Is The Barbados Population Being Properly Served By Its News Media?

Submitted by Yardbroom

 

The late great American writer Walter Lippmann said:

“The journalist’s role was to inform the public of what the elite’s were doing.  It was also to act as a watchdog over the elites, as the public had the final say with their votes”.

Within the above framework, ” journalism’s first obligation is to tell the truth”.

Why should journalists inform us: ” because an informed public is the only one that can correctly assess whether the society it inhabits is going off the rails”.

Perhaps I should say at the outset, this article has no political polemic, it is not for or against the BLP or DLP.  This should not be necessary, but regrettably a few of us, see every discourse through a narrow focus of political allegiance.

I put it to you, that a few too many of the major decisions, which have been taken in Barbados recently, were to the disadvantage of its citizens; and they possibly would not have been taken, had the electorate been better informed.  There was not the rigorous examination of proposals in the News Media, one would expect.  A couple projects, costing many millions of dollars were not properly examined, and because it was expedient not to “analyse” but to quietly “report” on what had been agreed, the almost empty cupboard, spewed out dollars with a haste that bordered on the obscene.

To be blunt the public were not “informed”, in the journalistic sense.

Without rigorous examination, journalists acquiesced to what history had taught them was a fait accompli.  The public accustomed to no more, accepted what they saw, as the engine turned in the background spewing tax payers dollars to the wind.

Wild,Wild, West

Submitted by Charles S. Cadogan

What is happening in Barbados is truly unbelievable in regards of the crime rate. When a group of guys can go to a football game with guns and behave stupid, creating problems for innocent people, it is very dangerous to not only the population but also to the visitors who come and want to come to Barbados.

Let’s review this situation logically. Where are the guns coming into the island from? If my memory serves me well, the person who told the story about the situation said one of the gunslingers was a kid or a midget. Just how many male midgets can there be in Barbados? So this means that he shouldn’t be that hard to find.  If you want to **STOP** your community from being terrorized by these kind of situations, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK OUT. As we say here at home that you have adopted, NO SNITCHING. Well for your information, you are protecting yourself and your community and that is giving well needed information.

Barbados was an island that showed more love than any other island in the region. Where has all the love gone to for the good of all? And to add insult to injury you are taking this madness to another level when you are endangering the lives of innocent children when you are robbing a Daycare Centre.  What is it going to take for you to step up and open your mouths to protect those whom you love for this crime spree that seem to be no end in sight?

Then you have the political parties shooting off at the mouths about situations that need to be addressed and not spoken about. Why would Mr. Arthur want Mia Mottley’s head a few months ago. But now he’s saying that she is needed?  Mia Mottley is a peoples person who gets things done and is trusted by the people that she represents. Mia I am quite sure that you have the interest of all Barbadians in your heart and mind. Whatever choice you make I am sure you are going to give it plenty of thought.  I am sure that you are a strong independent woman with a mind of your own.

Extricating The Barbados Economy From The Crest Of The Precipice

The IMF Executive Board published its 2010 Article IV Consultation with Barbados and as you would expect all the local media channels are abuzz with its findings. The truth is BU attempted to read the 43 page document and gave up in fairly quick time after being nauseated by the feeling of déjà vu. We decided to get a local perspective by reading the Barbados Economic Society blog titled BES Survey of Economists’ Expectations – Q3 2010 and that did not help to improve our outlook for the economic forecast for Barbados. A surprisingly high number of local economists anticipate some growth even if it is marginal.

The reality has finally taken root that Barbadians just do not get it!

A layman analysis by BU supports the view that the government judging by its recent budget is relying on revenue measures to attack the burgeoning deficit. We have therefore seen the most significant increases in the VAT rate to 17.5% and a 50% increase on the excise tax on gasoline. All the experts seem to be suggesting based on the numbers that the inevitable will have to happen if the government insist on its current policy. Bear in mind the government has promised in a very uncertain economic environment to balance the budget by 2015/2015 fiscal year.

BU suspect this is a pie in the sky projection.

Beginning A No -Taxation Campaign

Submitted by People’s Democratic Congress (PDC)

 

Thursday, 25 November, 2010, marked the beginning of the  People’s Democratic Congress’s No-Taxation Campaign in Barbados.

This No-Taxation Campaign has been commenced to coincide with the intense anger and frustration by thousands of Barbadians at the draconian increases in TAXATION by DLP Minister of Finance, Mr. Chris Sinckler, in the 2010 Budgetary Proposals, that were delivered in the House of Assembly, on Monday, 22 November, 2010.

These increases in taxation, along with an increase in bus fares, have come at a time when the so-called Barbados economy has achieved  its third straight year of political economic  recession, with unemployment on the increase, the cost of living/doing business continuing to go through the roof, the foreign reserves on the decline,  the fiscal deficit of government reaching very unmanageable proportions, and the gross government debt becoming of greater albatrossic dimensions.

In the face of these great and recurrent crises in the fiscal affairs of government, and in the affairs of the material and production affairs of this island, we have collected, again, enough evidence that TAXATION is directly involved in these destructive crises.

In the case of disarray in the fiscal affairs of government wherefore the size of the government  has become far too big and unwieldy, and the cost of the operations and debt of government having become unsustainable, muchly beyond the means available to the government to support these undesirable happenings,  it is exceedingly clear that this wicked evil unproductive TAXATION system is the major source of these very grievous problems that are found within a thoroughly unproductive government sector.

WikiLeaks Blows The Whistle On Boeing

According to some former Boeing employees (now whistleblowers) and some Boeing documents uncovered by Al Jazeera, Boeing has been using parts on the newest model of 737, the 737 Next Generation model, which were supplied by one of their subcontractors who was not following the FAA authorised manufacturing process. They were supposed to be using computer controlled manufacturing and they were building critical fuselage components by hand instead.

Barbados Sold!

Kammie Holder

I am no Messiah or seer, I am no saboteur or maverick, I am but a Barbadian who seeks to exercise his right to free speech and provide feedback to those entrusted with governance. Some scoff at me for challenging the status quo rather than follow the crowd blindly, my honesty is not for hire or rent just to maintain a social invite. It`s better to stand alone like a rough diamond, than stand among hypocrites like autumn leaves to be found everywhere.

We became independent 44 years ago, we felt self rule was better for us rather than governance by our former colonial master, but have we been strict craftsmen of our fate. Sadly, Barbados land mass of 166 sq miles is being lost to foreigners with its population of approximately 300,000 persons. The lost of Barbados land mass and the selling of major Barbadian companies to foreign entities can only ensure financial slavery for those coming after us. The aforementioned transactions can only be shortsighted and an indication of a lack of understanding of the Future Value Concept. Let me reminded you, he who feeds you, controls you. The social scientist on the hill are totally silent on the foreign acquisition of Barbadian companies and loss of arable land, I wonder why.

It hurts immensely, that we have been entrusted with the governance of this country by future Barbadians, yet we are selling it to the highest bidder. The shortsightedness of both the political parties has ensured that we have no alien land ownership laws for a 166 sq mile island. When the whirlwind comes which political party will take blame?

What If???

Submitted by Charles S. Cadogan

I would like everyone who reads this article to sit back for a moment and think about these things. If I had the same chance as this other guy life would be better for me.  What if no one really cared about me, what would be come of me? What if I didn’t go to school?…  I can go on and on with the what ifs.

My point is this. What if you never give the other person a chance in life to be all that they might be able to be,  you have taken away from that persons success.    We as human-beings have an obligation towards each others success or failure.  I am sure that this will be a big debate between man, look at it this way. If your parents and others around you didn’t make sure that you did what must be done to be all that you could be; you would be then called, the lost generation of that era.  You got that chance and people care enough to make sure that you got that chance. Sometimes in life some need more attention than others; some are followers and some are leaders. It’s not really for us to give up on anyone since we are by the Laws of GOD all part of HIM; GOD has never given up on any of us. So when you decide to turn your back on others but still saying prayers asking GOD’S HELP – Think of what you are really doing.

From a boy I resented being deemed as a color because I was taught in school the difference in colors, I see no human-beings to fit or match the colors that I was being taught to be black or white. Many have died and are still dying over not being treated as human-being that are all a part of GOD.

Replacing David Thompson

Submitted by GoWeb Caribbean – (blog written by Caswell Franklyn)

 

The Late Hon. Prime Minister David Thompson

The death of our Prime Minister, the Hon. David Thompson, has left a gaping hole in the political landscape of this country. Unfortunately, it has spawned a number of lazy pretenders to the seat/throne who apparently believe that whoever the DLP sends to St. John will be elected. It would appear that most of them don’t want to work: they just want a safe seat, but that is not what representing people is about.

The DLP must choose carefully with a view of strengthening what passes for debate emanating from the House of Assembly. Anyone who listens to parliamentary debates would readily admit that the Government side in the House had only three skilled debaters. The angel of death has silenced one; Mr. Freundel Stuart remains along with the Hon. Stephen Lashley.

Personally, no one can get me away from the radio when Mr. Stuart is making his contributions to debates. To me, Mr. Stephen Lashley appears to be the only other Government Member of Parliament that can actually put together a speech and make sense in the process. It is a painful chore listening to the others for style or for content. People of St. John please choose carefully.

Barbados Legal Fraternity Told To Think Outside The Box By One Of Their Own

President of the Trinidad & Tobago Bar Association, Martin Daly, during his address. (Lennox Devonish)

It was refreshing to listen to an address (edited) on VOB news delivered by President of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) Martin Daly at the annual Barbados Bar Association dinner. The gist of his address was to tell lawyers and other actors in the local judicature present that they have to think outside the box if the current backlog of cases is to be solved. He opined that to continue to routinely process the thousands of case files currently backlogged in court systems across the Caribbean is a never ending effort. He recommended that an innovative solution will have to be found to remove the backlog of cases so that magistrates especially can  be unburdened and start with a clean slate. Of course his elucidation of the problem gives support to BU’s position that the former CJ’s mouthings which promised to make the Magistrates Court more efficient was an exercise in PR. The fact that President Daly to the horror of those present mentioned BU as one source where he obviously gathered information would have caused many to squirm.

Many of our legal beavers appear to be clueless about what it will take to improve file processing in our court system. BU read with interest an Advocate report which quotes Ralph Thorne QC at the opening of the Barbados Community College Industry Services Unit’s two-day seminar on Effective Debt Collection and Fraud Awareness. In the report Thorne responded to a reporter’s question by essaying the following, “There’s a new set of rules now in the High Court, which has given a lot of speed to the court process – the CPR we call them. In the Magistrates’ Court, it was always fairly quick, but there is a backlog…and you just have to be patient”. Contrast Thorne’s plea to Barbadians to be patient with Daly’s heaping of scorn on the existing system of file processing in our court system. Who should we believe? The evidence is there that the local legal fraternity has been mamaguying Bajans for too long.

Wake Up Call

Submitted by Charles S. Cadogan

I’ve read where someone made a comment about a recent visit that they made to Barbados, and the changes that are being made which aren’t for the better.  As long as I can remember St.James was always where the rich so called white folks lived and bought up whatever they could.  The strange thing to me is that when you build a hotel or resort next to the beach, the public usually gets cut off from using the beach as they once did.  I am seeing Barbados starting for years to belong to people outside of Barbados.  If you keep building all these resorts for visitors and all these different malls to accommodate the visitors, then you are taking away valuable land that once was used for planting different crops and pushing the Bajan population somewhat into the middle of the island while the prime land is sold to outsiders.

I can see within the next 10 to 15 years Barbados being owned by outsiders and most Barbadians working no longer for themselves.  It’s impossible to change a small island into a something that it wasn’t meant to be. What happen to the Bajan’s needs? Why everything is about money instead about a better quality of life and Bajans owning more land that cars?

I remember as a boy everyone wanted to own a piece of land so that they could build a house. What’s going on with that picture these days? Why aren’t we proud to be Barbadians, who our great grand parents worked their fingers to the bone, so that we could own a piece of the rock. Slowly but surely this my brothers and sisters is slipping away from most of you. Whoever has control of the businesses then controls you. You are always going to be at their mercies to make a living for your family. Having a good education and not using good common sense makes you a fool. Start to do something to take back Barbados. I am not suggesting that you do anyone harm, start pooling your resources and start businesses. Stop allowing others to come into Barbados and do what you yourselves are able to do and then to make it even worse you have to work for them. This to me is crazy;  Start looking at the bigger picture. I want Barbados to be prosperous,but not at the cost of Barbadians loosing ground in their own country.