There Is A Winner But Is There A Victor? A Post Mortem Of The NUPW Election And Beyond

Submitted by NUPW Insider

Walter Maloney, President of the National Union of Public Workers - Photo Credit: Nation Newspaper

The count has ended and the spoils have been shared and the vanquished have departed to lick their wounds. The smiles will broaden for those whose ink soiled the space that cleansed the taint that clasped so tightly on the image of the President. He will have the broadest smile for his tally confirms that in the land of the blind he is the one eyed giant, cheques, buying club, wellness centre, bar bills and all. He has stood the test and no sower grapes can alter that fact.

The Forde, King, Gill triad will limp away and forever question the sense of competing against an incumbent president as individual warriors without adequate armour and the soldiers. They will think that the result was due to each other’s selfishness and a public service lost in a sea of apathy and lethargy. They will find solace in the fact that for what it was worth they dared take the time and found the commitment to seek to influence change. The triad will relive the election with wonderment that Maloney could in the face of argued and published evidence of misappropriation deal such warm licks to their egos and to their public personas.

Clarke the chief executive officer will in his usually unclear style will relax and fall back into a rhythm of erratic pronouncements and clearly un-researched assertions. He will no doubt escape into ecstatic celebration that the cost of travel to Italy and Spain will now be borne by the members of the NUPW as the block to his achievement demits office in the aftermath of what was referred to as a bloody election.

West Indies Cricket Board Exposé Wikileaks Style

Click image to access website

The above website purports to have access to confidential West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) minutes. For example, it states in a March 29, 2011 post that West Indies cricket coach Otis Gibson is earning a USD261,000.00 package and CEO in another post is raking in a cool package of USD300,000.00.

Read the blog WICB Exposé and weep. Of course BU cannot vouch for the  veracity of the content.

PAS—Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome

Submitted by Charles Knighton

I have become convinced practitioners of the pseudoscience of psychology will not be content unless and until they attach the words “syndrome”  or “disorder” to every human behaviour, even behaviour  most would deem as rational. Along with the host of syndromes and disorders already afflicting my existence now comes another novel syndrome with which I have to cope.

The first step in confronting a problem, I am told, is to admit you have one. So let’s get on with it: My name is Charles, and I suffer from pedestrian aggressiveness syndrome. I didn’t know it had a name, or that there were others like me, until I saw myself described by psychologist Leon James.

People with PAS walk on crowded city sidewalks in a very brisk and directed manner, and have zero patience for those who dawdle or, worse yet, stop short to read or respond to a text. When idiots— I should say, fellow pedestrians—do impede our progress, we dodge among the dawdlers like halfbacks, muttering insults and fantasizing about violence. At times, we even display a “mean face” as we rush past. It’s all true. The shame, the shame.

Forensic Audit Needed At The National Library Service And Why Did One Caribbean Media Value ‘Goodwill’ At The Nation Newspaper Ridiculously High Anyway?

BU has been investigating a couple of matters which led us to a particular place we do not like. We have decided to release what we have discovered and leave the BU family to slice and dice the information as they see fit. What has been evident from the inception of Barbados Underground is that there are an important few in Barbados whose sole existence is to guard the status quo at any cost. Until ordinary Barbadians buy into a philosophy which says we have to contribute to the job of protecting our fragile democracy through participation, the establishment will continue to flourish.

At a time when the country is going through an economic recession, officials at the National Library Service appear to be squandering taxpayers money to the benefit of a few. Do you remember a little while ago there was the furore over the vast  sums of money  spent on a public bath and the cutting of an Ackee tree?

A BU source has exposed a little of what may be described as the tip of the iceberg occurring at the National Library Service:

• The son of an officer of the library was awarded a contract to cut the lawn at the St. Philip branch, and paid $2,200. In addition, the individual used the library’s equipment and to add insult to injury left over twenty garbage bags full of grass on the site. After being paid $2,200 to cut a relatively small area of grass, the job was estimated by others at approximately $500. The library then had to make arrangements to remove the grass. The eyebrow raiser is that the library employs a general worker to do   exactly what this official’s son was paid to do.
• The same official paid her other son $6,000 to paint the Eagle Hall library on the inside only. Last time BU checked the Eagle Hall library was a tiny place.
• Then there is the payment to the daughter of $6,000 to cater an event at the library. If one could smile at the abuse of tax dollars it would be that the food was delivered after the Minister and specially invited guests had long gone.

Our source admits that there is a lot more abuse of public funds taking place and if the minister responsible is interested it being a good guardian of the public purse he should order a forensic audit post haste!

Is There A Political Agenda Shadowing The NUPW Elections?

Submitted by NUPW Insider

Caswell Franklyn, Head of Unity Workers Union

Sometimes in an effort to remain relevant and to appear as the expert on an issue an active participant can reduce a well-developed argument or contention to its most simple terms. It was this sense of banality I felt when the comments assigned to the name of Caswell Franklyn appeared on the blog. Caswell’s effort to introduce a party affiliation bias as a factor in the selection of a replacement for Maloney is quite unfortunate.

Caswell has identified all the current actors (Forde, Murrell, King, Maloney) as DLPs and since I do not know any of them or their political affiliation beyond their involvement in union business I will have to take Caswell at his word. So where does this revelation leave us in the drive to bring sound management to the NUPW?

In the first instance the concern at this stage of the NUPW’s election and as a consequence immediate future, should be about competence, honesty, ability to articulate members interests, a sound understanding of the NUPW rules and regulations and a willingness and acceptance that democracy and inclusive deliberation will strengthen the union.

It Is Time Barbados Tells Some People In Caricom To Go To Hell!

Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow

Hopefully the Myrie issue will be fully investigated and the matter put to bed, although we doubt it! It seems passing strange that Jamaica and Guyana should be the countries complaining about treatment meted out at our border. These two regional countries represent the largest land masses in the English speaking Caribbean. In a sensible world regional labour flows should be in the other direction. Not to forget St. Vincent which has also been making negative noises directed at Barbados. St. Vincent like Jamaica has become a major source of drugs entering Barbados.

It is worthy of discussion that both Jamaica and Guyana have resorted to exporting labour of late to the tiny islands of the Eastern Caribbean. It appears to be a consequence of the harsh economic times being experienced by the respective economies, or is it? Casual observation detects that a large body of unskilled labour has been entering Barbados from these two countries. The argument which is given by the apologists is that our agricultural sector has been the beneficiary of a Guyanese presence, so what it the point?  The Barbados Workers Union has given its blessing to a registry or some enrolled system being implemented to regulate labour to this sector. The solution has always been a simple one!

In the case of Jamaica we could explain the apprehension demonstrated at our border by stating that there is probably no country in the world which does not feel and act similarly. We all know why. BU does not condone actions by our officials which would seek to dehumanize anyone. There is a legitimate reason for Barbadians to fear the consequences of an influx of Jamaicans into Barbados. Our court and prison are already providing ample evidence that we are correct in our fear. Also Barbadians have become very aware that our red light activity has become saturated by Jamaican and Guyanese personnel. Last week Barbados Police were involved in two major drug busts where Jamaicans and Guyanese figured prominently.

A Look At Cave Hill

Submitted by Looking Glass

First congratulations to our new Chief Justice and David Goddard author of “In The Midst.” Let us hope the very unusual topic, a great endeavour, becomes a best seller. Two more stars for old Combermere and more to come.

Education implies a concept of man, the world and socio-economic relations and as such requires interdisciplinary focus. Barbados in many respects is isolated from the world, away from an environment and facilities conducive to innovation, creativity, problem solving and divergent thinking.

Some years ago science and technology Ministers from developed countries met at the OECD in Paris to discuss how to improve economic performance and generate jobs. Conclusion: “the ability to develop, diffuse and commercially exploit knowledge is among the most essential factors of productivity growth and sustainable development.” Hence the most successful countries will likely be those most innovative, develop new knowledge and diffuse it.

The Philosophy of Science: Making Sense of “The Creator God” In An Age Of Theoretical Falsifiability And The Convergence Of Metaphysical Hypotheses

Submitted by Terence Blackett

 

“Miracles, said my friend. Oh, come. Science has knocked the bottom out of all that.” – C. S. Lewis

Once again the ethics and philosophy behind science has become a front burner issue being raised by academics and scientists alike – men and women who frankly seem to have a lot of time on their hands to pursue frivolous and to some egalitarian ideals. Needless to say, they get paid shed loads of money to write a lot of twaddle in a sort of prevaricated way in order to air out the dusty cob-web within their matchbox brains.

Just recently, the OxBridge community of the learned and the old philosophical scientific chattering classes of the 1990’s were suddenly raising their heads above to parapet to throw some gasoline on the dwindling embers of this idea of the philosophy of science after Stephen Hawking’s revelations in his newest book “The Grand Design” purported rather loosely that this concept in and of itself had passed its sell-by-date; has not kept pace with the quantum discoveries in mathematical and theoretical physics and was frankly as he put it – “dead”. Pretty strong language indeed!

Hawking, with his literary and scientific sidekick (Mlodinow) – the “Batman & Robin” of what is being called “Model Dependent Realism” in a rather obsequious way uses the same fundamental plank of philosophy to underpin their recent book while yanking that said epistemological pillar of scientific philosophy from underneath a structure that goes all the way back to the days of Thomas Aquinas & Aristotle. To many in the scientific community this seems to be a contradiction of terms.

The Fight Is On For Top Posts At The National Union Of Public Workers – Are We Witnessing A Case Of Madras Crab Syndrome?

Submitted by NUPW Insider (name withheld by BU)

 

Read documents located at the bottom of this blog

Well the election bug has hit the NUPW and everything and everybody looking for a pick. Some old time “’tryers’ to some ambitious young ‘turks’ have thrown their pockets into the ling. It appears that the word is out that money is out for grabs.

I have one vote but believe that some order has to be brought back to the NUPW. In the 1^st place Maloney has to go, he has outlived his usefulness and has become arrogant and extravagant and his alliance with the General Secretary is not in the best interest of the members. Who will replace him? I supporting Manasseh King, he can be a bit snotty but in this weather he is the best candidate. He will bring organization and order to the NUPW. He will bring fair play and sound leadership. Forde is a waste and Danny Gill not even interested. The best bet is King for President. The truth, anybody for Maloney, he is bad business.

At this time a steady hand and head like Murrell is welcomed. I am glad that he has accepted the 1^st VP billing and believe that he will provide the balance needed to clean up the mess left by Maloney. I have little to say for 2^nd VP or for 3^rd VP and they are a much of a ‘muchness’. However I will stick with Dash for treasurer. It has been said that he was part of the happy group until he got left out of a deal but whatever the reason he has now set a standard that no expenditure without justification and has stood his ground. I will give him another pick and keep my eyes out. Six is half dozen for the deputy but the Burke girl’s behaviour when the Treasurer refused to give Maloney and Clarke money make her suspect so I will go with whoever else.

Has The Greed Of The West Caused Them To Join with al Qaeda to Oust Qaddafi?

Muammar Qaddafi has a vision for Africa – a United States of Africa – with one government, one army and one currency. Of course, if this were to happen, it would shift the balance of power globally. The well documented fact is that if Africa stopped the flow of all African resources and raw materials to the western nations for just one week – the United States and Europe would grind to a halt – they are that dependent on Africa and are therefore determined to maintain their ability to control events on the continent. The Black Agenda Report

 

According to the ubiquitous Wikipedia, Israel is the only “established democracy” in the Middle East.  BU readily discloses that it is not a robust reference source  to satisfy the academics among us. BU did not even bother to check what exist in Africa; a continent known for countries preferring dictatorship style governments.

Understanding the underlying issues which feed the politics of the Middle East and Africa would be to compare to tiptoeing through a mine field in the heat of  a battle. What is known beyond a shadow of a doubt is to acknowledge the geopolitical considerations by the West which has shaped its foreign policy of that region. It is a region made important because of its mineral wealth, a valuable source of raw material for the industrialized West.