est. 2007

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In 2022 Barbados government is trafficking in slaves

The former Leader of the Opposition in the Barbados Parliament, Bishop Joseph Atherley, is reported to have questioned why this country continues to function under a state of emergency. In his response, the learned Attorney General, Dale Marshall, attempted to be condescending to the Bishop, rather than give an explanation that could stand up to…

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Dale Marshall, Attorney General
Bishop Joseph Atherley, former Opposition Leader

The former Leader of the Opposition in the Barbados Parliament, Bishop Joseph Atherley, is reported to have questioned why this country continues to function under a state of emergency. In his response, the learned Attorney General, Dale Marshall, attempted to be condescending to the Bishop, rather than give an explanation that could stand up to scrutiny. I would not dignify his response by repeating it here. I would only say that his reasons made no sense as usual.

To my mind, there is now only one reason why the state of emergency continues in force, and that is to keep Cuban nurse slaves employed in Barbados. Under a state of emergency, Cabinet granted the Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, extraordinary power to make regulations, without reference to Parliament. One of the regulations that she made is the Emergency Management (Covid-19) (Nurses) Order 2020. That order, made on April 8, 2020 allows nurses, who are qualified to practice in Cuba, to work as nurses in Barbados throughout the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. If the state of emergency is lifted those 100 slave nurses will be heading back to Cuba.

You might be wondering why I call them slaves. The answer is simple; they are only given a stipend not anything near the salary paid to a qualified Barbadian nurse, which is contrary to the laws in this country and commitments made to the International Labour Organisation. In April 1952, Parliament passed the Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Act that sets out certain conditions that must be observed by employers, who contract with the government. The statute states that a contractor shall pay rates of wages and observe hours and conditions of labour not less favourable than those establish in the trade… At current pay rates, a registered nurse employed in the Public Service of Barbados has a starting salary of $3,206.41 per month and it rises incrementally on an annual basis until it reaches $4,452.61

Despite our laws, the Cuban Government has contracted with this country to receive a one-off payment of US $35,000 for 100 nurses. Put another way, the Cuban Government is renting nurses to Barbados at a peppercorn rate. In turn the Cuban slave nurses that are employed in this country receive only a pittance to purchase incidentals.

Barbados that has emerge from a slave society is now, with the aid of the Cuban Government, trafficking in nurses. These people are basically slaves. This situation is made worse since there are a significant number of people who were trained to be nurses by the Barbados Community College, who are unable to find employment here in their chosen field. Notwithstanding that state of affairs, this country is trafficking in Cuban slave nurses who, in many cases, are unable to speak English and therefore cannot communicate effectively with their Barbadian counterparts or patients and therefore patients’ lives are put at unnecessary risk.

Barbarian nurses and patients are suffering because of this ill-advised action taken by Cuba and Barbados. The book of Proverbs is absolutely right when it says at chapter 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan”.

113 responses to “In 2022 Barbados government is trafficking in slaves”

  1. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    @Donna
    Yes. I can only speak for myself, but some damage was done here.
    I did not read the article with a filter in place, but will be more careful in the future.
    I will wait on a reply from one of the parties.

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    What is the salary of a Cuban nurse working in Cuba ?

    Are Cuban nurses who are sent to work in Barbados paid the same as Barbadian nurses and are they allowed to keep their earnings when they return to Cuba ?

  3. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Hants
    You pose the questions.
    Years back, 90’s, the deal with burgeoning hotels in Cuba, who were 49% owned by foreign entities, was the hotel was charged ‘market rate’ for it’s Cuban employees, but this money was remitted to a Gov of Cuba entity. Not the employees. Said employees were ‘paid’ as they always had been by the Cuban Govt.
    Similarly, when medical personnel export began, the foreign Government paid ‘market rate’ to the Cuban Govt. Not the employees.

    This meshes more closely with CF version than DC.

    All DC has to do is provide payroll proof the GoB paid the workers directly, and at the pay grade he claimed. My “gut” says that proof will not be forthcoming. It would also be most interesting to see the local ‘tax treatment’ applied to these Cuban workers.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    The financial and other arrangements made to facilitate the Cuban nurses at taxpayer expense should not be a secret.

  5. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Then we would be back to my initial point of different political ideology. And it would not be “cheap labour” pushing out Barbadians then, would it? The only savings would be in the training.

    But DC did say that they used the money to pay living expenses and make purchase of items not available in Cuba, I expect, to carry back home.

    If so, then they would have to be receiving more than what Caswell stated.

    Receipts necessary!

  6. Darkside Avatar
    Darkside

    May God forgive Caswell Freewheelin’ Franklyn for he knows exactly what he does. The kid has got a darkside, you best believe it.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSH6nFjt8J8
    Matthew 7:15
    “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

  7. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Commissiong makes a compelling case; however, I hope some enterprising reporter from BT takes him up on his challenge to call any of the individuals mentioned and publish the results of his/her enquiries.

    In the meantime, here is a report from Human Rights Watch on Rules for Cuban Doctors working abroad

    https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/23/cuba-repressive-rules-doctors-working-abroad

  8. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Sarge
    Maybe CF read your tagged article or similar for it’s like an echo of his points.
    You can find several videos online which delve into foreign Cuban medical workers.
    I doubt any of them will be ‘talking’ to anybody😆

  9. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    We know the Cuban system. We also know the views of Western-based watchdog agencies. Is there a report on Amazon workers? How about those working for American patronised sweat shops in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh with safety breaches that cost lives? How about those American companies shifting all their manufacturing to China where human rights issues abound. Post me those reports for comparison.

    What are the fruits of the capitalist system promoted and practised by The West.

    We know the Cuban system. We also know that the American big foot is on Cuba’s neck, squeezing the life out of it for NO GOOD REASON.

    This is a question of the survival of Cuba as a whole OR the individual freedoms of Cubans.

    As I said from the beginning – not black and white, not right or wrong, not that simple a matter – a clash of ideologies.

    COMPLEX!

  10. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    The albino-centric assessment of Cuba’s program by the usual suspects, as characterized in the article referenced by Sarge, is predictable.

    Cuba has to be an outlier when it comes to countries willing and able to stand against albino centric shiite – and to do so in the face of the most vile, petty and selfish provocations from the great satan – USA.

    Unlike Haiti, who in the face of such nasty and vindictive provocations, has been pushed into chaos, Cuba stands out as a BEACON in even offering vital HELP to others in need ….GLOBALLY.

    Shiite!
    When the USA finds itself in shit streets (coming as SOON as next year), Bushie predicts that Cuba will ALSO offer them similar assistance….

    There is NO comparing Cuba with other self-centered albino-centric shiitehounds – such as is found in North America and Europe and even Brassbados.

    Now what the hell is wrong with setting rules that their overseas doctors not frequent Bush Hill, except for horse racing?
    …or not associate with brass bowls?
    Are these not Ambassadors of Cuba?

    And what is wrong with low salaries? when the damn STATE provided ALL your education, health and social costs? We could learn a lot here…

    All Caswell is saying is that while Cuba is ENTITLED to have such an overall system that suits their circumstances and challenges, we should not be EXPLOITING their system – in order to support the shiite albino centric system that we have adopted ourselves.

    Again, Caswell has shown himself to be one of the few among us with real vision and with a feel for what is RIGHT.

    DC is a lackie…
    Is he now a Hyatt supporter..?
    …or just following orders to keep his donkey shut..?

  11. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @BT
    You are a boss 😅
    Here you were a top a fence, straddling….so you lick down the whole fence..lol
    This is a classic
    “All Caswell is saying is that while Cuba is ENTITLED to have such an overall system that suits their circumstances and challenges, we should not be EXPLOITING their system – in order to support the shiite albino centric system that we have adopted ourselves.”

    If we pay the Cuban Govt ‘some form’ of market rate for their medical personnel how can “we” be exploiting their system? You have already justified the Cuban method of remuneration based on other benefits provided gratis.(CF did not?)
    This puts you in DC’s camp, who was thusly approving, loonnnng before he entered ‘lackie land’.
    The real question is HOW were the Cuban medical personnel remunerated?
    You better let your man CF speak for himself, of which he is very capable.
    There is a battle royal going on between Unity/CF and the GoB.
    Remember, all hands on deck, has always conspicuously omitted Ms Moore.

  12. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    NO,

    I see that you have done my job for me.

    Did Bush Tea really think
    we wouldn’t notice the brek down fence??????????

    The argument was about slavery and trafficking. I kept focusing on why the Cuban system cannot be equated to slavery and trafficking.

    Wuh if the Cuban Government can stand up to The Big Maguffy, it beggars belief that they would allow Lil Bim to exploit Cuba.

    So it stands to reason that the market value was either paid to the workers or to their Government.

    And if only a pittance was paid to the workers and the balance to their Government, then if you are arguing slavery and trafficking, their GOVERNMENT would have to be the trafficker and slave master. THEREFORE, you are questioning THEIR SYSTEM OR IDEOLOGY when you call for higher wages, and you are asking our Government to question their system and ideology.

    So…the discussion. as I said from the beginning, is one of the merits of the system or ideology.

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    No response from Caswell yet?????????

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