The Water Debate: Opposition Party Advises Government To “Hold Strain”

It is interesting to listen to the current debate triggered by the government’s decision to hike water rates by 60% effective July 1, 2009. In a previous blog we skimmed the subject of some of the challenges facing the BWA.

Barbados has been able to achieve and maintain a relatively high standard of living through what many agree can be attributed to astute planning and leadership. We have also enjoyed a stable social and political climate built on a universally respected education system, good infrastructure to support our tourism product and Barbadians. Those who may want to avoid partisan posturing on the issue would admit that there is a cost to maintaining the Barbados lifestyle. The challenge as we move forward as a country is to ensure the economic and social models underpinning the economy are managed expertly to ensure sustainability.

The failure of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) in 2009, we understand it is close to being insolvent just fourteen months after a change in government is instructive. Bear in mind that the previous government would have governed for the most part of its tenure in an economic boom period. It is noteworthy that as a country and as a people we must accept responsibility for the policies of the previous government, this is true for the third term government of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Could the BLP have better allocated resources to ensure Barbados’ water supply was better protected? Many may say yes given it was a boom period.

Pursuing The Immigration Matter

Submitted by Lindsay Holder

Lindsay Holder

The following articles were submitted to the local press for publication. To date, three of these articles have been published.  There are status statements at the end of those articles that have been published.

1. Professor Thomas and the Migrant Workers’ Convention
2. David Comissiong, Was That You?
3. Immigration Blues In CARICOM
4. Immigration Blues – Cherry Picking
5. Of Arrogance, Politics, and Use of Intemperate Language
6. Peter Wickham – Nonsense and More Nonsense

Dr.Robinson’s Presentation Concerning Credit Rating Agencies

Submitted by Dr.Justin Robinson

Click on the image to view the well received presentation delivered by Dr. Justin Robinson at the 5th anniversary of Caribbean Money Market operating in Barbados – Power Point application required.

Dr. Justin Robinson is Head of the Department of Management Studies at the UWI-Cave Hill campus. His research interests include corporate financial management, derivatives, investments, risk management and financial market efficiency, and he has published on these subjects in a number of international journals.

Responsibility, Fairness And The Media In Reporting The Guyanese Illegal Immigrants Issue In Barbados

Submitted by Yardbroom

Roxanne Gibbs - Executive Editor Nation Newspaper

Dr Aubrey Armstrong

Recent lurid details of a female illegal Guyanese immigrant being apprehended, was disseminated by a major Barbados news outlet.  The allegations if true are worthy of investigation by the relevant authorities.  However, the article was so lacking in person details, it was impossible to identify anyone because of the anonymity given.

It is necessary that anonymity is afforded in certain cases, to protect sources from retribution even ridicule, but the level of fairness we are justifiably eager to give illegal immigrants, must also be given to the relevant immigration authorities, the Barbados Government and the citizens of Barbados on whom such allegations can have a negative impact.

If the personnel involved in the allegation cannot be identified, how can appropriate action be taken by the relevant authorities?  Unless there is some dissemination of information the alleged unfairness cannot be properly challenged and rectified.

May The King Of Pop Rest In Peace

The Thriller Album has sold the most copies in history.

The death of Michael Jackson yesterday brought home the realization that one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever seen was no more. Even for those who would not have been enamoured by his genre of music, gerri curls hair style which transformed to straight hair over the years, his eccentric behaviour which featured accusations of sexually molesting boys, all the negatives were forgotten when Michael Jackson the performer entered onto the stage.

To explain his eccentric lifestyle away from the stage many will cite his lack of a normal childhood combined with an undesirable father. His pre-teen performances as the lead singer, afro and all of the talented Jacksons 5 have created timeless and priceless memories for many. Music lovers may feel correct in believing the world may never see another entertainer in the same mould as the multi-talented Michael Jackson. The regard held globally for Michael Jackson can be judged when at the announcement of his death yesterday afternoon media houses around the world stopped regular programming to broadcast US news feeds of his passing.

Graeme Hall Parkland Loss Map Released

Submitted by Graeme Hall Nature Sanctury

[Bridgetown, BARBADOS] A land use map depicting the planned loss of parkland at Graeme Hall has been released this week by the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary. Titled “Parkland Loss Planned at Graeme Hall,” the new map illustrates the Government’s plan to allow residential and commercial development on government-owned Graeme Hall land.

Contrary to the original 1988 National Physical Development Plan (PDP), the new 2003 PDP recommends that parkland at Graeme Hall be limited to the flood-prone Graeme Hall Swamp, and that all dry land be developed. Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary officials are critical of the land use change, saying that urban development of Graeme Hall would be akin to developing Central Park in New York, and that wetland buffers and recreational opportunities would be permanently destroyed. Sanctuary officials also cited recommendations from the Urban Land Use Institute quality-of-life recommendation of 25.5 acres of parklands for every 1000 people.

Don’t Blame Swine Flu For Everything

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

Dear Mr. Swine Flu. I do not think I need to ask how you are doing, because, from all reports, you are wreaking havoc across the globe. Women, men, black, white, Jack Sprat and his wife; who is not so lean, have all fallen victims to you. You are clearly no respecter of persons.  You could not have appeared at a worse time for developing countries, as most are reeling under the effects of major economic declines, triggered by actions not of their doing.

Countries have been forced to reorder priorities and secure a strain of vaccine that to date you have not been able to conquer. It is costing hundreds of millions of dollars to stock medication and prepare facilities and an environment for your possible invasion. Some vital social services are suffering as a result of your threatened intensification and the consequent need to divert slender financial and other resources to prepare for and stave off your attack.

One good thing about your threat is that it has forced a return to cleanliness. My brethren are once again practicing the basics of washing hands, cleaning surroundings, using handkerchiefs while sneezing and coughing and the like. I am really happy for this as it had gotten out of hand, and some of the basic manners we learnt way back when had both literally and figuratively, been thrown through the window.

How Can It Help Barbados If Its Interests And Prosperity Are DEGRADED To Benefit Other CARICOM Countries?

Submitted by Yardbroom

I am not against CARICOM if it is possible to achieve its main purpose which I understand to be: …”promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to promote foreign policy”… I find it difficult to accept that with regard to illegal immigration, any benefits of integration are equitably shared.  There are no benefits in this area – certainly not for Barbados – but the burden is being shouldered by little Barbados, and for its efforts to cope with a difficult situation it is being vilified by a cohort, some not Barbadian but who reside in Barbados.

Many of personal choice have made Barbados their home, now they seek to criticise all things Barbadian…we are indeed a tolerant people.  I sometimes wonder if they hate the fact that they have had – regardless of the circumstances – to come to this little rock to reside in peace and relative tranquility, surely that is not the fault of Barbadians.

A vibrant few who earn a living by the pen and other media forms; buoyed up by kindred academics seem reluctant to proffer any advice to Prime Minister Barat Jagdeo of Guyana despite being natives of that country.  They are always “mute” in their diligent examination of Guyanese politics, but wax loquacious on Barbados talk programmes and the pen is always at hand to criticise our Government.

Corrupt Officials And Politicians

Submitted by BU family member ROK

Former Head of Antigua's Financial Services Regulatory Commission

I see in the news today a call by the USA for Leroy King, The CEO of Antigua and Barbuda’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission, to be held pending an extradition process. The first question that comes to mind is whether we now have to depend on the US to clean up our corruption acts in the Caribbean? Of course, the way I have seen corruption work, there is always a politician in the wings that is shielded when the shit hits the fan.

The best clue is when you see decisions being made that are bizarre. My biggest fear is all the talk about attracting foreign investment. Then we complain of the changing landscape and usually when we attract this kind of foreign investment there is always corruption; for example, to get decision through to facilitate the transfer of money. People in the know buy up properties and get windfall profits; Town Planning or some other department makes a decision to give permission or the OK for something which runs counter to expectation.

Then when these acts are done, we hear speeches in the media, for example, justifying foreign investment or information suddenly becomes available that was not available before but tweaked to justify some seeming irregularity. I think we have to learn to identify corruption, but it is not a question of finding a culprit to prosecute, although this would break the ice, but it is a question of people putting pressure to end arrangements when they run counter to all commonsense.

Marching To The Beat Of The Drum

Prime Minister David Thompson

A comment by an anonymous commenter to BU yesterday resonated for most of the day. The relevant excerpt: to date the land use policies of the Thompson administration and the Arthur administration are indistinguishable. I would dare say the immigration policies are also similar but for the amnesty period now in place. The feeble implementation of a physical development plan by the authorities in the last twenty years has seen a haphazard approach to land development in Barbados and sad to say remains a concern two years into the Thompson government. The fact of the matter is there is truth to the comment if interpreted in a dispassionate way.

The land policy of the former administration which has seen the West Coast of Barbados assaulted with all but a few windows to the sea remaining is well documented. The current government during the last election campaign made some noises about adopting a different approach to land development but so far can anyone say there has been a shift?

On the weekend at the official opening of the Sugar Cane Club Minister Richard Sealy was quoted in the nation newspaper as follows, Government has identified the north-west corridor of the island, as an area for greater tourism development. Sealy is confident tourism projects planned for the island’s north coast will increase the economic and tourism activity in that “northern corridor.” Emphasis on the North West corridor is instructive for two reasons 1) the South and West Coast corridors have already been bulldozed in the name of economic development by former governments and 2) Prime Minister David Thompson is on record that the Eastern Seaboard of Barbados is off-limits.