Simple Solutions For Barbados To Reach Affluence

Submitted by Caleale

Hello to all at the BU household, and to those who follow. I’m an American born Bajan, and I was compelled by deep feelings to see how my beloved Bim was holding up in these turbulent economic times. Growing up, I always held my head up high knowing that my father came from a respectable nation that was prosperous and stable. Little did I know, this “prosperous and respectable” nation has now been out paced by her neighbours. Nowadays, you don’t hear about Barbados being a primary tourist destination (although its still revered), nor do I see ads for tourists to “come to Barbados” as much anymore. Only the Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, and the Cayman Islands come to play on the mind of the American tourist. It had me ask myself, “Well, what about Barbados?”

As I asked myself this question, I decided to do a little research to go give me a piece of mind. “Okay,” I said to myself, “well the economy is bound to be hit hard due to the global financial crisis and all, so I guess i shouldn’t be surprised…”, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I looked up various news outlets (Bajan and CARICOM wide), and I was shocked to find that all of them painted a picture that was bleak and rather grim for the economic route that Barbados is treading upon.

Not only was I angered at how much the tourism sector of the Bajan economy contracted, but I was also disgusted at the overall “progress” the economy was making. I was upset at the fact that as we enter the second decade of the new millennium, that two of the three traditional sectors that formed the economic PILLARS of the Bajan economy still plays a VERY  significant role to the Bajan economy. As I read more and more articles, I grew even more upset of how ignorant I was to this fact. Bajans in America seem oblivions (but not completely) as to what is going on with our economy.

Of course, you’d hear of cousin Darrel still not being employed, and that Aunt Anne is planning, but I wasn’t aware of how far the damage has gone. 2010, and Barbados still relies on her Sugar plantations, her pearly white sands and pristine blue waters, and remittances sent in by her children abroad, as primary sources of “wealth”. What am I getting at?

Tremendous Intrigue In Regional Politics

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

Ok, Madame Letter Writer, you win! As a rule I do not comment on the political goings on in sister Caribbean states, but your Letter To The Editor over the past weekend has triggered an avalanche of requests for my take on political developments across the region.

First up, Trinidad and Tobago! I do not believe general elections are imminent in that country. Patrick Manning is easily one of the most politically cunning operatives in the region today. He successfully diverted public attention from a major money scandal involving several senior PNM operatives as well as “watered down” the impact of the coronation of Kamla Bassad-Parsar as Prime Minister-In-Waiting, by dropping the hint of imminent general elections. This is the classic Foolish Virgins political strategy; as clearly Manning is hoping that Kamla and her UNC would peak in the coming weeks, thus burning their popularity lamps dry and not having adequate appeal by the time the actual poll is held. I consider Kamla a political sprinter. Her moment of midas magic will last all of approximately 12 months. If Manning were to be so ‘politically drunk’ as to call an election anytime within the next 12 months, he would be clobbered by a Kamla-led UNC, aided and abetted by the Winston Dookeran led Congress of the People. If Manning holds out and permits Kamla’s shine to rub off, I fear the pockets of an incumbent Trinidad and Tobago leader are deep enough to enable him to worm his way back into the hearts and minds of voters. My advice to Kamla is ‘pace yourself’ and guard against peaking too soon. My advice to Manning is use the diversionary tactic of an early election to your advantage, but for heaven’s sake, and certainly that of the PNM, do not even dream of ringing that bell anytime soon.

Black Men In The Hands Of White Women: The Mythology Of Interracial Dating, Covert Reverse Racism And the Re-Education Of The Black Race

Submitted by Terence Blackett

In George Lamming’s debut novel – In the Castle of My Skin (1953), this famous Bajan son of the soil describe the psychic scars of racism in direct and powerful terms. In The Castle of My Skin he wrote, “No Black boy wanted to be white, but it was also true that no Black boy liked the idea of being Black. Brown skin was a satisfactory compromise, and Brown skin meant a mixture of white and Black… There was a famous family on the island which could boast of the prettiest daughters. Their father was an old Scottish planter who had lived from time to time with some of the labourers on the sugar estate. The daughters were ravishing, and one was known throughout the island as the crystal sugar cake.”

Grantley Adams, a British educated lawyer – who later rose to political prominence as the first Black Prime Minister of Barbados – had an English wife.  ‘At that time’ Neville recalled, she was a member of the Aquatic Club in Bay Street and Grantley was not a member, he was a Black man, he wasn’t a member, but she… had that privilege as a white woman to be a member of the Aquatic. And Grantley would carry her to the Aquatic Club, drop her there and turnaround and come back down the road [laughs]. Tell me when you’re ready and I’ll come back and pick you up when you ready to go… He dropped her there. That is your thing. You belong to that club. I’ll put you there, you come back when you’re ready to come, call me and I’ll come back and pick you up.’

It is now 177 years since the Wilberforce Abolition Act of 1833; 147 years since the American Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the 44^th years of Barbados’ Independence from British rule and sovereignty since 1966.

Low Levels Of Vitamin D Linked To Higher Rates Of Asthma In African-American Children, Debunked By Barbadians

A visit to the asthma bay at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) reveals it to be a hive of activity day and night. Our information is the QEH owns three to four nebulizers, unfortunately all of them are not always in working order.

In recent years the rise in the number of Barbadians suffering from asthma should be of concern to the country at large. A couple years ago the death of sports journalist Terry Mayers brought the condition fully to the public’s eye.  It seems too many Barbadians are happy to resign themselves to the condition by having the ubiquitous nebulizer close by.

It is therefore good news to learn of a recent  study conducted in the USA which discovered in 85 African American children tested suffering from asthma; they all registered a low level of vitamin D in their blood tests. At this stage more research is required to conclusively prove that a low level of Vitamin D is responsible for causing asthma in African-American children. However in light of the early findings from this research, it makes sense for parents of Black children to ensure the diet of their children is rich in Vitamin D.

The Antigua General Election Court Matter File ANUHCV2009/0141

The Obama era was suppose to bring a level of bipartisanship hitherto not experienced by politicians in the US legislature. The term ‘reaching across the isle’ was a term which was synonymous with the Obama campaign. A couple years later the Obama administration and the USA finds itself in the midst of a level of political polarization which threatens to split the country into small pieces. Obamamania was so rife that it became obvious Prime Minister David Thompson’s political strategist became an admirer and adopted bits and pieces of Obama policies and strategies during the last campaign. Prime Minister David Thompson to complete the script’ ‘reached across the isle’ by inviting former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Sir Richard Haynes to join him and Sir Lloyd Sandiford at a breakfast meeting to discuss solutions to the nations problems brought about by the current global recession.

Despite all the talk about about bipartisanship blowing far and wide it appears the political rhetoric has coarsened the world over. In recent days the rhetoric has heightened in Antigua to a degree that if left unabated can have devastating implications for that country.  There is the wider implication of the recent court judgement handed down by Antigua High Court Judge Louise Esther Blenman in the case which challenged the electoral process in the last Antigua general election. It is now history that the Judge, to the consternation of the three government incumbents affected has declared invalid the seats of Leandro, Spencer and Maginley. The affected parties have since responded to Judge Blenman’s decision by asking the Court to issue a stay on the order which has been granted. The stay is important because it gives the Baldwin Spencer government breathing space to determine next steps.

Guyana Government’s Failure To Act In Bauxite Workers And Russian Company Dispute Spawns Lawlessness And “Massa” Rule

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

I have been observing the protracted dispute between the management of the Bauxite Company of Guyana, INC (BCGI), its workers and their recognized union – the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU). Culpability for this vexing controversy rests squarely at the feet of President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has refused to reinstate the tax-free overtime pay for bauxite workers. The tax-free overtime pay is a benefit which was fought for by bauxite workers and given to sugar workers in Guyana. However, the PPP government deliberately exempted bauxite workers and allowed this benefit only for sugar workers, its main political constituency.

The impasse commenced when, in an effort to ameliorate the economic hardship that has plagued bauxite workers since the PPP government downsized and deemphasized the bauxite industry and its attendant Linden, Kwakwani, Aroaima and Ituni communities (Region 10), the GB&GWU requested Jagdeo to reinstate tax-free overtime pay. However, Jagdeo’s political indignation for GB&GWU members disallowed even the decency of a response.

The union subsequently entered negotiations with BCGI for increase wages for its workers, but the company refused and negotiations became futile and broke down. Consequently, on November 22, 2009 bauxite workers proceeded on strike to demand a better living wage. In retaliation, on November 24, 2009 BCGI management issued suspension and dismissal letters to workers; fifty-seven (57) of whom were union leaders. On December 1, 2009, the company notified the Ministry of Labor, that it had arbitrarily terminated the Collective Labor Agreement and commenced the process of derecognizing the legitimate union. Concomitantly, some workers were, upon resumption of work, forced to sign a company prepared petition requesting the delegitimization of the union.

Moral Authority Of The Church Under Threat At Eastertide

Digital image by Judy Green

It seems the biggest irony that Pope Benedict XV a German should be under pressure at this time because of the role the Catholic has played in covering up sex offences through the years. Perhaps now more than at any time in recent history the moral authority of the Church is being challenged. Other denominations may want to believe that they are absolved from the growing public perception that problems in the Church is confined to one or the other. The reality of the situation is that the perception of the Church is probably seen by many as having a more amorphous meaning. The Church still represents to many the moral anchor, the possibility that it maybe losing its relevance at a time when cultural relativism is on the rise continues to be a big concern to many.

In 1989 the dismantling of the Berlin Wall signalled the end of the cold war period, Reagan the Capitalist had triumphed over Gorbachev the Communist, from their current locations they both might agree it was truly an epiphanous event. Some are wondering at this Eastertide if Pope Benedict XV will demonstrate the courage to use his position to signal to the world once and for all that the Catholic Church is ready to exorcise the sex demon which continues to besmirch the work of the Church.  Twenty years after the felling of the Berlin Wall we live in a world which still wants to believe that there is someone greater, they maybe ready for yet another epiphanous event.

In any society there is always a place for the wise and intellectual among us. One thing we know is that to believe in God requires faith, no amount of debate whether in a docile or rancorous form can change this reality. While some may argue that religion has been used to brainwash the ignorant; there is the value position which some forget religion teaches of good and bad which has played its role in weaving modern day societies now under threat from moral degradation. If we are to believe that religion has no place in the emerging multicultural societies the question must be answered – What will replace it?

Bauxite Company Of Guyana (BCGI) Formed Workers Committee As Illegal Substitute For GB&GWU

Submitted by Leslie Gonsalves General Secretary (ag) – GB&GWU

By circular dated 1st April, prepared by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), workers of Aroiama and Kwakwani are being advised of a Workers Committee for them, headed by Orin Ford. This is yet another violation of the laws and an imposition on the workers by Management to determine or facilitate any acceptance of any group or committee of workers other than the recognized Bargaining unit of GB&GWU. As recent as March 25, 2010, Labour Minister, Manzoor Nadir, is reported in Kaieteur News acknowledging that the “Labour Occupational Safety and Health department does recognize the GB&GWU as the recognized union for the bargaining unit” for BCGI workers.

The efforts to coerce workers into establishing a Workers Committee (a defacto bargaining unit) by Mohamed Akeel, BCGI Labour Consultant, and the company’s Human Resources Manager commenced 18th March after the failed attempts to get the workers to sign up to have NAACIE replace the GB&GWU. For more than a decade Mohamed Akeel was this country’s Chief Labour Officer and Secretary of the Trade Union and Recognition Board. He knows his actions are illegal and in violation of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Act, Chapter 98:07, Section 23 (1), Compulsory recognition and duty to treat, which expressly states,

“Where a trade union obtains a certificate of recognition for workers comprised in a bargaining unit in accordance with this Part, the employer shall recognise the union, and the union and the employer shall bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining.”

Local Engineer Back From Haiti And Is Forced To Ask Some Hard Questions

Grenville Phillips, Structual Engineer

I recently returned from a 4-week deployment in Haiti. My principal assignment was to train Haitian engineers to evaluate the safe structural condition of buildings, so that they could be occupied or abandoned. I also trained them in effective and economical repair and strengthening measures. I completed my assignments, returned home, and tried to forget the ugly side of the Haitian relief effort … but I could not. This is my story.

1.  Why have none of the UN agencies, international funding agencies, or aid organisations (except HfH) deployed any of the structural engineering volunteers in the Caribbean region, for a disaster which has occurred in the Caribbean.

2.  Why have the UN agencies, international funding agencies, and aid organisations that have contracted structural engineers, contracted them from outside of the Caribbean.

3.  Why was the lone structural engineer that was deployed from the Caribbean, discouraged from training Haitian engineers, and from inspecting any critical facilities?

4.  Why were none of the Caribbean based structural engineers deployed to evaluate any of the 5,900 schools that needed to be urgently evaluated?

5.  Why does UNOPS appear to be threatened by a group of Caribbean based structural engineers who were willing to volunteer their services?

6.  Why was UNOPS’s training so sub-standard.

I will attempt to answer some of these questions.  However, if anyone can provide a different interpretation of the evidence, then I will happily engage them in a discussion.

1.  If Caribbean based Structural Engineers volunteered their services, then there would be less work for the Engineers contracted by UNOPS to do.

2.  If the Engineers procured by UNOPS do less work than they expected, then they would not be required to be in Haiti for as long as they had estimated.  Therefore, they would receive commensurately less fees for their services.

3.  If Caribbean based Engineers gain experience in evaluating critical facilities, then UNOPS may see them as competitive threats.

4.  If Caribbean based Structural Engineers are well trained, then UNOPS may see them as potential competitive threats.

Social Implications Of Education And Economic Development

Submitted by Looking Glass

The following is an abbreviated introduction to a study done many moons ago. The study identified and examined some of the major consequences of education and economic development in the Caribbean and the implication for employment in the region. The focus is on Barbados.

The moral origins of western economic institutions, the Protestant Ethic, suggest that the relationship between education and economic development is a question of both formal education and the type of education. Today education is seen as a causal and necessary pre-requisite for economic growth. Indeed the education for development thesis has become so pervasive it is often presented as, or taken to be a panacea for development.

In upholding the goodness of education economists have been quick to point out the positive aspects of expenditures on education and training. Emphasis is given to the causal effects of individuals and groups. In addition some writers argue that poor countries in the process of economic development invest too little on education relative to what they invest in purely economic activities.