Ugandan Political Economist Yash Tandon Calls For Moratorium On Negotiations Between African Countries and the European Union (EU)

Yash Tandon: African countries should first create their own regional common market before opening to the EU and others/IPSnews

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur some say sacrificed his government because of the disproportionate amount of time he spent during his last term dealing with CSME and EPA matters. Barbados and the other members of Cariforum despite concerns raised by NGOs and others about the implications of signing-off on the EPA moved forward anyway.

Earlier this month respected Ugandan political economist Yash Tandon issued the following comment, the current course of the talks on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) is particularly destructive for low income African countries and may contract democratic space in such countries even further.

We hope the local and regional media will follow-up on the news breaking yesterday which supports Tandon’s position. This is important in light of the Canada EPA currently under negotiation. The following is a summary of the EPA seminar held earlier today in Brussels, Belgium facilitated by BU family member ROK, Head of BANGO:

Note the following represents note taking by the ACP Civil Society representative in Brussels whose first language is Dutch.

Thieving Lawyers The Scourge Of Unsuspecting Barbadians

Submitted by Madonna

Immediately upon being apprised that the name of the lawyer in question had been posted here on BU, BU redacted the post removing the name of the lawyer in question and apologises to him/her in a more prominent position that that in which he/she was named for any embarrassment that may have been caused. BU’s contributors are reminded that the matter of possibly defamatory statements was aired here on BU and reminds the BU family that in order for all of us to protect our right of free speech on matters of national and international import here on BU, we must exercise good judgement in our comments.

David

My gripe is that a lot of poor people are being unfair in Barbados by a lot of lawyers. Take for instance my situation. this particular attorney and I have been friends since my school days, I wanted to sell my house and I asked his advice, he told me if I go to a real estate agent I would have to pay a lot of money so foolish me trusting him agree that he would assist me in selling the house and he in turn would charge me $10,000, I agreed although I felt it was a bit high seeing that the house was being sold for $192,000.

Would you believe that the crooked lawyer waited until I done sign the papers and then tell me his cost is $39,147.00 in legal fees, and to make matters worst he tell me that I run up a total of $10,000 in phones calls?

I had to go to court to stop him from completing the sale and taking out his share as he threatened. The man produced a lot of bogus phone numbers and said that I called from the numbers, it is only after the case and I was given a copy of the numbers, when I called the numbers it is immigration’s numbers and some were not in service.

I had to pay him $17,000 after the case was finished so he did not get the money he was expecting. I am still not satisfied. I hear the Barbados Bar Association will do nothing but slap him on the wrist, but I waiting and see.

Is Guyana Government Threatening Freedom Of The Press By Choking Advertising Dollars

Submitted by Rickford Burke, President of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

The Editor in Chief
Kaieteur Newspaper
Georgetown, Guyana

Dear Editor:

I have noted your notice to readers detailing a nefarious, systematic Government of Guyana campaign to strangle Kaieteur newspaper by drastically decreasing or withdrawing government advertising as a punitive measure. I have also scrutinized the following statistics which you published on the percentages of government of Guyana advertisements which were placed in newspapers in Guyana from, April 18 to April 24, 2010: Guyana Chronicle – 35.9%, Stabroek News 32.1%, Guyana Times: 18.5%,  Kaieteur News: 13.5%.

When the PPP government withdrew its ads from Stabroek newspaper two years ago, President Bharrat Jagdeo stridently argued to the nation as well as to me personally and a group of Guyanese with whom he met during the Caricom Heads of government summit in New York, that his government had withdraw ads from Stabroek News and had placed them in the Kaieteur News instead, because Kaieteur News by far had the widest circulation among all newspapers in Guyana.

So, what has changed from then to now? This level of decline in government advertisement to Kaieteur has a direct correlation to Kaieteur News’ continual exposure of corruption, malfeasance, criminality and impropriety in the Jagdeo regime, and its sustained policy of investigative reporting that demands governmental accountability.

Former Minister Of Tourism Explains Carnival Destiny Deal Would Have Self Liquidated

Submitted by Adrian Loveridge

‘That $14 million was supposed to have been self-liquidated, where we would have sold packages that would have more than covered that cost’!

Former Minister of Tourism, Noel 'Barney' Lynch

This is the economic justification put forward by a former Minister of Tourism. Now let’s do the maths!

The loan was actually US$14,772,000. Presumably before any interest payments and we have to assume that figure included any ‘arrangement fees’. Carnival Destiny has a stated passenger capacity of 2,642 persons.

So! On a simple cost per person that meant that each passenger would have had to pay US$5,591.

Arguments could be made that additional revenue could reduce that figure if the ship was redeployed for the CWC 2007 semi-final in St. Lucia, but why would the Barbadian taxpayer be expected to subsidise the tourism industry in that island?

So could someone please explain to me how this amount could be ‘self-liquidated’?

Unprofessionalism, Suggestions And Solutions

Submitted by Looking Glass

One admires the peacock for the grandeur of his plumes only to be driven away by the discordant tones of his voice. Bajan Truth deemed Dr. Worrell’s first quarter presentation to be unprofessional; his sin not “sharing objectively on the economy.” According to him Dr. Worrell, having noted that “there was a 2% drop in the economy in the economy for this quarter,” concluded the economy was steady. The conclusion is said to be untruthful because “a recession according to economic textbooks is if growth is less than 2% over a year,” and because “we experienced further 2% negative growth after losing 10% last year.”

There is no need to defend the Governor. An economic textbook defining recession as less than 2% growth over a year is yet to be written. Can the businessman who “relies on these reports to guide decisions or anticipate outcomes” be objective and truthful? One wonders if he ever looked into a textbook. Dr. Worrell might have been untruthful but the food retailer is an embarrassment to Bajan businessmen

Yes, our reserves like the economy are in deep trouble and have been so for a long time. For years we hid the truth. We have a history of borrowing to shore up reserves to meet requirements, then spend the money and borrow again to prop up the economy. The practice, a band aid solution, has had significant implications for our indebtedness and the GDP (Economists and the Bank Report). Thirty million could be indeed a strain on the foreign reserves if the government decided against going that route. Right now our foreign reserves are probably less than $1bn.

On A Point Of Privilege, Mr. SPEAKER…

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

Dear Sir, please accept this apology, on behalf of all Barbadians, for the conduct of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament two days ago. Indeed, Sir, I would wish to apologize on Ms. Mottley’s behalf as well. Sir, believe me when I say, no offence was intended. The lady leader is under immense pressure. Owen Arthur is about to make his move…and she can sense danger. Mottley is honestly not in control of her political faculties as this time. By the way, Sir, please forgive and forget George Payne. He is a Political bantamweight, not worthy of note.

Mr. Speaker, I wrote last week that the boycott of Parliament had precious little to do with the so-called gun issue and absence of a firearms policy. So afraid was Mottley for her life, that, still in the absence of a gun policy, she walked straight back into Parliament last Tuesday and picked a fight. Interestingly, also, so important was this issue of a firearms policy that it was not even mentioned during the period she spent in the chamber. I insist therefore that that staying away from Parliament last week was nothing more and nothing less than political grandstanding, born out of a desire to prove herself ‘man enough’ to fight and to lead her party.

The ‘cold pone’ fight on Tuesday last was also another staged event, designed to show, not you Mr. Speaker, but Owen Arthur and his supporters in the Barbados Labour Party, who is boss and who is not afraid to stand up and fight. It was also a strategic move to avoid having to debate that $28 million in free money given by the Owen Arthur administration to Carnival Destiny.

Inculcating Values The Bajan Way On National Heroes Day

Submitted by Austin

Heroes Square, Bridgetown

As a man who has travelled to the far reaches of the world there is no place on earth like Barbados. The values I learned as a child in silver sands Christ church has served as an anchor for me in hard and good time, no matter where I was in the world.

The love and sense of community gained in the gap I lived with one street light, has enabled me to love my fellow man regardless of race, colour or creed.  I did not know what bigotry or racism was until I left Barbados and experienced how people of colour are treated in many corners of the world. Inspite of this my Bajan roots remain firm in the manner I lived my daily life, with love for my fellow man at my core.

We are a blessed nation from sea to shining see, with imperfections which prove our humanity. There is a way of life embodied in being called a Bajan we should be all proud of.

For just being a small rock in the large ocean, Bajans worldwide have made a significant contribution to humanity in various ways, no matter where we go. While things may be tough right now in BIM better days are coming. So let’s all call on our ancestors for favour and protection as we navigate these troubled waters.

Fireworks Go Off In The House Of Assembly

Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly Michael Carrington

In a stormy debate so far at today’s sitting of the House of Assembly the leader of the opposition has sought to raise a matter (emergency debate on CLICO) which was ruled against by the Speaker. While seeking to clarify the matter along with her colleague George Payne of St. Andrew, the Speaker took the unusual step for Barbados of asking the Marshalls, with the assistance of the constabulary if required to remove the two members (to be confirmed).

Interesting to note Dale Marshall is currently being allowed to narrate events which led up to the gun incident between himself and David Estwick, interesting to say the least. Estwick who offered an apology last week when the opposition boycotted was not seated.

To the BU family, the filibustering strategy of the BLP does not come as a surprise in light of the recent gun incident in parliament and the escalating events of the CLICO issue. Given the adversarial design of the Westminster System how can one blame the opposition? Time will determine how sound the strategy proves itself to be.

The display of disorder which was witnessed this morning would have saddened all who witnessed or heard it.

I Was At The BU Meeting When…

Submitted by Ready Done

The rules are simple, use your imagination and what you know of a person’s character to make the story fun, and always end with ……

Here goes, I was at the BU meeting when ROK walk through the door with a friend but when bonny pepper look round she……

Who Is In Control Of Whom – Executive Chairman Leroy Parris Has The Power

Submitted by BAJAN TRUTH

Executive Chairman of CLICO Holdings Barbados, Leroy Parris

How enlightening was today’s Nation newspaper? Parris ignores Chairman of Oversight Committee William Layne and sends his request or command to the Prime Minister. CLICO across the region has been viewed as a key player even a kingmaker in REGIONAL elections.  Could this have something to do with a line item in their accounts – miscellaneous- $14m per year. It is alleged that Parris can call Prime Ministers in the region and instruct them as to what he will tolerate and not tolerate.

Imagine that POWER.  But where does this power emanate from. Word from Trinidad is that it is alleged that a very senior director in CLICO describes that power thus, they have money (to finance campaigns) and they have agents (political messengers), the most powerful combination for a political force to determine who wins and loses election. Now this puts into greater context Estwick’s explosive remark on a political platform about Parris’ control of the DLP, determining who and who would get a pick. Most revealing now we understand the greater regional political dynamics.  Look at the dynamic duo said one observer- Parris and Hartley, hand in hand across the region, establishing and controlling governments. One now needs to determine if Thompson makes it a trio or is he a pawn.