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Warmed over soup and fancy photo ops.
Tell Ronnie O to present tangible solutions and alternatives instead of only criticisms and then bring forward some candidates let the people decide. Elections are around the corner!!
Just observing
@Observing
Not sure about the practicality of a political opposition offering solutions but it is important for him to rebrand the party based on a few core values that resonate with Barbadians. Bear in mind the SOP of political parties everywhere is to win government by making promises even if pie in the sky. There is always a gap between election promises and decisions taken after winning elections. It is naive to think differently.
Perhaps Ronnie should also announce all 30 DLP candidates for the next election, to show his intent, preparation and readiness ambitions.
General comment
Quite often we see BLP members full of advice for the struggling DLP and its leadership.
Ronnie O keep this in mind…
Only a fool takes advice from his enemy.
It was in my beloved Saint Vincent and the cosmogonía, where first seen was a picture of school children, a class, with the males in the front row and the females bringing up the rear.
That class seemed to have more potential that this bunch of nothing-neareans who will never defeat Mottley. For if the head is bad, when the times for such charades have long past, nothing good can cometh from Nazareth.
Certainly, a picture of Barrow, Caddle, Blackman, Taitt, Ferguson, the other Blackman, Eastman, Thompson et al, all said to be dead, however such are these times. Times when the dead, dead, dead are better than the living. A principle which goes counter to Afrikan cosmogony.
Try as much as you may. You will NEVER be able to imbue this gang with live. Indeed, the more you try, the more death asserts itself on the living dead!
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One challenge the Fruendel Stuart administration had to deal with, it was perceived as weak dealing with fiscal and monetary policies. Barbadians political confidence is largely influenced by the prominence and ‘qualifications’ of the undisputed spokesman on finance.
@David
Agreed in principle, but, starting from a 60-0 position, gaining the confidence of the public can only be gained by gaining their trust which can only be gained by taking them into your confidence. Its a catch 22. Who will vote for Mia will always vote for Mia.
As an “alternate” government in waiting, simply barking at every car that passes isn’t going to inspire me and I suspect nor will it alot of the 60% that stayed home.
Desperate times call for different measures.
@TheO
A discerning mind should be able to tell the difference. lol
Just Observing
P.S. Interesting read on page 5A of today’s paper. Will post comment on “In Bed Together.”
I wear glasses and I do not see environment covered. Perhaps it’s an oversight as environment is how humanity will continue to exist as a species. Without a healthy environment IBCs and the overrated fickle tourism means zilch!
@Kammie
A couple shadow ministers without portfolio mentioned presumably to cover portfolios not mentioned. Although to your point, environment is a big one.
I was most amused with Shadow Ministers with NO portfolio. Shadow the shadow?
Shadow the Leader, Shadow the Leader, Shadow the Leader….oh wait that Calypso was Follow the Leader 😁
FLUFF!
What BU bloggers should REALLY be concerned about is why a government with 100% control of all state agencies seems to be so GUNG HO on suppressing any form of criticism.
The AUDACITY to come to bulldoze laws TARGETING social media (the ONLY avenue of independent thought left) with ridiculous fines and imprisonment, only confirms that it is not only Bushie who recognizes brass bowl sheeple when he sees them…
LOL…
Obviously you will be the first one imprisoned Boss!! (Naked over and away..)
…or perhaps the second ..after Bushie is forced to call on higher powers for protection… LOL
What a damned place…
One would have thought that with 30-0 TWICE, our government would be ENCOURAGING feedback, and relishing the accolades that one would expect from such overwhelming public support….
…But perhaps they KNOW what is in store for us brass bowls…
A word to the wise is Enuff…..
Billion dollars in debt repayments.
https://nationnews.com/2024/02/04/almost-1b-in-repayments-by-end-of-financial-year/
@Bushtea, under the DLP I asked hard questions of Dr Denis Lowe and Mr Stuart related to Cahill. I was ostracized, my phone and communications were illegally intercepted just for seeking transparency. The question begs who gave instructions for the illegal wiretapping without judicial oversight. Abuse of political powers in Barbados in the absence of FOIA, should be a concern to all.
Yes, we have bad actors on social media but the BLP cabinet is overstepping their mandate and they must be told so without fear or contradiction. In addition, should they arrogantly ignore the concerns of public sentiments and pass the Cybercrime law in its current form, they will suffer the consequences of the pressure cooker effect. Very often the same oppressive laws passed,return as your worst nightmare.
Both the DLP and BLP need to be more sincere towards the public.
Why should Bajans be concerned. Has their socalled democracy, titularly controlled by them, not given us this. Emphatically, the last two times around, but not limited thereto?
Our real concern is with the people who cannot be unconvinced that this system has collapsed, cannot be revived, and was never no real democracy.
And until that point is approached we shall be forever looking backwards, not thinking anew.
Even the thinker PLT tried last time with the misguidance that it was in the country’s interests to try saving the DLP. Ours and yours was that it should be allowed to be buried ……. because um dead already.
Another wtf(rance) moment.
Is Mia Mottley a “Friend of Israel?”
She had nuff talk for Russia over Ukraine, from ignorance.
Maybe, as a friend of Israel, which every political party around is fully so infiltrated by. Plus, we suggest that Mottley may have an eye on dispositions of the jewry in Washington, and those of Genocide Joe.
But we also doubt that any other political party leadership that is said to be in existence in these parts would have the courage, the balls, to call out genocide by Israel in Gaza. Lest of all the mimick man said to lead a party that once was.
In addition, should they arrogantly ignore the concerns of public sentiments and pass the Cybercrime law in its current form, they will suffer the consequences
++++++
So who will stop them from passing this bill? Here is what I read in the Press are examples of criminality as it relates to computer usage.
“for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, embarrassment, insult, injury, humiliation, intimidation, hatred, anxiety or causing substantial emotional distress to that person”.
Imagine a government criminalizing embarrassment and insult, did anyone say Orwellian?
From this vantage point this law will cut the legs off the blogs but what do I know.
Case closed!
Nigerians have been practising this for decades. The Nigerian passport carries little value, so they look to other places where they can obtain a worthwhile passport for their new-born. That they have no intention to pay for the delivery of their child merely reflects on their nature and character. 15 years ago (?) a very wealthy Nigerian woman came on a “holiday” to the mother country in order to give birth to triplets. It was an expensive and tricky procedure. She left the UK without paying her bill. The British taxpayer was lumped with the bill.
The Nigerians have their own website which is used by the vast majority of Nigerians. It is literally an international Nigerian diaspora grapevine. https://www.nairaland.com/searchq=giving+birth+in+barbados+for+citizenship&board=0
This is why Barbados must be careful should it proceed to operate direct flights from Africa to Barbados. If I were the government, I would process all visas in one country (Senegal) as well as carrying out the administration process.
The CBI scheme is a lot worse and is the one we should really look out for. As it has the possibility of replacing Barbados population within a short-time span.
Everyone can express themselves freely here. The only reason true patriots like remain anonymous is because they don’t have time for medals of valour and such.
However, we don’t need an opposition in Barbados any more than we do in El Salvador, a second perfect democracy.
Our beloved government should ban private financial support for election campaigns and instead grant state support per won parliamentary seat. That would help to clear the air at the next election.
Bush Tea on February 4, 2024 at 11:28 AM said:
2 Votes
FLUFF!
What BU bloggers should REALLY be concerned about is why a government with 100% control of all state agencies seems to be so GUNG HO on suppressing any form of criticism.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Because any half baked opposition with half a brain would have challenged the constitutionality of Parliament ever since.
Best defense is offense.
What ….. No Donville?
The blogmaster agrees with much of the sentiment expressed in today’s Nation editorial. Does for minister Richard Sealy have any thoughts on the matter or is the status quo sitting well with him.
Foreign service report dueIT IS MORE THAN INTERESTING, although not surprising, that since Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced, a month ago, a number of new appointments to Barbados’ foreign service, no serious public debate has ensued.
Little wonder there was no buzz when she announced the new appointments and the transfer of former Consul General in New York, Mackie Holder, to London as Deputy High Commissioner. Even the promise of further changes to the diplomatic service by April is hardly likely to stir significant interest.
Barbadians are not in the habit of scrutinising the merits or shortcomings of diplomatic appointments whether career or political choices. The country has been fortunate over many years to have attracted an outstanding corps of diplomats who have brought honour to this nation. There have also been instances when some of our diplomats have not lived up to the high expectations of the office.
Focus on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not stop with the announcements of new appointments, but it should report to the public on what has been achieved over the past five years.
The blemishes and the course of action taken should also be disclosed.
It is important, given the level of taxpayers’ funds being expended, to know how trade has been bolstered thanks to our missions, and in the case of those in Ghana and Kenya, what are the tangible benefits that have accrued from our recent presence in those African nations.
A debate in the House of Assembly on foreign affairs matters would be ideal, but given the existing one-party composition, such an undertaking would hardly benefit from a serious probe or elicit answers on critical issues.
In the absence of such an undertaking, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds needs to address the Government’s strategic vision and approach to foreign policy and also explain the process in appointments. It is noteworthy that all our diplomats in major stations – London, Washington, Ottawa and Beijing – are political appointees, and the pros and cons of this situation need to be explained, including the likely impact on career foreign service officers. There should be no cryptic process in selection of personnel for these positions.
There also needs to be edification on why a small island such as Barbados would have a High Commission in London and establish another in Dublin some 463 kilometres away or 75 minutes by plane. Is this the most efficient use of resources?
Barbados needs to have a presence in places which matter in trade, and can provide opportunities in sports and culture, information technology, bio-medicine and investments. India, as a democracy within the Commonwealth, seems an obvious choice.
We congratulate the new diplomatic appointees: former Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes, High Commissioner to Ireland; renowned broadcaster Vic Fernandes, Ambassador to Washington; accomplished media practitioner Dr Sharon Marshall, Ambassador to Cuba; and former Government Senator Lorenzo Harewood, Consul General in New York. Much is expected of them.
Focus on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not stop with the announcements of new appointments, but it should report to the public on what has been achieved over the past
five years.
@political talking heads
Didn’t Yearwood indicated some members of the old guard expressed no interest in being part of the shadow cabinet?
Shadow support
Political scientists endorse DLP move but have some queries
by JOSUÉ RAMIRÉZ NELSON
THE DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY’s (DLP) new shadow cabinet is getting the thumbs up from some political scientists, who say it is a positive step forward for a party that finds itself in a process of renewal.
On Saturday president Dr Ronnie Yearwood announced the 13-member shadow cabinet with a mixture of new and familiar faces. It consists of Yearwood, first vice-president Michael Lashley, second vice-president Walter Maloney, third vice-president Felicia Dujon, Tyra Trotman, Richard Sealy, Ricardo B. Harrison, Pastor Matthew Thorne, Faith Greaves, Melissa Savourty-Gittens, Rasheed Belgrave, Karina Goodridge and Stefan Newton.
Dr George Belle told the DAILY NATION: “To convince the electorate that you are serious, you have to put things in place,” adding the Dems should be demonstrating to the electorate their capacity to participate effectively in any General Election.
Though he praised the inclusion of fresh young faces, the retired University of the West Indies lecturer queried Yearwood’s exclusion of some notable figures such as former minister of agriculture Dr David Estwick, and former candidate Ryan Walters.
“If he doesn’t bring some of the senior people in the party from before, then it would look as if he is only commanding a kind of refresher section of the party and not carrying the entire organisation.
“So he has to be able to convince some people that he has the full party behind him and not just the people that he has created around himself. And on that business, there is a more united and effective front for the party to fight for the future.”
Devaron Bruce said Yearwood was fulfilling his mandate of forming a team of new and old faces to go out into the spotlight and speak on public issues.
He said the mix of young and seasoned members was a step towards reconstruction for a party that needs to invest in a long-term plan as it seeks to overturn two successive 30-0 defeats in General Elections.
“The reality is that if a political party has zero seats in Parliament, I think it also has to look at the long term because, in very practical terms, the head of the DLP winning 16 seats in the next election to change the Government is unlikely.
“So you may want to have candidates who have longevity and you may want to have young persons who have longevity who can maybe oversee two to three election cycles. So I think it makes sense to have a good cadre of young persons supported by those who have been around before, and pass on the knowledge and the expertise and the know-how to the young candidates,” he said.
Another political scientist, Peter Wickham, saw Yearwood’s move as a sign of his growing confidence and comfort in his new role, but questioned why the DLP president opted to assign only 13 shadow ministers rather than involve as much talent as possible to cover various areas.
“A shadow cabinet can be as large as it needs to be simply because there is no cost implication . . . . He’s taken on finance and health, which are two massive ministries. He is shadowing both of them and he’s ignoring the fact that he has two former health ministers within his reach that he can speak to that could very well have done any of those portfolios. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Wickham criticised the appointment of two shadow ministers without portfolio in the office of the president.
“What do these people do? If these people have an important task to perform, why not give them the title, let them perform the task, and say that they are shadow ministers of whatever it is they’re supposed to be doing?
“I don’t know what the infrastructure is at the DLP, but the reality is that there is no Opposition Leader’s office and I have never heard about it before. It makes absolutely no sense,” he said.
While he believes in the appointment of young faces in the shadow cabinet, Wickham said the wrong message could be sent by the absence of Estwick and Walters.
“What he also has to understand is that these are people who will ultimately become candidates. So am I to assume that the only people he has chosen are the people whom he sees as candidate material? So am I to understand that Ryan Walters is not candidate material? That’s the signal that it sends.”
Source: Nation
@David, have you seen this and the nightly viewership? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6virKZQkdE
@David, what can we discern from the viewership? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIERfFYkv0A
Is Richard Sealy really known? Why would he be relied upon for any worthwhile insight? Certainly, it could not be because of his limited mental capacity, could it?
Fundamentally, that these shenanigans continue to fail to make contact with the emerging norms but continue to double down on stupid, is remarkable.
Gallop on!
Let all advocates do their thing. This is welcomed in a government dominated lower house.
Poor Marsha Caddle sent to get slaughtered. Girl you were sent to make a fool of yourself. Just cannot believe she accepts the shite she spews. Imagine you can call a man a bulla in he face but if use a computer to call them a buller…7 years and $70,000.
Politicians in Barbados steal money through the back door and do not get a day. cahill, 4 seasons,vaccine scandal, hope housing,coverley,highway 2 way etc
Ms Caddle did herself ZERO favors on brass tacks today.
She coherently addressed NONE of the concerns raised by callers, and adopted the ‘we know best’ approach that has come to typify this government.
Would have be much better served by keeping off the air (like the other political clowns in cabinet) and allowing us to continue to assume that she was intelligent.
Again today Bushie
Ye complaineth tooo much.
What’s new?
If you were in a similar position as a regime or as Caddle you would probably face such questions with your bat and pads close together tooo.
Why give a nonexistent opposition any raison detre. Or Mottley a reason teh fire yuh again.
Barbados is not the first place but maybe one of last where such a political disposition is known to have been given life, maybe eternal.
The Shadow Attorney General is known for having a Bajan charged for malicious communication regarding comments made about him on social media. Yet Ronnie(wh)O? is busy saying the cybercrime bill is about stifling freedom of speech.🤣🤣
Enuff
I
s it not possible that both things are right?
Even as any one thing maybe both wrong and right.
Pachamama
With all that is said about the current administration, 30 seats and all, not a fella has been prosectuted for a social media post though. Meanwhile Ronnie(wh)O? stopped the beloved and Nation awardee Caswell from speaking at a DLP branch meeting because he said something negative about him. 🤣🤣
Enuff
Let us see both circumstances as integral to a political culture. Indeed, more than merely political but culture generally.
For if you, Enuff, and based on the false assumption that your abilities were as limited as this dlp nitwit now misleading, you too may try to design a discourse which lionizes yourself, like Mottley did while both in opposition and government.
This is certainly not a problem amenable to atomization we fear. Instead, it represents a systemic decadence which may never be subject to the rigorous interrogation of people on either side of the aisle, or in between.
Macky Salls announcement of a delay on Saturday has since set off a chain of events in the West African country.
On Sunday, the government ordered a private television broadcaster off the air for “incitement to violence” over its coverage of the protests, another sign of the mounting political tension in the country. There was also restriction of motorcycle movements in Dakar on Monday even as security has been reinforced in the capital.
The government also restricted internet connections in parts of the country, with a statement from the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy saying this was “due to the dissemination of several hateful and subversive messages relayed on social networks in the context of threats and disturbances to public order.”
Just before the legislative debate began, security forces used tear gas to disperse an opposition rally outside the parliament building.
wunna friten?
Check Wright v McCormack decision from last year!!!
The court determined that McCormack had defamed Wright but that Wright had no reputation!!
He was awarded 1 GBP in damages!!
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Wright-v-McCormack-judgment-260723.pdf
In October 2019 Mr McCormack also took part in a video discussion on YouTube in which he said, among other things, “Craig Wright is a fucking liar, and he’s a fraud; and he’s a moron; he is not Satoshi.” Dr Wright sued
him for libel.
McCormack had to pay Dr. Wright 1 GBP because Dr. Wright’s reputation was incapable of being harmed!!
This decision is worth a read!!!
Remember, there is no constitutional Parliament in existence!!
Whatever happened with Khalil Kothdiwala and the Constitutional change to allow him to become a senator?
Nobody ent saying peep!!
The spirit of Animal Farm is ever present in Bimshire. I thought the young man had obtained a scholarship.
Having a constitution is superfluous when you have an empress in control.
There is far too much petty minded whining and moaning on the internet.
Fining people for bitching will be a very lucrative income stream to tap into.
@Enuff
Santia suing?
These issues are always casted as if the local micmickmen, women, are self directed, even fictionally under the direction of some demos.
Maybe even devil!
But with these pretenders following their seniors in Western capitals, might they not be so best and proper bechmarks.
In these parts, weee certainly have nobody, influencial, who is close to charges or alligations of genocide.
Nobody proximate, likely to be charged with war crimes.
Not a boy yet, having to defend charges of crimes against humanity.
Not forgetting Donville. While his “betters” are running perrenial crimes right at both the centres of governments and rackets within all the fake arms of international governance.
Certainly, Donville was never in a position to have an army protecting him. Never had a lawfare body passing a legislation to make mandatory the invasion of the Hague should any of its citizens were to be held there.
But these are the largest three crimes known to man.
Maybe, just maybe, these Bajan políticos are the least bad of the worst.
Maybe?
All Santia had to do was request donations are made to her charitable foundation, which it has been written she has.
End of story.
Her protestations of innocence, and now threats, seem to do little but keep the story alive.
@ TLSN on February 5, 2024 at 8:38 PM said:
“The spirit of Animal Farm is ever present in Bimshire. I thought the young man had obtained a scholarship.
Having a constitution is superfluous when you have an empress in control.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well said, TLSN!
Both OSA and Hal Austin warned Bajans of what was in store for them.
It’s really frightening to see how a government- with no elected Opposition- could prioritize the passing of a law designed to restrict the use of so-called social media over that of passing (and proclaiming) a modern Constitution fit for a 21st Century Republic called Barbados.
Where is that long overdue Constitution which should establish the limits of the citizens’ rights to their Freedom of Expression?
What about that Freedom of Information Act long promised in both political parties’ manifestoes, going back more than two decades?
Why should Parliamentarians continue to wear a veil of immunity from litigation?
Why should these ‘self-styled’ Super Citizens be insulated against libel and abuse of ‘private’ persons in a 21st Century republic of democracy while ‘ordinary’ citizens are forced to toe the legal line when it comes to the Internet (the modern-day tree of knowledge of good (and evil) with its grapevine equivalent called Social Media?
Stuupse.
Ryan Walters should head over to the collation. He can step right into a leadership position and reinvigorate the frailing third party . Initially he will take a hit at the polls but he is young enuff and it will give him an opportunity to show his management skills .
Rev, Lynn reach out !
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