RIP Nicole Harrison-Watson
The death of 37 year old Nicole Harrison-Watson remains top of the mind for many Barbadians a couple days after she was found murdered at her Ferniehurst, Black Rock, St Michael home. While it does no good to speculate about what motivated her assailant (a suspect is being questioned by Police), it affords the living the opportunity to critically and dispassionately analyse the poor conditions which many Barbadians live under in Barbados and in particular our young women.
BU subscribes to the view that a woman with her unique nurturing quality was created to complement a man. When the two – man and woman – function in harmony, they are able to optimize on their mental, physical, and emotional state. The result is that the society we cohabit becomes a good place in which we can live quality lifes. The challenge of the government, NGOs and civil society at large is how do we manage to achieve the societal equilibrium required with all the competing ideologies at play.
Without fuelling the puerile debate about building a society instead of an economy, how can we pontificate about the success of the Barbados society, if according to the most recent Barbados Country Assessment of Living Conditions Report (CALC) “persons living below the poverty line in Barbados has double, since the last study on living conditions and poverty was undertaken over a decade ago”? Pertinent in the report is that 19.3% of Barbadian individuals in 15% of households earn income below the poverty line – 9.1% of individuals 7% of households were living below the indigence line at the time the survey was carried out. An easy conclusion to make, anecdotally though it is, these numbers with the prevailing economic hardships must be trending upward.
A significant percentage of individuals and households operating below the poverty line are located in government housing developments – Deacons, Pine, Silver Hill, St Matthias and other clusters known for low income habitation. Of interest to BU is that a significant of number of individuals operating below the poverty line are women and on p.110 of the report 38% recorded no level of examination passed. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand what this current state will breed.
The bigger point is that there is bound to be a positive correlation in the lack of social cohesion and crime in many of these depressed neighbourhoods like Deacons and the Pine and the declining economic condition. It is no secret that Deacon is overridden with drug lords whose stranglehold on the women especially is born out of the over crowding, lack of opportunity, under employment, hunger, lack of education voluminously articulated in the (CALC). How many women existing below the poverty line are abused, rape, beaten because of the infestation of a drug culture in these developments which makes those with money (usually men) the ‘bankers’ in community?
In a negative environment accepting the findings in the CALC report what happens to families if the women are victims? Without the woman how will the family survive? Of course some will get a lifeline but many will be sucked into a black hole of poverty and their generations to follow. We have to do better to protect our women to enable them to fulfil their nurturing role. No society can deem to have progressed if we are not protecting our womenfolk, if we are losing our womenfolk.
Barbadians one and all have to agitate to ensure the authorities mobilize an action plan to fight back against the scourge of poverty wrecking havoc on 19.3% of Barbadians (which equates to about 58,000 people) across Barbados. Of importance, let us protect our womenfolk,
There is arole for the man and the woman in the raising of a child. In many, too many cases, the woman wants to play both roles and only wants the man to bring the money. I’ve heard of many cases where the man supports the child whether through the court system or privately, but everytime he goes to see the child, he/she is never at home, gone by a aunt, uncle, grandmother. Until both parents realise they have a responsibilty to this child, ther will always be a problem, and both women and men will suffer for raising this child singlehandedly.
@The Scout: “I’ve heard of many cases where the man supports the child whether through the court system or privately, but everytime he goes to see the child, he/she is never at home, gone by a aunt, uncle, grandmother.
Such data is subjective, and would be rejected by any honest study.
Do you have any hard data to submit?
Onions
There is a new breed of woman in Barbados, CAREER WOMEN, who only needs a man to empregnant them, then he can do to HELL. These children come up not knowing who their father is and is mummy’s baby. It is children like this who lashes out and don’t know how to treat a woman because he never had a man to teach him things that women can’t teach them. In many cases these mothers uphold their unruly boys/men, even though they know they are wrong. They usually end up spending thousands of dollars trying to get them out of the arms of the police. These children are rebelling because of the lack of male guidance, no fault of the father.
@The Scout: “These children are rebelling because of the lack of male guidance, no fault of the father.
Have you considered this might be because of other influences?
@ Scout
Stereo -typing of woman is not the answer. they are real problems that need to be addressed such as abuse of woman which leads to a downward spiral in the stability of families and a childs well being which men have forfeited for a myriad of reasons . the route which men have chosen to addressed the issue has only stifle and made these problems harder to be resolve but has cause division between both male and female , now it is time that all men man up and say that what they have done in the stagnation of their children and relationship is wrong and a new approach and direction is needed.
@ Scout
Hear, Hear…..You think I minding Lone Ranger ac, and Tonto..?…We my brothers live in the real world…..some of these women ….” only want the seed..” I have heard this with my very own ears…Some these evil ladies..want to live by themselves…with as many men and women they could …they want independence from any man ( but that is their prerogative)…..child but a meal ticket, SUV ticket, clothes ticket…..Yo Scout,.. like you Onions live in the real world…..ac enjoys her schizophrenic role ….When the bell rings …I can see her walking but with a STRONG conviction…of every single twisted view she has put fwd on this blog….
(bet ac divorced, and born September \October )…lol
@ ONIONS
LOL! another male tactic. women scorned ! divorced! but the month is a new twist how about the Sign.
@ ac
Girl you cud laugh but we men duz got to put up with dis shit.
Scorpio…?
@OOB: “Girl you cud laugh but we men duz got to put up with dis shit.
That’s the fundamental problem, isn’t it.
The girls laugh.
The boys don’t.
Who’s having the more fun?
ac
I’m not saying some men are like angels, but neither are some women, both genders MUST carry some of the blame. However it is this socalled INDEPENDENCE women now project that is causing a big rift between men and women. Thank God there are still many levelheaded men and women out there who are not getting the roles of the two genders criscrossed. You can always tell the ones who thinks they are superior, they write their name Ms Whoever. To me that indicates Man Sometimes. Even them don’t know who or what they are. Many of these women are catching their ROYAL, but try to impress that they are somebody. Some of them need to come back into the REAL WORLD and help improve the standard of living in this country, instead of playing BIGSHOT and flying into MIAMI or PUERTO RICO to buy a dress to wear to a function, while neglecting going to the supermarket to purchase food, just to keep up with the JONES. Can you blame a man for that?
@ Scout
most woman did not choose to be in dependant but were forced and for several different reason some of which were financial and lack of support from their partners. most women would tell you they hate the rat race of having to work two or three jobs and put up with all the stress that goes along with it, but would rather prefer a committed and fulfilling a relationship however when they chips are down they would do what they have to do to maintain their home and a comfortable lifestyle over a “sorry ass good fuh nutting man who does nothing for them.
Talking about Mrs.So n So……Onions reliably informed that the bassa bassa up at NCF by two strong head women had to come to a front sometime….They say the two could not gree from Day 1..Well ya dun kno….Ole time entrenched strong party connections duz hold more play than PhD-ship with a pinch of uncle salt…Talk bout WOMEN….power hungry…ac where do you fit in the sort of things ?….grandad a stalwart or what ?
why am i not surprised that the MEN have not shown any support for abused woman on this blog while others have remained silent /it has been painful reading some of the comments and the way woman are being protrayed.
@ ac ..Because
Women want to eat their cake and have it too…..based on all said ..I know you could figure it out…What I would ask (in contrary) is how come women could be such a hard nose knaving DOBitch..yet fall back to being ..the sweet innocent beings of the past …wanting compassion of..”support for us abused women”…things have changed babies…..Women wanted no diff between men n women…now you got it… please ask us men for no sulking quarters
Ladies when you finish with a man, first thing change all the locks on your doors. And in general be very careful who has keys to your house. If the person does not live there they should not have a key. When visitors come let them stand at the door and knock and wait to be invited in.
And a message to NHC: Write it into the leases that only adults who are listed on the lease, and the children of those adults can have keys. And then ENFORCE, ENFORCE, ENFORCE. That means no keys for boyfriends, ex boyfriends, non-resident husbands or ex-husbands etc.
And men you can’t own a woman. Massa day dun de’d. If the woman doesn’t like you anymore
Walk.
Fast
And everybody:
It is NEVER right to hit.
Never right to hit a woman.
Never right to hit a man.
Never right to hit a child.
We all have to stop hitting our children, our girlfriends and wives, our boyfriends and husbands.
Because massa day dun’ de’d and this hitting, licking, beating, and brutality that we brought forward from slavery has to be thrown away.
And everybody when you see something bad happening say something, do something.
Don’t pretend that if you act like it isn’t happening it will go away.
It will not go away.
It will get worse, and worse, and worse like a life sore.
Do something.
And the authorities, you have to take reports of spankings, beatings, slappings, burnings, kickings seriously.
I guarantee you that this is not the first act of violence that Nicole has endured. I bet that she was licked at home and at school as a child. I bet that this is not the first time this man hit her.
Long ago way back in the 1960′s the Alexandra school did not lick any of the students for anything and the school turned our fine women.
Who reintroduced licks to the Alexandra school?
Is it you?
You should be ashamed of yourself.
And men, talk to your sons.
Love your sons.
Support them.
Don’t engage in this ignorant pretense that if you give some money and see them every other weekend that you are being a good father. You are NOT being a good father.
And bad, neglectful fathers raise bad, neglectful, angry or violent sons.
And stop this nonsense of separating children form their mothers. What is the matter with you that you can’t be a loving step-father to the children of those women who are already mothers?
What is the matter with you?
If you don’t like women with children, then WALK and find a childless woman. There are billions of them around.
When last did a Bajan woman kill her boyfriend or husband?
Being a Bajan boyfriend or husband is to be in a very safe place.
Quoting old onions May 1 at 7:38 a.m. “Are you aware that a gentleman raising his own son or daughter is unable to have a child support order issued in the Lower Court…since there is no provision at this level to entertain his request ?. however a female can. Laws need to be changed”
I agree.
Get your male buddies who occupy 90% of the seats in the house to work on it TODAY.
what you guys seem to be avoiding is the missing link which contributes to poverty that being of absentee fathers one that should be of real concern and should be adressed .
@Scout
I am notsaying that there are no built in problems in any relationship with or without children. However some of these problems should not be used as an excuse to make the children suffer. also you mention 50 /50 partnersship however when one parent is absent that in itself becomes a bone of contention by the one who is absent by way of admitting that all other responsibilty other than taking financial care of the children becomes void and the rest should be taken care by the one with custody . which begs the questions do men really understand their responsibilties and duty and care to their children inrespect to all the blame they have cast on women who stays for the long haul wether men give them any kind of help or not.
Random thoughts…Glad to read your contributions.
AC….You are on a roll keep it up.
To all the career women HATERS….it is because of insecurity and inferiority you HATE successful women. Women have become successful and have managed to juggle well and effectively. If you really look at the ratio of successful women and unsuccessful men you will see that more and more women are ahead. By successful I mean who own their own homes and cars, who are bringing up children on their own. Many of these children are well behaved and well adjusted children so I don’t know where you all get this idea that the successful women have lawless children. That is a myth. Look at the socioeconomic background of many of the incarcerated youth. Many if not most of them come from depressed neighbourhoods where their mothers have to scrunt to get a dollar or do not work at all. The only thing these women have in common with successful women is that they are single parents. Women must educate themselves and to strive to make a better life for themselves before they embark on having children. That does not always work out that way BUT start the thought process from school. Women MUST learn to choose their men very carefully, and learn to steer clear of the garbage that crowd our streets. It is better to be alone and unhappy than to be with someone and unhappy. A woman MUST NOT depend on someone else for her happiness.
Maybe some of us have not fully understood what was put fwd by Scout and yours truly….that a lot of these career women…though they want no male around… want the male’s child ..for the money… By not having the male role model around….raises a problem child ..if a son.. @ loss for role father..if daughter …wants to copy the misfit mother…catch 22 all over again.Let’s face it ac ..it’s not the father not giving money to support the family in all cases…but a selfish self opinionated DOB..who cares a rat’s ass about society or its problems(as long as she gets what she wants)….and would sit there …brooding like a cat…..about “those men are the problem”… and not willing to move a wink from that stance ,,,even if seen the light..It is this type of individual…that a man will avoid..and or seperate from…. for fear that the spirit of God may not always dwell in man.
You see as long as these new wanna be independents…want to enforce their wonderful new creme le creme rules……we got problems… for not all men get on their knees like puppies………but entrenched fighters like pitbulls to the end.There lies our violence problem.
@IsGal
That is a myth. Look at the socioeconomic background of many of the incarcerated youth. Many if not most of them come from depressed neighbourhoods where their mothers have to scrunt to make a living
****************
Really now…..did you watch CBC 7.00PM news last night?
Ole Onions…I didn’t watch the news. What happened?
Come now….we not that daff
The only ones seems to be brooding is onions and scout and when it comes right down to it like most men they feel threatened by the womans independence and there lost of control of a womans/actions
It is all about POWER itmust be hard formen to lose can you imagine the russick which men caused when womAn were giving the RIGHT TO VOTE the same accusary accusations were heaped on woman . then imagine when woman learend to drive i could only imAgine the debate of “too much freedom ” women have heard it all and nothing has stop us in our desire to fight for our RIGHTS
Look umman doan B a pantii…lose power when a woman gone. ?..You a moojan…remember the days of Harry’s on Bay st …or you too young ?
So you were a frequent patron of Harry’s Nitery nuh ? Yuh ole wutless ting a ling!
@ ac
The amount of ladies of the night have quadrupled in recent months……are we saying according to this article ….its the fault of stingy and they should be blamed ?
If we pass by Bush Hill nowadays at 10.30…..lower Bay St. as well there by the Family Planning….the ladies are doing a brisker than ever trade….
How do we assume these things ? Are they the results of the impoverished female left to support alone her kin ? Or is this the results of a fractured and over taxed and disenfranchised people in a society and not an economy ? Tell me ac\IslandGal which one is it ?
@ onions
there is an article which might enlighten your mixed up and confuse brain on the plight of the single woman and its effect on poverty
you can google
http://www.the grio.com/sin
http://www.the grio.com/…/single-mothers-need=pathway=out-of-poverty
@ onions typical male mentality always lurking behind the bushes for unsuspecting ladies of the night. man yuh too ole fuh dat behave yuhself nuh yuh time has come and gone not enuff viagra to save the day fuh you.keep dat up yuh soon hav a heart attack
You are so wrong…….Onions.got to feed the BEAST….when she hungers…her name is python and she no friend of Lady Viagra..nor Cialias.
The only bushes she is accustomed to are the airy’ bushes. Besides in case you didn’t know ….Onions is but a Spring Buck…and shall not see retirement till another 15-20 yrs of sowing the needed seed …lol
Wait onions de only seed you be planting is de ones dat yuh might be planting in yuh backyard. .
Anyhow as for planting too many men plant seed and never look back to see how they grow then one day that sprout becomes a giant and all of a sudden the planter decides that he was the rightful owner of the seed you see the seed he never took care of is now some thing worthwhile and the planter sees that owership is all worthwhile.
Had hoped when this blog was posted we could share about how the number below the poverty line has double and the implications for wider society. Particularly the impact on young uneducated women who have to be the mother/father of families. What does it portend for Barbados? We know that women caught in this vicious cycle of poverty become vulnerable. There must be long term implications right?
@ David
What you had hoped for was an exercise in being a statistical suggester and not in pursuit of reality.You, like others, had hoped that the sad state of things hinged to the backs of poor disenfranchised young men. What was put fwd was actual experiences of the mostly down trodden…often wrongly blame…conveniently called to be in crisis…. (sometimes rightly so)… of being kicked to the curb by an outdated judicial system. Those left behind( women\children) can only see the end result >..”.it is because of men impregnating us… that this is our ordeal…. AND NOT …”it is the system….whereby we being the disenfranchised, and poor…. will always be so… the global way of things … ever since the days of the Bible..we constantly subjected to measures (LIME) to enable us to remain poor to enable the rich to be rich “. Our men… fight they must… also en roped.
Yes the long term ramifcations Are devasting survey after survey has shown that mothers as head of household and families are most likely to end up in poverty not only ecomomic but social as well which includes a high crime rate because of lack of education early mortality because of lack of health care mothers try their best to confront these challenges but it is not sufficient without the much needed help of both parents.
Yes ac..but why we keep butting heads …surprises me ? You keep hitting on the same point. But its not totally the men at fault….Have ever heard of a situation where a man will leave his home and children…and will go to another and support someone else’s children ? Have you ever stopped to ask why ? Certainly, he is not mad…then why the move.?….we know but I leave you to write the answer…. That man in the right peaceful conditions will remain there and maybe increase the family…I think you see my point…he is not a dog…but he does not want to spend the rest of his days up Dodds either…so he does the next best thing…he moves on …HE SHOULD SUPPORT HIS OWN,,,but you know what …he cannot support BOTH…He may also be spiting his last spouse (and indirectly his children)…but you know what …..he is hurt and want to hurt back..not thinking right, he seeks to etch out his own existence as logically as he could in his own demented way. But this is life …it goes on….less than perfect..only if things were different…but they aren’t
@onions
let me ask you .taking your scenario into account what if woman took the same attitude as the men in seeking resolution . what would you say. man look there is no excuse for a man not supporting any child that he has . if he can take care of another woman he can take take care of the rest . why be so vindictive to the point where it hurts your flesh and blood.
Why you don’t admit…what we would like and what is ….especially on this issue….is two diff tings…nothing go change…the poor are placed there to struggle by the proletariat..its the systems way of things…we came n found it..will die n leave it…
yes the poor would always be with . but when there is a sector of the poor who through no circumstances of their own was abandon at birth or afterwards the story takes on a different meaning.
One wonders why the BP created Poverty alleviation initiatives.
One wonders why the Ministry of Transformation was created.
FRONT #1…….all ya better try something….look nuff people down here at welfare…try a do something ya…..how much duz really go into thru PA ?
FRONT# 2…Hammie La…..nah boi he is D man….ya want a ackee tree cut down call H…you wanna bring Movado..try he…Min of Transfomer S…jobs for admin workers….more votes all rund..worthy ..but poor people moving a catch 22. Pine votes lock DEn.
i have come to the conclusion a man would never admit when he is wrong and this Topic of Poverty and the role Absentee fathers play in this downwardspiral of poverty in single woman household is a perfect example. all the statics would never change their mind as long as they see the woman as the problem
Ok. Miracle worker ac OVER TO YOU NOW ..!…..wave your mighty wand….put money in the broke Asp papa’s pocket….so he cud give the mother child money..If the father ain’t working…get him a job…make sure the money is enuff to support two families too..now don’t forget…and if he has 4 children make sure he gets about $800 per week after deductions….that’s for about 30,000 or so unskilled papas..don’t forget..
@ac
I COPIED you submission from The UNIONS thread,,,,
ac | May 4, 2012 at 7:23 PM |
only in small caribbean islands would these corrupt corporate giants take advantage of poor people. In the first place these outrageous over due back wages should not have gone on so long so one can blame the unions too for not flexing their muscles earlier and standing up for the workers. i mean Corporate Giants like Lime got this attitude that it is them who are doing the favours and the workers should put up or shut and the Unions let this shite go by until it is too late .
I SEE YOU HAVE FINALLY SEEN THE LIGHT…..then I know my 67 submissions on this article was worth it !
@onions
Now i now for sure You are a confuse wack-a-doodle!
Let the truth be know….Marshall..ac
For ’tis the sport to have the enginer
Hoist with his own petard, an’t shall go hard
But I will delve one yard below their mines
And blow them at the moon.