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Plant food instead of houses

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Dwight Sutherland, Minister of Housing
Indar Weir, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

It is the start of the hurricane and there has been the usual awareness talk to remind Barbadians to install roof straps, ensure adequate insurance coverage, know where hurricane shelters are located etc.

It was last year a freak storm with the name Elsa wreak havoc on the housing stock in Barbados. The destructions caused the then Minister of Housing William Duguid to order hundreds of steel framed houses from China at a declared cost of 28 million dollars. It is not surprising that one year later only a handful of the houses have been assembled. A national disgrace with nobody held to account by Prime Minister Mottley. We remain ignorant about the role of EWBSB in the procurement of the steel houses. No wonder successive governments have made it a priority to hoodwink the electorate on the enactment of transparency legislation in the form of integrity and freedom of information laws.

For political expediency we continue to move full pelt ‘planting’ houses here there and everywhere on a tiny island with little overall development planning. The current minister of housing has promised to build 10, 000 houses in ten years. One does not have to imagine what our pristine fields and hills will be transformed to when these opportunistic current day politicians foist a vacuous brand of policymaking on the country.

Instead of planting houses, why not plant a food forest?

Thanks for the link Bentley – Blogmaster

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131 responses to “Plant food instead of houses”

  1. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Traditionally, young Barbadians would ‘live home’ at their parents, until they could ‘move out on their own.
    Nowadays, the younger generation is ‘moving out’ soon after gaining employment.

    I believe ‘government’ is obligated to provide affordable housings solutions, especially for people who do not meet the financial requirements that qualify them for mortgages or loans.

    Those steel houses were part of an organized plan to ‘put some money in somebody’s pocket.’

    I noticed some new government units were recently built in White Park Road.

    The private developers, such as Ideal Homes and Signature Properties, have ongoing projects at Montrose, Christ Church and Lower Estate respectively.

    There is another project at Atlantic Breeze, Chancery Lane, which I understand is a private/government venture.

  2. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Mottley is no better than the rest.

    When one looks into the viscera of the two here captioned, captured!

    And the images of a pair of smart men, three-card men, con-men, legal criminals are not conjured, and so direct, represent victories of the intellect over intuition.

    That the country could have descended into this morass of lillipochians and as Barrow said ‘unfinished products” from top to bottom is only properly paired by an ignorant population untethered from reality and unwilling or lacking the courage to sweep this inferior breed asunder.

    From top to bottom!

  3. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    There are some people, for whom those steel houses were intended, ‘living free, meals and all,’ at the expense of taxpayers, in the ‘Jorris Dunner Senior Citizens Home,’ (formerly ‘Golden Rock’), in the Pine.

    That $28M could have been allocated to the Urban and Rural Development Commissions, to construct houses for those persons whose houses were destroyed by ‘Elsa.’

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    The official reason given by Duguid was the speed the houses were required to be setup for those in need. It is a national scandal this matter has died with no curiosity shown by the fourth estate, political opposition, professional bodies and others. A key tenet of the democracy we practice is the presence of a strident and persistent dissenting voice. While all this is going the Chinese could possibly help us more with the adoption of creative agricultural methods to help with food security. We should not allow the covid pandemic disaster to go to waste.

  5. John Avatar
    John

    The Barbados sugar industry – a loss-making exercise
    By Peter Webster
    “You can’t have your cake and eat it” – Proverb “You can come up with good solutions to a problem, but when it comes down to getting it done, it’s not that easy” – ask the mice trying to “bell” the cat.
    The Barbados “Sugar” Industry has NO future without continuing financial support in the form of subsidies from the Government. In its current form the Barbados “Sugar” Industry lacks any economies of scale and is saddled with poor management by the state-owned enterprise – the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC). BAMC is currently selling the sugar that costs BD$7 000 per ton to produce, at about BD$2 000 per ton.
    It is crazy to invest in such a loss-making enterprise, so we cannot expect the “private sector” – including our credit unions – will take control of this sugar industry without significant changes. Credit union members, like myself, sincerely hope that the Government resists entrapping our management in wasting members’ hard-earned savings on such a loss-making enterprise in order to get the Government out of a bind, even if we, and by extension our management, have billions on our hands. That money is ours, not theirs or the Government’s, and we will not likely forgive those who waste it.
    In 2007, the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) at its convention in Durban, South Africa, identified the smallest financially-viable sugar industry in the world as being 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) because this was the minimum size to adequately provide the economies of scale needed to cover the “fixed” management and capital costs of the industry. Barbados has long since lost its ability to grow more than 15 000 acres of sugarcane. Barbados needs to face this reality and “bell that cat”!
    The Barbados Government must therefore rid itself of this costly activity because it has too many other important activities requiring taxpayers’ money than to dump it into the bottomless pit that the “sugar” industry has become. It is an industry that has consumed more than BD$1 billion in taxpayer subsidies since 1994, when the Government, headed by Prime Minister Owen Arthur, created BAMC and formally took control. This occurred after the sugar industry had been destroyed financially (bankrupted) by too much Government-imposed taxes and by labour unions, supported by the Government, demanding more
    than the Industry could afford. The unions must also accept the blame for their contribution to this loss.
    This does not necessarily mean that we cannot still have a sugarcane industry as there is a potentially viable alternative to “sugar”. Such a viable alternative is one based on fancy molasses or syrup which would be the feedstock for our growing “rum” industry while promoting its “provenance” i.e. rum produced from Barbados molasses. The Barbados rum industry will have no provenance without a sugarcane Industry in Barbados.
    The rum industry is currently utilizing 40 000 tons of “black strap” molasses annually most of which is imported.
    This can be replaced by fancy molasses or syrup produced from our sugarcane. A ton of such syrup should yield more alcohol through fermentation than a ton of the “black strap” molasses, because the fancy molasses will have more sugar (less carmelised through additional boiling) for the yeast to ferment.
    The required quantity of fancy molasses can be produced on the 10 000 acres which Barbados currently has under cane.
    The production of fancy molasses needs a much smaller “factory” with lower capital, management and operating costs to produce and utilize much less energy as it will only need one boiling.
    For this to become a reality the Barbados Government needs to: Close BAMC and hand over the lone “sugar” factory at Portvale to the private sector entity prepared to continue operating it in the production of fancy molasses, until such time as the Barbados private sector is able to build more financiallyviable syrup plants to replace Portvale. This would decentralize the cane transport needs and reduce the current transport cost.
    This will also likely entail some ongoing financial support from the Government for a limited period that would encourage the private sector to do such a thing. Such financial support would be expected to be significantly less than the current annual subsidies paid to BAMC; Immediately reduce the excise tax on Barbados rum while imposing a tax on all imported black strap or fancy molasses in order to “encourage” the Barbados rum distilleries to pay a premium price for the locally-produced fancy molasses and the provenance it entails. For years, the Barbados sugar industry has been forced by the Government to sell its black strap molasses to the local rum distilleries at a “free on board” or f.o.b. price rather than the cost, insurance and freight (C.i.f.) price which the distilleries pay for the imported product. If this reduction in excise tax on rum and tax on imported molasses are too miserly, the win:win goal for both the distilleries and cane growers of creating a financially-viable sugarcane industry will not be achieved.
    The actions would be beneficial in promoting the financial viability of the sugarcane Industry and the investors in it thereby promoting its continued existence in Barbados; maintaining employment for the majority of workers currently in the sugar industry and providing “provenance” of our growing rum Industry by encouraging its production from locally-produced molasses. In addition, the actions would ; maintain attractive vistas of our countryside and reduce the growing “bush” and “cow itch” currently plaguing us and afford many Barbados farmers, who do not currently have adequate irrigation resources to irrigate all of the agricultural land they manage, to include non-irrigated sugar cane in their crop rotation. The latter would afford them an increased income and more opportunity to better manage their soils by rotating their food crops with sugarcane which will reduce erosion; increase the organic matter content of the soil; reduce weeds; increase yields and contribute to our food security.
    The foregoing is achievable, but I have little confidence that this will happen.
    Round and round we go….
    Peter Webster is a retired Portfolio Manager of the Caribbean Development Bank and a former Senior Agricultural Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.

  6. Bajan Yankee Avatar
    Bajan Yankee

    William Duguid as a senior minister should be fired for promoting the crap steel frames houses that will be contort and dance in hurricanes

  7. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    When ya are only GIVEN, by ya main employers, talking power, but possess no ANCESTRAL POWER…ya cant do shite…..

    ..they said it themselves in their worldstage video…they have to take what they are given and assigned.

    Bantu Empires

  8. Bajan Yankee Avatar
    Bajan Yankee

    Sadly most of the persons in parliament are some of the dumbest we ever had as politicians. According to Owen them poor rakey

  9. John Avatar
    John

    Artax on June 3, 2023 at 6:47 AM said:
    Rate This

    Traditionally, young Barbadians would ‘live home’ at their parents, until they could ‘move out on their own.
    Nowadays, the younger generation is ‘moving out’ soon after gaining employment.

    I believe ‘government’ is obligated to provide affordable housings solutions, especially for people who do not meet the financial requirements that qualify them for mortgages or loans.

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

    First of all, the birth rate is falling below the replacement rate, the population is dwindling. Who do we need these housing solutions for?

    In addition, jobs are a problem.

    Here is what happens when mortgages or land tax are not paid. Properties are put on the auction block.

    https://bra.gov.bb/News/Announcements/BRA-to-Auction-Properties-in-Early.aspx

    My bet is very few if any of the young people will pick these up because the speculators will descend on them like vultures.

    Not only is the issue of affordable housing related to birth rate and jobs, but also the easily available water resource has been allocated since the mid 1990’s.

    In order to supply these excess houses with water we need another source of water, recycling treated sewage and or desalination.

    Neither the Government nor private enterprise can afford the cost of these options otherwise they would have been used long time ago.

    There are no affordable housing solutions unless people are prepared to have less and less water available.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    It was last year a freak storm with the name Elsa wreak havoc on the housing stock in Barbados. The destructions caused the then Minister of Housing William Duguid to order hundreds of steel framed houses from China at a declared cost of 28 million dollars. It is not surprising that one year later only a handful of the houses have been assembled. A national disgrace with nobody held to account by Prime Minister Mottley. We remain ignorant about the role of EWBSB in the procurement of the steel houses. No wonder successive governments have made it a priority to hoodwink the electorate on the enactment of transparency legislation in the form of integrity and freedom of information laws.

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

    No it wasn’t only last year!!

    Elsa was in 2021, two years ago!!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Elsa

  11. John Avatar
    John

    Construction is a dead end activity which we cannot afford.

    We don’t need more houses.

    The SUGAR CANE industry is what we need where centuries of experience shows us it works.

    The plant is not only hurricane resistant, but also drought resistant.

    Food crops can be rotated in the fallow resting lands as required.

    Elsa caused no damage to any SUGAR CANE field in 2021, two years ago!!

    Vegetable farmers are routinely harmed by drought or excess rain.

  12. John Avatar
    John

    Exactly how many houses were demolished by Elsa?

  13. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    mean like brass bowls…?

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Have we not exhaust the conversation as it pertains to the quality of leadership that has emerge across all strata of society? The politicians come from among us, your school mates. We elect them. Why are quality citizens like you afraid to join public service re politics? After the palaver is washed away there are the systemic issues to solve.

  15. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    This sounds like someone who is worried that their long-time game of fleecing the taxpayers with millions in subsidies, will finally be exposed when competent public-minded citizens get to demonstrate exactly how profitable this industry can be – if properly managed, and if funds are not diverted for personal aggrandizement.

    Bushie thinks that the author doth protest a bit too much….

    LOL
    Writer says it is a ‘loss making exercise’, ..and then goes on to call on government to ‘hand it over’ to the SAME suspects who have been hooked up to the nipples of the public purse for decades claiming ‘losses’….

  16. David Avatar
    David

    A visit to Duguid’s Facebook page may explain his focus. It is called Sam Lord’s Castle project.

    https://www.facebook.com/wduguid1

  17. Award Avatar
    Award

    Excellent article. This should have been done years ago. We gone from producing 200.000 tones sugar in early70’s down to a measly 5000 tones this year. How on earth can government justify subsidizing a loss making entity. Fortunately now that we are in the IMF and IADB grip we can no longer use their money as we feel like. Sugar is dead sadly.

  18. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie

    It’s amazing how these “sophisticated” arguments have been made to protect Whiteness.

    This has never been about sugar, per se. It has always been about the preservation of the plantocracy. Even when it has been unviable so to do. All the elements are here.

    And after billions in taxpayers money being so sunk, someone could suggest the surrender of the state with no consideration for those billions, blame the state for the failure to save the plantocracy. Only White devils and their satraps could muster such a twisted logic.

    The trick of capitalism one might say. Socialize the debts, privatize the profits.

    Where, in this article, are the measurements of historic ownership failures?

    Staggering!

  19. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @John
    YOU posted the article.
    “selling the sugar that costs BD$7 000 per ton to produce, at about BD$2 000 per ton.”
    It is NOT about the plants suitability to climate. Or it’s hardiness, available experience, rotation possibilities, lack of larceny etc etc
    Sugar is NOT economical.
    Find a way to get the cost down, or the price up.
    Instead we now subsidize others, like CBL, the same housing fiasco here, the Caves for years, the NIS etc etc

  20. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    John on June 3, 2023 at 7:30 AM said: “First of all, the birth rate is falling below the replacement rate, the population is dwindling. Who do we need these housing solutions for?”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Sometimes your opinions can be very simplistic.

    Firstly, a decline in the birth rate does not necessarily mean Barbadians are not having children.

    Secondly, WHY are people SQUATTING or RENTING rooms at rates between $150 and $250 per week?
    Based on my experience preparing and filing taxes for landlords, they do not experience any significant difficulties finding tenants. Why?

    Are you suggesting that, for example, three siblings living in their parent’s house will say, ‘look de population dwindling, so instead uh looking fuh we own house, fuh we own privacy, we gine live home till we dead.”

    Thirdly, do you believe if people could acquire ‘house and land’ at affordable prices, through housing policies established by ‘government,’ as was done previously by NHC, they would resort to squatting, renting rooms or applying for ‘free’ houses from UDC and RDC?

  21. GP Avatar
    GP

    KNOX
    WHY DO YOU BOTHER WITH THE BU KNOW ALLS?
    SURELY IT IS COMMON SENSE TO PLANT FOOD
    MY MOTHER DID IT IN OUR BACK YARD FROM AS LONG AS I COULD REMEMBER
    AND DID EVEN MORE WHEN WE MOVED AND HAD A MUCH LARGER LOT AND CONTINUED UNTIL SHE WAS UNABLE
    MY EX AND I TURNED OUR HALF ACRE BACK YARD INTO A MONEY EARNING AND FOOD PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE AND I ALSO PLANTED A FEW HOUSES

    THERE ARE LOTS OF BENEFITS IN GROWING CANE
    SURELY AT LEAST WE COULD SUPPLY OUR NEEDS INSTEAD OF IMPORTING FROM ELSEWHERE

    AND PERHAPS WE CAN START EXTRACTING XYLOSE FROM THE BAGASSE AS WELL AS RETURN TO THE USE OF BAGASSE FOR THE MAKING OF PARTICLE BOARD FOR DOMESTIC USE AND EXPORT

    LAST WEEK ONE OF THE BU IDIOTS OPINED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NO DIET IN OUR DIET

    I WONDERED THEN HOW WE WOULD MAKE RIBOSE AND DEOXYRIBOSE FOR OUR NUCLEIC ACID NEEDS

    MY POST WAS TAKEN DOWN AS USUAL

    THE PRIME IDIOT SAID TAKE NOT TAKE IN KETONES
    THEN WE SHOULD USE BY FRUIT OF ANY KIND SINCEFRUIT CONTAIN FRUCTOSE AS ITS SUGAR AND FRUCTOSE IS A KETONE!

    ANOTHER IDIOT SAID DONT USE DARK CHOCOLATE WHEN THIS IS THOUGHT BY MANY EXPERTS AS BEING GOOD FOR THE HEART

    AND WE WERE RAISED UP ON VARIOUS FORMS OF COCOA—THE BASIS OF CHOCOLATE

    SOME WONDER WHY I COME HERE TO ENGAGE IN LIGHT HEARTED MOCKERY

    LETS HAVE THE USUAL VITRIOLIC ATTACKS AND HAVE SOME IRRELEVANT MUSIC VIDEOS

    THAT IS IF THIS POST IS NOT ALSO TAKEN DOWN….AS IF I WILL LOSE ANYTHING WHEN THAT IS DONE

  22. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    RE: “Here is what happens when mortgages or land tax are not paid. Properties are put on the auction block.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Firstly, you are essentially contradicting yourself.
    I specifically ‘said,’ “I believe ‘government’ is obligated to provide AFFORDABLE housings solutions, especially for people who DO NOT MEET the financial requirements that QUALIFY them for MORTGAGES or LOANS.”

    Secondly, were the properties auctioned by the BRA, included properties in government estates, such as the Grotto or Lancaster?

    Thirdly, as it relates to the auctioned properties, I agree “the speculators will descend upon them like vultures,”….. to rent them as a complete unit or in rooms.

    I don’t blame you.

    Perhaps you want us to return to the days planting and harvesting sugar cane; rotating crops; living in small houses on plantation land, and going to the ‘stand pipe’ for water since, according to you, that commodity is scarce.

  23. Jamaica Underground Avatar
    Jamaica Underground

    “LETS HAVE THE USUAL VITRIOLIC ATTACKS AND HAVE SOME IRRELEVANT MUSIC VIDEOS”

    Bajans are the biggest bitching bitches in the whole world. I guess that is a reflection of what they are and who they are. Own it.

    I represent the London and Jamaica Underground.
    Barbados Underground still needs to catch up with the dreads.

    Why don’t you preach another irreverent Bible verse like the cut and paste know it all that you are

  24. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE Sometimes your opinions can be very simplistic.

    IS THAT NOT BETTER THAN PRESENTING COMPLEX IDEAS THAT MOST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND

    RE Secondly, WHY are people SQUATTING or RENTING rooms at rates between $150 and $250 per week?
    ONE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY ARE DOWN RIGHT STUPID
    RENTING ANYTHING IS OFTEN A POINTLESS AND UNPRODUCTIVE NECESSITY, THAT OUGHT TO ABANDONED ASAP

    ONE OF MY BROTHERS HAS REMIAINED AT HOME, HAS DEVELOPED THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE HOUSE. HE HAS DEVELOPED THE GROUNDS AS A BEAUTIFUL AMBIENCE TO HOST WEDDINGS AND PARTIES

    ONE OF MY SONS HAS LIVED AT HOME FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE
    HE HAS BUILT TWO RECORDING STUDIOS DOWNSTAIRS

    BOTH OF THESE BOYS ARE SIMPLISTIC BUT DEFINITELY STUPID

    SURELY THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER UNIQUE ARRANGEMENTS THAT CAN BE WORKED OUT ACCORDING TO THE PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES

    SURELY GOVERNMENT SHOULD SIEZE ABANDONED HOMES AND PUT THEM UP FOR SALE AT TOKEN PRICES WITH THE PROBISIO THAT THE VENDORS REHABILITATE THEM AS IS DONE IN SOME CITIES ABROAD.

    IF WE ARE GOING TO COPY IDEAS FROM OVERSEAS , WHY NOT COPY SENSIBLE AND VIABLE ONES?

    RE Thirdly, do you believe if people could acquire ‘house and land’ at affordable prices, through housing policies established by ‘government,’ as was done previously by NHC, they would resort to squatting, renting rooms or applying for ‘free’ houses from UDC and RDC?

    MOST SURELY
    ESPECIALLY IF THEY DO NOT OFFER THEM MATCH BOXES AS THOSE THAT WERE EMPTY FOR AGES IN CH CH THAT THEY FORCED ROSS STUDENTS TO OCCUPY

  25. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “SURELY IT IS COMMON SENSE TO PLANT FOOD.”

    Dr. GP

    Agree with you 💯%.

    And, based on discussions on previous threads, especially with Donna and Cuhdear, I believe contributors share a similar sentiment.

    However, you cannot deny that, over the years, Barbadians became less interested in working on plantations to plant and harvest cane or rotate crops.

    Why????

  26. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Following the conversations and forming my own opinion. However, I prefer to howl when I am in the safety of my own yard.

  27. GP Avatar
    GP

    artax
    However, you cannot deny that, over the years, Barbadians became less interested in working on plantations to plant and harvest cane or rotate crops.
    I WONT DENY THIS AND SIR

    Why????
    BECAUSE MAINLY MANY WOULD NOT BE WORKING ON THEIR OWN LANDS AND NOTE THAT I SAID MANY……….FOR MOST TOO LAZY TO WORK IN AGRICULTURE FOR THEMSELVES EVEN IF THEY HAVE EVEN A QUARTER ACRE OF THEIR OWN

    BUT A MAN LIKE KNOX, (OR EVEN ME WHO HAD ACCESS TO SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LAND) THINK DIFFERENTLY SINCE GARDENING OR AGRICULTURE FOR US WAS A LIFESTYLE

    ALSO WE WERE EDUCATED IN THE NATION FROM ABOUT 1962 TO BE POETAE RATHER THAT AGRICOLAE

    FEW OF US THOUGHT THAT WE COULD COMBINE THE TWO

  28. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @David
    The politicians come from among us, your school mates. We elect them. Why are quality citizens like you afraid to join public service re politics?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Do you understand the Bajan term ‘gallows bait’?

    How many times must Bushie repeat that a people ALWAYS get exactly what they deserve?

    You seem to have this idea that a pack of wutless, lazy, mendicant, brass bowls somehow deserve to be saved from their inevitable fate – by some ‘lone ranger’ who comes riding in at the last moment…
    …not stinking Bushie hear??!!
    That is only in Western movies and comics skippa…

    In REAL LIFE, their ass is grass….

    Bushie, like Luciano, is just a messenger – so that the BBs CANNOT say that they were ‘never warned’, or never given the chance to SEEK CHANGE – starting with themselves.
    LOL…
    “…join public service re politics???!!!”
    Boss – oil and water do not mix….never will..

  29. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Understand, you walk among us but you are not of this world.

  30. Luciano Messenjah ♪ Avatar
    Luciano Messenjah ♪

    “Bushie, like Luciano, is just a messenger”

    You are deluded

  31. Sounds of the Ghetto Avatar
    Sounds of the Ghetto

    It’s not the place where you are living
    It is just how you are living
    How you are feeling
    When you are living in the ghetto
    Just watch your own business
    Mind your own business
    Take no care of other people’s business
    See and blind
    Hear and deaf
    Don’t trouble trouble and trouble will never trouble you
    You know what I mean
    Reality that
    Take that

  32. Luciano: Roots & Culture Avatar
    Luciano: Roots & Culture

    Legalise it and Jah Messenjah will advertise it
    Legalise it please don’t criticise it
    Legalise it and Rastaman will advertise it

  33. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Planting food was never a development option.

    And it continues never to be.

    We could imagine that up to 100 years ago the country might have been partially food secure. Even with the mono-crop that was sugar, given rotation, etc

    Yes, and weee readily admit much better could be done with a firm determination.

    However, those who strenuously so contend must stop assuming that the food desert, which is Barbados, was caused by laziness or other naturally occurring internal factors controlled by Black Bajans.

    Food desertification in Barbados has long been a function of American foreign policy. As it sought to establish markets within the whole hemisphere for American farmers. Period!

    Haiti, for example, was a net exporter of rice and had inherited a complete ecosystem supportive of many thousands of farmers in so doing.

    Until Tricky Dick Bill Clinton, as president of the USA, from the stinking White people wunna love soooo much, decided that Haitian agriculture had to destroyed as a subplot within the larger American foreign policy and deliver Haiti as a market for rice farmers in his home state of Arkansas.

    Since then the Clintons have lived off the blood of the Haitian people.

    The case of Barbados is not dissimilar. Why would our international banker, the USA, for decades encourage an unprofitable mono crop? Think people. Think! Why have we, for example, not gone to ethanol production. High quality ethanol for application in medicine, for example, fetches unbelievable value added.

    Do we presume that the IMF, USAID, the WB, do not know that the people in Barbados must eat? They never minded us eating, as long that it’s bought from American farmers.

    Our larger point is that food desertification in Barbados is not caused by the presumed laziness of Black people, as some here will want to presume, but instead by the function of supermarkets as instruments of American foreign policy.

    If you disagree, then show us a single instance where the IMF has told us to stop importing American junk food to control spending, balance of payments, etc. and plant food instead.

    We’ve cited two cases. The irony is that everywhere else within this hemisphere faces the same conundrum. Places with rich, deep, arable soils and not water scare, like Barbados, are generally in the same predicament as Barbados on issues of food sovereignty.

    Deal with these overlapping contradictions. Open thine eyes and stop this wilful blindness about assuming that there is anything called sovereignty, of any kind.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    The future of fish farming is on land

    https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2023/05/31/the-future-of-fish-farming-is-on-land

  35. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    “…a tiny island with little overall development planning. The current minister of housing has promised to build 10, 000 houses in ten years. One does not have to imagine what our pristine fields and hills will be transformed to when these opportunistic current day politicians foist a vacuous brand of policymaking on the country.”

    Pure vetbal belly!!

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Hitting close to home?

    No wonder we have all these exotic businesses on Bay Street and elsewhere engaged in a roaring trade absent TP approvals.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    By the way, what is the government’s plan to remediate the south coast sewerage problem? There is also the hole left by the failed plan of the gasification plant to attack waste disposal. What is the rh plan.

  38. Good Times Avatar
    Good Times

    Yes we made it through the rough times
    That’s how we are living in the good times
    Jah will make it happen

  39. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @David
    Absent TP permission means what under the law and what rights are available to the developer and the TP office in such circumstances? But weren’t you here a few weeks ago batting for one of the same Bay Street businesses? More verbal belly.

  40. World Peace 3 / Price of War Avatar
    World Peace 3 / Price of War

    Zap Pow
    Have you ever lost a loved one by the hand a gunman
    there’s a reason for their demise being justified
    do the laws of man give the right to take another’s life
    do you send any ends to this carnage in sight
    when the reign of terrors pour down the corner
    and the ones who start the war protect us all
    I don’t think so
    What is the reason for this ongoing fighting
    Do you need the real cost for the price of war
    What is the true cost of wars on planet earth
    Is it just to sell arms with disregard for human life
    Will mankind ever stop destroy what they can’t create
    While the leaders of the world sit and pretend they care

  41. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    Excellent thread.

    Those who bring in steel house should not throw stones. Call them to account!!!

    by the way, what happened to our Public Accounts Committee??? Just asking for a friend.

    Just Observing

  42. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved

    Weeee dont think they care, look how they run evating into the ground, no intellectual vision to make anything work at a level that manifests centuries long success or excellence. Or things would have evolved upward decades ago..

    What is being watched now….since the LONG CON has failed so spectacularly and miserably….the Afrikan Kingdoms and governments have been WARNED……they are targets and told what their people have experienced at the hands of evil pretenders and impostors…….so now what.

    Pacha…ya done know it’s more of the same…they love shortcuts and dont have the skillsets to issue in major life changing improvements for the majority population….ah guess it’s right back to…”where is the next scam”….and “where is my cut”….

    But one day coming soon…they will perpetrate their last corrupt scam..

  43. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Waru

    When you miss development steps.

    When you deny land reparations for slavery.

    When you embrace the mercantile ethos.

    When you buy into the notion that food and edible substances are the same.

    When you blinker people with lies about the centrality of land ownership, not house spots, real land.

    When you continue to rob Black people of their land rights.

    Then, without such a deeply rooted culture, there shall be no agri either. Certainly not in any dynamic fashion.

  44. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    For those not aware…Afrika is now asking for SPECIFIC test results to determine with accuracy bloodline connections to the continent. ..so if you know you are presenting evidence, make sure ya are not set up by the obsessed, greedy and ignorant to get jailed for fraud….pretending royalty.

    Pacha…dont know how these were planning TO FAKE and present FRAUDULENT royal bloodlines….to cash in on a long CON……..to people who actually know what royal bloodlines are…saw them try already 2 years or so ago but realized they werent going to get away with it and cancelled on Pan African Daily TV….they can try again…since they too have been informed and they are based in Germany…and will spread the scammer’s names.. all across Europe and the continent…

    Just issuing a warning cause ya know the Fool Fowls would do and say any mindless Slave thing to make duhself look dumb for politicians….

    …and me thinks the island has more than enuff embarrassments and SCANDALS than it can handle…..although it now looks like many more are on the horizon, but that will be one less.

    But dont mind me, i have no such problem…the genuine article…

  45. Yolande Grant - African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved.. Avatar
    Yolande Grant – African Online Publishing Copyright (c) 2023. All Rights Reserved..

    “When you blinker people with lies about the centrality of land ownership, not house spots, real land.

    When you continue to rob Black people of their land rights.

    Then, without such a deeply rooted culture, there shall be no agri either. Certainly not in any dynamic fashion.”

    Say it again, maybe one day it will resonate and make sense in polluted minds .

    They are determined that Afrikan descents must have no generational wealth …or the ability to generate same…and many seem fine with that from a gang of con artists…

    Same criminals who believe they can slither across and rob our birthright on the continent…but ah got something fuh dem..

  46. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    So @John posted a link earlier to distress sales
    https://bra.gov.bb/News/Announcements/BRA-to-Auction-Properties-in-Early.aspx
    I found some of the addresses noteworthy and thought I recognized two of the owners.
    So I sent to both and asked if they knew about the sale?
    They both replied the land/property described had been owned by them but sold 5 & 6 years prior.
    So no wonder the BRA isn’t collecting taxes if their records are out of date!!!

  47. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    Yes batting that a matter that should have necessitated TO intervention years ago remains outstanding.

  48. David Avatar
    David

    @Observing

    How is it possible for the PAC to function under the current arrangement?

  49. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    https://youtu.be/uveKChK7nHg

    We want to know whether this land undergoing seismic eruptions is planted with food or houses?

  50. David Avatar
    David

    Senior Minister William Duguid in charge of projects is in the news again. How is there a massive project to be implemented in Barbados using these throwaway wind turbines and Duguid is unaware?


    Used wind turbine puzzle
    By Maria Bradshaw
    mariabradshaw@nationnews.com
    A French company which specialises in the wind turbine industry recently announced on its website that it had sent nine used wind turbines to Barbados on behalf of a client.
    However, while concerns about these 20-year-old wind turbines have been raised by some involved in the local industry, who say Barbados should not be a dumping ground for used material in its renewable energy push, some Government officials say they know nothing about them being sent to these shores.
    The company, Iver, which describes itself as “experts in wind”, posted on its website: “We recently completed a special project with a client in Oupia, France, which involved dismantling and transporting nine wind turbines to the Caribbean island of Barbados. They are expected to be built up there next year.”
    It said this situation was “special” since, traditionally, old wind turbines were replaced with new ones.
    “We often see used wind turbines being replaced by newer ones. This was also the case with one of our French clients in Oupia. What made this project so special? After dismantling the wind turbines, we transported them by special transport to the port of Sète, France. From there, they were shipped to Barbados where they will be rebuilt and provide the island with additional power supplies. Iver accompanied this project from start to finish.”
    The company described the wind turbines as NegMicons, type NM52, while pointing out that the dismantling was carried out by a team of experts not only from France, but also The Netherlands. .
    “The project was a multifaceted process that involved many challenges. For instance, many different parties had to be coordinated. Our professionals also had to brush up on their French, for instance, in order to submit all the necessary forms and official documents in the right language.
    “In addition, the laws and regulations in France and Barbados turned out to differ from those of The Netherlands. All of this posed additional challenges, but our team of experienced professionals, in cooperation with all parties involved, managed to transport the turbines safely and efficiently.”
    This newspaper sent a inquiry to Iver but there was no response up to press time.
    When the Sunday Sun checked with Minister of Energy and Business Senator Lisa Cummins and Senior Minister Dr William Duguid, who has responsibility for the Planning Development Department, they both denied any knowledge of the used wind turbines coming to Barbados.
    Cummins pointed out that any issues raised in connection with the setting-up of wind turbines in Barbados would be assessed by the department, adding that the ministry would “get involved after [department] permissions have been granted because
    any issues of an environmental or structural nature would be determined by the board, which comprises all the experts”.
    Duguid confirmed he had received correspondence from an individual raising concern about the used wind turbines coming here, but said there was no application at the [department] for their installation.
    “We do not know where they are being installed,” he said.
    Aware of article
    When contacted, engineer Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne, who is president of the Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd and president of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers, said they were also made aware of the article by Iver.
    He said: “We reviewed information about plans to install wind turbines that are alleged to be, in fact, refurbished and repurposed. It would be disappointing to find out that second-hand, discarded equipment could be allowed key roles in our energy transformation – rather than follow clear planning and design methodology to determine the most practical and efficient solutions needed. Such a situation would clearly indicate a lack of proper planning for our renewable energy transformation.”
    This newspaper also reached out to Omar Allahar, chairman of Pavana Energy Ltd, which erected the first and only wind farm in Barbados, the wind turbines of which can withstand category five hurricanes.
    He also expressed concern. “I don’t think, if we are serious about long-term sustainability of the renewable energy system in Barbados, we should be buying second-hand machinery that has already been in service for over 20 years. Barbados is not a junk yard.
    “Not to mention, the turbines in particular are not designed for use in hurricane zones or the storm conditions we get in the Caribbean. They are considered Class 1 under the wind design code IEC – 64100 which states ‘the particular external conditions defined for Classes I, II and III are neither intended to cover offshore conditions nor wind conditions experienced in tropical storms such as hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons. Such conditions may require wind turbine Class S design’.”

    Source: Nation

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