The remembrance of the 911 tragedy in September and the shooting by Army Doctor Nidal Malik Hasan has brought the suspicion of the Islam religion back on the front burner. As a people BU subscribes to the view that civilized human beings must be tolerant of others despite differences. Christianity is the dominant religion in Barbados and has obviously influenced our values and laws through the years. More and more as globalization takes root it is in our interest to understand the doctrines of other religions tossed out by the diversity of our world. We are cognizant of the rights given to ALL to freely practice their religions under our constitution.
Earlier this week CADRES compiled the 2009 Final Barbados National Survey On Corporal Punishment And Educational Issues Report which measured the opinions of Barbadians regarding the use of corporal punishment in schools and homes. The report has attracted the ire of the outspoken Garrison Secondary School educator Mathew Farley and others; who believe the principals of CADRES have been co-opted by UNECEF to foist their agenda on Barbados and others in the region.
The educational system in Barbados is not perfect, far from, BUT the systems in the USA and other developed countries are not perfect either. Couple days ago we read about a fifteen year old boy in Chicago who called 911 because his parents punished him by taking away his Xbox. The idea of a Barbadian child doing the same thing at first thought seems alien to our culture. Barbadian children and should we stretch to say West Indian are not socialized in this neck of the woods to behave like the 15 year old Chicago boy. We could mention those students, usually boys who take to school guns and mow-down fellow students like how a butcher would spray flies in the market. It is clear we are encountering a value-set which has devalued human life.
Dr. Justin Robinson, Department of Management Studies, Cave Hill, UWI
In its most recent review, published on November 13, 2009, the Credit Rating Agency, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) affirmed Barbados’ investment grade international credit rating, but adjusted its outlook from stable to negative. The S&P report has generated much public comment and debate on the state and management of the Barbados economy, as the economy wrestles with an economic crisis of biblical proportions, the worst since the great depression of the 1930s. I propose in this brief article to offer a perspective on the performance of the Barbados economy utilizing three widely used metrics of economic performance, the level of employment, the level of foreign exchange reserves and the state of public finances.
At the end of the third quarter of 2009, the un-employment rate in Barbados was reported at 10.1%. Table 1 presents data on the un-employment rate in Barbados since the year 2000, as reported by the Central Bank of Barbados.
Submitted by Rickford Burke, President of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)
It has now come to light that the 14 year-old boy who was tortured by Guyana Police officers at the Leonora Police Station was while in Police custody examined by Dr. Mahendra Chand, at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station on October 29, 2009, shortly after the abuse occurred. Dr. Chand is a Government Medical Officer (GMO) and Police Surgeon, and was surreptitiously summoned to examine the child’s injuries – an indication that the Police Commissioner knew of the abuse but did not launch an investigation until the matter became public.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who were investigating the murder of ruling PPP government official, Ramnauth Bisram, arrested the lad and attempted to coerce him to sign a confession and to give up presumed information on the murder. When he refused, they beat him with a wood about the head and ears; stapled his genitals and doused it with a flammable liquid and lit him afire. He sustained second and third degree burns in the genital area.
The wounds were so severe that the command felt compelled to summon Dr. Chand to examine the child. Having seen the “areas of brutality” as he puts it, Dr. Chand failed to refer the case to child welfare or higher law enforcement authorities for investigation. The matter only became public when it was leaked to the press and a photographer gained access to the lad while in Police custody and published a photograph of his badly burnt genital area.
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.
Recently one of Barbados’ leading developers responsible for obliterating the West Coastline of Barbados made the statement he has a vision for Barbados being transformed to a Monaco. In the month of November when Barbadians will be reminded of the Mirror Image speech, is this ‘our’ vision for Barbados and is it what our 500,000 long stay visitors and 700,000 plus cruise ship passengers are expecting?According to our West Coast activist Save Mullins it is business as usual on the West Coast.
Senator Arni Walters - Minister of State responsible for Immigration
Barbadians were informed through a People’s Empowerment Party propaganda piece in the Nation newspaper recently that the government has agreed to a modification to the amnesty conditions announced earlier this year. It is possible BU missed the official release from government on the change or was it a backroom deal made with a group calling itself the Coalition For A Humane Amnesty?
We should remember the gist of the amnesty arrangement is any migrant residing in Barbados from before January 1, 1998 is eligible to apply. Recent reports suggest several migrants have been flooding the police department responsible for issuing police certificates of character. This administrative bump should be dealt with quickly to avoid the predictable shouts which are sure to come from Guyana Consul Norman Faria and Rickey Singh.
This recent development of government slinking behind the backs of Barbadians to negotiate and agree to new amnesty terms with David Commisong’s group leaves a bad taste in the mouth. BU is hopeful the PEP has gotten it wrong in the column.
There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation – W. C. Fields
The recent downgrade in the outlook of Barbados investment paper by Standards & Poors given our BBB rating continues to generate much debate in Barbados. What seems to be fuelling the debate even more is the hint that a downgrade to our investment grade maybe around the corner given the rapid rate Barbados continues to accumulate debt. Barbadians have become alarmed at the prospect of having its investment paper perched at the brink of junk rating, a status most unfamiliar to Barbadians through the years. The fallout from attracting low credit rating by the credit rating agencies is the high cost to borrow if Barbados needs to float bonds in the capital markets.
Isn’t it ironic the current financial crisis which precipitated the global recession and led developing countries like Barbados to go enter an economic tailspin would have to suffer the penalty of credit rating downgrades by agencies which played a part to begin with? BU rejects the explanation by Professor Dr. Avinash Persaud that the credit rating agencies failed when rating structured products and not country ratings. How can one excuse the model for one area of their business over the next?
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 same early frequency. Interestingly the subject of homosexuality is one 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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@jack_welch Agree, it is relatively early in the season with NE in a decent position. It was a risk reward decision with comeback potential. 1 week ago
The remembrance of the 911 tragedy in September and the shooting by Army Doctor Nidal Malik Hasan has brought the suspicion of the Islam religion back on the front burner. As a people BU subscribes to the view that civilized human beings must be tolerant of others despite differences. Christianity is the dominant religion in [...]
Earlier this week CADRES compiled the 2009 Final Barbados National Survey On Corporal Punishment And Educational Issues Report which measured the opinions of Barbadians regarding the use of corporal punishment in schools and homes. The report has attracted the ire of the outspoken Garrison Secondary School educator Mathew Farley and others; who believe the p […]
In its most recent review, published on November 13, 2009, the Credit Rating Agency, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) affirmed Barbados’ investment grade international credit rating, but adjusted its outlook from stable to negative. The S&P report has generated much public comment and debate on the state and management of the Barbados economy, as the econo […]
It has now come to light that the 14 year-old boy who was tortured by Guyana Police officers at the Leonora Police Station was while in Police custody examined by Dr. Mahendra Chand, at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station on October 29, 2009, shortly after the abuse occurred. Dr. Chand is a Government Medical Officer (GMO) [...]
Submitted by Sapidillo 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 [...]
Recently one of Barbados’ leading developers responsible for obliterating the West Coastline of Barbados made the statement he has a vision for Barbados being transformed to a Monaco. In the month of November when Barbadians will be reminded of the Mirror Image speech, is this ‘our’ vision for Barbados and is it what our 500,000 [...]
Barbadians were informed through a People’s Empowerment Party propaganda piece in the Nation newspaper recently that the government has agreed to a modification to the amnesty conditions announced earlier this year. It is possible BU missed the official release from government on the change or was it a backroom deal made with a group calling [...]
There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation – W. C. Fields The recent downgrade in the outlook of Barbados investment paper by Standards & Poors given our BBB rating continues to generate much debate in Barbados. What seems to [...]
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 […]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The long awaited Green Paper on Immigration has been made public. Let us have a look. The BU family has been at the forefront of comment around the need for immigration reform. Let us see if our government has been listening to the PEOPLE. Posted in Barbados, Barbados News, Barbados Press, Blogging, Caribbean, Caribbean News, Caricom, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...] […]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Submitted by Dawn Simmons – Chairman of the North American Region People’s National Congress Reform 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 [...] […]
