Chief Justice Designate Marston Gibson Update: Barbados Bar Association Backing Government – Is Justice In Barbados Being Slowly But Steadily Compromised?

Submitted by Thomas A. Harper

Were it not for this alternative, the impotence or cowardice of the local news media would have left us without an avenue through which to express legitimate concerns regarding the administration of certain sectors of the people’s affairs.

While we are aware that democracy is only a process through which we get to elect our dictators, we must exercise what freedom we still have to express our views, even as the press cowers behind its self-imposed iron curtain.

Be that as it may, in view of certain recent disturbing trends emerging within our judiciary that are excusably perceived to be bringing comfort to none other than the lawless, the following questions must be asked.

Is it now impossible to commit murder in Barbados?

Has the right to say no to sex on demand at anytime or under any conditions or circumstances been revoked?

Is saying no to sex on demand at any time and under any conditions or circumstances now reclassified as provocation?

Is it now the legal position that brutally killing a person for saying no to sex on demand at any time and under any conditions or circumstances be considered a provocation?

Mia Mottley Has Moved To Another Level

Mia Mottley MP

The current standard of debate displayed in The Estimates 2011-2012 in parliament can be described as disappointing. Given the economic storm which Barbados continues to navigate, one might have reasonably expected our policymakers to have used the opportunity to engage in a debate to convince Barbadians they are attuned to the challenges which current realities dictate.  Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler delivered a presentation littered with statistical jargon, Opposition Leader Owen Arthur sought to create fear by stressing on government’s running of a  current account deficit which is 8% of GDP. He also found the time to reminisce about his tenure as an assistant economist in Jamaica in 1974. His suggestions of a way forward seem to be dependent on the tired model which has gotten us thus far.

Neither presentations inspired the BU household into believing our policymakers have fully grasped that adversity breeds opportunity. In contrast BU gives kudos to Mia Motley’s presentation. It should be plain to see that Mottley since being sacked  as leader of the opposition is transforming her public profile and it has resulted in her ‘upping her game’. She is speaking to issues which resonate with the PEOPLE. She has not been afraid to disagree with her colleagues in house debates. She was the first to offer any creative ideas to the government on how to reposition Barbados in a fiercely competitive global market.  Frankly it was refreshing to listen to her contribution. Her suggestion  how government can easily enable a Wi-Fi space as a means to generate revenue is a top drawer suggestion given the demand for that technology across socioeconomic strata. To believe that our democracy demands we had to listen to the drivel delivered by other members of parliament, on both sides, and Mottley  restricted to the same time limit smacks of some kind of injustice. Such are the vicissitudes of life!

How Will The Fruendel Stuart Government Manage Leroy Parris?

Former President of CLICO Holdings Barbados socializing with Minister of Finance on Gold Cup Day at the Garrison Savannah

A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. BU will not ascribe any meaning to the picture which appears on the back page of the Nation newspaper today (8 March 2011), other than to suggest it smacks of insensitivity on the part of Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. No doubt Nation reporter Gercine Carter, credited with the picture, could not believed her luck for what can be surely be described as a ‘kodak moment’.

The CLICO issue has become a concern given its implication for local and regional economies, especially at a recessionary time. We should not forget British American which is owned by CLICO parent CL Financial. CLICO and its figurehead, until recently,  in the personage of Leroy Parris has become one of the most politically charged  discussion ‘pieces’ in recent months. We are where we are because of a lethargy which the Office of Insurance and the political directorate have exercised over CLICO which spans several years. Despite the foregoing the government of the day has the responsibility to manage the CLICO problem with minimum fallout to Barbadians. Who can envy the government at this time!

Of late the concern for BU has morphed to the issue of allowing Leroy Parris to remain as Chairman of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). BU respects Leroy Parris for what he has been able to achieve, big chip on his shoulder not withstanding. In many ways his ‘rags to riches’ story bears a parallel to that of Cyril Duprey, who was able to build  a financial empire which had Colonial Life Insurance at its foundation from a relatively humble beginning. The fact that Parris is still able to command an invitation to Sandy Lane’s Box on Gold Cup Day speaks to how he has position himself on the social ladder in Barbados.

Cove Bay St Lucy, The Master Piece

Submitted by Charles S. Cadogan

I am very PROUD of all Barbadians who are standing up against the development of  Cove Bay, St. Lucy.  We have sold  too much of Barbados already. I cannot see how man can improve on what GOD has already made a MASTER PIECE.  Please do not allow this story about jobs and money cause you to loose more of Barbados.

If anymore of the beauty of Barbados is taken away it will no longer be the Barbados which we have grown up to love.  If Barbadians agree to move forward with the Cove Bay development we would be making a very big mistake. There comes a time when money is not the most important thing to consider in making a decision.  If Barbadians continue to focus only on money, we will be sacrificing a natural Barbados to be replaced by cosmetic beauty. Please* do not give away anymore of what we have been blessed,  defend the cause of Cove Bay like you have never defended anything else in the past.

This foreign invasion has to stop somewhere. Do not be fooled by what’s being offered. Go out in numbers and protest against the development of  Cove Bay. Let the developers and town planner know you can fool some of the people, some of the time, but you aren’t going to fool all of the people all of the time.

Lifting The Veil – The Failure Of Capitalist Democracy

The video, should you hit play, exposes the scam of the supposed two party  system in the USA and shows that, whether the Democratic or Republican party holds power, protecting (or better yet, increasing) the profits of the corporate bankster and gangster class to the detriment of the working class is always the first priority of the USA’s political establishment.

Speed Test of LIME’s GPRS Network…proof they are selling a broken service!

Video credit to Technician

Obama Creating History

Submitted by Charles Cadogan

President Barack Obama

January 2, 2009, history was made in the good old “U.S.A”; an African American was sworn in as President. But even before Barack H. Obama became President, he made it clear that if he became president change was not his doing….but it would take each and every one of us in America to create the change we so badly need.

But many people are playing the colour card towards change for African Americans. Change can only come through all of us seeing each other as a person, and not a colour. Respect is first due to self, and many African Americans don’t exercise enough.

We as African Americans need to care more for self and give even more respect to our women and children. How is it possible to love your mother, but disrespect other women? This is something that has to be worked out, and fast. President Obama wants all men to be real men toward their children and women.

I do remember as a young man growing up African Americans took real pride in everything. I remember how men stayed smart from head to toe. Everything had to be just right. I always told myself that I’ll do the same….be presentable at all times. And I have lived up to it, and taught my children to do the same. I have seen many young men today walking around showing their drawers. But this was unheard of when I was growing up. I’ve seen young men looking for jobs not even properly dressed. Then quite a few of them don’t even know how to fill out a job application. This is so very sad to see them going through life this way. Not finishing school and an education, makes getting a real job very difficult. Then to make it even sadder more sad to see so many young girls from age 12 having babies that they are unable to take care of. The funny part of it they mothers or grandmothers raise the child…but before long they go out and have more babies. This is so truly sad seeing so many children being brought into this world and many of them aren’t even loved. President Obama can never change this…only we alone can make the difference that will, and can create change. We all have to be responsible for each other, stop fighting and killing without any good reason, or reasons. Learn how to resolve our differences in a civilize manner.

Know that selling dope to other people’s children isn’t a good thing to do. You are making money through other people’s miseries. You are causing children to go hungry, and some not having a roof over they heads. While many sit around and blame the so call white man, saying he’s the one to blame for bringing the drugs into the country…but we all can make the choice not to accept his offer on the drugs. You call yourself living the good life. Plenty of money, and all what money can buy from the pain and suffering of others. This way of life has to change. Let President Obama be a role model that with an education and setting high standards for yourself…nothing is really out of reach.

An Outdated Legal System In Need Of Leadership

Attorney General and Home Affairs Minister Adriel Brathwaite

The arrest of the venerable lawyer Leroy Lynch on a 2.2 million fraud charge  on the weekend, has sent ripples through the legal fraternity and wider society. Why would Mr. Lynch, who has represented First Caribbean International Bank, and before that CIBC for many years, sought to perpetrate fraud has proved to be incomprehensible to BU. It will be interesting to observe the Director of Public Prosecutor’s argument.

The Lynch issue has served yet again to catapult the legal profession into the public eye. The recently appointed President of the Barbados Bar Association (Bar) Andrew Pilgrim, and his early struggle to transmit an unequivocal position on behalf of the Bar regarding the decision to amend the law to accommodate the appointment of incoming Chief Justice Marston Gibson, is symptomatic of something greater. Last week retired jurist and former Attorney General Sir Frederick Smith was surprisingly censored on a talk show when he attempted to speak about the cabals which exist inside the Bar.

BU’s investigation has turned up that they are those who operate within the realm of the judicature whose power structures have suddenly become threatened by the imminent arrival by someone outside the inner circle.  Now that the government has shown it is determined to appoint Marston Gibson, some members of the Bar might be seen as  using intimidatory tactics to signal to Gibson his life will be very uncomfortable sitting on the Bench should he accept the job. In a nutshell the appointment of Marston Gibson will disrupt a pecking order which is sure to irritate the fraternity of men in wigs who gather in the back rooms to toss back glasses of Sherry from time to time before handing down their decisions.

Many may become distracted with the the issues being generated by the appointment of incoming Chief Justice Marston Gibson but a clog in the wheel to dispensing justice in Barbados has been the inefficiency of the Court Registry. The leadership of the Registry has demonstrated over time to be highly incompetent. Could it be there is a fear  Gibson will actually expect the leadership of the Court Registry to ‘up their game’?

CARIBBEAN STOCK REPORT 7 March To 11 March 2011

Compiled by the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Cave Hill - Click image to read report

Here is Version 2 (International Comparisons)

Evidence Of Bharat Jagdeo And The PPP’s Racism Is Profound And Unassailable

Submitted by Rickford Burke

PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar and President Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP twin devils of racism and deception

Since the PPP government took office in Guyana in 1992, it has systemically promoted racism and ethnic division, and has established an ethnocracy which has an insidious noose around the neck of African Guyanese population with which it attempts to subjugate and render it servile.

They have opposed every African-Guyanese former PNC government official who has been nominated for senior international and/or local positions, but has without reservation supported and embraced East Indians who have been similarly nominated – a manifestation of an entrenched, congenital belief in ethnic and racial supremacy.

Here are a few examples: Jagdeo and the racist PPP opposed Carl Greenidge for Secretary General for the ACP as well as Caricom Trade Negotiator and Clarence Ellis as Director of the World Bank and IDB.

To the contrary, Jagdeo and the racist PPP have supported Sir Shridath Ramphal in every international or regional undertaking and appointment. They have also supported the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Shahabuddeen to the World Court and the War Crimes Tribunal.