Either Hartley Henry Is A Liar Or The Government Is Complicit In Corruption

Submitted by Inkwell

Prime Minister David Thompson (l) Political Strategist Hartley Henry (r)

Hartley Henry, the political advisor to the Democratic Labour Party in his article published April 15th 2010 under the heading “Irksome Realities” stated inter alia:

“Scores of road contracts were awarded companies that existed only in name and they were some individuals who received contracts to build roads and repair bridges that had not the slightest concept of how such should have been done. The result today is a plethora of unfinished projects in rural Barbados, for which monies have been paid in full but which will now have to be completed by this administration.”

In response, I wrote:

“Now here, surely, is an area where we can move from the realm of innuendo and allegation to the safety of evidence and fact. If you are a government and you sign a contract with Mr. X for the building of a bridge at Y place and pay the full amount of the contract, stupid though that may be, and Mr. X does not complete the bridge, he is in breach of the contract and you have recourse in law. Take Mr. X to court. You have the cancelled cheques. Recover the money paid to Mr. X. Use it to complete the bridge. That’s really simple, isn’t it? Why after two years has it not been done? And why are you still complaining?

And who awarded the contract? Was it done in accordance with the rules? And if the rules were broken, is anyone accountable? Or will it be just another item in the Auditor General’s report? more grist for the politicians’ mill?

Mind Your (tourism) Business

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

I am particularly happy to hear of the airline breakthrough with respect to establishing direct air links between Barbados and Brazil. It has not altered my not backing Brazil to win the football World Cup, but it has certainly created enormous concepts in my mind for modernizing the tourism product.

Several commentators to date have zoomed in on inherent challenges in filling those airline seats, I am more inclined to approach the topic from the opportunity it provides for us create a first rate destination. We are blessed with such natural tourism attributes as year round sea, sand and sun, but somehow I get the impression that as a population, we assume sometimes that other features will take care of themselves and do not necessarily need nurturing and sustaining.

In a discussion such as this, the issue of price always arises but I am not persuaded that Barbados, in the context of the destinational altitude that it flies, is any more expensive than comparable locales. Dollar for dollar, in the context of what tourists normally buy, we are no more expensive than Jamaica, Bahamas and definitely not Cayman Islands or Bermuda. In relation to Europe and North America, pound for pound, dollar for dollar you get as much or more here in Barbados as you do for the said output in any of the very popular shopping, entertainment and leisure ports of call.

Politicians Love To Talk About Renewable Energy

Professor Oliver Headley

G20 countries concluded its meeting on the weekend. The usual bovine excrement was recorded in the joint communiqué which was duly released yesterday. One bit of information coming out of the deliberations which held the interest of BU referred to the need to “phase out over the medium term of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, taking into account vulnerable groups and their development needs.” Didn’t know if to laugh or cry at the statement. The statement reminded BU to view a video clip which poked some fun at the last eight US presidents including Obama, who promised to shift US dependence on oil. Did someone asked for a definition of lip service?

Living on an island blessed to be located in the tropics, it continues to bamboozle the mind why politicians and policymakers would resist serious attempts to build a renewable energy (RE) program in Barbados. Whether our RE program is developed using solar, wind or other means  can be determined by collaborating with available expertise on the ground or abroad if required.

BU If The Next General Election Was Held Tomorrow, Who Would You Vote For; DLP or BLP?

Submitted by Austin

The people of Barbados spoke loud and clear in the last election for change they could touch and feel. Their vote came after hearing all the right things as detailed in the DLP manifesto. What was lost in the excitement of the historic moment was an analysis of whether the promises could actually be fulfilled. At this point the answer appears to be “no”.

Congrats To BTA On Securing GOL Flight From Sao Paulo

Submitted By Adrian Loveridge

Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism

Just for the record, I would like to applaud all those involved in securing the direct non-stop flight from GOL flight from Sao Paulo including the Minister of Tourism, BTA, Barbados Diplomatic Corp and BHTA. It is a tremendous achievement, and I believe it offers the very best option in terms of route, carrier, duration of flight, connecting city possibilities and gateway.

From comments made by the Minister in the media, he is not expecting every flight to be full in the initial operating period, and however sceptical some may be about this foray into South America, this is in my humble opinion is a very realistic approach. I would, though, offer some suggestions how, perhaps, more of those seats could be filled by specifically targeting niche markets.

I think that we should break down 60 of the available 150 seats per flight and set some achievable goals and objectives.

BTA: A Sign Of Inspiration

Submitted by Austin

Yesterday on a much needed positive note a friend in Washington DC forwarded me a mass marketing email from the Barbados Tourism Authority. The mass email was well put together and promoted travel to Barbados with highlights of locations and coming events this summer.

It from my standpoint represented the kind of innovative marketing approach needed in the current competitive travel climate we are facing. It showed that someone at BTA “gets it”. With this kind of promise BTA leadership can drive down whatever side of the street they wish (lol).

See mass email below, BRAVO BTA.

Barbados QC Named And Shamed In Conflict Of Interest, Abuse Of Legal Process Allegations. Nelson Barbados Group Ltd Backers Revealed – The Secretive World Of Peter Andrew Allard – PART IV

Alair Shepherd QC

It is over; in Canada, at least. (Those who are not interested in this matter please use the page down key)

BU has learned that the case of Nelson Barbados Group Ltd. v the Country of Barbados and others has ended with the Plaintiff, Nelson, and its officers, backers and insurers paying out undisclosed millions of dollars in legal costs to Barbados and its fellow-defendants. We now wait to see if another related action, this time directed at the blogs and bloggers, filed in Florida (see the Florida Action) will be pursued.

There is no doubt that Nelson and its officers and supporters settled the matter of costs because of the massive amount of evidence against them and in the hopes that this evidence would never become generally known. But Bajans have the right to know. We were sued.

Readers of Barbados blogs will recall that this was a case that started with much public fanfare and condemnatory finger-pointing in the direction of Barbados by certain other blogs (namely Keltruth and Barbados Free Press) giving the impression that Barbados was to be called to account for conspiring with prominent Bajans to defraud Marjorie Knox and her foreign backers. And for Barbados’ temerity in challenging the dictates of those foreigners. It ended with a strangled whimper from those same plaintiffs and with silence from Barbados’ blog detractors.

Readers of BU will recall that Nelson lost the right to have the case heard in Ontario and the judge ruled that Barbados was the only country with jurisdiction and competence to try it – and it has already been tried in Barbados. And lost.

Subsequently, Barbados and its co-defendants filed a claim for their legal costs on a (unusual in Canada and usual everywhere else) “full indemnity” basis, meaning that Barbados and others wanted all their costs back. These costs were estimated at in excess of 3 MILLION Canadian Dollars. Nelson, meanwhile, was revealed to be a shell company, set up solely for the purposes of the (as admitted by Nelson’s lawyer) meritless litigation.

Another Meaningless Education Report From NACE

Submitted by Bush Tea

The report from the National Advisory Committee on Education (NACE) committee that has worked over the past two years to compile recommendations for the ministry of education on the future direction of education in Barbados is as predictable and useless as could have been expected – given the way that things are done in Barbados.

According to the Nation newspaper of Tuesday June 22, the report from the ‘NACE’ and presented by Dr Pearson Broomes – focused on five primary areas:

~ The provision of adequate and affordable educational opportunities

~ Enhancing the quality of education

~ Improving student performance and certification

~ Making school a rewarding experience

~ Ensuring that each child benefit from the educational experience

…each area being a predictable cliché of meaningless, general, terms that sound intelligent while essentially saying absolutely nothing.

The committee then goes on to recommend a number of ‘policy initiatives’ like;

…sending scholarship winners to UWI;

…allowing UWI to monopolize tertiary education in Barbados;

…zoning students for secondary schools

…taking 2 schools out to become trade schools

…establishing sixth forms in every school;

… etc etc etc

No doubt the newspaper report is but a brief summary of the committee’s extensive document, and it probably does not do justice to the value of the work done. However even if that is the case, anyone with a modicum of common sense must see that this is nothing but a wish list compiled by a particular segment of the education cartel of Barbados that serves only to pander to their particular interests and pet peeves.

In the first place, how can such an august group of intellectuals spend two years in researching this issue and yet fail to take the time to establish a clear strategic framework for national education in Barbados?

You know! like…

Sing Mr. Calypsonian, Sing!!

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

“Boy, I hear Colin Spencer putting some blows in wunnah this year”. That was the refrain of the self declared independent commentator, whom I know to be an ardent supporter and financier of ‘the other side’.

He was thrilled that a known supporter, indeed a former candidate of the ruling Democratic Labour Party, had penned and was actually singing a song he, the observer, deemed critical of the government. As for me, I had not heard the tune. Indeed, in this, the third week of June, I have not heard many of the tunes for the 2010 season, but I guess that has to do more with my listening to the wrong stations. My daughter tells me I ‘have to get with it’, as there is much more to radio in Barbados than VOB and CBC. Truth to tell, I hardly turn my dial away from those two flagship stations; so that which is not played on either is not likely to be heard by me, unless someone calls and says ‘turn to so and so and listen’.

So I was not alarmed and still am not fazed by the fear of what could be contained in Colin’s song. I know Colin Spencer! He is a man of immense character and integrity and therefore he cannot be bought out or bought into. I have not heard the song, but I am sure it is solid social commentary, the likes for which genuine kaiso lovers yearn.

David Rice, Did You Do That?

David Rice, new President and CEO of Barbados Tourism Authority

Here is what Nation Columnist Kammie Holder is reporting on his Facebook Page. BU found the little comment to be very instructive:

I could not believe my eyes when I saw an Audi A4T, registration ML634 at 14:22 hours make a right turn up Collymore Rock, from the old Service Commission premises. Are you still wondering why little boys ride on the opposite side of the road? Can anyone tell us who drives this vehicle?

Three hours later here is what he found out:

After checking with my sources I have come to learn the car is the property of the BTA and was driven by the CEO Mr David Rice. The temptation to take short cuts but you never know who is watching!

The above is an example of what is so wrong with our little country.