No bigworks project gets done without the approval of the prime minister.
A few days ago Dr. Ronnie Yearwood fresh from being reelected President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) posted a provocative tweet. To be expected his tweet generated the usual 7-day public discussion.
It is useful Yearwood decided to play his hand on what is regarded as a contentious matter. It is obvious he has been advised to develop a more aggressive perspective on the issues to improve resonance with a politically ‘tone deaf’ public. A different approach by the DLP to entice support from an apathetic and cynical public is required from a DLP struggling for relevance, Yearwood must employ superior leadership qualities to repurpose a political party clinging to the tattered coattail of Errol Barrow as well as surviving in a space where the political oxygen is being controlled by Prime Minister Mottley.
The Yearwood generated discussion about establishing performance metrics for members of parliament is useful. Especially at a time the Parliamentary Reform Commission is soliciting feedback from the public to inform changes. Here is an opportunity for the public to package concerns via a channel created by our form of a democratic system. The issue of determining pension eligibility for members of parliament and remuneration requires dispassionate debate at a time social justice matters have risen to the fore.
It is not surprising the issue about remuneration for members of parliament would have become mired in political rhetoric. Especially with the matter raised by a leader of an opposition struggling for a foothold in the political landscape. No bigworks project gets done without the approval of the prime minister, no important issue gets debated in the country unless sponsored by a member of the political class. It is we culture.
There must be a happy medium for civil society to agree on a satisfactory salary point for members of parliament in a local context. The type of democracy inherited and touted by local talking heads suggest members of parliament should be prioritizing a willingness to serve the public first and foremost. However, if one is careful to listen to messages being sent by the hierarchy of the political class, there is a culture of how local MPs do the job that requires a certain salary to be paid. A retired politician who sits on the Parliamentary Reform Commission described MPs as ‘sugar daddies’. Such an approach to determine a happy medium for MP salaries is flawed.
A more practical approach has to be creating a salary scale for members of parliament that mirrors senior public servant’s given the nexus of roles and responsibilities for achieving good government. The country needs good policy making from members of parliament and good execution by public servants in the interest of a public both are mandated to serve.
The other consideration is that we live in times where a man made political system will be under threat from corrupt players. We should not fool ourselves that avarice is no longer a deadly sin. There is an argument to be made for members of parliament and other key public servants having salaries loaded by an x factor to an agreed salary point. Such an approach would attempt to reduce the risk of members of parliament and top public servants being bribed by succumbing to greed. The approach should be supported by strong enforcement re: fines and imprisonment. A strong message must be sent to the population by our leadership that public servants must be willing to hold themselves accountable.
The idea of establishing KPIs to measure MP performance sounds good in theory but an MP’s job performance is in the main greatly impacted by party support.
Accountability is one of the bedrocks of representative Government, as it provides a check on individuals, once elected, betraying the promises they made during the campaign. An accountable political system is one where both the government and the elected members of parliament are responsible to their constituents to the highest degree possible. On the broader canvas, voters must be able to influence the shape of the government, either by altering the coalition of parties in power or by throwing out of office a single party, which has failed to deliver.
ACE
Dr. Yearwood you have made a decent start to your second campaign, you must keep it up.
An increase in public sector salaries and wages, automatically triggers an increase in parliamentarians’ salaries. Yearwood is suggesting MP’s salaries are too high. Would he REDUCE those salaries if he becomes PM, or maintain the status quo?
Another tweet Dr. Yearwood should be encouraged to post is to have the president or some other independent body appoint non elected representatives to the lower chamber. This would mitigate challenges currently being experienced with the 60-0 and a virtually non existent political opposition a la Singapore.
https://www.parliament.gov.sg/about-us/structure/members-of-parliament
David
You joke?
The lower chamber is exclusively persons who are elected ‘by the people’.
The President is non elected and serves at the pleasure of the elected. Who do you think will actually do the appointing of lower house members?
Even when given the constitutional right to appoint certain persons in the Upper chamber, the President seemingly delegated to the PM?
The Cabal can’t dead.
All of this is balderdash. What about all the fancy talk that MPs were being mandated to visit their constituencies X amount of times per month or something like that ?
Dr. Yearwood would do better if he concentrates on basic politics such as active constituency branches and finding a mixture of candidates who really want to work hard bringing pressing political /socio economic issues before the public.
Otherwise he and the DLP would be sent into permanent electoral oblivion.
Of course, there is an automatic triggering of increases for parliamentarians with public sector increases. But I thought there was some discussion of further increases as well. Not sure that is warranted at this time though.
My problem with the automatic government’s pay increases in these inflationary periods is that the across the board method only widens the gap and does not help those who need it.
Still, the sugar daddy demands on MPs are very real. I doubt that British MPs have that to deal with. I remember an MP who begged my father to hide him one Sunday evening to get away from the light, rent and water bill demands of his constituents just for a little while. “They won’t look for me here,” he said. They had grown up together as friends but my dad supported the other party. He was a decent guy. Never heard any complaints or scandals. Not even from his clients.
I thought the idea of constituency offices with some level of funding was a good idea. But of course funds were often not disbursed in the right way.
The solution, as usual, escapes my poor little brain. 😊
Ronnie(Wh)O should get his numbers right as a start.🤣
Well I waiting to hear what age they will have to work to first for pension. The PM say it got to extend but she stopped short of telling me to what.
@John A
There a a sad reality we must take onboard. Quality citizens are not stepping forward to offer themselves for public service. We are dredging the bottom of the barrel. For example following debates in parliament is down right painful and embarrassing sometimes.
She never said it gotta. She made it clear the in her opinion it should be extend but said she will leave up to the parliament reform commission to decide.
Starting rumors will soon get it own legs
Didn’t Gregory Nicholls say on public radio he is in favour of moving the age to 60? Do you think in your wildest dream he made the statement without approval from Bigworks?
@David
Well there u go just produced the age for us. No this is the first time I heard a specific age mentioned
@John2
You would doubt a blogmaster of 16 years and counting?
Listen from 47 min in.
https://downtobrasstacks.castos.com/episodes/brasstacks-sep-06th-2023
David
I did not doubt you. I don’t not listen to radio or tv from bim when I am no on island unless someone post a clip that interest me
I read the little I get on BT and Nationnew online but I am not subscribed to them. I follow what goes on on this blog and family and friends back home .
Ur mention of 60 Is the first time I have heard anyone put an age ( I understood u are quoting Gregory )
Source: Nation
@ David
Well you understand what happening here. They going have to work longer and pay more NIS to get to retirement if MIA raise their retirement age as a minister say, so we going give them a raise to help them with this burden. So basically the tax payer will pay their increased NIS cost out the state coffers. That will soften the blow for having to work longer for the same pension. Remember too some may not see 2 terms farless what could be 3 if it went to 15 years. Also this is only the minister pension, if they worked befor or after serving and had 750 contributions they would still be entitle to that too as any of us commoners would be.
@John A
The Senators have been grumbling about their $1500 stipend. In the good old days MPs serve out of a labour of love. These days serving the people is a profession.
Unlike other parliamentarians, the PM is entitled to pensions at the time when he/she is ‘sworn in.’
In other words the individual has to be PM for only one day.
David
Any worse than BU debates?
@enuff
You know what some say, BU is a reflection of what is out there.
@ Enuf
Truth is yes some may not be worth reading but ALL are entitled to have their say on a blog. I dont know if many understand how lucky we are to have this freedom. If we were in China. all like now poor David would be in a prison camp and me and you may be sentenced to 20 years of frying wantons for state functions lol
Let all have their say and just pick sense from nonesence. I mean who we going depend on to bring issues to us, surely not the 4th estate, what little of it still exist.
Let everybody talk de talk as the Bajans like to say that is my 5 cents worth.
Well JohnA accept all or none, since they’re all the same.
You realise you and me in that all then ?LOL
Yup. Lol
Wuhlaus! John A just did the Boebert!
Yuh gun fry wantons? Yuh gun boil wutless women in oil?????
What a difference an “a” makes!
Murdaaah!
Caribbean Commission is asking for £33,000,000,000 for slavery reparations
I could explain more details but using the 30% hit rate rule of thumb law in the current climate a lot of words are not worth the effort
My apologies Caribbean Commission is asking for £33,000,000,000,000
using the formula that 1 trillion has 12 zeros
(I blame Bu for spoiling my eyesight)
If that figure of 33 trillion pounds???? is correct, even if it’s much, much less…it’s coming from blackmailers, extortionists and thieves, believing some fool will put any type of money in their crooked hands so they can racketeer, with their thieving minority friends….no one needs Barbados dangerous, lying politicians or their criminal partners to distribute reparations directly to AFRIKAN DESCENTS..
Afrika has been warned to stay out of this….they have their own part to play FROM THE AFRIKA PERSPECTIVE…joining with known thieves is not a viable option.
What a pity!
That a dead DLP could again double down on stupid.
Like only the DLP has historically done.
That a man, whose name we refuse to invoke, without showing possession of any evidence of having either the measurable competencies, capabilities or skills to defeat Mottley, has again been ‘selected” to ensure the dead never rises again.
But he’s in good company. For he follows illustrious fools like Sandiford, Stuart and Depeiza who would have best served maintaining the environs at George Street.
We forcast a third 30-love as Mottley again shoot these DLP fish in a barrel.
This must represent a betrayal of nature that he’s seen as the best possible.
Unless the uniparty which duopoly has always been has finally dispense with pretense, like elsewhere.
It appears Dr. Yearwood and the DLP intend to target St. Lucy and St. Andrew tidings. The BLP incumbents are Peter Phillips and Rommel Springer respectively.
David
You kidding Especially St Andrew
@John2
You say kidding why?
When SGS left the BLP was it not against expectations? What about SJ? If there is a sufficient national swing there are unique dynamics that can impact outcomes.
David
Unfortunately my memory ain’t picking up anything on SGS before suckaroo
St J and L left DLP because of decades of neglect + the stress of the lost decade + MM coattail
I cannot see the event the would cause such a swing the would put St A to the dems with all big work money being spend there now when there weren’t getting any under dems
If the going concentrate on st A then who will the bring? The las person lost by more votes than he got. Who dem have that can make up that difference?
The seats that dem should concentrate most on the apparent candidates are not in Ronnie0 camp
@John2
It is good to see Ronnie out and about putting some ‘lashes’ in a lethargic government notwithstanding 20+ ministers sitting in Cabinet.
By Tre Greaves
tregreaves@nationnews. com
Members of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and some residents in the north and east of the island have asked Government to account for a number of unfinished bridge projects.
They have called on the authorities to complete various bridges which they say are taking too long to be repaired or are unsafe, and for better communication.
DLP president Dr Ronnie Yearwood, candidate for St Andrew in the 2022 General Election, Oldwyn Skeete, and former senator Irene Sandiford-Garner visited Pie Corner and Lamberts in St Lucy; and Walkers, St Simons, Cane Garden and Bruce Vale in St Andrew yesterday morning as part of the party’s Community Connect initiative.
Update
It took place hours before Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources Santia Bradshaw, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and St Andrew Member of Parliament Dr Romel Springer, and Chief Technical Officer in Bradshaw’s ministry, Philip Tudor, gave updates on the various projects during a press conference at Ilaro Court.
In Pie Corner, Yearwood and a number of residents highlighted the unfinished bridge, which was started a few years ago, after the older one was often heavily impacted by significant flooding.
“We have to provide a decent level and standard for people in this country. People who live in the countryside are no less than others. This is a bridge to nowhere. None of the residents know where it’s going or how much it costs over the last five years and the original bridge is in a worse state,” Yearwood said.
Resident Morgan Greaves, a retired senior lawman, recalled the flooding they experienced, last month. He said the improvements were taking too long.
“Our main concern is the flow of water that comes under that bridge. It is very frightening when a certain amount of rain falls . . . and the length of time that it is taking for this project is . . . too long,” he said.
Another St Lucy resident, attorney Pearson Leacock, expressed concern about the safety of the incomplete project. He pointed out several exposed pieces of steel.
“Usually when there is a major capital works project like this, there are billboards with an artist’s impression, but nothing like that has been done here. There are no safety rails and a child could easily get injured. A motorist can misjudge the road and end up in that ditch,” Leacock said.
‘Serious situation’
Yearwood called on Minister Bradshaw or Member of Parliament for St Lucy, Peter Phillips, to update the public on the projects.
“This is a serious situation and one that the minister should be called to address. Not only the Minister of Transport and Works, but the Member of Parliament for this area. If you’ve run out of money, say so. Yes, people will slap you on the wrist, but come and say, ‘We were trying this’ or ‘This is not going to work’,” Yearwood added.
In Lamberts, the group highlighted the overgrown bush that has impacted the visibility of motorists and two cones that alert drivers to the damaged bridge there. They also recalled the death of Yohance Johnson after a car in which he was travelling was washed away by flood waters in the area in November 2020.
In St Andrew, Skeete, speaking at King Street, asked the Government to also pay attention to the failing or closed bridges in that parish.
“This whole parish needs to be redone in a proper manner that can give it sustainability and longevity. We don’t want to be spending money on the same area three and four times to rectify a simple problem,” he said.
“At King Street the problem is dire. We have dire problems at Bawdens and Walkers, and we have problems in Isolation Road and Bruce Vale and Dark Hole . . . . Significant roadworks need to be done across the spectrum of St Andrew, so going forward [the Ministry of Transport and Works] needs to make contact with the requisite people to do the job at hand.”
St Andrew resident Olvin Forde also called on the ruling administration to step up, bearing in mind it has represented the constituency for many years.
“To get to St Andrew, you have to use a bridge or come down a hill. There is only one good bridge in St Andrew. It’s only because of Almighty God that a serious accident has not taken place,” he said.
Source: Nation
John2, it is very interesting that Yearwood seems to be focusing on St. Lucy and St. Andrew with the latter constituency’s former DLP representative and ‘old guard member,’ Irene Sandiford-Garner included in his entourage. Do you believe he should put a bit more effort, ‘first and foremost,’ in selecting a constituency he could win? There is a signifigant difference between party and national popularity.
When voters decide to get rid of someone/party, it makes no difference who the other candidates are.
The DLP are yet to apologize for their last tenure. They are losing by default.
Mia has avoided any actions which may force them into an apology. Read Donville or Chris and others. As long as they strut around, beaming ‘we did nothing wrong’, the pendulum of time is their only friend.
If after what would be about 9 years all an opposition party within Westminster could do is only target 2 of 30 seats we called it right.
For to target 2 means surrendering 28.
Under these conditions all the governing party has to do is to concentrate its arguably overwhelming political artillery thusly.
Like taking candy from political babes.
The DLP, from top to bottom, is what Barrow infamously referred to as ‘an unfinished product’ in reference to the Gingerbread dean.
And even if such conjecture was true.
It would therefore also mean that the party is leaderless.
That this now renewed leader will not be in the house.
And extension that the fishcake frying old women at George Street cannot comprehend political calculus.
We doubt that they could be so senile!
It’s a number game, but shit don’t add up somehow
Barbados has 30 MPs UK has 650 MPs
Barbados has 1 MP per 10,000 people
UK has 1 MP per 100,000 people
∴ Barbados should have 3 MPs
Kiki
Many hand are to make light work says Mottley.
Seems more like many, many, many!
Maybe the political arithmetic presupposes that UK MPs are ten times more able than their factotums locally.
Mathematics
UK also 19,173 elected Councillors.
Oh No!
They coming after Ronnie O.
Meanwhile we have an administration that does everything twice or thrice. Digital IDs turning out to be a disaster as each week we need a new tweak.
Quickly embracing new technology and then screwing up without an apology.
To rent a stall to a vendor you need to involve the Prime Minister.
Lawyer asking about DNA, but clothes probably thrown away.
Midas touch – everything turns gold
Mia’s touch – a disaster that unfolds
Some still talking about 30-0
When we have the solution – Ronnie O
(Kinda weak – was travelling)
Hahahaha..wuhloss, hohoho, hopeful wishes from ***O.
WEAK indeed. (He gwine cuss muh now – cant rezist.)
The pulchritudinous DPMSANTIE in charge
https://epaper.barbadostoday.bb/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=87ad6005-1972-4d63-92b0-8927eda53c7a
help needed.
https://www.nationnews.com/2023/09/15/mum-daughter-pleading-new-house/
David
Good contributions from Marsha, as usual, and this moderator, a woman I never heard of before. I think she did a good enough job for me to check out Brasstacks after all these years of ignoring its existence. She is respectful, engaging, but firm. She points the discussion in a better direction. She corrects misinformation or misrepresentations without being unnecessarily combative. She is opinionated but open-minded. She is knowledgeable, but not a know-it-all.
And she appreciates the opinions and feelings of the people. Quite balanced, I think. Mostly, she kept out of the political quicksand and looked to the solutions.
Worth a listen!
As for the politicians who “contributed” they, though they protested, were still caught in the back and forth of whataboutism. Stuck in the historical mire.
Gregory Nicholls with the narrow “few bad apples” perspective, while the women were speaking to a broader issue, and completely missing the distinction being made between an activist before and after gaining political office, and whether the advocacy was allowed to be effective in office, was astounding. Very defensive, I thought.
@Donna
Sade Jemmott-Ford tries to bring along callers but unfortunately too many of us are anchored to a narrow way of thinking. We observe it in this forum as well.
Mia traveling again?
Last time the bunch of misfits had to call her about a stall for a vendor. What if a main pipe burst in one of these parishes?
Is she certain that this gang of Motley misguided misfits can handle a broken water main on their own?
What if an elderly person loses their digital ID card?
We have taken two or three bites at this card and just cannot get it right. What if one of the misfits thinks that a person trying to get their digital ID card is asking for a digital rectal examination? I hope that there are at least two or three ofcustomer service members per booth?
What about the Joes river situation. The MP/AG is a man that does everything twice. You know what that means.. his constituents gets screwed at least twice. Hopefully, our lowly shopkeeper knows to stock up on Vaseline.
By now Mia should have her pilot license. It seems as if she has developed a liking for first class service. Why not buy two airline seats, a large projector and train her home staff to speak a little French when serving her meals. It would be cheaper for the nation and she would spend more time on the job
This woman is unable to allocate stalls to vendors, but will solve world problems. Get real. Stay home.
Is the allocation of stalls among the duties of the PM?
Typo Friday
Was reading the heartbreaking story of the mum and daughter pleading for help. Here is why I write the way that I do – read the story again.
Do you realize that no help is offered to the lady? Do you realize that every proposed action is punitive?
Yah baby can’t come home?
We gun tek way your chilren?
We gun report you to the child ‘cardboard’?
“TheO, you wrong on dis one. GoRoB is correct in protecting de chilren”.
No you are wrong. Those incompetents should be able to put the family in one of those Chinese houses. What the hell is happening to those houses? Incompetence and meanness walk the land.
Ronnie O was not part of the last administration, was he? Of course, he is somewhat of an artificial opposer, having been a recent Bee, and is therefore hard to take seriously at this time.
I wish the DLP would purge itself of the remnants so that we could stop with the whataboutism. It only provides excuses for the current administration, for whom I still don’t regret voting. It was die now or die later. We have extended our life by five years and counting.
Even past Bush Tea’s January 1st 2023 dooms day. Soon January 2024. 🙄
Luckily, I can still afford to eat, drink and be merry. And I’m old enough to contemplate my death with calmness. My son is better at accepting his mortality than I am. So, we good to go!
Still not comfortable with hungry, homeless children though. We have to do something about that. One thousand families are to be helped, but with poverty at 20% out of 280, 000, I fear we’ve only just begun.
Typo Friday
Did you see how Ronnie O made a tour of the neglected parishes?
This government talks big, makes big promises, looks for big ‘wuk’, but with its limited resources it must ration it helps to some constituencies. I have seen pundits outline a strategy for the great Ronnie O to follow. It always amuses me when BLP partisans tell Ronnie O the winning strategy.
Ronnie has ignored this free and generous ‘advice’ (BLP) and formulated his own brilliant strategy. By going to these neglected constituencies, he is highlighting the unequal effort of the current administration in serving our nation.
Some excerpts
The great Ronnie O
“President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood is takingthe Government to task for leaving bridge and roadworks projects in St Lucy and St Andrew incomplete, which he says now poses a danger to pedestrians and motorists.”
The actress PM
[But in the administration’s defence, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Santia Bradshaw said several challenges including weather, the need for fresh assessments, supply chain challenges and “internal issues relating to management” were responsible for the delays in many instances.]
** The only thing she did not mention was COVID-19.
The great Ronnie O
[“We have had about $300 million in loans from the IDB [Inter- American Development Bank] and China for roadworks and this is the result. Can the Minister come and tell us how much this bridge to nowhere . . . has cost over the last five years to do this?” he said.]
** I read between the lines. I don’t want to put words in Ronnie’s mouth … but if the bridge going nowhere, we know where the money going …. pockets
Answering for a friend
“Is the allocation of stalls among the duties of the PM?”
A very good question. But first, let me take this opportunity to thank our blogmaster for the fine effort and hard work that he does in keeping BU up and running.
Indeed! Supporting both you and Frank is a tiring task and so I can only guess at how tired he is. However, I will try utmost to keep you guys informed.
May I remind you that the final decision was made by (acting Prime Minister aPM) Santia Bradshaw. I believe she called the traveling Prime Minister (tPM).
I fully understand your question, but I do not feel it is my place to write the aPM or tPM job description. I can and will question their actions
It appears the crawl Yearwood and DLP company did provoked the post cabinet briefing yesterday. This is a positive development.
The blogmaster notes post Cabinet briefings were promised by this government on arriving in office in 2018 but have been stillborn.
People saying something about Ronnie Yearwood that you don’ agree with mean that them are BLP, but you want to convince us that you ain’t a DLP supporter?
TheO
Don’t start me up with ronnie0 The people should tell him to keep outta St. Andrew
When questioned about why the DLP ain’t do work there when they were in office -Payne ain’t push hard enuff
Truth???? dem aint had no money to fix a pothole farless a bridge in st andrews
Then he goes on to talk about governs must serve the people ( lordie)
He always talking bout government borrowing = where he think the money coming from that building the roads that he now wanta be pushing government on?
He promising better condition for rural bim. Man go look to win ur seat before you come promising othe constituencies anything
There is a reason why the DLP was
Voted out and there is new leadership. Referring to what Stuart and his E11 did is warmed over soup.
David
Ur response wood have been a better answer to the reporter the the one ronnie0 gave
A “crawl”?
Do you see how they attempt to minimize the brilliant strategy of Ronnie O?
Ronnie O’s action caused the usually lethargic and unfocused beast to launch a response. Watching the response all I could think of was
Six blind mice. BLP blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They ran when they saw Ronnie O’s big knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As the hurrying and scurrying of BLP mice
Begging for the great Ronnie O to be nice
And stop crawling with his big knife
BLP blind mice
TheO
3 blind mice bees made dem shite. Dem can’t handle 6
Ronnie0 is a bridge from 00 to +0
@ David,
The reason the DLP was voted out ( 30-0 twice ) was because PMMIA and the BLP promised to be the best government Barbados could have.
The BLP has positioned Barbados to borrow hundreds of millions and to get millions in aid ” wen de hurricane come.”
David
Really? Ronnie(wh)o is setting up himself. Who in their right mind would go into constituencies where the government has just started a multi-million dollar roads and bridges programme and complain about roads and bridges? Mind you, we’re talking about long outstanding issues and challenging soils and the gentleman didn’t even have personnel with him to offer an alternative view of a technical nature. Come next election and the 70+ roads and 8+ bridges completed, what will Ronnie(wh)o campaign on? That B’dos’ PM and Ministers are paid too much and need a PR like Singapore that pays its PM US$2.2M and Ministers US$700,000 annually? Both the salaries tweet and the road and bridge stunt were long hops and that’s why the government was able to respond so quickly and dispatched so easily. Comedyfest.
@enuff
Is it fair to say he has been rubbing shoulders with residents of the area and therefore voicing their concerns? Another question would be why Santia and crew hurriedly rushed to PMO live yesterday?
David, its political strategy. Perhaps if ‘government was not on top of their game,’ Bradshaw would’ve been unable to “hurriedly rush to PMO yesterday,” which effectively forced Yearwood ‘to be trapped on the back foot and out lbw?’ Had they responded 1, 3 or a week later, then, ‘it would have been a different story.’ People call ‘Brass Tacks’ to complain about one infrastructural issue or the other, on a daily basis. ‘Mr. P’ goes around the island in ‘ZRs’ looking for ‘pot holes’ and bus stops, so as to provide himself with a reason to call the call-in programs and appear relevant in the process. He is dismissed as a ‘humbug.’ Yearwood engaged in a similar activity, accompanied by his political entourage, in their ‘big rides,’ under the DLP banner. He is deemed to be ‘brilliant.’
@Artax
For the majority of citizens who want a relevant political opposition Yearwood’s proactive action in the northern part of the island will serve him well to accrue goodwill if he is able thread similar actions in a strategic manner. Bear in mind these have been nettlesome issues, he has to show he is able to ‘pressure’ the government of only to impress the impressionable. This is politics.
bigworks littleworks
https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/09/15/safe-passage/
The arithmetic is easy.
” The proposed NIS changes include raising the pensionable age from 67 to 67 ½ years in 2028, and then to 68 years in 2034; increasing the age at which Barbadians become eligible to receive a reduced pension from 60 to 61 in 2025, to 62 years in 2028, and to 63 years in 2031; and transforming the NIS into a commercial state-owned enterprise.”
@Hants
We have established the proposed plan outlined in Jordan’s ministerial statement is a bandaid.
“That B’dos’ PM and Ministers are paid too much and need a PR like Singapore that pays its PM US$2.2M and Ministers US$700,000 annually?”
What makes Barbadian draw silly comparison with other countries? Do they reason that because we are a country ‘that punches above it weight’ then we can cover ourselves with the same blanket? I could excuse such behavior if we compared ourselves with equals? But no! We choose the US, UK, France, England, China and Singapore ….
If these guys can throw all countries in a pot and come up with some ridiculous claims, then I can mangle statistics and come up with just as ridiculous claims
Statistic/Singapore/ Barbados
Population / 5.5M / 280K (20 times our population)
GDP / 534B / 4.8B (100 times our GDP).
I am not too good with the GDP thing.
PM Salary 330K/ 2.2M (7 times what our PM is paid)
Anyone with a modicum of commonsense who wants to put these countries on the same scale would admit that a salary of 100K can be considered. Bring foolishness, you get back foolishness.
Because a PM is earning $2.2M on Mars does not mean that ours should earn $2.2M.
As a fund raiser Mia has done an excellent job, on other matters the jury is out
Man, tek the money, run and keep your mouth shut.
Do local politicians offer themselves to serve because of the remuneration, a burning desire to serve, all the above?
What about the need to pay more than peanuts to attract talent? Are we attracting our best talent to serve although currently paying a decent wage? It is not a simple discussion to have, we shouldn’t trivialize.
You asked, what makes Barbadians draw silly comparisons with other countries? Good question. However, the comparisons Yearwood made in his above captioned tweet, essentially provided the basis for this thread. Or, are we to believe there is a difference because they were made by him?
U need to stop picking out parts that suit u and understand what enuff said
Hand 00^0 are twins?
Ronnie O is seeing it like a breadfruit
https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/09/15/yearwood-questions-motive-behind-trident-id-card-pinning/
Ronnie O [“It leads me to believe that the Government is moving pensions or some form of benefits onto that card. Why are you pretending that you are not going to do it? Just tell us what you are going to do so that people can respond appropriately” ]
Ronnie stopped short but I am here …
What if they then claim old people are moving too freely and the cost is excessive? Then one day, when a senior make that swipe and enter his/her pin, the senior is charged for the trip.
Or near the election they claim.. Ronnie O was against the card, he will stop it and you will not be able to get on the bus.
Devious, deliciously wicked. Mia has an impressive future game.
Have a great day.
Why would the government bring BARP onboard for example to commit to them being part of communicating important information to senior citizens about the ID card and sabotage with draconian and unpopular decisions? We need to stop the foolish talk. For a long time many have been asking government to lead the move to egovernment and digitalization, let us get with the rh program and stop the backwardness.
De grasshopper just like the rabbit. Mentally challenged on his pet topics.
Are we still on about the bridge? You gotta move quickly as I have other buyers.
When Mia returns she will have 29 nappies to change, plus Enuff’s and Frank’s.
Here’s a tribute song to our honourable and much missed PM.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cos7id7HtE
William Tell you are not. You seem to have the ability of constantly missing the spot.
The only time this administration invites participation is when it finds itself between a hard place and a rock.
Look at other invitations and see what is happening. Now we see the government having more digitization plans than they are digits.
Breaking news
It was Ronnie(wh)O? that talked about Singapore, I just mentioned the details that he conveniently left out i.e. the high remuneration. He also mentioned Jamaica, but left out the that the PM annual base salary was just increased to JMD$28.6M or Bds$374,000 and Ministers JMD$20.2M or BDS$264,000. One could even argue that managing economies such as ours with limited resources all around and a heavy dependence on government are far more difficult and complex.
The same Singapore, Ronnie(wh)O? referencing, has a national ID card with fingerprints, iris and the usual personal info. Some places you can tap and go. There is also a digital option. Data privacy issues in Singapore? 182 in 2022!! Ronnie(wh)O? had/got issues with our new ID though.
Now you see why you were one of the 0.1% of those who viewed the salaries tweet that actually liked it? Don’t come for me, go for Ronnie(wh)O? whose road + bridge stunt was further drowned out today with news of a new athletics track with ancillary facilities about to be started at the Gymnasium. Lashley couldn’t get half but watch muh about to deliver more than one. We’re still 4 years out.🤣
Enuff Dr Yeareood is a political amateur who continuously puts his foot in his mouth.His latest political stunt in St Andrew will not help him.I predivt as i stated before he will not win a seat and the dems will do well to win more than 5 seats
Artax there are about 5 of these dems Mr P, Ms Decided, Mr Bascombe, Rawle and Alvin whom most sensible people term political dem nuisances who add nothing of value to Brasstacks.I gone.
I see that some are changing from a repeat 30-0 to a possible 25-5. Do you think that they realized that they are admitting their party is losing ground and that there increasing strength in the opposition? Ronnie O is winning the mind game and the ground game.
A few continue to run against the 2018 Dems. They do not brag or hang their hopes on the 60-0 record; a silent admission that the zero in the number 60 carries less weight than the six. Ronnie O is winning the now game as they try to drag 2023 back to 2018.
And their logic continues to baffled me. As example
“One could even argue that managing economies such as ours with limited resources all around and a heavy dependence on government are far more difficult and complex.”
Is he/she/them saying. …things are tougher on our ‘3×3’ island so we should break the bank for them? Ronnie O has won the numbers game as they appeal to illogic to make their point.
This same guy will tell me of 70+ roads, but they will not tell you the total distance of those 70+ roads. It is not the number, it is not the patches, it is the miles that matter.
Needless to say GoRoB should be complimented on any improvement made to the Republic’s infrastructure, but lets keep things in proper perspective.
“De grasshopper just like the rabbit. Mentally challenged on his pet topics.”
You are scaring me. I thought I had ten more years to poke at you without getting ‘burn’. I did not expect to see development of a sense of humor in such a short time.
Recalibrating.
I wish everyone in Barbados (and those traveling) a beautiful and peaceful Saturday.
Keep hope alive and remember we are a resilient people. The Good Lord is with us.
Enjoy the day.
TheOgas
I always thought the important metric was the number of people being served by the roads. But anyhow, there are the same roads Ronnie(wh)O? was in the media complaining about. Did he mentioned length? Yet you here creaming because of he had a photo op.
Yuh gine kill eem?
TheOgas (mostly sulfides)
“Ronnie O has won the numbers game as they appeal to illogic to make their point.”
Won what? The man was disproved quickly by an IG post by the BLP then Senator Nicholls. But based on Ronnie(wh)O?’s argument and your attempt at making sense, Singapore is also over paying their politicians because with a salary of US2.2M and a population of 5.64M that is far higher than the UK’s PM USD$99,000 with a population of 67M!. Furthermore, Singapore has no nuclear weapons and its economy is 6 times smaller than the UK’s. However, we all know that Singapore is less corrupt and far better managed than the UK. Maybe the Singapore population recognises that high pay attracts the best talent, engenders high productivity and discourages corruption. Those of us with a little bit more depth and width understand that it maybe about numbers but certainly not the simplistic arithmetic you and Ronnie(wh)O? have employed.
“Maybe the Singapore population recognises that high pay attracts the best talent, engenders high productivity and discourages corruption.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe the brass bowls are beginning to realize that too …and are therefore vex as shiite at our politicians high salaries, piss poor talents and dismal productivity…
Shiite man Enuff, wunna cannot even get a simple law enacted without having to rush to immediate corrections…
wunna cannot get a simple case completed within a year – unless the victim was highly connected
…and wunna are mostly lawyas….
Lord mussee know how incompetent wunna REALLY are in other areas besides law….
like eddykashun, NIS, sewerage, steal houses, energy, agriculture, transportation, roads, welfare, housing, food security, tourism, …etc
Yuh can’t defend the indefensible skippa.
@(not)enuff
You have continued with your fallacious argument of calling the name of other countries.
Singapore is not my concern or on my radar. Barbados is.
If I was to take England as my example, as you seem to want me to do, then Mia is just not overpaid …she is robbing we.
Cut it out. Realizing your mistake, your next note will probably mention Jamaica or some other island. Stop it.
I saw where some clean-up was being done in Barbados and someone asked ‘where is Gabby? He is always in everything?’
I saw where someone mentioned the GoB was donating some funds to help the homeless and some thought it was a good time to attack Mr Saffrey. Full of insinuations, accusations, character assassination, but nothing concrete, just smoke.
Where do these small and nasty minded people live? They would ignore politicians but attack the few private citizens who want to make life better for the nation and then they want Mr Saffrey and Gabby to do what the government should do?
May I remind you, minimizing the efforts of others doesn’t make you a bigger person.
I saw the blogmaster talking about talent and here you are today with the same word/phrase.
I was being my polite self l, but of necessity and abandoning all caution, I must remove my kid gloves. Forgive me.
Fund raising talents are highly desirable and appreciated, but you must agree that speech making without management ability carries with it some deficits.
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to do things two or three times? Wouldn’t it be great if digitization was not an unending task? I can understand the need for change, but masking policy changes as upgrades points towards mismanagement. The task and the vision are not aligned.
I would be the first to admit that Mia has some great strengths. Do you agree that effective management is not one of them?
I would be the first to admit that she would be great in a rum shop debate, but track record show that she should not be allowed to manage the bar.
(Coming home in 2028)
Being impartial and fair minded, I will soon give you my many criticisms of the great Ronnie O.
“I see that some are changing from a repeat 30-0 to a possible 25-5. Do you think that they realized that they are admitting their party is losing ground and that there increasing strength in the opposition? Ronnie O is winning the mind game and the ground game.”
30-0 to 25-5 would mean that DLP could finally hold their heads up for losing again but a little bit better and beating all expectations of not going extinct like the dodo
BLP must be cacking themselves at the prospect of winning 25-5 and being in power again.
DLP must not be outsmarted by that woman again.
TheO
It’s there in the article. Stop blaming enuff
FYI
RonnieYearwood
@RonnieYearwood
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Where are the performance indicators? The PM makes abt $Bd300k not incl perks. More than the UK PM at £80k. Bajan Ministers make about $Bd273k. More than a UK Minister at £72k. The UK has nuclear weapons, army, airforce, navy, economy of abt $3trillion. Barbados? 30 but nothing.
2:56 PM · Sep 4, 2023
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So wait…the population is decreasing we are told…are we going to reduce the seats to keep pace with this decrease in voters?
Who cares what they are paid? They can form a CBL, spend $124M that nobody seems to know exactly where it went, and we are worrying about a few dollars they will get one way or another.
This gov’t took Ministers to new heights, gave fired Ministers new fancy titles and $$, and promptly received another 30-0 mandate. Obviously the people approve unanimously.
At one time people were fretting about how Barbados can achieve an economy like Singapore’s, now the conversation is how Bajan politician’s remuneration can keep pace with Singapore’s. The same politicians who claimed that they didn’t want the previous salary increase provided under the last Gov’t and would donate it to charity. Trying to find a politician who donated his increase to charity would be like Diogenes searching for an honest man.
Yuh can’t make this s..t up, or maybe you can, just ask a Bajan
TheOgas (mostly sulfides)
In addition to the tweet, the DLP put out a whole statement signed by Steve Blackett (yes the same one that was in Parliament demanding his 10% back pay now aptly being called a meeting turn and recently was heard on the radio claiming to have taken a pay cut) which stated:
“What are the performance indicators? Jamaica recently tabled ministers’ job descriptions and Singapore has a performance model. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel or think that no one is doing this. It is political will that is required, and DLP Leader Dr Ronnie Yearwood gives the assurance that a Democratic Labour Party government under his leadership will have the political will to reverse this madness.”
Why selectively choose pieces to suit a narrative? If we’re talking pay and performance indicators and referencing particular countries, you should give the whole picture–salaries, indicators etc. But then again when you can’t even get the UK PM salary correct or purposely understate it, you’re clearly not interested in truth.
I hope you now see where my reference to Jamaica and Singapore came from–Ronnie(wh)O? and the DLP.
In other news, in today’s paper a big able notice by the developer announcing the start of the Pierhead Project which will take 4 years (there is that 4 years again). Pierhead, Sam Lords, Hotel Indigo, Pendry Hotel, new national stadium, athletics training track at Wildey, Airport PPP, modern Geriatric Hospital etc etc. If only Malmoney could start Hyatt–cue Milluh the clown.
Fashionista wears another scarf.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/09/16/pm-says-us-blockade-on-cuba-brutal/
Were they not told at the same conference to “stay out of big people’s business.”
An audio outlining the advice is being shared everywhere.
In view of everything that’s about to crash down on them, it is sound advice, but dont mind me, am viewing from a distance.
@(not)enuff
“In other news, in today’s paper a big able notice by the developer announcing the start of the Pierhead Project which will take 4 years (there is that 4 years again). Pierhead, Sam Lords, Hotel Indigo, Pendry Hotel, new national stadium, athletics training track at Wildey, Airport PPP, modern Geriatric Hospital etc etc. If only Malmoney could start Hyatt–cue Milluh the clown.”
Some things are old, some things are new and some things when examined are not quite true. My good and dear friend has once again blurred the line between the BLP accomplishments and what exists in his imagination. Whimsical thinking and braggadocious claims cannot withstand close scrutiny; let me put them under the big lights
Pierhead Project
My research makes me suspicious of all activity here. In 2010 someone claim that this was already “10 years in the making”. It was also a project that was ibeing discussed around the time of Four Seasons. My research has not told me how many Bajans will be employed after this possible heist is completes.
Ongoing – should not be counted as D or B (0-0).
Sam Lords:
Ver near completion. This is a positive story, but construction started in 2017 and so this can be counted in both categories
Can be counted as a D project reaching completion under the B.
(0.5-0.5)
Hotel Indigo
This must be counted as a “win for the BLP”. However, before the victory lap should be postponed till after completion. This has a 2024 completion date. Anyhow (0-1)
Pendry Hotel,
“Pendry this week announced plans to debut its first-ever international resort and residences in Barbados in 2026. The property, called Pendry Barbados, will take the place of the existing Port Ferdinand Luxury Marina and Residences on Barbados’ west coast.”
If Mia get kicks out in 2026 or earlier this may be scored as aD using (not)enuff methods. But it should be a B (0-1).
new national stadium, athletics training track at Wildey
– not yet started (0-0).
Airport PPP,
PPP is a good acronym. It look as if you have passed pirated public property to private partners. Don’t boast about this.
DLP 0, BLP loses 2 points (0-2)
modern Geriatric Hospital
Has this started (0-0)
etc etc
This is the only claim that I cannot criticize or refute as I could not find information about this etc. etc. project, therefore a big BLP win (0-5)
If only Malmoney could start Hyatt–cue Milluh the clown.”
At least you didn’t claim that. I suspect the vaccine fiasco made you push the brakes.
I am hoping you can rubbish my statement for “this light amount of works should not require that many hands”. Perhaps you have too many cooks.
“modern Geriatric Hospital
Has this started (0-0)…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be fair, the answer is, YES.
Construction of the new geriatric hospital commenced a few days after a ground breaking ceremony was held on March 13, 2023, at the proposed site, located in Waterford, St. Michael.
According to media reports, the hospital ‘is to be constructed in two phases and should be completed in just under two years at a cost of $1.307 million for phase one of the project.’
Anyone passing in the area of Hothersal Turning roundabout, could verify construction at the site is ongoing.
Source: Nation
The NIS issue if articulated well can win support from a disgusted public. God knows he has been given enough ammunition in this one forum.
Source: Nation
Celebrate – every day is typo day
Have a great day all
Source: Nation
https://barbadosunderground.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dlp.png
Source: Nation
TheOgas (mostly sulfides)
Based on your response, it is clear that you’re bereft of ideas, current and correct information. You also keep displaying why allowing overseas voting can be dangerous. Get up good.
@(not)enuff.
Indeed, we are opposites. I am bereft of ideas and you
are full of ideas.
What the people need is action, concrete action and not your imaginations. You are not John Lennon
https://youtu.be/ugrAo8wEPiI?feature=shared
“Barbados is seen as ‘punching above its weight,’ assuming a pivotal position in international affairs and that’s largely because of the rock star role being played by Prime Minister Mottley,” he told the Sunday Sun.
Just change one word and I can agree with the statement.
With the amount of hot air generated by Mia, Barbadian is indeed ‘blowing’ above its weight.
Where is the link for the meeting? I will attend online.
I like to watch her speak.
Now if only she would take my $500.00 course
Transforming old talk into action
And for (not)enough my $299.90 course
Imaginations are not enough. Act.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYJnMB1idaE?si=um5Xu_Mny0pB3DSM&w=560&h=315%5D
A beautiful Monday to all.
The interweaving of comments does not really help the flow of conversation as one would expect.
Having responded to a comment, it is often surprising to see a next unaddressed comment before yours response – before in position but not in time.
Knowing how Bajans like to sneak back and have the last words this practice should be discouraged.
—xx—
I know what you are thinking.
This guy needs to learn to pray and to get a life. First thing …
Here goes the DLP again blowing up an internal matter on the public airwaves.
@ TheOGazerts
Here goes the DLP again blowing up.
Ronnie O needs your help.