It has been seven years since the establishment of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) in 2001 and the jury remains out on whether its role has been and effective one when dealing with the consumer rights of Barbadians. Barbadians were promised by the then government that the the FTC would be the agency which would redress many injustices which consumers were suffering at the hands of big business especially. In its defense, the FTC in its relatively short existence has had to preside through the difficult and complex period of the deregulation of the telecommunications industry. The BU household joins many Barbadians by holding the view that the FTC has fallen woefully short of its stated Mission Statement:
To be a transparent and accountable agency providing professional services to those whom we serve, thereby safeguarding the interest of consumers, promoting and encouraging fair competition and ensuring efficient regulated utility services.
To demonstrate our skepticism about whether the FTC has been effective in preserving the rights of the Barbadian consumer, we can illustrate this by revisiting theOpera Interactive Barbados Limitedissue first raised by Adrian Loveridge on Barbados Free Press and BU in September 2007. The BU family may recall that there was the concern that the company Opera Telcom, which was proved to be the parent of Opera Interactive Barbados Limited, was responsible for running a game of chance in Barbados called Lucky Numbers. Adrian Loveridge at the time was able to point out to the public that after many weeks of running the game on CBC TV and the Nation newspaper, the company despite public calls HAS been unable to produce a list of winners. The story got even more murky when research exposed that Opera Telecom was and continues to be no stranger to telecommunications regulators in the United Kingdom. The company has racked up millions of dollars in fines for one violation or the other. (We apologize to the BU family for writing on this non-sexy topic which we believe o be very important given the role of the FTC as a watchdog agency)
Events in recent years have led to the belief among some Barbadians, that all politicians are corrupt, dishonest and cannot be trusted. There are many, particularly the young who say quite openly, that Barbadian politicians have no regard for ordinary citizens, and are only interested in politics as a means to acquire great wealth. That some Barbadians feel this way is sad, but of particular concern is the number of young people who have this entrenched opinion.
To be fair, I have no evidence that the majority of Barbados politicians are dishonest and corrupt. However, in a small island supposedly secret transactions are not so for long, people do talk, and their friends have friends, what started off as a secret is soon common knowledge. The other problem is the display of ostentatious wealth. One can easily ask, how is it that someone who was recently so poor is now a man/woman of immense wealth. This does not mean the individual is dishonest or corrupt, but people think - sometimes without reasonable justification - even if they do not ask questions. The disappointing aspect of this scenario is the popular belief, that all people are corrupt and dishonest, politicians are only an extension of general society.
It is only the lack of opportunity which prevents these character traits from becoming manifest in all of us. Perhaps I am like a lone dog barking on the top of Cherry Tree Hill, but I do not subscribe to the popular view that all politicians are either dishonest or corrupt, and by extension the general public. Over time a climate has developed, in which previously honest people have been corrupted by a system that operates in Barbados. You might ask what is this system? Some people make it their business to surreptitiously corrupt politicians, who have control of the levers of power. They prey on a weakness for wealth and the desire for supposedly higher class social interaction. In a small society where all the main players are known to each other, and often have to interact on a professional basis outside politics.
The Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P) has been established in Barbados since 1911. If we were to give the company a rating based on the level of service delivered to Barbadians through the years, it would be have to be a high number. We perused the company’s 2007 Annual Report and observed it enjoyed a net income of BDS58.3 million which was a 48% increase over the previous year! It is no secret that the BL&P remains Barbados only true monopoly and it is this status which has caused us to put the BL&P under the microscope.
“Light & Power Holdings Ltd. is an investment company with electricity being its core business. The Company has a wholly owned regulated electric utility, The Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd.” We wonder how many Barbadians are aware that the BL&P considers itself as an investment company. It is against this knowledge that we find it interesting the BL&P entered “two new ventures…, the telecom projects. TeleBarbados and the Antilles Crossing Group, in which Light & Power Holdings has invested. These projects have increased international telecommunications capacity to Barbados by more than twenty times and helped reduce the cost of telecommunications service between Barbados and the rest of the world by more than fifty million dollars.” We find the investment in the telecommunications sector by BL&P to be insightful which has occurred against the background of a failed alternative energy strategy for Barbados to date.
For a little while in the existence of BU we enjoyed a cordial relationship with Chief Marketing Manager of the BL&P Stephen Worme. Unfortunately when the BU family continued to question the lack of a clear alternative energy strategy by the BL&P Mr. Worme turned his back on us. It is interesting that as he did so he has sought comfort in disseminating the company line in the traditional media.
In light of the current climate of rising oil prices the lack of a relevant and intelligent alternative energy policy by the BL&P has had to be placed squarely under the microscope. Our best research which has been supported by BL&P’s public position is the proposed “10 MW wind farm, which the Company proposes to construct at Lamberts, St. Lucy. The Company now awaits a response from the Town & Country Development Planning Office to its application for the wind farm. The Company has also started detailed discussions with the Cane Industry Restructuring Project for the supply of electricity into the grid from a proposed cogeneration plant which would utilize bagasse from the new sugar and ethanol processing facility that the Government proposes to commission at Bulkeley, St. George.”
It was with some concern that I read an article in the Weekend Nation (Friday, July 18) entitled “Gas Pump. This article outlined plans by Trans-Tech Inc. to start selling a device which, it is claimed, will almost double mileage in gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. Such devices, also known as HHO hydrogen generators, take electricity from the vehicle’s alternator and, through hydrolysis, produce a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. The gas mixture is fed into the engine where it becomes part of the combustion cycle.
Companies selling HHO hydrogen generators prey on people’s anxiety over the rising cost of gasoline and diesel. Unfortunately, all such devices do not work as claimed. Far from improving fuel economy, they will actually consume more fuel because of the extra load being placed on the alternator. These devices are nothing more than scams which seek to dupe unsuspecting consumers into buying them by making fraudulent promises of vastly improved fuel economy, promises which are never fulfilled. At this stage, I am not accusing Trans-Tech of trying to defraud consumers, for the company may be an unwitting victim of the manufacturer of this device. It is disconcerting, however, that Trans-Tech has plans to manufacture this device, so one would assume that they are fully versed in the limitations of the technology.
The basic failing of such devices is that they consume more energy that they produce because of inherent inefficiencies of the various steps along the process to produce and burn the hydrogen and oxygen.
SIX MEN’S BAY in St Peter is the largest remaining coastal pond on the West Coast and a marina should only be constructed there if the developers are prepared to replace what will be lost by destroying the pond.
This is the recommendation of Professor Robin Mahon, director of the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. “The proposal to excavate [Six Men's] into a marina should only be approved if the developers are obliged to mitigate the loss of function by building water-retention structures upstream that prevent the water from entering the marina and also to replace that function by contributing to the enhancement of other ponds along the coast, such as the ones at Weston and Holetown.
The BU family would have recognized by now that we are concerned about the lack of a Physical Development Planfor Barbados. We have been supported in our cause by several members of the BU family with Anonymous x and Sundowner leading the way. In fact there is a parallel between the lack of an immigration policy and our physical development approach in Barbados. Noticeable in the developed countries is the forward planning which is evident when building roads, bridges, cities, industrial estates etc. An integral aspect to planning physical development is to anticipate the impact physical development will have on the eco-system and takes steps to mitigate.
It is routine as far as we know for the Town Planning department to request environmental impact studies to be undertaken and submitted as part of the request for development permissions. Barbadians to date have been loathed to participate in this process which encourages feedback from citizens. We are prepared to say that Barbadians have themselves partially to blame for the runaway position which now exist i.e. Town Planning and developers moving ahead with development and not factoring John Citizen’s position. An example of this is the environmental impact study which was undertaken in the ABC Highway Project. Our recollection suggests that such an important piece to that project was not appropriately managed in the interest of Barbadians.
This is the time of the year many Barbadians at home and abroad look forward to participating in our national Crop Over festival. They are those who directly participate in the tent goings, singing calypso etc, and the many others who benefit indirectly from the enormous economic activity which flows at this time of the year. We have seen numbers bandied about over the years about the true value of Crop Over to the national purse, maybe up to 400 million dollars. Whatever the true number all who should know agree that it is a significant contribution. Maybe it explains why year after year there is the predictable controversy about how much money should be allocated to the various stakeholders, and the Calypsonians usually head those with cap in hand.
The festival is comprised of several stakeholders e.g. National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and by extension government, musicians, masqueraders, sponsors and others. The festival has come along way since the early 70s. Many Barbadians we are told now depend on the festival for a significant percentage of their annual incomes. Yet again in 2008 there is the hint of a controversy regarding a clash between the show Euphoria staged by a private concern and the NCF’s Cohobblopot. Our recollection appears to be that the same conflict occured last year. Why can’t the stakeholders understand this is our premier national festival and not some rum shop activity? A couple weeks earlier we had the spatbetween the Calypso associations and the NCF over a planned tribute to Red Plastic Bag. The BU household was split down the middle on that matter but yet again a matter which could have been avoided with good planning and communication between the stakeholders.
Hartley Henry’s column as originally posted in the Advocate 18/07/08
Very often I am asked to explain the nature of work of a Political Strategist, especially in what can be termed “non political season”. Most persons would associate this writer with the conduct of general elections, but in the majority of Caribbean states, elections are held once every five years. Therefore the question of how I keep myself busy and how I remain relevant to and needed by clients is frequently asked. The short answer is that during the “political down season” I focus on advising clients against actions, utterances and behaviors that could be harmful and perhaps even fatal to their chances of victory next time around.
Examples of this were in abundance during the just concluded budget debate in parliament. I have no reason to support the Barbados Labour Party or to wish to see that organization returned to office in the near future. But, as a student of politics I couldn’t help but observe some fundamental errors, the cause and origin of which would have to be placed squarely at the feet of the Leader of that party, Mia Mottley.
First, Mottley should not have attempted to reply to the budget. Receiving the mantle of leadership under the circumstances that she ought not, by itself, to be viewed as overnight acquisition of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Whether Mottley wishes to accept it or not, she has an image problem in Barbados. The jury is still out on whether she has the credentials to become a modern leader of Barbados. She is articulate and known for her male-like aggression in politics. But she brings much more than intellect to the table. She touts political baggage of a nature not previously associated with any aspiring leader of Barbados.
I am loathed to write anything about Kingsland Estates to BU at this time, simply because there are so many other issues of far greater interest and importance to Bajans at the moment. However, I received today the Judgment of Howden J. of the Ontario courts and I am attaching it here for you.
To recap for your readers, BU published the Reasons of Justice Shaughnessy in which, among other issues, the surreptitiouslytaped conversation by Fishy Heaslet with Peter Simmonsand any threat arising therefrom was addressed by Shaughnessy J. It was found that there was no threat. Madge Knox/Peter Allard aka Nelson Barbados, sought leave from Justice Shaughnessy to appeal his decision, and they were refused. Therefore, they applied for leave to appeal to a higher Ontario court and this court too refused, hence the decision of Howden J. that is posted here.
The issue of intemperate remarks made by Peter Simmons has caused Quel Truth to use its favourite series of words - again and again and again….and again. Outrageous, outrage, outraged. Quel Truth is, as we have all now seen, quite limited, particularly in its ability to answer any questions it doesn’t like. I have tried on several occasions to put Peter Simmon’s angry remarks into perspective. However, Howden J. does it indisputably and with an ease that makes me feel stupid. He says, at paragraph [28] of his excellent judgment:
“By their nature, Courts deal with many situations of animosity and even visceral hatred. The expression by one party of his interpretation of the anger of others towards the other party is neither unique nor unexpected. It should be noted that the alleged threatener in this case later indicated his total disapproval of any resort to violence. In this case, I see no error in the motion judge’s consideration of this issue”.
We now have the N F Labour Party whose manifesto has been set out in clear terms. To insult the Citizens of the Sovereign State of Barbados to wit: That we are racists. We are xenophobic.
To ensure this objective is achieved “they” try to curtail free expression on the call in programmes. They seek to limit free expression on the blogs. They use their position to support and encourage by active participation in events that are intended to highlight our inability to comprehend issues which are the main concern of the citizens of Barbados. The most disrespectful aspect of all this is to address our Commissioner of Police in a tone which emphasizes, the Commissioner does not know how to do, and is not doing his job…the impertinence.
This from a Political Party which represents a country in which people are murdered weekly because of race. This is the final insult. Their presence is not to the public good, as a Political Party, and cannot foster “friendly relations” between two countries. They are an impediment to that desired outcome. It is for our “elected representatives” to step up to the plate and declare where they stand on this important issue of “illegal immigration” so that History may record what they did or did not do, in the interest of the Citizens of Barbados.
Update: Read latest Press Release issued by Cost U less which was submitted by the tireless Ian Bourne
Monday 14th July edition of the Nation carried some statements and questions asked by Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley re Cost-U-Less. There were some inaccuracies in the statements . The following Website will give your readers all they need to know about the operations of Cost-U-Less.
Source: BU Family member
The Prime Minister has been sending strong signals before and after the last general election that he intends to dismantle the old structures which have existed in our distribution and retail sectors, and which historically have been producing high prices for commodities. This situation has become untenable in the prevailing turbulent economic conditions.
Members of theBU household attended the viewing of a 30 minute documentary titled On The Map produced by Annalee Davis at Solidarity House tonight (15 July 2008). The night’s proceedings was moderated by the ubiquitous Peter Wickham. The viewing although not a full house attracted a cross section of Barbados. Before we comment on the actual 30 minute ‘piece’ we should clarify a few matters which have been given rise by tonights proceedings. Norman Faria, Barbados Guyana Consul during the feedback segment of the night’s event launched a broadside at the blogs, we believe he meant BU given our persistent blogging on the Barbados immigration issue. He called on the authorities to censor us. He referred to the vile, racist and xenophobic positions taken on the blogs regarding the issue of migrant labour with a focus on the Indo-Guyanese.
Norman Faria we hope that you are reading very carefully what we are about to write:
All of our blogs to date on the immigration issue are built on two positions 1) the lack of a managed immigration policy in Barbados and 2) the socio-impact of large inflows of Indians on a predominantly Black host population. We have reread many of our blogs on the subject of immigration and we have struggled to discern any xenophobic meanings on our part. We must admit that some of our commenters have sometimes crossed the line by engaging in racial rhetoric. However Faria, Ricky Singh and others should not mistake the comments of a few commenters to represent the views of the BU household. We believe in free speech and while we don’t condone all the comments on BU we will always seek to protect freedom of expression. We believe that Barbadians are educated enough to filter racist and xenophobic nonsense from the real fears and concerns of Barbadians. The fear was very eloquently expressed by Caribbean Broadcaster Corporation broadcaster Jewel Forde and Sydney Simmons, now retired. The issue of migrant labour is a topic which is currently occupying the many countries in the world, the developed countries being no exception.
To respond to Keith Nurse who we understand is a lecturer at the UWI and who sought to scare Barbadians by referring to the Dominican /Haiti experience by mentioning the word genocide, it will not work!
Please be reminded to reserve a booking for the evening of the 2nd August from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm to attend the PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL CRUISE onboard the MV HARBOUR MASTER sailing from the shallow draft promptly at 5.00 pm.
Tickets are available from the DLP Headquarters, George Street, St.Michael, at telephone number 429 3104 or from any Constituency Branch office, or by contacting any Member of Parliament or any Senators.
Door prizes will be on offer, good music on hand and a great chance to mingle and meet friends or make new friends, we look forward to seeing each and everyone of you on the evening of the 2nd August to sail with the PRESIDENT on the ANNUAL CRUISE OF THE DEMS.
We wait to welcome you all to a great evening of entertainment.
The Budgetary Proposals 2008 were presented last week by Prime Minister David Thompson and there is one disappointment which we must highlight. The price of a barrel of oil closed last week at $147.00. It is not far-fetched that by year end the price of oil may cross $200.00 given the volatility in the world’s oil commodity market. Barbados like many countries around the world has built its economy on oil. This well known fact appears stupid when we consider that our island is surrounded by renewable energy inputs i.e. wind, sun and sea. The fact that Prime Minister Thompson did not signal that his government had engage in any significant policy initiative at the national level that would lead to a reduced dependence on oil is most distressing.
It is projected that in 2008 Barbados will spend an estimated $275 million dollars which equates to approximately 7% of GDP. While the amount may appear serviceable in the context of the Barbados economy there are some points to note. The amount paid for oil must be in hard currency. This means that the economy which relies on the fickle tourism product must continue to generate foreign exchange. The more significant point is as the price of oil rises; it will have a negative effect on our tourism. Airfares and cruise fares will become more expensive. If we were Prime Minister David Thompson we would be very concerned given our level of dependence on the black stuff.
After seven months in office the BU household is of the view that we must have some urgency on the need create an alternative energy plan.
The above cartoon appeared in a New York Magazine and has drawn the ire of the Obama family and supporters. The quick question we can ask: is this being satirical or a violation of good taste? The BU household is well aware that this is a presidential election year in the US and Barack Obama when last checked, appears to be the front runner. The magazine’s editor described the cartoon, called “The Politics of Fear,” as satire. The Obama campaign called it “tasteless and offensive.” They are many who will dive to the view that once in public life you have to roll with the punches. When the BU household saw this cartoon which was submitted by BU family member x, we were not impressed. After viewing the cartoon it is easy to come to the conclusion that some dark forces are beginning to fear the prospect of a Negro man entering the White House with his two girls with plaited hair in tow with, wife Michelle who has shattered the mould created by previous First Ladies.
A positive spin to the cartoon maybe that it will back-fire. All the US networks and various media houses will be focused on this story, and maybe the Barack machinery can finally get the message out that the man is not a Muslim.
A notice appearing in the Nation of Sunday 13 July 2008, page 13 from the Ministry of Education states:
The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development has stated that the summer school for secondary school students, scheduled to take place from July 14 to August 8 at six of the island’s secondary schools has been cancelled. The summer school was initially scheduled to take place at Alexandra, Grantley Adams Memorial, Ellerslie Secondary, St. James Secondary, Harrison College, and Princess Margaret Secondary. The Ministry has apologised for any inconvenience caused.
1. I and other parents paid the fees for these summer school classes more than a month ago and our cheques have long since been cashed. Is it too much trouble for the Ministry to tell us when and where we can get a refund?
2. Is it too much trouble for the Ministry to explain to the taxpaying parents why the classes have been cancelled?
During the Budgetary Proposal Debate in the House of Assembly between Tuesday and Thursday engaged in a historic debate. It was a debate which saw the delivery of Prime Minister David Thompson’s first budget. During the debate a point was raised by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy which has gotten very little coverage but has raised some alarm in the BU household. Minister Sealy announced to the nation that an outstanding loan of 58 million, in the name of Hotel and Resort Barbados Ltd (HRL) has now grown to 250+ million. What should be instructive to Barbadians is the reason posited by Minister Sealy as to why the previous BLP government allowed the HRL debt to mount.
Our recollection is that he said ‘someone’ in the Ministry of Finance communicated to the Ministry of Tourism (responsible for HRL) that the real estate property in Barbados was rising and would eventually equalize the HRL loan (58 million) plus interest. Minister Sealy shocked the BU household when he went on to announce that the HRL properties in question have been valued and are worth 70 million dollars. We should remind the BU family that former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Junior Minister of Finance Clyde Mascoll managed the HRL ‘mess’ in the months leading up to the last general election. We should also remind the BU family that this is the same Clyde Mascoll who had fought a valiant battle using the now famous JAWS argument.
This is the reference point we have used since then, to argue the point when Mascoll crossed the floor, that he had thrown his political career down the toilet. By now we all know that Mascoll is not a politician anyway.
Plan To Live Forever But Live Like You will Die Tomorrow. Love Is When Your Companion Possesses The Qualities Which You Admire The Most And The Faults You Can Tolerate - unknown
Submitted by BU Family member
On exiting the Secondary institution I attended, one of my favourite teachers told me something that has proven to be true and remains with me until present. In his subject area, which I passed at CXC General with the BEST grade in my year group, at the Prize Giving Ceremony I was passed over for another teacher’s offspring. He said, “In Barbados it is WHO you know, not always WHAT you know”.
It is with this in mind that I can come to the conclusion that almost any cover up is possible with the right connections. Prior to these thoughts I was scanning the paper and saw the death announcement of a young man who looked so familiar to me. I therefore assumed we meet in some forum, possibly at the University. Whilst reading the Nation online today (4th July 2008) I realized that this young man was the person who allegedly jumped to his death in St. Lucy.
We have NEVER published a speech on BU since our start-up. We have always tried to expressed our opinions on the many issues affecting our PEOPLE. However we have decided to make an exception in the case of the speech delivered by Attorney General Freundel Stuart in the just concluded Budget Debate. This is a speech which has come from a DLP politician who was thought by the BLP to not have been fully onboard the DLP train during the last general election. Our recollection is that he uttered some public statements which were very unflattering to then colleague David Thompson.
In light of the foregoing we agree with BU commenters who have been ‘turned-on’ by this contribution by Stuart. Our interest in the speech does not border on any partisan leaning, but more so what it represents. How a deep thinker like Stuart used words to emasculate the former Prime Minister, who not long ago strode the Lower House like a colossus.
The contribution of Attorney General Freundel Stuart to the gelling and molding of a new government will be critical as he takes on the role of elder in the young government. We enjoyed the speech delivered by Attorney General Stuart which was delivered with the flair to which some of us were accustomed from our 70’s parliament. These are troubling economic times, the knowledge that a man of deep thinking like our Attorney General sits in our cabinet is comforting . His demonstrated wisdom will be required.
Last week I said on Barbados Underground, that the election campaign of 2013 has started. Recent events have reinforced that opinion, rather than diminished it. Many commenters here have said, the main threat of the opposition’s response to Prime Minister David Thompson’s budget. Was the declaration of “personal assets” by the opposition leader?
The declaration has no function as regards the budget, but it captured the headlines as intended.
It would be churlish not to accept that it was a “master stroke”. The intention obviously to wrong foot the Government. Many have said it was not signed by an auditor, accountant etc and there was no independent verification…perhaps all true. What about overseas assets? All true. However, politics is often about “perception” and what the view of the electorate is. The message in this case, is what “I” have done, limited though it is…what have you done?
This personal divulgence was long in planning, shorter in execution, and devastating in impact. I have consciously decided not to dwell on the minutiae of the opposition leader’s statement…irrelevant at this stage.
Minister David Estwick in his contribution to the 2008 budget debate cited several difficulties which he has encountered since assuming the post of Minister of Health in January 2008. Since the halcyon days when Senator Branford Taitt was Minister of Health, the QEH stock has been diminishing at a concerning rate for Barbadians. In 2008 the problems at the QEH appear to be complex and will take the cooperation of all the players to ensure that the healthcare dispensed from that institution is not compromised. Minister Estwick from the House of Assembly has sent a clear warning to the several factions at the QEH that enough is enough and he will be taking decisions in the interest of the PEOPLE of Barbados.
At the centre of his frustration appears to be two core issues:
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board is being undermined
Some Doctors at the QEH appear to be shortchanging the PEOPLE of Barbados by ‘moonlighting’ on the job. Consequently the core medical pool which is required to ensure an above adequate healthcare delivery is under threat. He cited the example of Consultant Brian Charles who appear to be a jack of all trades if we are to judge by the number of hats he is currently wearing. Then there is the matter of the Human Resource practitioner whose contract was terminated.
The Minister Estwick has sent a strong message in a way only he can, he will not be tolerating any behaviour which seeks to undermine the authority of the QEH Board - see media release below written by QEH Board Chairman
Acting general manager Stanton Alleyne (right) on his way to a meeting at the National Union of Public Workers headquarters yesterday with his attorney Hal Gollop - Source: Nation Newspaper
The recentimpasse between the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) and the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) which led to a national strike still has Barbadians fuming. The fact that the Board took the decision to fire General Manager Stanton Alleyne and decided to back away from the decision continues to be the topic of discussion around the office coolers and rum shops. Of concern to BU is the confidence level which must now exist between the Board and Mr. Alleyne, and the ridiculous situation which now sees a senior manager being represented by the same union representing the workers in his command.
Thanks to our sources we are pleased to produce documents which are at the heart of the dispute.
The buzz around town today was not when Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Member of Parliament supported the Democratic Labour (DLP) budgetary proposals. It was not even about when BLP Member of Parliament Rawle Eastmond when he ended his contribution to the debate by projecting a neutral position. The buzz was caused when Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley, while in the glare of national TV, declaredher assets for all Barbadians to scrutinize. According to reports in the media, Mia Mottley who is a member of the prominent Mottley clan is reported to have a personal worth of 3.5 million.
Several members of the BU family have sent us communication over time requesting us to share our views on the issue of integrity legislation dubbed ITAL by sister blog Barbados Free Press (BFP). It is now a matter of record that BFP has been a relentless advocate for the introduction of integrity legislation in Barbados.
We did touch earlier in the year on the need to rationalize our campaign financing laws.
Although the days when corruption by politicians was defined by cash changing hands for favours, it is our sense that this is not as prevalent in the present environment. Of concern maybe the influence which some individuals and companies have on politicians because they have ready access. So that corruption has now taken on a more subtle flavour. Implementing ITAL which will enable transparency in the apparatus of government and elsewhere will be the challenge.
This evening was the turn of the Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley to respond to the budget. Like Prime Minister David Thompson, she is a bright young Barbadian who have committed to render to public service. Barbadians will desperately hope that under the leadership of these two young Barbadians our country will be able to steer a path to calm waters. We made the point in our previous blog, and it is worth repeating that the global economic turbulence will surely test our resilience as a people.
We were able to listen to much of what the Opposition Leader had to say this evening. No Barbadian will ever say that that she is not comfortable on the public stage. Here debating antics were as to be expected and we score her a ten. While we have a passing interest in some of her rebuttals, we will wait to hear the government side before we fully critique the budget presentation. However it seems that she has pinned the bulk of her argument on the decision that the government should fore go excise tax to buffer the shock of rising oil prices.
‘The effect on our business will be devastating. Considering that what the Prime Minister has done is effectively removed our ability to sell 1, 2 and 3 day rentals. We simply cannot absorb this increase’.
‘My fear is that we will have such a significant downturn that jobs will be lost and the ripple effect will be felt at all attractions’
One of our leading Car Rental Agencies
What effect will this ONE THOUSAND per cent increase have on our Car Rental companies?
Will it also impact negatively on our attractions like St. Nicholas Abbey, Andromeda, Flower Forest and Orchid World and our many restaurants. And will this result in overall reduced income for Government and further jeopardise the viability of the tourism sector?
With car rental rates already among the highest in the region is this going to further push the cost of a holiday on Barbados above many peoples reach? Car Rental companies will already have to absorb or pass on increased costs of vehicle licences.
Our registered accommodation providers again will have to absorb or pass on the 50% increase in liquor licences and the 50% increase on alcoholic taxes have still to be evaluated. We all understand Government’s have to collect taxes but was there a better way of introducing this massive hike on the visitors driving permit?
Perhaps it could have been made a three year licence to encourage people to return again soon!
Did representatives from the car rental industry discuss this increase prior to its imposition? And, importantly, what is the average duration of rental, as if it’s only two or three days, the increase is even more of a deterrent?
As we write this blog Prime Minister David Thompson stands in the spotlight of delivering his first budget. Of interest to Barbadians will be what kind of budget the neophyte Prime Minister can produce which will ward-off external shocks caused by global economic turbulence rooted in the rising oil commodities market. Barbadians have long enjoyed a high standard of living which belies its size and resources.
The Prime Minister in a classic General Custer move fired an opening salvo in the budget presentation when he announced that the controversial ‘flyover project’, managed by 3S Barbados Ltd will be halted and the Ministry of Transport and Works in conjunction with local contractors given the task to complete the road widening part of the project. The Prime Minister told the nation that his government will investigate thoroughly the suspect procurement policy adopted by the previous government on the Project.
We commend sister blog Barbados Free Press for its relentless pursuit of ITAL. It appears that the new government is committed to ITAL but good implementation will be key - read Budget 2008 compliments Nation newspaper
The following letter was contained in an email received from an email address which BU recognizes to be that of Mr. Norman Faria, Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Barbados. It is no secret that Barbados Underground has been strident in promoting awareness of the big issue of undocumented workers in Barbados, many we know to be Guyanese. We have gone one step further to address the lack of a discernible planning of a multi-ethnicsociety for Barbados. There are enough country models which we have cited to show the folly of not properly managing large inflows of ethnic groups i.e. Indians, Chinese et al in a Barbados which has enjoyed a stable environment comprised mainly of Blacks and Whites through the years. Despite increasing accusations of being xenophobic from some quarters, we remain steadfast in our views. We urge our commenters to be clear and dispassionate in their arguments. We are aware that this is a topic where emotive language will appear and in this regard we ask you to refer to BU’s comment policy. We do not condone censorship but we will be fearless to ensure that any discussion which ensues will not denigrate to a base level.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, although not mentioning Guyanese raised the problem of unplanned migration last week at the CARICOM Summit. His government has also debated an amendment to the Immigration Act.
David
Commissioner Darwin Dottin
Commissioner Darwin Dottin
Commissioner of Police
Royal Barbados Police Force
Headquarters, Coleridge Street, Bridgetown,
Barbados
SUBJECT: INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC ON RADIO TALK SHOW. Dear Commissioner Dottin:
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Guyana in Barbados presents its compliments and wishes to refer to the above subject matter.
Further to my last letter (11 January 2006) to you regarding the airing and/or printing of inflammatory articles and viewpoints in some of the island’s print and electronic media and which specifically target Guyanese, I write once again to draw your attention to another blatant example. This latest airing can only serve to stir up racial and other tensions and bring the essentially good reputation of all Guyanese into disrepute.
On Monday, 17 March 2008, a caller was heard on the widely listened to programme “Down to Brass Tacks”, which is carried on the Starcom Network station VOB, referring to (generally Hindu) Indo-Guyanese in a derogatory, stereotypical and indeed racist manner. Were Afro-Guyanese or any other race,colour or religion targeted, I would make the same complaint. Among the more shameful, uncalled for, unsubstantiated and unjustified statements made by this caller:
“We have no problems with Christians and Moslems but we do with Hindus “
“(Crime in Barbados) is Hindu Guyanese and Trinidad habits”
“The police need to start checking these Indians (including) when they see them on the street…that is where the problem is”
“Hindus is the ones causing problems with the fellows (at the workplace where they will work for less)”
“The word dougla is a Hindu word meaning outcast”
The People’s Democratic Congress (PDC) has been stunned by the reported circumstances surrounding the death of the late I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney, at Land Lock, Cove Bay, St. Lucy, on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. And, just like the thousands upon thousands of people across Barbados that have been questioning those reported circumstances in which Maloney - a former student of the Christ Church Foundation School, the Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad - was alleged by police to have met his death, we too in PDC are questioning these same reported circumstances of his death.
Moreover, as a responsible and committed party of the masses and middle classes of people of this country that stoutly believes in the inviolable principles of freedom, democracy, social justice, transparency and accountability for Barbados, we must let our feelings on this very controversial matter be known to esp. the great many citizens of Barbados, in whatever ways possible.
So, here we go. According to the Daily Nation Newspaper, Thursday, June 19, 2008, ” (Some)officers on the scene Tuesday night said they responded to a call of a drug landing around 5.30 pm, where they observed and interviewed Tacuma…(whereupon) initial investigations reveal that Maloney suddenly ran and jumped off a cliff, landing on a ledge below. Shortly after this, he was washed off this ledge by the pounding waves, which took him out to sea” Public Relations Officer, Inspector Barry Hunte, said in a Press release.
Some commenters - on Barbados Underground - have asked, why is a certain Minister in the media so often…and to what purpose? Dare I say it - and I could be wrong - perhaps it is to do with face recognition, name recall and authority-association.
In order for someone to like you, it helps if they know you, you are respected, and they see in you what they aspire to, or they admire your personal achievements and ideals. The thinking to my humble mind, goes like this. Who will be our major opponents in the future, how can we combat them. Preparation is always the key. We, therefore have to match them at every turn. Situations will be seen like for like - although they will not be - we must have more and better to offer.
An article appearing in local print media on June 16, 2008 under the headline “No tourism threat from Trinidad” which suggests Trinidad & Tobago involvement in tourism poses no immediate threat to Barbados could be the greatest understatement tourism stakeholders are being fed about the twin island destination. Furthermore, just because Barbados has apparently been in the tourism industry much longer than Trinidad & Tobago and has a greater number of hotel rooms, is no guarantee the threat will not become a reality sooner than later. Lest it be forgotten, if the Government of Trinidad & Tobago had not acquiesced to Prime Minister Barrow’s request in 1969 to allow BWIA to be designated as Barbados’ airline carrier when Barbados was experiencing difficulties with airlift, one wonders if Barbados’ tourism would have ever developed to its present level.
Trinidad & Tobago may not at this stage have a large quantum of hotel rooms but a cursory inspection and comparison of what the twin islands have to offer visitors may prove rather interesting. In addition to normal tourist attractions, the following are some of the resources they can boast about when compared to Barbados - (1) Trinidad & Tobago have two airports (2) Trinidad has the commercial component where visitors can shop till they drop (3) Tobago on the other hand is the resort area with airline and ferry services which bridge the two islands. Visitors can also split their holidays between the two destinations and most important (4) the Government of Trinidad & Tobago has its own airline and does not have to rely on other sources for airlift.
The fact that the Government of Trinidad & Tobago has been investing enormous sums of money to improve and enhance its tourism industry should not come as a surprise to Barbados Tourism officials. Tourism happens to be the singular industry, the Government of Trinidad & Tobago needs to complete its economic development program and money will not be a problem to achieve this objective. The challenges which the twin island destination need to resolve, are the organization of its Public and Private tourism sectors and the establishment of overseas marketing /promotional offices. With the PNM party at the reigns for another term, one can safely assume that as soon as the proper infrastructure is in place, Barbados can expect to see aggressive marketing activity by Trinidad & Tobago to attract visitors.
It has been seven years since the establishment of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) in 2001 and the jury remains out on whether its role has been and effective one when dealing with the consumer rights of Barbadians. Barbadians were promised by the then government that the the FTC would be the agency which would redress many injustices which consumers were suffering at the hands of big business especially. In its defense, the FTC in its relatively short existence has had to preside through the difficult and complex period of the deregulation of the telecommunications industry. The BU household joins many Barbadians by holding the view that the FTC has fallen woefully short of its stated Mission Statement:
I am loathed to write anything about Kingsland Estates to BU at this time, simply because there are so many other issues of far greater interest and importance to Bajans at the moment. However, I received today the Judgment of Howden J. of the Ontario courts and I am attaching it 
