Paying Lip Service To Culture

After the euphoria of making UNESCO’s World Heritage List the job – we are told – begins to sensitize Barbadians to protect the few buildings and spaces of cultural significance we have left in and around Bridgetown. An educated and enlightened Barbadian should possess an innate desire to safeguard our culture, to ensure who we were is passed on to our children and our children’s children. Wouldn’t this knowledge transfer serve to give truth to the cliché, ‘if you don’t know where you came from, you sure as hell will experience a problem plotting a forward course’.

Sadly there is the truth that Barbadians pay lip service to matters of culture. An example is the Crop Over Festival which was born out of a celebration of the harvesting of the sugarcane and has now been relegated to a beads, feathers and wuk-up affair. The cultural dimension has been prostituted on the altar of economic expediency.

Lets Get The Facts

Submitted by DLP Supporter

Kaymar Jordan, Editor in Chief, Nation newspaper

The role of the media in sensitising persons to the issues germane to the well being of society cannot be questioned. The current world trend is for receivers of news to have access to multi sources. We have seen the development of the social media [ i reporter, Facebook , Twitter , Hi 5] take its place as a source of news. Today, persons on locations thousands of miles away can report on the truth as it unfolds. We saw how powerful the anti Obama news channels were in delivering on the anti Obama campaign but he survived because people also had an alternative in the many sources that were part of his campaign strategy.

In recent times, we have seen the local media rush to publish stories without getting the facts. While, we have so many advances in technology and access to information, how is it possible for the constant circulation and publication of misinformation in our small country? We are aware of the many BBC stories that raised concerns about the stewardship of the last administration which never saw the light of the day.

We have witnessed the full centre spread page on the coverage of the status of Transport Broad and how damming the quality of service was according to the big poll conducted by the Nation news paper. The Truth is the Nation newspaper has not been fair and balanced in their coverage of news regarding the state and its functionaries. Let’s examine two issues that received the centre spread in colour to illustrate the concern.

Transparency By The National Insurance Board A Must In 2011

Tony Marshall, Chairman of the National Insurance Board

One issue which has resurfaced coming out of the recent miscommunication by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to pensioners is the unavailability of a recent NIS certified financial report. A check of the NIS Website shows the most recent financials posted as at 2007.  Governments over the years have always borrowed from the NIS fund but the current economic hardship has forced the government to lean on the fund in an unprecedented way; or so it seems.

The importance of the NIS to the stability of a Barbados society cannot be underscored enough. Why should Barbadians in 2011 not expect our government to implement necessary systems to ensure a timely certified financial statement of the NIS fund? Barbadians need, as a matter of urgency, to leverage the education provided to us. One way which we can do so is to hold our government and others who hold public office more accountable.  The fact that this government and others gone before continue to hoodwink Barbadians by dillydallying over the implementation of Freedom of Information (FOI) and Integrity Legislation are two good examples.

Barbadians should note carefully the strategic goals of the NIS:

Twas The Month Before Christmas

The following missive seems wholly appropriate as the Christmas season descends upon what is described as a Christian society called Barbados. Reproduced for the reading pleasure of the BU family (The original attributed to Clement C. Moore)

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday’.

Economics Helping Caucasians To Politically Oppression And Exploit Millions, What Are Local Economists Saying?

Submitted by Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC)

In many economic textbooks, the definition of economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy human wants. For Adam Smith – one of the founders of economics – economics is “an inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations”. In some modern English dictionaries (the Oxford School Dictionary, the 5 edition) economics is described as the science of the production and distribution of wealth. In the Collins Students Dictionary for the Caribbean, economics is “the study of the production and consumption of goods and services ……..in a society.”

As for the PDC, economics is defined as the inverted political ideology, philosophy and psychology of the Caucasian man (the patriarchal Euro-centric man), and of which – because they are exclusively non-racial, non-class, non-sexual, non-religious, non-historical in their essential characters – have clearly been giving rise to specific sets of repeated changes in the forms of material beforehand, in whatever commercial, industrial, non-government settings; wherefore those reproductions are such that millions upon millions of people across the world must – through their own means – come by them, or have access to them, in order to live in this entire social world, and, as such, this compulsion comes through nothing but the said ideology, philosophy and psychology of the Caucasian man and by extension the political actions of this man consistent with them.

Now, what is the fundamental purpose of economics?

Barbados Workers Union Poaching On NUPW’s Turf

Sir Roy Trotman - General Secretary of BWU

It is no secret substantive General Secretary of the National Union of Public Works (NUPW) Dennis Clarke is battling a serious illness. His condition has led to the Executive of the NUPW elevating other officers to carry on the day to day business of the union.

It therefore comes as a surprise to read the following communication which has been circulated to employees of the Customs Department. Bear in mind Barbados Workers Union (BWU) represents Customs Guards and NUPW represents the other workers at Customs.

BU understands that managing a union is akin to running a business and the harsh economic times must be negatively affecting union membership and dues. However, the kindred spirit which should exist between the two largest unions functioning under the umbrella arrangement of CTUSAB leaves a stink in the air.

Roman Catholic Church Argues Priests Are Self Employed; English High Court Disagreed

Mr Justice McDuff

Today in the English High Court, Mr Justice McDuff handed down a landmark decision against the Roman Catholic Church involving sexual abuse.  In what most Bajans will consider to be a bizarre and totally inappropriate defense, counsel Crispin Hollis, acting for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, tried to invoke employment law, pleading that Fr Wilfred Baldwin, an ordained Roman Catholic priest, was self-employed that therefore no liability attached to the Church for the sexual abuse of a minor. The Daily Mail report above makes for sickening reading.

The judge, however, disagreed.

If this decision is upheld on appeal, it will open the flood gates to claims against Churches and is most likely to be upheld in all common law jurisdictions, including Barbados. This surely is one of those decisions where the courts and common sense are in accord and a triumph for common sense and under-aged victims of sexual abuse whose abusers seek to hide behind religion.

Barbadians Suffering from Mental Illness Continue To Be Stigmatized

Homosexuality has become a hot button issue in Barbados like many countries around the world. It has morphed to a civil rights issue. Has anyone noticed the alacrity with which some of Barbados’ prominent citizens rally behind this cause?

On the other hand there is a group of people in Barbados who have been marginalized and stigmatized more than any other. If you are known to be afflicted with a mental illness the average Barbadian will shun you like a leper. If you want to live a ‘normal’ life do not visit that Black Rock facility.

While all the focus is on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) goings on at the Psychiatric Hospital in Black Rock has been slipping under the radar. This current state of affairs reflects accurately the importance Barbadians and officials alike view the importance of mental care. Hopefully the day will come soon when the opinion of the psychologist will be given the same weight as the medical doctor.

Another feature of mental care in Barbados is the way patients are treated at the Black Rock institution. BU is aware of mentally ill patients referred to the Psychiatric Hospital by the Courts who have had to endure the most inhumane treatment. In some cases the treatment meted out can be compared to what a person remanded to Dodds would expect; being made to strip to the birthday suit and not to forget the obligatory ‘injections’. Anyone can suffer from a mental disorder given the stressful environment which has enveloped all of our lifes.

Is There Merit To The Establishment of The Central Revenue Authority?

Submitted by Disappointed DLP Supporter

Chris Sinckler, Minister of Finance

High taxes, slow economy and now a cadre of friends for lawyers to go after persons with decreased income. The witch hunt is on. Now tell me if the DLP still have the moral authority to lead Barbados?

Static or decreased income with increased expenses. Here is the dilemma faced by many pay, government statutory deductions, wages or utilities.  I think most business owners would pay utilities and workers and negotiate with government or close the company down and let them draw unemployment from NIS.

Many who have never run a company for a day will call most employers who have taken the risk to employ others as dishonest. How many can identify with the stress of running a business such as workers attitudes, decreased cash flow,sleepless nights and union pressure?

The government recently announced the establishment of the Central Revenue Authority (CRA) to maximize collection of government revenue – Barbados Underground

CARIBBEAN STOCK REPORT 31 October to 4 November 2011

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