Global Food Security: “A Measure of Wheat for a Denaris” – The Green Revolution’s Domination and Control of the World’s Last Major Frontier

Submitted by Terence Blackett

If you control the oil you control the country; if you control food, you control the population  – Henry Kissinger

Who amongst us have not noticed that the cost price of our food at the supermarket checkout till has escalated in the last year? Let’s go back 5 years – or maybe even 10 years! Has there been a systematic pattern of food hikes going back as far as you can remember – notwithstanding the ongoing genetic manipulation of our food? Has your dollar also been buying less and less? Do you have to stretch those “pennies” in the hope of satisfying those hungry mouths which seem intent on eating you out of house and land?

Well, according to our governments’ spin, the latest economic argument for the state of things currently is the dreaded (I) word –“inflation”. First, we were told that we had to fear “deflationary” pressures on the economy and so the rumourmongers quickly tilted the scales with a nouveau concept called “stagflation” to keep up the sinister façade of rule by fear.

So today, the chimes in every quarter are over the issue of “food security” and who ultimately controls this last precious human resource. As the world’s population meanders towards 7 billion souls with a mere 0.005% controlling in total the accumulative wealth and resources of the 90 odd % – watchdog organizations are becoming increasingly concerned about the leverage of certain multinationals and their control over food and its prices.

Barbados, The Most Beautiful Place In The World

This gallery contains 16 photos.

BU read the blog posted today by islandgal246 who is the Blogmaster of a quaint little blog called my rustic bajan garden. Sometimes unless reminded we can forget what a beautiful island we inhabit. Maybe it explains why some of … Continue reading →

What Is The Plan For The Queen Elizabeth Hospital?

Submitted by M*M*

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)

What is the definitive policy action that the Government has in place for our Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)? This question remains unanswered in my humble opinion at today’s date. Let me explain to you why this is the case.

Before the DLP came to office in January 2008, then Opposition MP Richard Sealy proposed the much talked about Rescue QEH Plan. The intimate details of this plan were never presented but it seemed like a catchy phrase or buzzword to throw at us the tax-paying public that definitive and critical action would be taken to improve the QEH.

After the change of government in January 2008, the then newly appointed Minister of Health Dr. David Estwick publicly announced that a new hospital would be constructed and he cited amongst other reasons, the limited room for expansion of the QEH, its position in a low lying flood plain and the cost involved in revitalizing an aging plant as opposed to constructing a new one amongst others. Within two weeks of Dr. Estwick’s pronouncement, Prime Minister David Thompson refuted this saying that no decision had been taken as yet and that a decision would have to be made by his Cabinet as to whether to build a new (and second) hospital or to revitalize the QEH thus pouring cold water on Dr. Estwick’s earlier statement.

The Other Side Of The Gallows, The Suffering Of Many In The Name Of Justice

Whenever there is a murder committed in Barbados expect to hear the cry from the public, hang them! The recent robbery at the Campus Trendz store in Tudor Street which resulted in the death of six persons has sparked the usual debate, hang them! Barbadians in favour of capital punishment should soon come to the realization that hanging will not* occur ever again in Barbados. Almost 90% of lawyers in Barbados actively lobby against it and 90% of the Lower House (lawmakers) is comprised of lawyers. The traditional media in a macabre way exploits the capital punishment debate because it makes for good sales.

There is the other side of the debate which in the emotion of the moment we always forget. What about the actors who have to participate in the executions? There is the Judge, Executioner,  Prison Warders, Priest, family members and others. Many stories can be told of judges, priests and warders whose mental state have been noticeably affected because of their close association with executions. In fact many of the actors involved in the execution over the years have committed suicide. So many people who have had to endure  great psychological pain all in the name of  justice. It is interesting to note the priest who was always invited to the cell to forgive the sins of the condemned person did so at great personal sacrifice. Often the priest had to visit the prison in the dead of the night to retrieve the soul of the condemned person before the scheduled early morning execution.

What BU finds fascinating is the role of the Executioner. Many believe the job of Executioner is without preparation. How often have we heard people, perhaps in ignorance volunteering to do the job for free?

Banks, EXACTLY!

Richard Cozier, CEO BHL

The Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE) was established in 1987. It is fair to opine that after 23 years in existence the general public has not ‘cotton’ to the idea of investing in public companies. Whether as a means of diversifying investment portfolios or a mechanism to build a voice in the board rooms of leading companies in Barbados, public distrust in public companies remains high. Perhaps local analysts may suggest it has to do with ignorance i.e. lack of education on the part of Barbadians about the benefit of investing in public companies..

The BU household considers itself fortunate to own shares in a few of the companies listed on the BSE. Yield on the investments has been modest at best but the small quantum of BU’s shares does not contribute to any alarm at this stage. The prevailing economic conditions has considerably eroded our capital investment but we are in for the long haul and hope to recoup on the backside of the next economic boom. The BU household defines what is an eternal optimist!

In the wake of the CLICO disaster a reasonable assumption to make is – an already cautious Barbadian investor is likely to become ultra-conservative. It is for this reason companies currently listed on the BSE should be transparent in managing their affairs.

Against the foregoing BU raises a concern directed at the management of Banks Holdings Limited (BHL).

Not So Fast Commissioner Dottin!

Suleman Esuf

In the wake of the Campus Trendz tragedy Barbadians grabbed a little consolation in response to the news the Royal Barbados Police Force was able to apprehend two males for the crime. To be expected Commissioner Darwin Dottin held a press conference in the full glare of local/global media to communicate the news. There was much back slapping and congratulations extended to all those who participated in the capture. BU joins with all Barbadians in extending congratulations to the Commissioner and his team as well.

Despite the success of the police force in quickly apprehending the Campus Trendz suspects, BU has some concerns.  Commissioner Dottin congratulated Barbadians at their show of civic mindedness measured by the number of leads which were communicated to the police hotlines. We are of the view the reason why Barbadians communicated in the way they did had more to do with the heinous nature of the crime which sparked a public outrage. Believe it or not there is an anti-police sentiment which is growing in Barbados, especially among the younger demographic, our ‘leaders’ of tomorrow. It should be of grave concern to the police force and by extension all Barbadians the gravemen of the situation.

A Justice System Bordering On Crisis, Justice DELAYED Is Justice DENIED!

Chief Justice Designate Marston Gibson

Our new Chief Justice Designate, Marston Gibson, has indicated that he proposes to speed up the process of criminal justice in the courts of Barbados when he takes office in the New Year.

The new CJ’s experience is largely in civil law, not criminal law. However, he has practiced in the United States, which still espouses the death penalty and he must have views on this emotive subject. One has to wonder which side he takes.Whatever his views are and whatever our individual views are however, we cannot but welcome the acceleration of the delivery of justice.

However, the CJ has promised to accelerate only one aspect of law. But what about civil law, on which he is an authority? It is all very well to deliver justice to persons criminally charged, but at what stage does the CJ think that the courts themselves should be penalized for the delays in civil justice?

The civil courts of Barbados are in severe crisis, with un-prosecuted cases, most of which were likely filed as nuisance actions in the first place, for which the parties concerned regularly have to pull their pockets to pay lawyer’s fees, due to the inaction and sloth of the civil courts. The effect of this has been to remove from the civil courts the claim to be halls and justice and to turn them into chambers of torture. No longer can justice be seen to be even handed and blindfolded and those scales in the statue ought now to be depicted as groaning on one side under the weight of the money that one or other party can put in, in order to stay the course. Meanwhile the sword, now held upright, needs to be repositioned so that it points threateningly towards the empty side of the scale.

Funding Interdependency: The Genus and Transgenesis of White Supremacy – The Quest for “The Golden Fleece” and The Black Man’s Search for Lasting Empowerment

Submitted by Terence Blackett

Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, or failures  – Cabral

Sometime during the 16^th century, the “darklords” of capitalism and science embarked on a sinister plan to create a seismic collision between two opposing forces of nature which would result in a stratified order of eugenic superiority for human beings. On the one hand, white privilege. On the other hand, according to Chung-Hao Ku – “the plague of the ostracized, cast into the ghetto of the pathologized, animalized, monstrous other.”

Though a tough analysis of the facts – the slow, spurious nature of scientific racism of the 16^th century prepared the pathway for a new form of adaptogenesis to take place which would culminate in the hierarchical societal structures of the modern 21^st century.

This anthropocentric hierarchy between the white race and Blacks has set the stage for a world dominated by white largesse, handouts (in the form of supposed “charity) and the control of the earth’s resources especially in Black nations where we were brainwashed into believing that we were not good enough to rule ourselves.

Tourism MATTERS

Adrian Loveridge

Welcome to the very first Tourism MATTERS weekly column. Its objective is to comment on what is happening within our most important foreign exchange earner, while exploring if there are more creative solutions to tackling the industry’s many challenges.

The writer has spent almost his entire working life (44 years) in tourism, as a travel agent, tour director, tour operator across 67 countries and for the last 22 years trying to become a good small hotelier. One of my biggest single disappointments has not being able to convince our tourism policymakers of the value and untapped potential of airline mileage programmes.

Why do I consider them so important?

The first ever airline loyalty programme, American Airlines AAdvantage was launched in 1981 and now has a staggering 62 million members. To grasp that number, it’s roughly the same as the population of the United Kingdom, our single largest market.

No Suitable Local Candidates For Tourism Jobs – I STRONGLY Object!

Submitted by Mark Brathwaite

Ralph Taylor - Chairman & Managing Director, Almond Resorts

I was looking at one of the leading local print publications over the last week and was absolutely surprised and disgusted to see the number of applications for work permits for various positions at the Almond Hotel Properties. The advertised positions were, Executive Chef, Executive Assistant Manager, Director of Hotel Operations and Director of Food and Beverage.

Now I cannot for one minute believe that given Tourism has been our number one business for years, and the number of Barbadians graduating from institutions and gaining experience over the years at our local hotels, that no suitable locals can be found to fill this many Tourism related positions. In 2010? I most strongly object to the applications for work permits by this employer until responsible authorities including the Chief Immigration officer and the Ministry of Tourism, fully investigate the activity surrounding screening Barbadian applicants for these positions. It certainly does not bode well for our industry and educational investments as a nation if a  local hotel cannot find suitable Barbadian talent to fill routine positions, which can be found at almost every hotel on the island.