Tag Archives: Grenville Phillips

Difficult Conversations – Correcting the Record

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I spent the past year trying to get a legal request (or claim) through the Barbados court system.  I had my final hearing before a Judge on 12 May 2021.  It was an interesting experience that I will share, now that the case before the High Court has ended.

The day after the final hearing, I was contacted by some news outlets for my reaction to the Judge’s decision.  I explained that in deference to the Attorney General of Barbados, I would prefer that he be given the opportunity to respond first.  I would happily and willingly respond after that.

FAKE NEWS.

The press interviewed the Leader of the Opposition.  Based on that interview, the press reported that my claim was dismissed, or thrown out.  That is fake news.

The facts are that at the hearing, the judge clearly stated that the only request that she was going to grant was mine.  Further, the only requests that the Judge explicitly dismissed, or threw out, were those made by the Leader of the Opposition, and the Attorney General.

I informed the press of these facts, and expected them to correct the news record.  They have not.  To ensure that there is an accurate historical record, I plan to write a few articles on the case.  This first article addresses the first dismissal at the hearing – that of the Leader of the Opposition.

MAKING A CLAIM.

My claim was about getting the Supreme Court’s interpretation of a section of the Constitution of Barbados.  The specific section is 74 (2), which describes the method that the Governor General should use when appointing a Leader of the Opposition.

Whenever a person wants to make a claim about the Constitution, the person that must defend that claim is the Attorney General.  As the person who made the claim, I am called the Claimant.  The Attorney General, who must defend the claim, is called the Defendant.

When making a claim, the claim documents must be filed at the Court’s Registry.  Then a copy must be served on (or given to) the one listed as the Defendant.  This I did on 10 July 2020.

INTERESTED PARTIES.

Since the Governor General and the Leader of the Opposition had interests in this matter, I subsequently served (hand-delivered) copies of my filed claim to them.  I also encouraged them to submit their interpretation of section 74 (2) of the Constitution, to the court.

A hearing before a judge was scheduled for 19 October 2020.  On 16 October 2020, the Leader of the Opposition (through his attorney) filed an application to make a submission.  During the hearing, the Judge explained that she was promoted to the Court of Appeal, and that another Judge would be assigned.

DELAYS.

We had a hearing on the 3 February 2021 before the assigned Judge.  The Leader of the Opposition asked to make a submission.  The Judge gave him a deadline of 3 March 2020 to file his submission.  The judge also gave the Attorney General and I, a deadline of 22 March 2021 to respond to the Leader of the Oppositions’ submission.

With the Leader of the Opposition’s submission out of the way, the Judge then gave the Attorney General and I a deadline of 12 April 2021, to file and exchange our submissions.  A final hearing was then set for 12 May 2021 to resolve this matter.

MISSED DEADLINES.

The Leader of the Opposition not only missed his deadline, but he never filed a submission.  During the final hearing on 12 May 2021, the Judge noted that he had not filed his submission.  The Leader of the Opposition responded that he intended to ask for an adjournment.

The main role that the Leader of the Opposition played during the court case, was to waste everyone’s time.  To her credit, the Judge dismissed the Leader of the Opposition’s intent – before he could frustrate the system any further.

A glaring problem with our Judicial system, is unconscionable delays by lawyers.  If lawyers do not have the time to give a professional standard of service to each of their clients, then they probably have too many of them.  They should stop taking more clients, and employ competent staff to share the load.

In my next article, I shall describe the dismissal of the Attorney General’s request.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Difficult Conversations – Prime Minister for a Day

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If I could be the Prime Minister for one day, what would I do? The following are nine decisions that I would make within the first hour.

VOLCANIC ASH.

First, I would instruct Minister Sutherland to publish a preliminary report on recommended uses for the volcanic ash, in ten days. We got ash in Barbados over 2 weeks ago, so this report is long past due.

The report should include a chemical analysis of the ash, using the mass-spectrometer at the Government Analytical lab. It should also include 7-day: tension, compression, shear, and absorption tests on a 1 lime: 3 ash mixture, using testing equipment at the Barbados National Standards Institution’s lab. The 28-day results can be published in a follow-up report one month later.

Second, I would instruct all Ministers, that all Government funded constructed projects should be amended. The external walls should be plastered with a 1 lime: 3 ash mixture – which should last for over 1,000 years.

STOP BUILDING TOMBS.

Third, I would instruct Minister Duguid to immediately stop the construction of houses that can entomb their occupants in earthquakes, and leave them homeless in a major hurricane.

I would remind him of the magnitude 7 earthquake which Haiti experienced in 2010, that reportedly killed approximately 300,000 Haitians. I would also remind him of the recent Category 5 hurricanes: Irma that impacted Anguilla in 2017, Maria that impacted Dominica in 2017, and Dorian that impacted the Bahamas in 2019.
I would then instruct him to ensure that new houses are economically built, and existing houses are economically strengthened, to survive those earthquake and hurricane events.

OPPORTUNITIES.

Fourth, I would instruct Minister Humphrey to publish a report on the small-scale preparation of Sargassum seaweed for the commercial market, in ten days. That should include a chemical analysis of the seaweed – both with sea water and washed. It should also include household methods to convert it to a powder or paste for medicinal, culinary, and/or construction uses, and samples of labelling for export. This report is long past due.

Fifth, I would instruct Minister Straughn to immediately remove all taxes from whole foods, and increase taxes on: high-sugar, high-salt, high-fat processed foods. Barbadians should never be forced to only afford food that will likely give them diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Sixth, I would instruct Minister Edghill to immediately stop wasting construction materials in the temporary patching of potholes. Potholes should be permanently patched. Further, cracks in asphalt pavements should be sealed to prevent them from prematurely becoming potholes.

GENOCIDE.

Seventh, I would instruct Ministers Walcott and Husbands, to clearly inform China, that we are not pleased with the reported genocide of China’s Muslim Uighurs, and the reported persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in China.

We cannot go back in time to help our enslaved fore parents, but we should speak for those persecuted who cannot speak for themselves – especially when we have influence.

Eighth, I would instruct Minister Cummins to install large conspicuous posters in our ports of entry, in several languages. The posters should inform trafficked sex-slaves of their rights in Barbados, and the slavers of their liabilities. We should not, especially as descendants of enslaved persons, facilitate the enslavement of others.

INFANTICIDE.

Ninth, I would instruct Minister Bostic to publish a preliminary report on the status of abortion-for-convenience in Barbados. I would remind Minister Bostic that abortion is legal in Barbados. But it is for situations like when the mother’s life is at risk, and a terrible choice must be made between saving the mother, or intentionally killing her baby.

It is a painful horrific choice, but the law protects doctors from prosecution, from doing what would otherwise be a criminal act. Abortion is also allowed for cases of rape and incest. But abortion for convenience, as a method of birth control, is illegal in Barbados.

I would instruct Minister Bostic to grow some courage, and represent the unborn babies, for whom he, as Minister, is responsible for saving. If he cannot bring himself to do his primary job (for everything else is of secondary importance), then he should resign immediately and let someone else do it.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Converting Support into Votes

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Submitted by Grenville Phillips

There have been several analyses of the recent by-election by persons who were not candidates. It is important for the historical record, that a candidate also do an analysis.

All of the third party candidates expressed confidence that they would do well, myself included. We assumed that when persons said that we had their support, it meant that they would vote for us. That assumption was tested on election day and decisively proven false.

We all had similar access to the voters, the news media, and social media. All parties ran accomplished candidates, and offered plans to benefit the constituency. The BLP and DLP found a way to convert their support into votes. The third parties evidently did not.

The election results proved that the people generally voted for their political party, or did not vote at all. The question is, in a by-election where voters do not have to vote for their party’s interest, why would they still put their party’s interest above their own? It is this problem that third parties need to solve to become viable.

THE PROBLEM.

Third parties do not need to look for better messages, better candidates, better access to the media, or better platforms. They do not need to spend more time in the community, do more projects in the community, or attend more events in the community. All of that was tested in the recent by-election and proven false.

So, the question remains, why do Barbadian voters put the interests of their political party above their own? We offered full-time well-paid employment to all desperately unemployed persons in St George North. Yet, they voted to remain unemployed. We offered prosperity to every desperate family in St George North. Still, they voted to remain house poor or working poor.

We offered to permanently or sustainably address: road maintenance, dilapidated housing, lack of water, construction disputes, crop thefts, school graduates with no prospects, asthma, illegal dumping, and hunger in St George North. The people voted for their desperate conditions to remain unchanged.

What would cause a parent to elevate her political party’s interests above that of her children? Why would a pastor elevate his political party’s interest above that of the congregation? Why would homeowners, who may be slightly better off, vote to keep their neighbours in poverty?

THE ANSWER.

The answer appears to be that they are not desperate enough. The unemployed are still eating. The families still have places to stay. The hospital’s asthma bay remains open. The supermarkets import food. Children earn money by selling drugs or prostituting themselves. They are not desperate enough to want their circumstances changed.

Barbados’ Constitution states that we acknowledge the supremacy of God. The Bible teaches that people under God’s care will always be able to bear their circumstances, or have a way to escape them. Third party’s are only likely to become viable in Barbados, if Barbadians are faced with what is truly unbearable. That is highly unlikely with God on our side.

Since our independence, both BLP and DLP administrations have governed us in a way that kept our most desperate circumstances bearable. Third parties can only be viable in Barbados, if the government, representing the people, formally rejects the supremacy of God. Since that is unlikely, I am no longer in elective politics.

Grenville Phillips Speaks – I Do Not Know

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The Government recently patched potholes along the road to Brighton in St George. It was foreseen that the high-quality asphalt, and the effort to install it, would be wasted. After the recent heavy rains, the asphalt washed away, the potholes became larger, and we simply resumed the daily game of ‘dodge-the-pothole’.

Engineers normally use words like sub-standard, and poor workmanship, to describe work badly done. However, there is a realm of insanely bad work, that Barbadians have come to accept as normal.

An accurate example of how we do things in Barbados, is of a baker that mixes quality materials to make bread. However, he does not know the final step of putting the mixture in the oven, and sells this unbaked product to the public, who accept it as normal.

Over the past 50 years, we have become experts in public relations. Our Prime Ministers can explain that after spending so much on the materials, unbaked bread is the best that a small country like Barbados can achieve, and we believe them. Our Ministers keep purchasing ovens, but they are never used. Our industry leaders explain that baked bread is a fanciful idea, and we believe them.

FANCIFUL IDEAS.

Why is it fanciful to ask that asphalt be compacted, rather than installed loose to wash away and result in expensive repairs to vehicles? Why is it fanciful to ask that fruit trees be planted, rather than these non-fruit trees that become habitats for monkeys and termites, the two animals that cause the most harm to Barbadian households?

Why is it fanciful to ask that the foundations of trees be prepared, rather than install them shallow, so that the trees will blow down during a hurricane? Why is it fanciful to offer employment to persons in poverty, so that they can pay their monthly expenses and look after their families?

Why is it fanciful to ask that corrupting no-bid contracts be abolished, so that Barbadians can pay significantly lower taxes? Why is it fanciful to ask that customer feedback be used to improve the quality of Government services?

I do not know why these things are fanciful. However, I do not blame voters for rejecting prosperity for them and their children, and once again embracing a life of house-poor and working-poor poverty. They have never known baked bread, and have been conditioned to believe that it is a fanciful myth.

I cannot even blame our political and industry leaders, who must find creative ways of justifying insanely low standards. They have somehow accepted that unbaked bread is part of our culture.

Asphalt washing out of potholes is now an important investment in our cultural industries. We hope that ‘dodge-the-pothole’ will become an international sport, to which we have a clear advantage after decades of practise. We also hope to introduce an extreme form of road tennis, where potholes are part of the tennis court.

I have spent 25 years of my life actively lobbying various Government departments to adopt higher standards – without success. I have also spent the past five offering to implement higher standards – also without success. How can the people of Barbados benefit from better standards? I do not know – but I am optimistic that someday, someone will find the Solution.

Grenville Phillips II is a Structural Engineer.

A Most Dangerous Secret

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Candidates for political office normally identify problems in the constituency, and describe their capacity to address them.  All Candidates identified housing, roads, road repairs, transportation, drainage, and high unemployment as major problems in St George North.

These problems have persisted through repeated BLP and DLP administrations.  If those administrations were serious about addressing them, they would have assembled the following team of professionals, to quickly design and implement sustainable solutions.

1.       A Structural Engineer to strengthen weak houses.

2.       A Highway Engineer to properly repair roads and address transportation issues.

3.       An Environmental Engineer to improve drainage and sewerage problems.

4.       A Land-use Planner to address residents living in ground water restricted areas.

5.       An Adjudicator to address home-owner disputes with building contractors.

6.       A Trainer to facilitate business start-ups.

7.       An Educator to finish secondary school graduates to become responsible adults.

8.       Project Manager to make sure that all of the projects are completed safely, timely, economically, and to a high quality.

A MIRACLE.

By some miraculous coincidence, I happen to be highly qualified in every one of these disciplines, that St George North desperately needs at this time.  Yet, whenever I mention my qualifications, I am accused of self-promotion, and they are not published.

Are all Candidates not competing for the same privilege of serving the people of St George North?  Don’t voters have a right to know the qualifications of all Candidates, to help them decide with whom to trust their concerns over the next 30 months?  Does keeping my qualifications an unpublished secret, not unfairly raise doubt about my capacity to implement our plans?

A RIGHT TO KNOW.

Why are voters allowed to know all about Toni’s experience as a trade unionist, but are not allowed to know that I am a: chartered structural engineer, chartered highway engineer, environmental engineer, project manager, planner, and chartered arbitrator?

Why are voters allowed to know about Ambrose’s qualifications as a banker and consultant, but are not allowed to know that I have earned: two Bachelors degrees in mathematics and civil engineering, two Masters degrees in environmental engineering and planning, and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Structural Engineering?

Why are voters allowed to know all about David’s experience as a teacher and farmer, but are not allowed to know that I am a: musician, singer, composer, inventor, author, publisher, teacher, and the President of Walbrent College, which is a regional institution specialising in construction?

Why are voters allowed to know all about Floyd’s experience as a cricketer and coach in various countries, but are not allowed to know that I have worked in: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks & Caicos Islands, to improve the built environment for their residents?

Why are voters allowed to know of Alex’s 20 years in the US marine corps, but are not allowed to know that I have 30 years in the construction industry, am the 2014 winner of the National Innovation Competition, and received the Visionary award from the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries.

The wall of media silence about my qualifications has finally cracked.  For the first time since 2015 when I founded Solutions Barbados, I was able to mention some of them without them being edited out.  In response, those tasked with keeping this dangerous information secret are in full attack mode.  But I cannot be intimidated, because I am not ashamed of my qualifications to represent the people of St George North.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer, and the Solutions Barbados’ candidate for St George North.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Say Something Nice

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It has not taken long for some political candidates to behave badly.  Even when their political party starts their meeting with prayer to our Creator, they still manage to find their way into the gutter.

Perhaps things may improve if Candidates started their meetings, by saying something nice about their fellow candidates.  Since the suggestion is mine, I will start.

Every interaction I have had with Toni Moore has been a pleasant one.  She listens to other views, and gives practical improvements.  I can understand why the Prime Minister would want to include her when developing national policies.

I have had far less interactions with Floyd Reifer; but those interactions have also been pleasant.  The man is clearly a leader, and with the right support, may significantly benefit Barbados politically.

Ambrose Grosvenor is a fellow member of the Wesleyan Holiness Church.  He is a trusted Treasurer in his Church, and I have not heard of Ambrose being involved in any scandals.  He pays attention to details, which may prevent issues from falling through the proverbial cracks.

David Walrond is a fellow old scholar of Combermere School, and a pleasant man.  He has ideas, and a willingness to implement them.

Alex Mitchell is a serious man.  He hates injustice with the same passion that I hate corruption.  He does not compromise if that compromise causes him to violate his principles.  There is no pretence with Alex – he is the real deal.

I love God unashamedly, and with only one life to live, I spend it pursuing truth, even if the truth is inconvenient to discover.  I try not to judge other people, because no one is perfect, and we all learn by failure.  But I try to show options, and the likely consequences of choosing each option, and let each person choose the path they wish to follow.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer, and the Solutions Barbados’ candidate for St George North.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

What do the Residents of St George North Want?

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Grenville Phillips, Candidate for St. George North and Leader of Solutions Barbados

From my visits to almost every community in St George North, I have found one consistent desperate need. The employed want work for the unemployed, and the unemployed want work. All other issues were secondary.

All five candidates in this by-election (BLP, DLP, Solutions Barbados, UPP, and PdP) have a responsibility to propose workable solutions to the unemployment problems in St George North. The plans must not depend on new government funding, because the Government will claim that they have no money.

If a candidate does not have a workable plan, then they need to devise one. The plan should be fully operational in the 30 months remaining in the current election cycle.

UNCONSCIONABLE PRETENSE

If a candidate does not have a workable plan, then they should stop pretending that they do. It is unconscionable to give desperately hurting people false hope and empty promises.

The people of St George North do not only need a Member of Parliament (MP) in this by-election. There are so many MP’s in the House of Assembly, that the Prime Minister does not know what to do with them. The people of St George North need someone to manage workable employment generating projects.

Our plan is designed to make St George North the most prosperous constituency in Barbados. Both the plan, and my capacity to implement it, are contained in Solutions Barbados’ manifesto (attached). Please contact us if you have not received your copy.

All constituencies in Barbados are hurting. St George North voters have a responsibility to give them hope, and not let them down. They can do this by voting for the best plan for themselves, not their party.

If people are prospering, then families, businesses, churches, and community organisations automatically benefit.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and Solutions Barbados Candidate for St George North. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Two and one half minute) audio recording of “What do the Residents of St George North Want?

Solutions Barbados – Stop Blaming the Public

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Submitted by Grenville Phillips II

We have repeatedly praised PM Mottley’s efforts in calming our nation during this COVID-19 event. We believe that she genuinely cares. That genuineness is evident in her press statements, to the extent that we may feel sympathy for her, for having to deliver bad news to us.

Barbadians are generally obeying her instructions. She says do and we did. We: closed our businesses, stayed away from our churches, did not visit our family and friends, and remained at home. This separation affected our emotional fragile, but we rally around each-other: virtually, on the phone, or across the yard.
Barbadians are generally a compliant people. That was proved with the successful implementation of the seat belt law in 2002. Some complied because of safety, while others feared the $500 fine, but we obeyed. That is why attempting to blame Barbadians for any part of this event is so wrong.
Whenever Governments make mistakes, they automatically blame the last administration. In Barbados, the Government continuously refers to the “lost decade”, in reference to the DLP’s management of the economy. This is an indicator of the number of mistakes that they are making.
No amount of public relations can believably blame the last administration for Government’s mistakes with COVID-19. So, to comply with the number one rule of modern politics (never accept blame), a scapegoat must be found.
The reason for the number one rule, is to prevent opposition parties from using such admissions in political advertisements. Solutions Barbados do not play those dirty games.
When operatives unreasonably attacked the DLP’s Chris Sinckler, UPP’s Lynette Eastmond, and BLP’s Mia Mottely, we defended them with facts. We may be temporary political competitors, but we are foremost, Barbadian brothers and sisters.
The Scapegoat.
But back to the scapegoat. The Government has blamed the public for: panic buying, not adhering to physical distancing, not staying at home, and listening to fake news. We are supposed to believe that Government’s mistakes are somehow our fault.
We are supposed to accept any further disruptions to our lives in silence. Now is not the time to complain – neither is later. Never is the only acceptable time to voice an independent thought.
The complying public should be allowed to express their opinions – without being swarmed by political operatives. We are designed to express our frustration with perceived injustices. Pent-up frustration is emotionally and physically unhealthy, and should never be encouraged by Governments.
Solutions Barbados intends to consistently give our best professional advice, whether it is accepted or not. Our advice to the Government at this time is simply to do what you were elected to do. That includes managing this COVID-19 event to the best of your ability.
What does that mean? It means: using available resources, considering alternate solutions, and stop blaming others for your mistakes.
Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Solutions Barbados COVID-19 Survival Plan

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Submitted by Grenville Phillips II,

I did not know what to make of last night’s [1 April 2020] announcement. We continue to treat this COVID-19 as a political exercise. However, it seems to have finally dawned on someone that their political games will have fatal consequences.

Last night, the Government finally admitted what was obvious to everyone. They stated: “We therefore need to formulate a plan of survival for Barbados!”
We ought to remember that the Government noted that they made a plan with all political parties, unions and the merchants. However, they specifically excluded Solutions Barbados and the UPP – for purely political reasons.
After developing an ineffective political plan with their supporters, we tried to provide them with our best advice. They either rejected or ignored our advice, so we advised the public on how they could prepare for COVID-19.
We advised the Government to effectively close Barbados to normal business, and our borders to visitors. We recommended that this be done on Wednesday 25 March 2020, when the trend of exponential growth was evident. We now know that our COVID-19 cases were growing exponentially at an out-of-control rate of 3 days at that time.
The Government rejected our advice, and allowed out-of-control exponential growth for a further 4 days. But their political efforts were ineffective, since the shut-down was partial and our borders remained open. Persons entering were not tested for the virus, instead, they were given an ineffective temperature reading.
The Government continued to reject or ignore our advice, and allowed the COVID-19 cases to grow at the same exponential rate for a further 4 days, before finally appearing to be serious last night. Now that they are looking for a plan, we suggest the following.
SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EFFECTIVE SURVIVAL PLAN
First, stop the inflow of cases by closing our borders to people. The Government’s problem is that this goes against the WHO recommendation. Many critical WHO recommendations on COVID-19 have been proven wrong. We should not be guinea pigs as the WHO is learning on-the-job. Therefore, look out for the health interests of Barbadians and close our borders now.
Second, shut down Barbados for two weeks. Everyone except those working in thread-bare essential services should stay home for 2 weeks. This is what was finally announced today (9 days late).
Third, effectively enforce the shut-down. This has yet to be done. Even our youth know that it is a joke, or a game like ‘tag’.
Four, order the Abbott tester (see link below), which can give test results in 5 minutes, and start meaningful testing. Normally, this would not have been a problem – we could simply have asked the US Ambassador for a few machines. However, we have muddied the waters.
We have publicly tried to embarrass US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when he visited the Caribbean. CBC-TV also tries to find the most embarrassing stories about US President Trump (including from the anti-US Islamic station, Al Jazeera), which they air, every night, during the 7:00 pm news.
These reckless actions risk harming us all, when we need to call on our proven friends for assistance. They also make requesting assistance embarrassing, given our past behaviour. However, we should swallow our pride and do what is necessary for Barbados.
After the two-week shut down, when the internal transmission rates are known and are under control, we can re-open our borders. Then we can test every visitor to Barbados – before they leave the arrivals hall.
Five, start including the many highly qualified Barbadians who are willing to help, rather than just the BLP faithful. There are so many examples I could cite, but I will include one.
Harrison Point’s buildings were built over 60 years ago. It is very easy to mistakenly use current construction materials, that can react badly with old construction. Renovating such buildings requires specialist engineering advice to avoid foreseen high maintenance issues.
We made a $30M error by demolishing the 6-storey NIS building (which we could have used now), apparently because someone did not understand construction methods in the 1970s. To prevent a similar blunder, I offered an unlimited supply of free specialist engineering advice.
A truly national plan would accept such an offer – but they rejected it. If they continue to only listen to their most partisan political supporters, then the only plan that they can develop is another political plan.
Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Grenville Phillips Column – Power Can Corrupt Very Good People

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Solutions Barbados recently held their Annual General Meeting.  All Executive positions are for one-year terms, and Grenville Phillips II was re-elected to serve another term as President.

Politicians in all of the political parties, who participated in the last general election, know that politics is not only a very dirty game, but a cesspool of some of the worst types of behaviour.  The public gets a glimpse of how vile politics truly is, by the constant accusations of gross corruption that our Members of Parliament regularly accuse each other in our House of Assembly.

All politicians constantly face two main temptations, and the public always pays a very high price if politicians surrender to them.  Solutions Barbados Candidates are also aware of the significant harm to their professional reputations and their families if they fail in this manner.  Therefore, we have taken drastic steps to protect the public and our families, by willingly restraining ourselves.

The first temptation is accepting bribes, and politicians facing severe financial challenges are most vulnerable.  Politicians who cannot afford their mortgage payments are extremely vulnerable to accepting bribes.

To address the bribery temptation, all Solutions Barbados Candidates willingly sign a binding contract, to go bankrupt if they accept bribes.  Each Candidate’s contract is terminated at the end of each election cycle if the Candidate is not elected.  Once terminated, the contract may be renewed.

Of the 28 Solutions Barbados Candidates in the 2018 General Election, 17 chose to protect the public by renewing their contracts.  Of those who chose not to, approximately half found the cesspool of politics to dirty to continue, while the remainder chose to continue their quest with other parties, but unrestrained by our contract.

The second temptation is far more sinister – and permanent.  It is the corrupting influence of power.  British politician, Lord Acton, observably wrote over a century ago, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”

From our last general election experience, it appears to be the craving for power that can corrupt previously decent people very quickly and very easily.  It also corrupts them stealthily, so that persons are unaware of how far they have fallen.  It is this craving for power that led Judas to deceptively betray Jesus.  Deception and betrayal are the two obvious symptoms of persons corrupted by craving power.

To address the corrupting influence of craving power, Solutions Barbados Candidates have deliberately chosen not to become career politicians.  We offer ourselves to the public for two simple reasons.  The first is to bring relief to Barbadians who have had enough of the gross mismanagement and political corruption that both established parties regularly accuse the other.  The second is to actively help all Barbadians to prosper.

If voters have had enough of what they have been forced to tolerate from both established parties, and want prosperity for their households, then they are welcome to support Solutions Barbados candidates – for their own benefit.  Our economic growth plan, which was independently favourably assessed, and which the Prime Minister promised would be allowed to contend (a broken promise), can still be used to bring prosperity to Barbadian households without austerity.

We are committed to offering ourselves to properly manage the public affairs of Barbados, whenever the next general election is called.  Unlike the last election when voters felt that they needed to vote against the DLP, this time, they can choose to actually vote for something good.

If voters have not yet had enough of the dirty political game by then, then we will accept their decision as final for us.  To continue to offer ourselves to an unwilling public after the next general election, is for us, to crave power.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Grenville Phillips Column – Judgement Day

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Today’s weekly article is in response to recent questions about my motives for founding Solutions Barbados. I believe that everyone’s actions attract consequences. This belief is based on Jesus’ promise that He will reward us for the beneficial consequences of our responsible actions, and judge us for the harmful consequences of our irresponsible actions. Part of this judgement follows.

“Then He (Jesus) will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 25:41-46)

In my youth, Jesus’ warning was motivation enough for me to try to avoid doing the wrong, and actively do the right. As I accepted responsibilities that impacted others, I intentionally designed plans with the main criterion of not causing harm, for the same reason.

I believe that there is a separate judgement for politicians who oppress others. This belief is based on the description of their judgement recorded in Enoch.

“And all the kings and the mighty and the exalted and those who rule the earth shall fall down before Him on their faces, and worship and set their hope upon that Son of Man, and petition Him and supplicate for mercy at His hands.”

“Nevertheless that Lord of Spirits will so press them that they shall hastily go forth from His presence, and their faces shall be filled with shame, and the darkness grow deeper on their faces. And He will deliver them to the angels for punishment, to execute vengeance on them because they have oppressed His children and His elect.” (Enoch 62: 9-11)

Since people can be oppressed through economic measures that leave them homeless, hungry, or imprisoned, I had no intention of attracting judgement to myself by mismanaging Barbados’ economy. There seems to be a special place in hell reserved for politicians whose policies harm others, and I was determined to avoid that place.

“Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; It stirs-up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? (Isa 14:9-10)

I did not have good examples to follow. Both the BLP and DLP appear to have generally pursued the same 5-point economic strategy of: raising taxes, laying-off the supporters of the other party, employing their own supporters, giving donors corrupting no-bid contracts, and placing the country further in debt.

Both parties were aware that their strategy was not sustainable and would eventually ruin Barbados’ economy. However, they would not change their ways. With only 2 main political parties, our democracy forced them to play a game of musical chairs. Each of them desperately hoped that they would not be seated when the music stopped, and oppressive policies would be required.

To avoid the foreseen mass suffering, we designed an economic recovery plan that provided over $1B surplus revenues within our first year, without raising taxes, without laying off any public workers or reducing their salaries, and without any external borrowing. We achieved this by growing the national economy, improving the management of public services, generally reducing taxes, and effectively addressing corruption.

I tried sharing it with the last administration. However, in response to various armchair advisors at that time, former Prime Minister Stuart gave the criterion of being willing to be judged as a politician, as the qualification for reviewing economic advice. To qualify, we started Solutions Barbados on 1 July 2015 and published our entire plan for public scrutiny the same day.

During the last general election, DLP evidently did their best to avoid the seat when the music stopped. However, the BLP convinced the electorate that they had examined all plans, and that theirs was the best. The public believed them. Now we know that this was not true.

Dr Greenidge of BERT, recently publicly admitted that they did not look at any of the non-austerity plans when developing their severe austerity plan. When I asked whether they would now look at our plan to spare the public any further suffering, there was a resounding no.

To date, the media have decided not to report these critical public admissions. Instead, they have taken the politically partisan decision to promote severe austerity as the only solution. Solutions Barbados continues to exist because the non-austerity solution is still workable, despite the IMF agreement.

If severe austerity was the only solution, then I would join the news media in promoting it. But I know better. The suffering that many have endured under BERT Phase 1, and are about to endure under BERT Phases 2 to 4, is entirely unnecessary. It is still possible to meet the IMF targets without the planned austerity.

Our plan was independently verified as workable without the need for austerity. However, the national associations, whom we approached to also review it, appeared too invested in having the BLP govern, that they provided ridiculous reasons for not reviewing our plan, and not allowing us anywhere near their members.

If any action that I am a part of is found to be oppressive, then I would seeking the public’s assistance for an alternative. If after public consultation oppression was found to be unavoidable, then I would be prepared to make that my defence on judgement day.

None of the Solutions Barbados policies are oppressive, and either Party can implement them. All Members of Parliament are responsible for implementing the best plans for Barbados, regardless of which Party developed them. Before the implementation of BERT Phase 2, all Members of Parliament are well-advised to examine our plan, if for no other reason than to save themselves from an undesirable destiny.

 

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Grenville Phillips Column – A Year of Plenty

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For those who took advantage of our free public workshops in starting and growing a successful business with no money, this will be an exciting year for you.  Everything has already been provided for you to prosper during this time of severe austerity, so go forth and prosper.

For others, the only thing holding you back from prospering is you.  Selfish politicians, employers, managers, and work colleagues will always exist.  They are not holding you back, unless you allow them to by blaming them for your situation.  Do not fret about them because they will regretfully reap what they are sowing.  Let me explain that.

We spend our entire lives on Earth planting seeds, cultivating what we have planted, and reaping what we have cultivated.  Our seeds will either benefit us and others or they will not.  Therefore, it is wise to plant good seeds to help your future self.

We cannot reap unless we go through the habitual routine of cultivating.  If you have planted good seeds, then expect to be criticised and ridiculed for continuing to do what is right and responsible, despite long periods with no apparent results to show for your efforts.  Being responsible is an investment in yourself and others.

Eventually, you will reap.  While you reap, continue planting new responsible seeds, and keep cultivating.  In this manner, you will continually reap good things.  These seasons of sowing, cultivating and reaping occur in every area of your life.  However, I have observed that persons tend to reap the fruit of bad seeds much sooner than the fruit of good seeds.

The New Year is typically a time of sowing good ideas in areas of your health, relationships and business.  You sow by making determined decisions.  You cultivate by implementing plans, either carefully or carelessly.  You reap intentionally, otherwise the cultivation effort can be wasted.

You can make good decisions about your health, like eating less processed foods and more whole foods.  You can also make good decisions about your relationships, like being more helpful and polite, and trying to represent those who are unfairly disadvantaged.  You can also make good decisions about improving the management of your business.

Here are some tips to invest in your future self while helping others.  Eat more ground provisions grown in Barbados, and less imported processed foods.  If you are in a supermarket line and there is an elderly person in front of you, then quietly offer to pay for their goods.  If you are paying a utility bill and there is an elderly person behind you, then overpay with an instruction to the cashier to apply it the elderly person‘s bill.

You want to treat others the way that you want to be treated.  In your old age, do you want others to assist you in your time of need?  Well, invest in your future self by helping others in their time of need today.  I can guarantee that you will feel the approval of your Heavenly Father as you become His means of assisting one of His creation.  If you work for God in this manner, then it is highly unlikely that you will experience lack.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Grenville Phillips Column – A Year of Empty

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Jesus explained that we only have two paths before us, namely, the broad way of irresponsible behaviour that most choose, and the narrow and more challenging way of responsible behaviour.  I believe that when we reach our individual ages of accountability, we are each given 3 virtual bags containing the good deeds, encouraging words and healings that we are to empty before we go to the great beyond.

Every one of us have plenty of opportunities to give out of our bags, but something holds us back.  Something tells us that if we meaningfully help someone else, or say an encouraging word, or speak a blessing, that we would be ridiculed.  Imagine that.  We have been deceived into thinking that being responsible is something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.

We are to receive no earthly benefit for most of the good things that we do, because we are to do them in secret.  Jesus said that our good deeds must be so private that figuratively, our left hand does not know what our right hand is doing.

During this time of severe austerity in Barbados, we have many opportunities to give out of our bag of good deeds to help those in desperate need.  Let us resist the temptation to selfishly guard our time and other resources for our own use.  It would be tragic, for us, to squander such opportunities.

As we interact with others, we will be tempted to withhold our compliments, advice, and encouragement out of a fear of how they may be received – we may even cringe at the very thought of saying something nice.  How it is received is not our responsibility, emptying that bag is.  Therefore, tell your loved ones that you love them, compliment persons for their efforts, and encourage persons to do what is right.

All three bags are to be emptied together, so we must also empty the contents of that third bag – the blessings.  We will be tempted to avoid blessing others because it may appear awkward if the blessing is not realised.  Again, the result is not our responsibility, emptying the bag is.

I follow my own best advice that I freely give to others, so I am happy and content with reason.  Two days ago, I was thanking God with a heart overflowing with gratitude, while walking towards my car after shopping in Bridgetown on Christmas Eve.  I happily realised that if I could choose any car in the parking lot, that I would honestly choose mine without reservation.

I then realised that if I could choose any house on this planet, that I would happily choose the one we built.  I then reflected further – and gingerly.  I slowly contemplated that if I could choose any woman on this planet, that, after deeper and honest contemplation, and with God, who knows all of my thoughts as my singular witness, I would genuinely choose my wife.  I asked God that I not outlive her, and I have already put my house in order for that eventuality.

I continue to improve myself so that I can better serve others, which is why I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Engineering in addition to my other duties.  So, I write this blessing to every person who reads this.  May you be empty so that you may be full.

May you prosper financially during this time of severe austerity in Barbados, so that you will have abundance to assist those in desperate need.  May you be in good health and be healed of any and all diseases or ailments, so that your testimony may increase the trust others have in God’s love for them.

May you understand all information that you read, hear and perceive.  May your ability to analyse this information far exceed my own abilities (hence the reason for revealing my studies).  May you be filled with wisdom from above that may be applied to this analysed information so that the productive result will benefit you, your family, and everyone who follows your best advice.  All of this I write in the name of Jesus, our Messiah, the Son of God, Yeshua.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Christmas Message – Don’t Be Foolish

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In this time of austerity, it is important to be reminded of Jesus’ encouragement to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.  Jesus taught this through his story about a planned wedding.  Ten virgins were supposed to walk with their oil-lamps burning during the ceremony.

Five of the virgins assumed that the bridal plans would run as scheduled, and only carried enough oil in their lamps that would last for the duration of their assignment.  The other five hoped that everything would run as scheduled, but took additional oil just in case the plans failed.

We are living under the Government’s BERT plan.  It was promoted as 18 months of severe austerity, and we have one year left.  We were told to bear the suffering for the remaining 12 months and then all will be well.  Given the general agreement that the BERT plan has been implemented with a high level of incompetence, we would be wise to plan for the worst regardless of our expectations.

After the initial set of layoffs during BERT’s first phase, Solutions Barbados offered free public workshops in starting and growing a successful business with no start-up money.  We will hold additional free training workshops after the next set of mass layoffs during BERT’s second phase.  As repeatedly explained during the training, you need to help your future self.

In 5 years, you can be trained to become anything you wish, and 5 years goes by very quickly.  Therefore, you are well-advised to start your training now.  This Christmas is an opportunity for spending on others.  Please do not squander this opportunity.

Purchase gifts to help others to start or grow their business.  If someone is a mason, then purchase a laser level to help increase productivity.  Give gifts like additional memory for digital equipment, higher capacity tools, printer cartridges or fuel gift cards.  Love your neighbours in this manner this Christmas.

Please resist the temptation to be foolish this Christmas.   Jesus gave a ratio of 5 wise to 5 foolish.  Given the pattern of shopping observed this Christmas, that ratio may hold true for us in Barbados.  Why would anyone purchase a limited-use toy or ornament or drapes in a time of severe austerity?  Why not purchase some tools for yourself and make a better toy, or a sewing machine and make better drapes?

How will an expensive necklace, bracelet, watch or pendant help someone to become more productive?  We all need to wise up.  Of course, all husbands are exempt from this criticism – their productivity depends on them spending foolishly.  On behalf of the 17 candidates of Solutions Barbados, Merry Christmas.

 

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Grenville Phillips Column – The Road to Hell

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As a teenager visiting the Plaza cinema to watch Kung Fu movies, there was always at least one unruly person who put his feet on the chair in front of him and behaved badly. During those times, I would wonder where the adults were.

I remember promising myself that when I reached 30 years of age, I would be the adult whom I expected to intervene. Since reaching that milestone, I have tried to keep that promise in defense of others. It is one of the reasons why I entered politics, and is the main reason why I write these weekly articles.

During my career, I have witnessed much wickedness in high places. The level of corruption is so shocking that anyone reading about it could not be faulted for concluding that it was fiction.

In 1995, Transparency International (TI) published their first Corruption Perceptions Index report, which exposed the extent of corruption globally. They published their second report in 1996. The Caribbean was not included in these early reports, but it was only a matter of time before TI would focus on the Caribbean.

In an act of pure coincidence, in 1997 our parliamentarians effectively discouraged any public discussion of corruption by passing the Defamation Act. Under this act, anyone who revealed genuine cases of corruption, with incontrovertible evidence, could be found guilty of defamation and punished accordingly. However, the Act protects politicians if they talked about it in parliament.

Not long ago, I attended a committee meeting of a statutory corporation, where some members were formally discussing giving a no-bid contract to a contractor. I stated that what they were proposing was corruption. There was a very heated exchange – the fellow actually rose to his feet to fight me. They seemed completely unaware of what corruption actually was, but were highly offended at being associated with it.
The corrupt operate in the secret political economy, which is normally exclusively reserved for political supporters in exchange for bribes. The way of corruption is for Ministers to instruct that no-bid contracts should be awarded to specific companies.
Inexperienced Ministers tend to deceive themselves by their good intentions. They tend to stumble onto the path of corruption by trying to justify allowing no-bid contracts. The current BLP administration has many inexperienced Ministers just waiting to stumble, and I am trying my best to prevent them from falling.
A root cause of our economic problems is the corrupting practise of Ministers directing no-bid contracts. The DLP made themselves highly offensive with that deplorable practise over the past decade. Shockingly, the BLP appear to be carrying on where the DLP left off, but in an even more brazen manner, as if that were even possible.
Last week, many BLP parliamentarians delighted their supporters by accusing the last DLP administration of gross corruption. Ironically, during the same week, the BLP appeared to play the hypocrite by announcing several major no-bid contracts, and they had the gall to boast about it. No! No! No! No! No! and ten thousand times No! We simply cannot go down that road again. All of this austerity cannot be in vain.
Has the BLP learnt nothing from the DLP’s unconscionable behaviour? Why is the government persisting, even more brazenly, with this corrupting political economy? Why is the government intentionally disqualifying competent companies from tendering for tax-payer funded projects? Why is the government shielding politically favoured companies from competing? Are the Ministers aware that when they give no-bid contracts, the public tends to pay many times over for the resulting bad work and bad advice?
Let me write directly to the BLP’s inexperienced parliamentarians. We have been here many times before. We are sick of the ‘good intentions’ excuses that have been used to justify keeping a political economy for the exclusive use of the Party’s politically protected companies. The end never justifies the corrupting means – ever.
I implore you to reject the political economy and the way of the corrupting no-bid contracts. Those who go down that road rarely find their way back, since they sell their souls to the master corrupter who will not easily let them go. Expect some political supporters to demand their pre-paid share of the political economy from you.
They will pressure you to award them no-bid contracts with the typical excuse of urgency. Once you have been tricked into starting down that dark road, the nation will suffer. Companies who bully their way to the trough of the political economy, knowingly disqualify the most competent companies from tendering on government contracts. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
You will also be pressured into believing that it is specialist work that only they can do. Unless they own the patent, or have an exclusive-use contract for the technology, then that is a well-worn lie from the very pit of hell. Why not challenge their ridiculous assertion by allowing a competitive tender? What is the possible benefit to yourselves or the country of disqualifying the country’s most competent companies from tendering? I expect an answer to this question from each of you.
There is no right way to do wrong things, and giving no-bid major contracts is definitely wrong. Further, giving no-bid contracts in a depressed economy is so far beyond wrong as to qualify as satanic.

I implore you, repent of this evil and do right things. In your manifesto, every one of you promised, on your sacred honour, that you would provide a Contractor General to review government contracts and those of State Owned Enterprises. You have had enough time to establish this critical post, yet you have failed to do so. What happened? Was this another initiative that must be a sacrificed casualty of the unnecessary BERT austerity plan? Have you even read that secret plan?

Your options are simple. Either repent and terminate those corrupting no-bid contracts and allow a fair tender process, or be deceived with your ‘good intentions’ and continue down the road to hell.

 

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and President of Solutions Barbados. He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com