Prime Minister of Barbados Hon David Thompson
Prime Minister David Thompson issued a ministerial statement in parliament today regarding the immigration issue. For some time now it has been apparent to sensible Barbadians that the national security of Barbados had become breached given the large undocumented number of immigrants living in Barbados. It was an election campaign issue and on assuming office Prime Minister David Thompson appointed a sub-committee of Cabinet of which he was Chairman to investigate and make recommendations to government to relieve the problem.
Barbados will deport illegal immigrants who do not seek to regularize their status under a new policy – see CANA Report.
BU agrees with the measured and humane manner which the Thompson led government has approached this issue. While it is easy to lobby to deport all illegal immigrants, there is an understanding that many of the illegal immigrants have been living in Barbados for so long that it would be inhuman to uproot those people summarily.
But here are a few BU concerns:
The proposed shake-up at the immigration Department i.e. the officers responsible for enforcing the immigration laws of Barbados MUST be implemented in a transparent manner. It is known around Barbados that many of our current officers now maintain harems given their godlike powers to determine if an illegal immigrant is ‘fingered’ or not. We should not forget those who use their influence to satisfy the rich and powerful by prostituting themselves for the almighty dollar.
The law must deal harshly with those corrupt immigration officers who use their powers for personal gain. Equally those employers all across our country who employ illegal immigrants should be made to feel the full weight of the law as well.
While the Prime Minister has made a step in the right direction as always the devil will be in the detail.
266 responses so far ↓
Anonymous // May 5, 2009 at 8:20 PM
David
I disagree with you that because someone has been in the country long illegally, they should not be uprooted.
For goodness sake even those persons who have acquired residency status in the USA and given a green card are deported back to their country of origin at the smallest infraction of the laws of the USA.
Barbados is a country of laws and persons should not feel that they can come in to this country break the law and then beg for mercy.
If so we will always be giving mercy.
No way no how.
We want maxine mcclean now back as Immigration minister to oversee this new policy.
Ecoanalyst // May 5, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Nothing will really change… just talk and more of the same…
Who is going to find and deport those who do not qualify? … the corrupt and horny immigration officers?
Give me a break!
Hopi // May 5, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Well, let me just pacify these damn silly bajans who voted thinking that I’d be any different from Owen. I’ll just swat the bugs with this little pacifier here…..”Barbados will deport illegal immigrants who do not seek to regularize their status under a new policy.” Now you see we did something, ya’ll can’t complain anymore. So shut to hell up!
Jay // May 5, 2009 at 9:38 PM
It seems like everytime Barbados has an immigration problem the first thing that is proposed so some form of amnesty,back in the ’90s it was the same thing under the BLP,how does this DLP Government intend to make THIS time any different ?
I find it so funny how Government can say by giving this amnesty “The longer you’ve evaded our immigration laws & broke our employment laws the better your chance at being given Immigrant status”,talk about bullsh*t.
With Unemployment in Barbados on the rise amongst Barbados citizens,how can Government even consider this.There are definitely some things that are needed to reform the immigration laws but not reward those who break the law in the first place.
I wonder when the day Bajan citizens will get their amnesty in the form of being able to get employment without having to worry about competition from abroad ?Not to mention I don’t see how this is fair to those who go to the Immigration Department & have kept their status up to date.We’re basically saying it is ok to break Barbados’ immigration & employment laws with this amnesty.
The Scout // May 6, 2009 at 7:28 AM
The new immigration laws are a move in the right direction but it must not stop there. I have posted my comments in the other article Topic Guyanese Welcome In Barbados Says Union Head Sir Roy Tratman. Any further comments made by me on this topic would be posted here.
David // May 6, 2009 at 7:37 AM
We want for the expected response from Guyana Consul Faria, Regional
Journalist Ricky Singh (who writes about all things Caribbean except
Guyana) et al. We should warn Consul Faria that Barbados is a
sovereign nation-first priority protect our borders and people.
Witch Doctor // May 6, 2009 at 7:37 AM
Look out for how good guyanese are and how we got family ties and the rest of it in the Sunday Sun…. i bet i will see that!!!
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Right now in the comments section of the starbrok newspaper under the article which is reproduced from the Nation,the guyanese who are commenting there with one exception are all cussing barbados for sending back the illegals and saying the most hateful things about Barbados.
It really amazes me that when guyanese are deported from all the other caricom countries;Antigua,Trinidad,St lucia,Grenada,St Maarteen etc not a whimper you will hear from Jagdeo and these guyanese.
When they are deported from Canada and the USA they have no problem with that,but oh no don’t let barbados try to enforce their immigration laws,then bajans and barbados are the worst thing ever.
Never mind that a lot of guyanese came here and made millions of guyanese dollars equivalent – in a short space of time.
Never mind that a lot of them came here and commmitted heinous crimes e.g. murders,the largest cocaine haul ever,prostituting themselves,trafficking their own people as whores and bullers and I can go on and on.
I hope that this government give the decent,honest immigration officers their support amd the authority to strictly enforce the law and that we don’t see any of these illegal persons getting any amnesty.
THEY BROKE THE LAW AND THEREFORE THEY MUST PAY.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Global Voices Online » Barbados: Illegal Immigrants // May 6, 2009 at 9:36 AM
[...] how effective this amnesty will be in tackling Barbados’ illegal immigrant problem”; Barbados Underground also has some concerns. Cancel this [...]
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Barbados provoking a Trade War and pressured sanctions:
The DLP does not know this, but the OECS is Barbados’ largest trading partner.
Let me put that another way.
The DLP does not know that the OECS is the only place on planet earth where Barbados has a trade surplus – it buys 52% of whatever we sell.
That is millions that help us to enjoy the quality of life we now enjoy.
Here is the catch!
Consistent with its Adolph Hitler Policy of Cleansing – the DLP deports – making thing bad for the governments of the OECS and they respond by deporting too.
In addition, they stop buying from us.
As a result, given the current weak economic management of the economy, things get much worst even more quickly.
The OECS has long been a unified body.
This calls for diplomacy and leadership.
Mia, Billie and Owen would know what to do in times like these.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Today’s Stabroek News – here is what is being said in Guyana
GuyanaSandHurst First (Decision in 08 Days) says:
May 6, 2009 at 6:26 am
Well its time Guyana start deporting Bajans and other nationals who are here illegally. Lets give them until May 31st to report or be “removed” them by November 31st!!! An eye for an eye. The only reason Guyanese go there to work is because of the money and most if not all of them want a better life which Guyana doesn’t offer to its citizen. Some people say the Bajans are lazy and they Guyanese are taking all their work. I would never go there to be treated like a third class citizen anyway.
………………………….
I told you so!!!
Guyana produces Rice and what else we need. Remember also, food and oil price will rise again!
Negroman // May 6, 2009 at 10:05 AM
The new immigration policy is a step in the right direction and I support very much what the Prime Minister said.
Hopi & Jay I respect,support & agree with almost all of the comments posted by both of you.However I slightly disagree on this occasion The nature & complexities of the immigration mess this administration inherited actually bind the hands of the Prime Minister.The situation was chaotic and all type of scheming & corrupt practises were taking place.There are some illegals like many living in the USA,Canada or any way where in the world who have made a tremendous contribution to further development of this country.That is a fact that cannot be deny.In this context I believe the PM disd reasonably well in extending amnesty fo those he consider to have made or a re making a positive contribution to the development of Barbados.\
Every one knows that my views that I care only about Black People and I have no real problems with Black Caribbean -non-nationals gaining immigrant status in Barbados.We need more Black people in Barbados to continue to maintain the dominance of the Blacks in Barbados.I do not want any detestable,wicked,scheming Indo-Guyanese benefiting from the amnesty even though a few might benefit.If that is so we will keep a lid on them so that group wil never rise to position to rival us Blacks.That is my major concern.
This new immigration policy and many of theproposals in it thanks must be given to many of the BU family.Special thanks must be given to JC,Hopi,Scout,Carson Cadogan,Bonny Peppa,Pat Adrian Hinds and the others. A special thank you must go to Jay for her wonderful contributions & suggestions.JC & Your Truly directed some of the key persons in the government & also members of Democratic Labour Party to this blog to get the opinions of Barbadians on this immigration issue.I can honestly say many of the opinions posted on this blog were taken into consideration when this new immigration policy was being worked on.
David & BU a hearty congratulations to you for your perseverance in keeping this issue on the front burner.The efforts of BU did not go unnoticed
This is only the beginning and we must be ever vigilant.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Sorry, here is the link, read for yourself:
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/news/local/05/06/barbados-cracking-down-on-illegals/#comments
Pure Bajan // May 6, 2009 at 10:27 AM
If the Immigration is looking for people to help send the Guyanese packing, I am offering my serives….according to my freind above good ridance to bad rubbish…..
It is about time something is done…not only the guyanese but all the non-nationals who doesnt play a part in keeping up this economy….o9nly pulling it down with all their illegal activity…whether it be drugs and especially prostitution….killin all o’ we
PS no pay necessary…lol
Royalrumble // May 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM
This is a backward policy that has no place in a new world order where movement of people around the world has been escalating at a phenomenal rate.
What are the social and political benefits to be derived from such a policy, indeed what were the social and political fallouts from the previous policy?
Thompson is merely trying to pamper to the wishes of a few selfish shortsighted Barbadians who feel that Barbados are for Barbadians alone. Because of his failure to constructively do something about this country’s slipping economic fortunes, he is doing this to make it look as if he is doing something.
Owen Arthur and the BLP managed this country, raised the standard of living of every Barbadian and never had to resort to such hate tactics and political trivia. With all the non-nationals around this country was able to run 6% unemployment and enjoyed a record levels of foreign reserves. Barbadians traveled the region and the globe without fear of personal attack. This policy will now cause other countries to enforce the same hate policy towards Barbadians. It is the beginning of the end of Caricom.
The Caribbean is one social and economic space. Our people should be allowed live and realize their dreams within this space. If Europe for whose region is replete with wars and social unrest, can develop their Union to the benefit of their people then why can’t one of the oldest civilizations do the same?
I take note that the hate policy only applies to Caribbean nationals. In other words if your are from a so-called developed nation your are welcomed to live and breathed Caribbeanism but if you live in the Caribbean you must live with the policy “ever so welcomed wait for a call” If we cannot live with our own then who can we live with.
Such a policy will now force up labour cost in the construction industry but worse of all it will force other Caribbean countries to reject Barbadians at the point of entry in their country. What if the developed world had treated our people the same way we now seek to treat Caribbean nationals when our people moved to their countries back in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s in search of prosperity and found it. Even in the early 1990’s when the DLP wrecked this economy, Barbadians had to flee to the Canada, USA, England and other countries in search of opportunities to sustain their families.
We must never feel that we would not be in that economic position again. Whatever happened to the good old policy “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?
I am in agreement with academics in the region, Dr. Girvan and Dr. Joseph, to name a few who have strongly suggested that Thompson lacks the intellectual capacity to lead the region. This global economic crisis has provided a unique opportunity to pull this region together. We should at this time be pushing for the involvement of countries like Suriname, Cuba, Belize, Guyana, Brazil and others to live out the spirit of the Treaty of Chaguaramas with respect to mutual co-operation in Agriculture (food security) trade and industry, medicine etc. Thompson will miss his chance to leave a legacy or to simply stamp his Prime Ministerialship into the history books of Barbados and the region. The path of ignoble ease for which he has chosen will earn him nothing more than the distinction as the great political misfit.
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Royalrumble
The people have spoken and Thompson knew if he hadn’t done something about the very large number of illegals squatting and poisoining the water supply,engaging in prostitution,and bringing in drugs then he Thompson would have experienced a wave of retaliation from angry bajans.
Owen arthur is the architect of this illegal immigrants chaos and corruption and he will forever be remembered and hated for it.
The immigration officers who he humiliated by bringing in guyanese officers to oversee what they did will not remember him kindly ever.
This is the first time that a sovereign country put its national security at risk by giving a foreign rogue,failed state like Guyana the authority to question the decision of its border security officials ie the immigration officers.
Owen will soon wish he was never prime minister,he ain’t see nothing yet.
Carson C. Cadogan // May 6, 2009 at 12:43 PM
DARK KNIGHT
Tell me if I have right.
The OECS will only purchase our goods if allow them to infiltrate our borders with myriads of illegal aliens?
If I have it right then this sounds like blackmail to me. Does the OECS have the same nice arrangement with Canada, America, England, France, Germany etc. or are we Bajans just lucky?
Carson C. Cadogan // May 6, 2009 at 12:45 PM
DARK KNIGHT
Simple // May 6, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Why are we so bitter? Time for healing let us ask the church to intercede for us and seek God’s guidance.
The summit of the Americas was a big hype for the people of the Caribbean. Let’s continue in a spirit of brotherhood and go forward as a nation.
‘Time longer than twine.’
Carson C. Cadogan // May 6, 2009 at 1:08 PM
I support the DLP Govt. 100%.
This runaway illegal entry of people into Barbados which was encouraged by the Barbados Labour Party was the main reason I canvassed tirelessly in Barbados for their removal from office.
Jay // May 6, 2009 at 1:38 PM
@Darkknight,What a ridiculous excuse,from since when is Guyana apart of the OECS ?
Although any immigration enforcement program may affect some nationals of OECS descent,I think the leaders of the OECS would understand since they are also facing the same problems.St. Lucia & Antigua are currently cracking down on illegal immigration in their countries & I commend them for that.Guyana is having its issues with illegal immigration from Brazil,but don’t appear to think of it too seriously.The citizens of Barbados are quite different in that we welcome all to our shores for a short stay,but should that turn into a long-term event Barbados citizens will notice & will want to know what added benefit you can bring to the country.Last time I checked,most economic migrants without a degree wouldn’t be able to add to Barbados’ GDP in any significant way.
@Negroman,I’m a he,lol.Although I don’t agree with the immigration amnesty if it is in the national interest over time I will try to accept it as long as the enforcement effort is R E A L.A good example is IF the illegal migrant has their own business & is employing at least 2 Bajan citizens long-term with fair wages.
I’m also concerned about short term marriages of convenience & trafficking of nationals to Barbados’ shores.Now that the P.M has let the cat out of the bag I think the Immigration Department should be on high alert for marriages of convenience in the short-term considering illegal immigrants will have until Dec. 1 st to report to the Immigration Dept..I also hope that Human trafficking is taken more seriously at Barbados’ port & GAIA before the situation truly gets out of hand with severe penalties.Giving victims temporary status in the country until successful prosecution would work.There was a suggestion in the Nation newspaper concerning that maybe the Immigration dept should have access to NIS records since some who overstay on their old work permits use them to pay into the system.This would be a good way at tracking down businesses who hire illegal immigrants with a fine of $10,000 per illegal.Finally,I believe it should be mandatory that schools & hospitals report any suspected illegal immigrants to the Immigration Dept.
These other suggestions would seriously put a damper on anyone thinking of overstaying their time.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Carson C. Cadogan // May 6, 2009 at 12:43 pm
DARK KNIGHT
Tell me if I have right.
The OECS will only purchase our goods if allow them to infiltrate our borders with myriads of illegal aliens?
………………………….
Even with Swine Flu, the US is not closing the border with Mexico. Why?
General Lee // May 6, 2009 at 2:44 PM
So basically the position is that if you have overstayed your permit for eight or more years, you can go the immigration department and apply for amnesty.
What happens if the above criteria is met but the illegal immigrant is currently unemployed?
How would you perform a background check if the applicant has no valid identification?
If the Immigration department cannot presently manage the number of illegal immigrants in the country, how will they cope when the undocumented go underground?
Illegal immigrants are aided and abetted daily by ordinary Bajans and Barbadian citizens, they are employed by Barbadian and Multi-National companies.
Until there is a real desire to deal with illegal immigration then this is just more pretty talk from politicians.
Hopi // May 5, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Keep it real.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 2:47 PM
You are falling for the trap.
Look at the ease at which you now discuss “bulling” religion and in the past few days – hanging, defamation and putting out Guyanese.
All as a distraction tactic and to cushion the impact of the upcoming budget.
Typical trademark DLP hogwash.
Not long ago it was buying back BNB shares which cost US$600 million.
If you were to add that to a deficit of $745 million, you would get a whopping $1.945 billion.
This would more than break the Treasury.
But to hide its political imcompetence and intellectual weakness, the DLP engages in these types of gimmicks.
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 3:01 PM
David
Have a read at the comments section on the starbrok news on the article about the immigration policy.
Norman faria is commenting there under the name ‘Reddy in Barbados’.
I suppose he is a red man.
He seems very resigned to the fact that guyanese will be returning to GT by the plane loads.
Ha,ha,ha.
You should hear him at the end of the post; why,why why,sob,sob,sob.
LOL.
de gap // May 6, 2009 at 3:09 PM
“David Thompson’s comedy of errors”
The number of black and coolie illegals are “unacceptably high, increasingly difficult to control and posed potentially negative socio-economic challenges” and the answer is to give amnesty? Apparently, the illegal Anglo Saxons are not difficult to control and provide only positive socio-economic benefits. They lighten or whiten the race I guess.
If the number illegals of all shades are “unacceptably high”, they need to be identified, repatriated, and visa restrictions need to be imposed. Allowing people to stay in the country who pose “negative socio-economic challenges”, is the very essence of stupidity. Repatriating illegals who are here without closing the front door is exactly the kind of comprehensive immigration policy we might expect in a comedy of errors.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Of Thompson’s Legacy and Childishness:
David Thompson’ legacy – like that of Erskine Sandiford before him – will be that of yet another DLP Prime Minister who created economic hardship for the people of Barbados.
David Thompson will also be regarded as the man who won a government but created a mess, and therefore resorted to using gimmicks like buying back BNB shares; hanging and putting out Guyanese – to distract Barbadians.
Little wonder that Owen Arthur described Thompson in the recent Estimates – as a man who jumped from the 60th floor of a building and when he was passing the 20th floor – was heard to say – “so far so good.”
Had not for Guyanese in Barbados – what would Thompson do to hide his incompetence?
Guyanese are being used as a scapegoat and as a distraction tactic for childish reasons.
All this, just because Regional Heads did not pick David Thompson to lead them in talks – when they meet with President Obama later this year.
Negroman // May 6, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Jay my apologies
There is a comprehensive new immigration policy that is coming.It deals with marriages of convenience.I do not want to say much on it,but suffice it to say those type of marriages will not be allow to occur.Marriages by non-nationals to Barbadians will have to stand the test of time.Those marriages will have to be in existence for number of years before any thought will be given to granting citizenship to the partners.The presence situation of only a year will be thing of the past.
There are a lot of other interesting areas in the new immigration policy that should bring about effective controls of illegal immigrants if effectively impose by personnel mandated to carry out those tasks.
What I like about this amnesty arrangement is the idea that not many illegal non-nationals will actually benefit from the amnesty.I am in a position to tell everyone that less than 1500 or so will actually benefit.The simple reason that a vast amount of the non-nationals arrive after the cut off period that is in the period between 2000 & 2006 with the peak being the period 2004-2006 during the build up to Cricket World Cup.I know what I am talking about remember I am the person that put the information out there that amnesty was coming.
The illegal immigration problem can be control if the measures outlined by the Prime Minister & the new measures in the new immigration policy are carry out effectively by the personnel responsible for that task.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Here is something to note:
The structure of the Prime Minister’s statement was unfortunate, as it gave the distinct impression that the Barbados Government is only concerned with the illegal immigrants in Barbados from Caribbean countries but not those who are here from outside of the region, that is from Europe and North America.
This action coming on the heels of the Prime Minister’s statement in Guyana of: “Ever so welcome, wait for a call” and the draconoian way in which many Caricom immigrants have been unceremoniously removed from Barbados over the last year will undoubtedly have implications for Barbadians working and moving in the wider region.
The stated policy of the Barbados Customs Department to remove the green line at the airport for all regional flights compounds the situation.
Hopi // May 6, 2009 at 4:24 PM
@Negroman……So you’re the man! Just stay the course and never get weary in well doing. In India today there are a group of people that are so ostracized in that society. They call them the “Untouchables.” They are relegated to the lowest status in that society. Guess what…. they are black like you and I.
@General Lee…..Aye..Aye. Sir!
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Childish ways:
Professor Girvan and Dr. Joseph are right!
It is not the Guyanese that is the problem – but Thompson’s weak Leadership, especially given that he “HAD” lead responsibility for the CSME.
I said “HAD” because Regional Heads recently selected the Guyana President to lead them in talks when they meet President Obama later this year.
Still, Prime Minister Thompson must show leadership and ensure the urgent settlement of the long-awaited “Protocol on Contingent Rights” that will settle what benefits Caricom citizens will access, if they live in another Caricom country.
It is the absence of clarity and certainty to this issue, Barbadians will continue to be fearful that persons from another country are coming to deplete the socio-economic benefits available, even if these persons are paying taxes that contribute to the provision of the same services.
Europe has been able to settle this difficult issue and so can we in the Region – with the appropriate agreement and providing that David Thompson was not so childish and embarrassingly weak as a leader.
David Thompson opts to deport Guyanese – just because Regional Heads selected the Guyana President and not him – to be the lead spokesman, when they meet President Obama.
Fairplay // May 6, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Dark Knight
This is not about David Thompson. Barbadians were very upset with the BLP and the policy of allowing a free for all entry of mostly Guyanese nationals. They voted the BLP out.
If David Thompson does not listen to the majority of his people he would also be voted out. To me, he is listening and trying to deal with all of the CSME nonsense while keeping Barbados as a civilized country.
CSME will never work, because Barbados seems to be the only country that follows the rules.
Barbadians are the worst persons because of their standard of living. The other countries are jealous of Barbados.
It is ironic that the other islands and countries have far more natural resources but are poorly managed.
Please don’t blame Bajans.
Dark Knight // May 6, 2009 at 4:52 PM
@ Fairplay
Madame!
Why are Barbadians not being told that the quality of life they enjoy is significantly contributed to by our interaction with the Region?
Are you aware that 52% of our exports go to Caricom countries and that 20% of our tourists (1 in ever 5) come from Caricom countries while many of our enterprises, both large and small – invest in the region as their first option for investment outside of Barbadian shores?
Friend!
Our only hope to sustain our quality of life and our economic development without the constraint of small size – is dependent on our ability to do business, sell our services, trade and invest within the Caribbean Region.
In fact, Barbadian prosperity cannot be guaranteed by Barbadian labour and Barbadian capital alone.
These are the things that the DLP should be telling you, but is not.
There therefore has to be a reason why?
The DLP is trying to distract your attention away from the poor state of the Economy and the mess is has and continues to create daily.
Think people. Wake up Barbadians!!!!
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Dark knight
Yuh like a friggin stuck record.
Why yuh don’t go and piss on yuhself yuh idiot.
Jackie // May 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Bloggers,
“Dark Knight” is writing directly from the Leader of the Opposition’s office. How do I know this?
An extract of the Statement by the Leader of the Opposition is carried 6 posts above this one by Dark Knight. It was posted two hours before the Statement was officially released to the media.
This is what the Leader of the Opposition has come to in Barbados. Those guys just don’t get it. Barbadians are thinking and they realise that God intervened in this country in early 2008.
Thank you, Father.
Scare-mongering, insults, abuse, spreading of falsehoods should never be the tools of a potential leader.
Ms. Mottley is failing us.
Jay // May 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
@Dark knight,actually what you’re saying sounds more like a ploy than fact.
I honestly believe this whole problem of illegal immigration was actually highlighted quite vividly by the opposition.The comments on this blog particularly were key,imo.Many of them derogatory against Barbados & its Citizens while the taxpayers have to foot the bill for those who illegally reside,whether it comes to Education,healthcare & our other social services is a HUGE insult.
Imo,it isn’t really all about economics but also includes the possible disruption of the peace that is in Barbados.I have seen numerous comments here saying we’re “taking over” or “You can’t stop the influx”.This is why many here on BU say it is a “sovereignty issue”.This is why I think anything that you or anyone else says concerning pro-illegal immigration will most likely fall on deaf ears.
The Scout // May 6, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Dark Knight
What do you want bajans to do, open their homes to who so-ever will region citizens come and live? Barbados for many years have been welcoming people from the region here. Some of them stayed, others went back but over the last decade, there has been a vast influx of illegals in Barbados and it is causing difficulties on the middle and lower class bajans especially. It is because Owen was such a strong leader that he was voted out, furthermore, I’m glad of the statement Mia made this evening, this would condemn her to NEVER becoming P.M of this country. Is Barbados the only Caricom country to deal with illegal guyanese in recent times? While I am not in favor with the amnesty, i accept it but we must now protect our borders and people by enforcing the new immigration law.
The Scout // May 6, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Thanks to ALL those patriotic bajans especially my friend Negro Man and a special thanks to BU for keeping this in the front burner. Now I feel that my ancestors’ work was not in vain. I want to remind all you sympathisers that the vast majority of Caricom citizens either disliked or envied bajans before now so there is no love lost. If protect our borders and people makes us a hated people then where was the love and brotherhood? I say, it was NEVER there
Veritas // May 6, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Scout, I think you are right on this. I believe that Mia’s statement is ill-timed and out of sync with the feelings of Barbadians. That the DLP is tackling this issue and has thought and is thinking it through, as Negroman suggests, is the correct approach.
Truth to tell, it couldn’t suit me better because I don’t support Mia or her party. But I often wonder what Mia is trying to prove.
Her speech to the Kt. Kitts opposition is being circulated – not in support – but pointing to her lack of political savvy, sexiness (intellectually) and gravitas.
Listening to part of it, I realised that Mia is still “winging” it without a consistent message, plan or vision. Opposition Leaders do not get kudos for past performance!
Barbados is the poorer.
Pat // May 6, 2009 at 6:33 PM
@ Dark Knight
Go have a good cry. It must be hard to see all the hard work you did (letting in all those illegal Guyanese) come to naught. boo,hoo,hoo.
The Scout // May 6, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Dark Knight
It is no surprise that you &Co are so supportive of Jagdeo but when the Caricom leaders could chose a dictator like Jagdeo to represent them, then the entire Caricom family will be dobbed with the same brush. it is time the leaders tell Jagdeo to get his act together or step down from office or Guyana step out of the Caricom agreement.
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Scout,Veritas & Jackie
The BLP and their supporters are pure bred jackasses.
Just so that they can score political point we have that blind man Linton arguing on the call in programme this evening that he finds that the stipulation put back by government is too harsh in the giving of this amnesty.
That the government is asking for too much conditions.
He is arguing that all children born here are citizens and if a child parent cannot be found then the barbadian government has to take in that child and give it citizenship .
You see this shite.
People listen carefully to how the blp politicians are trying to give the guyanese people ideas how to go around the law and to work against our country.
Listen to what mia mottley said this evening about illegal persons and businesses.
But I got news for them the government just waiting for them.David thompson smarter than a lot of them think and that is why he set up that amnesty tight,tight so.
Like Scout said Mia,Owen,Dale Masrshall,Rawle eastmond,billie ,iller and all the other BLP politicians should be voted out because every one of them has stood up in parliament and argue for the illegals to stay.
These BLP politicians are anti Barbados and there is no way that any bajan should want them to be their representative.
THE BLP MUST NEVER SEE THE CORRIDORS OF POWER EVER AGAIN.
Carson C. Cadogan // May 6, 2009 at 8:53 PM
DARK KNIGHT
The fact of the matter is, there are too many Guyanese in Barbados thanks to the short sightedness of the Barbados Labour Party.
We Bajans are sick and fed up with them and we want them out sooner rather than later. The first step towards achieving that goal was to remove the Barbados Labour Party from office. They were the cause of the problem in the first place. Now we will deal with the thirty thousand or more Guyanese.
Something must be left in Barbados for my Bajan children and Bajan Granchildren not for Guyanese.
Negroman // May 6, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Scout,Hopi,JC,Jay & the rest
Thanks for for the support.In my first posting I made special references to all of you for the excellent submissions that were made.I will repeat the suggestions by you all helped determined the policy that was enunciated by Prime Minister David Thompson.Prime Minister David Thompson was and is still under extreme pressure from the reactionary forces in Barbados to give in to their demands.
The battle has not yet been won.We must now fight.David Thompson now needs the support of all true patriotic and loyal Barbadians.If he does not receive that support the possibility exists that the measures outline in his speech on this matter could be frustrated.That is why I will repeat again & again we must ever be vigilant.
David & BU please keep this immigration issue as the flag ship issue and monitor the progress of the enforcement of the policy.
Mia Mottley & her cohorts will try ever thing possible to frustrate the government’s efforts.We must never allow that to happen.
I agreed with Anonymous 6.56 pm the corrupt Barbados Labour Party should never hold the reigns of power in Barbados ever again.This country should be a one party state.That is Democratic Labour Party country.
Scum bag Owen Arthur & company good riddance.
Unkempt Norma Faria you could never scare this Negroman in Barbados.I await my date in court with you.I will always say I see 1 colour people and that is Black People.I care nothing about Indians,Chinese or White People and I have a passionate dislike for the Indo-Guyanese.Put me in court for stating that this Negroman hates Indo-Guyanese with a passion that cannot be explain.
Norma Faria go rot in hell yuh musty unkempt jerk.
Fairplay // May 6, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Dark Knight
I am an independent thinking Barbadian. This country spent too much money on education to allow your shallow arguments to stand.
If your leader was so strong why was there no progress with the CSME. Why would the other countries not join the CCJ.
Your government did some good things while in office for 14 years but you also wasted real money also, for example Gems project, Greenland and the extra costs at the new prison.
The DLP took office when things were slowing down in the world’s economic activities and it got worst. The mighty USA is in a mess what do you expect of little Barbados. By the way Barbadians are still living it up like there is no problem.
Right thinking persons know that there are too many illegal immigrants in Barbados and it must be controlled.
The BLP is pandering to them because they mostly voted for the BLP in the last election. If all right thinking Barbadians take this as a clue then they should not support the BLP in any election with that sort of policy.
Dark Knight you then will remain a cry baby for the next ten years.
The Scout // May 6, 2009 at 10:45 PM
It is now being manifested that had the BLP come to power again in Barbados at the last elections, that party was ready to sell Barbados out to Jagdeo and them. I’m sooooooo glad that my vote helped sweep them out of office. Mia, I would rather sell snowcones in hell than to live in Barbados if you every become Prime Minister. You and the BLP don’t have Barbados at heart, it is only what all of you can get to full your pockets. It would be snowing in hell the day you become P.M, so sweetheart just wait for that day to come and take along your winter coat the day you arrive down below.
JC // May 6, 2009 at 11:28 PM
@Scout
You aint easy.
@ Negroman
You were right on the ball!
J // May 7, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Carson C. Cadogan, May 6th at 8:53 p.m. wrote “Something must be left in Barbados for my Bajan children and Bajan Granchildren”
How do you know that your grandchildren will be Bajans and will remain Bajans?
Are Grantley Adams’ grandchildren good loyal and dedicated Bajans?
Are Erroll Barrow’s grandchildren good, loyal and dedicated Bajans?
Are Tom Adams’ grandchildren good loyal and dedicated Bajans?
Are Garry Sobers’ grandchildren good loyal and dedicated Bajans?
Are Hugh Springer’s grandchildren good loyal and dedicated Bajans?
The truth is that none of us have control of who or what our grandchildren will be.
Some of the grandchildren of these reviled Guyanese immigrants will be better, more loyal and more dedicated Bajans that some of the grandchildren of our national heroes and past and present policy makers.
Some of the grandchildren of these Guyanese immigrants will be better, more loyal and more dedicated Bajans than David Thompson’s grandchildren.
Policy should be based on REASON.
Carson C. Cadogan // May 7, 2009 at 8:02 AM
There are more Guyanese in Barbados now than the Giant African snails and we are trying to get rid of them.
Anonymous // May 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM
So we must allow everyone the gyanese included to stay because you never know our grandchildren might be from one of the non nationals and of course you know they may be a better bajan than if they had come from bajan stock.
Now if only the prime minister could only use some of this brilliant reasoning and make public policy on this deduction.
Whew!
Anonymous // May 7, 2009 at 8:46 AM
To Fairplay: How could illegal immigrants vote for anybody in the last election?
Andrew // May 7, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Annonymous
How could Illegal immigrants vote?
you mean you didn’t hear about all the fake ID cards that were being passed around in the Farm, among other places, to keep certain people in power??
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Anonymous // May 6, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Dark knight
Yuh like a friggin stuck record.
Why yuh don’t go and piss on yuhself yuh idiot.
………………………….
Who is this purporting to be Anonymous?
The Anonymous who post a few weeks ago was measured, intelligent and knowledgeable.
He/She was polished and engaged in substance.
He/she was sound on tourism policy and other matters of public importance.
Now, this apparent whippersnapper!
his illbred, uncultured, miscreant – does great disservice to previous post from Anonymous.
Please, choose another name.
JC // May 7, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Some of the grandchildren of these Guyanese immigrants will be better, more loyal and more dedicated Bajans than David Thompson’s grandchildren.
Policy should be based on REASON.
@ J when you say by ‘Reason’ please explain.
JC // May 7, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Listen to the CBC BU family.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 10:02 AM
DLP Failing Barbados Badly, But not surprisingly:
It is insanity to do the same thing twice and hope for a different result.
The DLP created a serious “MESS” in 1991-1994 and a few people feel it would some how – do something different on this occasion.
If there is one piece of news that ought to spread across Barbados today – it has to be the astronomical decline in the Foreign Reserves of this country and the fact that the DLP triggered a meltdown of the Barbados economy.
It should therefore be of great concern to all patrioctic Barbadians that the BLP left the Foreign Reserves in 2007 increasing by more than $200 million.
Now what!
Would you believe that in 14 years, the BLP increased the debt by $2.4 billion (with a lot to show) but – having criticised the national debt when in Opposition – in a mere 14 months, the DLP increased our national debt by $1.4 billion – and with nothing to show?
Here are some other serious issues confronting Barbados, which is at the heart of the “MESS” created by the DLP in just 14 months:
1. The cost of living doubled in 2008 over 2007.
2. Unemployment increase by some 12 per cent moving to just about 8% in Barbados.
3. The Nation Debt increased by some $900 million in the last 14 months.
4. The External Current Account deficit down to the end of September -worsened by $262 million.
5. There was a smaller Capital Account Surplus in 2008 than it was in 2007 by over $223 million.
6. Private Capital Inflows in this country reduced to $409 million from a high of $920 for the first nine months of 2008.”
7. Worst of all – is that the International Reserves in Barbados declined under Thompson by over $700 milling in nine months.
Since 2008 the reserves increased in the first quarter of the year to $2.7 billion.
But then they fell in the last nine months of 2008 from $2.7 billion to $1,990 million or by over $700 million.
Now, this is what all caring and patriotic Barbadians should really be concerned about.
Not the attempt by one confused voice: The new Anonymous; Jackie; Veritas alias, Wishing In Vain, a.k.a hartley “the Klown” henry – to have hanging; defamation and putting out Guyanese – serve as a distraction tactic.
JC // May 7, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Dark Knight cuddear.
You hear how the lambast your leader ……..
cud dear! TRAITOR!!!!!
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 10:50 AM
@ JC
The only question that is important to patriotic and caring Barbadians is – how will Prime Minister Thompson finance his deficit of $745 million?
Why did he introduce Estimates that are “UNIMPLEMENTABLE” because they cannot be financed?
Will he cut the Supplies Vote to Ministries?
Will Barbadians have to take their soap, toothpaste, toilet paper and towels to the QEH?
Will he implement another wages freeze?
Will he send home people again?
Will he cut the Vote of the Social Ministries some more?
Will he raise more taxes?
Will Barbadians to asked to pay more for gas and diesel and will there be a toll tax?
How will Mr. Thompson finance his $745 million deficit?
Will he stop the $12 million Free Bus Rides?
Will he stop the Constituency Councils $6 million “fatted calf programme?
Or – the Camp Programme, which is an open-ended; rolling basis; blank cheque initiative – where the cost to taxpayers is not known?
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 10:57 AM
CCC this is why you should vote for people who have similar view points as you do on serious matters such as Immigration. As a bajan registered elector who is against illegal immigration, on reading Mia Mottley’s comments on page 5 in todays advocate as contained in the article titled “Mottley “wary” about PM statement” why would one even concider her or her party at election time? chuspe
However I must say the the timing of Thompson’s comments when taken with those of his political consultant Hartley Henry as delivered via his weekly article UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: ‘Opposition Madness’
4/23/2009. These comments by Thompson has the potential to overshadow the Budget, and in particular, Mia’s LOTO response which she has been gearing up for.
Also on page 2 of the Advocate the article title “Defamation Could Change” is step in the right direction. No one has benefited more from libel threats than the Last Prime Minister and his cabinet. He said as much when declaring his “assets”. We all know that Mia’s rise or is it swelling??? can be link to the fear that she may have cultivated in Bajans over the years. Is it Time to end this madness?
Mia, of late, lack to be “festivus” (mekking noise), was said to, not be in response to my held view that a noisey LOTO helps the current GOB more than themselves, but that she was in preparation for the Budget. Timing is everthing they say.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 11:04 AM
David Thompson has placed a “gag order on the economy” by using “hanging,” “deportation” and “defamation” as distratction tactics.
David Thompson is weak on the economy so he is trying to downplay the fact those more than 3000 people lost their jobs due to his poor judgment and bad decisions.
David Thompson is failing on his promise of: reducing cost of living, so he tries to get Barbadians to talk about Guyanese and hanging, as a distraction tactic.
This is not leadership, but weakness
Anonymous // May 7, 2009 at 11:24 AM
90% of bajans support the move by the prime minister.
The BLP politicians and their leader Mia in bare trouble because they will not see power for a long,long time.
JC // May 7, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I agree anon!
AH nice reading your comments.
Haven’t read your biting comments in a long time.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Anonymous // May 7, 2009 at 11:24 am
90% of bajans support the move by the prime minister.
The BLP politicians and their leader Mia in bare trouble because they will not see power for a long,long time.
——————————–
Did you not see the centre page of the Nation newspaper?
Of eight people polled, none are in favour with Thompson’s position but all are in favour of the position being taken by the Opposition Leader and the BLP.
The persons polled range in age from 32 to 67.
The simple point I am trying to make is that based on the evident (cenrtre page today’s Nation Newspaper) the young and old are “at one” with the BLP and Opposition Leader Mia Mottley on this issue.
But Anomymous!
Are you referring to the Poll that shows the DLP loosing six seats in St. Michael and three in Christ Church?
The numbers you and the DLP polled – did it include the over 3,000 who lost their jobs since January 15, 2008?
Does it include those who are struggling from the cost of living that has doubled since january 15, 2009?
Did you conduct your poll among those who are struggling to cope with the price gouging by the DLP on petroleum products and land tax?
Anomymous – you LIE!
I understand your desperation.
The OECS and CARICOM could retaliate with sanctions and you are worried. Like the Opposition Leader, patriotic Barbadians are concerned about a possible “back-lash.”
It is clear that David Thompson was speaking for himself and his Cabinet – and that Barbadians do not share his views on Immigration.
Again, it is clear that the DLP is not in-tune with the Barbadian reality.
The question for you to consider is, with unemployment skyrocketing within the construction sector – will Thompson now put out all CHINESE workers?
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Dark Knight why don’t you put up the link to the article so that the BU family can READ for themselves? I think they would hardly agree with your assessment. lol!
Oh what the heck. The 0pinions of those Bajans are more in favour with the PM than not. It can be said, and with lots of evidence that the former government legislated often without the confidence of Bajans, and on may issues simply ignored issues that concern the Majority.
So folks read for yourself what the article says.
http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/The-people-on-non-nationals-copy-for-web
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 12:47 PM
@ Adrian
Well Sir,
Why did the DLP not facilitate public debate on whether Barbados should abolish the mandatory death penalty?
All the talk about Constituency Councils giving Barbadians a say and yet – not a say on whether something as important as whether the mandatory death penalty, should be abolished.
Why is the DLP disregarding pg 48 of the its own Manifesto?
Talk about good governance!
Did the DLP not say that good governance is:
“participatory,
consensus oriented,
accountable to the electorate,
transparent in all decision-making,
responsive to the needs of voters,
effective and efficient,
eqitable and inclusive and
follows the rule of law?”
What was this matter agreeto by stealth, especially when the DLP promised that, “the people would be kept informed of what the government is doing on their behalf?”
And the DLP has the nerve to tell “somebody” that:
“the DLP administration’s attitude to accountability will be based on the understanding that as servants and representatives of the peolle there can be no secrets or matters to be hidden from the population.”
Then why the “secret deal – the stealth,” as regards – agreeing to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty without consulting the PEOPLE?
Where is the REFERENDUM?
JC // May 7, 2009 at 12:53 PM
STUPES …
JC // May 7, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Dark Knight I listened to VOB’s news and EVERY ONE agreed with the PMS position INCLUDING a VINCENTIAN WOMAN….
WHY YA ALL DONT CHECK FOR BAJANS DOH!!!!
I AINT VOTING FOR YOU ALL ATALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Newcomer // May 7, 2009 at 1:04 PM
@JC
You people are so blinded by your partisanship, you never see or prtend not to see the facts. This Government has pronised much and delivered little!!!!!!!
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 1:07 PM
The BLP was and is checking for Bajans. That it precisely why it was formed over 70 years ago. That is why the BWU was established.
It was the BLP that reduced unemployment from 26.2% to 6.1%.
It was the BLP that left $2.7 billion in foreign reserves.
This is some of what the BLP did:
The Board Walk; the work on River Road, Independence Square, Kensington, St, Lawrence Gap, the Airport expansion, the seas port. The ABC highway.
The BLP provides unmatched economic forecasting skills and management.
Barbadians were well received when they travel because of the BLP.
Things “CHANGE.
I could go on!!!
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Now that he and the DLP have decided to put out all Guyanese, he should now tuen his attention to the Nation Newspaper of October 29, 2009.
For ease of reference, see below:
“A DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY (DLP) ADMINISTRATION will, within six months of assuming office, appoint all qualified public officers who have been in temporary positions for two or more years.
That’s the word from Opposition Leader David Thompson, who on Saturday evening told a packed gathering of Barbadians living in Toronto, Canada, that the state needed to “regularise the lives of these individuals, so they can begin to plan for their future and that of their children”.
Thompson said the public service of Barbados was not likely to become any smaller in the years to come and therefore there was no need “to have so many people dangling on a string”.
Pension study
He said also that a DLP government would immediately commission an actuarial study into the return of the dual pension system, whereby people who joined the service after 1974 would become eligible once again for both a government employment and National Insurance pension.
“You would recall that a previous Barbados Labour Party government removed the facility whereby persons, on reaching age 65, could continue to receive their government pension and still become eligible for a National Insurance pension. Currently, the anomaly exists where persons who joined the service before 1974 receive two pensions but those who joined thereafter are entitled to but one.
“We are saying as a party that few retiring public officers can survive on the single pension and that there is need for a review, to see whether it is at all possible for us to return some percentage, if not the entire second pension, to them.”
The DLP leader said his party’s policies evolved out of discussions with civil society, particularly consultations with the trade union movement.
“After extensive confidential consultations over the past three months with public service officers at all levels, we will be ensuring that supersession is brought to an end, that there is more consultation in relation to human resource decisions within ministries and that fairness and justice are restored to the public service.
“In that regard, not only will we appoint persons in temporary positions for more than two years and also return the second pension, if actuarially appropriate, but we are determined to offer the housing and vehicle assistance packages referenced to in my budget reply, because having run the numbers, we are insisting that this is achieveable and would not constitute any major or undue burden on the economy.”
Thompson was at the time addressing a function in Toronto to launch the Canada arm of the party.
Show Barbados real leadership in your up-coming budget Mr. PM.
Surpise Barbados!!!
Late to Reply // May 7, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Am i missing something i thought i heard the Prime Minister said ILLEGAL caribbean nationals. Now i am hearing the BLP educated fool BK making it a Guyanees issue,the Prime Minister is simply saying if you are here ILLEGALLY regularised your status the whole world is doing it.BUT ANY THING ILLEGAL OR SHADY DARK KNIGHT WILL SUPPORT.The Barbados economy is doing well under the economic situation so you can used scare tactis on the barbados people and stop regurgitating everything from your weak leader who has to make statement.
John // May 7, 2009 at 1:23 PM
What was the national debt pre 1994 and post 2007?
…. and what is it now??
I’ll guess it continues to increase.
Neither one of the parties is much good at controlling the debt.
This is one thing that remains constant and never changes.
JC // May 7, 2009 at 1:25 PM
It has nothing to do with partisan politics. It has to do with checking for my own.
you all remember statements like
America for Americans
Britain for the British!
I AM NOT VOTING FOR YOUR PARTY DK AND ANON!
NEVER!
Check for we first.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 1:52 PM
@ John,
The Rt. Excellent E.W Barrow said that there is nothing wrong with debt or deficit financing.
The BLP’s position has always been that you do not borrow for consumption but to build productive capacity – hence the Air Port, the Sea Port, the Hilton and so on.
It was the DLP that criticised the debt and tried to give the impression that the BLP was doing something wrong by borrowing.
Under the BLP (14 years) the debt increased by $2.4 billion but with a lot to show.
In just 14 months under the DLP, the national debt increased by $1.4 billion but with nothing to show, excpet frequent trips overseas by DLP Minister.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 1:57 PM
@ JC
You wrote:
“I AM NOT VOTING FOR YOUR PARTY DK AND ANON!
NEVER!
Check for we first.”
Friend, we live in a democracy. Never mind that you have a right to vote because of the Rt. Excellent Grantley Adams and the BLP.
Based on the Constitution of Barbados, you have the fundamental right of association.
You can vote for the BLP or the DLP. At the end of the day, we are all Barbadians who want the best for this country.
We may differ on approach, but I do not hate you anymore than you hate Guyanese.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 2:07 PM
@ Late to Reply,
There are 20 million illegal people in America but Obama is not putting out anybody.
Even with Swine Flu, he is not closing the border to Mexico.
Illegal does not mean that people are breaking banks, robbing Barbadians; peddling drugs or like the DLP – receiving taxpayers money while not producing.
President Obama’s Immigration reform is the leadership and the type of “CHANGE” that David Thompson should copy.
Instead, our Prime Minister takes the LOW and EAST road. He wants to be popular and is therefore reluctant to do what is right.
he buys popularity by playing to the gallery.
Sir, it was Grantley Adams that defended Clement Payne when people wnated to deport him.
July 26 should therefore be a reminder of what the DLP stands for: the deportation of Guyanese.
All this, just because Regional Heads selected the Guyana President to lead talks when they meet President Obama later this year.
Jay // May 7, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Last time,I checked the topic was about Barbados’ illegal immigration problem,Darknight.
Any L A W M A K E R that actually supports something ILLEGAL immigration shouldn’t be in the Parliament at all.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Chances are – a lot of the people who are working at the Immigration Department, today, were there when Mr. Barrow was Prime Minister.
You change political parties; laws and policy – but workers remain.
Problems occur when people do not do what they are being paid to do.
Now! Are you saying that the DLP will clean up the Belle area soon?
What about St. Philip?
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM
@ Jay
You wrote: “Any L A W M A K E R that actually supports something ILLEGAL immigration shouldn’t be in the Parliament at all.”
—————
Well should the entire DLP resign based on your argument? Take not ethat the DLP is collecting road taxes ILLEGALLY.
Will you now withdraw your support?
Please be reminded that Prime Minister Thompson increased fees in his July 2008 Budget.
You may therefore wish to check Section 4. of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, Cap. 85 of the laws of Barbados.
Listen little girl, be careful what you wish for.
John // May 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 1:52 pm
@ John,
The Rt. Excellent E.W Barrow said that there is nothing wrong with debt or deficit financing.
The BLP’s position has always been that you do not borrow for consumption but to build productive capacity – hence the Air Port, the Sea Port, the Hilton and so on.
+++++++++++++++++++++
What was the debt pre 1994 and post 2007?
This should be a simple question to answer.
I don’t have a problem with borrowing to increase productive capacity but if the national debt keeps increasing, then clearly the sums borrowed far exceed any potential of the productive capacity to pay them back.
This is what I find amazing about the situation.
We claim to have a low unemployment rate which should be true if our borrowings increased our productive capacity.
The need for foreign labour should also be there if this is the case.
… and yet I don’t meet many Bajans who believe the unemployment numbers and support the presence of foreign workers in Barbados.
Obviously something is crazy wrong and has been for a long time.
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 2:47 PM
John // May 7, 2009 at 1:23 pm
What was the national debt pre 1994 and post 2007?
…. and what is it now??
I’ll guess it continues to increase.
Neither one of the parties is much good at controlling the debt.
This is one thing that remains constant and never changes.
==========================
Indeed John. It is laughable for anyone to defend either party on several issues. Be that as it may, I will continue to compare the last two cabinets and parliaments to the one in progress and if Mia continues on her path and the BLP does not settle it’s leadership problem, I may very well be force to extend this running comparison and contrast, for what would be their 2nd term. lol!
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 2:51 PM
“but if the national debt keeps increasing, then clearly the sums borrowed far exceed any potential of the productive capacity to pay them back.”
………………………………
Think about that carefully!
Then consider that you borrow a loan.
Then consider debt servicing – credit rating: hence your capacity to borrow more.
Sir, this is not Trade Confirmers we are talking about.
That is why S&P is so concerned about Clico and theatric talk by the PM of wanting to buy back BNB shares.
As an example, note also that it is because of CL Finanial, that S&P down graded T&T credit rating.
It will now cost them more to borrow: the interest rate will be higher. They are considered high-risk.
Barbados – under DLP rule – is getting there.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Adrian,
With an economy in shambles, and Barbados’ Macro Economic Indicators in serious decline – am I to believe that the ruling party is pinning its hopes on re-election – not on performance – but an alleged leadership problem within the BLP, the DLP is now seeking desperately to manufacture.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Fairplay wrote:
“The DLP took office when things were slowing down in the world’s economic activities and it got worst. The mighty USA is in a mess what do you expect of little Barbados.”
Then why an inflationary budget, which raised $180 million in new taxes?
Why a 77% increase in diesel? Which planet are you living on Fairplay?
You should read and be better informed. Here is what the New York Times reported yesterday:
“Everyone knows the grim news — unemployment in the United States has jumped to 8.5 percent, a 25-year high, and is racing toward double digits. Since November, the nation has lost more than three million jobs.
But not everyone knows the brighter side to the equation: deep in the maw of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, millions are still being hired.
Even industries that have taken a beating are doing plenty of hiring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction companies hired 366,000 workers in February, and manufacturers hired 249,000. Retailers hired 536,000 workers in February, but that was down 25 percent from the previous February.
So, while 4.8 million workers were laid off or chose to leave their jobs in February, employers across the country hired 4.3 million workers that month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The best thing you can say about these numbers is it speaks to the dynamism of the U.S. economy, and the net negative number that we all traffic in masks that,” said Robert J. Barbera, chief economist at ITG, a research and trading firm. “Ninety out of 100 people who know the number — 650,000 were lost in February — think that means no one was hired and 650,000 were fired.”
In February — before the economy started to show the first faint signs of a possible recovery — there were three million job openings nationwide. And despite large new job losses likely to be announced Friday, there are still millions of job openings.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Like the DLP – you too do not seem to understand that the global financial crisis is doing Barbados a favour, especially with the DLP in office.
That is part of the reason why Barbados will remain in crisis: not enough people know or even care – hence they fall for the DLP’s distraction tactics, like “putting out Guyanese, when by October – Barbados will be just like 1991.
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 3:09 PM
DK your above hinges on the validity of this one statement “WITH AN ECONOMY IN SHAMBLES” Unless you prove this, the remainder of your contribution is without meaning and context to reality.
John // May 7, 2009 at 3:18 PM
The chickens are one by one coming home to roost.
The article about the handouts by Looking Glass is misleading in one way as it implies those handouts have been free.
The national debt debunks the implied freeness and seems to imply that we and future generations will need to work our tails off to repay it,
……. but at least it won’t be in the fields as most of them will long have been concreted over.
I wonder how we will pay it back?
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
@John: you said:
The need for foreign labour should also be there if this is the case.
… and yet I don’t meet many Bajans who believe the unemployment numbers and support the presence of foreign workers in Barbados.
Obviously something is crazy wrong and has been for a long time.
===========================
QUOTE
Unionized labor accounts for 60 percent of the labor force. The public sector accounts for 20 percent of total employment and sets the tone for the rate of private sector wage increases; while public sector wage settlements are set in two-year contracts, private sector contracts are generally longer
The construction boom over the last two years has led to a substantial bidding up of wages in this sector, particularly for skilled workers; more recently, however, these wage increases have been moderated by the inflow of workers from other Caribbean territories.
IMF consultation with the GoB in 2000
===========================
Cheap labour is cheap labour no matter the spurious arguments to justify the same. Ever heard of the “Hubcap Theory,”? It says that if someone in Detroit wants $25.00 an hour to put on hubcaps, someone else will come along and offer to do it for much less, and eventually someone in a third-world country will be willing to do it for 25 cents an hour.
This is the core to integration in our region, and globalization on the world stage. We were attempted to create our own little china (exploited labour source of the world) with Indo Guyanese. Only difference being, our lazy business people were not intending to go where the labour is, they intended to bring them to Bim, and to do so with the Blessing of the last Government. Hear Owen back in 2005
“Welcome Foreigners, Says PM – Thursday 15, July-2004
Prime Minister Owen Arthur
PRIME MINISTER Owen Arthur has chided Barbadians who object to non-nationals working here.
And not only has he asked Immigration officials to stop treating them badly, but criticised Barbadians’ work ethic, telling them to pull up their socks.
Saying he welcomed the Guyanese, Vincentians, and St Lucians whom he thanked for making Barbados’ commercial agriculture sector what it was today, Arthur told Parliament last Tuesday they did the work that Barbadians did not want.
“I want on the floor of this Parliament to thank them,” he said, “I really do, and I want our immigration people to stop treating them badly when they come here. It has to stop. The Government does not support it.
“I deprecate those who are lambasting them because Government is giving an incentive for those picking cotton and you can’t get a Barbadian to go and do the work. ”
———————————————–
He never once talk about wages.
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 3:36 PM
@ Adrian,
Sir,
Below is the proff of shambles. Add that to Mr. Thompson’s $745 million deficit, then wait for the Budget to see what he will cuts and what additional taxes he will impose.
One way or the next, it will be tough – a far distance to the PM telling Barbados to “spend widely.”
Here is the proof of shambling:
1.That cost of living doubled in 2008 over 2007.
2.That unemployment Sir increase by some 12 per cent moving to just about 8% in Barbados.
3.That the Nation Debt increased by some $900 million in the last 14 months.
4.That the External Current Account deficit down to the end of September worsened Sir by $262 million.
5.That there was a smaller Capital Account Surplus in 2008 than it was in 2007 by over $223 million.
6.That the Private Capital Inflows in this country reduced to $409 million from a high of $920 for the first nine months of 2008.”
7.Worst of all is that the International Reserves in Barbados declined under Thompson by over $700 milling in nine months.
Since 2008 the reserves increased in the first quarter of the year to $2.7 billion. But then they fell in the last nine months of 2008 from $2.7 billion to $1,990 million or by over $700 million.
Annette // May 7, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Questions:
Caricom nationals who arrived here in 2003 and beyond, and have over stayed their welcome…Are they being offered an amnesty too…If the answer is no, what will happen to them?
My unscientific information is that at least 60 per cent of the caricom immigrants in Barbados arrived between 2001-2007…Is this group (illegals)entitled to the amnesty ?
Have the systems for issuing of permits and extensions being used by the Immigration Department been changed?
Is the immigration department still having difficulty in acting on valid information with respect to picking up illegals?
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 3:45 PM
@ John,
No one will lend you if they do not feel you have the capacity to repay or unless you have something of value they can hold.
For example, the Barbados Government of Barbados is Keeping it a secret but is printing money.
The Central Bank of Barbados has so far taken up over $96 million in government paper.
It is yet to be stated publicly, exactly what asset/s the government has given the CCB.
Either the official documents are lying or written to mislead. Read the Central Bank Report.
++++++++++++++
Note also that FDI has dried up and Thompson is panicing, why?
Contrary to what the DLP said when in Opposition – Barbados needs foreign direct investments, as much as we need the OECS to continue to buy 52% of what we produce – so that we can maintain our standard of living and quality of life.
I agree with you on the point that the chickens are really now coming home to roost, as Barbadians are begging to see how the DLP lied to them.
Stay tuned for more!!!
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 4:17 PM
DK so the Barbados economy is declining, but in shambles? I would also bet that what is occuring across the globe has no bearing on this right? That in the hands of the BLP the Barbados economy would be secured and be the shining light amongst the world’s fading one yes?
The Scout // May 7, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Dark Knight
You &Co don’t seem to understand that that same illegal immigrant issue played a BIG part in the BLP losing the government last elections and furthermore the mouthings of Mia would push you further away froim regaining the government. Keep it up, you have started the canvassing for the DLP early, if you continue instead of the BLP gaining all the seats like you were wishing for, it just might backfire. Remember Owen’s words at the Roland Edwards school that he wqould never want to see the DLP in power again, well now I’ll say it if you and the BLP are willing to swing barbados gates open for who-so-ever-will may come, I wish that you NEVER regain this Barbados government.
Negroman // May 7, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Annette
You are correct.The largest arrival of non-nationals arrived in that period indicated,however,the peak was between 2003-2007.
Annette those non-nationals are not eligible for amnesty because the amnesty is for those non-nationals who were here prior to January 1,1998.and have lived for at least 8 years.In this regard all of those non-nationals that arrived after that date are not eligible for amnesty.
This amnesty thing has been prepared in such a way that only a very small percentage of illegals should benefit from it.Once the officers carry out their duties properly and do not fall for bribes & trickery the new immigration policy should be very effective.
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 4:34 PM
DK in light of your opinion of the Nationnews micro poll, here is another article for BU readers to digest and with which to contract your view.
http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/feedback-feature—readers-back-pm-on-immigration
John // May 7, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Life is a gamble.
There is no way of knowing what outcomes of our actions will be.
Still, we have a good idea what the outcome will be when compulsive gamblers walk into a casino and are given credit.
The sad thing is that the credit is often based not on what they own or their ability to repay …. but ours!!
The Scout // May 7, 2009 at 4:51 PM
The day bajans reject the DLP and want them to go and recharge their batteries and come again, they will then vote PEP. We have to keep out guyanese illegals and gays.
Jay // May 7, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Adrian Hinds said :
DK your above hinges on the validity of this one statement “WITH AN ECONOMY IN SHAMBLES” Unless you prove this, the remainder of your contribution is without meaning and context to reality.
——————————–
I already thought that was the case,lol.
——————————–
Annette said:
Questions:
Caricom nationals who arrived here in 2003 and beyond, and have over stayed their welcome…Are they being offered an amnesty too…If the answer is no, what will happen to them?
My unscientific information is that at least 60 per cent of the caricom immigrants in Barbados arrived between 2001-2007…Is this group (illegals)entitled to the amnesty ?
Have the systems for issuing of permits and extensions being used by the Immigration Department been changed?
Is the immigration department still having difficulty in acting on valid information with respect to picking up illegals?
———————————-
2.The system for issuing work permits I believe will also change according to some where the categories on whom will be entitled to employment first in Barbados.I believe it will be Bajans First,Caricom nationals second & other nationalities third.I haven’t heard anything on extensions,but the reality is that the entire Immigration act will be replaced so who knows.
3.That is something only the Immigration sub-committee would know &/or the Prime Minister’s office.The truth is that with the extreme changes to the Immigration Act it can be expected that it will be more enforcement focused dealing with those who have run afoul of the law by staying illegally.If someone has a pending work permit or extension I don’t think they should have any issues but it would be a good idea to still check in with the Immigration Dept. to find out what the latest procedures are.What truly riles most Barbados citizens about the immigration situation is that the illegal immigration problem has gotten out of hand for a number of years & must be dealt with.
The Scout // May 7, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I don’t understandwhat the big noise is about, Barbados were welcoming non-nationals from the caribbean region for years . i remember going to primary school with boys from “down the low islands” and I know of a number of guyanese families who resided in the parish I’m from. Our best sugar pan boilers were guyanese and we welcomed them. Over the last decade or so there has been a vast influx of non-nationals particularly indo-guyanese who have come to our shores and if it is not curbed, it would destablise our country, we just can’t allow this to happen.
The Scout // May 7, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I would draw a scenario. There is a big match on at kensington, lots of people are at the gate trying to gain entry. To try and get more in some-one openes the big gate and starts allowing people in, but as the crowd push, the opening by the large gate gets wider and wider, until, you can’t control those coming through the big gate anymore. What is the solution? Obviously, close the gate and try to gain admission fees from those who forced pass during the melee. This is exactly what the P.M is now doing. This does not mean that if some-one from Caricom and Guyana in particular wants to come to Barbados and have a legitimate reason that they would be debarred. Just use the right channels and we in Barbados would welcome you but don’t barge in and expect to be treated with open arms. There is a system even to madness.
Realtor // May 7, 2009 at 6:12 PM
What are the real estate prices like in Guyana? is it worth the while to seek out buying land/ property in Guyana ? Its time we start looking for other investments especially land since it don’t spoil. Hint, hint ordinary people should start looking else where for good deals. Land and property prices don’t remain constant. Cheap today and very expensive in a few years.
Carson C. Cadogan // May 7, 2009 at 6:19 PM
I am keeping all newspaper clippings relating to Barbados Labour Party members statements in this current illegal aliens debate.
When it comes time for the next General election I will use their own words of great support for illegal aliens especially Guyanese to keep them from being returned to office.
They will have to pay for their stupidity. They ought to be supporting Bajans not Guyanese.
Late to reply // May 7, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Spain ,UK ,USA Canada, China, Trinidad, Antigua etc, areremoving illegal immigrants from their borders daily why should barbados be any different? DK YOU ARE BOASTING ABOUT OUR DECLINING ECONOMY SO IT SHOULD BE CLEARE TO YOU IF WE SHED SOME SOCIAL WEIGHT THE ECONOMY WOULD HAVE SPACE TO RECOVER QUICKER.Your leader is advocating that carricom countries not to do trade with BARBADOS IF WE RETURN ILLEGAL nationals to their countries.
mash up & buy back // May 7, 2009 at 7:51 PM
All like now bajans should be calling in immigration with the names of people who are here for the past 3-4 years illegally.
I am feeling soooo happy to know that this country will be lighter after ALL the illegal people leave this country.
I want the prime minister to give us a week by week update of the numbers they have deported.
The Blp better get used to the political wilderness because they just gone and seal their fate with their anti – bajan pro guyanese crap.
Every BLP politician should be made to feel the weight of the electorate’s anger on this guyanese issue.
Cat piss and bare pepper.
David // May 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM
While we are at it we want the sub-committee to examine the role of the Consuls when dealing with the illegals. We suspect Faria for example would have been aware of his countrymen who were/are illegal in Barbados. The Consuls should be made to commit to surrendering known illegals if they are aware or face some penalty.
Adrian Hinds // May 7, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Should the BLP plan tuh have their first political meeting of the next election season, in Georgetown Guyana?
Fuhget bout protecting de “Yellow and blue, all de BLP got tuh do now is add lil green to their website and illegal guyanese in Bim can sing “I see your true colors shining” “that’s why i love you” lol!
Bush Tea // May 7, 2009 at 9:01 PM
..come on David, that cannot be the role of a consul. This would be like asking a lawyer to turn in a client if he suspects that that client may be guilty…. (wait- should they do that?!!!)
It is the role of our immigration and labour departments to do their jobs….and to deal with unscrupulous employers who illegally exploit and perpetuate the situation.
At many levels, employers are going for these caricom employees because they tend to be more ‘pliable’ than locals.
‘Pliable’, being -easier to get rid of; more co-operative in illegal/unreasonable requests; brings less baggage; and willing to work for less.
What I find shocking is that all we are talking about is actually enforcing the longstanding LAWS of Barbados and we have allegedly responsible citizens complaining about this…. and Government behaving as though it is a big thing to enforce the law….
well well well.
Fairplay // May 7, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Dark Knight
Most of the polls done before the election also misled the BLP.
Some Barbadians benefited financially by having the Guyanese here and so would support them coming and staying longer. Some of these persons built plywood rooms and rented them for $100.00 a week.
Some of the rooms were as small as 8X6.This was cruel and inhumane. Most Guyanese, from their posting in Guyana says that Barbadians treat them like dogs because of the way they were housed by some unscrupulous Bajans. These are the persons who are arguing to let them stay. Owen Arthur never seemed to be concerned about the living conditions of the Guyanese.
You cannot allow your country to be pulled down showing twelve persons living in a pig pen. That is why immigration must be controlled. Come spend your money like a tourist and go back home.
David // May 7, 2009 at 10:14 PM
@Bush Tea
It seems the good guys always have to play by the rules.
Bush Tea // May 7, 2009 at 10:17 PM
…that is the very definition of ‘good guys’ David. Choosing to play by the rules – even when it hurts and even when one can easily justify doing otherwise….
Witch Doctor // May 7, 2009 at 10:52 PM
@ mash up & buy back // May 7, 2009 at 7:51 pm
The Blp better get used to the political wilderness because they just gone and seal their fate with their anti – bajan pro guyanese crap.
*********
WELL SAID, i could not have said it any better
mash up & buy back // May 8, 2009 at 5:25 AM
Some very interesting observations in today’s Nation where first,Douglas Trotman who wants to make a name for himself by helping the illegal immigrants, has confirmed that most of the squatters are non nationals,some illegal and some legal.
Yet this bajan man is asking government to take up the precious little land we have here where bajans cannot even buy to build homes,and to build homes for these illegal and legal squatters up in Coverley.
Sometimes I wonder if something is in the water that some of these pro guyanese bajans drinking.Or is it that they don’t want to let go of their guyanese whores?
Then we have ricky singh a non national who is here under the good graces of the government,now demanding that government must provide the figures of non nationals in this country before they could carry out this new policy.
He is also blatantly lying by saying that this thompson administration is in the forefront of all the other caribbean governments of sending back illegal non nationals (read there guyanese).
Of course he will not write about what the st lucian government,the grenadian government,the dominican government and the antiguan government are doing where it concerns these illegal.
Of course he is going to make all these statements from the comfort of his safe home here in barbados where he is enjoying the sweet life.
What about going back to guyana and fighting for a better life for your countrymen mr singh?
Don’t like Guyana ? what about Trinidad or Surinam where you have a large number of your indian brothers and sisters,huh?
And for those who think david commissiong and the PEP is on their side on this issue,think again.Read his article in today’s nation.
David // May 8, 2009 at 6:41 AM
We promise the BU family that we will continue to expose this issue for what it is. We suspect that we still have some work to do if our immigration policy is to be managed. We encourage Singh who is dubbed a Caribbean journalists to use his column sometimes to expose the atrocities against minorities in Guyana.
The Scout // May 8, 2009 at 7:11 AM
Ricky Boy,
The carpet has been pulled from under your feet. Norman Faria is trembling too since he has promised these illegal guyanese that he would protect them. Let me warn both of you, if you try any dirty tactics to keep these illegals in Barbados by forging documents or getting anti-bajan bajans to sign false work documents, both of you would be on the first plane load to leave Barbados. This time your “personna non grata” will be perminent
Witch Doctor // May 8, 2009 at 7:19 AM
Rickey Singh is a clear example of what happens when you let them get in high places, he came here on the banan boat and the living the bajan dream and now fighting for his kind.
Its well known the Nation Paper is a BLP ratrag.
Singh we sending wanna back and if i had my way i would personally put you on a boat cause you don’t deserve a plane ride.
BAJAN BORN // May 8, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Bush tea, re your above correction about consuls’ responsibilities, you could see the mentality of people running this BU operation. As for the “atrocities” , as “David” writes, committed against minorities in Guyana. Where he get that from ?. The so called McDougall report,I suppose. He (or she) won tell you that was drawn up by one person running aound Guyana on a two day visit co-ordinated be a long time anti-government body called the Guyana Human Rights group. Her report was basically parroting opposition PNC [propaganda. The so called UN expert didn’t include the real minorities in Guyana such as the Amerindians and Chinese. As for the so called Democratic Institute in New York posting its one sided nonsesnse, you ever looked into the (PNC aligned ) history of its one man spoekesperson ?
Oh yes. Ricky Singh column is right on. And kudos to the postings on the healthy nature of introducing new genes . Here wha happen; I gon to change my name from “Bajan Born” to being a member of the Progressive Union Miscgenation Party (PUMP). Negroman and others suffering from xenophobia I sorry fuh yuh (if yuh can’t change yuh racism)…….hehehehehehehe.
David // May 8, 2009 at 7:35 AM
Faria you think this situation with so many illegals is funny?
mash up & buy back // May 8, 2009 at 7:37 AM
Bajan born….sorry I mean norman faria…….oops aka Reddy when posting on the Starbrok news……no? also known as brownsuga on starbrok too?
Ah well whoever you are claiming to be today ,are you ready to be a true freedom fighter and go back with your people who will be sent back to GT?
Are you not interested in building up your land of wood and water the great republic of guyana?
Yuh hate bajans so much what the hell yuh still doing here?
As your fellow guyanese calypsonian sang some time ago -’ wuh yuh waiting for? ‘
mash up & buy back // May 8, 2009 at 7:40 AM
David
Yesterday Faria was on the Starbrok news crying….sob,sob,sob……..and asking why,why,why.
Wuhloss, a bellyfull of laughs.
Anonymous // May 8, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Faria
I am glad that you are reading how the bajans feel about how you and your people have been trying to drag this country down to the slum level of Guyana.
We are willing to start rounding up these indian racists guyanese as well as the other low life guyanese who came here and stayed illegally.
Hit the road jack and don’t you come back no more.
The Scout // May 8, 2009 at 8:07 AM
There is a big Ad in one of the guyanese newspapers today, the ad reads “jobs in Barbados—— Apply NOW. It seems Guyana is prepared to fight back and claim Barbados as theirs.
Witch Doctor // May 8, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Faria your tricks have ran out, this is not VOB or Nation Paper that you can play silly mind games with, this is the internet age.
You are doing a great dis-service to your cohorts living here illegally, go to the airport and wish them a better life on dec 1st.
Comment // May 8, 2009 at 8:56 AM
It is a mystery to me why immigrants are so ungrateful. If you are illegal, then leave voluntarily. Why should you face the chance if being deported. Also why do some people try to say that only Barbadians live illegally in other countries? In the U.S for almost every nation on planet earth have illegals there. Guyanesa, Jamaicans, Irish are all represented. And many of them are ungrateful too and call Americans selfish while using the social services provided paid for by tax payers. Mayor Bloomberg iof NY has made the city an safe haven for illegals but some of them can’t find it within them to say thanks. For those who cannot wait for Bajans to be deported from the U.S. etc. face reality; when your people are sent back to your homeland what conditions will they meet there. Bajans are too lenient. You allow foreigners to disrespect you in your own homeland and sit there and grin and bear it. Support the P M. Immigration is nessecesary in some cases. The amnesty is not even strict enough. PM Thompson should take a tougher stance. Americans are fed up too with the immigration problem; even the so-called liberals.
Anonymous // May 8, 2009 at 9:09 AM
BU Family
Listen to CBC 100.7 f.m. where peter wickham is waxing warm about his support for the non nationals staying here.
He of course complained about the blogs being nasty in their comments about his views.
BOTTOM LINE // May 8, 2009 at 9:14 AM
As I said in the article above – Clearing The Air – It’s OK for Bajans to go to the UK and USA – either as legal or illegal immigrants – to find enployment… but it’s not OK for Guyanese or any other nationality to come to Barbados for the same reason.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 10:13 AM
The True fact about Immigration:
Having triggered a meltdown of the Barbados economy, the DLP is looking for a feel good factor and is feeding on the fear; innocence and in some instances – the hate of some – for Guyanese in particular and anyone not bred and born bajan.
It is ironic that the person ridding Barbados of persons not born here – is Thompson.
But what are the facts:?
1. When in Opposition, the DLP alleged that there were over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados and vowed once elected – to urgently address this situation.
A year passed and nothing!
2. Having been elected for close to two years, Barbadians are yet to be shown the proof that there are over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados, thereby putting a lie to the DLP’s allegation when in Opposition.
If there were 30,000 illegal immigrants – the DLP should know where to find them.
Afterall, Barbados is very small: “everybody” in St. Lucy know everbody in St. John (you get the point).
3. It became apparant that having alleged that there are 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados – and that its credibility is on the line because the proof was not forthcoming – the DLP started deporting those who were following the law and went to the Immigration Department for renewals.
The main and only point is that:
The DLP lied and continues to lie.
The DLP has absolutely no proof to support its wild allegation that there are over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados.
Little wonder that the DLP is seeking to distort what the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition said, as regards the BLP’s New Policy Direction on Immigration Reform.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is the “MAIN” point the Leader of the Opposition made in response to Mr. Thompson’s Ministerial Statement:
” The Barbados Labour Party is totally committed to the development of Barbados and that of all Barbadians.
In this regard, we are concerned about the Ministerial Statement made by the Prime Minister, the Honourable David Thompson, which leaves many concerns unanswered when clarity is critical to ensure that there is no unfortunate backlash to Barbados, Barbadians in the region and even the legal and illegal immigrants who currently reside here.”
++++++++++++++++++++
Trust me!
I, Dark Knight understand why the DLP is desperate to find a distraction tactic and why it must throw “red-meat” to its base – hence talk about putting out Guyanese.
Adrian Hinds // May 8, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Anonymous // May 8, 2009 at 9:09 am
BU Family
Listen to CBC 100.7 f.m. where peter wickham is waxing warm about his support for the non nationals staying here.
He of course complained about the blogs being nasty in their comments about his views.
===========================
No one pays much attention to Boy blue Wickham. What he needs to do is to hold a press conference and declare who he really is.
…..I’ll be honest and say that I think there is more in the timing of this announcement from the PM than most think. I will believe it when it actually occurs, and I would not be surprise, if it is not anytime soon. I believe that there isn’t any conviction on the PM’s part to do anything about the immigration problem, and that the main reason for his outburst at this time is to soften the impact of his Budget. It certainly is set to have that effect. Is it not?
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 10:40 AM
@ Adrian Hinds,
I told you so. I know a Karl Rove distraction tactic when I see one.
+++++++++++++++++++
Dark Knight // May 7, 2009 at 11:04 am
David Thompson has placed a “gag order on the economy” by using “hanging,” “deportation” and “defamation” as distratction tactics.
David Thompson is weak on the economy so he is trying to downplay the fact those more than 3000 people lost their jobs due to his poor judgment and bad decisions.
David Thompson is failing on his promise of: reducing cost of living, so he tries to get Barbadians to talk about Guyanese and hanging, as a distraction tactic.
This is not leadership, but weakness
Anonymous // May 8, 2009 at 10:47 AM
No one pays much attention to Boy blue Wickham
More like Girl Pink…
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Prime Minister David Thompson, supported by his Cabinet, has taken the expected reactionary view to the issue of immigration by our Caribbean brothers and sisters without apparently identifying any real solution to what is perceived as a problem by so many Barbadians.
What is even more disturbing is that his lukewarm attempt to solve the “problem” makes no mention of people who are not our neighbours, but who are here illegally.
The lack of a clearly defined message makes it appear as if Caribbean people are being targeted as the scapegoats in the immigration morass.
Adrian Hinds // May 8, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Dark Knight you did not tell me anything, as I do not listen to you. lol! I do not have a problem with Thompson’s approach.
Jay // May 8, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Comment // May 8, 2009 at 8:56 am
It is a mystery to me why immigrants are so ungrateful. If you are illegal, then leave voluntarily. Why should you face the chance if being deported. Also why do some people try to say that only Barbadians live illegally in other countries? In the U.S for almost every nation on planet earth have illegals there. Guyanesa, Jamaicans, Irish are all represented. And many of them are ungrateful too and call Americans selfish while using the social services provided paid for by tax payers. Mayor Bloomberg iof NY has made the city an safe haven for illegals but some of them can’t find it within them to say thanks. For those who cannot wait for Bajans to be deported from the U.S. etc. face reality; when your people are sent back to your homeland what conditions will they meet there. Bajans are too lenient. You allow foreigners to disrespect you in your own homeland and sit there and grin and bear it. Support the P M. Immigration is nessecesary in some cases. The amnesty is not even strict enough. PM Thompson should take a tougher stance. Americans are fed up too with the immigration problem; even the so-called liberals.
———————————-
Comment,I understand where you come from being in the US myself,but surely you jest on the amnesty.Last time I checked the immigration amnesty attempt in 2006 & 2007 in the US Senate was definitely a lot more liberal that what is being offered in Barbados currently where in the 2006 bill those that have lived 2 years in the US would have been given amnesty & in the 2007 bill the amnesty would have been instantaneous.The amnesty in Barbados says that a person must have lived at least 8 years in the country as of December,2005,am I missing something ?
The enforcement parts have not been showcased yet,but it is well known that some aspects of current laws in Barbados are much tougher than even the US or UK.Why ? because usually when someone overstays their time in these two countries the immigration bars to re-entry are only ~5-10 years in Barbados it is usually a lifetime.
JC // May 8, 2009 at 11:41 AM
No one pays much attention to Boy blue Wickham. What he needs to do is to hold a press conference and declare who he really is.
@ AH
You aint easy ha ha lol
JC // May 8, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Imagine Ricky Singh say all of those thing with all the sarcasm in the book in BARBADOS
look the indians doh well well well
them aint care one ass bout We.
You know I have to say that I think we are to blame about this, we allowed this situation to get out of hand when we gave owen a bonus 5 years.
Knight of the Long Knives // May 8, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Dark Knight it is clear what Bajans views on this issue are if you and the BLP want to keep trying to rig elections by flooding Barbados with guyanese you will have to wait a long time to try again.
I was is St. Lucia 2 years ago and they were crying out about the influx of Guyanese so it is not just Barbados.
If you come to work legally, work and go home.
If Mia,Owen and the Blp(sh)ites want guyanese so bad, take your party and go to Guyana, no-one will miss you here.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Here is more sound advice from the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
“It is urgent that the Lead Prime Minister of the CSME, Prime Minister Thompson, show leadership and ensure the urgent settlement of the long-awaited Protocol on Contingent Rights that will settle what benefits Caricom citizens will access if they live in another Caricom country.
If a man is working and paying taxes it is unreasonable for him to expect certain benefits from the state.
Prohibition does not work. It will create an underclass that can potentially undermine the system. It is better to embrace a man for mutual gain than to try to shut him out.
When will the Prime Minister recognize this next crucial step?”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you not see that David Thompson is not doing anything to help Barbadians?
This is a distraction.
What he says bears absolutely no relationship to Barbados’ development needs.
Where is the change and the new Barbadians prosperity that the DLP promised?
Instead of adding VALUE, David Thompson is merely doing what is popular but not what is progressive.
Why is he taking the low and easy road?
David Thompson is merely telling you what you want to hear.
Look at what he is talking about: Not reducing the cost of living; creating jobs; reducing crime or improving healthcare.
After the DLP has put all non nationals out of the country – then what?
Will the people at Four Season get back their jobs, will the 200 on Ocean Two get back theirs, will the cost of living suddenly come down.
Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something -darkness if the absence of light.
Under DLP Rule, emptiness has replaced results as Barbados continues to slide down the DLP’s Pathway to Poverty.
The DLP has absolutely no proof to support its wild allegation that there are over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 12:07 PM
@ Knight of the Long Knives
These are the major issues facing Barbados:
1. The Economy
2. Cost of Living
3. Crime
4. Housing
4. Healthcare
5. Unemployment
6. Traffic congestion and grid lock
7. progressive and humane Immigration Reform
8. Governace/Parliamentary Reform
9. Leadership
How will putting out Guyanese fix these problems?
The reason we are focussing on Guyanese – is precisely because the DLP lacks the capacity and therefore cannot address those very issues I mentioned.
You all are making the point: that the DLP’s relevance to Barbados is putting out Guyanese.
+++++++++++++++++
You see why it is a major insult to President Obama (and should be considered a crime which carries the mandatory death penalty) for the DLP to attempt to compare David Thompson to him?
Anonymous // May 8, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Going,going,soon gone
That will soon be the position of the BLP politicians Dark Knight.
A party heading for extinction.
We will sweep you out,wash yuh out and clean yuh out.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 12:26 PM
@ Anomymous,
Wait for the Budget!
Barbadians will then feel the pain and realise that it was Better with the Bees.
I tell you, by October this year, if the cost of living and starvation does not get us first…?
Hum!!!
+++++++++++++
By the way:
How and at what point does a person become an: “Illegal Immigrant?”
Knight of the Long Knives // May 8, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I think I speak for most people when I say during 14 years of BLP rule we saw epic levels of corruption, taxation(as recorded by turncoat Mascoll), and a dramatic increase in the cost of living coupled with Ministers and friends becoming millionaires while the rest of us sucked salt. I make more money than most of the population and can’t see any way to buy an average house without drowning in debt of 25 years as real estate continued to spiral out of control, BS&T continues to sell less than U.S $1 items for $11.00 and claim they ain’t making no money while Owen and the likes had nothing to say.
Jay // May 8, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Scout said:
Ricky Boy,
The carpet has been pulled from under your feet. Norman Faria is trembling too since he has promised these illegal guyanese that he would protect them. Let me warn both of you, if you try any dirty tactics to keep these illegals in Barbados by forging documents or getting anti-bajan bajans to sign false work documents, both of you would be on the first plane load to leave Barbados. This time your “personna non grata” will be perminent
————————————
Don’t warn them,lol.I believe one or all of them have Barbados citizenship by decscent & should they do something like what you just said would amount to trafficking.If they aren’t born in Barbados & are merely naturalized it could be possible for them to lose it !
Here is what Mr. Faria had to say on an indictment in Trinidad.
“REDDY IN BARBADOS BARBADOS says:
May 8, 2009 at 6:49 am
A story about a Guyanese in Trinidad.Good. It reminds me about the curious fixation of the Guyanese media with Barbados. I am not defending the Barbadian authorities and the Guyana govt was right to speak out in the past but Guyanese public’s peceptions about Barbados is being media riven sometimes in a sensationalist way. I think a couple years ago , the Min of Foreign Affairs in Guyana relesaed figures which show Guyanese being sent back in greater relative (ratio of sendbackers to those in the island) terms than from Barbabdos. The relsae also cited reasons such as passport fraud, etc.And did anyone visit the holding cells at the airport there recently ? And what about those getting turned back at Antigua and St.Lucia ?
The answer folks is editors putting foot up on desks in some newsrooms, yawning and calling out to a writer: “Wha happen with Guyana bench at Barbados ? Go out on street and get some quotes about Barbados. Mek haste. Yuh gon got to find soem bad talk and yuh don need name he. And banna, wha tha Thompson speech dey ! Milk it .Snoooooore…..”
but it even a smart Guyanese can see through this charade.
“John Smith GUYANA says:
May 8, 2009 at 10:33 am
Why are you rambling and tangential about Barbados and deportees when the article is about something else? Reddy,is this your way of distracting readers from crimes of international proportion being committed in Guyana by attacking the media? You have pointed your finger at everyone except the authorities. Ho come on Reddy, your diatribe is becoming redundant.”
————————————–
I think I understand why BU chooses to highlight this person now & I agree with it.Now that the Barbados Government has acknowledged the problem of the illegal immigration mess & its primary source,I think it is safe to say that it will likely be a stalemate until Guyana’s next election results as deportations are ramped up so will arrivals I believe over the next few years.I think the next true critical step that Government can take is to insist that Caricom sends a strong envoy[including Barbados officials] to monitor Guyana’s elections to ensure their process is being done fairly & it is being monitored closely.It is obvious that Guyana’s nationals hunger for change no matter the race,nationality not race should come first,
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 1:15 PM
@ Knight of the Long Knives,
I think I speak for most people when I say during 14 years of progressive BLP leadership we saw epic levels of taxation.
Are you seriour man? Tax-a-who?
Here is the BLP’s Legacy and why it is better for barbados by far:
No Land tax on the first 150,000 in property value,
No Income Tax on the first 25, 000 and tax
Reversed Tax credit of $1,300.
Diesel at $1.46 when oil on the world market was US$104. per barrel.
Gasoline at the pump, $2.15 per litre
Kerosine $1.37 per litre
100 pound bottle gas: $144.57; 25 pound: $38.76 and the 20 pound: $31.01.
Lowering of Corporation tax from 40% to 25%
$10,000 savings allowance
Small Bussiness Tax of some 20%
Unemployment of some 6.7%
Reserves at some $2.7 billion
At the end of 2006, domestic savings of some $7.3 billion.
Look!
The DLP will never be able to match the BLP on the economy, hence social building.
Jay // May 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
BTW,I would like to say that the next President of Guyana should choose Mr.Frederick Kissoon as the next Consul to replace Mr. Faria in Barbados[if that is possible].After reading his articles he seems more logical & connected with the people of Guyana & it could go a long way in mending relations since both countries appear to be headed toward having strained relations.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something.
You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light continually – you have nothing and it is called darkness.
You cannot make dark, darker. You either know or do not know!
The DLP does not know what it is doing. It is therefore the absence of something – “good governance.”
The ruling party has been a monumental failure, ever since its first 100 days in office, when it failed to do the things it said it would, within that time-frame it set for itself.
Every day it remains in office will be nothing more than a very painful reminder that even with a global financial crisis, which is working in its favour – the DLP lacks the capacity to make good on its job number one – reducing the cost of living.
The DLP therefore represents’ a consumer infringement: misrepresentation of fact.
It misrepresented that it was ready and that it is better for Barbados.
David Thompson’s manufactured meltdown of the Barbados economy dismisses those myths.
It gets worst! As Minister of Finance, David Thompson has done what – not even George Bush would have thought of.
Can you imagine seeing Mr. Bush imposing a $25.00 tax on the bicycles of five-year-old little girls or a $4.00 tax on the cell phones of young people?
Thompson is the only Minister of Finance in the history of this country who attacks the piggy bank of children and young people
Yardbroom // May 8, 2009 at 2:13 PM
It is beyond doubt, that there is an illegal immigration problem in Barbados and it has to be solved, the issue was not caused by this administration but in office you are expected to solve the problems that beset you.
Sometime ago I was brave enough – some would say foolish – to say that only two issues could prevent this DLP Government led by Prime Minister David Thompson from having a “very long time” as the Government of Barbados, those being:
(1) Illegal immigration
(2) Integrity Legislation
It would appear that the Prime Minister has listened to the people of Barbados and is about to implement the necessary Legislation for immigration. His “considered response” shows judgment, a pragmatic approach and a touch of fairness, with a limited amnesty in specific circumstances. When a politician ceases to listen to his people he will lose all authority to act on their behalf…a fate some have suffered recently.
David of Barbados Underground should be congratulated for keeping the light burning brightly, when there was gloom and harsh words from some quarters. Many of the BU family have been trenchant in their views on this issue. History will record the immeasurable contribution they have made in one of the most important issues Barbados has had to deal with in recent years…you have all done your patriotic duty and in so doing made a mark for social cohesion in Barbados.
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Yes! But what about these issues:
1. The Economy
2. Cost of Living
3. Crime
4. Housing
4. Healthcare
5. Unemployment
6. Traffic congestion and grid lock
7. Progressive and humane Immigration Reform
8. Governace/Parliamentary Reform
9. Leadership
10. The environment and climate change
How will putting out Guyanese fix these problems and improve the quality of life of Barbadians?
+++++++++++++++
No one has yet answered my questions:
(1) At what point does a person become an illegal immigrant?
(2) Where is the proof to support the DLP’ allegation when in Opposition – that there are over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados.
(3) Did all of or any illegal immigrants in Barbados – come here within the last 14 years?
How could that be true when sugar was king between 1960 and perhaps 1998 and the DLP argues that agriculture declined since 1994?
Come on DLP, pretend you are bright!
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Here is what the Barbados Immigration Act, provides at Section 23. 1:
23. (1) No court has jurisdiction to review, quash, reverse, restrain or otherwise interfere with any proceeding, decision or order of the Minister or an immigration offtcer had, made or given under the authority of this Act relating to
(a) the refusal of permission to any person to enter Barbados or the removal of that person from Barbados; or
(b) the detention or deportation of any person, upon any ground whatsoever unless that person is a citizen or a
permanent resident.
+++++++++++++++++++++
No one has yet answered my questions:
(1) At what point does a person become an illegal immigrant?
(2) Where is the proof to support the DLP’ allegation when in Opposition – that there are over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados.
(3) Who or what prevent/s/ed Immigration Officers from doing what the law says and from doing thier work?
Dark Knight // May 8, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Here is what Section 25 of the Immigration Act, provides:
25. (1) The power to appoint, remove and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Immigration Officer and immigration officers for the purposes of this Act is hereby vested in the Minister.
(2) The number of immigration officers that may be appointed under subsection (1) and the conditions of service of such officers shall be such as may be determined by the Minister with the approval of the Minister responsible for Establishments.
(3) In the exercise of his functions under this Act an immigration officer shall act in accordance with the directions and instructions of the Minister.
(4) For the purpose of discharging his functions under this Act, an immigration officer may, with the assistance of such persons as he thinks fit
(a) without a search warrant, enter upon and search any vessel in Barbados;
(b) question any person who seeks to enter or leave Barbados or who he believes is a prohibited immigrant within the meaning of the former Act;
(c) without warrant arrest any person who he has reasonable grounds for believing has committed an offence under this Act or the regulations; and
(d) on the authority of a warrant enter and search any place in Barbados if he has reasonable ground for believing that there is in any such place any person against whom a deportation order has been made.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
With all of this power at their disposal, how could there be over 30,000 illegal immigrants in Barbados – as alleged by the DLP when in Opposition?
Again I ask:
At what point does a person become an illegal immigrant?
If only people would think, they would realise that if it quacks like a duck, it must be a duck!
The DLP can only survive if Barbadians give up their right to think!
Think Barbadians! Wake up!!!
JC // May 8, 2009 at 5:43 PM
yawn anh anh soem body say something. Oh it was just DK and his traitorous party. Everyone go back to sleep go back to sleep
Witch Doctor // May 8, 2009 at 6:01 PM
@ Dark Knight
You have so many postings on here and you are NOT convincing anyone.
You are fighting a losing battle…GIVE UP
You behaving like a begger on the streets asking for a meal…hahaha….Go to Guyana and live with them.
The Scout // May 8, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Dark Knight
Wake up !!!!!!! Wake up !!!!!!!! Go and fire a pee and a #2 , you have been sleeping for too long. Elections were won by the DLP and one of thereasons for voting out the BLP was because Owen wanted to replace bajans with guyanese. So stop rubbing salt in the BLP wounds or you might kill them altogether. Not that the DLP supporter would mind. Maybe when we are choosing a few more National Heroes, your name might be considered.
Madd Maxx // May 8, 2009 at 8:07 PM
I agree with the PM’s stance.
These illegal immigrants are coming to Barbados and remaining unchecked and although many do come looking for honest work, they are still hundreds who are coming here to engage in unsavoury activities.
I have been to other Caribbean islands and these people are not as welcoming as many who have replied to this post have made them out to be.
I was in Antigua for a vacation as a little girl when Hurricane Louis was heading to Barbados and heard big adults saying that they ‘hope the hurricane mash up Barbados, them bajans feel them better than anybody else’. Many bajans who work in other Caribbean islands can relate how these people have a deep seated hatred towards bajans.
Indeed, if one were to sit amongst the non-nationals at UWI Cave Hill (without letting on you are bajan) one would hear how they hate Barbados and everything Bajan…but yet still would end up finding well paying jobs here upon graduation.
I am tired of people of other islands saying that we shouldn’t take a tougher stance on immigration, while they treat bajans with disrespect.
These people know how sweet life in Barbados is, but yet somehow still grudge us.
There was a time when non-nationals were hard workers and kept to themselves, but I have noticed a worrying trend where the younger ones are into criminal activity.
We already have enough to deal with in terms of our home-grown criminals and can do without getting more crime from these non-nationals.
Now I may not be able to quote sections of the immigration act or what this politician said. I am speaking from an average bajans point of view.
The illegal immigrants, whether Guyanese, African, Trini, Jamaican, American, Russian, Columbian etc, must either get their papers in order or get out.
Ruel Daniels // May 8, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Bajan Born Wrote:
Bush tea, re your above correction about consuls’ responsibilities, you could see the mentality of people running this BU operation. As for the “atrocities” , as “David” writes, committed against minorities in Guyana. Where he get that from ?. The so called McDougall report,I suppose. He (or she) won tell you that was drawn up by one person running aound Guyana on a two day visit co-ordinated be a long time anti-government body called the Guyana Human Rights group. Her report was basically parroting opposition PNC [propaganda. The so called UN expert didn’t include the real minorities in Guyana such as the Amerindians and Chinese. As for the so called Democratic Institute in New York posting its one sided nonsesnse, you ever looked into the (PNC aligned ) history of its one man spoekesperson ?
Oh yes. Ricky Singh column is right on. And kudos to the postings on the healthy nature of introducing new genes . Here wha happen; I gon to change my name from “Bajan Born” to being a member of the Progressive Union Miscgenation Party (PUMP). Negroman and others suffering from xenophobia I sorry fuh yuh (if yuh can’t change yuh racism)…….hehehehehehehe.
**************************************
You Barbadians must check out the UN conventions on Indigenous groups and you will discover that there is a special arrangements for investigation of discrimination against these people. Ms McDougal was not charged with this task, neither is she attached to the special department that investigate complaints of indigenous groups.
This is an example of the backwardness and dishonesty of the PPP ignars who keep harping about this. Because they do not read and understand the UN conventions, they believe people on this board are as ignorant as them.
The rights and concerns of Indigenous Groups are dealth under quote, Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
in Independent Countries
Adopted on 27 June 1989 by the General Conference of the International Labour
Organisation at its seventy-sixth session
entry into force 5 September 1991.
Articles 1 to 44 are specific to the concerns of Indigenous groups. This was not part of the mandate of Ms McDougal’s investigations in Guyana. The PPP are bringing up the indigenous peoples in Guyana to divert attention from their blatant racist and discriminatory style of Governance. Don’t let Lion the Liar Faria fool alyuh. This guy lies like a cheap watch.
Adrian Hinds // May 8, 2009 at 9:36 PM
INDIANS DOING WHAT IS IN THE INTEREST OF INDIANS
Look Thompy do not pay nuh mind to that hermaphroditic woman, don’t not pay any attention to that INDIAN Ricky Singh, or Faria the fool. Don’t even worry about boy blue, we know with what he thinks when it comes to the illegal immigrant situation.
————————————————-
Article
India Sends the Foreign Pilots Back Home
By NIRAJ SHETH
NEW DELHI — India’s airlines, in a slump, are sending the following message to the cockpit: Foreign pilots, go home.
It’s an abrupt turnaround from the past several years, when Western pilots looked to growing markets like India as saviors for their profession. While carriers in the U.S. and Europe struggled with the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, India was opening its skies to new domestic carriers — and hiring hundreds of foreign pilots to fill the new planes with experienced fliers.
But in the past several months, India’s airline industry has contracted as the economic crisis has hit. Now, the industry is trying to cut costs.
Part of the solution: Firing expensive, though often more experienced, foreign pilots. India’s government has effectively endorsed the purge. In March, it ordered airlines to get rid of all foreign pilots by July 2010.
The purge is the latest in a string of similar moves around the world, as governments try to reduce the number of foreign workers to free up jobs for native-born citizens. In Malaysia, the government has frozen recruitment of workers from overseas in some sectors and asked employers to lay off foreigners instead of locals. Australia has said it intends to cut its intake of skilled migrants by 14% amid rising unemployment. Last month, the Irish government said it was imposing rules to make it tougher for foreigners to get and renew work permits.
Such moves are making life harder for employers that have relied on overseas workers to keep costs low or make up for shortages of skilled labor. The restrictions are also creating new hardships for the workers themselves. Many made enormous sacrifices to travel abroad in search of better employment and new opportunities.
For pilots, India’s decision has raised a troubling question: If even growth markets like India won’t hire pilots, who will?
Last year, in the twilight of his 45-year flying career, Svein Brendefur arrived in New Delhi with a single goal. “There was one thing I wanted very much that I wasn’t able to do,” the 64-year-old Norwegian says. “That was to fly the latest-generation planes.”
After a career that included stints as a fighter pilot during the Cold War and at a big Scandinavian airline, he made captain for Indian carrier SpiceJet Ltd. and started flying the new Boeing jets.
Then, six days before Christmas, Mr. Brendefur was told his job at the Gurgaon-based airline would end at the end of the year. He has applied to other airlines in the Middle East and Asia, hoping to stay in the region. But, he says, he might be running out of time. “Every day, I’m coming closer and closer to 65, when no one will hire me anymore,” he says. “To relocate from one corner of the world to another is not something you do for fun.”
More than 800 foreign pilots like Mr. Brendefur heeded the call to come to India, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a Sydney-based market-research company. At their peak, they made up almost 20% of India’s pilot corps.
“There were lots of discussions around the breakfast table with families: Should I look east and take a job there?” says Jim McAuslan, general secretary for the British Airline Pilots’ Association. “Even up to a few months ago, people were making that decision” as layoffs and salary cuts continued at many Western carriers.
Recently, though, the Indian aviation industry has hit hard times. The industry is expected to lose more than $1.5 billion in the year ended March 31, analysts estimate. Pleas for a government bailout have gone unanswered, and carriers say they have been forced to cut staff and sell planes to stay afloat.
In an election year, cutting Indians from the payroll has proved too politically sensitive. When Mumbai-based Jet Airways Ltd. said in October that it would lay off 1,900 flight attendants and pilots, the Indian government stepped in, pressuring the company to backpedal; it kept the workers. Firing foreign pilots, in contrast, doesn’t set political alarm bells ringing, airlines and industry observers say.
“It makes overall economic sense to replace the expats,” says Jack Ekl, chief pilot and executive vice president of flight operations for SpiceJet.
The airline still has 42 expatriate pilots, or roughly half of its captains, on the books, but expects to replace them by the government’s deadline, he says.
While some carriers are having trouble finding enough Indian pilots with the required flight hours to promote to captain, almost all airlines say they will be expat-free by July 2010.
Bangalore-based Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. said it is “in compliance with the program” to phase out foreign pilots. A company spokesman declined to comment on how many expat pilots Kingfisher has.
Some observers say the protectionist measures India is taking in its aviation sector could prompt other countries to do the same to Indian workers.
“It could be a very short-sighted approach that the Indian government is taking,” says Mr. McAuslan.
—Patrick Barta contributed to this article.
Write to Niraj Sheth at niraj.sheth@wsj.com
The Scout // May 9, 2009 at 5:44 AM
Madd Maxx (may 8th @ 8.07P.M
You have spoken a mouth full. These non-nationals don’t have Barbdos or bajans at heart, they just want to rape the country of its resources then return to their own country and laugh at us and there are bajans who are so gullible that they are falling for this crap
JC // May 9, 2009 at 7:51 AM
This is what amuses me BU family.
Yesterday I talked to a Black Guyanese and told him that since he was here for 14 years that he had a good chance of staying or at least becoming regularised.
I was shame and felt insulted when he said:
‘I dont know if I want to stay here, I was just begging for a space.’
Anonymous // May 9, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Scout & others
Have you noticed the latest trend that seem to be developing?
These guyanese people who came here and deliberately got children while they were illegal in the country are now saying that they should be given permanent residence because of that.
What about our children we have here,they are asking?
Well my answer to that is they need your attention and care back home so don’t forget to take them with you on your way out.
These heart breaking stories will soon be flooding the airwaves and the newspapers,wait and see.
To show you how bias the Nation is,they looked at the starbrok newspapers comments section on the Thompson new policy and chose the few mildest ones they could find so as not to give guyanese a bad name.
Reading through all 8 pages of those comments will give anyone an idea of how like the blogger mad maxx said above – the guyanese and all the others hate and envy bajans but will still try to use the bajans and get as much as they can from this country.
I wish all bajans included some like wickham and that mockman ole walrond will have a eureka moment.
I was so surprised to hear ole walrond who prounces so much on his black roots and his black people and his constant condemnation of white bajans,yet have nothing but high praise for the indian guyanese who every one who talks to a black guyanese or who can read the newspaper knows that the indians in guyana there making the blacks shite and they hate black people real bad,even when black people reaching out and helping them.
Some sex with these disease carrying women really does turn big men into clowns.
Anonymous // May 9, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Let me give you some scenarios that are the gospel truth:
I would not come on this blog and lie:
Do bajans know that a leper (Guyanese was in Barbados and was only recently deported.
Do bajans know that one of those African nurses had brought a child to Barbados claiming that she was her daughter when truth and in fact she was her slave and was seriously abusing her.
Do you all know that nitrate has been found in our water because of all the squatting.
Do you all know that REALLLLL Bajan men have been tricked by these women and they go down to immigration literally crying and making noise to get these women whom they went and married out of the island and brought them back.
Do you all know that many of them marry the men and in 96 months they divorce them and bring in their children and husband.
Is the BLP madddddddd? dont they care about our country?
Mia you will be in opposition for a llllllllllllong long time!
David // May 9, 2009 at 10:15 AM
@JC
Should we question the credibility of Roxanne Gibbs and Vic Fernandes who are of Guyanese extraction? It has become obvious to BU that the Nation especially has been less than honest about reporting the story of illegals in Barbados. Each time this story flares the predictable PR job is run showing how Barbadians and Guyanese are linked by an umbilical cord. But tell us is that the point? The point has been made that immigrants have worked side by side Barbadians for years to build Barbados.
RED HERRING ARGUMENTS NOT ACCEPTED!
Anonymous // May 9, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Anon@ 9:57 a.m.
You are not lying.
About 4 years ago when the BLP was in power there were accounts of at least 3 guyanese who came into Barbados with leprosy.
I believe they were quarantined.
Leprosy is contagious isn’t it?
Also many,many guyanese came into barbados with a very virulent form of Tubercolusis.
These are plain,unvarnished facts.
This lil island is in big trouble with regards to diseases which barbados had gotten a handle on and in some cases eradicated.
THE BLP HAS SINGLE HANDLEDLY DESTROYED BARBADOS WITH THEIR ENOURAGEMENT OF AN INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS INTO BARBADOS.
NEXT ELECTION PLEASE USE YOUR HEAD AND SPEAK WITH YOUR VOTE – VOTE OUT MIA,OWEN,DALE MARSHALL,GLYNE CLARKE AND ALL THE REST OF THEM.
This country is now in serious peril because of these BLP politicians.
And don’t let Thompson think it is easy for him too,harass him every day to make sure that he shows us regular pictures and statistics of the immigration deporting these thousands of illegals that we know are here.
Negroman // May 9, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Anonymous
It is scary what you are saying.I have heard of those stories but to be honest at the time I did not want to believe them.I know that there are cases of Tuberculosis in Guyana,but Leprosy wow that is another issue altogether.
The drainage unit recently has been doing a fantastic job in cleaning the drains in Bridgetown.I often remarked that I never saw Bridgetown especially by the Fairchild Street Bus Stand and Market as dirty as it was previously.When a large Guyanese presence was there,that area was constantly very dirty and smelly.It reminded me of stinking Starbroek Market in Georgetown Guyana.Garbage strewn all over the place.The nasty Guyanese in addition to the equally stinking Indian & Pakistani business owners in Bridgetown had & have Bridgetown stink.That is the nature of the people of stink & dirty.No wonder that the Indian continent,Guyana,Trinidad and wherever Indian lived are filled with all types of diseases and plaques. That is why we must keep a lid of the numbers of rat catcher/mango seller Indians in Barbados.Those from the Continent & especially those from Guyana & Trinidad.
David Thompson you have set motions in place please follow through on your promises or else.We will be monitoring the progress of this new immigration policy and I am sure that David & BU will constantly monitor the progress and report to us periodically.
Witch Doctor // May 9, 2009 at 12:34 PM
@ Anonymous // May 9, 2009 at 9:57 am
About 4 years ago when the BLP was in power there were accounts of at least 3 guyanese who came into Barbados with leprosy.
You serious?????
****************************
A friend of mine told me the guyanese are making the lawyers busy trying to get themselves right but so many of them get turn away because of the complex new law that its virtually impossible to get legal.
My Guyanese next door is already packing barrels to ship back to GT for he knows his time is near.
JC // May 9, 2009 at 3:09 PM
BLAME JAGDEO!!!!!!!
He needs to go, not only does he have the blacks suffering but his Indian family as well.
I dont like this, I have read some of the blogs in Guyana, and some persons are readily admitting that Barbados is very small. However, the majority of them are cursing us soooooo stink.
I think that if they took the time on the blogs to let jagdeo see what he has brought their country too that they would do the right thing!
GET RID OF JAGDEO!
He is not a true patriot of his country.
He has caused his fellow country men to run from the land where there were borned, he has let his people to be the laughing stock and brunt of jokes, he has caused persons to despise them because they have come to take over a country which is not theirs. Shame Shame Shame ..This is not right.
GET RID OF JAGDEO!
Anonymous // May 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
All bajans should be careful of getting into any scheme with guyanese who are not here legally or lending them money or anything that you would not like to part with.
Many of them know their time here is short and they will be trying to scheme bajans in all sort of ways.
JC // May 9, 2009 at 4:56 PM
@JC
Should we question the credibility of Roxanne Gibbs and Vic Fernandes who are of Guyanese extraction?
__________________________
a resounding YESSSSSSSSS
Yardbroom // May 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
The situation of illegal immigration in Barbados has been exacerbated by a person whose name “I” will not mention, but his nefarious activities has driven a wedge, where a drop of oil would have been more useful.
You cannot insult people and expect them to welcome you into their home. You cannot lodge as a stranger and expect the best bed. You cannot expect to be served first when dinner is scarce. You should, and can expect fair treatment but that comes through proper dialogue and respectful negotiations.
Never have a people been so badly served, the authority he thought he had is no more; now that the “bluff” has been called, it is his people who will pay the price..it is better to be wise and stay silent than to promise much with a loud voice and lead your people to beggary.
David // May 9, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Read David Commisong’s predictable response to this issue. Have to say that after his position on the Ghanaian issue he has lost all credibility. Some issues one MUST be nationalistic first and anything else after.
Jay // May 10, 2009 at 1:18 AM
Here is Mr. Rickey Sigh’s “analysis” in the Trinidad News section.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161475484
“IT WOULD be surprising to learn that the two-day 12th meeting of Caricom Foreign Ministers concluded in Kingston yesterday without considering, as a matter of urgent importance, last Tuesday’s statement by Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, threatening mass deportation of community nationals-unless they comply with a six-month amnesty to regularise their status by year end.
Prime Minister Thompson’s statement in parliament, while not offering even an estimated number of non-nationals from the Caribbean living illegally in Barbados, gave the stern warning that if, by the end of the six-month amnesty period, starting this coming June 1, they failed to regularise their status, they would be “removed” that is, deported.
Most of Caricom’s 15-member states are faced with the challenges of having nationals from Community jurisdictions, among them the undocumented, who work and enjoy social benefits.
In the absence of precise statistics, speculations run the gamut on the size of the undocumented or illegals, with figures ranging from a low of approximately 8,000 to above 30,000 (over an accumulated period).
The bulk of such immigrants are reported to comprise Vincentians, Guyanese, St Lucians and Grenadians-in that order-but also include Jamaicans and lesser still Kittians, Antiguans and Trinidadians.
For its part, Trinidad and Tobago, from colonialism to constitutional republic, is reputed to still be the Caricom state that has the biggest challenge in coping with immigrants, in particular from Caricom, more than any other of the Community partners.
Successive administrations in Port of Spain have, nevertheless, managed to avoid the so-called “red flag” scenario that has now surfaced in Barbados.
Thompson’s governing Democratic Labour Party, which replaced the third-term Barbados Labour Party administration of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur in January 2008, has been consistent with its passion to check what it presents as “the flow of Caricom immigrants” that places a “burden” on the economy, and which it was no longer prepared to tolerate.
Last week’s latest development of a six-month grace period before the threatened mass deportation programme is enforced, has come at a time when the Caribbean Community continues to grapple, uneasily, with sensitive issues like common policies on managed migration and freedom of movement.
Sharp criticisms of the Thompson government’s policy have already come from Opposition Leader of the Barbados Labour Party and former Attorney General, Mia Mottley.
She has deemed it to be “discriminatory”-since only nationals of Caricom states have been targeted, without any reference to illegal immigrants from non-Caribbean countries, such as North America and Europe.
Mottley, who was Deputy Prime Minister in the BLP administration, said the move could result in serious consequences for Barbados which has been benefitting the most from intra-regional trade and investments among Caricom states.
Meanwhile, the immigrants then not blamed for “overcrowding” in the illicit sex trade; for “squatting and drug-peddling”, are also being contemptuously dismissed for reducing Barbados to “a kind of warehouse in which is stored the social and other problems of the Caribbean,”according to Attorney General Freundel Stuart.
These “squatters” and “drug-peddlers”, according to Prime Minister Thompson himself, are people from countries “used to underclasses” and accustomed to “substandard conditions”.
Such utterances have been reported, unchallenged, in the local media. The small but vocal segment of anti-immigrants Bajans are delighted by such outbursts but it is not the sentiment of the majority of Barbadians, and there continues to be conflicting views on what’s evolving as a problem that Caricom governments cannot afford to ignore.
Declaring that “the problem of illegal immigration can no longer be ignored”, in view of the economic burden the government has to bear, Prime Minister Thompson made it clear in parliament last Tuesday: “…Therefore, with effect from June 1, 2009 all undocumented Caricom nationals who entered Barbados prior to December 31, 2005 and remained undocumented for a period of eight years or more, are required to come forward and have their status regularised…
“After the qualifying period has expired,” stressed Thompson, “those Caricom nationals without lawful permission to remain in the island will be removed…”"
Anonymous // May 10, 2009 at 5:06 AM
Ricky singh is such a liar when he says that the majority of bajans are not happy with prime minister Thomson’s decision.
Imagine he is writing this for another caribbean newspaper and giving this misleading information so that thomson will look as though he is spiteful and not carrying out the wishes of the majority of bajan people.
I hope thompson watching this carefully,but you see Singh will write that now because it is the same DLP that had to save him after Tom Adams kicked him out.
It is the DLP who give he and his family the papers so that he and his children could fly around with bajan passports.
If he likes the guyanese so much why doesn’t he go back and help them build guyana and better the conditions there?
Sir Bentwood Dick // May 10, 2009 at 6:05 AM
So, we getting rid of de Guyanese.
Last two weeks I see in de papers, one work permit notice for a ‘business manager’ and another work permit notice for a ’sales manager’.
You tell me that with alla de people coming out of Cave Hill, and all of the young managers and supervisors in large companies throughout Barbados, that we cannot find a Business Manager and a Sales Manager?
Will the work permits be granted?
The regularisation of immigration is a right thing to do, but acceptable granting of work permits is also required.
Will large companies have the clout to flout work permit rules ‘legally’?
Is the crackown on ‘lil people only?
The suggestion on this blog a few weeks ago, to have a listing EVERY month in the national newspapers, of the work permits issued that month, is a good one.
Meanwhile, with people advertising for business and sales managers, what are we educating our people at Cave Hill to be, labourers with degrees?
I guess if you are willing to give work permits, in some cases to people with no greater qualifications than locals and in some cases to people less qualified than some locals, therefore leaving out the locals, then maybe getting rid of the Guyanese is a good idea, so that our people with University degrees can work on the construction sites, now to be vacated by Guyanese.
Colonisation is de name of de game.
Wunna trying to bring back massa day?
Sir Bentwood Dick // May 10, 2009 at 6:08 AM
Above, ‘meanwhile, with people advertising for business and sales managers, what are we educating our people at Cave Hill to be, labourers with degrees?’
re-write as with people seeking work permits for business and sales managers,
Dog bite it, this got me vex.
Sir Bentwood Dick // May 10, 2009 at 6:16 AM
By the way, it should also be a stipulation, that any work permit application is sought, the salary advertised for the local position must be at least equal to that salary offered to any subsequent hiring with a work permit.
So, a further stipulation should be, that a work permit will not be granted, if the salary stated and proved, is shown to be greater than the salary that was to be offered if a local had filled the post.
This will ensure that locals are paid appropriately for the post and that locals are willing to take an appropriately paid position, rather than the employer deliberately turning locals off, then employing a person with a work permit at a greater salary.
Sir Bentwood Dick // May 10, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Mr.Editor,
In the absence of the Gov’t listing those work permits issued, maybe a title in the blog could be Work Permits Issued, with contributors, anyone, entering places and positions where they know a work permit has been issued?
This would ensure a publicly available database, albeit by bajans at large, who see positions being filled, especially those where bajans can do the work.
Bush Tea // May 10, 2009 at 9:11 AM
@ David
…I beg to second that proposal from Sir Dickie…
JC // May 10, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Very good proposition! Excellent!
J // May 10, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Anonymous wrote on May 9th at 9:57
“Do bajans know that a leper (Guyanese was in Barbados and was only recently deported”
So what? I am not yet a retiree, and there were Bajan lepers at the Lazaretto in my lifetime. Do you think that that big able Lazaretto property was always an Archives and a University. No. It was full, full of Bajan lepers.
Leprosy is not easily transmitted.
We should be worried about TB which is easily and casually transmitted.
We should be worried about HIV, for which there is no cure.
Do we check white tourists for TB or HIV?
Or it it that their money sweeten we?
J // May 10, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Knight of the long Knives wrote “I make more money than most of the population and can’t see any way to buy an average house without drowning in debt of 25 years”
Dear Knight of the Long Knives:
You do not have to “drown in debt” for 25 years, but you will have to DISCIPLINE yourself for 25 years. You may have to give up, smoking, drinking, nights out with the boys (or girls), holidays overseas, a car (the Transport Board is still in service you) know) and you will be able to pay your mortgate. Beside you know very well that it is not Guyanes immigrants that have driven the cost of houses up. It is the moneyed folk on the west coast you flip this real estate to maximise profits, those real estate agents who encourage this flipping, and all government who collect taxes on the transactions.
Don’t blame poo Guyanese immigrants for driving the up the price of houses in Barbados.
J // May 10, 2009 at 4:46 PM
I believe that the present government’s immigration plans are driven by racism.
I believe that immigration rules should not discriminate against those who were born in the CARICOM region.
It is a strange thing when the government acting in our name plans to treat CARICOM nationals differently (and more harshly) that those illegal immigrants born in the U.K. Canada or the U.S.
I do not like what the Prime Minister has said.
I doubt very much that deporting Guyanese will drive down the cost of living, or the cost of housing.
And what are the government’s plans for the Barbadian born children of illegal CARICOM immigrants?
Does the government plan to forcibly separate parents from their children? And does this remind anyone of slavery?
What was the immigration status of the Prime Minister when he was born in the United Kingdom 40+ years ago?
I smell the nasty hand of that Trinidadian woman who won’t keep off the call-in shows (and most of my cousins are Trinidadian) in this matter.
Does she not claim to be a dear friend of our Minister of Immigration?
Is she?
And is that foreigner influencing our immigration policy?
J // May 10, 2009 at 4:48 PM
The DLP has received a lott, lotta votes from me.
But not another one.
BAJAN BORN // May 10, 2009 at 6:41 PM
“J”, re your good repsonse to the “leper thing”. You got to realise anybody can write in and say all sorts of bad things about Guyanese (and non-natinals in general). Of course, no proof is given This is the same thing the right wing parties and neo-fascist outfits in UK and Europe were (and continue to do) against peple of colour including black Barbadian immigrants and even swarthy and Med and south eastern European types.
This brings me to Albert Brandford’s useful point in his feature in today’s Sunday Sun comparing the recent stand on undocumented here as a diversionary tactic to deflect from ongoing current economic downturn. In effect, the undocumented are being made scapegoats, says Branford..
Albert needs to develop this analysis about this type of opportunism. World wide, it has its origins in a party’s roots and a big question is if the party has a principled ideological grounded in working peoples’ interests. Alternatively, because of a shallow populism which may pander to some peoples’ unsubstantiated fears, it may feel confient in taking and implementing positions, such as anti-foreigner measures, which are effectively against said interests.Both main Barbadian parties are rooted in the working class so how could we have this present situation ?
.As for Mr. Daniels above, if McDougall wasn’t “mandated” to report on the real minorities in Guyana why is her so called report so labelled ?
Please address the roots of main party formation in Guyana and their continued adherence to respective ideologies: one rooted in defence of petty bourgoeis racist interests which has to continue to pander to lingering fears about “discrimination” in order avoid the dustbin of history ; the other from the beginning in a multi- racial/religious working class approach taking in certain historical realities and which will be in power for a very long time…….
David // May 10, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Faria you are very selective in picking the articles to support why Barbados should continue with a free for all immigration policy. Why not pick the article which quoted Byron Blake former Deputy at the CARICOM Secretariat? Did he not say that not only Barbados but all the countries in the Caribbean need to regulate its immigration flows. What about the article by New York Correspondent Tony Best who wrote that Barbadians in the Diaspora are on borad with the government’s policy.
So Faria hasn’t PM Thompson given undocumented workers in Barbados an opportunity to get legal? Would you prefer the bedlam continues of not knowing who what where? The ignorance of some Barbadians who profess to be so intelligent making this an issue about Barbadians being xenophobic when many islands in CARICOM are doing the same thing.
Trinidad. Adventist. Gay?! // May 10, 2009 at 9:05 PM
No wonder that the Indian continent,Guyana,Trinidad and wherever Indian lived are filled with all types of diseases and plaques. That is why we must keep a lid of the numbers of rat catcher/mango seller Indians in Barbados.Those from the Continent & especially those from Guyana & Trinidad.
——————————-
This is wild!
Lawd have mercy!
You must feel cooped up or something…
I mean: aren’t you even a little ashamed?
JC // May 10, 2009 at 9:50 PM
We should be worried about TB which is easily and casually transmitted.
We should be worried about HIV, for which there is no cure.
Do we check white tourists for TB or HIV?
Or it it that their money sweeten we?
___________________________
J you know I respect you but sweet girl you dont know the half of it! It seems that although persons have eyes they refuse to see.
How long must this madness go on…..
I thought as anyright thinking bajan that you would want to know who is in your country and WHY they have overstayed.
Be they Caricom nationals or People from the European countries or Asian.
I dont give a hoot where you come from you must do it legally!
Sorry j but I aint with you atall on this one!
Peace!
J // May 10, 2009 at 10:07 PM
David you wrote “that Barbadians in the Diaspora are on board with the government’s policy.”
We do not care what Barbadians in the diaspora think.
They do not live here.
They do not work here.
They do not pay taxes here (ok a pittance in land tax).
They do not vote here.
And yes some of the diaspora are my siblings, neices and nephews (pepole whose diapers I’ve changed) and will change again when necessary, and other people who I love very much.
I would give them a kidney (but not an overseas vote) tomorrow.
The Prime Minister of Barbados MUST not set policy based on what the diaspora wants.
Did any of them vote for him?
Can he collect a cent of taxes from any of them tomorrow?
If the Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States put undocumented CARICOM nationals in their countries on immigration notice we in Barbados would be screaming racism and bloody murder.
But when our Prime Minister does it, it is ok ?
J // May 10, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Dear JC:
You wrote “anyright thinking bajan that you would want to know who is in your country and WHY they have overstayed.”
But WE DO KNOW who is in our country.
I don’t understand where this term undocumented immigrants comes from.
Barbados has virtually no “undocumented” immigrants.
People who enter Barbados enter through one or the other of our 2 main ports, precisely because undocumented entry by sea would be difficult and expensive, and undocumented entry by air is virtually impossible.
Everybody who enters through the Bridgetown Port, the airport, and presumably Port St. Charles is DOCUMENTED by an immigration officer.
I’ve left and entered Barbados dozens of times and each time an Immigration officer documents my entry an my navel string (unlike the Prime Minister’s) bury here.
I think that most of us seem to have forgotten our geography. Our nearest neighbor is 90 miles over the sea.
Precisely because of this Barbados’ borders are easier to police that the thousands of miles long land borders that conect the United States, Mexico and Canada.
As to why people overstayed?
JC there are 2 reasons. People overstay because the find work that pays better thatn work at m=home.
Some overstay because they fall in love, or at least in temporary lust.
We do not need to threaten people with deportation to answer your questions.
We already know the answers.
But maybe they are the answers you and people like you do not want to hear.
Negroman // May 10, 2009 at 11:53 PM
JC
Why answered the nit picker J.She nit picks at trivia as I always indicated.
J the Democratic Labour Party DOES NOT need your vote to be the government of Barbados.The other thousands of Barbadians are satisfied & happy with this government position on this illegal immigration issue
I want to see mass deportation of non-nationals they are taking up space including musty,unkempt Norman Faria.
J rest yourself You are old and you are losing it.You are defending a position that is no defendable.
BAJAN BORN // May 11, 2009 at 7:38 AM
“David”, whoever you are, where you get this thing of associating the BAJAN BORN blogger with the person you name ? Where you get that from ? If someone signs himself BAJAN BORN , under the system of anonymity shown to other bloggers, why are you trying to give her/him a real name ? This just exposes hypocrisy when it comes to free speech.
More importantly, it shows why the BU gets only a handful of people (some under multiple names) writing in and cases like Negroman jerking off with their racism and hatred against Guyanese, both black and East Indian.
Indeed, weren’t it for Guyanese-bashing where would this little gossip corner be ? You got to permit racism like describing peoples as disease ridden and thieves and slander people’s reputation to try and keep people reading . But I guess people got no shame or self espect.And you know the people behind this little divisive ( and they got to be some money making somewhere) operation would long be paying hefty fines and be pulled off line in countries like Canada.
Get real, or better yet go and try and and meet an Indian Guyanese single woman (if you are single and male) court she and get married. Both of you, spread the genes !
Long live the unity and friendship of Bajans and Guyanese !
Long live the progress and democracy in Guyana !
David // May 11, 2009 at 7:48 AM
BU has repeatedly written that we don’t associate with some comments posted on BU which are extreme but we respect free speech. We wonder why you don’t address directly issues which BU blogs. Why would the Consul of Guyana want to hide behind the mask of anonymity?
You should not be too concerned about BU’s readership. You should be more concern about respecting and promoting the sovereign rights of Barbados.
mash up & buy back // May 11, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Every sentence in that last post by bajan born gives him away as the Norman Faria – the bane of bajan society.
If faria is such a fearless freedom fighter on behalf of the guyanese people then he should speak without fear of using his name.
However by using a puesdo name he can say nasty things about bajan citizens and the freedom of expression in this country that he knows will be crossing the line as an ‘honorary consul’.
So BU is exposing him every time when he threatens lawsuits and says nasty things about the bloggers and he does not like it.
mash up & buy back // May 11, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Freddie Kissoon’s article in the kaeitur newspaper makes for interesting reading.
He says that many prominent guyanese citizens in business,religion media,politics like the WPA (the party of walter rodney) are all disgusted and shocked by what is happening under this basdeo jagdeo PPP regime.
A mr Roopnarine – a well known guyanese describe forbes burnham as a boy scout as compared to that of basdeo jagdeo’s corruption.
He and members of his cabinet are seen out late at nights with girls as young as 15 and partying with known drug pushers.
Worst of all all the top state jobs are reserved for the family members and close friends of the jagdeo administration.
Now you understand why faria would not like ruel daniels and others to speak about that,and why he and ricky singh are so scared to go back to their guyanese homeland.
Life is nice here in goog ole Bim.
Without a doubt if you go on word on the street they are the 2 most hated guyanese living in Barbados.
Walk softly my friends,and remember you are guests in this country.
JC // May 11, 2009 at 11:48 AM
@ J
I don’t understand where this term undocumented immigrants comes from.
Barbados has virtually no “undocumented” immigrants.
__________________________
Really! what about those persons who came in true the CORRECT systems but refuse to do the honorable thing and that is to GO BACK HOMEEEEE or request for a work permit or for a longer period of stay! That would be the LEGAL THING to do.
___________________________
I’ve left and entered Barbados dozens of times and each time an Immigration officer documents my entry an my navel string (unlike the Prime Minister’s) bury here.
_________________________
But he has bajan parents! And his parents made sure that they went throught the corect legal channels to get his citizenship LEGAL! Who Ali Singh and Basit Ali knows or belongs too!
__________________________
JC there are 2 reasons. People overstay because the find work that pays better thatn work at m=home.
_________________________
What about my friend ‘Sam’ who has a family to support and these people come and take away their jobs LEGALLY. Because a million of them live in the same house and can split the bills but what about Sam who lives in the same house same family and one bajan dollar is still one bajan dollar what shite you talking about?
_________________________
Some overstay because they fall in love, or at least in temporary lust.
_________________________
J I work in an institution that proves that most of these marraiges are a SHAM please spear me!
___________________________
We do not need to threaten people with deportation to answer your questions.
We already know the answers.
But maybe they are the answers you and people like you do not want to hear.
__________________________
J you believe that I came and I said that I respected you and you make me out to be an IDIOT ……… the man giving the Guyanese and all other non nationals AMNESTY (which I dont think they deserve).
And you say that I dont want too hear when MOST bajans are supporting the PM you dont have to vote for him. vote for Mia so that that one day she can knock on your house and tell you that the Guyanese need your land then I would hear a different story ( I know that you will come with the talk bout you navel string bury right here Mia and them aint want to hear that lol
Look J sweet girl have a GREAT DAY!
Dark Knight // May 11, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Question Time
I drew attention to the Immigration Act of Barbados to show you that under the Act, three people have power:
The Minister – in this case the PM; The Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) and Immigration Officers.
No court; no judge; no magistrate no one else have power to over-turn their decision as it relates to illegal immigrants.
With the number of DLP Immigration Officers in the system – how then did Barbados get 30,000 illegal immigrants – as alleged by the DLP when in Opposition?
Since there is a point and certain conditions to be met before a persons becomes an illegal immigrant – was there organise crime; a crime syndicate, and or corruption in the Immigration Department?
Can the proposed immigration clean-up take place with existing Immigration Officers doing that job?
Illegal Immigrant bounty
Consistent with the DLP’s new employmement creation strategy of offering $0.50 per pound to pick African Snails – will the PM be putting $1.5 million in his budget (30,000 illegal immigrants x $50.00 = $1.4 million) and offering a bounty for each illegal immigrant turned over to the Immigration department – so that the can be banished from Barbados by New year 2110?
anon // May 11, 2009 at 8:36 PM
bc pires funny today, the cuss he receive make him settle down
Comment // May 12, 2009 at 12:36 AM
J, do not mislead the public. The amnesty debate DIED in the Senate: Americans of all political persuasions were and are against. Republicans were & are against McCain for his and Pres. Bush’s comprehensive immigration bill; don’t even want to hear the details of the bill and are still talking about building a wall along the Mexican border.
J // May 12, 2009 at 7:35 AM
JC wrote “vote for Mia so that that one day she can knock on your house”
Neither Mia (nor David) can come to my house without permission.
I’ve never invited either of them to my home (and I’ve NEVER gone to theirs) and I don’t plan to invite either of them.
So rest easy JC.
Anonymous // May 12, 2009 at 8:16 AM
David
Could you please publish Freddie Kisson’s article in the Kaeiteur newspaper as:A NEW ARTICLE/POST by the BU household?
It is stinging like stinging bees!
Ruel Daniels // May 12, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Here is a piece you guys might like.
*************************************
Why doesn’t Rickey Singh come home to Guyana?
May 12, 2009 | By knews | Filed Under Features /
Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
During the seventies, when I was a UG student, I pointed out a criticism that was made against Professor Clive Thomas. I was young and radical and wanted to fight all the time. So I told Dr. Thomas he must reply. With his characteristic smile, he said that it is not everything you reply to; some things you just don’t dignify. I always remember those words of Clive Thomas.
I will not dignify the nonsense Vishnu Bisram writes about me. Every Guyanese who follows political debate in this country and every reader of the newspapers’ letter section will know by now that over the past two years, Mr. Bisram has failed to name the American high school he works at.
Quite shockingly, he got his side-kick, a person by the name of Anand Boodram, to write a letter in this newspaper stating that Mr. Bisram makes up for the time when he is in another countries doing polls by teaching his students in the summer recess. How foolish! I have been a teacher my whole life and teachers in schools and universities have to function from September to June in a calendar year.
All over the world, including Canada and Guyana where I have experience, and in the US where Mr. Bisram lives, that is how the school curriculum is set.
Over the past five years, he has failed to cite the address, telephone numbers and names of the leadership of an organization that employs him to do polls, called NACTA. There is no such organization. Fortunately, for Guyanese readers, David de Caires, before he died, discontinued publishing the fictional polls of Mr. Bisram and told him that he is free to use the letter pages of the Stabroek.
That is where Bisram’s current poll data can be found.
I ignore the mediocre ramblings of the Honorary Consul of Guyana in Barbados, Norman Faria. No one should pay attention to his foolish propaganda. Propaganda can be astute and interesting but in Faria’s case, it is extremely childish. Trust the PPP Government to employ incompetent people.
Faria’s latest outpouring against me relates to my criticism of Cuba. There is no need to mention his glowing tribute about democracy in Cuba. Faria can eulogize imaginary freedoms and fictional democracy in Cuba because he lives in one of Planet Earth’s enduring democracies – Barbados.
Faria isn’t going anywhere, not even in Guyana, a country that is 83, 000 square miles, that has vastly wealthier people than Barbados yet thousands of Guyanese are flocking that island of 166 square miles in search of a better life.
Faria’s friends have been in power in Guyana for over sixteen years yet Faria isn’t interested in living in Guyana.
Living in Barbados, too, and quite happily so, is pro-PPP propagandist, Rickey Singh. In this life, one cannot demand respect. I will not request others to respect me and I will decide to whom I will show moral admiration. I have no recognition for Rickey Singh as a media functionary. I disagreed when UWI bestowed an honorary doctorate on him.
I concede that Singh does not need my blessing but at least I have the right to inform my readers how I feel about him. He has been running a Sunday Chronicle article since the PPP returned to power. His topics consist of consistent criticism of some of the some democratic societies in the world – the Caricom islands. But you do not read anything pointed from this about elected dictatorship, corruptibility and governmental immorality in Guyana.
This man is extremely overbearing in his journalistic double standards.
His latest mischief centres on the Barbadian Prime Minister. Mr. Thompson has indicated that undocumented immigrants will have to report for bureaucratic processing or else face deportation. This is normal in any country. Obscure, poor, unrecognized Guyana deports people if they overstay their visit or enter illegally. Imagine that!
In his last Sunday Chronicle column, Singh lashed out at Mr. Thompson and did a journalistically dishonest thing. He wrote that Trinidad has more illegal migrants than Barbados yet is not behaving the way Barbados is doing.
How can one make such a foolish comparison? Trinidad has a stronger population, more land space and a vastly better economic prospect for migrants than Barbados. It can accommodate the hundreds of illegal Guyanese that presently live in Barbados. The reality is that Barbados cannot accommodate the thousands of Guyanese that want to settle there.
Singh should encourage them to stay in Guyana and help vote the PPP out of power. Singh too should come back home. He has overstayed his welcome in Barbados
David // May 12, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Will post it the rotation tonight.
Anonymous // May 12, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Thanks david
Negroman // May 12, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Norman Faria contributed to the harsh,stringent measures imposed by David Thompson on non-nationals Caribbean people in Barbados.
Can anyone remembers when David Thompson in one of his television interviews criticised Norman Faria & Ricky Singh for their constant interference into the internal affairs of Barbados.He made the point that those persons were making things worst for their fellow nationals by the rhetoric that was coming from them, highly critical of Barbadians & Barbados.I am sure that our Prime Minister was totally annoyed with Norman Faria when he wanted VOB to ban callers discussing the illegal immigration issue.Also when he also encouraged the Nation Newspaper to limit its publication of anything regarding the illegal immigration issue.I also believe that our Prime Minister did not take to kindly with the call from Norman Faria for the Commissioner of Police to charge callers and also for the blogs particularly this one to be shut down.
I totally agreed with Freddie Kisson call for Ricky Singh & Norman Faria to back their bags and go back home to Guyana.Both of them are taking up space
Guyanese in Barbados should be hostile and angry with Norman Faria & Ricky Singh.It is because of the interference by both of them that caused the Prime Minister to imposed those harsh matters.
Guyanese blame Norman Faria & Ricky Singh for the predicament that many of you all are now encountering in Barbados.Maybe if Norman Faria & Ricky Singh did not meddled in our domestic affairs maybe the stipulations for immigrant status might not be as stringent as there are now presently..
y. paris // May 12, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I an a west indian living in the United States. I have been following the issue of free movement of people in caricom and the time has come for regional governments to make a decision regarding illegal immigration. the rest of the caricom islands, minus guyana should follow suit and deport all illegals from their shores. the good people of barbados and their prime minister should declare ricky singh persona non grata permanently, once and for all. the people of barbados have a right to protect their sovreignty just as every other country in the world. mr david thompson is right to kick all illegal immigrants out of barbados. barbados cannot be the dumping ground for guyanese. barbados is for barbadians now and forever!
JC // May 12, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Now folks this is a classic; my old aunt is a returning national and no matter what I tell her she says that every one deserves a chance.
Anyhow she rented a Guyanese her house; moreover, she went and took out a fridge for this man and he aint paying the bill. My poor aunt can’t pay for the fridge and she couldn’t sleep last night!
I You believe she now cursing them and call immigration ha ha ahhahah!
I know that is my aunt, it served her RIGHT!
Dark Knight // May 13, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Here is Leadership:
+++++++++++++++++++++
Don’t do it! – Bahamian PM admonishes immigration officers for ‘offensive behaviour’ towards Jamaicans
Published: Wednesday | May 13, 2009
Alison Lowe, Gleaner Writer
Bahamian immigration officers received a tongue-lashing from the country’s prime minister on Monday for what he described as their often “offensive behaviour” towards Jamaicans entering the country through its various ports of entry.
The officers, gathered for the opening ceremony of the Immigration Department’s ‘First Annual Public Service Conference’, were admonished by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to put an end to their ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.
Running through a veritable laundry list of complaints about the department, including the development of an informal ‘pay-to-play’ culture of corruption, where officers “look the other way for a price”, Ingraham went on to express his grievances about the treatment of many Jamaicans coming to The Bahamas.
The prime minister acknowledged that Jamaicans were “frequently exposed” to “insolent and rude” behaviour by immigration staff in The Bahamas upon arrival at ports of entry and “very particularly” at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090513/lead/lead1.html
+++++++++++++++++
Watch and lean Thompie!!!
Knight of the Long Knives // May 13, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Once again Dark Knight you and whoever you represent should be deported along with the 30,000+ who live here.
Anonymous // May 14, 2009 at 9:06 AM
As a member of Georgetown’s Central Seventh Day Adventist Church on Church Street in the beautiful capital city of Guyana it is indeed ironic that I saw a poster on this blog named Trinidad Adventist gay, for he should know that the wages of sin is death,
and that is exactly where he is heading with this foolishness.
Please allow me to ask Trinidad gay to remove the Adventist from his name, for he should know that the Seventh Day Adventist Church literally follows God’s word, and as Christians we must must obey God’s word where it says that no man shalt lie with another man. Trinidad is no longer pure in heart for he lusts, which is a sin, and another sin which is lusting for his own kind. You see the devil has gotton hold of Trinidad gay, but Jesus died on Calary for him, so I if he will stop his foolish behaviour and return Christ he will be granted eternal life.
Mash up & buy back // May 15, 2009 at 6:56 AM
That vincentian jackass gonsalves braying as loud as he can about Barbados new stance on immigration,and threatening that he Gonsalves thinking of pulling out of CSME.
Go ahead Gonsalves,make my day.
Gonsalves seems to have a hatred against Barbados since that time the late Tom Adams sent him out of Barbados as perona non grata for the public stsements he was making.
Every time he opens his mouth he has something to say against Barabdos.
Why he can’t say anything against st lucia,grenada,dominica and even Jamaica who are all deporting the illegal caricom citizens out of their country?
Huh?
If any of you bloggers had any doubt.this country Barbados is the most envied and the most hated little island in the caribbean – and all because we have made a success of what God gave us.
Check today’s Nation and see what Gonsalves had to say.
Negroman // May 15, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Ralph Gonsalves is talking his usual rubbish.He is speaking not only for himself but for his communist comrade Bharat Jagdeo.
This is the time that nationalistic,patriotic Barbadians must stand behind our leader and support him in the clampdown on illegal immigrants.David Thompson is going to be under intense pressure from almost all Caribbean leaders to reverse his tough immigration initiative.This assault by Ralph Gonsalves is not no one of shot, but a systematic plan by some leaders in the region including Bharat Jagdeo backed by Ricky Singh & musty Norman Faria to derail,frustrate and undermine David Thompson new immigration policy.
Why must Barbados allow a relative of a non-national who married a Barbadian free access to our education & other services.I support the imigration department actions in this regard.Congrats to the immigration department.Barbados social services are for Barbadians who have worked and are working and those who have contributed to the development of this great nation.
Ralph Gonsalves why used the the issue of the little child to malign our immigration department that have a responsibility to protect our country.United States of America,Canada & many European countries deny visas to many people including students and in some cases sick children because those individuals did not meet the entry requirements.I don’t hear any criticism from clown leaders like Ralph Gonsalves or Bharat Jagdeo when those things occurred.Why should Barbados be constantly be criticize for enforcing our immigrations policies.
Ralph Gonsalves & Bharat Jagdeo 2 of you all should implement policies that will build your countries and make them conducive enough for the nationals of those countries to remain at home and have comfortable lives.It is a condemnation of the policies of both you as leaders that have resulted in the mass exodus of your nationals to the best managed country in the Caribbean prior to 1994 that is Barbados.
Ralph Gonsalves,Bharat Jagdeo the anti man,Ricky Singh the nuisance and musty,unkempt Norman Faria you all cannot derail David Thompson new immigration policy.The whole of Barbados is supporting our Prime Minister.
David Thompson was elected Prime Minister of Barbados and not the Prime Minister of the Caribbean.In that regard he must enact policies that will put Barbadians first.
Mash up & buy back // May 15, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I now understand what is going on after reading ricky singh in the Nation today.
For the past year or so ricky singh has been using ralph gonsalves the prime minister of st vincent to capitalise on his ‘bully pulpit’ as prime minister to condemn Barbados every time Barbados starts to push back against the large influx of illegal persons in this country.
I kept noticing ricky singh would write these nasty comments about barbados and then he would get gonsalves to make a statement on it.
Remember when P.M. Thompson said ‘ever so welcome wait for a call’,and that Barbados could not afford the numer of illegals coming here – that gonsalves said that barbados benefitted the most from exports and therefore if we send back their people the other caribbean countries woill stop buying from us?
Remeber when he said that under the CSME Thompson could not regulate the flow of caricom persons into barbados?
I hope the DLP politicians are not sleeping on their fat bottoms and are reading this because it is clear there is collusion between mia mottley and the BLP,ricky singh and Jagdeo ,in conjunction with ralp gonsalves to destabilise and bring down Barbados.
And this action and comment by mia mottley which is repeated in every ricky singh coulumn,week after week since thompson’s statement shows us clearly HOW MUCH THE BLP ARE UNPATRIOTIC AND HAVE NO LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
It is all about Political Expediency.
This is why Owen arthur did not care how many ****#@#** guysnese and others came into this country.Bjans could talk whatever they like Arthur was not listening.
Now consider how mia mottley’s statement about how much we export to caricom and the backlash that will occur,is similar to gonsalves statement.
Notice how the Nation newspaper rushes to give print to ricky singh ‘hatchet job’ on Barbados aided and abetted by Gonsalves.
Read singh’s article and gonalsves comment in today’s nation and you will see that before Gonsalves had even made the statement to his Vincentian parliament singh already had the information and had written his article.
Singh and gonsalves should remember that it was the BLP government that deported them from Barbados and it was the DLP government that lifted the ban.
If ricky singh is so enamoured with Ralph Gonsalves why doesn’t he go and live in St Vincent?
His children are all grown and are living elsewhere so he has no ties to barbados;no extended family members here,no young children at school,no permanent job that ties him to living in barbados.
Why doesn’t he leave?
Barbados seems to be the only caribbean country which has lost its sovereignity and cannot make independent decisions for the good of its people.
But it is the disloyalty of the BLP’s opposition which hurts the most.
JC // May 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Mash up and buy Back, you are RIGHT!
JC // May 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Ralph Gonsalves there is no CSME NONE, Barbados has continued to face the brunt of all illegal immigrants ALL!
Golding dont want no part of CSME, Trinidad Dont want no part of CSME (although the CCJ is located there!)
Vincentians growing herb cant done and making money from off of the bajans!
Vincentians were always welcomed and you come and jook your ‘abusive’ nose in Bajans’ business.
I just dont get it the only body to suffer is Barbados.
Imagine, a Prime Minister who says he knows the laws of CSME is making noise for a Vincentian lady to bring her 2 neices to Barbados to go to a FREE SCHOOL!
I thouhgt these were suppose to be going to private school. Are they the couple’s children? So we are suppose to support them with our social Services?
Ricky Singh you right cause the DLP help you out when Tom cut your ass!
It serve us right cause nuff of my friends are in jail cause they are PISTPOOR we aint know no body! But we would eat ya raw for our country which aint enough cause persons like you could insult the people who welcomed you! But we still gone long to jail!
WHAT IRONY!
Anonymous // May 15, 2009 at 3:36 PM
From all reports bajans want Thompson to proceed with this new immigration policy full speed ahead.
He will really have to increase the number of immigration officers because the guyanese and jamaicans and other illegals say they going underground,they will not go into immigration.
I am waiting to see how serious thompson is about this policy.
Fair Play // May 15, 2009 at 5:12 PM
This is a great conspiracy between the unpatriotic Barbados opposition, the jealous leaders and people of the other CARICOM countries.
I was shock to read Ralph Gonzales arguing that Barbados was unfair to deny two Vincentian children who were nieces of a woman that marry a Barbadian the opportunity to use our school system free. The children were not hers. There is no law which says that they have that right.
Why doesn’t he speak to the Bahamas Prime Minister to allow the Haitians in so that they do not drown trying to get to Florida? Why pick only on Barbados. He only mentioned our Prime Minister and Barbados as this uncaring country.
Barbadians must stand behind the Prime Minister. Let us show Mia Motley that the majority of Barbadians support the new immigration policy.
mash up & buy back // May 15, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Fairplay
Consider also how the leadership of the BLP was able to get a consultancy contract for noel lynch in St Vincent.
He is suppose to be advising them on Tourism. Lol.
Connect the dots and you will see the hand of owen arthur,mia mottley and the rest of the BLP intent on trying to bring down the Dlp and in the process destroy Barbados.
Think…….. and then think again, what our fate would have been had we been so demented as to return the BLP to power.
Not one of those BLP parlimentarians in the house right now has broken with their party and supported the prime minister,and further more – supported their country.
Remember this when election comes around and they try to fudge the truth and spin,spin,spin.
mash up & buy back // May 15, 2009 at 8:05 PM
I hope prime minister thompson manages to make some statement on ralp gonsalves and ricky singh behaviour in the budget speech on Monday.
He also needs to speak about Mia and her party’s behaviour.
Wright B.Astard // May 15, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Let the illegals go underground to avoid deportation. We have placed a bounty on the snails, and could just as easily place one on absconders. Also we need legislation to deal with those who employ illegals .
Me // May 15, 2009 at 11:20 PM
I read somewhere Gonzalves is an accused serial rapist.
Jay // May 16, 2009 at 2:55 AM
@Wright B.Astard
There are already laws on the books in Barbados that an employer can be fined up to $10,000 for hiring illegal immigrants,but the problem is I believe it rarely enforced.Aiding & Abetting illegal immigrants is also an offense where someone can be fined but yet again it is rarely enforced.The truth is that the Immigration Department is going to have to at least triple in size in terms of personnel & given the necessary money for their to be truly any real results or have specialized immigration units raiding work places all over.
Anonymous // May 16, 2009 at 4:29 AM
You see when we tell you about the negative behaviour of the guyanese in this country some people want to discount it.
Check out today’s nation newspaper where a guyanese a Mr Anderson went and got a fradulently got a birth certificate saying he was a Mr Niles who it turned out had died.
Then he applied and got an I.D. card and WENT TO VOTE WITH IT.
Could it be he was anxious to keep the BLP in power?
He was caught and fined the maxium fee of $100.00 and deported.
If this government intends to be serious about illegal immigration,they need to increase these penalties;and to impose new fines for persons caught renting to an illegal or habouring them at their home.
Then some of these ignorant bajans will get the message as well as the corrupt guyanese.
CARICOM NEEDS TO START SPEAKING OUT AGAINST JAGDEO OF GUYANA AND HOW HE IS EXPORTING HIS PEOPLE TO ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON THESE OTHER COUNTRIES.
The Scout // May 16, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Anonymous
For some time now, I have been warning bajans about who they were getting in bed with. I was called all kinds of derogatory names. I told the bajan populace that they are camping under a dangerous volcano that is about to erupt. Well, that eruption has started, from usually reliable sources, I have been told that the illegals are not planning to leave this country and if this government forces an issue they are prepared to cause enough problems to destablise this government and country. When I looked at it, all it takes is for some distrubance to occur and with a meltdown in the economy and tourists are advised not to travel to Barbados and wiuth the support of the opposition in this country along with gonsalves and jagdeo, Barbados can become very depressed. However, I’m sure that we are able to survive anything these people throw at us. The wider region were all hoping for the day they can destablise Barbados and if we are not careful and united it will happen. I have spooken enough , I now await to do my turn as a patriotic bajan to defend my country against these parasites now turn enenmies. They are worse than the African snails, at lease somebody is willing to take the snails bit no-one wants to take these illigals, not even their own country.
Observer // May 16, 2009 at 5:30 PM
St. Vincent advisor Muscle Mary Noel Lynch should advise Ralph Gonzalves to curb flow of illicit drugs to Barbados before he airs his big mouth.
Anonymous // May 16, 2009 at 7:28 PM
The prime minister tonight is talking about how tough an economic fight we have on our hands and how there are not going to be any jobs for the 3,000 or so young persons leaving school this year.
And ralph gonsalves is demanding that we keep all these illegal vincentians and guyanese and push the bajans out of their jobs,or better yet let the vincentians and guyanese send their children to school free,and enjoy our free medical services,as well as get welfare checks.
Barbados heading for deep waters.
Jay // May 16, 2009 at 11:08 PM
What the heck is wrong with the BLP saying the new immigration policy is “Barbados’ Shame” on their Official site.Maybe the party should be renamed the Caricom Labor Party since they don’t appear to have the interest of the country or the people at heart,how sad !
http://blp.org.bb/news/655
PureBajan1 // May 16, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Last time I checked, Thompson has never been accused of rape. That Gonsalves should clean up his business and butt out of Barbados’ affairs. Remember he indicated he had no intention of stopping the cultivation of ganja because he said that was how Vincentians had to survive although it is illegally shipped to Barbados and frustrates our law enforcement authority. On that matter, Thompson said nothing now he wants to tell Thompson what he should do.
Gonsalves go and get a shave. Leave the young girls alone.
David // May 16, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Secretary General Edwin Carington of CARICOM seems to be signaling that the Prime Minister of Barbados will be dealt with at the next CARICOM Heads meeting. Now is the time for ALL to support our Prime Minister in the face of a regional conspiracy to single out Barbados.
Bore dickey // May 17, 2009 at 12:28 AM
PureBajan1 // May 16, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Gonsalves go and get a shave. Leave the young girls alone.
—————————-
rotflmao
Bajans ain't foolish // May 17, 2009 at 4:43 AM
David
What makes you suggest that edwin carrington is about to give barbados a tongue lashing?
Did he make a public statement recently?
I think he better think twice about that.Remember last year when P.J. Patterson supported barbados by saying small countries like barbados must protect itself against large influx of people in spite of freedom of movement?
Mature politicians who don’t have a ‘hate-Barbados’ agenda understand the problem that we are facing.
Edwin Carrington lives in Guyana because the head quarters of the caricom secratariat is there.
He is a man of african descent.
He sees daily what is happening to afro guyanese and yet he says not one thing in their defence.
All like now he should be calling a meeting of the heads to castigate basdeo jagdeo’s policy of dumping hie guyanese people on all these poor caribbean states.
What the shite I seeing though at all.
Anonymous // May 17, 2009 at 5:52 AM
The conspiracy continues.
David/BU hurry up with your article.
Today,guyanese roxanne gibbs,who is editor of the nation and a supporter of the BLP,has given over the editorial page to ricky singh,another guyanese to whip up anger and irrational outburst against our immigration officers by giving exxagerated and perhaps even made up stories about what is happening since the P.M. announcement.
Never have we seen a Nation editorial listing the crimes the guyaneses commit here in barbados,be it being deported and returning on false passports,robbing businesses,committing horrible murders,getting false bajan documents,etc.
Never have we seen the nation editorial page lambasting basdeo jagdeo for his treatment of afro guyanese or his policy of exporting his people all over so that they can send back foreign exchange to his country.
Not a word.
But these low life ingrates won’t go home and correct their problem,but instead want to make demands in this country which has given them and their family a good life.
Bajans are with you prime minister thompson and we are demanding thaat you increase the pressure.
Don’t let up at any cost!
JC // May 17, 2009 at 7:17 AM
What is going on bout here? You know for years I hear people say BAJANS have no backbone!
We never had problems with vincentians, lucians, guyanese etc.
BUT THEY HAVE LOADS OF PROBLEMS WITH US!
My proof is the shite I hearing from Roxanne Gibbs, Ricky Singh, Norman Faria and company.
Well if it is fight them want it is fight them gonna get.
WE BAJANS ARE NOT LEAVING BARBADOS!!!!!!!!!!!
MY FOREPARENTS WORK HARD IS ASSSSSSSS, NOT A BOY HELP WE!
My Grandmother told me that in the days of Federation when Jamaica pulled out Eric Williams from Trinidad say ‘ 1 from 10 leaves nought.!
Well I got another nought ‘NOT FOR SHITE!’ will we allow people to come here and dictate who we should let stand. We will not be bullied!
Imagine, if the BLP had gotten back in ………… man bajans wouldda be DEAD!
Mia YOU WILL NEVER EVER GET ME OR ANYBODY ON THE BLOCKS VOTE!
NEEEEEVVVVEEEER!
Jay // May 17, 2009 at 2:10 PM
The way how I see it,the immigration situation is complex on the island because of regional,& believe it or not beyond regional forces.There are forces that want to open up Barbados to all which include the BLP,commentators such as Rickey Singh,the Honorary Consul Norman Faria,P.M. Gonsalves & President Jagdeo & other members of Caricom.If you think about it,the odds seem pretty stacked against those whom would like immigration enforcement in Barbados,but I think if it wasn’t for the EPA P.M Thompson would most likely not have come out with such rigorous immigration protocols.The EPA’s EU visa waiver took many years for the previous Government & Caricom to implement but I don’t think they truly understood what strings were attached.
Europe,albeit being mainly liberal,have some of the most restrictive immigration policies on this planet & do not simply give visa waivers & if Barbados was going to keep its own the Prime Minster had to do something about the illegal immigration mess,& I believe the same for Antigua & soon St. Kitts as well since they are also apart of CSME.
I thought it was a bit suspicious that the P.m. chose June 1st as a date considering the Immigration Amnesty which you’ll know why soon.I just saw an article that mentioned as of June 1st Mauritians will have visa free access to the EU.What makes this so absolutely significant is that Mauritius was one of the countries covered under the EPA to have EU visa restrictions lifted & Barbados was also apart of that list of countries.I guess Hopi was right big brother is watching.I believe it was internal pressure & extra regional pressure that made the Prime Minister actually act on the illegal immigration matter,but it is just my theory.
http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/mauritians-exempt-from-visa-in-schengen-area-2009050927198.html
“Mauritius – Mauritians who wish to travel to Europe will be exempt from short stay visa in Schengen area from 1 June and the agreement on the decision will be signed on 28 May, Mauritian Foreign Affairs ministry official told PANA on Friday.
‘This agreement will enable Mauritians to stay in Schengen area without a visa for a maximum period of three months out of six,” the official of the ministry said, announcing that travelers would, however, have to make sure that the required conditions to stay in Schengen area were respected.
These conditions include a travel document which indicates that the visitor will leave Schengen area at the end of a given period, an accommodation certificate, an insurance policy, a minimum amount of money and a valid passport.
The official urged Mauritians to honour their engagements, stressing that they take risks by not respecting the criteria of the protocol.
“We worked hard to have this agreement. We must not have it suspended,” he said, before urging Mauritian travelers to enquire about these conditions before they leave.”
Negroman // May 17, 2009 at 3:23 PM
I am boycotting the Nation Newspaper from today.Not one Nation,Saturday or Sunday Sun newspaper I will buy again.The Advocate is my paper of choice from today.
After reading that editorial in the Sunday Sun and also reading what that political hum bug & nuisance David Comissiong is saying by trying to organize a committee to challenge or new immigration policy,it shows the orchestrated pressure that is being put on David Thompson to relax the new immigration policy.David Thompson the vast majority of Barbadians are supportive of your efforts and no one will derail your programme once Negroman,is around.Patriotic Barbadians the time is now to show our patriotism and support our Prime Minister in his time of need.He needs our support or his effort might be in vain.Fellow Barbadians do not let up please continue to call the call in programmes,continue to write letters to the newspapers,and continue to post your comments on the blogs especially this blog.
I support our immigration officers in carrying out our immigration policy.Yes round up illegal non-nationals wherever they are located.If it means stopping them in the streets,removing them off public transportation,raiding work sites or raiding their homes,I support your measures.Get out the non-nationals they are taking space especially the corrupt,wicked,despicable Indo-Guyanese human waste.
Barbadians do not fall for the sympathy trap that is being put out there.Ralph Gonsalves outburst and his reference to school children being denied student visas along with the editorial in today’s Sunday Sun are part of the plan orchestrated to gain the sympathy of Barbadians.Do not fall for it.
Where is the sympathy for Barbadian families whose members have lost their jobs to illegal non-nationals and as a result are finding difficulties in supporting their families.Why Roxanne Gibbs,David Comissiongv and all the other bleeding hearts mount a defence in favour of these unfortunate born & breed Barbadians who are suffering as a consequence of not having a job due to illegal immigrants having those jobs.
Prime Minister David Thompson Barbados is behind you press on with the enforcement of the new immigration policy and to our immigration officers continue to do the wonderful job you all are presently doing.Rid this country of all illegal immigrants especially the Indo-Guyanese miscreants including musty Norman Faria & Ricky Singh.
JC // May 17, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Jay you soooooo right that you aint know YOU SO RIGHT!
Technician // May 17, 2009 at 4:20 PM
It is amazing…..I went to the link provided by Jay and it conveniently left out the part about the non national not getting a visa for her nieces. Talk about propaganda!!
Jay // May 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM
@JC,I’m not too surprised in part because here in the US there is a new initiative to push the EU schengen countries,Australia & Canada to set up some sort of Global immigration database under many Pseudonym’s.The Schengen countries afaik are extremely interested in immigration databases all over the world & for this reason Barbados might be trying to set up its own digital immigration database that the Schengen countries will have access to.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/25/global_immigration_db/
——————————————-
Anyway,On the topic of CSME I have to say I have a renewed respect for the PM of Jamaica who said,”He added that Caribbean countries had placed emphasis on intra-regional trade without recognising that trade within the region, while a necessary incubator, could not provide the substance for the level of prosperity and growth that the region required.
“I don’t know of any situation where poor people trade with poor people and poor people become rich,” Golding remarked.”
I just wish the BLP could understand this everytime they quote that stupid 50% exports moniker.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20090508T180000-0500_151075_OBS_JAMAICA_S_PM_CALLS_FOR_UNITED_CARICOM_.asp
sb // May 25, 2009 at 1:28 AM
why does everyone think that that the non nationals will be deported, the pm said they will be removed from the country. everyday persons are removed by immigration that doesnt mean that they are deported most of them aret atl{ask to leave} which means that they are eligible to return after a period of one out of the island , deportation means never re entering and i doubt that they will all be deported
The Scout // May 25, 2009 at 7:34 AM
sb
Deported does not mean never to return or re-entering. the deporteee can return legally after a period of twelve months.
Come-Along // May 25, 2009 at 8:37 AM
After listening to yesterday’s Brass Tack Programme I am convinced that David Comissiong is just as mad as the matter hatter Norman Faria.
David Comissiong is waging a useless battle against the government new immigration policy.He is suggesting that the amnesty should remain at 5 years and this government had no right to adjust the amnesty policy.A whole set of hog wash.
I suspect that David Comissiong is locking on to this issue so as to not only do the bidding for his communist comrades in musty Norman Faria,Ricky Singh,Ralph Gonsalves & Bharat Jagdeo all communist but also to build a base for his practically non-existent political party the PEP.I believe that Comissiong & Norman Faria are hoping that a large Indo-Guyanese presence be maintain in Barbados and align itself with David Comissiong & PEP so as build that party into a political organisation that might be able to influence the political outcome of future elections in Barbados.I believe that is one of the main reasons that David Comissiong is so interested in this immigration issue.It is not out of any genuine concern for the plight of the non-nationals.It is for his own personal selfish ambitions..
The government must guard itself against a tyrant like David Comissiong and it must act on its new immigration policy decisively.
David Thompson you have spoken now we want action.
Hog Squeal // May 25, 2009 at 9:11 AM
I say to the DLP! Stop creating a mess! Do Barbados a favour, RESIGN or commit suicide
Not known // May 25, 2009 at 10:27 AM
David Comissiong is a hypocrite.He is defending the Guyanese and wants to pretend that the Guyanese in Barbados are not being involve in underhand activities.
David Comissiong is presently dealing with a matter concerning a Guyanese who was invited to live with her Barbadian boyfriend who found her around the Garrison area as a prostitute.This Guyanese lady is living at the family home of this Barbadian at Lakes Folly,Bridgetown St Michael.She has caused tremendous confusion at that family home.That resulted in all the other family members vacating that house and leaving only the Barbadian gentleman and his old mother of eighty two who died a few weeks ago under suspicious circumstances.The doctors at the hospital requested the body of the old lady to be exhumed and tested because it is suspected that the old lady died under unusual circumstances..
This Guyanese woman has taken over the home of that family and has even brought some of her Guyanese relatives to live at the house.That guyanese lady has taken full control of the house and not even the foolish Barbadian man has any say in the matter
David Comissiong is representing the daughter of the mother who died and that lady is a very good friend of David Comissiong.
These are some of the wicked things these despicable,wicked guyanese are doing in Barbados.
This same David Comissiong wants Barbados to give those kind of miscreants amnesty.
David Thompson please enforce the new immigration policy with full effect.Please do not compromise..
Anonymous // May 25, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Are u serious???? David Commissong I have lost all respect for you……. Ole two tongue snake.
You should have been discussing these fears that you are fully aware of…….. on the 92.9 FM yesterday.
Is there anyway in which we can get his citizenship revoked. He needs to be be REMOVED from our country W.E.F.
DAVID COMMISONG IS A FRAUD!!!!!
OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
mash up & buy back // May 25, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Not Known
While I sympathise with you,I must ask you what have YOU done about it?
Have you called the Immigration Department for this guyanese woman?
It is only the actions of we the bajans informing the imigration of where these illegal vincentians, jamaicans,guyanese,british are living and working who will help thompson in enforcing this new immigration policy.
visitor // May 25, 2009 at 11:55 AM
There is a correlation between Guyana’s deterioration and illegal migration
By Stabroek staff | May 25, 2009 in Letters
Dear Editor,
Media coverage of the impact of Barbados’s new immigration policy, comes across as a deliberate strategy to divert attention from the origin of the situation. The migration of Guyanese to Barbados is largely the result of the failure of the Guyana government to create work for the people, provide decent security and social services, to respect human rights, and ensure equality. The lack of these conditions has caused Guyanese to flee in droves. This is the crux of the problem.
Barbados’s new immigration policy cannot be looked at in isolation. Making Barbados the scapegoat will not fix the problems in Guyana, or ensure a Caribbean Community of equal opportunities and economic development. As a sovereign nation it is Barbados’s right to enforce immigration laws to protect its people and its economy and standard of living. Note, the CSME free movement of labour and skills does not support a failure to adhere to laws.
Guyana, too, has immigration laws that allow for the deportation of illegal immigrants and illegal workers. Barbados is one of the region’s strongest economies, and this says a lot about the country’s governance. Its best practices should be copied, not ridiculed and insulted as seems to be the new fad, in the hope that Barbados will compromise its laws and standards.
Barbados’s new immigration policy offers a path to legal status, and law-abiding people should adhere to the law. Given human nature there may be misinterpretation and misapplication of the law, and in instances where this occurs, it has to be addressed.
On the other hand, Barbados by now should know the reasons for the influx of illegal Guyanese working in the country. It is therefore in that island’s national interest and Caricom’s regional interest to speak out against what is happening in Guyana, and support those who want to change the situation, since it is evident there is a correlation between Guyana’s deterioration and illegal migration.
If people were treated right at home, had opportunities for jobs, enjoyed quality social services and security, then there wouldn’t be this exodus from Guyana to live and work in other countries illegally.
Yours faithfully,
M. A. Bacchus
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/letters/05/25/there-is-a-correlation-between-guyana%E2%80%99s-deterioration-and-illegal-migration/
President Jagdeo does not have to go abroad to protect the rights of Guyanese
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/letters/05/25/president-jagdeo-does-not-have-to-go-abroad-to-protect-the-rights-of-guyanese/
Jay // May 25, 2009 at 2:28 PM
It is obvious that Barbados will not & should not change its upcoming managed migration policy in addition to enforcement tactics.If the Governments of the other Caricom nations do not back-off in all likelihood Barbados should withdraw from the CSME,while still remaining within Caricom.
I find it extremely interesting that NOT ONE country’s leader within Caricom or any in the opposition has suggested that if Barbados continues with the current immigration policy that maybe it should withdraw from the CSME.The opinions of Bajans both near & far are in unanimity that the immigration enforcement routines must continue to curb the illegal immigration mess that the previous administration created.No Caricom nation or leader will change what the people have asked in the past decade from the previous Government.Any upcoming talks of complete Free-movement of all nationals will not fly with the Barbados public.It is obvious that no one in “Caricom’s pro-integration movement” know what they are doing or talking about because everyone talks about “integration” but not the hard questions like what if it doesn’t work or what are the ‘fail-safes’ just in case something happens.
Mr. Thompson I believe knows this,& should take every step imaginable to ensure that Barbados is not getting the wrong end of this so called ‘integration movement’.CSME also doesn’t cover illegal immigrants it only covers skilled Caricom nationals in particular categories which I can completely agree with.I’m thinking that maybe other Sovereign Caricom Governments expect the Goverment of Barbados to allow Free movement for ALL nationals,which I believe was agreed to happen by the end of this year.
What a lot of people in the general Caribbean do not understand is that the more they attack our immigration officers,police force & sully our country’s name the more unanimous Barbados’ public perception becomes on this matter,so keep it up !
The Scout // May 25, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I heard Peter Wickham on the radio this morning saying that the P.M was wrong in being so bold as to send back the illegals. He claims that anyone who is here working or who has been here for 5 to 8 years and have a child that was born in Barbados should not be told to leave. Peter is two mouths, now he is hooked between trying to please the P.M and be in bed with Singh, Faria, gonsalves, Jagdeo and the rest but I know that the P.M and him wouldn’t last too long. His only string that he is holding on too right now is that he is related to national heroes Wickham and Barrow, but if Mr Barrow was here, the man that I know would diss him family or not.
David // May 25, 2009 at 3:44 PM
@The Scout
Wickham is entitled to his view even if we don’t agree.
The Scout // May 25, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Barbadians are paying the price for being to generous to our neighbours and even strangers. For many years we have been allowing people to come into this country illegally and work, some has even started families here. From the time I was a little boy, I know of persons who came here on schooners and never returned and mixed well with bajans. However, from the time just over 10 years ago, that this influx of regional people started grvitating towards Barbados in large numbers, I became concerned. My concern and my warnings came when I saw this flood of indo-guyanese. I said then that when they get here in their numbers they would then show their colours and their nasty ways. It is now beginning to haunt us, these same people who we opened our arms to, now wants to take over our homes and our country. They now claim they have just as much RIGHTS to barbados as us bajans. This is where I draw the line, this is where I would fight for my RIGHTS. If a friend comes home at you to spend a week and overstayed his time without asking you if he/she can stay, why should that person be annoyed when you give him adequate time to leave or you would put him/her out? To make things worse, he/she now wants to call the shots in your house. Personally, I wouldn’t even give that person an extended time to leave, i would have put them out immediately. My P.M has shown lots of patience and maturity in this matter.
Troubled Waters // May 25, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Has anyone else read Caribbean 360 News (online) today? An article entitled “Jagdeo slams Barbados treatment of Guyanese” and I don’t mind telling you, it is frightening. That man Jagdeo is going to cause serious trouble in the Caribbean and poor little Barbados will get the sh….y end of the stick. Here is part of what that Dictator said: “Guyanese and West Indians generally are treated in a despicable manner by the Barbadian government”. “Despicable”, Jagdeo? You are the one who is despicable. It looks to me as if this creep wishes to cause an all-out war between Guyana and Barbados. I am normally a placid person, but I can tell you that that statement has raised my hackles and I am sure it was intended to do the same to many not-so-level-headed Bajans. Jagdeo is going to cause some real friction between Bajans and Guyanese and the Bajans will get the blame if there is any violence. How come other CARICOM islands can deport illegal Guyanese without a peep out of that criminal Jagdeo and his henchmen such as Gonsalves and Faria? Why is it only little Barbados getting the big stick? Mr. Thompson, we Bajans are behind you – deal with Jagdeo however you think fit.
Anonymous // May 25, 2009 at 4:36 PM
This is a fact!
When there was an influx of Indo-Guyanese on the job sites, they use to talk down to the black bajans.
THAT IS A FACT!!!
Negroman // May 25, 2009 at 5:01 PM
We must continue to let our leader know that the majority of Barbadians support his new immigration policy.The test of our character is being tested severely by the detractors such as dishonest,political reject & nuisance David Comissiong,musty Norman Faria & the despicable anti-man Peter Wickham.
Norman Faria is changing his tune and is trying to appease Barbadians by his recent rhetoric stating Barbadians are not xenophobic or hostile but are accommodating and friendly and saying other things to that effect.
David Comisssiong & Petere Wickham are attempting to discredit the new immigration policy by constantly rehashing the view that illegals should not be remove because they are our brothers & sisters and have started families and are making contributions to this society.
Those things are secondary and minor to the principle point that those people have broken our immigration laws and like common criminals should be punished.No reward of amnesty should be given to law breakers. However because of the complexities of the problem and to get a hold of the situation and offering amnesty is one way of controlling the problem I will give in.
David Thompson you are under immense pressure and I know after receiving reports from reliable sources that maybe you might relax some of stringent measures recently announced in you new immigration policy.I am pleading with you Mr Prime Minister please do not relax any of your measures .
Scout,JC,Jay Adrian Hinds along with David & BU and the rest please continue to offer the support to our Prime Minister.He needs it now more than ever.Believe me I know what I am talking about.Compromise might be in the offering.
Jay // May 25, 2009 at 5:20 PM
I agree with David to a certain extent.There is an old saying here in the US,I might not like what you say but I would fight for your right to say it.
But,I also share The Scout’s grave concern about the future of the country.I am not one to lead to immediate conclusions but I’ve seen many Guyana nationals on Stabroek news mentioned that,”Barbados & many of these small islands should be used only as stepping stones”.That denotes to me that Barbados must make a concerted effort to not only stem the recent tide but also any future efforts because this is an extremely long term problem that will likely span generations.
This is why I ALWAYS try to mention that a Barbados passport has the most visa free access to the world than any other Caricom member state’s passport according to the Henley visa index.
http://www.henleyglobal.com/fileadmin/pdfs/content/HVRI2009_GlobalRanking.pdf
1.Certain nationals from certain countries will want to get a hold of a Barbados passport to abuse our visa exempt freedoms.
2.The new Schengen exemptions from June 1st will be an even further draw for further illegal immigrants whom aspire to move on to Europe.
3.It would be easier to be approved for a US visa if a Barbados passport is gotten.The US embassy in Guyana doesn’t even accept evidence from nationals there because the US embassy considers all evidence submitted to be fraudulent,hence why visa interviews are oral only there & are much easier to deny,In Barbados it would be a different story.
4.Human smuggling has been on the rise in Barbados because it is seen as a good central hub due to GAIA & Barbados’ tactical location.
I could go on & on,but these & many other legit reasons are why Government must do something about this illegal immigration mess.
JUAN GABRIEL // May 25, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Why should Jagdeo try to put anyone else’ house in order? The man has been a failure and still is a failure. The real problem is that the DGuyanese people, primarily the BLACK people have become spineless and have allowed themselves to be boxed into a corner by the dictates of this DICTATOR who has become so drunk with power that his actions are now bordering on madness.
People of Barbados, beware of his HENCHMEN who are the moles in the hole, namely Singh and Farrier, they are only doing what is ingrained in them. Take off their masks, then tell me what you have discovered.
David // May 25, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Interesting to hear Peter Wickham voice the opinion today on radio that he believes that the views which are pro-Thompson and the need to clamp down on immigration are the views of a minority of Bajans. Remember that this is a man who uses empirical data in his line of work but is easily driven to generalizations in this sensitive matter. Remember also he is a talk show host. Go figure.
Wright B.Astard // May 25, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Has it ever occurred to you that the communist/Russian trained President’s objective is to destabilise the Caribbean,Cuba excluded, by swamping these countries with live bodies.
Rip Tide // May 25, 2009 at 9:05 PM
I can’t help noticing that BU has not removed BFP from their Blogroll. You are truly a BIG man, David, and a decent man – nothing petty and spiteful about you!
I also see that Juris and Straight Talk put some good licks in PiedPiper, (who called us all on here “racist swine”) for calling Anonymous bloggers cowards. Can anyone imagine the audacity of that?! Yet the said PP, using one of his other names (Sargeant) put in an appearance among said “racist swine” on here yesterday. Boy, that PP sure is one mixed up, sick individual.
Sargeant // May 25, 2009 at 10:22 PM
@RipTide or whatever alias you are using
Next time I’m in Barbados I promise to give you a loonie so you can buy a clue
The Scout // May 26, 2009 at 7:19 AM
David
You said Peter Wickham is entitled to his own opinion. That is true but what is his own opinion? On the one hand he is agreeing with the P.M against what he was saying all along on the call-in show while on the other station. However as an employee of the CBC, he is makingf an about turn but on the call-in programme on Monday he seems to forget which station he was on and once more he was critical of the P.M and his immigration policy. Simply said, the man is a weather cock, he has no credibility.
PiedPiper // May 26, 2009 at 8:03 AM
“Rip Tide”, do you really think that we are not aware that YOU are in fact “Straight Talk”? You use many, many aliases both here on BU and on BFP. The reason you were banned over at BFP is because you were caught red-handed by BFP, using multiple handles and conducting coversations with yourself in order to give the appearance of having many supporters of your pursuit of and obsession with an individual by the name of Patrick Porter. One has to question the sanity of an individual who is so devious as to have at least 10 aliases, used between two blogs, in order to feed some kind of sick, compulsive desire pursue an individual that stopped coming to the blogs, due to ill health, over a year ago.
Both myself and Sargeant have asked you on numerous occassions to give a clue as to why you think 1) he and I are one and the same person and 2) why you think we are Patrick Porter. Not once have you responded to the that request. Are we to assume that you have developed this obsession because shortening my internet handle would give us the initials “PP”?? Wow, how very primitive your brain is. Either put up or shut up. P. S. Are you Juris as well? ;)
Rip Tide // May 26, 2009 at 9:37 AM
David/BU: My apologies, but I would appreciate it if you would kindly inform Sargeant/Pied Piper that I am NOT Straight Talk, or Juris (would that I could be blessed with their intelligence). You would be able to verify this from the different IP addresses, and I would be grateful if both Straight Talk and Juris would also inform this idiot that they are NOT Rip Tide. Furthermore, I have NEVER been banned (like YOU) from either BU or BFP (using ANY of my aliases) – that is an unmitigated lie. I may have been “exposed”, but definitely not BANNED. I believe that both BFP and BU can confirm that I use Anonymouse.org to post my comments, for my own personal reasons, and I don’t pretend otherwise because I am not a pathological liar/con artist like you.
You want a clue? O.k., here it is: I wish you would stop jamming up the Inbox of a family member of mine in St. Peter with your links, attachments and scary weather reports, as if he does not have the intelligence to surf the web and find the articles for himself. You are truly a sick person. Get well soon, hear? OVER AND OUT.
Hog Squeal // May 26, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Here is what the Barbados Advocate is reporting in its editorial today:
“Teamwork needed at the top
5/26/2009
WE return yet again to the topic of “Team Barbados” introduced by Prime Minister David Thompson during his 2009 Financial Statements and Budgetary Proposals.
For while this may seem like a concept that would be supported by anyone with this country’s best interests at heart, those of us who would have followed last week’s debate in the House of Parliament may have been left wondering if it is really being embraced at all levels of the society.
The Prime Minister humbled himself by saying that he does not have all of the answers, and therefore “Team Barbados” is more important now than ever.
Without this, the future of the country could be in jeopardy.
Without this, what is left to be governed may not be desired by either party.”
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=editorial&NewsID=3853
********************************
“A Team Barbados Approach” is nothing Owen Arthur’s: Politics of Inclusion, which Obama is now copying and Thompson is now trying to steal, having promised to slaughter the fatted calf for dems only.
Since everyone knows that the DLP does not have any answers (as made clear by the Advocate) but accept that the BLP does – then call elections.
Elections and the superior economic skills of the BLP – is the solution to Barbados’ problems and the economic mess Thompson and the DLP have created and continues to create.
I thank the Barbados Advocate for pointing out that we must rescue Barbados so that the BLP can put it back on track.
Sargeant // May 26, 2009 at 5:12 PM
@Rip Tide aka Diggit;Canada Goose etc.
You want a clue? O.k., here it is: I wish you would stop jamming up the Inbox of a family member of mine in St. Peter with your links
*********************************************************
Since I was the one who thinks you were clueless, here’s a challenge: Publish the name or email address of the individual who is “jamming up the Inbox” of your family member. Someone will surely recognize him or her and expose them.
Somehow I don’t think that you can do it; it seems like you have an overactive imagination but there is help, my advice: see your family physician before your condition deteriorates.
Rip Tide // May 26, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Good Lord, you’re so sick you don’t even remember which one you are – Sargeant or PP! My last comment was in response to PIEDPIPER! But, as I said, OVER AND OUT. I do not think David, nor the “racist swine” on here appreciate feuding bloggers, so crawl back over to BFP where you won’t find “racist swine”. OVER AND OUT. DONE WID DAT.
Sargeant // May 26, 2009 at 7:40 PM
OK Diggit
Did you read my statement….. the one I said about clueless? You included my handle in your response what do you expect me to do? Sit idly by while you besmirch my name? OK I know it is an anonymous blog but some people may think you are correct when you said that I post under different names. For the last time I post under SARGEANT…. no other name(s).
Next time I’m in Barbados I’ll take that loonie and buy some fishcakes from Leacock stand on Miami (Enterprise) beach.
PiedPiper // May 26, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Rip Tide aka Diggit, please stop trying to fool others and yourself by using that tired worn-out story about using “Anonymouse.org” as though this somehow proves that you are not a complete charlaton. The whole purpose of Anonymouse.org is to change and mask a person’s IP so as not to be detected or traced. Are you really so dense that you do not realize that by constantly mentioning your use of Anonymouse.org, you, in fact, are revealing that you have a great deal to hide? As Sargeant has suggested, please reveal the e-mail address that is bombarding your relatives inbox in St. Peter. I need a good laugh as I do not exchange e-mails with anyone in Barbados and don’t even know anyone who resides in St. Peter. As I have already requested, put up or shut up.
Rumplestilskin // May 26, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Hogsqueal said ”Elections and the superior economic skills of the BLP – is the solution to Barbados’ problems and the economic mess Thompson and the DLP have created and continues to create”
Oh. I had not realised that it was the DLP that spent 250 million, by debt financing, on the White Elephant down Kensington, which will not even be used during the upcoming tours by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
I did not realised, that it was the DLP that committed huge debt burden, right before the world recession, in building the highway extension.
We were saved in the nick of time in not spending even more on flyovers, they would only have been useful to jump off when our debt burden got even higher.
Both of the above expenditures, despite the previous administration being warned on another blog of the impending recession, warned over three and a half to four years ago!
But no, they went ahead anyway.
And yet, I see rubbish such as you just posted!
Pity in their brilliant economic wisdom, they did not fix the hospital, they did not ever publish the financial statements of GEMS (thanks, reminds me that I now need to follow this up on the blogs), did not in 14 years improve our water system which the Thompson administration now has to do.
Golly, I have always refrained from descriptive assessment of other bloggers, but you do bring me close.
Have a happy time in your ‘personal happy land’.
Peace
Rumplestilskin // May 26, 2009 at 11:48 PM
By the way, just to enlighten you about PM Thompson’s offer to the other former leaders.
Although I am not a DLP member, I, simple as I am, can easily see that this is a political move, aimed to insure against the expected downturn in the economy, so that your good leaders cannot say, ‘but he never asked our opinions in how to go about doing things’.
He opened a door, which your people shut…to their detriment.
If I was advising the Opposition, I would have advised acceptance, in order to bring Opposition words to the table, publicly.
Instead, now the PM has his insurance policy, he got what he wanted.
Sargeant // May 27, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Hogsqueal can you please explain this?
In the attached story about the Auditor General report on cost overruns associated with the construction of the Crab Hill Police station the writer states “Jose Y Jose Construction Company began work on the building in 2005”…… Some time ago when I was in Bimshire one of my friends told me that the lead investor in Jose Y Jose was a leading politician now safely ensconced on the Opposition benches. How did Jose Y Jose get the job? Was it an open process? Did the politician put in a “good word” for Jose Y Jose or did the politician award the contract to Jose Y Jose?
Oh for the good old days when politicians declared their assets
http://www.nationnews.com/news/local/Crab-hill-query-FRONT-PAGE-OTHER
Anonymous // May 27, 2009 at 1:54 AM
Multiple aliases?
Lord have mercy, some of you people need to get a life nuh!
I still like BU, despite the fact that whenever I pay a visit it seems to be the same tiny little band of nutjobs frothing at the mouth.
There are exceptions, of course: Bush Tea, for example, seems like a sane, thoughtful fellow.
But most of you sound so weak and so powerless, desperately sounding off here because you have no influence in the real world.
No offence, but you always remind me of that line in Shakespeare: you’re full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
David // May 27, 2009 at 6:43 AM
@Rumplestilskin
This is the point we continue to make that some of us get bog down in what is political strategy versus what is. The same can be said of the 100 days issue, like Obama, Thompson has struggled to deliver on all promises made in the campaign.
@Hog Squeal
We have advised you to engage the BU family if you want to get discussion. If you feel that your rote statements are accomplishing anything carry along smartly.