One Day Of Rain And The North Of Barbados Became A Flood Zone!

It is the dry season but after raining continuously in the last 24 hours Barbados became a flood zone in the North of the island. BU family member islandgal246 posted pictures on her blog which exposes the problem for Barbadians. Whatever we are doing in Barbados as far as physical resource planning, is concerned – if you want to describe it as such – it is not bloody working!

Governor Delisle Worrell Reviews Barbados’ Economy First Quarter 2011

 

Statement on the Review of Barbados' Economy for the First Three Months of 2011 - Click image to watch Governor Delisle Worrell

Here is the text version in PDF

Wearing The Title Of Educated Fools With Dignity

Barbadians were told to expect a 10% increase in their electricity bills from as early as next month. As expected the news has triggered consternation in a population made lazy by a subsidy to buffer fuel increases – since removed by the current government – and behaviour fuelled by a ravenous consumption lifestyle. There was a time when Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Worme made himself available to BU to answer questions about BL&P’s role in a national energy policy among other issues, until the BU intelligentsia exposed his utterances as public relations spiel.

It was about three years ago Barbadians were having the same conversation sparked when the price of a barrel of oil rose to $147.00 When will we learn? Barbados is a country which is totally reliant on fossil fuel to general energy. Successive governments in the last 20 years have refused to wean the Barbados economy from the model which is driving us down a path of economic disaster. BU finds it amusing that the former Prime Minister Owen Arthur was quoted in the media today speaking to the issue of the rising fuel charge and his astute solution is to reduce the excise tax. One would have thought when his government managed the economy in the boom years the strategic approach should have been to create a framework to mitigate Barbados’ reliance on fossil fuel. Perhaps this was too much to ask because it is the stuff of which LEADERSHIP is measured!

The folly of our predicament is now compounded by a current state where debt to GDP has climbed over 100% driven by government’s policy to use domestic debt as a strategy to protect the social and economic fabric of the society. The current government finds itself incurring domestic debt at an alarming rate to pay day to day bills including public sector salaries. The irony is most of government debt of late is not about capacity building. The conclusion is that with a volatile situation in the Middle East the price of a barrel of oil will not dip in the foreseeable future. The BU family has already highlighted the reality for the oil business which has seen the cost to drill oil increased significantly from where it was in the 70s, the moral of the story, oil production will remain high now and for evermore.

CARIBBEAN STOCK REPORT 4 April to 8 April 2011

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

 

A System Of Policing Which Breeds Brutality, The Time Has Come For Reform

Jonathan Birchmore Richard Barrow (l), Melanie Shantelle Lakeisha Denny (r)

… King promoted a non violent philosophy and was killed. Malcolm promoted a philosophy of being non violent with those who are non violent with you. But don’t try to be non violent when people are killing, maiming your men women and children. The assassin’s gun found him also. Laws have changed but the people enforcing the laws are still acting the same. Amodou Dialo is still dead and the police that shot him 19 times are not held accountable. Brandon Johnson here in Indianapolis is beat unmercifully by three police officers that kick him in face until his eye is swollen shut, with his cheek bone broke and his teeth kicked out of his mouth. The prosecutor said he committed no crime still the police exonerated. Even if we wanted to forget, with the police still acting like this how can we forget. And the society keeps exonerating them which sends the signal its alright. Martin himself had the Deacons of Defense!! Have you forgotten? Man it is time for men to be men who have the nerve and courage to protect our women and children from this brutal behavior. Here in Indianapolis we have formed a militia to protect Brandon and his family. Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Pastor of one of the largest church’s here has just put up several hundred dollars to purchase a security system for the family. Hell, we aint going to be relying on police to protect our women and children. We are going to do it ourselves. Noooo!! We haven’t forgot. We REMEMBER!! – Mmoja Ajabu

The story this week that two of our finest were charged for allegedly assaulting a Jamaican woman while in custody should be of concerned to Barbadians. It could not have come at a worse time for Barbados given the Myrie Affair which continues to get strong ‘airplay’ in the region. For too long we have heard stories about the behaviour of some members of our police force which betrays its credo to serve and protect.

American Eagle To Suspend Its Service Out Of Barbados To Puerto Rico

Adrian Loveridge - Hotel Owner

I WAS SURPRISED to read in this publication last week that American Eagle will suspend its service to Puerto Rico from April 15. Especially as according to the American Airlines website, a twice-daily service five days a week and once daily on the other two days of the week will continue from St Lucia to San Juan. Grenada also retains a thrice-weekly direct flight.

St Lucia’s minister of tourism was recently quoted in the media as saying that his government was negotiating with American Eagle to resurrect the St Lucia to Barbados route, so this may represent some sort of alternative link to Puerto Rico depending on flight schedules.

Otherwise it will involve a minimum travel time of four hours with a change of aircraft in either Dominica or St Lucia and Antigua with LIAT.

The loss of at least 280 airline seats per week must be a concern to our tourism planners as San Juan was frequently used as a hub to connect passengers from other United States cities.

Read full article in Nation Newspaper

‘Learned Layman’ Challenges Law Professor

Submitted by Caswell Franklyn

 

Cecil McCarthy QC (l) Caswell Franklyn (c) Jeff Cumberbatch (r)

I have always said, rather simplistically, that since the language of instruction in Barbados is English: in the end, no matter which subject we are studying, we are really doing English comprehension. Rightly or wrongly, I have adopted that approach and so far it has worked for me.

In the Midweek Nation of March 23, 2011 and on this blog, I wrote a piece where I questioned whether the recent amendment to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act was sufficient to enable Mr. Marston Gibson to be appointed to the post of Chief Justice of Barbados.

In my opinion, the amendment was crafted to ensure that Mr. Gibson’s experience in New York would go toward his qualification for the post. It stated, in part, that the person should have practiced in the Commonwealth or a common law jurisdiction for fifteen years. I argued that for the purposes of Barbados law, New York is not a common law jurisdiction and he would therefore not qualify. I found support for my position in the Interpretation Act, Chapter 1 of the laws of Barbados.

Gentle Response To Ms. Rebecca Theodore’s Commentary: Is Barbados An Apartheid State?

Submitted by George C. Brathwaite

April 08, 2011

Dear Ms. Theodore:

Usually I am very keen to engage fellow academics. On this occasion, I am reluctant, yet I feel that I must. It is most unfortunate that you chose to ‘undress’ in public leaving all to see the types of bigoted behaviour that can sometimes emerge from the Caribbean. What is your agenda, and what gains do you hope to receive in relation to your commentary, ‘Is Barbados an apartheid state?’ Are you attempting to ‘blacklist’ Barbados through the use of grossly misleading statements and invectives? I am shocked and very disappointed that you are studying at the doctoral level and would resort to the lowest gutter in order to spew a load of intellectual diatribe.

All I ask of you Ms. Theodore is to support the assertions that you make because I will be sure to expose not only your weaknesses in writing, but the sordid contempt that you have for us in the Caribbean as whole. Perhaps you are shocked after having received more than you have bargained for from the outset. Maybe, just maybe, you are your own worst enemy because it is you who fit the build of having “the seed of distorted perception [wherein it] finds new meaning in a glowing age of literacy.

Ms. Theodore, are these your words and can you support the following claims with facts and evidence?

Barbados Healthcare And FREENESS

Kammie Holder, LUTCF, FSS

While in Ghana a couple months ago I cannot remember seeing obese persons, what I did see was plenty of markets selling vegetables and no brand name fast food restaurants. In Barbados our lifestyle coupled with our progress have led us to the enviable position of amputation capital of the world and a country in the Caribbean with a high population of obese persons. Thus it may surprise you we spend $53 million in drugs; $36 million is spent with private pharmacies of which $12 million is dispensing fees. My research has uncovered that the ratio of generic to branded drugs on the formulary has being about 70:30 for the last 10 years.

As a person intimately involved in the sale of medical insurance every effort must be encouraged to forcible engage doctors and pharmacist to eliminate wastage when prescribing and dispensing without compromising care. I dare say a more holistic approach must be taken by doctors rather than offer drugs for every ailments rather than suggesting exercise and the changing of eating habits.

Some, will be offended to know that over $250 million is spent to treat Non Communicable Diseases and other related illnesses, there is also the indirect cost, loss productivity, disruption to family cohesion. Every citizen has a choice to exercise, reduce sodium and eat healthier. Persons with cars are very selective in what brand of gasoline they put in their cars yet anything is placed in our mouths.

Lisa Cummins, We Are Proud Of You

Lisa Cummins

You may write me down in history, With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt, But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells, Pumping in my living room. – Maya Angelou

The recent feature in the local media of the work being done by a young, bright and beautiful Barbadian woman would have brought joy to the hearts of Barbadians everywhere. A search of the Internet for the name Lisa Cummins should list several websites which make mention of her work assignment in Uganda of all places. BU took the time to listen to Lisa eloquently explaining what exactly she is doing in Uganda – have a listen. There is absolutely no doubt this Bajan is operating at an ‘ionospheric’ level, a pity she has to peddle her wares in far away places but such is the nature of the global village we now live. In her audio she explains her current assignment which seems to be satisfying her personal development objective.

It is not often beauty and brains combine to deliver such an awesome combination. More than once during the last 48 hours there was the irresistible urge by David (BU) to listen to Lisa while cheating a glance at her enchanting beauty.