The Homosexual Debate Continues to Simmer In Barbados

HPV PREVENTION. Dr Joel Palefsky, an infectious disease expert from the University of San Francisco (left with Dr Mark Gilbert and Dr Natasha Press), told the gay men's health summit in Vancouver that all boys should be vaccinated against HPV. (Nathaniel Christopher photo)

The next general election is over two years away if held when constitutionally due. The health of the economy, freedom of information, integrity legislation and immigration issues we suspect will feature prominently on the next general election platform. Another issue we suspect will be on the list is one of morality, specifically homosexuality.

The members of the BU family who have been with us from our early days know the interest we have shown in homosexuality (do a search of BU using ‘homosexuality’ keyword). It is one of the pillar issues we feature from time to time even if of late it has not featured on the BU rotation with the early frequency. Interestingly the subject of homosexuality is a subject which a high level of hypocrisy can be levelled in Barbados. Whether we like the Jamaican approach Prime Minister Bruce Golding has echoed the position of most Jamaicans, zero tolerance to batty men in his cabinet because he feels it does not reflect the public position. Jamaicans appear to wear the label of homophobic like a boy scout would wear a badge of honour.

In Barbados we have a long way to go regarding how as a country we want to deal with the issue of homosexuality. BU remembers very well prior to the last election listening to representatives of  the Democratic Labour Party (Dr. Byer-Suckoo) and the Barbados Labour Party (Reverend Joseph Atherley) dipsy-doodle around the homosexuality issue. In contrast Jamaicans are sending a clear message. Some Jamaican homosexuals are not being deterred and have started underground churches. The venom of Jamaicans directed towards homosexuals have forced many homosexuals in Jamaica to go underground. Stories of Jamaicans suspected of the homosexual lifestyle being publicly beaten by fellow Jamaicans are a matter of record.

Nation Editorial Under The Microscope

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Roxanne Gibbs - Executive Editor Nation Newspaper

Today’s Nation editorial makes for interesting reading. On another blog BU made the point that our Fourth Estate needs to demonstrate a duty of care when reporting news. If it does not it will have the inevitable effect of diminishing the integrity of the profession. The topic of the editorial is worthy but the content has fallen woefully short in our opinion.

Not to bore the BU family we have snipped extracts from the editorial to demonstrate our point:

Just this week, the acting general manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Dr John Mwanza, advised Barbadians that if they didn’t stop wasting their precious water, they could face another rate increase.

One possible reason for the hike: the BWA might have to import water from neighbouring Dominica to keep local levels up. Well, what could be wrong with a neighbourly solution to one’s island problem? Nothing, really, short of a military invasion or intervention.

How many times have Barbadians been told not to waste water? This maybe true but how will such a call resonate with Barbadians when it is known 60% of the water escapes from our distribution system because of leaks? What about the fact burst water mains are sighted daily all over Barbados and Barbadians have to literally beg Barbados Water Authority personnel to repair the bursts? How will this state of affairs create a culture of water conservation in Barbados?

Who Will Show Barbadians The WAY?

Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow

Once upon a time some of our leaders had the idea to come together and by pooling resources our region might benefit. The thrust of the leadership of what eventually evolved to CARICOM came from the Big Four, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados. BU has often ruminated how Barbados was regarded as one of the Big Four. If we judge by size, Trinidad and Tobago is 1980 square miles (including Tobago), Guyana is 76,000 square miles and Jamaica is 4181 square miles. Embarrassingly Barbados is plotted at 166 square miles.

Barbados of the Big Four is not blessed with any significant natural resources. Using a strategy of educating its people successive governments have empowered its people to exploit what limited opportunities exist in a very competitive world. Our legacy of good governance is a matter of record.

It is instructive 40 plus years hence independence to review the scorecard of the Big Four. Jamaica has done a good job of mismanaging its economy. In the 70s when then Prime Minister Michael Manley’s economic policies failed and he was forced to seek the IMF. Although there was a lift in the 80s it is yet to regain the momentum pre-1972.

BANGO’s Closing Written Submission To The Fair Trading Commission In The Barbados Light & Power Matter

Submitted by BANGO

In the matter of the application by the Barbados Light & Power Co. Ltd., the Commission held a Rate Hearing in which the Applicant put forward its case for a raise in rates. During the Hearing, the Applicants main theme was that it needed to show a greater rate of return from its operations and that this would help it attract debt rather than equity; since equity is more expensive.

Read Full Submission

Issues Of The Heart

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

There is a potpourri of issues and ideas I would like to deal with this week. First up, the Rihanna Interview. I must admit the interviewer did a magnificent job of drawing out Rihanna on several sensitive and I would imagine painful issues, and for the most part I am convinced she spoke from the heart. However, I believe the full impact of that particular interview was lost because somehow one saw through the intent of her publicists and management team to use this “stepping out interview” as a repackaging exercise in the lead up to the release of new material. I do not think that goal was realized. That interview should have been done several weeks ago and there is nothing one has seen or heard in the interim to suggest attainment of the type of focus and maturity that is required of someone who has been given such a superb break and opportunity in life. Rihanna is going to have to do more, much more to fill and brighten the eyes of millions around the world who are already placing her in a mold most unbecoming of someone with so much potential and limitless opportunities. Age is no excuse! Rihanna needs to ‘straighten up and fly right’ if she is to achieve true greatness.

On this issue of stars and superstars, I am forced this week to give the local Digicel promoters a slap on the wrist for a newspaper advertisement, in this, the month of November and in a year when Barbados produced its first world athletics champion. Dear Digicel, I am a Usain Bolt fan. I sit on the edge of my seat whenever he steps on the track, but my instinctive reaction to your new newspaper advertisement showcasing him was “but where is Ryan Brathwaite?” I do not care that the competition has offered to sponsor him, and that he appears in some of their ads. He is 100 per cent Bajan and we are proud of him. If you are speaking about or promoting excellence in sports I would much prefer you, my preferred cellular service provider, to promote that which we have grown right here in Bim. Usain Bolt is my man on the world stage but it’s the month of November, and in 2009, especially, I want to savor the fact that this rock has produced a world champion. Don’t worry about what the competition is doing. Let us promote our own on this occasion. Showcase Sir Garfield Sobers, Ronald “Suki” King, Ryan Brathwaite and all other Barbadians who have achieved true greatness in their chosen field of endeavor.

Comprehensive Review Of Immigration Policy And Proposals For Legislative Reform

Swine Flu (H1N1) Concerns ???

Submitted by Georgie Porgie

Click on image to view presentation

It Feels So Good!

Click on image to follow the Mail Online story

Recently BU posted two blogs about the Bajan brand. What can we tell about the Bajan brand if we are to judge by the following comment made by the UK’s latest lottery winner Les Scadding of £45.5m?

The couple robustly insisted they would keep their feet on the ground and ‘think very carefully’ about what to do with the money after some instant indulgences. So far they include the first new car Les has ever ordered, a Range Rover Sport to replace his modest Citroen; and maybe a house in Sam’s favourite holiday destination, Barbados.

Remembering What WAS Bajan

Submitted by Sapidillo

CLICK On Image

There seem to have been many characters with the same nicknames in other neighbourhoods. A lady named Silvia; one day, she asked one of the boys on the pasture to run an errand for her; she offered him some soup.  He said that Silvy taught that she was making dumplings and made kite paste. Her husband called “monkey,” he used to clean toilet pits — another town man and town woman.  After monkey cleaned a pit or two and was paid, he would find himself at the closest Snackett.  If people were sitting on the stools and saw him coming, they would scamper; the man smelled like pure shit, didn’t even smell like a poop that would fade away in thin air.

If I keep digging up in this ole shoebox, I en gine get it tuh close bak.  I wud have to take de few coppers I have left and buy a valise to keep this memorabilia in tact.

These are some of the characters I remember while I was growing up.

Nation Newspaper Creates News Based On Unscientific Cellphone Poll

Barbados Nation Newspaper Cartoon - 09 November 2009

Submitted as a comment by Adrian Hinds

Two accepted scientific polls with results unfavourable to Mia Mottley, followed by two questionable polls that are favourable to her. The latter enabled by the Nation newspaper; coincident, or a deliberate attempt to create news rather than report it?

We should remember the 2007-8 Cadres poll that suggested 20-10 victory for the DLP in the 2008 Jan 15 national election. We should remember the counter poll by Boxill that sought to counter Cadres projections and results.

Another Cadres poll with statistics that Mia Mottley does not like so the Nationnews decided to counter or is it contained the results of that poll with a text message unscientific poll and has sought to highlight and publicize the results as if they were or could ever be provable “statements of Facts”.

During all of this traditional media employees are reminding us that they  check and recheck facts.

2009 Final Barbados National Survey On Corporal Punishment And Educational Issues Report

Extracted from the CADRES Survey done on behalf of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided to BU with the compliments of Peter Wickham, Head of CADRES

The report speaks to the issue of corporal punishment and other major educational issues in Barbados, based on a July 2009 Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sponsored survey of a representative sample of adults and children across Barbados, along with other previous Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) surveys where these are relevant. It was commissioned as part of a BUT/UNICEF initiative to track public opinion trends on the use of corporal punishment against children as well as other issues of importance to the mandate of the Government of Barbados’ National Commission on Education.

The survey found that support for corporal punishment in schools has fallen precipitously since 2004 when it was 69% to a significantly lower marginal majority of Barbados at 54% in 2009. Additionally, students’/children’s opposition to corporal punishment in schools remains consistent. Currently 74% of children oppose this form of punishment in schools and this opposition has clearly solidified since 2004 when it was 56%.

However, corporal punishment in the home is another matter. An overwhelming majority of Barbadians (75%) still support and use corporal punishment in the home and while this support has fallen slightly since 2004 when it was 80%, it is still quite high and suggestive that Barbadians wish to maintain this form of punishment in the home at this time. Just over half of the students/children support the retention of corporal punishment in the home (54%) falling significantly from 76% in 2004.

With regards to corporal punishment it is interesting that opposition tends to follow a pattern that is influenced by age, gender and educational attainment. As a result it can be seen that support for corporal punishment is higher among older persons (51 years old and over) and persons who have had limited educational exposure (primary and secondary level). Conversely, younger people and those who have been exposed to tertiary and post-secondary education tend to oppose corporal punishment. Reference to the actual use of corporal punishment is consistent when relevant questions are asked of parents and children. It would appear that corporal punishment is used in a majority of cases (63%) across the island but is especially popular in large families and seems to be the preferred form of discipline by women; older persons and those men and women who are married, divorced and widowed.

Does The Black Race Suffer From An Inferiority Complex?

Sosa in 1989 with Texas, in 2004 with the Cubs and this week in Las Vegas. (AP / Tribune / Getty)

As great as the late Michael Jackson was many Blacks questioned his acceptance to being a Black man. His transformation to a lighter skin complexion in his later years was viewed with suspicion. Despite many news reports which have suggested Michael Jackson was afflicted with the disease known as vitiligo, Blacks have remained suspicious. The suspicion was probably heightened because Michael Jackson succumbed to the plastic surgeons knife on many occasions, the result, the alteration of physical characteristics worn proudly by Blacks.

In recent days yet another high profile Black celebrity is being accused of ‘messing’ with his skin colour. Sammy Sosa the poor boy born in the Dominican Republic; who went on to become a famous baseball player in the American Major League Baseball admits to the following:

… in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. The picture is deceiving. He said, If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.

Police Tortures Teen In Guyana

Submitted by Dawn Simmons – Chairman of the North American Region People’s National Congress Reform

14 year old Torture VictimTeen Being Transported to Hospital

The North American Region of the People’s National Congress Reform condemns the most recent heinous acts of torture committed by members of the Guyana Police Force on a fourteen-year old, while in their custody at the Leonora Police Station, Guyana. The shocking photographs published in the Kaieteur News on Saturday October 31, 2009, and appended to this statement provide gruesome evidence of the reprehensible conduct of the police officers.

It is alleged that members of the Police Force, while interrogating a teenager, set fire to his genital area after soaking him with mentholated spirits. He was also burned on his tongue and lips. This is not a singular case, but is the latest of several examples of the pervasive culture of the Police Force which permits such despicable behavior.

In a press statement issued only two days prior to this horrific incident, Guyana’s Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin of the People’s National Congress (PNCR) warned that the Ruling Party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) appears to condone torture of individuals in Guyana by its dismissal response to reported allegations of torture. Regrettably, the Administration, which is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, seems comfortable with the current state of affairs in Guyana. The refusal of the Jagdeo Administration to take serious and drastic action in cases of reported torture coupled with its failure to condemn such behavior leads one to the conclusion that the Guyana Government gives tacit approval to these acts of torture. Moreover, the Government by its inaction conveys the message to the Security Forces that such behavior is acceptable.

The Urgency Of Pursuing A Renewable Energy Agenda For Barbados

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Darcy Boyce

Maybe BU missed it and if we did we are willing to apologize to the government. It is approaching two years since the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took-up the reigns of government and we are still to sense the urgency of its renewable policy. So far all we have read about is the wind farm program being piloted by the Barbados Light & Power Company which if we understand correctly is locked down in the bureaucracy of Town Planning and by extension government.

Is there more Barbadians should know about our RE policy and if so why not have a national discourse to ensure top of mind awareness? Is there a role for the Fourth Estate of Barbados? Hell yes!!!

Barbadians remember the urgency to discover renewable energy sources and the public fear which was fuelled when the price of a barrel of oil jumped to USD147 just over a year ago. In the post-global financial meltdown there has been a significant reduction in the oil price which at last closing indicated USD78.30. Although BU concedes most governments around the globe have had to allocate unplanned resources to survival and not growth initiatives, it does not explain why our government supported by traditional media would not articulate, distil and or communicate to Barbadians some urgency about our renewable energy program.

The logic used over one year ago to shift Barbados’ dependence from fossil fuel is the same today is it not?

In a call-in program yesterday (November 8, 2009) on VOB there was consensus it seems that our media houses are hamstrung by the lack of resources to follow-up on stories. This admission alone paints a worrying picture for the state of health of the Fourth Estate in Barbados. It is significant that in the month of November when Barbados will celebrate 43 years of Independence our thoughts as a nation should be about energy dependence. Energy cost is the key input which drive prices in Barbados and a significant slice of the import bill which requires foreign exchange support. How can Barbados claim to be a progressive country in this part of the world when we continue to build our economic success on legacy models which are quickly becoming redundant and unstable given the reality of the non-renewability of fossil fuels.

GEMS

Submitted by Adrian Loveridge

What are the functions and objectives of an independent Senator?

During the time the late Sir John Stanley Goddard sat in the Senate he repeatedly called for up-to-date financial statements for Hotels and Resorts Limited to be made available. After all, it’s a majority Government owned company funded by the taxpayer and surely we have a right to know their current fiscal position?

I understand that HRL’s accounts have now been laid in Parliament for the subsequent years since 2001, yet why has there seemingly been no Senate debate, discussion or public comment?

Losses for the GEMS project have been quoted at anything from $200 to $400 million, and as yet, no analysis has been in what part in the closure of over 30 private sector hotels over the last fifteen years they have played.

BU Family Member Asked To Contribute To Call-in Show

The following comment was posted by BU family member ROK. We invite the family to share feedback before and during the show if they can to represent the views of the BU family. Hopefully ROK will be given some latitude to represent the Bajan blogosphere. Here is the link to VOB to the 12PM EST show for those who are off-island.

@David

Sorry to be off topic here but I just got a call from VOB inviting me to be on the phone during their call-in program after the news (11:40 am) tomorrow morning. The discussion is on the media and this time includes the blog.

Apparently Denis Jones will be in the studio along with Julius Gittens and Amanda. If you are game, maybe we can set up a thread that will feedback as the program is in progress. Any BU Bloggers could make comments which I would refer to while on the phone. Not a problem with me.

Defending The Bajan Brand – II

Submitted by Kim Young as a comment to the BU blog Defending The Bajan Brand

You know David, I share the views of some of your commentators. First, I think I understand what you mean by “reputational management”. I suspect that you are alluding to the good reputation Barbados has on the international scene as a Country with Standard and Poors, WHO, PAHO, major UN bodies etc. We have good governance GENERALLY, a country with good infrastructure, a decent longevity rate, medical and other social, environmental and cultural infrastructures that support the people of the country and its guests.

On some points I have to disagree. I do  not agree that Barbados is properly branded. I never did. Indeed, when I lived in New York I have never seen a Bajan product at all. If you are referring to Barbados as a tourist destination, it is “branded” to some extent in England in particular (where I now live) as a tourist destination particularly since we were once a colony BUT, and this is a big but, the budget or the mismanagement or whatever is responsible makes Barbados as a brand , in terms of its marketing, rather inferior. I have never seen a poster in the major train stations ( my station is perfect – Gloucester Road Tube) but I see Jamaica, Majorca, Egypt, St Lucia, Greece, Spain. Barbados products – I shop at Waitrose, just around the corner here in Kensington. I have seen every possible brand of product and never a Bajan except Mount Gay Rum at £17 a bottle and a badly presented box of sugar @ £2 per box. Had Plantation Sugar packaged it like they do in SuperCentre, Holetown, and sell it for Barbados $17, they could sell it in London for £5 at least. That silver boxes sugar is used in the Queen’s box at Ascot yet they put a crappy box in a supermarket. The Brits would gobble up the pewter tin of sugar to just show it off if nothing else. That is good branding.

Is The Local Media Turning The Corner?

Credit has to be given where it is due. The local media has developed in recent days a frenzied pursuit of a story which details how a man rose from the dead and waltz out of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital morgue. Of course BU is NOT suggesting we should trivialize the story of Mr. Scantlebury. Whatever the outcome we hope the truth finds its way to the fore.

What is interesting about the case of the dead man who rose again is the important role of the Fourth Estate in the gathering of news and stoking public opinion.  It is refreshing to observe the bulldog determination which the local media has shown so far with the Scantlebury story. Should Barbadians reasonably expect that after one week all the questions still being asked should have been answered? A scan of the hospital record-keeping of the morgue and or a view of the surveillance records should easily have resolved this matter by now.