Owen Arthur started out in 1984 only owning a house on a plot of land at West Terrace on which he built a modest house. He bought it when he was a BLP MP!

He then acquired the lot next door as Prime Minister from the government owned NHC – overlooking the West Coast – from the NHC at a price less than that paid by normal purchasers! The valuation was done by government’s valuer – an officer under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Finance! Who was Minister of Finance? Owen Arthur.

Let us start there!

I am all for ITAL. But it must be done properly and with clarity. Having a UN Declaration signed by Louis – who laundered money for Trevor Millar for years – was also laughable. When I heard Owen Arthur say that I almost dropped off my seat.

One more point: did Mia declare the properties that she bought with Dean Straker et al and obtained Town and Country Planning permission for? With no parking? And no setback? Who approved these? The Minister of Town Planning Owen Arthur…

There is so much more.

That is why ITAL must be done properly!

Those who support what Mia did are jumping on a bandwagon.

Adrian, in particular, you know better because you read widely and are alert. How can you believe that a government can pass its own ITAL legislation, without consultation and without setting up the systems of inspection that are transparent etc.

I think the Dems have gone about it the right way. I have innate trust and faith in David Thompson.

Many things have been said about him in his long time in politics, but no one ever accused him of being corrupt. And why should be be? Does he need the money?

Let us repeat that Trinidad and Tobago which has a larger talent pool to draw from and has had so many problems with corruption is experiencing great difficulty recruiting competent and qualified citizens to serve in public office.

What is the reason? The have Integrity legislation. Currently it is being reviewed to ensure that it becomes a more effective document. Why should we rush headlong into implementing ITAL and create a worst system from what existed previously

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David, why have you accepted without question that Trinidad has had difficulties recruiting competent and qualified public servants, and furthermore that this is because they have Integrity Legislation?

Is it possible that it is difficult to recruit public servants in Trinidad because high flyers can get paid much more in industry? (I am only speculating here).

I thought that part of the argument in Trinidad was that disclosure of assets might make public officials more susceptible to kidnappers. However my understanding is that the declarations of assets, etc is NOT public information. (If they are, them someone tell me how much Patrick Manning is worth?) Would this be an issue in Barbados?

Isn’t it significant that this legislation was used in Trinidad to prosecute a former PM? That sends a very strong message.

two thirds majority my ass

There’s none so blind as he who will not see. Mia Motley has been a minister for 14 years. Her salary alone as minister, even with bad spending would still put her assets way past $3m. For Pete’s sake, do the Maths – you are an adult. What Mia and Owen needs to do is to be totally honest but then again, they cannot – it would surely cause a riot among the people when the populace realise that their families became poorer so that Mia and Owen could become and remain rich. Things get a little easier once you understand.

Mad boys set up a shop in town.. recall that song.

I support ITAL Mia and Owen have met the bar thus far only spoken about by the DLP, for what ever people may think of it, they have disclosed. Thompson has correctly stated that people want to know how much you entered with and not what you leave with. Members of the DLP Thompson included have entered and now run the government for 6mths+ and promise to have some form of ITAL no longer immediately but sometime in the future near end of year, early next year.. what would or could members of the party have gained in this time frame. The People do not know what members of the DLP have entered power with.

Marlon Samuels comes to mind, no cash was passed but the WIBC & ICC have correctly determined that he received some benefit even if non-financial.. free hotel room stay.. placed him in breach.

Hummm. Would say flights on a jet, loaned by a “friend” who receives positions on boards count as a breach under ITAL..?? Was it free, if not who paid and how much??

At the minimum the two top persons including Thompson on the DLP side should also declare their assets. The others can perhaps wait for however long until ITAL is drafted, debated and finally passed, but this example must be made.

After its passed All members including those that have submitted previously must provided updated information and swear it is true bla bla. If they are later found in breach deal with them.

In the future however I do believe that disclosures should be made to perhaps a shared committee of two including the GG and maybe the ombudsman, in a private.

We do not need to know, like no one else needs to know how much is in your bank a/c even the person that pays you. and we “the people”pay them.

Only when a breach is found would the specific information relating to the breach enter the public domain, as i guess it would be some sort of criminal breach, they would have to prove their innocence.

People love gossip not the truth it doesn’t sell papers, let the suggestions of dirt everyone is interested. If a man/woman says I have only a dollar when they know they can get some prision time if it is not so then let them suffer the result. But to sit and say I don’t believe you , particularly when I’ve not declared my own interests. says a lot about who you say you are and you supposed values. Mr Innis is not interested in that or so he said in the paper.

At the minimum the two top persons including Thompson on the DLP side should also declare their assets. Otherwise they should have nothing else to say and questions as to how much do they have, where do they get their money and importantly why can’t/don’t want to tell.

We have heard NOTHING about the DLP members finances. NOTHING. Yet people are what arguing that what Ms Mottley has submitted is incomplete? Don’t be so simple.. If nothing is forth coming the ones upon whom this had backfired will be the DLP who would have failed to live up to their promises.. isn’t that something that should concern us.

Lets not excuse what has gone before, but sure as hell don’t let it blind us to what we want going forward from our government. To keep their promises and act in the best interest of the country’s present and future.

That is all we can really want and truly need as a people.

Even her own members made the statement boy this thing like it backfire on us boy!!!!!

When we are ready for her it will not take the form of loose notes it will be by a formal reporting and checked method.

Not a lot said in your comment but more importantly what is said is the issue.

Of course you are right this can be seen as a PR stunt that BACKFIRED BADLY on mottley and arthur.

They cannot pull together bits and pieces of scrap paper with nothing numbers on it and expect people to take them or their numbers seriously.

The BLP may well score some political points on this, but how unsubstantiated declarations of assets helps governance is far from clear to me.

Quite frankly I find Owen’s declaration incredulous!

The key iss

Please tell me that I hear wrong.

It ain’t than complicated.

All 30 members of the House filed an income tax return by April 30th, 2008 didn’t they? Well we can start there. They can write to Inland Revenue and ask Inland Revenue to release their last income tax return for public inspection.

All those who have served more than one term can ask Inland Revenue to release all returns from the time they entered the House. I know that Inland can have those ready in one work day or less.

All 30 MP’s paid some debts last month, didn’t they? Then we know that they already have a statement of balance due. I know that my bank can email be a statement of what’s due on my mortgage 1/2 an hour after I request it. It ain’t rocket science.

I know that my mutual funds sends me a certificate once a year. I am sure that their’s does too. Well let’s see the most recent certificate and for those of you who have been in the House a long time, let’s see all of your certificates. I now that you or your accountant keeps them on hand.

My pension fund sends me a statement once a year. I have on hand all statements for the past 31 years, they occupy one slim brown $2.00 file. I know that our MP’s have theirs on hand too. Well let’s see them.

Land Tax sends me a statement of the value of my properties and the balances due each October. I know that our MP’s gets this valuation and tax demand notice too. I have mine on hand for the past 30 years. They occupy one slim $2 brown file. Well let’s see those.

All these documents can be ready by next week that time. Don’t try to fool us that it is “ambitious” or complicated. It isn’t.

The complicated stuff can be ready in 6 months and if in January the MP’s had been told to get them ready they would be ready by now. After all 6 months is almost up since we elected them.

And as for this business of releasing only her assets in Barbados. Who does Mia think she is fooling. We want to know about all assets. ALL. Those in the U.K. and the U.S. and Cayman, and Switzerland and ALL other places.

Otherwise we know that you all only trying to bull s@#t we.

It seem nothing the DLP do could satisfy you.

You find estwick should be more diplomatic at the QEH, you find the board at the sanitiation should resign,now you find that the bit of theatre by mia and arthur in putting an unsigned piece of paper out saying it is a declaration of assets is a master move..

You know if the 2 of them were politicians in a developed country they would be laughed to scorn and ripped to shreds?

Let’s face it whether you are a member of the blp or not a member – the BLP’s action has set back barbados at least 50 years.

This is an improvement in the Trini model, in that information gathered is more relevant, HOWEVER the side effect will be to deter capable potential leaders from public service.

We already have a situation where our best brains hide from the cut and trust of politics – to the national loss… now who will want all their, and their family’s business exposed?

…next thing you know Gline Clarke is the only one running…