Almost Saved But Entirely Lost: “As It Was In The ‘Days’ Of Lot” – Rampant Sexual Perversion, Socio-Material Affluenza Compounded By Moral And Religious Breakdown

Submitted by Terence Blackett

 

The Khajuraho Monument

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will all these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the world?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name, claiming that ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come…”

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ [as] spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the Elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the very Elect. See, I have told you ahead of time…”

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man…” Matthew 24:4-26 (New International Version, ©2010)

Tino’s Best Beamer

Tino Best

BU extends commiseration to the Barbados Under-17 CONCACAF Championship football team who was given a drubbing by Canada 8-0,  Canada was the more professional outfit if we accept the report from Frank Gill, manager of the Barbados team. Some will say they did well to have qualified for the tournament, a generous assessment.

We continue to fool ourselves we can prepare local teams to compete creditably on the world stage using an amateur approach. Can anyone answer why Minister Ronald Jones who heads one of the most important ministries continues to be President of the Barbados Football Association (BFA)? If a plausible answer can be found, can anyone articulate then what have been the achievements of the BFA under his stewardship? Has Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart like his predecessor given his blessing to Jones’ Jack Warner twin-style approach?

Local sport is in a sorry state. Although bedevilled by a lack of resources there is also a lack of leadership. Many of the local sports associations have become the playground of political aspirants or the plain ignorant. How many local leaders of sports associations can articulate a short or medium term vision? Instead all we get is squabbling among executive members and sometimes others on the periphery. We may have indeed become educated fools.

High Expectations On The Appointment Of Andrew Pilgrim To Lead The Barbados Bar Association

Andrew Pilgrim, Attorney-at-Law

BU read the the views expressed by outgoing President of the Barbados Bar Association (BBA) Leslie Haynes QC which were pressed recently by a local newspaper and was left to ask the question – how did he [Haynes] advance the BBA in the last year? Quoting the article,  Haynes, who did not seek re-election at yesterday’s annual general meeting, also called on Government to put a new Land Title Act on the statute books. BU’s expectation at Haynes’ appointment as President of BBA that he would have blazed a legacy of merit was never pitched very high anyway.

Haynes’ biggest contribution as President of the BBA would have been his utterance which condemned the appointment of incoming Chief Justice Marston Gibson. Perhaps it is one he will regret. BU’s position on the appointment of Gibson is a matter of record. His selection from outside the inner ring recommends him most, the fact that he is an eminently qualified Barbadian is beyond dispute.

In the same way our expectation of Haynes was anchored very low we hold the opposite view for his replacement based on information which comes from a reliable source. The election of Andrew Pilgrim as President of the BBA signals that there are some in the legal community who yearn for a new dispensation.

Bajans, HIV And AIDS

Submitted by Charles S. Cadogan

I refer to what Dr. Henrick Ellis, Chairman of the National HIV AIDS Commission is reported to have said in the local media.  I agree with him 110%. Barbadians or anyone else for that matter who turn their noses towards those suffering from HIV and AIDS need to first think long and hard about it. What was done when same sex relationships were being made public? It is not unusual for Gays and Lesbians walking around holding hands and even expressing affection towards each other.  People in high office and in the church were involved.  Now that we are where we are why act as if these people are no longer human-beings if you claim to be CHRISTIANS which means CHRIST FOLLOWERS. You have to practice FORGIVENESS. HIV and AIDS isn’t something that you are going to get from a conversation or  being touched by someone having the virus.

Educate yourselves about the problem and show more forgiveness, concern and love towards these people who are infected.  If you believe in GOD as you claim, GOD dwells in all his creations. People who have the virus are all a part of GOD.  The bible teaches us to forgive and pardon those who have done us wrong. People who have the virus have done you no wrong. The wrong has been done, they did it to themselves.  If it was a family member would you not still have love in your heart for them? Would you not still care for them? If your answers to the questions isn’t yes, you never loved them in the first place;  All of us have made bad choices at some point and time in our lives. If we were all cast aside because of what we have done then many in Barbados and the whole World would be in big trouble.

The deed has been done. The mistake has been made. The problem isn’t going to go away for any of these people who once meant something to you. I am sure that each day of their lives they are dying inside from the choices that they made.  This my brothers and sisters of Barbados and the World isn’t going to just go away because you turn your head and your hearts away from the people who need you now more than ever.  Help them to live the remaining time that GOD has given them on this Earth  in the knowledge that you care.

Tribute To Joyce Noreen Hoyte: November 30, 1934 – February 14, 2011

Submitted by Rickford Burke, Former Special Assistant to the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte

Former Guyanese First Lady Joyce Noren Hoyte

I join all Guyanese in express profound sadness at the passing of my dear friend, former First Lady of Guyana, Mrs. Joyce Noreen Hoyte – wife of the late President of Guyana, Hugh Desmond Hoyte.  Mrs. Hoye’s death is especially heartrending for me personally, as our friendship was uniquely post-political. We enjoyed a deep, affectionate maternal bond that spans over two decades.

During the three weeks of her hospitalization, we spoke every day. She was full of life, as it were. I admired her exuberance and resilient, hopeful spirit. I encouraged her, and she assured me, that all will be well. She was looking forward to traveling to New York to convalesce, and if necessary, undergo additional medical checks.  Unfortunately, the sting of death denied her this wish.   Admittedly her sudden death was shocking!

Mrs. Hoyte was a strong human being; a decent woman and gracious First Lady. She eschewed divisive politics and conducted herself with exceptional humility, class and dignity. She was very reclusive and private but quietly wielded significant influence in society through her radiant personality and matriarchal insights.

She was a shrewd woman who was known for her political savvy and keen sense of history. This coupled with her sharp mind and unblemished memory qualified her as a depository of a wealth of knowledge and information. Her uncanny appreciation for history led her recall every detail of significant moments of world, Guyanese and PNC history. And she produced documentation; including newspaper or magazine articles, to support her account of momentous history.

Is Roberts Manufacturing Supplying Feed To Chickmont Foods Which Is Infected With Hormones And Antibiotics?

Minister of Health Donville Inniss

BU has been concerned for some time about the quality of food we import. The import bill is reported to be approaching one billion dollars. Escalating use of preservatives and hormones by so-called respectable manufacturers has legitimize many products we eat.  The most educated among us are too ignorant to question the quality of food on supermarket shelves in Barbados. While we have focused on the shady behaviour of Monsanto, the world’s largest supplier of genetically modified foods, the question we need to have answered is whether local and regional suppliers have been engaging in unwholesome manufacturing practices.

Robert’s Manufacturing controls the animal feed market in Barbados which makes it an obvious target. Can the management of Roberts Manufacturing confirm if its animal feed were to be tested would it be found free of unacceptable levels of growth hormones and antibiotics?

Massive Pension Increase For Cabinet Ministers

Submitted by GoWEB Caribbean – Writer Caswell Franklyn

Caswell Franklyn - Head of Unity Workers Union

On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, the NUPW held a meeting of persons who were affected by the new tax on travelling and entertainment allowances. The following day the Daily Nation quoted the General Secretary as saying that government had attempted to appease the workers by saying that the deductions would be added to their pensionable emoluments.

Apparently, he was trying to explain that the amounts paid as travelling and entertainment allowances are not used to compute pension entitlements, however, they will now be taxed and added to the salary for pension purposes. As a result, those persons who are entitled to pensions would see an increase at the end of their working life, which would be any time between ages 60 and 67 depending on the person’s retirement age. This would require an amendment to the Pensions Act, Chapter 25, since the definition of “pensionable emoluments” excludes those allowances.

The promise to make the allowances pensionable is meaningless to officers who earn less than $4,090 per month, and who were employed in the Public Service after September 1, 1975. Officers in this category would only get a pension from the National Insurance Scheme.

A permanent secretary who receives a travelling allowance of $974.78 and entertainment of 1103.27 would see an increase in his monthly pension entitlement of $1,385. 37. This scenario assumes that: he would have been employed prior to September 1, 1975; he had been working for 33⅓ years; and that he received the allowances for 36 months immediately prior to retirement.

Overdue Property Payments By Government

Submitted by The Scout

Michael Lashley, Minister of Housing and Lands

Recently Minister of Housing, Mr Michael Lashley made a statement that was a bit disturbing to me, he stated that there are persons who government owe money to for compensation of land acquired over twenty years ago. This is totally unfair and unconstitutional, most of those who are owed money for land acquired, are probably poor people, some who would have either needed this land to plant crops to make a living, for their offspring to build on, or even to sell and invest the money.

Additionally, many of them may be old persons and I’m also sure some of these land/ property owners would have passed on after so long, now their offspring would have to get a court order to pursue this matter. What is happening is tantamount to robbing poor people out of what is legally theirs. It is unacceptable that any government should take that long to pay someone when they have the legal right to acquire that same land after just one missed payment of the property tax.

Does this encourage any locals to own a piece of this rock, when government have the right to take it up and pay you for it at their whims and fancies?

Guyana Trades Union Congress writes President Jagdeo on UN Int’l Year for People of African Descent

Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary Guyana Trades Union Congress

The United Nations dedicates 2011  The International Year For People of African Descent. The Guyana Trades Union Congress on January 17 wrote President Jagdeo to the effect demanding 25 items be addressed to make the year a meaningful one to eliminate racism to persons of African Descent. Other than an acknowledgement of receipt of said letter from the Office of the President, President Jagdeo has not communicated to the Congress, or made any efforts to address the concerns. Consequently, your support and solidarity is being sought to publish the attached letter to inform the Caribbean Community of efforts made by the Congress to eliminate African racism in Guyana and the deepening contempt the Jagdeo administration demonstrates to African Guyanese and their rights.

Confessions Of A Pharma Insider, It’s BIG Business

It seems a commonsense position that as human beings we should place a heavy priority on what we eat. We should eat good food to ensure healthy minds bodies. On those occasions when we fall sick we should feel confident that drugs prescribed can be trusted. More and more the entry of genetically modified foods to the market with Monsanto being a big supplier has become a concern. On the other side of the coin we have Big Pharma which uses a profit motive to manufacturer drugs.

Sometimes we ask ourselves if local authorities are aware of the threats pose by questionable food and drug manufacturing practices.