Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

2024 Auditor General Report, finally!

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

The overdue 2024 Auditor General report was eventually published on the Barbados parliament website. From all reports it is the last report from Leigh Trotman before his well deserved retirement.

auditor-general-report-2024.pdfDownload

The report records the usual comments and concerns from an under resourced Barbados Audit Office. Some have opined it has been a deliberate attempt by successive governments to deny perennial requests for resources to blunt the effectiveness of that office.

The most optimistic among us have given up on the government being able to improve ‘efficiencies’.

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

48 responses to “2024 Auditor General Report, finally!”

  1. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    “The budget for the [EVR] project has been steadily increasing. Based on the status reports provided by [Ministry of Transport and Works between March 2020 and December 2023, the budget for the project increased from $5 805 596 to $9 200 005, an increase of $3 394 409,” the report shared.

  2. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    A sad mess of nothingness.
    One cannot audit, when there is nothing to audit?
    Such is the case nearly across the board.
    Fold the office, they are only spinning top in the mud.
    The Audit Office has been successfully castrated by the failure of other public entities to Report.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    Treasury ‘in breach of rules’

    The Treasury Department’s failure to verify that its accounting records reconcile with those of related bank statements means the agency is in breach of the financial rules.

    The 2024 Auditor General Report stated that this failure to comply with Rule 90 of the Financial Management and Audit (Financial) Rules, 2011 “has plagued the Treasury for over 15 years”.

    Now retired Auditor General Leigh Trotman raised the concern in an audit of Government’s financial statements and the Accountant General said steps were being taken to rectify the issue.

    “Information in the general ledger in respect of the Treasury’s bank accounts carried a balance of $79 408 697. This total was inclusive of credit balances of $323 878 423.65 and $43 497 358.44 which purportedly represent the balances on two (2) commercial bank accounts,” the Auditor General said.

    “Credit balances usually indicate that bank accounts are in an overdraft position. However, these commercial bank accounts, used by Ministries and Departments to deposit funds collected on behalf of the Government, had debit balances and have no provision for overdraft facilities.

    “These credit balances are material misstatements which negatively impact the reliance that can be placed on the information in the financial statements,” the report explained.

    Bank reconciliations

    It said that bank reconciliations “were not presented to the Auditors to allow for the verification of the differences between the General Ledger accounts and the bank statements”.

    The Auditor General noted that “bank reconciliations are necessary internal controls that should not be overlooked as they assist in the detection of errors in the accounts”.

    “The lack of reconciliations is a breach of Rule 90 of the Financial Management and Audit (Financial) Rules, 2011 and this breach has plagued the Treasury for over 15 years. This issue related to both the special deposits held at the Central Bank as well as the four Treasury accounts at the commercial banks. This situation should not continue to go unchecked,” he advised.

    The Accountant General, who is responsible for providing Parliament with financial statements prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, including related notes and schedules, responded to the Auditor General’s concerns about the persistent financial rule breach.

    Year-end financial statements

    “An exercise has been undertaken by the Treasury to ensure that bank reconciliations be brought up to date for the year-end financial statements at 31 March, 2024, and continue to be kept current. The conclusion of this exercise with the relevant adjustments will confirm compliance with Rule 90 of the Financial Management and Audit Rules 2011,” the Accountant General said.

    The report said that said auditors would “seek to confirm this information during the audit of the financial statements for the year ended 31st March, 2024, when these are received”.

    This was after Trotman complained that while under the Public Finance Management Act Government’s financial statements were due by July 31, 2023, “these financial statements dated 14th September, 2023, were received by the Audit Office on 18th September, 2023”.

    “The late submission of these statements is a recurring issue which also impacts the timely completion of the Report of the Auditor General,” Trotman said.

    “I have repeatedly stated that the late submission of these statements deprives decision makers and other stakeholders of information that they may require to make critical financial decisions. There needs to be a review of operations and procedures of the Treasury to ensure that these statements are prepared and submitted in a timely manner.”

    The Accountant General said in the report that “all efforts will be made to provide information requested by the Auditor General’s Office”, but that “a review of the folders sent to the Audit Department shows that documentation was uploaded and provided as requested”.

    However, Trotman said that although information was received from the Treasury Department “it was not submitted on time and neither was it complete”.

    (SC)

    Source: Nation

  4. David Avatar
    David

    Auditor General: BRA needs to be more efficient

    The Auditor General believes the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) needs to be more efficient in the way it collects arrears, processes refunds and collects cash.

    Leigh Trotman said this was necessary for the state agency to fulfil its mandate as Government’s main revenue collecting agency.

    The now retired Trotman flagged several issues that were “significant and need to be addressed” after conducting an audit of the BRA on a sample basis for the period April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.

    Among them is that while some Barbadians are reaching agreement with the BRA to clear tax arrears worth millions of dollars, many are not complying with the arrangements.

    “During the period 1 April, 2020, to 31 March, 2023, the value of the instalment agreements entered into with taxpayers totalled $59.67 million. It was expected that taxpayers will make some attempt to clear arrears if they are given additional time,” the report states.

    “It was found that 37 per cent of the taxpayers in the sample tested were complying with the established terms while the majority were only partially compliant. In addition, 13 per cent of the respondents did not make any payments. This component of revenue enforcement could only be considered partially successful.”

    The BRA’s response in the report was that it would “continue to encourage taxpayer compliance through issuing follow-up letters, calling taxpayers, reinstituting penalties and interest charges where payment progress patterns are not established”.

    Unpaid tax

    Another concern of the Auditor General was that “based on the sample tested, it was observed that the interest in TAMIS was calculated on the unpaid tax only instead of the unpaid tax and penalty for income tax, valued added tax and corporation tax”.

    As a result, “the receivables balance was understated by approximately $191 083.26,” the Auditor General said.

    The BRA said it would “review TAMIS with the software developer in an effort to address this matter that has been highlighted”.

    The report said the Audit Office tried to review the effectiveness of the process the BRA used to collect what it was owed, but was “unable to conduct the relevant reviews as, with the exception of the instalment agreements, no information was provided that would have allowed for the assessments”.

    The BRA said “this is noted and information can be provided”.

    The Auditor General also reported that the BRA did not submit a statement of refunds as required by the Public Finance Management Act. The BRA said it was in compliance with this provision, having submitted statements of revenue, receipts, receivables, refunds payable and waivers to the Auditor General’s Office on May 12, 2024.

    However, the Auditor General replied: “ The Public Finance Management Act . . . requires a statement of refunds which was not provided. This relates to all refunds due for the financial year under review whereas a statement of refunds payable relates to all refunds still outstanding at the end of the financial year.”

    The Auditor General said it was “disappointing that additional information was not provided to the auditors to enable them to carry out their statutory duties of assessing the operational efficiency and effectiveness of such a critical Government agency”.

    “It would be expected that the enforcement measures would be employed given the substantial amounts outstanding and the Authority should be aware of how it was performing with these efforts. This information would assist in redefining and improving additional efforts. The Authority must be more cooperative in sharing information with the Office of the Auditor General,” the report stated.

    The BRA responded that “this is noted and information can be provided”.

    Management also said: “The Authority recognises that having an effective receivables collection process in place is very important to its function.

    “As such the Authority is in the process of embarking on the aggressive programme to pursue outstanding debt over the next four years. The strategic plan has been completed and approved. Additional human and financial resources will be sought to achieve the targets,” it added. (SC)

    Source: Nation

  5. John A Avatar
    John A

    Mr. Trotman all I can say is that i hope you enjoy your retirement, as you must have the most frustrating job on the island.

    Clearly we have reached a point where the the lack of reports will make any attempt at accurately budgeting by the state impossible. Our annual exercise of guestimates wiĺl be no more than a wishlist based on the lack of audited information. Of course our divine leaders will continue to make decisions about our future based on the absence of facts.

    Leads me to wonder if a replacement for Mr. Trotman will even be sought.

  6. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    MOST POLIETICIANS & POLIETICAL HACKS HAVE NEVER RUN A BUSINESS – AS A RESULT, THEY RUN COUNTRIES LIKE THEY RUN THEIR HOMES & THE SHAMBOLIC NATURE OF SUCH ERRANCIES ARE MULTIPLIED A 1000-FOLD

    The A.G.O has been “CRIPPLED” for 2 long!!!

    How can anyone work effectively in a dilapidated environment???

    The AG’s report contains specific, actionable findings but is undermined by structural limitations & political inertia (PURPOSEFULLY* OR OTHERWISE) by an inefficient GOV*!!!

    Its perceived lack of substance stems from resource shortages, delayed submissions, & incomplete data from audited entities!!!

    For “REAL” meaningful improvement, systemic reforms – including adequate funding & legislative support for transparency have become absolutely essential markers!!!

    The report’s shortcomings align with broader regional & international trends where for example, Uganda’s Auditor General similarly flagged delays in their own oil-sector projects due to funding gaps & bureaucratic inefficiencies…

    BUT WE CAN ARGUE THAT IS AFRIKA 4 YA’

    While Barbados’ challenges are less extreme, the parallels highlight systemic issues in audit institutions globally when support is lacking given the paltry nature of I.T.A.L governance in small nation states like BIM*!!!

    Another day – another bout of “FAILURE” in man-made institutions & the fact that few really care, anyway!!!

    MORE FIREWOOD 2 KEEP THE ELITES WARM

    #WhatASadCommentary

    #WhatAWorld

  7. David Avatar
    David

    “2) Restore confidence, independence and capabilities of key institutions

    Mottley said political interference or neglect would not be allowed at institutions and bodies such as the Central Bank of Barbados, Auditor General’s Office, Barbados Statistical Office or Police Service Commission.

    She said improved data collection and reporting would be prioritised and accountability would be enforced in the public sector through the establishment of Joint Standing Committees of both Houses of Parliament.

    Legislation would be passed prohibiting statutory boards from receiving a subvention for wages if they have not submitted an annual report for three years to Parliament.

    “This Parliament must come to stand for something. When we came in this Parliament, those benches used to be full! People used to fight to get in here! But we’ve become irrelevant because we don’t deal with what matters and we don’t create platforms for the people of this country to have a say.”

    3) Fix the court system

    Barbados’ reputation as a country that respects the rule of law matters and must be upheld, said Mottley.

    In addition to prioritising the reduction of the backlog of criminal cases, the BLP would establish a dedicated commercial court to resolve domestic and international disputes within six months.

    https://www.loopnews.com/content/mias-plan-what-a-blp-government-would-do/“

  8. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “Mottley said political interference or neglect would not be allowed at institutions and bodies such as the Central Bank of Barbados, Auditor General’s Office, Barbados Statistical Office or Police Service Commission.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Ha ha ha …
    Does ANYONE seriously listen to any of the shiite that Ms Mottley says so frequently and so eloquently?
    So far, almost EVERYTHING that she promised has failed…. except of course her ability to manipulate brass bowls with elaborite false promises.

    EVERYTHING about Brassbados is a sick political joke…. ESPECIALLY the wasteful, CONTRIVED, bye-election that is currently designed to DISTRACT from the many REAL dangers facing us.

    The Auditor General at least showed hints of having some working balls, but he too has now been emasculated by the government’s ILLEGAL refusal to enforce their OWN laws on financial reporting (for very obvious reasons).
    No doubt we will see this post filled with yet another of the familiar female acolytes that now fill critical roles, and who replicate the empress with much shiite talk and absolutely ZERO productive action.
    Persons like the medical marijuana joker, the imported eddykashun failure, and the pot hole princess comes to mind….

    To Hell in a pan cart …. is where we are headed…

    The joke of the day yesterday – was when the diva currently embarassing the country as ‘eddykashun boss’ PUBLICLY expresses surprise that the BUT would take industrial action “after being assured that the issue was now more advanced than it was 12 YEARS ago…”
    LOL
    ha ha ha
    MURDUH!!!!

    People gotta be laughing at our Bajan donkeys….
    …INCLUDING the shiite union that wasted the 12 years before taking action…

    If wunna CANNOT see that the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ is an oncoming train, then wunna must be MORE than blind…

    When yuh CURSED…. Yuh cursed!!!
    What a place.

  9. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    @ David

    ” Restore confidence, independence and capabilities of key institutions… Fix the court system…”

    THE MOTTLEY CREW GOV* CAN SAY ALL THEY WANT – ANYTIME HOT AIR BLOWS ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT BUT IN THE END OF TIRADE: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

    #TrumpianPuppetry is the #LenocinantStratagem of our age – almost similar to running a ” FIRST CLASS BROTHEL”!!!

    The “WHORES”, “SLAPPERS” & “WENCHES” are all #PrizeFighters in a morbid hustle to get as many “TRICKS” in & out the doors as possible!!!

    #FoopAndRUN* – #NextOnePlease

    Please forgive my “SYMBOLISM” but my brain is a very “LUCID” cosmological entity that sees things in the form of the spiritual, mechanical, building blocks of creativity – given that we were “SCHOOLED” & sadly, “INDOCTRINATED” in late 20th & early 21st century “CULTURAL REVOLUTION PRAXIS” – having to learn to navigate the turbulent waters of “MACHIAVELLIAN POLYTRICKS”, in an age where the ribbon of darkness is still tied tightly around the eyeballs of the “MASSES”!!!

    It’s not just the “MADNESS” of a “MOTTLEY CREW GOV” in 2025 that we have to deal with – it is the whole “DUSTBIN OF INTRIGUE”!!!

    Everything from – Fictional Characters, Art & Literature, Music, Scientific Thought Experiments, Ethical Dilemmas, Future Predictions, Myths, Urban Legends, Religious Concepts, Economic & Social Constructs, Mathematical Concepts based on #ImaginaryNumbers, Psychiatric Conditions, Cognitive Biases, Virtual Reality & a Dystopian AI-Generation, Innovation, Escapism & the Looming Dangers we face!!!

    THE LIST IS ENDLESS

    Yet amidst the “BLACK & WHITE NOISE”; “TREES & THE FOREST” – no one seems capable of gleaning sense from the madness!!!

    SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

    I chose not to posit anything further at this time!!!

  10. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @Terence,

    I reject that hypothesis that running a business makes someone a better leader, governor.

    Trump is a businessman, but look. And I have worked with a number of incompetent people in business, who knew how to ‘play the corporate game’ better than others and got ahead by that, not because of inherent management abilities.

    And other well known people in business across the world have proved self serving and narrow visioned.

    There are numerous examples of good and even great leaders who were not business people.

    The real issue, as Bush Tea sagely advises, is the love of money above all else.

    That greed supercedes what should be altruistic aims in all manner of ways.

    This is not rocket science. The real question is one of political will to put effective managers in place and accept their decisions. And for those effective managers to be altruistic themselves.

    But therein lies the rub, how many today are really altruistic?

    And how many are effective?

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Mottley has not failed at shining her brand on the regional and international stage.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Horsemeat

    The cherry on top for your last comment has been the inability of the electorate to hold successive governments accountable. The AG has failed, working committees of parliament continue to fail, accommodation of the political opposition has failed. Our governance model is not fit for purpose- source of term: MIA MOTTLEY.

  13. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    An Auditor General Report is provided a few months after year end
    But the Barbados Parliament website shows 3 reports were produced
    2 months after the start of the year which sounds like a fairy tale
    Auditor General Report – 2005 2005-February-07
    Auditor General Report – 2004 2004-February-02
    Auditor General Report – 2003 2003-February-03

    https://www.barbadosparliament.com/document/listall/6

    But the Devil is in the detail is an idiom that refers to a catch or mysterious element hidden in the details.

    Living in a system – Pagan
    Everytime you get pay – pay gone
    Look high Jah King, hey

    Everything them do now – a greed
    All of them objections to right – AGREED
    Look high Jah King aye

    Either you slave now I a
    Or you will not be provider
    Look high Jah King aye

    And them a wonder what graffiti a say

    This is the hieroglyphic of the modern day

    And them a wonder what the hip-hop youth a say

    This is the hieroglyphic of the modern day

    ~ “Hieroglyphics”

  14. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Mottley has not failed at shining her brand on the regional and international stage.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    OK!!
    Is THAT what was promised during campaigning?
    Are the ‘many hands making light work’ related to the regional and international stage?
    Or are you saying that ‘gimme de vote and watch muh’ – REALLY meant – gimme de vote and watch muh pun CNN and BBC…?

    It is becoming MUCH clearer to Bushie, how we could have been ENSLAVED and treated like animals for five CENTURIES by money lovers….

    …de Brass Bowl curse…. resulting from turning our backs on THE CREATOR…..
    …and looking to shiite paper FIAT illusionary ‘money’, that was created by albino-centric demons – SPECIFICALLY to rob us of our REAL WEALTH (both spiritually and physically)

    What a curse…!!

  15. David Avatar
    David

    The many hands make light works gives her the workspace to focus on extraterritorial matters.

  16. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    @Horsemeat

    “I reject that hypothesis that running a business makes someone a better leader, governor…”

    Trump is a “CHARLATAN”!!!

    But look a battle 4 another day!!!

    The “SABBATH” beckons – so here’s my 5 cents worth:

    Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore) leveraged pragmatic, growth-oriented policies to transform his nation…(WHAT A SUCCESS HE MADE OF HIS COUNTRY)!!!

    Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC) applied data-driven management to governance & “SUCCEEDED” – where others failed!!!

    Some business leaders-turned-politicians have faced criticism for favouring corporate interests (e.g., tax cuts for the wealthy) or lacking empathy for social issues – while in Trump’s case, after 8 years in the wilderness Trump is lashing out – “INTENT” on turning over the “GLOBAL APPLE CART” with all the rotten fruit!!!

    #ItsLifeBruh

  17. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @David, Fair enough, but then the hands left to do the work are clearly not.

    Is this an example of (despite the clear reasons for them being in place and with such a majority), a government that has no opposition, a Parliament without vibrant debate?

    Would such debate have allayed some of the woes of today, or at least put them on centre stage?

    Maybe so?

    I do think, as I always have, that the Senate is not independent enough, in structure.

    Whether the Senate should be a formal appointee structure (see below), or elected, I would say formal appointee structure. Elected means just another paid for representation.

    Formal Senate appointee structure example:

    – Head of Anglican Church
    – Appointed Representative of all other denominations
    – President of the Bar Association
    – Head of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
    – Chosen (among them) Head of the Secondary Schools
    – Two doctors chosen by BAMP, from their membership
    – Head of the Chamber of Commerce
    – Head of the Small Business Association
    – One senators chosen by the President
    – One senator chosen by the ruling party
    – One senator chosen by the main opposition party

    These twelve senators give a wide breadth of knowledge and experience and should ensure some independence and discussion, including of dissenting views.

  18. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @David at 2:33 AM “Among them is that while some Barbadians are reaching agreement with the BRA to clear tax arrears worth millions of dollars, many are not complying with the arrangements.”

    My old man, born in 1911 and who didn’t go to school past the age of 11 frequently said “Bajans too t’ief”

    Why are we getting our knickers in knots, pretending that we don’t know this?

    We ALL know that Bajans too t’ief. That is who we are. That is who we have always been.

  19. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @dub
    What you didn’t note is the report for 2023 is missing. They went from 2022 to 2024.

  20. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Horsemeat
    The Senate is a useless body. It has served this, and other administrations of the GoB, with an unelected slew of potential Ministers. Every administration will seek to stack it with “yes” votes. The former administration had no elected females, so found them via the Senate, so all Ministers were not male.
    Your concept is an extension of the NIS Board. How well has that served the people?
    Possibly one could use the popular vote as a method of assigning who gets to nominate Senators? 20 seats, every 5% of the popular vote gets a Senate seat nominee.

  21. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/e8MLcaehx2Q

  22. David Avatar
    David

    The people are in party mode, after next week maybe, just maybe, some will try to embrace their civic responsibility.

  23. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “..we won the award for the most innovative debt swap in Latin America and the Caribbean…”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Murda!!! ha ha ha
    Wuh Bushie gotta award for the best and most innovative cover drive off a long hop some years ago too – and not only in Latin America, IN DE WIRL!!

    Shiite!!
    Well, we can’t talk about;
    – Improved national productivity in ANY area of endeavor except begging & tourism
    – Reduced crime (except for drug crime which we legalized)
    – Enhanced transparency since the CAHILL madness – Cause we are now HOPELESS
    – Transportation and road infrastructure improvements
    – Innovative educational initiatives
    – Having working solid and liquid waste management systems
    – Advancement of energy initiatives
    – Getting clean water to all citizens
    – Getting a coherent JUDICIAL system in place ..OR
    – ..AT LEAST PREVENTING LAWYERS FROM THIEFING CLIENT FUNDS
    – Adequate hospital services and health
    – a modern sports development program…

    …and since TALKING is our strong point, this leaves us with such topics as-
    – How to stretch out our huge debts, so that your children will have to repay for the squandamania that we are currently championing…

    – Climate Change and Global warming, a shiite topic that, like the old Darwinian theory of ‘Evolution’, is DESIGNED to MISLEAD brass bowls as to the IMMINENT CLOSURE of the project that Bushie calls ‘Life on Earth Phase 1’. (Evolution sought to mislead the gullible as to the CREATION of project Life on Earth phase 1.)

    – ‘Reparations’, and how WE should be compensated for the wrongs imposed on our foreparents, WHILE passing our DEBTS on to our grandchildren with ‘debt swaps’. The ULTIMATE in selfishness.

    Surely the current set of jokers claiming to ‘lead’ Barbados MUST be aware by now, of their incompetence and inability to produce success. One wonders how they manage to sleep at night…

    …and why!??
    “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain”

    This is a SPIRITUAL reality – like it or not, and it holds no matter how eloquent an orator or how convincing one can be when making hopeless promises…

    On current trajectory, our ass is grass….
    What a place…

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Is this government serious about proper governance and transèarency?

    The Office was only able to conduct a fraction of the audits for which it
    had responsibility. A number of the financial audits were not completed
    as a result of financial information not being made available to the
    Auditors and lack of personnel to complete the audits. To the extent that
    the Government is relying on the service of the Audit Office to point out
    areas of deficiencies and give the assurance that the financial
    transactions are in good order, it has not been able to achieve this given
    its current limitations.

    Source: 2024 AG Report

  25. David Avatar
    David

    Where does the legitimacy come from for any government department to carryout its job?

    The Public Finance Management Act, 2019-1 requires the Accountant
    General to prepare, sign and submit to the Auditor General, a set of
    financial statements to be audited within four (4) months after the close
    of each financial year. The statements for the financial year ended
    31st March, 2023 should have been submitted by the 31st July, 2023.
    These financial statements dated 14th September, 2023 were received
    by the Audit Office on 18th September, 2023.

    Source: 2024 AG Report

  26. David Avatar
    David

    Why should the audits for the NCF for 2023 and 2024 be outstanding as one example. Where is the complexity in the field work to have prevented it?

    The job performance of the CEOs and Finance Officers should be on the hook!

  27. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    Audits shiite!!
    Who cares about REALITY? … about TRUTH? ….about LOVE?
    When one constantly makes FALSE promises – do they REALLY want independent post mortems conducted of their failures…. and PUBLISHED…?

    Where would such audits stop?
    At Four Seasons?
    HOPE?
    STEAL?
    BWA?
    Radical failures?
    Suspicious deals?
    ….wuh even LEC qualifications may resurface…

    BUT….
    Have we EVER defaulted on ANY opportunity to speak on ANY forum – local, regional or international? …on topics from pot holes to reparations and climate change?

    Have we ANY shortages of PROMISES that reports ‘soon come’…. or are ‘before cabinet’?
    …and you DONE KNOW to whom promises can be comforting….

    Give up Boss…
    BB Titanic is going down…
    Take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air – while we are still above water

    What a place nuh???!!

    It is BY OUR FRUIT that we know our hearts….
    “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass (bowl?) or a clanging cymbal.”

  28. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “What you didn’t note is the report for 2023 is missing.”

    As anyone with skills and experience in accounting and financial markets would say
    “Who cares, it ain’t my F__king money”

    More Love, More Dub

  29. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Then we are forced to listen to PM Mottley accusing the BUT of playing politics. When the other party is in office isn’t it the same?

  30. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “…Then we are forced to listen to PM Mottley accusing the BUT of playing politics.”
    ~~~~~~~~
    Boss
    You are being asked kindly to pay attention to the talk ONLY!
    Never mind the REALITIES on the ground.

    Of course the REAL joke- is that Bajan BBs WILL buy the kool aid…
    Just Like the USA BBs brought the Trump kool aid… (Same basic manufacturer…)
    …and we will ALL get EXACTLY what we deserve….

    One wonders…
    Where does the DLP get off bringing a clearly intelligent and independently minded woman candidate in this by election? Why would BBs vote for such…?
    …when they have the option of (literally) voting for more of Mia’s promises?

    Don’t the DLP read the tea leaves?
    Besides, who REALLY wants the job of captain of BB Titanic …AFTER the iceberg encounter..?

    LOL
    Chad looks even more like a cartoon character than does Trump…
    A SURE winner when BBs are voting.

    What a place..
    What a time…

    BTW…
    Here is a little riddle for you Blog master…
    Is it a coincidence that the Barbados map just happens to be a miniature of the Africa continent – inverted…?
    Perhap Kiki would care to discuss for 10 points (or 100 grams if he prefers… 🙂 )
    …instead of exposing the Bushman’s personal business as he did yesterday on another topic…

  31. David Avatar
    David

    That is another thing Bush Tea, everywhere you turn, driving behind vehicles, districts, individuals- we have to suffer that stinking smell associated with weed.

    A sure symptom of the deep rooted indiscipline that afflicts our country.

  32. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “What you didn’t note is the report for 2023 is missing.”

    One of the most common excuses to use is “I forgot..”

    such as “I forgot.. that a 2023 report was needed”
    or “I forgot.. that puff stuff was illegal”

    Merry Up, God Sons, Sgt. Crackers, More Music

  33. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    NorthernObserver
    April 26, 2025 at 1:22 am

    Yes, the Senate does not provide the independent review that it should.

    That is why the structure needs to be changed. I am not in favour of it being in any way related to votes not any political party, except in the couple of government and opposition members mentioned.

    This is why I chose a defined seat structure.

    On the effectiveness compared to NIS board, as a Senate, they will be forced to review and make choices in voting, as well as be in direct light for those choices, hence, I would hope that their duties would be performed adequately.

    I cannot see a better structure at this time.

    The aim was to ensure a breadth of knowledge and independence.

    It is either this or toss our hands into the air. And as the latter is not an option, it is this.

  34. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @David,

    Indeed, clearly its use is widespread. And the link to psychosis is becoming stronger.

    https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/cannabis-use-increases-risk-of-psychosis-independently-from-genetic-predisposition

    https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2019/march/high-potency-cannabis-linked-to-higher-rates-of-psychosis

  35. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Bajans moan all the time about everything but don’t realise these are the good times
    they have never been in war like Palestine and Ukraine, Iraq Libya Afghanistan etc

  36. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @555,

    You have a point, but why accept a status where there are significant issues nevertheless?

    Can we not want better, for no violence, for safety, for people to be honest, especially our leaders?

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @Horsemeat

    Thanks but we have gone past the point where evidence based arguments hold sway. It is more about emotional and popular reasoning these days.

  38. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Boss…
    When you have a few minutes, have a look at the YouTube video on “why the most foolish people end up in power”.
    It ia a thoughtful analysis.
    You will not only understand our situation of brassbowlery… but will likely even ACCEPT that your general optimism is misplaced.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    The struggle is real @BT

  40. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @David @BT

    Points accepted.

  41. TheOG Avatar
    TheOG

    Just stop by to see how you all are getting along without me.
    Looking at the many posts, I can see that we are still ‘stuck on repeat’ with folks sticking to their favorite topics.

    I would give a few fellows a pass, for their topic is as current and as relevant today as it was seven years ago, but some folks just need to stop.

    Can you imagine 7 years of 000 ‘my hero’. When does the pain stop? It is like having a bad tooth that you cannot pull. So, please excuse me when I step away again. it is just to ease the pain.

  42. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Horsemeat
    I disagree with the first past the post system. This concept of electoral riding doesn’t measure votes, it measures a majority within very small areas. That 30% of voters did not support the B’s and end up with no voice is a mockery. It is built into the Westminster system.
    Hence the elected Senate, on a proportional representation basis, at least gives Bajan voters a taste of something different, and far more democratic IMO.
    Today, my current country goes to the polls under the same Westminster system. In the last election one party, People’s, received 840,000 votes, nearly 5% of all cast, and got 0 seats. Meanwhile a regional party, who only ran in one province got 1.32M votes and 30 seats. How can this be democracy?
    Imagine Barbados where one party wins all of St.M and ChCh and town, and not a seat elsewhere but has a majority. Meanwhile only 35% of the votes. It is time that votes, not ridings, matter.

  43. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    @Northern

    That is a fair argument.

  44. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “The struggle is real @BT”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    LOL
    Bushie understand this to mean that you accept that the fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the REAL spiritual forces of good and evil…

    You can SAFELY bet your last fiat dollar on dat!

  45. David Avatar
    David

    @BT there is the recurring #temporal vs #spiritual debate. What about #secular vs #nonsecular anchored securely to what is #relativism?

  46. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Boss…
    Relativism is nonsense.
    The ONLY thing of REAL worth has to be determined from the INTENT of the CREATOR of everything that exists.

    Like with evolution, some take the OBVIOUS fact that there are changes in norms due to cultural, historical and genealogical differences, and seek to extrapolate this variation to come up with ‘relativism’…. a lack of absolute truth, laws and rules.

    Just because your four children turn out to be all of different personalities, characters, physique and morals DOES NOT take away from their COMMON origin, or original family norms and standards.

    Your children would NOT exists without you…
    Our world is NOT explainable without a CREATOR.
    That creator determines the LAW, the norms, and what ‘SUCCESS’ looks like.

    Everything else is flushable…..
    The REAL struggle then is to extrapolate the challenges of the temporal, in efforts to COMPREHEND the intricacies of the spiritual.

    As you may have worked out by now, understanding the spiritual may be a bridge too far for BBs – UNLESS we ASK for spiritual help..

    Ask – and help will be given
    Seek and answers will be found
    Knock and doors will be opened.

    …OR, we can continue to be distracted with jobby – such as relativism, evolution, global warming, climate change, …and now ‘tariffs’….

  47. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Christian Relativism boils down to a digging the heels in dogma that Christianity and it’s God is the ultimate and final standard of objective truth

    But non-duality as the atmic point and innermost superior body of the upper superessential level of reality and consciousness, with the Father contained within the Trinity of each Monad, conclude that all religious schools of thought are in fact one and the same ie. describing the same phenomenon / same God.

    Re: National Heroes Daze
    There is some kicking reggae coming out of St Croix, Virgin Islands but I am not sure if there is any similar artists from Barbados

    All Ye Naashan, Cradle Of Joy, Yeah Mary,

  48. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJFiIStsiFq/

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading