Mottley Cabinet is Bloated

One of the more interesting decisions made in 2018 by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) government led by Mia Mottley was to appoint the largest ever Cabinet in our history. Her justification for the ‘relatively large’ Cabinet was because of the overwhelming mandate received from the electorate. From 2018 until the present – with a cosmetic tweak in 2022 – the Cabinet has remained large.

Enough time has elapsed to fairly judge if a large Cabinet adds value to how the country has been governed since 2018. It has been a government led by the larger than life and seemingly indefatigable Prime Minister Mottley. Her style of delivery and oratory skill has endeared her to the international community. It is worth a reminder she inherited an economy with a GDP north of 150 with junk status credit rating. There was a feeling of renewed hope in the nation post 2018 general election.

Out of the gate the Mottley government committed the country to a debt restructure on domestic and local holdings which right sided the debt to GDP indicator BUT immediately shot the confidence of local and foreign investors. The lack of confidence to invest persists four years later. To be expected economists are divided on whether it was the right strategy, these decisions are never easy we must admit. 

In Mottley’s defense she will postulate that the COVID 19 pandemic, Hurricane Elsa and La Soufriere volcano ash fall combined to derail government’s rebuild effort and in fact caused the economy to significantly contract. To reasonable onlookers she has a good defense. However hungry mouths well not be as sympathetic. The debate will continue about the BLP’s performance since 2018 until the next bell is rung.

Political pundits are already surveying a barren political landscape for alternative voting options. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) under rookie leader Dr. Ronnie Yearwood is in the early stage of a rebuild and the many political parties that presented at the polls in 2018 and 2022 have done the usual vanishing act of which Houdini would have been proud. 

What is the blogmaster trying to say in too many words?

Prime Minister Mottley has taken the reins of government at a challenging time in our history there can be no doubt. This is precisely why decisions taken by Mottley must be fit for purpose for the extraordinary times to guide a 166 square mile open economy island through the economic tempest and other challenges. There is no good reason the country should have to suffer a bloated Cabinet not to mention a bevy of financial consultants in 2022. Mottley must stop pandering to political inclinations and instead send clear signals to the population she and her government are prepared to make the sacrifice and walk with the people at a difficult time in our history. 

What the blogmaster fears most is – when the next general election is called the electorate may have no choice to abstain or vote anyone posing as an opposition, a default position. The level of apathy and cynicism in the country is already low. Whither our democratic system?

340 thoughts on “Mottley Cabinet is Bloated


  1. @Hants
    You ate land crabs? You left out sweet water and bakes, look how far we have travelled……

    @NO
    That was brave of you, how long did it take to clear the items?

    I guess we were lucky in our recent travels with three suitcases (don’t ask I am married) and on our return with frozen pkgs of fish which were all received intact except for minor delays waiting by the luggage carousel.


  2. Dictatorship at works
    Founded on Nannie policies

    Teachers are being instructed to work in the summer vacation to supervise the children and the sharing of school meals.
    They were given that news on Thursday, the last day.
    Under the DLP that appointed hundreds of them, the same teachers sat under trees in protest at the first opportunity.
    The unions made Ronald Jones snort.
    The ones who fought to bring in this Government should be very excited to get back on the job in summer.
    Let them first to put up their hand ✋🏾
    🙊 Oops I forgot- It’s mandatory, not voluntary.
    I’m waiting to hear them on this.


  3. William….ah heard they have at least one case of monkeypox to accompany Covid…so let them go rubbing up on each other during crap over..


  4. @ Pacha
    I mean it in its widest and most comprehensive forms. This will entail land reform, enfranchisement of the majority etc etc
    We don’t need to see it in its most narrow terms.
    Peace


  5. @ Pacha
    I mean in its widest terms. This goes beyond all the socio- economic ills that are present and prevalent.
    We can mean : land reform; economic enfranchisement for the majority etc etc
    We don’t need to see or interpret it in its most narrow terms.
    Peace


  6. Pacha…check out the first thread, still waiting for your thoughts on that…


  7. @Sarge
    I was shipping “produce” by the ‘skid load’. On if you like…standby.
    The buyers didn’t report issues clearing/receiving, that was their issue.
    But it was <50% of the ‘normal cost’. I have also, ‘not got on’, in which case you need a back up plan.


  8. Skinner i realise you are a knowall i did not know you were a mind reader too.For you to make a statement that Ms Mottley sees the so called apologist as an embaracement.Tell us how do you know this.I tell you already you often talk a lot of shite.The only political embaracement i know of would be you running for a joke of a party and not getting 100 votes.Now you are a political expert.In my view you are a political comedian. I gone.


  9. Mottley cleaned bowled

    The Barbados Union of Teachers has welcomed Government’s decision to provide school meals for hundreds of children during the current summer period, but questions the lack of consultation with key stakeholders.


  10. New politics needs new vision
    The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
    – Ecclesiastes 1:9 History does not repeat itself. But, it does rhyme.
    – Mark Twain When we talk about a new politics, do we understand that this new politics must come from a new psyche, a new consciousness, and a radically new vision of the world and ourselves? Or is this new politics just old politics reconditioned?
    Because, up to this point we have been satisfied with pale imitations of Europeanism.
    Of course, there is nothing on Earth that we can say is totally new. Everything comes from something. Everything is an offshoot of something that came before. Today is a product of yesterday and tomorrow is a product of today. The child is not a carbon copy of the parent, but a continuation of a process that began generations before they were born. Any degree of newness which we innovate depends largely on a determination to study the past, so we can better assess the present and chart the future purposefully.
    Understanding history
    One of the best ways to understand today is to understand yesterday. One of the best ways to predict tomorrow is to consider today and yesterdays gone by. Considering and understanding history helps us to not only predict, but shape tomorrow.
    When you take away a person or people’s ability to connect with their own history, to their own past, you limit their ability to influence their own future. When a person or people reconnect with their past and can analyse the present through the lens of history, they can then begin to shift the future bit by bit in the direction of newness.
    Otherwise, history repeats itself with a repetitive rhyme scheme.
    Few other people had their consciousness colonised like the peoples of Africa did. Both those brought to the West and those left on the continent suffered an enslavement of the mind on a scale and to a depth that has not been seen before nor since. So wide and deep is this process that it has lasted for centuries and continues to send ripples throughout the world today. It is the determination of African peoples globally to make a new song out of the rhythm of history that leads us further and further out of bondage.
    A new man
    Barbadian rhythm poets Aja and Winston Farrell express this historical phenomenon in rhyme. Aja articulates the aim of the colonisers when he chants: “Conscious again, conscious again. Black man must not be conscious again.”
    Farrell articulates the outcome of slavery and colonisation, chanting: “The African no longer knows himself.”
    At the end of the book The Wretched Of The Earth, Martiniquan psychiatrist and philosopher Frantz Fanon articulates the goal of anti-colonial struggles as the creation of a “new man”. This must come before or in the process of creating a new politics. Trying to create a new politics with an old mindset is like trying to create a fresh meal out of rotting ingredients.
    A new politics is definitely necessary. But, new politics depends on new ingredients, new philosophies, new theories, new religious perspectives, new economic approaches, new cultural forms and so on. These new ingredients must replace the rotting ones which we have inherited through slavery, colonisation and neocolonial education. In short, new politics is born out of a new consciousness. Those who would build a new politics with old mindsets are making a mistake of biblical proportions, trying to put new, dark wine into old wineskins.
    But, if history rhymes and there is nothing new under the sun, then this new consciousness, this new human being must be built from the raw material of its ancestors.
    This new human being will not rise from the dirt like Adam nor be immaculately conceived like Yeshua. She is emerging gradually through a long, long process of emancipation. This is not a smooth and linear emergence. It is a winding, bumpy journey which sometimes seems to take us way off course. But, as the Ghanaian band Osibisa sings in the song Woyaya, “We are going. Heaven knows how we will get there. But we know we will.”
    And because that which has been is that which shall be, wherever we are going we will reflect where we have come from.
    The Akan principle of Sankofa, “looking backward to go forward”, is relevant and vital all now.

    Adrian Green is a communications specialist.
    Email: Adriangreen14@gmail.com

    Source: Nation


  11. One, one cocoa full basket
    I used to spend about $550 per month to cover all my utilities. So when my electricity bill for last month revealed a charge of $430, I almost fainted. I am aware this was influenced by the fuel adjustment but this was more than double the amount I was used to paying.
    Similarly, my diesel bill has increased by 50 per cent, the cost of dog food by about 15 per cent and there have been increases on some of my usual grocery items. Lately I feel like all I do is work to pay bills.
    I therefore share the cry of many who complain about the increased cost of living. How is the average worker who receives no increase in wages supposed to tackle these increasing costs? But conversely, how can businesses afford to increase their wages bill when they also experience increased expenses in electricity, fuel bills and other items? It’s a Catch-22 situation.
    While it may be difficult for some smaller businesses to consider increasing the wages of workers, this may not be true for the larger ones which reported several millions in profits for 2021.
    I’ve often wondered whether some of these companies would consider shaving off some of the profits given to these top executives – which no doubt only goes towards their discretionary spending – and redirect a portion of those profits to provide even small wage increases for lower paid workers, on whose backs these profits were made. I also wondered if the Government would take any measures to ease the increasing costs, especially with these now astronomical electricity bills.
    I was therefore heartened when last Thursday, the Prime Minister announced several measures to help with the cost of living for the average household. My favourite initiative is the provision of school meals to all school-aged children during the summer holidays. This ensures that our nation’s children will receive at least one meal per day and will no doubt provide some ease for several households.
    I was also heartened by the decision of several private sector businesses to decrease their profit margins to facilitate lower costs on certain grocery items. This is admirable and reminds me of the recent challenge given by Anthony Branker, president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, encouraging businesses to move away from a business strategy driven primarily by profit and to “develop or support programmes where none of our children are at school hungry . . . and . . . ensure that genuine cases of need can get sustained help”.
    I am also reminded of a recent email I received from one of my readers who highlighted ways his company continually contributes to social programmes geared at helping those in need. Indeed, I also know of several employers, including some of my own clients, who do not hesitate to assist not only their employees who may be experiencing challenges, but others within the society who may be in need. This was recently seen when several private sector businesses offered financial assistance to the young men of the football clubs whose intended trip to Canada had been foiled by some seemingly unscrupulous actions of a travel agency.
    I applaud the private sector for stepping up to help in these difficult times. As I often say, we must be our brother’s keeper.
    Some have criticised the Government’s initiative, saying it doesn’t go far enough,but the Government cannot be responsible for everything, and even if relatively small, these measures still matter. As the Jamaican saying goes, “one, one cocoa full basket” (each cocoa you add will help to eventually fill the basket). I am happy for the $17 savings I may get on my electricity bill. It may be a small amount but it’s enough to purchase two bars of soap, a tube of toothpaste and a bottle of lotion.

    Michelle M. Russell is an attorney with a passion for employment law and labour matters, and a social activist. Email: mrussell.ja@icloud.com.

    Source: Nation


  12. During a media briefing yesterday at the DLP’s George Street, Belleville, St Michael headquarters, he said they did not believe in “top-down” governance.

    “Political parties are often seen as top-down institutions, where the policy comes from the leader and everybody is expected to follow along. That is not the process we are following. We are trying something very different, something very new in keeping with new politics and engagement, and trying to empower people, to make them feel a part of the decision-making process,” he said.

    Yearwood revealed they were launching four working groups, each headed by a chairman, which would soon be hitting the road.We think these are issues which need to be addressed frontally and by engaging the people of Barbados. These chairpersons will be going out into [the public] and talking to you and sectoral organisations. So I’m putting PTAs [parent-teacher associations], medical associations, pharmacy associations, youth groups on guard – expect to hear from us and if they want to reach out to us as well, feel free,” he said.

    The four groups and their chairpersons are as follows:

    Finance, Economic Affairs and Governance Reform, chaired by Yearwood;Education, Family and Social Inclusion, led by Melissa Savoury-Gittens;Health, Social Care Services and Pharmaceutical Development, with Paul Gibson as chair; andYouth, Culture, Sport and Juvenile Justice Reform chaired by Rasheed Belgrave.

    Of the four, only Savoury-Gittens did not vie for a seat during the last General Election in January, which was swept again by the Barbados Labour Party. (CA)

    We think these are issues which need to be addressed frontally and by engaging the people of Barbados. These chairpersons will be going out into [the public] and talking to you and sectoral organisations. So I’m putting PTAs [parent-teacher associations], medical associations, pharmacy associations, youth groups on guard – expect to hear from us and if they want to reach out to us as well, feel free,” he said.

    The four groups and their chairpersons are as follows:

    Finance, Economic Affairs and Governance Reform, chaired by Yearwood;Education, Family and Social Inclusion, led by Melissa Savoury-Gittens;Health, Social Care Services and Pharmaceutical Development, with Paul Gibson as chair; andYouth, Culture, Sport and Juvenile Justice Reform chaired by Rasheed Belgrave.

    Of the four, only Savoury-Gittens did not vie for a seat during the last General Election in January, which was swept again by the Barbados Labour Party. (CA)


    • Wish him good luck with changing people perception of politics in Barbados. The DLP can act as a change when if it is perceived as having the capacity to do so. At this time there is a general feeling that the DLP must reimagine the party before its voice is to be received as credible. Until that happens the larger than life Mia Mottley (not BLP) will continue to suck the political oxygen from the room. Bear in mind this dynamic is taking place against a background of increasing cynicism and apathy in the country. In fact apathy and cynicism in the political class it is being seem globally.


  13. @ac
    Good morning.
    Reading the same thing twice takes away from the impact of the article. This should be something the reader wants to do and not because of a bad cut and paste.

    Just reading the repeat text threw me off. Slow down and check the post before hitting send.


  14. TheOGazertsJuly 17, 2022 6:31 AM

    @ac
    Good morning.
    Reading the same thing twice takes away from the impact of the article. This should be something the reader wants to do and not because of a bad cut and paste.

    Just reading the repeat text threw me off. Slow down and check the post before hitting send.

    Xxxxxx

    00ps
    Sorry
    I did check but the second paragraph might have been further down the page than was intended


  15. They will.be those who.are ready to.listen and embrace
    those days of the past political eras are no longer sufficient to serve the people
    The masses being left out are now a new generation living in an era where the word Independent have a meaning of being self empowered and must be delivered
    The PM continues to take the country down a path of yesterday politics where her voice is being the only one heard and decisions made are by the makers and shakers of the economy ( NOT GOOD )
    After all said and done is handed to the people in a hand to mout basket
    Which is a very poor and insulting model of goverance


  16. At every social.media engagement that the President of the dlp had so far
    The media has been invited to ask questions
    Dr. Yearwood is sending a message that he has repeated many times
    Being willing to listen and engage the people
    A young man of his ability can become the new effervescent change that old and new are asking for
    A govt that serves adjust and adopts to the social and economic factors in a global world
    The PM has shown so far that local politics driven by votes is all that matters
    Hence the number 60-0 is what will continue to be the major driver in Barbados politics
    Looking forward to hear more from Dr. Ronnie Obama Yearwood


    • What Dr. Ronnie Yearwoid is encouraged to do is to ensure a social media strategy includes intelligent and informed DLP actors to dilute some of the nonsense posted by DLP supporters. Does nothing positive for the party trying to reimagine itself having to digest information posted by blind supporters.


  17. John2July 17, 2022 7:26 AM

    New politics = smoke and mirrors

    Xxxxxcc
    Mia owns the intellectual and property rights to smoke and mirrors
    Dr. Yearwood a qualified lawyer owning and in possession of the LEC would dare not tread those waters for fair of legal damages and threats to his name


  18. DavidJuly 17, 2022 7:57 AM

    What Dr. Ronnie Yearwoid is encouraged to do is to ensure a social media strategy includes intelligent and informed DLP actors to dilute some of the nonsense posted by DLP supporters. Does nothing positive for the party trying to reimagine itself having to digest information posted by blind supporters.

    Xxxx
    Why are u so worried or concern about what Dr Ronnie Obama Yearwood should do
    Don’t u have enough a task on your hand controlling this blog
    It would seem best purpose if you used your energy to place focus on a blog which for lo.many years have not been able to sufficiently make change economically or socially for Barbadians but have encouraged repeated babble and yardflow banter some also coming from the flow of your mouth
    Dr. Yearwood ability to proceed in a manner that can make inroads towards change into a narrow minded political landscape of Barbados would bear fruit
    What is your problem again
    Please repeat


  19. Boss lady Boss plan.

    “Government is taking its Barbados Optional Savings Scheme (BOSS) bonds investment programme up a notch in the hope of raising $200 million.”


  20. “When you take away a person or people’s ability to connect with their own history, to their own past, you limit their ability to influence their own future. ”

    that’s exactly what the island judases have done…..and STILL DOING..

    “At the end of the book The Wretched Of The Earth, Martiniquan psychiatrist and philosopher Frantz Fanon articulates the goal of anti-colonial struggles as the creation of a “new man”. ”

    a new DUMBED DOWN, SELF HATING, COWARDLY MAN..with NO ANCESTRAL MEMORIES..an empty shell…..and it worked to PERFECTION…

    “Few other people had their consciousness colonised like the peoples of Africa did. Both those brought to the West and those left on the continent suffered an enslavement of the mind on a scale and to a depth that has not been seen before nor since. So wide and deep is this process that it has lasted for centuries and continues to send ripples throughout the world today. It is the determination of African peoples globally to make a new song out of the rhythm of history that leads us further and further out of bondage.”

    sometimes i actually caution myself for admiring the pure genius and level of intelligence that went into recreating a shell of a person GENERATIONALLY and WIPING their memories clean……..but then i see those who would not even ATTEMPT TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE to themselves or FORCEFULLY CLIMB OUT OF THAT BONDAGE, but would fight you down with their limited strength to remain in that state…..all i can do is shake my head..

    they are so consumed with being good little slaves….why disturb them..


  21. Social media voices not easy

    Xxccc

    I told bajans I gave MAM, 6 weeks to reveal her self, it took 24 hrs🤣🤣🤣🤣, a new record, no sense in wasting time, desperate times, call for desperate measures, some body say PANICKING🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


  22. @ac
    Allow me to compliment you on keeping the welfare of Barbadians as your main talking point. Whilst others falter and become distracted by the bright new shiny objects introduce by David, you somehow managed to keep your focus and your eyes on the prize

    It amazes me (again) how you can single handedly fight against a dedicated tag-team with three or four agents. Truly, you can be accused of punching well above your weight or perhaps your opponents are just fully inflated hot air balloons 🎈. Note the color.

    You go girl.


  23. But Enuff, have you considered that we are CLEARLY living in a warped world?

    WINNING OVERWHELMINGLY may not signify what you seem to be suggesting, but instead, may just indicate that the ‘winners’ are keen disciples of the warped mentality.
    Just look at the ‘winners’ who rose to the top under Trump, … now that we can see them exposed under the light of the current investigation.

    When the Bajan jobby hits the fan shortly, you had better hope that all the red ’60-love’ linen are clean….


  24. Let’s be FAIR.

    It isn’t just a simple matter of “keeping the welfare of Barbadians as (a) main talking point,” moreso than opposing on behalf of a particular political party.

    Ironically, she NEVER kept “the welfare of Barbadians as (her) main talking point.
    In fact, she spent ten (10) years DOING the OPPOSITE, preferring instead to support the DLP ‘over and above’ struggling poor people.
    Back then, the same lady supported the draconian economic policies implemented by the previous DLP administration, while ‘telling’ critics they were unpatriotic ‘BLP operatives and foot soldiers who should ‘wrap themselves in the 🇧🇧 flag and put Barbados first.’

    The goodly lady also supported the previous administration’s retrenchment of over 5,000 public sector employees.
    For example, she lambasted those persons who HIGHLIGHTED the PLIGHT of the poor retrenched Beautify Barbados employees who had to WAIT over THREE (3) YEARS before receiving their severance payments.
    And, the former NCC employees who had to go before the NIS Tribunal to receive reduced payments of severance, TWO (2) YEARS after being retrenched.
    How about the former retrenched Transport Board workers who were being given different dates when to collect severance payments, only to be given the ‘runaround’ each time instead?
    The press interviewed Lisa Marshall who, similarly to others former TB employees, expressed her disappointment and frustration after being denied payment on the third occasion.
    In RETALIATION for what they perceived as an attempt to embarras the DLP, an operative from that political party was able to get certain information from Lisa’s personal file, which he leaked to BU to give the impression she (Lisa) was a BLP supporter who stole money from the Transport Board.
    In the ABSENCE of evidence to support the allegations, ac posted several comments thereafter, in which she accused Lisa of being a thief.

    She OPPOSED every suggest that was presented to BU that would assist poor people.
    I remember her criticisms of ‘means testing,’ because, in her opinion, ‘government’ did not have the necessary financial resources she believed were required to implement such a system.

    In other words, poor people ONLY becomes her CONCERN, when the BLP ‘is in power.’

    ‘You go girl.’


  25. “In other words, poor people ONLY becomes her CONCERN, when the BLP ‘is in power.’”

    when people come out with repeated nonsense arguments it is easy to ignore them
    I think their sole purpose in political blogging must to make your head hurt


  26. Truth hurts that is why what comments are being said on social media platforms about govt issues arouse the sensitivity of blp foot soldiers


  27. “In other words, poor people ONLY becomes her CONCERN, when the BLP ‘is in power.”

    We can all agree that ac leans slightly to one side and in the past she was silent where she should have spoken out. As we are four years into a BLP adamisnistration, then, by your word, this meanthat for the past four years she has exhibited continuour concern for the poor of Barabdos. I would like to believe she had a Damasecen moment and realized the error of her ways.

    I will join you and say “You, go girl”. It is good to see others are recognizing her effort and giving here encouragement. I am certain she is grateful for the support.

    🙂


  28. John2

    I’ve been snidely accused of being the Minister of Cherry Picking. No problem.

    However, the reality is, there are always ‘two sides of a story; people often examine the ‘pros and cons’ of a discussion or arguments; and some people will express their support or agreement with a particular issue, while others will be unsupportive or disagree.

    I’m sure those reactions can be found on social media platforms where, for example, some people will obviously agree with the substantive topic, while others will disagree.

    For any individual to choose from among several comments on a particular issue, ONLY THOSE OPINIONS that SUPPORT his/her PARTICULAR BIAS, and attempt to suggest they are the general consensus among Barbadians, is not only guilty of ‘cherry picking,’ but is DISHONEST as well.


  29. “then, by your word, this mean that for the past four years she has exhibited continuous concern for the poor of Barabdos. I would like to believe she had a Damasecen moment and realized the error of her ways.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~

    My friend, I specifically mentioned “poor people ONLY becomes her CONCERN, when the BLP ‘is in power.”

    When Arthur was PM, she was concerned about poor people, until January 15, 2018.
    And, spent the next ten (10) years and three (3) months supporting the DLP, while IGNORING poor people….. until May 25, 2018.

    It is clear “she has a Damasecen moment and realizes the error of her ways,” ONLY when the BLP ‘is in power,’……

    ….. but REVERTS to ‘SAUL’ when the DLP ‘is in power.’

    You’ve essentially contradicted yourself.


  30. “but instead, may just indicate that the ‘winners’ are keen disciples of the warped mentality.”

    lawd…

    “I hope by then the Sir David Adjaye designed slave museum is at least started.”

    am sure the hungry will eat that and thank you very much..


  31. Bushman…they are right THERE….if they miss, well, let’s just say i get to write MORE ARTICLES…and another book..


  32. I can easily relate to groups or individuals having no money but force to make ends meet in order to keep selves from drowning
    However what I cannot in my feeble mind understand is a govt finding the wherewithal to transfer country resources to those who have the most


  33. Two points.. …
    Not so fast. A Damascene moment represents a complete change in an individual. Paul was a persecutor of the early church but soon became one of the foundation stones. It would not be fair to compare ac of 2008 to 2018 (Saul of Tarsus) to Angela Cox of 2018 to 2022 (Paul). Embrace and acknowledge the reformative power of the Damascene moment.

    Join me in saying to AC “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

    Second:
    Dishonest may be too strong a word. I may not be a lawyer but I see myself as an advocate for ac and choose to invoke ‘lawyer client privileges (stay silent)’ instead of attacking and therefore misrepresenting my client. Have you ever seen J2, Lorenzo or enuff attack each other?

    Some here confuse an interview or legal representation as party affiliation


  34. slave museum,…indeed, did yall hear that goat…..and when the tourists done look at all the slave atrocities they can have a good long look at the well educated, well spoken monkeys…take some photos and make videos…line up all the fowls in a row..


  35. can easily relate to groups or individuals having no money but force to make ends meet in order to keep selves from drowning
    However what I cannot in my feeble mind understand is a govt finding the wherewithal to transfer country resources to those who have the most

    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxv

    You mean ur feeble mind couldn’t understand when the dlp government was paying the private haulers to remove trash , the bwa stand tanks and was about to sell the oil terminal???

    It’s not dishonest it’s hypocritical


  36. Artax you are as usual correct Angela Cox does not care anything about poor people based on her behaviour when the dems were in power.She supported the sending home of the over 5000 persons to suck salt and all the other instances you metioned with her cohorts Carson Cadogan and Hal Austin.Do not pay Gazzerts any mind he is the blog comedian and he knows a lot better.I gone.


  37. More voices
    But why not they asked

    Respectfully, You had the option of cutting your salary and that of your large cabinet… and suite of consultants… that could have been the alternative sacrifice made. The taxes are crushing the small man.
    Xxxxxxx
    Too.much deceit

    Mia pretended to give bajans an ease of $20 million turn around and asking bajans to contribute $200 million to her BOSS programs, I am expecting an increase in NIS benefits, only a idiot would buy government useless junk bonds, that when nearing maturity, she increases the time payment, I have no CONFIDENCE in this M. O. F, very deceitful, I said I gave her six weeks to revealed her true intentions, and it took her 24 hrs, 🤬🤬🤬


  38. “It would not be fair to compare ac of 2008 to 2018 (Saul of Tarsus) to Angela Cox of 2018 to 2022 (Paul).”
    ~~~~~~~~~~

    Please note, I mentioned Owen Arthur, thereby referring to his 1994 to 2008 tenure, during which time ac, ‘professed’ to be concerned for poor people.

    Based on historical evidence, it would be reasonable to CONCLUDE she experienced a “Damascene moment,” (which according to you, “represents a complete change in an individual”)….. on THREE (3) OCCASIONS.

    The FIRST during the period September 6, 1994 to January 15, 2008.
    The SECOND during the period January 16, 2008 to May 24, 2018.
    And, the THIRD from May 25, 2018 to this day.

    Perhaps she may experience ANOTHER “Damascene moment,” if there is a CHANGE in ‘government’ after the next general elections.

    In conclusion, I have “embraced and acknowledge the reformative power of the Damascene moment”….., to know that while Paul BECAME and REMAINED a completely changed individual (Saul) after his ‘moment,’ ac REVERTS to her PRE-CONVERSION habits after hers.

    No, I’ve never “ever seen J2, Lorenzo or enuff attack each other.”
    People, including you, assume they “are just fully inflated hot air balloons 🎈.”
    Therefore, based on your comments, am I to assume that you and ac are colleagues 💛 ?

    Note the colour. 😉


  39. “It would not be fair to compare ac of 2008 to 2018 (Saul of Tarsus) to Angela Cox of 2018 to 2022 (Paul).”
    ~~~~~~~~~~

    Please note, I mentioned Owen Arthur, thereby referring to his 1994 to 2008 tenure, during which time ac, ‘professed’ to be concerned for poor people.

    Based on historical evidence, it would be reasonable to CONCLUDE she experienced a “Damascene moment,” (which according to you, “represents a complete change in an individual”)….. on THREE (3) OCCASIONS.

    The FIRST during the period September 6, 1994 to January 15, 2008.
    The SECOND during the period January 16, 2008 to May 24, 2018.
    And, the THIRD from May 25, 2018 to this day.

    Perhaps she may experience ANOTHER “Damascene moment,” if there is a CHANGE in ‘government’ after the next general elections.

    In conclusion, I have “embraced and acknowledge the reformative power of the Damascene moment”….., to know that while Paul BECAME and REMAINED a completely changed individual (Saul) after his ‘moment,’ ac REVERTS to her PRE-CONVERSION habits after hers.

    No, I’ve never “ever seen J2, Lorenzo or enuff attack each other.”
    People, including you, assume they “are just fully inflated hot air balloons 🎈.”
    Therefore, based on your comments, am I to assume that you and ac are colleagues 💛 ?


  40. To be fair to ac …
    Ac tenure on BU have been between the years of 2010 and 2022
    Prior to those years nothing would indicated on BU or other social media platforms or campagain platforms ac was vocal on political issues or happenings in this 166sq mile
    Be that as it may finding evidence that ac would have supported issues which placed barbadians households into the depths of poverty is convoluted and political top spinning in mud


  41. I will be short
    1) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

    Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

    2) And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. …

    One can be certain that the thief was not on the cross as a first time offender. But his penitence and sincerity at the very last moment earned him the forgiveness and negated all his past offences.
    —–x—–
    I amuse myself. With very little Bible knowledge, I used to give some earnest Witnesses a tough time.


  42. TheO

    I don’t attack Lorenzo or enuff neither do Praise, encourage or defend them

    I think Lorenzo read most or all of you right


  43. Social media voices are asking
    Why is Mottley taking the country back to days where poor people had to stand on line for food
    Social media voices are outrage at such an initiative seen back in the day when Queens Park was used as a food program to feed poor people seen standing in line in the hot sun for food
    Asking is food meal program being used as a staging ground to sensitized the people for more of what is to come to feed the poverty stricken people


  44. The torrid Shameful actions and disrespect for the poor by this govt is Mind-boggling
    The fear of reprisal by those who are hurting the most must be underscored by a govt without an opposition.


  45. Also let me ask
    Where is the example of sacrifice Govt and leadership has shown in like manner they have asked of the people
    How about a salary cut money which can be placed in a rainy day basket for the most vulnerable
    All the long talk from govt about sacrifice
    The people have become sacrifical lambs lead to slaughter
    It is amazing how the masses eagerly awaiting to get on a line marching towards their own demise
    What are they thinking ?
    Only God Knows


  46. DavidJuly 18, 2022 1:52 PM

    @Hants

    Large and in charge.

    Xxxx
    Maybe she ought to take some of that largesse she used sleight of hands. to delivered to big belly consultants and big business
    Charge forward and send some where it most needed amongst the poor and vulnerable
    Plus a committe for every dam thing not nailed down and nothing to show
    Wait wuh happen to the republic committee
    Somebody needs to awaken them out of their slumber


  47. “Dr. Yearwood a qualified lawyer owning and in possession of the LEC”
    Lol…sometimes I wonder
    Only two Barbadians, both lawyers, have led the DLP to “Lose Every Constituency”. You would think you would find a new line, new leader…instead of one, no LEC, which didn’t work out well.
    The pendulum will swing back one day.
    Whether it is Ronnie, or the next leader.


  48. Keep talking about Ronnie
    He is not in charge of the country
    Crime wrecking the good name of Barbados
    Extreme poverty on its way up
    Just a reminder folks of who is in charge of managing the affairs of Barbados
    Mia Mottley


  49. OsA voice shouting loud from the gravec

    Government’s Summer Nutrition programme is being called a top-down directive made without proper consultation.
    While the spirit of the programme is commendable, where children will be guaranteed a nutritious meal over the summer, critics said the implementation left much to be desired.“These workers are committed to feeding the nation’s children but there is a sense of disrespect.
    This was a top-down approach seemingly being forced upon them,” he said, adding the details of the programme had not been finalised. (CA)“Nobody is going to be against any welfare-type support for children but the workers are still unclear about the logistics. The process of consultation was inadequate.Part of the issue involves the School Meals Department preparing the meals with deputy general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers, Wayne Walrond, saying the workers felt disrespected.


  50. A pop down school.program heralded by the rock star PM Mia Mottley as the best thing since slice bread
    Imagine the total disrespect for the teachers
    Imagine preparing months in advance for school vacation and notices are rolled out dictatorship style by govt to manage and derail the plans
    What a ting doah
    Mia cares
    Really


  51. After riling up the cabal I now peep back at this thread to see this:

    “We can all agree that ac leans slightly to one side..”

    We? Theogas sir, you’re one of few if not the only one on/off BU that can agree AC leans SLIGHTLY to one side. Leaning is only required when you start at the midpoint (neutral). and AC herself does not hide that she’s not even near that starting point. You were quick to label folks agents of the BLP but AC leans SLIGHTLY to one side? You are plain dishonest and shamelessly so.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


  52. DLP-ites moaning on social media has not got them anywhere.
    They should try another attack tack.


  53. Take warning Barbadians.

    Government Goes To Parliament To Restrict Barbadians’ Ability To Object To Granting of Licenses To Electricity Suppliers

    The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is warning Barbadians that a proposed Amendment to the Electric Light and Power Act set to be debated on Tuesday, July 19 will remove some of their rights to object to the award of electricity licences for big power systems and to make representation to the minister about the terms and conditions contained in electricity licences.

    “Last Friday, 15 July 2022 while many Barbadians were preparing for Crop-Over events at the weekend, or simply getting on with their lives, the Government of Barbados gave notice of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Electric Light and Power Act, which is to be moved in Parliament on 19 July, 2022.

    The Amendment will severely limit the right of all Barbadian voters, consumers and businesses from objecting to, or expressing their concerns about, any application for a licence to supply electricity in Barbados, whether it is Barbados Light and Power or any other company that wants to generate electricity in Barbados,”
    President Dr. Ronnie Yearwood declared today in a statement.

    He quoted an extract of the current Electric Light and Power Act that gives the opportunity for “All interested parties ” to make representation to the Minister. That is being removed and replaced with an instruction that any “interested party” will first have to justify why they are interested in objecting (Section 5).

    “Isn’t being a consumer good enough anymore to raise your concern over the suppliers of electricity that will ultimately affect the cost of your electricity? This will adversely affect all of us. Also, a Committee has to determine if a person has merit to be an interested party. But there is no review process for the decision of the Committee if a person who wants to be an interested party is turned down by the Committee. Can Government publish the list of names of persons on this Committee to notify Barbadians of its composition?” Dr. Yearwood queried.

    Dr. Yearwood stated:
    “The most unjust and unpalatable part of the Amendment is Section 6 which says: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section entitles an interested party to have access to the application of any applicant for a licence.’
    “How can an interested party make representation about a licence application without any information about the application, the applicant and the activity to be licensed? This provision makes a nonsense of a process that is intended to add rigour and transparency to our Goverment’s licensing of large electricity generation systems over 1 Megawatt.”

    The Attorney-at-Law explained that the opportunity for any Barbadian to intervene in an electricity licence application was in place since 2015. He added that it was intended to be a formal consultation on whether an applicant should be granted a licence.

    “The proposed amendment by this Barbados Labour Party Government runs counter to the accepted legal principles for consultation.
    The electricity producers in this category can have an impact on the supply of power to Barbados’ consumers and businesses, and on the security of supply. The Ministry of Energy says that the electricity sector is worth $4 billion annually.
    There is no justification for this naked attempt to rob Barbadians of what is intended to be a meaningful intervention process. Who is being served by this Amendment? Certainly not Barbadian electricity users, Dr. Yearwood said.

    “The Barbados Labour Party Government commitment on paper to transparency, civic responsibility and civic engagement is not met by this Amendment.
    “Minister Symmonds is responsible for protecting the interests of consumers in Barbados, but stood in our Parliament a couple of weeks ago and scolded Barbadians for standing up to Barbados Light and Power calling it “a form of foolishness” and warning “those who have ears to hear,” the Party leader stated.

    He said that for three years the Ministry has been promising new legislation to open up the electricity sector so that all Barbadians can benefit from it. “Three years and all that they can come up with is a law that would prevent ordinary Barbadians from having a say in how that sector is developed and from understanding exactly who we are allowing to provide precious electricity to us!”

    The University Lecturer warned that the Amendment by Minister Symmonds sets a dangerous precedent of excluding Barbadians from seeing what is being done in their names and of excluding citizens from Government’s business.

    “Which area of government activity is next? Stopping us from objecting to Town Planning giving permission for major projects?
    Stopping intervenors from objecting to rate increases before the Fair Trading Commission (FTC)? After all the same Minister is responsible for the FTC and Barbados Light and Power. What’s to stop him from drafting a law that says that intervenors in rate cases cannot see the application for increases?”

    He reminded that “ In Parliament on 13 August 2019, the then Minister of Energy Wilfred Abrahams promised that Barbadians would get to comment on draft electricity licences; instead we get an attempt to block us from any involvement in electricity licensing in Barbados.
    “Barbadians are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis and the Government’s hot and sweaty approach to it. This is inclusive of the mere $17.50 off monthly light bills which can be in the hundreds, even with energy saving devices installed in homes, which is simply not good enough.”

    Dr. Yearwood concluded by asking: “Minister Symmonds and the Government of Barbados, what is in the electricity licences that you are hiding from the people of Barbados?”


  54. @ac
    Where do you get the energy from?
    Such stamina; such determination to right obvious wrongs. You are like an arrow of Robin Hood aimed at a target.
    You are seldom distracted as you keep the main issues in focus.

    I think of you like a little train that could’; a train that carries freight well above its weight category.

    There is this movie the highlander which uses the phrase “There can only be one”. As I see you fight off the bullies of BU all by yourself I can only think.. One determined fighter is all that is needed. You go girl.

    Keep our eyes on the prize.


  55. Dr . Yearwood definitely punching above his weight
    You go
    Dr. Yearwood
    Great leaders knows when to hold them
    Govt bound and determine to put a lid on transparency


  56. Of course he has them in a quandary. Like you he is focused on their jugular. Like a skilled pianist Ronnie Obama is touching every note. Your poetry and his artistry will drive them insane

    From BT
    Dr Yearwood said the reason for the selection of the four areas identified is because they are the key areas of concerns currently to locals.

    “If you survey the landscape of Barbados you would recognise that these are the four pressing issues, the economy and cost of living, education, educational reform and issues of social inclusion because people feel excluded and they feel challenged by the cost of living and the issues that they are facing,” he said, adding that juvenile justice reform and health are critical sectors of concern as well.


  57. I need to change my friends
    How many unique candidates did the BLP run in the last two elections. A friend wants to know if Mia has more help than Ali Baba.

    A friend asking about a Monkey Pox Vaccine scam.

    Now playing
    Mama Mia and her 30 Midgets


  58. It must be a Bajan trait to lay on the praise double and triple heavy when it suits your own bias

    check out Bu posters
    John
    GP
    Vincent
    Waru
    William
    Theo
    AC
    to name a few who are sycophants to the max


  59. So that left the sleeping giant and his 0 midgets
    The night watchman and he 0 midgets

    Next up – Obama and his 0 midgets ?

    What acting doah

    U go boy 👦


  60. Now I understand
    why you cannot see
    the beauty of ac poetry.
    You would rhyme
    Forty with twenty-nine
    I suspect Lorenzo is also a midget
    Even smaller than his politics


  61. Gazzerts ac is a jackass and so are you.Why you think Carson Cadogan and all the others desert her.Keep supporting her in shite.All noth of you and Dr Yearwood going tpo achieve is another whipping at 5he nect elections whenever they are called.You heard it here first as not many living in Barbados buying what you two selling.Pick sense from nonsense.I gone.


  62. @J2
    Her many fans shout 40-0
    But 5 years gone and nothing to show
    Excepts for tricks and plenty of scams
    All pointing back to the one called MAM

    Let’s start to enumerate her many tricks
    First is the scheme of a Republic
    Followed by an early election
    Cart before horse – no constitution
    Then to correct the sin of omission
    Hastily appointing a Commission

    Instead of learning from her mistakes
    Appointing favorites to the Senate
    Fans applaud nomination of an infant
    Expecting a robust debate from a sychopant
    (Think that last line gonna get me in trouble)

    The fans now realized that 90-0
    Is no better than 0-0
    Eve one bite of the apple lead to destruction
    Mia’s 3 bites ends in total corruption


  63. About this “schools meals during vacation” thing, if i did living in de village wid “Sousy” for a neighbour; there is no way dat I would be sending my little Suzy and Johnny down by nuh school fuh nuh school meals. No way I say. None whatsoever. Like my mother used to tell me when I was child, “nuhbody can’t know yuh hungry unless yuh open yuh mout and tell dem”
    Imagine I send them to collect the little bittle and Sousy peep through she window and she them, wuh you think gine happen? Yes. The whole uh Buhbadus gine know dat I aint got nothing in here to eat.
    How I gine be able to walk de road and turn up me nose at the peasants?
    How dah gine look?

    Now if there was a camp or some other activity going on at the school, sure; they would be first in line but just to go down there to get something to eat? No thanks, we good.


    • @Walter

      You have a style where you try to give all callers a run. It is because of this need to label people by the politics they are perceived to have that all moderators will have to endure. It is par for the course. The blogmaster knows it.


  64. Reality Check Reality Time
    People are naive to believe leaders can boost local economies when global economies shrink or nations can maintain same profits when businesses and industries are struggling with Covid. Narratives about poor being poor need solutions not singing the blues lyrics. Low life opposition need a foothold and will make the most of hard times but are not able to fix things either.


  65. Unit Dub Second Cut
    Under Heavy Manners
    Censorship is arbitrary
    Freedom of Speech (1st Amendment) will need to be introduced into the Barbados Constitution

    In that little Village where I once lived
    Most of those people are branded underprivileged
    They are always to receive but they never want to give
    In that Village where I once lived

    Now those Big Folks are talking corrupted bribes
    While those youths come looking for petty lives
    Now it seems they don’t want me to strive anymore
    That’s why they want to wreck my life

    Village of the Underprivileged · Gregory Isaacs The Winner – The Roots of Gregory Isaacs 1974-1978


  66. My Crop.over calypso song

    We say pride and industry
    But something gone wrong
    Yuh hear
    The talk on the street
    Sufferation they say
    De government say
    Community spirit not bout hey
    We gonna roll out de soup.kitchens like back in dey day
    Bout hey
    Peeps open up wunna eyes
    De days of slavery ain’t done
    Peeps roll up.wunna sleeves
    Don’t let govt juck.out yuh eye
    The land belong We
    We were taught about pride and industry
    60 – 0 like a wrecking ball
    Knocking down all
    up.in hey


  67. Theo….permission to use that one in my Proverbs & Poems menu with a disclaimer,…Thanks…


  68. Calypso Calypso Peter Metro
    Lyrics that rhyme with O
    words that start with A
    And speaking Spanish


  69. You notice there is ALWAYS boasting on BU about the “large” AND CORRUPT…so how will anything ever change….when you admire and UPHOLD…instead of HOLDING
    them ACCOUNTABLE…apparently yall int ready to take any of this seriously…

    being played like a violin and enjoy it….easily impressed BY SHIT…

    the historical judas bloodlines are SELLING OUT THE PEOPLE to utility companies……apparently that is not even registering in the groupie minds…..


  70. “…instead of HOLDING
    them ACCOUNTABLE…”

    There is no Evidence of Corruption with Mia
    Case Dismissed


  71. It’s safer to say you never saw any evidence of corruption….cause you never had access….

    .trust me, it’s OVERFLOWING…and still they refuse to do right by the people….that tells us everything…


  72. TheO

    No no no. With all the foul up bleeep and scandals there is a lot more being done in the ground now than under the 0s. If you were a frequent visitor during the last 15-20 yrs u would tell the difference

    Don’t let me go back to the sewage, buses , garbage. Etc.

    If you dont want to take my word then you can go back a few week to John A complaining that they spending like they still in 2019. How he know they spending unless he seeing it? Under the 0s there were taxes, not one scandal and very little spending ( especially on infrastructure?

    Don’t start me up now. I know you dlpites have problems with numbers


  73. @AOC
    I saw two big typos…but you are welcome … sycophant Eve’s

    @J2
    I’ll be visiting in October.
    When you see me get silent in October, you should know I am there quiet as a mouse.


  74. The fire keeps burning
    Natives no longer accepting bs
    Voices heard across social media platforms are making their feelings known and heard
    Xccc

    Every evening about 200 able bodied men, lined up for food in independence square or out by CB, as I said Mia had emasculated the men of 🇧🇧, governance is for all, not a few, mostly young males are going to jail, mostly young males are being killed, and bajans are in denial to what is before them, many males are unemployed, 🇧🇧 cabinet has been emasculated, look at John king and duguid, shells of themselves, and the others are zombies, no real value, eat sleep 💩💩💩, repeat, no use to 🇧🇧, Mia stole their souls, the women only talk pretty, but makes no sense, fk up after fk up, look at Carol Roberts, used to be bright, just fronting, marsh caddle, now like a puppet, Santia bradshaw, another bright spark, head blank, does Mia think we are blind, now she going after your toddlers, I guarantee, when they reach 21, more criminals, destinies will be stolen, just empty vessels, terrorising 🇧🇧, nothing is for free, stop looking for hand outs, God will provide, he always does, a leader empowers their ppl, not turn them into beggars, following her g/f foot steps, at least he help the poor, she is creating poverty,


  75. “Voices heard across social media platforms are making their feelings known and heard”

    Social Media is for Crises Merchants like DLP looking to cash in on anything that should be taken with golf ball size rocks of salt some of the finest ganja and strongest bajan rum in the black market. The bullshit is on social media and shared by dishonest partisan Lazy thinkers..


  76. Here is some more lazy thinking to chew on
    10 million spent to improve QEH left people crying
    Xxxxc

    When I look at QEH,A&E and see what MAM, say cost $10 million, I feel like crying


  77. @enuff
    The true difference between B & D is so small that (for partisans) a slight lean in one direction places you firmly in the middle of pne of the camps.

    Hope that helps.

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