Walking On Thin Air

Submitted by Looking Glass

So Candles Under The Bed attracted only two comments. I am almost disappointed.

Where have the phoenix and associates gone? Slavery, race and immigration induce a multitude of comments but the national debt remains sacrosanct, entombed in a conspiracy of silence. Is reality a luxury we cannot afford?

Mr. Blackett opines that had the forensic investigation suggested had been done within the “honeymoon period of the first 100 days in office along with the implementation of FOI and ITAL legislative policy…he would have healed a major rift in local politics…” Legislation and policy cannot solve intractable problems, especially those of the human mind. Are you blaming the PM for failure to expose the sins of the phoenix? Had he done so you would be singing a different song. Why was there no call for transparency etc before 2006-7? Be careful what you wish for. Someone in London opined that “Lylli lagrani must be shaking.….”

Can you name an incumbent Prime Minister or President who, having inherited an empty trough and humongous debt, fulfilled pre-election promises in the first 100 or 200 days? Not even President Obama with all available resources was able to do it.

Though politically and otherwise unencumbered (the word should ring a certain bell), I have no problem with one’s political leaning. In fact I expect the opposition to ‘censure’ the government and be the ‘watchdog.’ But feeding the public spurious information is detrimental to the country perched on the edge of the socio-economic cliff. The use of convenient diagnoses and half truths in defense of the phoenix beclouds the problem and is self-defeating to party and country. The infinity of half truths is bigger than the infinity of truth. Fallacious diagnoses beget fallacious remedies. Doubt me ask the economist.

Policing Morality: The Most Pressing Public Policy Issues Today

Submitted by Terence Blackett

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it’s His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. – – C. S. Lewis

Today’s world is a very complex place. Tomorrow’s world will be even more so. We are witnessing in this first decade of the 21^st century, the fragmentation and flux which has created shifting paradigmatic changes that affect us in ways nothing has in the last 200 years.

The growing list of challenges we face range from immigration reform, terrorism and nation-state security, to public safety, criminal justice reform, capital punishment for sexual predators and offenders, proper minimum wage negotiations, “Green” environmental issues and our energy dependence on oil, healthcare reform, education and expanding human knowledge, the right to privacy, notwithstanding, the right to free speech, social welfare, race, class and social division, international affairs, population and aging and the complexities science and technology poses, to name but a few of the hurdles which stand in our way.

What Stop What Bullying What?!!

Submitted by Bush Tea

After listening to, and reading what seems like everyone in Barbados pontificate on the new public enemy called ‘bullying’, Bush Tea has given up all hope again that there is any level of understanding of our world and of our purpose here.

I get the distinct impression that opinions are generated nowadays by Googling or by just going straight to Wikipedia for a position, and then creatively seeking to articulate that position in one’s own words so as to avoid charges of plagiarism

Everyone now wants all bullies hanged and quartered because a young child unfortunately was killed by a vehicle while allegedly running from ‘bullies’. Indeed this was a most unfortunate and heart rending loss – as is every such loss whether it is by vehicle accident, skylarking, drowning or just ill health.

But surely, bullying is one of the most natural instincts. I believe that it is called ‘survival of the fittest…’ …animals do it; people do it at all stages of life; governments do it all the time; even churches bully their flocks – especially at collection time …. Why are we surprised that children would do this?

Obesity Decreases The Odds – Part II

Submitted by Georgie Porgie

Related Link – Obesity Decreases The Odds

A Matter Of Cost – The Other Side Of The Kingsland Estate Court Matter Part XIX

BU is aware the ongoing legal battle in the case we have dubbed The Other Side of The Kingsland Matter series continues to be of interest to some. The fact that this matter has tentacled to smear the government of Barbados and many entities which underpin the governance system of Barbados, although not covered in the traditional media, continues to concern BU as patriotic Barbadians.  We have therefore taken the time to blog an update on the matter for those who are interested.

On May 4 this year, Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that Ontario did not have the authority to try the case of Nelson Barbados Group Limited Vs. Barbados and others. He ruled that Barbados alone had such jurisdiction and he took the opportunity make some disparaging comments about the conduct of , Mr K. William McKenzie of the firm of Crawford McKenzie McLean Duncan and Anderson.

Justice Shaughnessy’s decision can be read on BU or CanLII .

Howzat!

The stories breaking around West Indies and world cricket continues to make for interesting reading. It is apparent even as India, South Africa and Australia gallop ahead on the field of play and in the boardroom conversely the West Indies has become stuck in the mud.

It is less than three years since the impoverished governments of the region made the decision to mortgage future generations. Reports suggest hundreds of millions of dollars to build stadia and infrastructure was spent to host CWC 2007. Respective governments including Barbados promised that the legacy value from the event would reap untold economic benefits, this was used to justify the huge expense. It is unfortunate the current global crisis has derailed any immediate prospect of a return on the legacy investment. To compound the issue, the relationship between the management of West Indies cricket and players representative has soured.

Of interest in the sorry mess has been the decision by respective Caribbean governments to invest heavily, disproportionately so, in a sport which is managed by an autonomous body.  Good example of the impotence of the Caribbean governments in influencing West Indies cricket was demonstrated in their inability to resolve the recent impasse between WIBC and WIPA. The biggest irony must have been the appearance of President Bharat Jagdeo of Guyana, in his capacity as current Chairman of CARICOM, who defaulted to be the one to bring calm to the turmoil in West Indies cricket when the feuding parties turned to CARICOM. Bear in mind Jagdeo is the head of what many consider a failed state. His decision to recommend and appoint Sonny Ramphall as mediator, who a short time before had insulted the people of Barbados by his use of ‘ethnic cleansing’ further adds to the mire WI cricket finds itself.

9 Reasons NOT To Take The Swine Flu (H1N1)Vaccine

We are being told to hold strain because in another month the Barbadian health authority expects to get their hands on the H1N1 vaccines. Should we be happy at the news? US Cable Networks and others in the medial fraternity have been highlighting an opposing view to taking the H1N1 vaccine.

Is there clarity to this matter?

The Barbados Light & Power Rate Hearing Commences

Back in May 2009 we underscored the The Important Role Of The Intervenor At FTC Hearings as advocates for the PEOPLE. The fact they are not paid and are expected to engage corporate entities with significantly more resources makes the Intervenors heroes in our eyes.

The long awaited BL&P Hearings under the aegis of the Fair Trading Commission commences tomorrow (2009.10.07), from 9.30AM at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.  The Hearing is expected to continue week-days until 2009.10.23.

The Intervenors are:

- Barbados Association of Retired Persons Inc.

- Barbados Small Business Association

- Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (BANGO)

- Barbados Consumers Research Organisation Inc.

- Dr. Roland R. Clarke.

- Mr. Errol Niles.

- Mr. Douglas Trotman.

- Canbar Technical Services Ltd.

- Sentinel Group Caribbean Inc.

BANGO has promised to record the hearings as is practicable and make available for the PEOPLE for following. We wish all of the Intervenors the very best. Many of us talk but few are forced to act.

Wrong Is Wrong

October 2009 will be a month to remember for many Barbadians. It was the month a newborn was found abandoned on a beach by a 21 year old woman, interestingly a mother of two others. Thankfully the baby was found, just in the nick of time, and is reported by the QEH to be doing well. The newborn was found in a plastic bag similar to those distributed by supermarkets.

A lot has been written in the press and shouted on the talk shows about the matter of a mother abandoning her baby. BU is not about judging anyone but wrong is wrong. We live in a society where we adhere to mores and laws meant to protect citizens and the society alike from descending into decadence. It is hard for the BU household to understand how a mother who carried a child for 40 weeks would abandon it at birth. It is even harder to understand how the child would have been abandoned in the circumstances which Ms. Ellis is reported to have pleaded guilty to in Court last week. Why not leave it in the bathroom at the QEH, a Polyclinic, a Police Station or a Bus Stop?

In a plastic bag on a beach under cover of foliage?

In the weekend press did we read correctly former Chairman Joey Harper giving his expert opinion? To quote Harper: Former chairman of the Child Care Board David “Joey” Harper believes that subject to proper counselling and psychological analysis, Ellis should not be deprived of the opportunity to mother her child if she wants to. Did we read Mr. Harper correctly? What is the basis for Mr. Harper jucking his mouth into this affair? Frankly we are astounded a man who would have been Chairman of the Child Care Board would bullrush his way into this issue by making such leading statements, why the Nation would carry Harper’s opinion so prominently is beyond comprehension, yet they refused to publish General Secretary Lincoln Lewis Open Letter To Rickey Singh and Norman Faria.  Does he know something which the public is not aware? How can he speak with such authority?

The following picture of the baby in a plastic bag maybe offensive to some.

Something Is Happening

The Late Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow

There was a time when Barbadians were clear about the country we wanted to build. It was a time when our leaders were bold in policy making even if it departed from what others were doing. Former Prime Minister and National Hero Errol Walton Barrow asserted many years ago that Barbadians will be friends of all and satellites of none. In a short utterance Barrow was able to encapsulate the esprit de corps of the Barbadian. Sadly as we scan Barbados a few years later we seem to have become sucked into the currents of what is popular is the standard. We have to agree with the oft saying, where there is a vacuum undesirable elements will take a foothold.

Where is the leadership!

Last week Barbadians were treated to the arrival of Jet Blue $99.00 dollar airfare and all. BU like many is elated by the news our tourism authorities were able to entice an airline, any airline to fly the US to Barbados route in challenging times. In the decision, we calculated the many tourists who will change their minds and travel to Barbados despite the uncertain economic times which currently prevails in North America. Our number one foreign exchange earner has been taking a beating of late; we need those tourists to come to our shores. We can criticize our governments for building an economy which is uncomfortably reliant on tourism but until we come up with something better, we have to work with it.