Submitted by Hamilton Hill
Albert Brandford (l) Kaymar Jordan (c) Sanka Price (r)
It is 5:00pm on the evening of the tenth day of this the month of October, the day chosen by the extended arm of the Barbados Labour Party known as the Nation Publishing Co. to make what so far has to be its most brazen attempt to hoodwink the Fruendel Stuart administration. Barbados is two short hours away from an act of political prostitution of its fourth estate, headed by a group that over the past few years has perfected the art of creative deception. Only this group could manage to disguise a political meeting so well that it could be sold as a town-hall forum.This political meeting is being held for the sole purpose of trying to force the government’s hand in calling the elections, even though all of the experts {and let me be first to admit that I believed them} said that a longer wait was to the detriment of the government. The stench of this exercise reaches to the high heavens.
The Nation’s editor Kaymar Jordan who will be the chair person of this political meeting was heard on brass tacks today lamenting the fact that the prime minister had refused to be a speaker at this event. With all due respect I say to the lady that gone are the days when children were made to go pick the whip to inflict lashes to their very own asses. Freundel Stuart nor any member of the DLP for that matter, has any business being in attendance at this seminar of shameless deceit hosted by a bunch of part time journalists/full time party hacks who are driven to satisfy the morbid cravings of Owen S Arthur. Should he ever develop a cancer this bunch should know even before his doctor, for their heads are so far up his ass how could they miss it? One might wonder from whence comes this malcontentedness?
To you I say that even before this government had taken its place, even before those leaving had properly vacated their offices the CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT none other than Albert Branford authored a most disgusting, totally disrespectful piece titled “The Money Factor”. Less than two weeks into forming a government this rather than the usual WELCOME adorned the mat that the leading daily chose to lay at the feet of this government. The Dems and a leader with an inbred sense of entitlement, had purchased an election. This piece from the leader of the pack set the tone for the drivel the other members in the kennel of attack dogs fed this country since then, their speciality being selective journalism. No one can deny that this prime minister needs to do a better job of reaching the people of Barbados, but those in Kaymar’s Kennel have no moral authority to request such. Albert, Sanka, Pat and the rest turned a blind eye even when the mess managed to find its way right up to their door steps, or should I say into the editor’s office. These are the same attack dogs that were muzzled when Madame V’s car was pulled over. We know nothing about this news story. Why? Had nothing to do with Freundel. A fraction of what Barbados owes to Al Barack could have and should have been paid. Did we hear from Albert, Sanka, Pat or any of the others? Know why? Not often does a dog bite its owner. Barbados needs a fourth estate that can be seen as not beholden to any party. Like the CBC that cannot be said of the Nation Publishing Co. Let these attack dogs ask Owen Arthur if there is an impending lawsuit against Chris Sinckler or were they really secret meetings about laying off public workers. Let them ask him if divestment will be his chosen path to the same conclusion. {not we….de private sector lay off wunna} From David Gill that answer means nothing. For the sake of good governance like so many others all I ever wanted was balanced reporting. Like so many others I trusted the experts. Those experts tonight were on display.
Owen Arthur is in Barbados and chose to send his field marshal, Mia, to represent the party at the Talk Back forum. And she did a sterling job, to boot!
Those questioning Mia’s answer regarding CBC are shameless. She said, in essence, that her party has not made a definitive decision and she would not want to make “instant policy” since it would have to be a party decision. What’s wrong with that?
The shameful part is that the issue of CBC is on the table precisely because the present DLP government has gone way beyond any other administration in memory to silence the voice of the opposition on CBC.
In the last years of the BLP government, David Thompson was seen on CBC perhaps more than Owen Arthur. Now the Opposition (which is constitutionally an arm of the Government) cannot be seen on CBC TV and are told that they would only be covered if they pay for a political broadcast.
No Barbadian should try to defend that or ignore what is happening.
But, I do feel that CBC should be sold, because both parties have misused it for their purposes. But it’s worst now than ever before.
A spirited defense was put by John Lovell of the CBC where his main point is: there is always room for public broadcasting. A private entity will not cover national events the way a publicly funded entity would.
David B:
‘In the last years of the BLP government, David Thompson was seen on CBC perhaps more than Owen Arthur. Now the Opposition (which is constitutionally an arm of the Government) cannot be seen on CBC TV and are told that they would only be covered if they pay for a political broadcast.’
I don’t know that your comments reference the DLP whilst in opposition had the same air time as BLP government.
I do notice the current blatant absence of the BLP coverage and minimal to no airtime more often than not on the CBC.
I recall the late DThompson saying that he would have been grateful if he was accorded the similar privileges as opposition leader that Mia then opposition leader was seeking on CBC. He said that it would do them well to remember their (BLP’s) actions meted out to the opposition when they (BLP) were in Government.
I take note that you said ‘in the last years of BLP government …’
@ Brief
Why a Daniel indeed…a Daniel…..A pound of flesh exact…not as much as a scruple more…or one less…Brief why you are my Daniel at this 18th hour….now I search and ask of thee why?
@ Brief
I presume you were in Barbados prior to the last election. David Thompson was a nightly feature on the 7.00 p.m. news. It was hardwood, it was political meetings, it was everything the man did and said. And that is as it should be.
The opposition has to be given a fair chance to make its case on the national television station, without being told they have to pay for a political broadcast.
Everyone nowadays refers to CBC as “DLP TV”.
I conceded in my previous post that both parties are guilty of misusing CBC for their own purposes, but it is getting worse.
Who knows? The next BLP government may do as bad or worse than the DEMS are doing now.
If there is no way to assure fairness to all political parties, then CBC should be sold. At least then tax payers money would not be used to push a partisan agenda on the national broadcast airwaves.