Time-For-Lime To Deliver On The Promises

Submitted by Adrian Loveridge

It would really be difficult not to have noticed the various mission statements recently put out in the print and electronic media by Cable and Wireless or LIME, including ‘a better greener business’, ‘go green with us’ or ‘go paperless’.

Yet the latest ‘ads’ placed to get your new Directory today,17^th September, (well actually from 19^th September), makes absolutely no mention of taking your old directory to the collection point where LIME could have partnered with one of the recycling companies to dramatically reduce the number that will eventually go to the landfill.

While is perhaps too easy to knock the company for its huge declared profits, they could at least effectively implement some of these admirable objectives. I stumbled across one of their media releases dated 31^st October 2008, where among many other ‘promises made in this manifesto’ included ‘calls to LIME’s customer service centres will be answered within one minute’ and ‘no LIME customer will be without the ability to communicate, via at least one of LIME’s services, with their friends, family or colleagues, for more than one day’.

Former President Jimmy Carter Fingers The USA For Racism

Less than one year after the world basked in the euphoria of the USA electing a Black President, it now confronts the spectre of racism rearing its head across the country. BU has read with interest the Obama taunts of the cartoonists, Rush Limbaugh and his wide right wing buffoons et al vitriolic behaviour. What about the gross disrespect shown by a congressman Joe Wilson to President Barack Obama as he addressed  a joint session of Congress last week? How can we ignore the extreme reaction of America to President Obama’s Healthcare Plan? Let us not forget the tea part protest by a group of Americans who believe President Obama is turning America towards socialism.

What has provoked such extreme and hysterical behaviour on the part of Americans?

The Legal Profession In Barbados In a State Of Moral Hazard: Who Polices The Custodians Of The Legal System?

Submitted by Terence Blackett

Most of us were raised to believe that the law is the glory of a decent society; that the rule of law is the sine qua non of a postmodern civilization; that international law is the greatest protector of human rights; that lawyers coupled with doctors remain an elite profession to which a young person can aspire; that making laws is the great work of governments and legislatures; that law schools are among the noble places of learning in society; that the title “judge” or “magistrate” was perhaps one of the highest appellations one can have in society; and that the “jury system” is an essential component of a just society. Sadly, most of the abovementioned ideals have become a pathetic nonsense. The legal system is now our enemy according to many disaffected souls.

Many have come to fear almost everything having to do with law. Though there are many fine people in the legal profession, and though law is necessary to protect society from descending into chaos, we now fear the legal profession more than we do Islamic terror.

Rihanna’s New Diggs

Click on the image above to see photos (13) @ GoWeb Blog

Has The Barbados General Election Campaign Started? A Master Tactician At Work

Submitted by Yardbroom

…I am here this evening because I am fully committed to doing all I can do to ensure the return of the Barbados Labour Party to power…It is my mission and nothing will detract me…

The words of Mr. Owen Arthur as reported by Gercine Carter in the Nation of 9-14-2009. If reports are to be believed – and I have no reason to doubt them – there was not a hushed audience, but “rousing” applause.

He went further:…The Opposition Barbados Labour Party once I am part of it, must be the voice of the people…

When an astute and experienced politician speaks, note should be taken of not only what is said but what has not been mentioned.  What is the inference in: …the voice of the people.  We all know what that means in general terms, but was there a subliminal message to be expanded, at a later and more appropriate time.  Is this a signal for an incremental change of direction in a certain area of policy.  I will not prejudge his intention that should be left for Mr. Arthur, he will  oblige no doubt in his own time and naturally when he deems it most advantageous to do so.

Stuart Breaks His Silence – Still Barbados Is Moving Backwards With The DLP

Submitted by Alex Fergusson

Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart

Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart voiced concern about the working of the Court Process Office, which he said can only be described as: “a dereliction of duty” in some respects. Speaking to the media following a tour of the new judicial complex in Whitepark Road, the City Friday morning (September 11, 2009), our Attorney General disclosed that since taking up office, he has received a litany of complaints about the way in which the Court Process Office has been functioning.

At a glance, Mr. Stuart’ comments seem innocent. But, that is until you ask yourself, which Minister has responsibility for poverty eradication in Barbados. Again, this highlights the rift and power struggle within the DLP. Stuart seems to be sending a firm message to Sinckler that he might only be popular because Stuart was keeping quiet. Then Undene Whittaker – Government’s Advisor on Poverty spoke and Stuart’s point becomes crystal clear. Miss Whittaker was reported as having said that same day (September 11) that the level of poverty in this country is increasing, but as predicted – she blames the former government for it. This is yet another attempt to protect Sinckler. The Wickham Poll did say that Sinckler was more popular within the DLP than Stuart. Undene proves that the Poll is right.

Google Court Decision Guarantees Public Protection On The Internet

Submitted by ROK

I feel compelled to post this as a means of helping users to get an understanding of where they legally stand with internet usage. I believe that everyone should know their rights and when it comes to the internet, rights are hazy in the minds of the public. Many who are connected to the internet browse with much fear of viruses and other threats, especially theft of their identity; we hear the horror stories of identity theft and wish it not to be visited upon us.

It is important to note that when you start a blog or use any virtual platform, you agree to the terms of service of the provider. The action of BFP to post a defamatory article exceeded professional boundaries and breached the WordPress terms to which it had agreed. This defamatory exposition followed a long period of time where bloggers using BU were harassed, threatened and bullied to stop commenting on BU. It is a very important point because all along, BFP have been insinuating that BU commenters are without quality and that the BFP blog is superior. These are myths which must be debunked because from the WordPress policy on freedom of speech, a blog thread will only be removed if it contravenes WordPress’ Terms of Service and a blog thread was removed from BFP by WordPress.

What Does The Future Hold For West Indies Cricket?

WIPA CEO and President Dinanath Ramnarine, Caricom Chairman Bharat Jagdeo and CEO WICB Julian Hunte

Fortunately or unfortunately, a member of BU witnessed the People’s Business Show aired on CBC TV on Sunday night (13 September 2009). The show featured Donna Symmonds, WIPA’s legal adviser; Conde Riley, the former WICB Director who recently resigned in controversial manner and sports journalist Keith Holder.  The program was hosted by CBC journalist Andi Thornhill.

If Barbadians were not aware of the reason why the current impasse in West Indies cricket has not yet been solved, it became very clear after viewing the TV program. We are tempted to use the analogy of the thriller in Manila boxing match. On second thoughts, it wouldn’t be appropriate to do so because there was a winner and loser on that night when the world witnessed one of the most existing boxing matches in history. On the People’s Business TV Show, Conde Riley representing the views of WICB, and Donna Symmonds those of WIPA, jabbed and punched themselves on the many issues, known and unknown to the public until they were blue in the face.  When the program was finished both were still standing.  It is clear this issue has mushroomed to a battle of wills between WICB and WIPA.

The impasse which has arisen in West Indies cricket has now escalated to a level where the current actors from WICB and the WIPA should be replaced immediately. All goodwill has long disappeared. Even if the recent rescue plan announced by CARICOM governments were to clear the way for the re-entry of the striking players, it is apparent to all that too much blood has been shed for the current actors to salvage any measure of trust to build the necessary cohesion which is required to move West Indies cricket forward. Sports, cricket included is now seen as a business. In the West Indies we continue to operate as if the world has stood still regarding sports management.

The Barbados DEBT* Bubble: Is The Devaluation Of The Dollar Imminent? – Part II

Submitted by Terence Blackett

On October 4^th 1982, the IMF entered into standby arrangements with Barbados for the purchase of SDR’s to the tune of $31.87 million. During this 18 month structural adjustment program, Courtney Blackman (then Central Bank Governor) maintained that – “an exchange rate devaluation was discussed but not seriously contemplated.” (1989:62)

Again in 1991 a similar type IMF program was implemented which would have resulted in increased interest rates, massive layoffs in the public sectors and major cuts in public expenditure – the choice was clear that devaluation was not an option but that radical cuts were necessary to stave off a possible crisis of confidence in the public sector finances.

Just recently Christina Daseking, Deputy Division Chief for the Western Hemisphere Department of the IMF issued the following statement to Barbados officials in the Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs, Labor, Transport, Social Care, and Foreign Trade, the Central Bank of Barbados, and representatives of the private sector and labor, and the Opposition BLP:

Is There Sound Judgement Being Exercised By Local Media Houses?

Rarely do we reproduced articles from other media sources to make our points. We have made an exception in this case because the article supports one of our cornerstone arguments promoted from the inception of BU. The other reason which weighed heavily is the fact a member of the BU family felt strongly enough about the subject to request the article be given prominence.

A functioning Fourth Estate is critical to empowering our PEOPLE to be properly equipped to participate in our democratic system of government. Barbadians have come to take our practicing democracy for granted but history and current events have shown it is a very fragile system and the PEOPLE should be weary of not holding key stakeholders in our democratic system of government accountable .

The current debate triggered by the alleged threat by Hartley Henry to Sunday Sun Editor Carol Martindale has become shrouded in partisan prattle. Even if subsequent events show Henry to be guilty Barbadians must not lose sight of the big picture. How does ownership in our local media houses affect how decisions are influenced and which may conflict with the interest of Barbadians? How do we exact standards from our Fourth Estate which would mitigate known political affiliations in the profession?

It should concern Barbadians that a large slice of the media ownership in Barbados is foreign controlled. It is a matter which should be debated. While the media is suppose to report news there is little doubt that a large section of our population are led by what they read or hear from our media houses and practitioners. It therefore is important that news is reported in as unfiltered and unbiased a manner as possible. What guaranty does Barbadians have the editorial policy of our media houses are aligned with Barbadian interest? What guaranty does Barbadians have that our media is being hijacked by the carrot of largess being waved by politicians to a Fourth Estate hungry for revenues at the expense of disseminating unfiltered news?

For those of you who believe that media houses are above the influence of political skulduggery from the media side, the following article has been reproduced to debunk that position. Interesting is the fact that it points to a scenario in Trinidad.