est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

,

Independence Time – A Time to Reflect on the Role of Prime Minister

The recent Cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Mia Mottley has caused tongues of political pundits to wag. The Cabinet changes came a few months into a second term after an early general election called in January 2021. Prime Minister Mottley under our system of government practiced has the authority to appoint and disappoint regarding the…

, ,
Tge Right Honiurable Sir Bernard St. John
The Right Excellent Errol Barrow
The Right Honourable Sir Erskine Sandiford
The Late J.M.G.M “Tom” Adams |
The Right Honourable, Owen Arthur
The Honourable David Thompson
The Right Honourable, Fruendel Stuart
The Honourable Mia Mottley

The recent Cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Mia Mottley has caused tongues of political pundits to wag. The Cabinet changes came a few months into a second term after an early general election called in January 2021.

Prime Minister Mottley under our system of government practiced has the authority to appoint and disappoint regarding the composition of Cabinet and there must be good reasons in her mind for the changes. She has loudly signalled to the public her confidence in beleaguered Minister of Education Kay McConney and to a lesser extent Minister of Tourism Senator Lisa Cummins who was transferred to Energy and Business Development, International Business and Trade. Of interest is the fact Cummins has not had to face the electorate. We have also seen the elevation of Corey Layne to Minister of State in the Attorney General’s office for responsibility for crime prevention.

Traditionally a Prime Minister is thought to ‘bring’ outsiders into the Cabinet to enhance the skill level, although it seems with McConney and Cummins to be nakedly political given the quick rotation from original appointments. The current Cabinet is labelled the largest per capita in the world. There is a parallel discussion – less we forget – about the number of consultants the Mottley government continues to appoint in the rich tradition of her predecessors. The more things change…

Mottley into an early second term after an abbreviated first term continues to defend the large Cabinet and appointment of consultants- positions offered the the ‘boys’. Truth be told given the overwhelming mandate given by the electorate in 2018 and 2021 that resulted in no elected Opposition it is enough to make Mottley believe she has carte blanche to manage the affairs of country.

With the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) – see CRC website currently doing its work with a goal to submit recommendations in 18 months for a new Constitution – the arbitrary way Barbados prime ministers have ignored concerns from the public must be addressed. A mechanism must be included in a New Constitution which receives and processes concerns from the public in a structured way to avoid destabilising governments work.

83 responses to “Independence Time – A Time to Reflect on the Role of Prime Minister”

  1. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    ‘I can still play the original’…the notes for a musical illiterate, as learned in Ms Millington’s class were…b-a-g-g-a-a b-a-g d-e-a-g-f-g

    National Day, while not original, would appear a fair compromise between Independence and Republic.

  2. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Dub, kiki, Magno et al
    You could do all of us, esp those using mobile or non laptop experience, a huge favour by limiting your identifier to one line. We know its you.
    That elongated identifier eats up a ton of space on every post

  3. "shoot you" (⌐■_■)--︻╦╤─ - - - (╥﹏╥) Avatar
    “shoot you” (⌐■_■)–︻╦╤─ – – – (╥﹏╥)

    @ The Observer
    That is Mr. 🌍 Magnificent a.k.a Magno – Yu Heard Formula: C₂₁H₃₀O₂ IUPAC ID: (−)-(6aR,10aR)-6,6,9-trimethyl- 3-pentyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro- 6H-benzo[c]chromen-1-ol [[[ONE LOVE ONE WORLD ♡ ♥ 💕 ❤ 😘 🌍]]] to you

    Train Sequence & Introduction

  4. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    No @Critical, you are offering theoretical platitudes in this real world of life!

    There has NEVER been an election in Bim that I can recall when there was any doubt which MP we were electing to possibly be the PM … NOT ONE!

    That’s REALITY. Your remark that “We never elect a PM. We elect a MP to manage our constituency and they decide amongst themselves who they want to be PM” is true but it’s just text-book regurgitated THEORY!

    To offer – what would essentially be the US Cabinet Secretary/Ministerial model – provides no particularly PRACTICAL beneficial upsides in my view !

    In our current system there is very ample opportunity for a minister, the PS and her/his team to PROPERLY manage their ministry … suggesting that we now place similar ‘absolute’ power in the hands of a president is as I said above simply ‘Napoleonic’ musings of the ‘Animal Farm’ kind!

    In short, let’s get real with executing the powers we have currently in our governance system and leave alone the pretty theories of change which will do little to improve the system.

  5. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    This is a government/ PM that keeps getting in their own way

    First there was the hurry up to Republic status without a constitution in place, then there was the establishing of Republic Day on the same date as Independence Day. Then when it dawned on them that the public was not enamoured of referring to November 30 as Republic Day and still favoured Independence Day, the in-house solution is let’s get rid of both names and replace them with Barbados National Day.

    The most recent update I read about this change is that it is about celebrating the election of the first President of Barbados

    Does anyone know the number of blind mice around the Cabinet table?

  6. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Think of your friends in Belize. Live reporting.

  7. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    I propose to change a name from The Barbados Police Service Band to

    The Barbados Police Service Orchestra.

    I have been listening to the NCF mini concert series and I am impressed.

  8. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    The changing of the name should not have come as a surprise. It was simple and silly of us to believe that Mia would not want her grand action to be memoralized or acknowledged over the years..

    Like the cuckoo bird, which lays it eggs in the nest of another bird and allow that bird to raise a nest of young cuckoos, Mia moved in on November 30 and will now seize all the pomp and pageantry of that great day as her own.

    In hindsight, I believe the transitions from Independence Day to Mia’s Day was inevitable; but what surprises me she attempted her “huff” and remove Independence Day from the minds and vocabulary of the public in less than a year..

    Well played Mia. I can only imagine the size of the pair.

  9. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    I saw Ronnie O today.
    I had to leave as I wanted to vote early, but i was impressed with the man.

    It is clear that that he will not allow Mia (the cuckoo) to erase a part of our history.

    I am here sitting trying to figure out what other name the USA would call July 4th. Cannot think of any.. to the US that day is sacred.

    Ronnie O
    The way to go

  10. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    As explained in this article re T&T’s Independence vs Republic Day.
    T & T has two different celebrations- Independence Day is celebrated on the day that the country received its Independence from Britain and Republic Day is the first day that that the Parliament met under the new Republican constitution.

    HELLO …..The Constitution Reform Commission is coming to a school near you

    https://tt.loopnews.com/content/tts-independence-vs-republic-status-explained

  11. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @TheO
    To us ignoramuses to your North it is the Fourth of July. It is a holiday. What does it celebrate? The day 🎇 makers earn the most money?

    @Sarge
    Are you proposing another national holiday?
    What about the first day the President actually DOES something, become Presidents Day and we could add another.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    https://twitter.com/cheynejoness/status/1588011354300076036

  13. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    @de pedantic Dribbler on November 2, 2022 at 6:49 PM

    The theoretical structure of government first needs to be more closely aligned to its practical functioning if we are to identify and resolve deficiencies in our current political system.

    Transferring the PM powers to the President with the exception of election date selection which should be a fixed date every 5 years gives more power to the people. The country already operates this way with the added expenses of a generally useless ceremonial president.

    The true benefit of such a structure change is that we would now be able to have parliamentary oversight of our ministers and president actions similar to a company board has oversight responsibility of a CEO.

    Using the IDB Computer Test fiasco as an example, under this structure, no MP would be a minister, so parliament would be unencumbered and able to request an official report from the Minister of Education and if they are unsatisfied, take a no confidence vote against the minister.

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

    They are always hungry for something:

    world stage prominence and prestige,

    shite awards that mean squat,
    shite recognition and titles that no one cares about, not even in the white world..

    international board seats that mean destruction for Afrikans and their children..

    they want so badly to leave a lasting criminal legacy while pretending otherwise, an extension of the last 100 years of same, and all they will leave is their STENCH of corruption and Judas selloutism…..that’s the only legacy they can ever come up with.

    the legacy of the begging borrowers.

  15. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    ALL THIS BULLSHIT ABOUT INDEPENDENCE WHEN THE 2X3 ISLAND IS DEPENDENT ON THE NEW COLONIAL MASTERS THE IMF AND IDB WITH CHILDREN BEING EXPLOITED IN THE PROCESS AS IN THE OLD PLANTATION DAYS.

    SOME PEOPLE DON’T LIVE IN REALITY.

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

    Pretending they are independent is their comfort zone, while they can’t even get clean water, don’t care how you boil and filter the water, if it’s not distilled it’s still filthy and not worth drinking, but they are “independent” so let them have that…

    however, glad the people took a stand on the attempt to rewrite fraud…..they are not changing any narrative with distraction and sleight of hand….for their personal agendas..first lawyers i ever met who don’t know when they are doing evil, unlawful things to their people, but only know when Afrikans are breaking the law and always ready t o prosecute…….after all the parading and “trending on twitter”…they had to eat their wickedness….reverse..

    ..keep up the pressure….don’t stop

    as a matter of fact, my first book with be published in Kush Quarterly, starting in January…PAGE by PAGE…every quarter…let them rewrite that…

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

    Before i could finish type that comment, this was posted elsewhere and i quote….cause i just love to share great news, the highlight of my life…

    “The Caribbean Region now has an (sic) Criminal Indictment Authority.

    CARIBBEAN COVID CRIMES – CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRIBUNAL

    A word to all Caribbean Politicians, Lawyers, Doctors, Police Officers and all other Civil Servants including Company Employers!

    MAKE YOUR WILL!!!”

    and from what i do know, this is no idle threat IT’S A PROMISE.

  18. We Like It Deep Avatar
    We Like It Deep

    “Independence Time – A Time to Reflect on the Role of Prime Minister”

    I suspect Davy still has a crush on BLP and the PM
    and is only pretending that she/they suck big ones
    and it is a deal breaker for the relationship

    ..but in considering
    title above literally
    not sarcastically
    and spliffically
    meditatively

    the role of the PM
    and a President
    instead of King or Queen
    needs to be reconsidered
    and redefined in new constitution
    for the Bajan People’s Revolution

  19. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    I watched the entire video for the first time. wow

    .You Tube Owen Arthur on Mia

  20. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Critical Analyzer said..
    “…..no MP would be a minister, so parliament would be unencumbered and able to request an official report from the Minister of Education and if they are unsatisfied, take a no confidence vote against the minister.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    If you check out the BU 10-Point Plan (now outdated) you will find such a model proposed years ago – when a difference could have been made…

    ‘Ministers’ (managers) would have been hired ON MERIT (like any BILLION DOLLAR ENTERPRISE not owned by brass bowls would do.

    But that was like throwing pearls to swine…
    Now it is too late to make a difference any damn how…

  21. Officially Avatar
    Officially

    Mos Def
    Mathematics
    Lyrics
    Bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka, bucka
    Ha ha
    You know the deal
    It’s just me, yo
    Beats by Su-Primo for all of my people, Negros and Latinos
    And even the gringos

    Yo, check it one for Charlie Hustle, two for Steady Rock
    Three for the forth-coming live future shock
    It’s five dimensions, six senses
    Seven firmaments of Heaven to Hell, eight million stories to tell
    Nine planets faithfully keep in orbit
    With the probable tenth, the universe expands length
    The body of my text posses extra strength
    Power-lift the powerless up, out of this, towering inferno
    My ink so hot it burn through the journal

    The system break man, child and women into figures
    Two columns for who is and who ain’t niggas
    Numbers is hard and real and they never have feelings
    But you push too hard, even numbers got limits
    Why did one straw break the camel’s back? Here’s the secret
    The million other straws underneath it, it’s all mathematics

    A Journey Into Stereo Sound (“This is a journey into sound”)

  22. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Going to try some heavy lifting here. That’s not my thing. Errors may be made.

    “While Senior Lecturer in Political Science and former Head of the Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work and Psychology at UWI’s Cave Hill Campus Dr Tennyson Joseph maintained Independence Day cannot remain indefinitely, two other political scientists Dr Kristina Hinds and Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles reject any attempts to fiddle with the important historical designation.”

    **Do you realize that 9/10th of the paragraph was to state the man’s qualifications; 1/20th was for the point he made and the other 1/20th was for the two lecturers.

    Their opinion is just as valid as his is. Independence day can remain as long as we want it to. The questions are (1) what does independence mean to us? (2) are we willing to fight for it or is it all symbolism? Independence is the backbone of his imagined republic.
    We cannot allow politicians/lecturers to play us as if we are fiddles.

    “Hours before Government on Thursday announced post-Cabinet that the status quo would remain, Dr Joseph argued that in the same way the independence of various Caribbean states replaced the Federation as the supreme form of sovereignty, republicanism must now do the same with independence as an unfolding political development.”

    Let me show you the comparison.
    Independence => Federation
    Republicanism => Independence

    I am not certain that his point of ‘Federation as the supreme form of sovereignty’ is correct. Secondly, independence and republicanism are not antagonists: they fit together like a backbone and a spine.

    I am very reluctant to accept the opinions of our thought leaders.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    The Blogmaster’s perspective is that Independence Day for majority of Bajans is about the comfort when comes from doing traditional activities, conkies, parade, listening, watching and reminiscing things Barbadian. Is this enough when we discuss what independence should mean to a nation? Is it a journey we are continuing given a relatively short 56 years?

    Discuss for 19 marks.

  24. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    (In what follows, I mixed-up Dale Marshall with Wilfred Abrahams but as both are screw-ups, it does not matter.

    Imagine, if you can, an election that pits Ronnie O against Dale Marshall. Who gets your vote?

    I know a few of you will abandon the correct choice, hold your nose and vote for Dale Marshall?

    But which DM will you vote for.
    (1) The one that is strong and resolute in the morning?
    (2) The one that confesses to messing things up on his afternoon apology tour, or my favorite
    (3) the one that can always be found on a poster for a fete.

    I am going with the party animal… I am willing to bet that he thought BLP meant Barbados largest party (fete).

  25. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    I fear that your description of Independence Day is much too simple.
    It is description of the now, of the party atmosphere and ignored our memory and story. It is devoid of history.

    Independence was a major step in our march from being a colony to being our own men and women.

    For good men and women, Independence Day is much more than a single day on the calendar; it is a milestone signifying a continuation of our march from being the property of others to being our own masters of our future and our lives. It is a continuation of our writing our name on History’s page.

    Becoming a republic should have been a next
    chapter, a next major step for all of us, but being petty, jealous, deceitful, manipulative and destructive has turned it into a putrid affair for just a few.

    Put aside the plans and the schemes. Give us back our innocence. Show us things as they really are and not just the shiny side of an ugly coin.

  26. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Bread and butter for premier league fans outside of the US
    1) Get a vpn
    2). Get peacock
    3)remove sim card, shutdown phone
    4) restart
    5)log on to vpn, choose site in the US
    6)Log on to peacock
    Premier league soccer

    If you are not making calls you do not need to use your SIM card

  27. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    I am celebrating Independence month culminating on Independence day November 30th.

    Hope the NCF delivers enough fetes to keep me entertained.

  28. Dean of my University Avatar
    Dean of my University

    “Is it a journey we are continuing given a relatively short 56 years?”
    “Discuss for 19 marks.”
    🎓 🧑‍🎓
    I am the Dean of my University
    and speak at random tangents
    with thoughts I prepared earlier
    🇨🇳 Chinese culture goes back 1,000s of years
    🇺🇸 US culture goes back 250 years
    Both have cheap credit, but USA can cut off it’s supply like the GFR of 2018 which caused liquidity issues

  29. Idiom Avatar
    Idiom

    can’t see the wood for the trees 🌳🌲 🌳🌲
    If someone can’t see the wood for the trees in Barbados Culture British English, or can’t see the forest for the trees in American English, they are very involved in the details of something and so they do not notice what is important about the thing as a whole.

  30. bi yearly or bi annual Avatar
    bi yearly or bi annual

    Independence represents the past
    Republic represents the present and future
    Both share the same date and are separate and the same
    Should these shared holidays be bi yearly or bi annual?
    (This question may also cause confusion)
    People are often confused about whether to use biannual or biyearly and for good reason: both can mean “twice per year” or “every other year.” The thing to remember is that one isn’t more “correct” than the other. However, biannual is more commonly used than biyearly.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    Atherley: Why the continued state of emergency?
    By Colville Mounsey
    colvillemounsey@nationnews.com
    With most of the COVID-19 protocols ending earlier this year, former Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley is questioning why Barbados is still under the Emergency Powers legislation.
    Atherley contends that Government, by its decision to end protocols, has effectively signalled that the COVID-19 threat is over and therefore the need for Barbadians to continue to exist in a state of emergency situation has been negated.
    However, Attorney General Dale Marshall told the Sunday Sun that the maintenance of the state of emergency within the context of the pandemic was largely dependent on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer and other key health professionals.
    “We made it clear to the country from the outset, that the declaring of a State of Emergency was based on a public health need to safeguard Barbadian lives. Throughout the period of the state of emergency, the Chief Medical Officer has had the solemn responsibility of advising the Government of the need for the State of Emergency to continue and also of what specific measures in the form of directives are required to be in place.”
    “The former Leader of the Opposition may be many things, but his views are not to be allowed to be substituted for the professional advice of the Chief Medical Officer. We have made it this far safely and I am certain that the issue is under review, but we will act responsibly and with due caution and at all times follow the advice of the health professionals,” Marshall said.
    However, Atherley said that at the very least, Government needed to definitively state, barring a resurgence of cases, that the State of Emergency would not be extended next month. Several Caribbean neighbours have already removed their state of emergencies, some as early as last year.
    “We need to bring an end to that legislation now. I am seriously concerned about this, and I am calling for an end to that legislation. I know that when it was last affected it was until December this year and that is why when I was in Parliament, I was calling on Government to abbreviate the time for this legislation to run for six months instead of months. I maintained then that you could have always come back if necessary but now we have a situation where the rationale for putting the legislation in place no longer exists since all protocols have been removed.
    “However, there remains this consolidation of power which has the potential to threaten the democratic processes that Barbadians are accustomed to,” Atherley argued.
    Echoing this call for clarity was attorneyat-law Michael Lashley KC, who said the rationale for the maintenance of the emergency powers was unclear.
    “There should be a clear definitive statement with respect to those emergency powers. Government has relaxed the majority of the restrictions; they have basically disbanded the Covid Monitoring Unit… It could be argued that we still have some restrictions and therefore Parliament will have to decide when to lift those emergency powers. However, at the moment the need for these powers are unclear,” said Lashley.
    Atherley warned that Barbadians now run the risk of being desensitised to the reality that the emergency powers, which had been in place since 2020, still hang over their heads, leaving the door ajar for potential abuse of power by the ruling administration.
    “We certainly do not need this legislation now. It is true that the virus is still with us but having gone to the lengths to relax the situation as we have, I see no reason for us to continue to have that and they need to seriously consider bringing it to an end now,” the former Leader of the Opposition said.
    He added: “We don’t want to find that we are faced down with a creeping situation where the freedoms of people can easily be abridged. One understands that in the height of a pandemic where you didn’t know what you are dealing with substantially and you had to set these things in order to ensure that they have control, but we have gone past this situation and things are pretty relaxed. We have to be careful that we don’t have a situation where people become desensitised to the fact that there is a state of emergency in existence.”


    Source: Nation

  32. David Avatar
    David

    TEACH THEM

    Educate youth on what it means to be a republic, says Dame Sandra
    President Dame Sandra Mason is suggesting that schoolchildren be educated about what being a republic means “as soon as possible”.
    She made the suggestion during an informal meeting with nine-year-old St Gabriel’s School student Gabriela Babb, who was her special guest at State House yesterday, after Babb confirmed she was aware of Independence but indicated she was unclear about republic status.
    Babb threw the switch to turn on the lights in Bridgetown during the Sagicor Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, and the President said yesterday she really wanted to meet Babb then but was whisked away from the ceremony before she had the opportunity to do so.
    The elated nine-year-old was accompanied on the State House visit by her mother Katrina Jacobs, and her best friend, tenyear-old Raine Brathwaite. The two students also had the opportunity to tour the historic official residence, following an engaging informal sit-down with the head of state.
    After conversing with the two students, sharing some of her own experiences at their age and hearing them talk about their goals, Dame Sandra advised them to choose their own goals.
    She said afterwards: “It was revealing that when I asked the little ones about Independence they knew what it was; then when I asked about the republic, they did not seem to appreciate republic.
    “Therefore, if more education had been given in this respect and what it means for us as a nation, the little ones would have an appreciation for Republic Day. I think it is imperative that we do that education as soon as possible . . . especially in light of the furore we have had over Independence Day and Republic Day.”
    Last week Government was forced to cancel its decision to combine celebrations for Barbados becoming a republic with those marking the attainment of Independence, with the name change Barbados National Day.
    Word of that decision Tuesday from Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams was met with widespread public dissent, prompting an immediate response from Abrahams.
    The following day he said: “The response by Barbadians from all walks of life has both been swift and vocal with the overwhelming majority of Barbadians not being in favour of the change or, in some instances, not being in favour of its timing.” He promised to make representation to Cabinet “that we pause this particular initiative”.
    Following Thursday’s meeting of the Cabinet, Abrahams announced: “Today the Cabinet of Barbados met, reviewed and has decided that November 30 will continue to be referred to as Independence Day. There will also be a national consultation to come up with the most fitting way to celebrate our transition to a parliamentary republic.” (GC)

    Source: Nation

  33. DE man from BIMSHIRE (@debimshireman) Avatar
    DE man from BIMSHIRE (@debimshireman)

    Barbados will never truly be INDEPENDANT , its a part Of England and commonwealth , it depends on Tourists from UK USA and Canada mostly ,Banks are mostly Canadian and British American , so now the Liberal Women are in charge but they still answer to IMF and Pope and New World Order it seems!

Older Comments
1 2

Leave a Reply to “shoot you” (⌐■_■)–︻╦╤─ – – – (╥﹏╥)Cancel reply

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading