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A Matter of Integrity

On the 29 th of July 2022 on the floor of the Senate Minister of Tourism Lisa Cummins during wind up on Resolution: Special Loans Act, Cap. 105 – Scotland District Road Rehabilitation made a surprising revelation. At about 2hrs. 12 mins into the video Cummins explained that a loan agreement with China in 2017…

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On the 29 th of July 2022 on the floor of the Senate Minister of Tourism Lisa Cummins during wind up on Resolution: Special Loans Act, Cap. 105 – Scotland District Road Rehabilitation made a surprising revelation. At about 2hrs. 12 mins into the video Cummins explained that a loan agreement with China in 2017 included a condition which exposed Barbados sovereign assets to China in the event there was a default by the government of the day.

A few days later former Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy – who was in office during 2017 – issued a robust denial to what Cummins stated. Quoting Sealy’s rebuttal:-

There is nothing in the agreement about any airport or seaport being [claimed] in the case of default.

I do not know where that young lady got her information. I do not know if she is being misguided . . . [but it is] absolute total rubbish,” he said.

The former minister of tourism added that the agreement was regarding the Sam Lord’s Castle Hotel Project. He said the arrangement with COMPLANT (the China National Complete Plant Import Export Corporation) was for the project to be a discreet one which could stand on its own.

The Government (then) was determined not to have a repeat of the HRL (Hotels & Resorts Limited)/Gems of Barbados fiasco so there was an exit plan where as soon as we completed the job, the private sector would come in and do what they had to do, which is exactly what this Government is doing,

Source: Nation Newspaper

The blogmaster is unaware the public has been satisfied what is the truth in the matter raised. No documents have been made public as far as the blogmaster is aware to satisfactorily clarify the matter. What is the purpose of our existence if our leaders cannot do so with integrity. What is the purpose of a democracy if people remain silent.

166 responses to “A Matter of Integrity”

  1. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    This shouldn’t be she say/he say type of nonsense, The Minister is a member of Cabinet she should be able to back up her statement and let the chips fall where they may.

    BTW why didn’t the Minister contest a seat in the last election? It isn’t like she is long in the tooth and looking retirement in the face, she had the same responsibility in the last Parliament and given the BLP’s hold on the electorate would have been a shoo in in any constituency. The Gov’ts has a major focus on Tourism, the incumbent Minister should be in the H of A not in the sleep Senate where careers go to die.

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Sargeant,

    There is no DLP opposition in parliament so the Minister is not constrained to factual statements.

    How will we know who is telling the truth ?

  3. John Avatar
    John

    HantsSeptember 29, 2022 8:51 AM

    @ Sargeant,

    There is no DLP opposition in parliament so the Minister is not constrained to factual statements.

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

    There is no opposition, so Parliament is unconstitutional!!

    The Minister himself is not a factual entity so he can say whatever he wants.

  4. John Avatar
    John

    Sorry, …………….. she can say whatever she wants!!

  5. Fred Avatar
    Fred

    The government shared the clause from the loan agreement, it was published in a Barbados Today story that ran around the same time. As shared it seemed to back up what Cummins said

  6. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    The usual conspiracy theories. Instead of guessing, let’s wait for an official announcement from the Supreme Leader´s headquarters.

  7. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Fred

    Correct! We will pretend the airport and seaport do not form part of our sovereign assets. Note Sealy never said sovereign assets weren’t mentioned, he said airport and seaport. It is like talking about Barbados and because Ch Ch and St. Michael are not mentioned, they can be exempted.🤣

  8. David Avatar
    David

    Can somebody post the link? This matter is worth discussing.

  9. dreamstarworld Avatar
    dreamstarworld

    @David

    #DEBT_TRAP_DIPLOMACY has been rampant in Africa, Latin America, Caribbean & wherever #ChairmanXi can his nebulous financial tentacles…

    “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the region’s GDP growth hovered around a distinctly sub-par 0.8 percent; meanwhile, more than two-thirds of Caribbean states have a debt-to-GDP ratio of over 60 percent. In many countries, nearly 20 percent of government revenue already goes to debt repayment. Since 2010, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, and Jamaica (twice) have defaulted on and restructured their debts. Across the board, it is important to note that these small island economies have very small GDPs – Antigua and Barbuda comes in at $1.6 billion; Grenada at $1.2 billion; and Barbados at $5.2 billion – which inherently casts doubt on the feasibility of paying back future loans in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”

    “At the same time, the Caribbean remains a difficult region for entrepreneurship and trade in general. According to the Ease of Doing Business Report, the highest ranked Caribbean country is Jamaica at 71 followed by St. Lucia at 93. While Chinese loans come with the promise of economic diversification, the realities on the ground indicate that infrastructure development will not be remotely sufficient to facilitate either that outcome, or the promised increases in GDP growth. There is little reason to think Chinese loans could be paid back without becoming a burden.”
    https://youtu.be/_-QDEWwSkP0

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @TB

    The debt trap is a global issue, as NO stated on another blog, we are addicted to debt.

  11. dreamstarworld Avatar
    dreamstarworld

    @ David
    GOVs hide the true import of the Chinese influence in Black countries, as it is a dubious form of NeoColonialism on steroids, and the “Black Boys” who run our countries are made rich in order to turn the other cheek & to look the other way… They may suggests that the #ChineseDebtTrap is a mythology but you & I know what’s UP!!!
    https://youtu.be/sOOFSJqBYTY

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

    Look Fowl….where is the link, yall think people are dumb enuff to take yall LYING WORD FOR IT…

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

    ” and the “Black Boys” who run our countries are made rich in order to turn the other cheek & to look the other way…”

    that’s all they have done for the last 100 YEARS since the little traitor bloodline negros were allowed to slither into slave master parliaments…

    ..remember Dumbville told a federal judge “dah iz how we duz do business in Barbados,”

    don’t look for anything to every change IT CAN’T…they all carry the same lowcrawling mindsets….

    have they buried “where’s my cut” yet…

    that’s what they do, their “watch muh nuh” ,modus.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Imagine we have a highly publicized difference of opinion regarding the conditions attached to a 2017 loan agreement between China and Barbados. A former MoT calls the current MoT a liar, according to enuff and Fred there was some explanation posted to BT and now the matter has faded. There is no attempt to hold people accountable for misleading the public. This is how we roll.

  15. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    The Minister made a statement in one of the Houses of Parliament which was refuted by the former Minister. Both can’t be telling the truth. If Mr. Sealy is telling the truth then Minister Cummins is lying to the House, which is a serious offence with only two options: her resignation; or her removal from the Senate. If Mr. Sealy were lying, I am sure that by now, the Government would have produced the documents to substantiate Minister Cummins’ assertion.

    Ms Cummins should produce the documents or resign.

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

    Hi Caswell…..hope all is well with you.

  17. John Avatar
    John

    DavidSeptember 29, 2022 1:48 PM

    @TB

    The debt trap is a global issue, as NO stated on another blog, we are addicted to debt.

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

    It isn’t that we are addicted to debt!!

    Borrowing is the only way we get money.

    Successive Governments have destroyed the booming economy which built up the assets that are now depleted and secure the debt.

  18. John Avatar
    John

    Caswell FranklynSeptember 29, 2022 2:42 PM

    The Minister made a statement in one of the Houses of Parliament which was refuted by the former Minister.

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

    The former Minister is the only person who could speak in the constitutionally formed Houses of Parliament.

    The other minister is an imposter.

    So, who is telling the truth?

    Which one you would believe?

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

    They are absolutely the VERY WORSE thing that could have ever happened to Afrikan people post slavery., those lying, corrupt negros given tiny power…over their people……

  20. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    When the World Ends
    so will Debt Problems
    Why Worry
    Drum Village

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcTlEYt_6Aw

  21. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    @David, you know that this remark really is DIFFICULT to accept re:

    The government shared the clause from the loan agreement, it was published in a Barbados Today story that ran around the same time. As shared it seemed to back up what Cummins said

    That suggests that the entire elected opposition of the day, public commentators like yourself, Mr Frankly and others ALL missed that startling bit of news!

    How was that possible!!!

    We may indeed not hold folks accountable as you say but surely a contratc by the former govt with a default clause giving China any legal control or ownership of our national assets as noted above would have generated widespread loud noise.

    On the flip side of that: why would a govt minister make outlandishly false remarks as this one is so accused???

    Is our politics (worldwide) now about clicks and viral public notice leading to personal recognition/branding with little concern about accuracy!

  22. David Avatar
    David

    So far the link to the BT article mentioned remains elusive.

  23. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Our honourable government is doing its best. The official government channel will soon bring together and explain the nuances in the interpretation of the treaty. Until then, we should be patient.

    In the meantime, we should cheer the next IMF programme and the coming job cuts at the SOEs.

    Trust in the government is the highest civic virtue!

    Tron, year 1 NR, year 4 SL

  24. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    Maybe you should have paid attention when it was in the news. I remember back then you weren’t so keen. I hope there’s consistency when it comes to source/evidence. Becausen many on BU just spout. You remember the cash for jabs claim? You asked fuh evidence?🤭

  25. Yvonne Avatar
    Yvonne

    Chinese debt trap is all over Africa,

    YOUTUBE China takes over Uganda’s Airport for failing to repay Loan.

    {How Beijing is weaponizing depts.}

    Maimane asks Ramaphosa on detail of china’s Loan.

    China own half of Barbados, check out how many guest houses are under their ownership.

  26. Norris Avatar
    Norris

    Russia Blows Up Gas Pipelines, Declaring an All-Out Energy War It May Already Have Lost

    anish Defense shows the gas leaking at Nord Stream 2 seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor on Bornholm, Denmark on September 27, 2022. Credit – Danish Defence—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

    There may be no clearer sign of an enemy in retreat than his scuttling his own ships, which is what Putin appears to have done on Monday by blowing up the main pipelines for exporting Russia’s natural gas to Europe. Putin may be in effect declaring an all-out energy war by completely cutting off fossil fuel exports to the West, but by waiting seven months after invading Ukraine to do so he has lost the advantage. Although the energy crisis will rage on, Russia has lost the energy war.

    A series of three explosions ruptured parts of both Nord Stream 1 and 2 on September 26 in what seems to have been an act of coordinated sabotage. A possible fourth leak was also just identified. The natural gas pipelines, each running from Russia into Poland with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year, were a key part of Russia’s efforts to wield energy leverage over Europe and to hurt Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 in particular was intended only as a way of bypassing Ukraine so that Kyiv would be deprived the roughly $3 billion annual transit fees for moving the gas of Russian state-owned giant Gazprom into the European Union. Meanwhile, Russia earned $120 billion per year from energy exports to Europe in the ten years leading up to the invasion, much of which came from natural gas sales through Nord Stream 1, and which constituted two-thirds of the Russian state budget.

    Although both pipelines had gas in them that is now leaking out into the Baltic Sea in a literally unprecedented ecological disaster, neither was operational at the time of the explosions. Putin had used Nord Stream 1 over the last six months to blackmail Europe by gradually reducing gas flows and periodically shutting it off for “maintenance.” Gazprom then stopped it completely on September 2. Nord Stream 2 was never operational. Ukrainian officials and energy experts had long said that Russia would invade as soon as Nord Stream 2 was complete. And it did.

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-blows-gas-pipelines-declaring-152121714.html

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

    Ah see the LIARS still can’t produce the link they said exists…

  28. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    I’m lost here.
    First I “think” former Minister Sealy means discrete, vs discreet.
    In my limited experience it is unusual for any of the Chinese agencies to seek “unspecified” loan collateral beyond the project(s) for which the loan monies are intended.
    Hence, for the Sam Lords project to be collateral in the event of a default is well within past experiences. But for the loan to have ‘unspecified’ collateral, of general state assets, (an airport, a port or whatever) is unusual. It exposes both sides. China, like commercial lenders wish specific assets whereby they are ahead of all others.
    Further, it would be interesting to know, if the GoB had provided collateral for the loan, how did the current administration, and several years after the loan had been finalized, get the terms of the loan altered? I am certain there are many other ‘nation borrowers’ who would like to know.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    @Enuff

    It suits you for it to be buried? Where is the link? Even if it was clarified there is still a bigger issue to address.

    A case of the political class hanging?

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

    and got the nerve to talk about people shoulda been there to read it…..LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH…..because all of this played out within the last few weeks so that nonexistent link could not have gotten very far in archives…

  31. John2 Avatar
    John2

    David

    That dat July 29 is correct? That’s kadooment weekend

    ————————
    Hypocrite

    U did not call ur friend a liar when he was ask to produce a link / evidence .

  32. John2 Avatar
    John2

    Think it June
    The former minister replied on July 2nd
    In nation on July 3rd

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

    so yall don’t know how to access nationnews archive for this nonexistent link…

    the LYING fowl brigade, ya got dates but can’t produce the link……

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

    “FredSeptember 29, 2022 9:17 AM

    The government shared the clause from the loan agreement, it was published in a Barbados Today story that ran around the same time. As shared it seemed to back up what Cummins said.”

    since 9:17 this morning this claim was made, another Fowl said it’s also in barbadostoday, the lead Fowl jumped out to second it…… two newspapers and not a fella can find it…

    ..i feel asleep for HOURS woke up and still no link.

  35. Wily Coyote Avatar
    Wily Coyote

    Wily told you THAT China Loan Agreements ALL have a NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT(NDA) which “exposed Barbados sovereign assets to China” if loan cannot be repaid or NDA info is disclosed.

    It’s a GUARANTEE for China that it gets it’s money or assets or first call on other loan repayments, ie IMF payments.

    Read and weep Barbados, China’s got you by the short currlies.

  36. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Caswell Franklyn September 29, 2022 2:42 PM
    “Ms Cummins should produce the documents or resign.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Totally agree with you, Caswell!

    While she is at it trying to retrieve the “documents” instead of resigning, she should try to find the agreement which gives similar guarantee(s) to the recently borrowed money from the same Chinese lending AGENCY for the so-called rehabilitation of the roads in the Scotland District.

    Why would the Chinese lenders ‘demand’, like Shylock, their guaranteed pound of flesh for a hotel project which can easily be commandeered while road-works earmarked for St. Andrew/St. Joseph/St. John East Coast areas- which will soon end up in the sea as a result of ‘Climate Disaster’- are left unencumbered like the grant given, under the previous DLP administration towards the construction of the national Performing Arts Centre at Brandons or even the Stadium at Waterford expected under the current lot of liars?

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

    Miller…….. glad you see how the Fowl Brigade sleaze around with their slick, nearly invisible LYING…they been doing it for YEARS on here but got a little too ELABORATE and carried away with this one and cahn produce the evidence…

    some of us might have, but there is NO WAY Caswell and others would miss something as important as that within the last month or two…in, not one, but two newspapers as the fowls were so assertive in proclaiming.

  38. Frank Avatar
    Frank

    Waru of all people accusing somebody of lying?

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

    I never claimed something was in not one BUT TWO NEWSPAPERS and then CAN’T PRODUCE IT….

  40. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    David

    If the ‘discussion’ is about the US$170M loan Barbados acquired from China Exim Bank for the redevelopment of the Sam Lord’s Castle hotel, which is to be operated under the Wyndham brand, then, the loan agreement can be found on Parliament’s website.

  41. Igud Fuhnow Avatar
    Igud Fuhnow

    Outrageous!
    SEALY DENIES BARBADOS’ PORTS PUT UP AS COLLATERAL FOR LOAN FROM CHINA
    By Emmanuel Joseph
    Absolute nonsense and a total fabrication.
    That is how former Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy has described the claim that the Freundel Stuart administration signed a loan agreement with China that would allow Beijing to own any of the island’s ports of entry if the country had defaulted on repayment.
    The allegation was made on Wednesday by Minister of Tourism and International Transport Lisa Cummins in relation to the US$170 million loan agreement signed by the previous government to finance the Sam Lord’s Castle Hotel project.
    Her comments came during debate in the Senate on a resolution to seek approval to borrow $256 million from the Export/Import Bank of China for the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project.
    “There is a provision within this loan agreement that this administration spent a lot of time navigating because of that loan under the Democratic Labour Party that put Barbados in a position – and I want people to hear me clearly – where sovereign assets owned by the State were liable to be picked and owned by a foreign entity if there was a default on the loan,” the Government Senator told the Upper Chamber, adding that the assets included “a port, an airport…anything to be picked”.
    But in a robust response on Friday, Sealy said the Tourism Minister’s claims were outrageous.
    “It was just an outrageous, complete and total untruth,” he told Barbados TODAY.
    “Completely fabricated. There is no provision in that Sam Lord’s Castle loan for the People’s Republic of China and/or any company of theirs to take up the airport or seaport if we default on that loan,” he insisted.
    Sealy argued that a careful examination of the contract would not support Cummins’ assertion.
    “So I don’t know where that foolishness is coming from. I felt compelled to respond because of what, unfortunately, has been happening around the globe, particularly in Africa, with some of these loans with Chinese companies.
    “But that is not a possibility with the Sam Lord’s Castle loan. It can stand on its own as a commercial project, and this same government is continuing with it because they recognise it.
    So I don’t know where that nonsense is coming from,” he insisted.
    The 36-page loan agreement of November 13, 2014, a copy of which has been obtained by Barbados TODAY, does make Barbados’ sovereign assets liable as collateral on default of the loan. However, nowhere in that contract is there any mention of ports of any kind, neither was any state property specifically identified.
    Article 5.5 of the agreement states: “Neither the borrower nor any of its assets is entitled to any right of immunity on the ground of sovereign or otherwise from arbitration, suit, execution or any other legal process with respect to its obligations under this agreement, as the case may be, in any jurisdiction.”
    Article 8.1 was even more direct with regards to Barbados allowing China to levy on its sovereign assets.
    “The borrower hereby irrevocably waives any immunity on the grounds of sovereign or otherwise for itself or its property in connection with any arbitration proceedings pursuit to Article 8.5 hereof, or with the enforcement of any arbitral award pursuant thereto,” stated the document, signed by then Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Deputy General Manager of the Concessional Loan Department of the China Exim Bank, Tong Qing. emmanuekjoseph@barbadostoday.bb

  42. Igud Fuhnow Avatar
    Igud Fuhnow

    https://epaper.barbadostoday.bb/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=ecf80376-88de-4028-96ff-0233c84fe1ed

    Archive July 1 2022

  43. John2 Avatar
    John2

    Who claimed that it was in two newspapers ?

  44. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @MillerSeptember 29, 2022 6:37 PM

    Any demand for resignation is totally unfounded. The devil’s pact with the Chinese serves only to maintain the illusion of prosperity for our indigenous, lazy masses. Without this debt, there would be no troublemakers and rebellious union leaders like the former senator, simply because our indigenous masses would be unemployed or would have emigrated.

    The former senator and agitator should finally accept a government offer for an ambassadorship and then, like Jeff Cumberbatch, keep quiet forever.

    Only silence guarantees prosperity and security in our realm.

  45. John2 Avatar
    John2

    You fool. I was talking to David and referring to the article he posted from the nation news
    Xxxxxxx

    The Government (then) was determined not to have a repeat of the HRL (Hotels & Resorts Limited)/Gems of Barbados fiasco so there was an exit plan where as soon as we completed the job, the private sector would come in and do what they had to do, which is exactly what this Government is doing,

    Source: Nation Newspaper

    Yuh too fast

  46. Norris Avatar
    Norris

    The former senator and agitator should finally accept a government offer for an ambassadorship and then, like Jeff Cumberbatch, keep quiet forever.

    Only silence guarantees prosperity and security in our realm.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Tron

    You have nailed it this is how the game is played locally.

  47. John Avatar
    John

    MillerSeptember 29, 2022 6:37 PM

    @ Caswell Franklyn September 29, 2022 2:42 PM
    “Ms Cummins should produce the documents or resign.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Totally agree with you, Caswell!

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

    Resign from what?

    How do you resign from something that doesn’t exist?

  48. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Bread and butter
    Incompetence. If he had test fired one shot every year from 2011, he would be out of bullets already. Leave the frigging man alone.

    ‘Under duress’ – by Barbados Today September 29, 2022
    Eleven years after being accused of having an unlicensed gun and ammunition, Renee Ricardo Hope told jurors that he placed his initials on a confession statement written by police officers because he felt his life was in danger.

    As he tearfully delivered an unsworn statement from the dock, Hope maintained his innocence, saying that he knew nothing about the illegal firearm and bullets.

    The 48-year-old of Ashdeane Village, Black Rock, St Michael, was back in the No. 4 Supreme Court on Thursday as his trial continued. He is charged with possession of a .32 automatic pistol and eight rounds of ammunition on May 21, 2011.”

  49. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    Based on the 7.41pm entry, my earlier comments were incorrect. It does appear the collateral received was indeed a non asset-specific claim against
    Barbadian State assets.
    It also seems odd, that BT would publish Sealy’s comments, without asking him about his interpretation of the loan documents which they had.

  50. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    More bread and butter

    I’ve seen a lot of talk about the falling British pound and its impact on tourism.

    If folks still want to travel, they will look for cheaper destinations. Discovering cheaper rooms, sun and sand elsewhere may remove Barbados as a destination for years to come.

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