Barbados Aggressively Promoting Sports Tourism In Europe

It Boggles The Mind

Submitted by Charles Knighton

Waldo is 5th from the left in the f-row

This writer did not know it was possible to become so engrossed in the writing of a letter to the editor that one could fail to maintain a therapeutic level of their medication, thus forfeiting the salubrious effects of same. In both the Advocate  of April 27th and the Nation of April 29th, Dr Waldo-Waldron Ramsay demonstrates that yes, anything is possible, as one notes his progressively rambling letter.

While several points are open to interpretation, the first three quarters of Dr. Ramsay’s letter offers brief glimpses of relatively laconic leaders who accomplished much in defense  of Prime Minister Stuart’s taciturnity. The last quarter of Dr. Ramsay’s letter, beginning with his description of the Prime Minister as “Demosthenes, Marcus Tullius, Cicero, and Abba Eban rolled into one” is so overwrought and permeated with hyperbole as to be nonsensical.

Just as in train wrecks, observers are left to ponder why the train came off the track.

Read the letter being ‘critiqued’ below

The Barbados AAdvantage Opportunity

Adrian Loveridge - Hotel Owner

Imagine having a virtually captive audience, motivated by all the right reasons and that is larger than your main source tourism market, the United Kingdom. That’s perhaps how we should be viewing the world’s first and probably the most successful loyalty programme, American Airlines AAdvantage.

Last year their 66 million members redeemed more than 165 billion miles to claim nearly 7.2 million awards for flights, upgrades and other rewards. Why do I consider it such an important tool to drive higher arrival numbers?

These people through their smart spending choices are accumulating the means to travel. In fact it goes beyond that now. Since last November, the programme has been expanded to allow members to redeem miles for car hire and hotel stays at more than 10,000 locations in 320 destinations worldwide. There is also the flexibility of using only miles or a combination of cash plus as few as 1,000 AAdvantage miles.

I Is A Bajan

My name is Ready Done and I is a bajan. I got a Masters in common cents.

I know Barbados like to think it is as important as over and away but ya got to laugh when ya study that we is just a big rock in the whole sea. We so small to the world they might forget we if the world in a catastrophe. I don’t mind if they leff we out of the economic catastrophe because they left a size able depression in my pocket.

When ya hear the news and understand that Russia already ban all oil and grain export (Russia is one of  the world’s largest suppliers of grain and oil) and then apply your Masters in common cents ya have to look at the bigger picture concerning the wars and dwindling natural resources more closely. Once that done, we should agree that it is necessary for Barbados to grow our own food, teafhing should never be the limiting factor in domestic agricultural production we got a army that needs a war, let the Government boots take care of this problem.

I also want to propose the concept of independent small contractors for Government where a licence is granted to all current Government employees and other specific persons allowing them to be applicable for jobs in Government under $1000 allowing not only competition for multi million but for the small man as well, this would increase efficiency and promote small business!

Johan Bjerkhamn Matter Exposes Double Standards In The Administration Of Justice

Johan Bjerkhamn

It has been how long since the Johan Bjerkhamn matter reared its head? We don’t need to be reminded of the tragedy but how can we forget when the dust settled about 1 year ago Bjerkhamn’s 11 year old son Luke was dead. Many Barbadians have been asking when will this matter finally be scheduled for trial. Most recent information indicates the Bjerkhamn matter – he been updating magistrates court on the injury sustained to his hand in the shooting incident -  has been adjourned and not been continued. What this means is that the matter now rest with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) whether the case has merit to proceed with charges or not.

The challenge for the DPP, and it should not be the case, there is the politics associated with this matter. There is the valid perception in Barbados and beyond that people with money benefit from a different kind of justice. Johan, the snotty nose son of  construction mogul (label borrowed from local media) Tomas Bjerkhamn has retained the best lawyers money can buy in Barbados, Sir Richard Cheltenham, Andrew Pilgrim well known. When all the emotion and politics is removed from the Bjerkhamn debate the only thing Johan should be charged for is being a jackass. Based on the titbits of information leaking on this matter BU believes that it will be difficult for any jury to prove criminal intent here. BU’s best legal opinion on this matter supposes that even if a jury did convict at first instance, any appeal would reverse the decision.

Interested observers are awaiting Director of Public Prosecutions decision on this case file with some interest.

A Year Has Passed, What Is The Delay In Appointing The Chief Justice?

Caswell Franklyn, Head of Unity Workers Union

The office of Chief Justice became vacant on April 28, 2010. Since that date the duties of that office have been performed by an acting Chief Justice. In the interim Government took steps to fill the post by going as far as making legislative changes to the qualification requirements, on March 20^th at 12:35 a.m. in order to accommodate their preferred candidate. It appeared that the Government was moving with all deliberate speed to fill the vacancy as though there was some deadline that they had to meet. However, with all the fancy manoeuvring the post remains vacant.

It is as though no one in the Administration realises that this state of affairs holds Barbados up to ridicule internationally. Government should never allow a situation where an acting judge would be at the mercy of the Executive for a permanent appointment for such a prolonged period, before a substantive appointment is made. Just imagine a situation where a plaintiff has a case against the government before an acting judge. The judge should never be in a position where he has at the back of his mind any conflict about giving a judgement, against the Government, and not finally getting the permanent appointment. In this case, Barbados is fortunate and should be grateful that all the persons who are acting in this present debacle are of the highest calibre. The quality of the actors notwithstanding this situation is untenable.

Director Of UDC Spearheading Effort To Bring Transparency To NUPW Operations

Derek Alleyne, Director of UDC (on leave from NUPW)

Director of the Urban Development Commission (UDC) Derek Alleyne on leave from the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has circulated the following by email to some fairly influential players in Barbados (minor edits by BU).

In early April after reading the comments of the President, Walter Maloney in the Nation of April 6th 2011 concerning the cell phone charges of over $6500.00 I wrote to the General Secretary inviting him to take action to recover the money that the members paid through the Secretariat to honour those phone charges made on the cell number xxx 2998 which is assigned to Walter Maloney the President.

I view this matter serious and that is why I wrote to the General Secretary. Moreover I thought that enough time had elapsed that if the President had any intention to repay the money some indication of the amount and time period would have been forthcoming. I further view the excuse given about the NUPW not informing him (the President) about which calls her private was unacceptable.

Restitution For Colonial Era Is Due

Barbadians celebrate National Heroes Day today. A time to celebrate those who significantly contributed to the foundation for advancing Barbados. The following article (reproduced) is meant to provoke thought and awareness given the new challenges which have emerged in our new world.

“Mahatma Gandhi, with no weapon but truth, brought England’s Indian Empire crashing down. Another man of peace, from a small island off the coast of India, is now committed to an even more ambitious task. He would restore what he sees as the equilibrium upset by Western Europe when it set out 500 years ago to conquer the planet.

As if that were not enough, he wants the Christian churches to recognize that as legitimators and beneficiaries of those wars of conquest, they are obligated in justice to return the unjustly acquired benefits. Wait a minute. Didn’t the colonial era end shortly after World War II? Hasn’t the number of sovereign nations more than doubled in 50 years to 185?”

Read full article

CARIBBEAN STOCK REPORT 18 April to 22 April 2011

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

The decision by the Department of Management Studies of the University of the West Indies to compile the Caribbean Stock Report is to be commended. Regrettably the report has not generated a national conversation which begs the question, why. Perhaps there is a  lack of ‘financial intelligence’ within the Barbados population.

BU believes local media has an important developmental role to educate the public it serves. It is not too late for local media to collaborate with the Department of Management Studies at UWI, Cave Hill by using the Caribbean Stock Report as a jump-off point to achieve such an objective. In fact it fits well with the strategy of Starcom to roll-out a Caribbean radio station.

It is ironic the ‘noise’ which is created about freedom of movement as a key driver for regional integration. However there is a comparative silence  about the other drivers, e.g. building frameworks for regional trade and a financial market.

Go figure!

How Much Will The Barbados Pierhead Marina Project Cost Taxpayers?

Dr. Jerry Thorne resigned as Chairman of the BTII

Given the deep pockets involved in this matter BU is threading lightly on this matter. Below is a document which provides analysis carried out – as we understand it – by a certified chartered accountant who was a member of the technical evaluation committee of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. Contrary to public statements, the project will end up costing US$15.1 million a year for 25 years and which equals 25 x US$15.1= US$ 377.5 M x 2.0 for Barbadian currency = BDS$755 million.

Read Pierhead Marina Document