My life may be described as before and after 2015. That is the year I started Solutions Barbados in response to Prime Minister Stuart’s instruction. Everyone has a right to speak, but he explained that getting into the political trench was the way to be heard by the Government on economic matters.
I was later informed that I had committed Barbados’ unpardonable sin. I should have joined one of the two established parties instead of starting a new one. PM Stuart did not specify that critical point.
CANCELLED
I was informed that my penalty would be to be blacklisted by all organisations controlled by the two established parties in Barbados, including: business and professional organisations, schools, churches, clubs, and the media. I did not believe then that they had such control. Eight years later, despite being out of elective politics since 2020, I am no longer an unbeliever.
Organisations found creative ways to cancel me. For example, the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry blocked me from speaking to their members by passing a new regulation that only Members of Parliament could speak to their members about the national economy. Since then, many persons who were never MPs spoke to their members on the national economy, but to my knowledge, I am the only person whom they have enforced this rule against – to this day.
Since I chose this path, I must accept the consequences. However, being cancelled by all secondary schools in Barbados did hurt. In 2015 I received my prize for winning the National Innovation Competition. To my knowledge, I am the only winner who has not been allowed to speak to students at any school in Barbados. The Government never held another National Innovation Competition – so I remain the current winner, albeit blacklisted.
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS
In the past 8 years, a cohort of students has entered secondary school and graduated. If you were one of them, then allow me to share four important concepts as you transition into adulthood.
First, many people will want to give you advice. You should give them the time to do so, politely listen, and sincerely thank them. However, be careful from whom you accept advice.
Be careful accepting: (i) financial advice from someone still paying a mortgage on their first home or paying rent, (ii) relationship advice from promiscuous persons, and (iii) health advice from unhealthy persons. If their advice is not good enough for them, why should it be good enough for you?
LEARN BY FAILURE
Second, you are not perfect. However, the more you practise something, the better you will become at doing it. Therefore, you will always fail to meet the measure of perfection, but the magnitude of those failures should reduce with practise. Do not allow your failures to lead to hopelessness. Instead, be encouraged that you will do better at the next opportunity.
In secondary school, I had much difficulty learning – my brain leaked knowledge like a sieve, especially during exams. My parents had to be disappointed with my academic performance during most of my time at Combermere, but they did not show it to me. They allowed me to fail but would not allow me to give up.
My parents encouraged me. When they read my embarrassing end-of-term reports, they would celebrate the rare high marks and always said that I would do better in next term – and I believed them. They are the best. In following their example, let me encourage you to never give up no matter how much difficulty you may have in learning something, or how much you have consistently failed in doing it.
MISERY LOVES COMPANY
Third, misery loves company. Most people become discouraged by the magnitude of their failures and convince themselves to stop trying to be better. They then tend to envy others who keep trying and discourage them by being rude insulting bullies. Ignore them and remain on the narrow path of improvement.
Fourth, you will get older. There will be changes to your geometry and appearance. You may reduce the risk of unfavourable changes by investing in your future-self. You may do this by: (i) eating healthy food and doing a daily exercise routine to achieve and maintain your ideal weight, and (ii) trusting God and forgiving others.
BE BETTER
Healthy food may be purchased and prepared for around $2.50 a plate (eg, one pack of Camellia lentil peas with brown rice, sweet peppers, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, corn and seasoning – using a 1 rice to 2 peas ratio to increase protein). Effective exercise may be done efficiently for one minute each day (eg, men should aim to do 20 deep squats plus 10 chin-ups/pull-ups alternating daily – women should aim for 3 pull-ups).
You trust God by asking Him to forgive you for your failings, and consistently making Him your first priority. You forgive others in the same manner and to the same extent that you want God to forgive you. Despite the admitted challenge, consider forgiving to a standard of entirely – as if it never happened.
Your naivety about how the system works in Barbados is astounding considering you work in the construction industry where you get a front seat view.
Spend more time drinking a drink in rum shops and souse limes having discussions with people from all levels of the society and you will understand how the system works.
Be careful accepting: (i) financial advice from someone still paying a mortgage on their first home or paying rent, (ii) relationship advice from promiscuous persons, and (iii) health advice from unhealthy persons. If their advice is not good enough for them, why should it be good enough for you?
This is why you have such difficulty with life. And why others wouldn’t vote for you.
I have no difficulty in life because I take my best advice – which I also freely offer to others.
As George Carlin said “Its a big club and you ain’t in it.” but
who would have thunk that a Son of the Soil educated at phd level would be shut out? Where did you go wrong Mr. Nice Guy? Didn’t you follow the script?
Barbados society is loaded with all those ‘contraindications’ you mentioned.
but Mr. Grenville, you can take comfort in one of Dostoevsky’s quotes…
‘Power is given to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing; to be able to dare.”
THE INEVITABLE BULLSHIT POSTS WERE TO BE EXPECTED TO GP2’S POST
RE 1 As George Carlin said “Its a big club and you ain’t in it.”
WHY SHOULD ANYONE WHO WAS PROPERLY RAISED WANT TO BE IN THIS “BIG CLUB” FILLED WITH EVIL HYPOCRITES & PEVERTS?
RE who would have thunk that a Son of the Soil educated at phd level would be shut out?
THAT IS EASY
MANY OF THE FOLK IN THE BIG CLUB ARE MENDICANTS SCAVENGERS AND ILLITERATI—VERY FEW HAVE Phd SINCE HAVING A Phd IS NOT A QUALIFICATION OR PREREQUISITE TO BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE BIG CLUB
RE Where did you go wrong Mr. Nice Guy? Didn’t you follow the script?
APPARENTLY HE DID NOT. MEMBERS OF THE BIG CLUB ARE NOT NICE.
Barbados society is loaded with all those ‘contraindications’ you mentioned.
VERY TRUE
but Mr. Grenville, you can take comfort in one of Dostoevsky’s quotes…
‘Power is given to those who dare to lower themselves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing; to be able to dare.”
WHY SHOULD ANYONE LOWER THEMSELVES TO PICK UP POWER?
IT IS CLEARLY WRITTEN IN Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
IF YOUR GIFT OR GOOD WORK DOES NOT OPEN DOORS FOR YOU IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN AROUND
GRENVILLE ONLY HAS TO TRY TO PLEASE KING JESUS
HE DOES NOT HAVE TO IMPRESS ANY BU MORON OR ANY OF THOSE IN ANY BIG CLUB IN BARBADOS ANYWHERE
RE 2 Spend more time drinking a drink in rum shops and souse limes having discussions with people from all levels of the society and you will understand how the system works.
WHY SHOULD ANY MAN SPEND TIME DRINKING IN RUM SHOPS IN ORDER TO MEET FOLK from all levels of the society?
ARE YOU SAYING THAT RUM SHOPS AND SOUSE LIMES ARE THE ONLY PLACES WHERE PEOPLE MEET?
RE 3 Be careful accepting: (i) financial advice from someone still paying a mortgage on their first home or paying rent, (ii) relationship advice from promiscuous persons, and (iii) health advice from unhealthy persons. If their advice is not good enough for them, why should it be good enough for you?
THIS IS FAIRLY SOUND ADVICE
RE And why others wouldn’t vote for you.
CAN YOU ACCURATELY SAY WHY FOLK VOTE FOR ANYONE OR WHY THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR GP 2?
THE ONLY VOTE THAT GP2 REALLY NEEDS IS THE VOTE OF JESUS CHRIST
WATCH NOW WATCH
Did you go out in Nature this morning Papi cause you sounding real grumpy! Did you know that Man’s happiness is linked with nature?
Dr Georgie Porgie….there’s absolutely nothing untoward in my posting. Grenville should be proud of himself that he did not lower his morals to attain power. Where’s the beef?
Why don’t you post your medical meat/mash anymore so some of us can learn sumthing and stop being a pick-nicker.
The way of the most is neither the best, the wisest, nor the safest way to follow:
It is better to follow the eight in the ark than the eight millions drowned by the flood and damned to hell.
SUCH THINGS AS THIS THAT WE LEARNED AT MOTHER’S OR GRANNY;S KNEE OR IN PRIMARY SCHOOL IS JUST AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WE FIRST HEARD IT
@GP
Rum shops and souse limes are the only places I know you can regularly meet people from diverse backgrounds week after week have engaging conversations, receive and give advice.
If you know any other events or places to get that interaction, please share and add to the list.
Did you go out in Nature this morning
PREPARING FOR BIBLE READING ON PSALM 19…..WHICH DISCUSSES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NATURE
RE Why don’t you post your medical meat/mash anymore so some of us can learn sumthing
SOMETIMES IT IS BEST NOT TO CAST YOUR PEARLS TO THE SWINE
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE BU MEDICAL ILLITERATI MOCKED AND I WAS SAID TO BE THIN SKINNED WHEN A BIG IDIOT WAS SAID TO BE ONLY PROVACTEUR
I HAVE FOUND PLACES TO GO WHERE FOLK WANT TO LEARN AND ASK PROPER QUESTIONS
YOU AND THE PROVACATEUR CAN HAVE THE FLOOR NOW
re If you know any other events or places to get that interaction, please share and add to the list.
I LEARNED MUCH BY ATTENDING CHURCH MEETINGS
FROM PATIENTS IN CLINIC
FROM FELLOWS AT CRICKET IN THE GEORGE CHALLENOR STAND FROM 1979 -2003
Who is the PROVACATEUR? Is it the BBE’s Emissary or is it that Gutter Sniper who knows didley about squat?
WHY SHOULD ANYONE WHO WAS PROPERLY RAISED WANT TO BE IN THIS “BIG CLUB” FILLED WITH EVIL HYPOCRITES & PEVERTS?
I wonder if grabbing a woman in the p**** would be a perverted thing to?
@GP11
YOU ARE AMONG THE PIRANHAS.
CONTINUE TO ENJOY AND OBSERVE.
NEVER FOLLOW THE MASSES.
GP, your true calling may be to help give a voice to the C&W minority shareholders. Things happen in truly mysterious ways when we all take stock and exchange ideas.
Seems like gp2 should have be running for votes in the church instead of in politricks
Oh no. Not another GPII article to freeze your brain..
Grenville is a funny name… but his reasoning is far out in the left field,
he is too right wing for Barbados politics,
he should be blacklisted for taking the Government to Court over becoming a Republic in late 2021