bad minded comments and call out the bad minded people
    treat him same way you would want your own child to be treated

  20. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    youthman promotion

    “(4) Do you have any idea of where KK got his brains from, both parents or just the Asian parent”

    where did the anti-Kaleel bandwagon get their bias and hate from
    they said that there are other black black children who deserve to be ambassador
    but senate said they didn’t want any youths and change in law instead as their solution

  21. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    ambassador s/b senator

  22. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    even in racist countries they know discriminating against youths is wrong
    and in racist countries they know they can’t stop minorities being successful
    slave plantation colonies with indian plantation workers are behind racist places

  23. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    This work is dedicated to the victims of the global system of white supremacy (racism), all non-white people worldwide, past and present, who have resolved to end this great travesty and bring justice, then peace to planet Earth.
    “If you do not understand White Supremacy (Racism)- what it is, and how it works -everything else that you understand, will only confuse you.”
    -Neely Fuller, Jr. (1971).
    The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept
    No persons who classify themselves as white living in the area of the world referred to as the United States of America (or for that matter, in any other area of the world) should presume to tell any Black person (or other non-white person) what racism is or is not, until they have read completely Kenneth O’Reilley’s Racial Matters: The FBI’s Secret File on Black America, 1960-1972.
    No Black person living in the area of the world referred to as the United States of America should discourse on racism or deny the conspiratorial dimensions of the local and global system of racism until he/she has read Racial Matters completely.
    All non-white people (black, brown, red and yellow) should read and discuss the implications of the book, Racial Matters; the implications for themselves as individuals and the implications for their collective should be discussed in depth.
    Then, all non-white people should view the docudrama videotape, The Wannsee Conference (which can be rented), to observe exactly how a white supremacy government calmly sits and plans the destruction of a people that it classifies as
    non-white.
    The Wannsee Conference took place in Germany, in 1941, to finalize the plans for the destruction of 11,000,000 Semites (non-whites) of the Jewish religion.
    The German white supremacists succeeded in killing six million.
    After the above steps have been taken, all non-white people worldwide should read Neely Fuller’s work, The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept: a text book/workbook for thought, speech and/or action for victims of racism (white supremacy).
    Frances Cress Welsing
    Washington, D.C.
    August, 1989

  24. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    [PDF] ‘RACIAL MATTERS’: THE FBI’S SECRET FILE ON BLACK AMERICA

  25. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Ambition
    Is the Republic of Barbados dead already

    National Hero Rihanna’s singing talent was not promoted in or by Barbados, but her career was developed and built by the Black American Underground Hip Hop Pedagogy Scene.

    The token seat in Senate for the youth politician would have opened the door to spot and nurture youth talent in local politics for the future, but the crusty Senate cock blocked it and he couldn’t penetrate.

  26. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Up Front (12″ Mix)

  27. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    I’ll Be On My Way

  28. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    COINTELPRO, FBI Counterintelligence, Covert Operations, Black Bag Jobs, Church Committee

    COINTELPRO Sources

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

    “I have called out You, Waru and Wiiliam out for your racist views about Asians and KK on Bu”

    a old racist like you pretending to call out people….because you DON’T WANT US CALLING OUT ASIAN RACISM against Afrikan peoples……well too bad, ah got it nicely OUTLINED in my first book….can’t unwrite it…

    yall are not special and would not even exist HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AFRIKANS…

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

    and got the delusional belief he can get here and twist everything Marley, Nana Welsing and others say to suit his narrow asian agenda….

    ..I had the pleasure of lisening to Dr. Julius Marley, Garvey’s son, yesterday, and these types of saboteurs existed back then in his father’s days…they never go away and are to be sidelined and IGNORED…

    Pacha…it was worth it to hear Garvey’s son tell us the plain UNVARNISHED truth…and he interacted very well with those present…

  31. David Avatar
    David

    First and last warning before this post is closed.

  32. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    I expect that the Nation knew exactly what it was doing. I doubt that it was being manipulated. I expect that it enjoys being a “suck-up” to the political class whichever party is in office.

  33. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved June 5, 2022 6:10 AM
    “KK wrote on BU even though it was clear he was being misled by political pimps, by deceitful politicians.”

    I doubt very much that KK is being misled. I expect that he knows exactly what he is doing.

  34. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Bush Tea June 5, 2022 7:29 AM “…makes Bushie shame as shiite.”

    Take my simple advice.

    NEVER be ashamed unless YOU have done something wrong.

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

    “I doubt very much that KK is being misled. I expect that he knows exactly what he is doing.”
    …
    no he don’t, it’s just a continuation of colonial political indoctrination into ANOTHER GENERATION…of very UNAWARE young people….an ONGOING CRIME against Black youth…

  36. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @TheOGazerts June 5, 2022 7:33 AM “…but I was expecting you to bring his race into it.”

    What race.

    His mother is a woman black like me.

    2 of his grandparents are people black like me, One Bajan born just like you and me, and the other Jamaican born I think,

  37. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    You really haven’t answer the questions. Obfuscation and lies.

    Political comments about KK were classed as racist comments about KK and then as racist comments about all Asians and now I am making racist jokes against Blacks. Who is next?

    That is what happens when your main plank is a lie. You have to embellish to continue the story.

    Political KK is fair game. There is no free pass.

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

    let me rephrase a word, because i was enlightened to a certain fact yesterday…

    .an ONGOING CRIME against AFRIKAN youth…

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

    Kiki has an asian agenda….that is the bottomline….and no conscious person has to entertain it…

  40. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “a old racist like you pretending to call out people….because you DON’T WANT US CALLING OUT ASIAN RACISM against Afrikan peoples”

    Divide and Rule to Conquer Modus Operendus
    Black Slave Descendants Versus Indian “Coolie” Plantation workers

    You obviously never read Welsing’s works or learned her lessons as she does not discriminate against browns like you
    Nor have you ever listened in depth to Robert Nesta Marley’s lyrical messages as he does not discriminate either
    Nor have you listened to Selassie’s message to League of Nations

    “Racism (global white supremacy) is the local and global power system dynamic, structured and maintained by those who classify themselves as white; whether consciously or subconsciously determined; this system consists of patterns of perception, logic, symbol formation, thought, speech, action and emotional response, as conducted simultaneously in all areas of people activity: economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and war. The ultimate purpose of the system is to ensure white genetic survival and to prevent white genetic annihilation on Earth — a planet in which the overwhelming majority of people are classified as non-white, (black, brown, red, and yellow) by white skinned people. All of the non-white people are genetically dominant (in terms of skin coloration) compared to the genetic recessive white skinned people”.

    “I don’t stand for black man’s side I don’t stand for white man’s side I stand for God’s side”

    ““Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes.”

  41. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Kiki has an asian agenda…

    we know you are well ignorant everyday in every way

    but being an old woman who feels poorly you are excused for your lower energy thinking

  42. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @African Online Publishing Copyright ⓒ 2022. All Rights Reserved June 5, 2022 8:46 AM

    “…EVERY LOCAL MEDIA except mine.”

    LOL!!!

  43. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “Political comments about KK were classed as racist …”

    were you against KK becoming a Senator or were you against youths becoming a Senator

    I was against neither

    I was against paranoid arguments narratives conspiracies against minorities

  44. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    555dubstreet June 5, 2022 8:38 AM “Do the papes need to consult the raggedly unwashed lumpenproletariat when they recruit their staff”

    Who you calling raggedly unwashed lumpenproletariat?

    Be off do.

  45. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Lumpenproletariat refers – primarily in Marxist theory – to the underclass devoid of class … Ragged Revolutionaries: The Lumpenproletariat and African American radical groups, most notably the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords, have sought to mobilize the Lumpenproletariat. .

    Anyway the point is Newspapers recruiting people who you may not like is par for the course and out of your hands

    They even flip people who did have a conscious conscience like an old anti-racist campaigner Trevor Phillips working for the Times as a black faced apologist for current Conservatives new wave forms of racism anti-black-lives-matter etc, at the end of a career it is all about the retirement fund monies
    Principal rules over the principles, selling out for the big bucks.

  46. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Enuff June 5, 2022 12:20 PM “Ah bet yuh these people that talking love MSNBC or Fox. We need to grow up!”

    I watched Fox once for about half an hour. Never again. I don’t even know what is MSNBC.

    What is MSNBC???

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

    Like he ain’t got enough issues in Sri Lanka to deal with, thinks he can tell Afrikan people what to think and say…just ignore, i do a lot of scrolling…

    “MSNBC is an American news -based pay television cable channel based in New York City. It is owned by the NBCUniversal News Group division of NBCUniversal (a subsidiary of Comcast )”

    a little better than FOX…..but i make sure to stay away from conventional news….and only use some content……those places are owned…therefore, the narrative is not wholly suitable for Afrikans…

  48. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Nigga Please.. is a phrase that means you are talking crap

    Nigga Please.. is also the second solo studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

  49. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Like he ain’t got enough issues in Sri Lanka to deal with

    An argument based on race such as you are African is called irrelevant

    1 GBP = 450.078 LKR means houses are getting cheaper and cheaper to buy

  50. David Avatar
    David

    Bajans have say on overseas voting

    by TONY BEST OPEN BARBADOS’ DOOR OF opportunity to more members of the Bajan diaspora but be very careful when it comes to overseas voting.
    That’s how a cross section of the Bajan diaspora in North America has reacted to a call by Dr Ronnie Yearwood, the Democratic Labour Party’s new leader, for greater inclusion of the diaspora in national affairs.
    Barbadians in Canada and the United States agree with Yearwood that Bajans abroad should have a larger role in Barbados’ decisionmaking processes, but most of them were wary of giving them the right to vote in national elections.
    Indeed, some were hostile to any suggestion that overseas voting privileges should be extended to the diaspora. They are concerned about possible election fraud.
    Dr Yearwood was recently quoted in another section of the Barbados media as saying that “considerations should be given for persons in the diaspora to be allowed to vote, and discussions started about what levels do we want them to vote and for who(m) and for what positions.”
    “These are really serious discussions because we can’t continue what effectively is a one sided-relationship” between Bajans at home and those living overseas, said Dr Yearwood. “We (Bajans at home) take and take and take, but what role do they (diaspora) actively get to play in the policy space for the money they are giving, either through remittances or whether it’s through supporting charities or investment? It cannot be that one-sided relationship, so there has to be some rebalancing and we have to find a way to seriously do that.”
    The DLP leader seemingly complained that “too often we see the diaspora almost like an ATM machine.”
    But Adrian Mapp, who recently won a record third four-year term as mayor of the 55 000 municipality of Plainfield in New Jersey, said that while Barbados should find additional ways to involve Bajans in the country’s affairs, voting shouldn’t be one of them.
    “I left Barbados in the 1970s and I have been living in the US ever since and I don’t see why I should be given a vote in Barbados to (help) determine the outcome of the election there when I don’t live there. I am dead set against it,” said Mapp, a highly certified public accountant.
    “Why on earth should anyone who left home be allowed to vote and influence the outcome of elections; who should be elected to serve in the House of Assembly or who should become the Prime Minister of our country? The things that happen on the ground in Barbados, we who are living abroad are not there to be impacted by the decisions made by our governmental leaders. We ought not to be able to influence the outcome of elections.”
    Shirley Morris, a real estate executive in Virginia agreed with Mapp.
    Improving living conditions
    “There is no good reason why Barbadians abroad should be allowed to vote and help decide who should run the country,” said Morris. “Barbadians in the diaspora should continue to make contributions to their birthplace’s national development. It is true that we have been remitting tens of millions of dollars annually to our country but that money to which Dr Yearwood referred goes for the most part to relatives of the senders. It doesn’t go into the national treasury. In almost every case, the money is used to improve living conditions of families. Voters in Barbados’ case should be those persons who live there and feel the impact of the policies carried out by Government. Imagine what a nightmare it would be for those who are responsible for managing and counting votes at election time to set up a system to accommodate overseas voting.”
    Sam Clark, who until recently was the head of a Better Life for our People, the ruling Barbados Labour Party’s arm in the US, thinks otherwise.
    “I am supportive of a position (Yearwood’s) like that,” said Clarke, a Brooklyn resident.” I think the (members) of the diaspora should be embraced. The diaspora has done so much for the country and actually has been neglected for too long. There is much talent in the diaspora that could be and that should have been used. Many an administration came up here (US) and spoke about having a space for the diaspora and they were going to do this for the diaspora (which) would have been part of it. With a new constitution, the diaspora should have a part in it and it should be reaching out to the diaspora. We have had various zoom meetings. It (expanded diaspora role) has been long in coming. It should have been embraced a long time ago.”
    Clark, who is active in Brooklyn politics, said that Bajans abroad have contributed large sums over the years as seen in the (Barbados) “Central Bank ledger” as part of the country’s economy.
    “I think it is about time that the diaspora has a say in the Government of Barbados. It should be able to advise the Government on certain positions.” There should be a diaspora ministry to deal with the diaspora. We just can’t keep using
    the diaspora like a wash pan. You come and say you are going to do this but nothing ever came to fruition,” he said.
    “Now, I am glad this guy (Yearwood) has seen it too and has spoken out for it and has acknowledged that the diaspora must be an integral part of any Barbadian society going forward.”
    When it came to national elections, Clark insisted “every Barbadian has the right to vote” and contended that the issue of electoral fraud which was being raised by many Barbadians was a “crock” and should be ignored.
    Dr Grant Morris, a leading Bajan and Caribbean philanthropist in Canada who has raised millions of dollars for education, the youth and other social causes in Ontario, Barbados and its neighbours said that while he agreed in principle with the idea of an expanded role for the diaspora including voting in national elections, it would require a carefully planned system to prevent abuse, especially fraud.
    “It is something that many of us here (Ontario) had been supporting. It would be necessary to set up a system to make sure it was done properly and people were not misusing it,” he said.
    Like most Bajans in the US and Canada, Canon Ryan Boyce, the new Reactor of St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in New York City, said the diaspora had earned a much larger role but he drew the line when it came to voting.
    “I agree in part with Dr Yearwood because the diaspora has always been called upon to assist financially and so on,” said the Anglican priest who has served in Barbados, Aruba and New Jersey before becoming rector of a major church in Hollis.
    “However, as it relates to electoral politics, I really don’t think members of the diaspora should be so involved in politics at home that they would be given the vote at election time, especially if they have no intention of living there.”
    Gregory Chase, president of the Barbados Association of Southern California shares that view. He said it was unwise for Yearwood to link remittances to voting rights in Barbados because people send money to their families to improve living conditions and they did so freely without any government input.
    “Remittances are voluntary contributions we make to our families back home, so we cannot say because we give money back home we (in the diaspora) should be given the vote. They are two independent things,” Chase argued. “I don’t think that it (remittance) is the basis to call for voting rights.”
    “The current Prime Minister, Mia (Amor) Mottley and her Government were concerned about the brain drain from Barbados, interested in the influences and contributions overseas Bajans were making in the country and appreciated the nationalistic feelings of Bajans abroad,” said Chase. “Whether that buys an obligation to vote, I don’t think so.”
    Noel Lynch, Barbados’ top diplomat in the US said that the Mottley administration was making a “greater effort than ever before” to involve Barbadians abroad in the running of the country’s affairs.

    Source: Nation

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