While this discussion essentially focuses on our Politicians, who ‘…are only an extension of general society…’ our wider society, are also in a mess, either to a greater or lesser extent, morally, ethically, etc, etc., all of which emanate from our ‘SPIRITUAL’ condition, called ‘SIN’ from which absolutely none of us are exempt!

Let all of us hear from God’s Word, on the matter.

“The heart is DECEITFUL above ALL things, And DESPERATELY wicked; who can know it? (Only God). Jer. 17:9. emphasis added.

“But we are ALL like an unclean thing. And ALL our righteousness, (good works & deeds) are like FILTHY RAGS; We ALL fade as a leaf. And our iniquities, like a wind, have taken us away.’ (Isa. 64: 6). emphasis added.

Mankind, throughtout the world, are in the worst crisis of history, and this ironically, comes at the time when we have made the greatest progress in every area of endeavor, education, science, technology, etc, etc, BUT, we are still unable to find a cure for ‘SIN’ which CANNOT be educated away, or legislated away, because there is still ONLY one remedy for it, JESUS CHRIST, and His Atoning blood, which can only be appropriated by, sincere REPENTANCE to God our Father, and Faith and Trust in His Son, Christ Jesus; nonthing else will work.

“Unless the Lord build the house (nation), they labour in vain who build it (BLP or DLP!). Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psa. 127:1) emphasis added.

The worst economic/financial crisis in history, throughout the countries of the world, is unfolding daily, before our eyes and lives; this is essentially because of the greed, avariciousness, and corruption of the wealthy, who don’t care anything about the poor and destitute.

Be warned, Barbados, we are NOT exempt from the Righteous judgment of Almighty God, our turn is coming, IF, we don’t REPENT, all of us, as SIN knows no colour, class, nor creed.

This is no such thing as ‘poor’ sin, or ‘rich’ sin, ” For ALL have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) “For the wages (penalty) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23).

Once I used to say things that caused a conflict between my mind and me. NO MORE, it’s now all in unison.
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I used to just keep quiet and watch foolishness happen. That way I didn’t experience the conflict of which you speak.

… but I experienced a worse conflict.

I took me a while to get to the place you describe but all humans have it in them to get there too.

It is a great feeling.

With that said it sickens me to see the some of the respondents lashing out and calling some of our former leaders names, especially those calling Owen Arthur a ‘theif’.

I may be young but I was raised to respect people no matter what. These people worked hard for our country so respect what they did and leave your nasty biases out of it. You do not know the full story about any politician and their decisions so why not just keep your mouth shut and stop looking like an ingnorant fool.

It is a matter of trust.

Folks this is what I can tell you as fact. I happen to be a government worker under both parties and both parties ensure that people that supported their party got government work and then anyone else later. It happened under DLP government between 1986 – 1994 and it happened from 1994 – 2007 AND it will happen with this government as well.

Imagine we have people here cussing the BLP administration, it was the axis of evil YET Clico (Rayside), COW williams and Arthur Construction had work on the (cost overuns) highway. My point is that although there are some issues that would make you go hmmm (I am not suggesting that we should condone them), I think inherently our politicians want to help the country but if they find way to help us and themselves most of them will take it. I remember in 1986, we hailed the government as we are now as the saviours and then by 1994, we all wanted to castrate the Sandiford administration. And it will happen with this government too, just give it some time. The love affair will end in divorce.

Finally I think that the article that started this discussion was fairly well written and thought out, more than I can say for some of the subsequent posts, but it is one of the better discussions to have as Barbadians.

BC

The local stock market has traditionally not been greatlly impact on by external factors thats a fact. So I’d say now is the time to invest foriegn funds at home in a stable market. Small gains but no big losses really.

Coming into the market lloking only at the dividends is short sighted.. I think you should be looking at share price appreciation to sell, make profit and then reinvest wait again.. really 4-10c on every share is no real reason to get in the market I think.

But I’m no Financial Advisor

The offer of shares to the small man is junk, if he either wasn’t interested or couldn’t afford to buy at 1.80, he’s not going to now at $6.50. The middle class would try but can he ? with higher fuel, business, services, fee costs etc. They have been squeezed out of that market.. its over to the big boys then. Arrangements such as discounted share prices, tax deductions would have to be made to enable people to buy. Offer them to Credit unions.

In the lead up to Jan 15, I do not recall any marching to get a party out of power, I don’t recall large numbers being fired and sent home, I don’t recall the infamous 10% cut.. that was under the DLP. Under sandi and Thompson.

You and others appear to forget the nashing of teeth and riping of clothes during that period.

Where were the tears prior to Jan 15?

People like dirt and love to roll in it hence the current joy at the BLP loss and the pointing of fingers. the firing of people from positions (NOT those that are clearly political) to make way for your own chums, when these people have performed well in the interest of B’dos.

Like the blood thirsty romans you want the entertainment of blood spilled, not the reason nor the need.

Under the former Adminstration much good progress has happened in this country and to its people locally, regionally and internationally. Progress we can feel and see and yet much more that cannot be tangibly seen. Indeed as has happened in the much then hated Sandiford administration. But this is the nature of blood politics.

Mr Thompson has made a very good point.. the people want to know how much you entered gov’t with not how much you left with.. WE WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE MEMBERS OF THE DLP, the GOVERNMENT AND the OPPOSITION have NOW ENTERED GOVERMENT with.

Contracts are about to be signed, consultants are being appointed, Not a single member of the DLP has come forward. Shall they be given time to grab all they can? Shall they be given time to set up all those special accounts? Shall they be given time to appoint their own friends and family to key positions and get money and gov’t contracts?

Is this what we want as a people going forward?
Promises are a comfort to a fool, the new administration needs to be held to the promises which were made.. so we can avoid the mistakes made before and move this country and the people forward.

I think the PM is making a sound move, and my advice to any fellow Barbadians in the same position is to get out of the stock market…. fast, while you still can.

If you do liquidise your assets don’t leave it as cash in the bank, spend and invest wisely in goods that will have utility in the coming months.

Just my two cents.
I am not a Financial Advisor. IANAFA.
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I know a Financial Advisor fellow who says the same thing.

He leaves it up to the individual but plainly states there is no way he will put his money into shares in a Bajan company, … no way in hades.

BWWR,
Are you really serious about the above comment you made in respect to Sir Lloyd? Come on. Sir Lloyd might have done some things which Barbadians did not favour but to lump him with Owen Arthur and infer that he is rich and became so through dubious means is hypocritical.

If you do liquidise your assets don’t leave it as cash in the bank, spend and invest wisely in goods that will have utility in the coming months.

Just my two cents.
I am not a Financial Advisor. IANAFA.

The article by Yardbroom is just a lot of confused froth which contributes little to the issue of ITAL. The present Government has stated that it intends to institute such, the question is when and in what form it will take.

Please let us debate the issues in a way that would make the late and great Errol Barrow proud. Here is the relevant snippet from the budget debate by Prime Minister Thompson:

The Barbados Government owns a substantial number of shares in
both the Barbados National Bank and the Insurance Corporation of
Barbados, but in both companies, the Government is a minority
shareholder, and so is in no real position to direct the strategy of
either company.

At the same time, Government has been advised that the value of its
shareholding in those two companies is approximately $200 million
and that the rate of the cash dividend that Government receives on
an annual basis on these shares is less than the rate of interest that
Government pays on its borrowing.

Since these shares are no longer useful in determining the strategic
direction of either of these companies, Government has taken the
decision to offer these shares firstly to Barbadian individuals, the
National Insurance Board and local companies and then, if necessary,
to the current majority shareholders of the two companies, if
Barbadians do not take up all of the shares.

you are a brazen liar.

Our foreign reserves have never been higher. Our unemployment has never been lower. What large portions of land did the Government of Barbados sell? Why is Thompson going to sell the Government’s shares in BNB and ICB? Ministers being rich? Who and how much? Bring facts, you are on a blog anonymously so you need not fear being sued.

Did 15,000 marching up and down, because life was good?

The Dems don’t even send personal invitations to Sandiford to attend events at George Street, he has even complained about such!