Numb To The Reality

Policemen conducting an investigation at Sargeants Village, Christ Church, where John Kellman, was shot to dead - Photo: (Nigel Browne - Nation Newspaper)

The picture at face value supported by the caption tells it all: police investigating a crime scene where a John Kellman was shot dead at Sargeants Village yesterday (18 May 2011). BU however made a few other observations. What about you?

In Case You Have Forgotten Your I-Story

Submitted by Ras Jahaziel

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“The reasons for the unacknowledged self-hate that leads to skin bleaching, wigs, and straightened hair (In reference to the article IT IS TIME TO STOP LIVING A LIE that discusses the alarming rate at which Blacks are trying to escape their skin)”

Follow the first instalment HERE.

Sir Hilary Beckles Trapped Leg Before Wicket

Sir Hilary Beckles

Sir Hilary Beckles is in the news again. Not content with feeding off a rich legacy created by his role in the Mutual Affair, he continues to feel the need to assuage his insatiable ego for the bright lights. If one is to appraise Sir Hilary’s post-Mutual Affair performance many may suggest he has done well. BU believes he has been forced to be less controversial in recent years given his current role of begging the private sector for money. As Principal of the UWI, Cave Hill his primary role is to raise money to build out his vision for Cave Hill. We all know who control the money flow in Barbados and they will not want to listen to the commentary of a Hilary of the 90s.

During a recent presentation of the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture in St Kitts Sir Hilary provoked the wrath of Jamaicans – Barbadians seem to be getting good at it. Here is the extract from his speech which did the damage and eventually coerced an apology.

“What are the images we have of West Indies cricket and our heroes? Well, the images before us are as follows, that Frank Worrell is the Father of the Nation, ah, Sobers is the King of Cricket, ah, Clive Lloyd is the Statesman, ah, Richards is the General of the army, am, Brian Lara is the Prince, and Chris Gayle is the Don. And, and these these, these are very interesting images ah, in, in, in , indeed because the the movement from the father to the Don and, and and those who follow him and his cohort in the team do relate to him as their Don, and he has brought it is said, the Don-manship into how ‘tings’ operate in the team, and what the West Indies Board is trying to do at the moment is to uproot this Don-manship out of the culture in much the same way that the Jamaican people are trying to uproot Dudus from their politics. So the comparisons are very interesting indeed.”

RUSAL General Manager Threatens Workers With Physical Violence

Submitted by Guyana Bauxite General Workers Union

Workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) have lodged a complaint with the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) that on Sunday May 8^th the company’s General Manager, Mr. Ruslan Volokhov, carrying a spade in his hand threatened to bash their heads and faces then bury them. This threat was made to the workers when they were in the company’s bus at the camp site. On investigating the matter the workers advised that the threat was sparked from their inability to attend work on time on May 8^th since there was no water to shower because the pump at the site was cut off, due to some problem, and supply did not return until approximately 9:00 a.m. on Sunday 8^th May. The fact that the company failed to ensure there was water supply, from the afternoon of Saturday 7^th May to approx. 9:00 a.m. on Sunday 8^th May, for workers to adhere to personal hygiene was of no concern to this general manager.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress is very disturbed by this new development and threat to the workers of this country. This is not plantation slavery for the general manager to dare to think he can come to this sovereign country to violate workers like this. For him being given the courtesy to come and exploit our natural resources and to dare to think the exploitation of our natural resources is equal to the exploitation of our manpower and laws, and the violations of the citizens’ rights and dignity we find totally unacceptable. We call on BCGI to sanction his actions, and call on the Government of Guyana to sanction BCGI to protect the rights of Guyanese labour.

The Russians are taking their cues from government’s actions and inactions and their violation of the rights of bauxite workers by giving tacit support to BCGI lawlessness and disrespect for local and international laws, declarations and conventions which bind labour relations. The refusal of the Minister of Labour to enforce the Labour Laws on this company is exacerbating the situation.

Cost Of Using Barbados Money

Submitted by the People Democratic Congress (PDC)

In our last BU article the PDC made slight mention of the circumstance where when individuals, businesses and other entities are exchanging goods, resources and services how, in doing so, the essential things that are happening are that these individuals and other entities are paying for the use of the Barbadian people’s money.
Yes, the fact of the matter is that this phenomenon of individuals, businesses and other entities in Barbados paying for the use of the Barbados people money, is one that has lately been getting very urgent critical attention by the PDC, and has been getting nearly indepth investigations and researches just short of intensive study, ever since our recent discovery that – outside of TAXATION, INTEREST RATES, REPAYABLE INSTITUTIONAL LOANS for productive purposes, etc. – it is the single biggest domestic political financial cause of the present decay in the material production distribution structures and processes of the country.

On the basis of those things and what we have long known to be happening – to some extent- politically, materially financially in this country, here is what we have so far generally concluded about this very depressing degradable phenomenon/variable. We have come to the irrefutable conclusion: that so-called economists in Barbados have failed to identify this phenomenon/variable that has been doing such irreparable damage to the so-called economy, have consequently failed to describe it causes and its impact on some other national variables, and have consequently failed too to come up with partial solutions to address it. So much for so-called economists!!!

Read Full Article

CARIBBEAN STOCK REPORT 9 May to May 13, 2011

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

Barbados Jurisdiction Category II Rating Explained

Posted as a comment on another blog

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“Category 1 airport status in corrupt Antigua; Category 2 status in number one developing state Barbados.” – Kiffin

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… the OECS created the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA), funded it properly, and gave it some teeth and experienced people. The DCA here Barbados is still merely a gubmint Department over seen by a Minister, while the ECCAA is an agency – a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – which is to some measure independent and apart from politics, and collect their own revenues (as well as some government financing in many cases).

The DCA in Barbados has for decades been run by Air Traffic Controllers who rose through the ranks following very narrow rules and have little or no breadth of experience or knowledge, and (in Barbados) for their entire careers they have been abused by their Directors who have ensured they have as little say in their own professional lives as possible.

From personal experience I can tell you that the Controllers in Barbados have lost every part of their jobs – which is standard internationally – and gave them insight into airspace outside of Barbados. For instance, they are trained solely in Barbados, and “FAM” (familiarisation) flights to other islands or even to north America were cut off many decades ago. They are also treated with scant respect – and so have as much interest in expanding their personal horizons as a coffee cup.

Fire fire

Submitted by Charles Knighton

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Dear Sir,

Shouting “fire” in a crowded theatre when there is no fire has always been cited as an example of free speech gone too far, causing theatre-goers to rush to small exits resulting in trampling and crushing death and injury to many. This is generally not the result of patrons rising en masse upon hearing the word “fire” but is rather the result of a small, easily panicked group rushing from their seats and the herd mentality which ensues.

On page 39 of the May 13th edition of the Barbados Advocate, with no disclaimers whatsoever ( e.g. “Advertisement” or the standard “the following does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication”) comes the broadside” Judgment day begins with a worldwide earthquake on May 21st 2011.”  What follows are the usual end of world rantings of religious charlatans to their “sheep”, a description I have always found quite appropriate when applied to the slow-witted, easily led and easily panicked members of their flock. While I would prefer to believe no segment of the population of Barbados is so benighted as to embrace such nonsense, the lucrative businesses of the obeah and psychic practitioners speak otherwise.

Promotion In The Public Service

Caswell Franklyn, Head of Unity Workers Union

Promotion in the Public Service is suppose to be the sole purview of the Public Service Commission in accordance with the Constitution, but is it really so? Before going into their role, it would be best to have some appreciation of the origins of services commissions.

The first civil service commission was established in Britain in 1855. It was intended to be an independent and impartial body with responsibility for recruitment of persons to the civil service. Its role was essentially to deliver a civil service that was apolitical that would serve and give honest advice to whichever political party that forms the Government. To achieve this goal, the commission was solely responsible for the recruitment, appointment, promotion and discipline of civil servants. Prior to this, jobs in the civil service were dispensed on the basis of patronage.

In Barbados, the Public Service Commission was established with the same lofty principles as the original British commission and its independence was enshrined in the Constitution. However, the constitutional amendments of 1974 opened a highway for politicians to shuttle their supporters in droves into the Public Service. Effectively, the Public Service Commission was side-stepped for recruitment into the Public Service, since most persons were recruited as temporary officers, and temporary employment was the purview of the Minister responsible for Establishments. Politicians therefore cornered the market on first appointment to the Service.

Barbados Heroines

Submitted by Yardbroom

We celebrate Heroes Day, honouring those men and women who by great achievements have made us proud to be Bajans.  Their acts recorded, names well known and images in some instances, adorn the bank notes we spend in our daily lives; a constant reminder of the contribution they made to our society.  In some instances their names are known on the international stage and there, accorded the same reverence as in Barbados for deeds accomplished in specific endeavours…..we are proud of them all.

It is fitting that just a few days since the celebration of Mother’s Day in Barbados – dates in other countries sometimes differ – a gentle reminder should be given of other heroes. May I introduce you to my heroines.  Individually their names are not written in books,and perhaps you have only a fleeting thought of them but here they are.

Women on the plantations working in the fields, backs bent under an unremitting sun, then like sentinels stood erect when the driving rains came.  Far distant from any structure or shelter they just were drenched.  Yet they toiled and toiled again, to ensure their sons and daughters were able to attend those schools and colleges they thought were a gateway to a good education.  Now many attorney’s chambers in Bridgetown, with brass plates burnished bright, record the names of eminent professionals whose grandmothers and great grandmothers made that sacrifice, for them to glide easily in their flowing robes and pristine white collars.