The Fountain -in Trafalgar Square (Heroes Square) - was erected to celebrate the start of piped water in Bridgetown/GIS
It has been reported that the Minister of Community Development and Culture Mr. Steve Blackett has proposed to redesign and rename Heroes Square so that the statue of Lord Nelson – 1758-1805 – no longer occupies its present position; in essence the statue (originally in the past Trafalgar Square) will not be positioned “in” Heroes Square.
For many years Nelson’s statue has been a source of contention to many Barbadians, while a few have been very relaxed about it, even to the point of advocating that the statue should remain in its present position, against all opposition.
In taking a look at the situation we should start at the beginning and this is best done by asking why was the statue originally erected in Barbados. The statue was erected in 1813 – sculpted by Sir Richard Westmancott – “to honour Nelson’s memory.” I will return later to if Nelson’s memory should be honoured in Barbados.
Lasana M. Sekou is the author of 11 books of poetry, monologues, and short stories. He is the leading writer of St. Martin and is considered one of the prolific Caribbean poets of his generation. His newest collection is 37 Poems, published in 2005. Sekou’s other titles include… (more…)
Barbadians for the most part have given high marks to the government for introducing free bus rides to school children under 18 years old. The only requirement is that the child is wearing a school uniform or show a school pass to benefit. The Democratic Labour Party is no stranger to introducing bold initiatives of the social variety; free education and school meals are other pioneering social initiatives which come to mind. It should be noted that history has been positive about the impact which free education has had on the Barbados society. Our high educational standards have been linked to the political stability of Barbados, export of labour and the enfranchisement of our people in a post-independence era.
It is obvious that the introduction of free bus rides to school children is a public good which has been designed to target the mushrooming deviant behaviour among our youth population. While the government has been quick to deny that the initiative targets negative behaviour associated with the ZR culture, the BU household is not convinced. For too long, and certainly under the reign of the former government the PSV’s were allowed to terrorize Barbados. The culture had become so embedded that it easily nullified the attempt by the Royal Barbados Police Force to bring order. Don’t we remember Operation Road Traffic Maintenance? The time has come to fight back. Until the PSVs start a program to efficiently self-regulate they will continue to feel the brunt of public policy. No amount of talk about poor black man and people losing jobs will stop the process. The time for talk is done.
Having stated the above we believe that more still needs to be done to protect this future generation from itself. Too often we rely on government to do it all, but what can other stakeholders in the country do to assist in the fight against deviant behaviour among our youth and wider society? (more…)
The new General Manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation assumed duties Wednesday morning at its Pine headquarters. Lars Soderstrom was met on arrival by CBC Chairman Leroy Parris and Executive Director David Wright and then was introduced to the senior managers in the Corporation's boardroom - Source:Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation 30/07/2008
The Swede Lars G.O.Söderström is reporting on his Website that he has been the General Manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) for the last three months. We try to keep on top of the news which affect Barbados but we have to confess we missed this announcement. As always the BU household thanks the BU family member for drawing this matter to our attention. We have to admit though that the Swede’s resume is impressive, on paper! (more…)
A member of the BU household attended the traditional celebrations on Labour Day held on Eastern Parkway in New York on Monday (1 September 2008). According to reports the Barbados revellers drew the #8 slot which is a far cry from #20 which it had done in previous years. As you can see from the pictures the yellow and blue was represented!
We have been having an animated discussion on the Is Wuking Up “Without limits” Barbadian Culture? which was submitted by BU family member Yardbroom. The feedback which we have gotten is that Barbadians wukkup and enjoyed themselves but they did so without the gay abandon which was demonstrated in our Crop Over 2008.
Barbadians often ask why has Barbadian society changed so suddenly and dramatically as it has in recent years; there are many reasons of course, but I believe one of the main reasons, is the flight to the terraces.
When sugar plantations became unprofitable and it was seen that division of agricultural land for housing could bring a sizeable profit…it had far reaching consequences for Barbadian society. It is true that the acquisition of those lands enabled the working class and those aspiring to be middle class, the opportunity to build lovely houses in often prime locations. Those on the terraces felt they had arrived – and they had – the reward no doubt for thrift and making use of their educational opportunities and status. Some even entered gated communities and joined the foreigners.
Is it wrong to seek a better life? no, it manifestly is not. Why should one live in a cramped environment when the wherewithal is available to do better for your family. However, the knock-on effect has dealt a devastating blow to Barbadian society and in many ways has fractured it.(more…)
Youths ‘wukking up’ 2 ‘Go Stabby’ during the Bajan Kadooment
In recent years a certain type of wuking up has become a popular Barbadian pastime. Its popularity has meant there is now a license to do anything in public, providing it is accompanied by music. My intention is not to take a moral view on this issue as I do not have that authority. However, if participants display in public, they cannot be surprised if people comment on a public medium.
Last year I saw a boy not more than ten years of age wuking up behind a fully grown woman. As the tempo of the music increased the boy got closer to the woman, encouraged by a crowd of adults who witnessed the spectacle. I moved away on seeing this exhibition, as I felt uncomfortable.(more…)
Crop Over 2008 is now history and if we are to judge by the pronouncements of the Minister of Culture Steve Blackett and the Officials at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), it was a resounding success. Some people may question what was the yardstick used to measure success; the Minister and his supporting cast seem to have used the fact that there was high people participation. While more people may have participated the BU household has some concerns.
Crop Over – the concept was promoted in the early days as a celebration by Barbadians to recognize a successful sugar cane harvest. Over the years it has evolved to a carnival. Despite the obvious shift from its early anchor BU remain married to the original concept. Crop Over should be used as the flagship event to lift the Barbados cultural experience. While we have no problem with experimenting with the festival’s core design, promoting the Bajan identity MUST remain the main plot.
We listened with interest to Dennis Johnson who continues to be one of the few genuine personalities on talk radio. He made the same point which we have made above. To paraphrase what he said, he talked about Barbadians diluting their ‘Bajanness’ in order to assimilate into other cultures. Barbadians seem to be blessed with a characteristic which says that if we have to surrender our ‘Bajanness’ to make others happy, so be it. The BU household is uncompromising in the view that if a nation is confused about its identity it will inevitably lead to dire consequences. (more…)
One of the key feature events on the Crop Over calendar is Cohobblopot. It has historically been produced by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), except on one occasion to represent a potpourri of Barbadian culture. The event has suffered its highs and lows through the years. In recent times the lows have been coming all too regular for a myriad of reasons. There is no doubt that the lack of management talent at the NCF, combined with inconsistent performance by local entertainers along with regular doses of controversy have dogged the major event.
The latest controversy sparked by the participation of Soca Superstar Machel Montano we have viewed from several viewpoints.(more…)
It is the penultimate weekend before the big Crop Over do. There is so much happening in Barbados by way of Fetes, Calypso Tents, Pic of the Crop Semis, Euphoria next week, Machel Montano’s big show at Llaro Court car park, Square One reunion at Kensington Oval, Brewster’s and Pork Limes and the list goes on. The BU family wish the festival well given it significant contribution to the national coffers. As you all can see from the video (seen above) we are showing our age and make no apology for it. The Mighty Grynner’s presentation is vintage, while we appreaciate that the younger generation have a right to listen to what they heart’s desire, the BU household does not have to listen to the crap we have been watching on Bajantube portrayed as music :-). (more…)
This is the time of the year many Barbadians at home and abroad look forward to participating in our national Crop Over festival. What about those who directly participate in the tent goings, singing calypso etc, and the many others who benefit indirectly from the enormous economic activity which flows at this time of the year? We have seen numbers bandied about over the years about the true value of Crop Over to the national purse, maybe up to 400 million dollars. Whatever the true number all who should know agree that it is a significant contribution. Maybe it explains why year after year there is the predictable controversy about how much money should be allocated to the various stakeholders, and the Calypsonians usually head those with cap in hand.
The festival is comprised of several stakeholders e.g. National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and by extension government, musicians, masqueraders, sponsors and others. The festival has come along way since the early 70s. Many Barbadians we are told now depend on the festival for a significant percentage of their annual incomes. Yet again in 2008 there is the hint of a controversy regarding a clash between the show Euphoria staged by a private concern and the NCF’s Cohobblopot. Our recollection appears to be that the same conflict occured last year. Why can’t the stakeholders understand this is our premier national festival and not some rum shop activity? A couple weeks earlier we had the spatbetween the Calypso associations and the NCF over a planned tribute to Red Plastic Bag. The BU household was split down the middle on that matter but yet again a matter which could have been avoided with good planning and communication between the stakeholders. (more…)
Top Crop Over tunes compliments of Bajan tube.com. BU family members are invited to visit Bajan tube and listen to the sweet calypso being released for Crop Over 2008.
Top Crop Over tunes compliments of Bajan tube.com. BU family members are invited to visit Bajan tube and listen to the sweet calypso being released for Crop Over 2008.
Crop Over 2008 is rapidly approaching. The arrival of the new government has seen a flood of decisions which many feel have the potential to disrupt our major festival. We hope not! We have heard talk from the government that they will be outsourcing key parts of the festival this year. Word is that the Madd Boys, KB Clean et al will be taking over the potentially lucrative Cohobblopot. Can Peter Boyce confirm? We checked his blog BoyceVoice but did not see any mention of it. Maybe Ian Bourne over at Bajan Reporter, the hardworking Cultural Reporter in the Bajan Blogosphere can enlighten us. We know the Madd boys have shown themselves to be astute business men and we wish them well.
One question which keeps cropping up in the BU household, if Cohobblopot or some other part of the festival is to be outsourced, can someone tell us if there is a tendering process in place? So far we have seen or heard nothing in the media to indicate to John Public what is the process governing the outsource process. Maybe Ian Walcott a former Project Development Officer with the National Cultural Foundation can shed some light.
We can’t decide if what Lil Ric does is smut or ‘we culture’. Please help us to finalize our opinion. Lil Ric has become very popular in Barbados, we are asking why. His program ‘Guinness Rush Hour’ is one of the most popular programs on 95.3 on the STARCOM Network. No doubt this program rakes in mega-dollars for Vic Fernandes and crew.
Before you get all excited and telephone Gabby with the news that Boyce say he gun curse he, the opening you see above are lyrics from Gabby’s own calypso “Who Gabby think he is”. Which brings me to my point, Gabby seems to think he will be Cultural Ambassador forever. Anthony “Gabby” Carter is more than my friend, he gave Madd comedians our first big break performing in Battleground calypso tent when we had just left Combermere in 1982. I have a tremendous respect for Gabby; you need to read one of my first posts “What the ass is a cultural ambassador anyways?” where I lamented that Gabby was not given enough real power and authority to go with his prestigious title.
However, the Government has changed and protocol dictates that all ambassadors and boards of directors appointed by the previous administration make their resignations available to the new government. I read in the newspaper where ambassadors from New York, United Kingdom, Africa and Timbuktu have sent in their resignation letters. But not Gabby. He is maintaining his position and waiting to see what the new Minister will do. So all the remarks wunna drop, saying that Gabby like he “switch sides” and how he sing pun de DLP celebration motorcade, even Kidsite throw a song punch at he at the Rihanna tribute show. But Gabby is not budging.
We have been following the issue of Gabby making his feeling known about how he wants to remain as the Cultural Ambassador of Barbados. According to media reports he has refused to tender his resignation which protocol usually dictates he should have done by now. The Boyce Voice blog is also reporting sources close to the National Cultural Foundation as indicating that CEO Ian Estwick’s contract will not be renewed.
In a related matter:
Although the BU household are not the greatest Crop Over fans in the world, we concede that the festival does generate a tidy sum for the treasury of Barbados. Against this background we have become somewhat concerned about the rapid fire changes which have been made, and others which our sources have indicated are to be made public soon. We have no problem with the new government wanting to make Crop Over Festival for 2008 bigger and better but it is a little late in the day to be ringing the big changes. A sensible approach which Minister Steve Blackett might consider is to let this year’s festival play-out and look to next year to make his mark.
Crop Over is our premier national festival and its success impacts all economic activity in Barbados. As “David” (If KB can do it so can we) stated in a press conference recently, it also has socio-political implications. We urge all the stakeholders to thread very carefully on this one. Along with other Barbadians, Barbados Underground will be watching how this developing saga unravels at West Terrace in the coming days and weeks.
Is cronyism and yardfowlism still alive and well under the Democratic Labour Party reign?
One interpretation saw five students being barred from classes at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) last week for wearing locks. But, deputy principal Merton Forde said the students would be allowed back in school if they presented documents proving they were part of the Rastafari faith.
“Generally the laws speak to people carrying themselves in a manner which is not injurious to the health of others, or injurious to themselves. And what had me aghast, is that what seems to be appearing is a conflict of what one might argue is traditional culture and modern culture, even though the modern culture is part of the ancestral culture of Africa in this context,” Jones said.
MINISTER OF EDUCATION Ronald Jones is hinting that the new Education Act will take into consideration the now controversial issue of appropriate hairstyles for school, which is currently left to the interpretation of administrators. He said the new act and new regulations would be presented to Parliament as soon as the necessary review of the current act and accompanying regulations had been completed.
Above is the picture of the controversial Senator Damien Griffith who was appointed to the Upper House by the David Thompson government recently. His appointment has sparked debate not only because of his relative tender age but more so his corn row plaited hairstyle. The national debate appears to be divided on the issue. One group feels it is not a good portrayal of the kind of image we want to send to young people because it flouts standards which conservative Barbadians remain true. Then there is the other group which counters that the ‘hair style’ allows the Senator to remain connected to his African heritage.
Rihanna wins Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.
Congratulations from the BU household!!!!!
Click On Image
Our friend Superlative1 has all the lowdown happening at the Grammy’s this weekend. Can Rihanna bring home the bacon for Barbados? What ever the final result Rihanna would have done well to have been nominated 5 times.
Crop Over Out Of NCF’s Hands
Web Posted – Wed Aug 22 2007
This year, 2007, is the last year that the local Crop Over Festival will be managed under its present institutional arrangements. The above was disclosed by Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, as he spoke at the Prime Minister’s Meeting on the Crop Over Festival, held at the Barbados Hilton Hotel, yesterday. The one-of-a-kind meeting was one in which the Finance Minister, who is also Minister of Culture, set back his day’s schedule, to address issues relating to the future of the festival as presented to him by the many stakeholders of Crop Over, who turned out for the special meeting.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur is a master tactician. For many of the months he has been Minister of Culture he could easily be described as one of the most invisible Ministers to have held the portfolio. As General Elections rapidly approach Arthur has seen the opportunity to curry favor with Barbadian voters by announcing a restructure of the Crop Over festival at a time criticism has become more strident. We have witnessed the taken for granted band leaders threatening to boycott the festival next year which prompted an emotional outburst from the President of the Police Association Mr.Hartley Reid. There has been the public admission by followers of the calypso art form that standard of the music has been slipping and the time has come to chart a new path. Some pundits will say that the straw to snap the camel’s back was the “boycott” of flagship Cohobblopot2007 by leading entertainers. It also became obvious that the Barbados Tourism Authority is being placed in an untenable position if they are asked to market key events in the festival which encourages people to travel thousands of miles and then our key entertainers refuse to perform.
The full force of the energy of the Season is unleashed at Grand Kadooment – the culmination to the Festival. The day is an extended period of gay abandon for costumed revellers that sees from the National Stadium to Spring Garden Highway awash with the colours of Crop Over. The colours represent the creative efforts of our masquerade designers and the band leaders in their various artistic thematic interpretations. The costumed bands are judged in a number of categories and impressive prizes are awarded.
Crop Over 2007 is being branded by most people we have met as one of the worse witnessed in recent years. Although the festival avoided much of the controversy which has enveloped in prior years, the tragedy of the Horse Hill accident which resulted in six dead, the questioning of the judges at both Pic and Tune of the Crop competitions, and the final straw where escalating violence ruined the revelry on the road for many of the costume bands made it not a good year to use the parlance associated with wine drinking.
Singing under the Bacchanal Time tent, he confidently delivered “Bajans Can’t See”, and “Look Meh Hey” to gain 409 points. He wrestled the title from second placed Blood, from the narrowest of margins, .25 of a point. Blood, carrying the banner for the Headliners tent, amassed 408.75 points for his near flawless and highly emotional performances of “Calypso Owes You Nothing” and “For The Children.”
The picture portrays Red Plastic Bag, moments after being awarded the Pic of the Crop trophy last night at the stadium. BU have enjoyed the performances of RPB over the years but last night should have been Blood’s night. Blood was strong in melody, rendition and his lyrics were as relevant as RPB’s. The result begs the question — is the judging system stacked against other performers when the “big guns” participate.
There seems to be another controversy brewing; only the press from CBC being allowed on the winning stage last night. At BU we definitely think so.
Congratulations to the RPG; he did not judge himself!
The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) yesterday announced the establishment of a new department dedicated to the cultural industries of Barbados. The CEO at a press conference proudly introduced a new initiative of the NCF entitled D.D.A meaning – the “Diss De Artistes” department.
This weekend is the last lap for Crop Over 2007. It seems appropriate given all that has happen during the season to donate some BU space to examining one of the many issues troubling the festival…
Peter Boyce’s name is sure to always surface around Crop Over time. He and his school mates on leaving school have been able to brand themselves in the entertainment industry in Barbados. Few would deny they have demonstrated over the years that they are excellent businessmen given their success with Bachannal Time calypso tent. Peter Boyce is often credited with challenging the status quo at the risk to his personal reputation. Regrettably, most Barbadians because of their inclination to want to avoid conflict prefer that Peter Boyce would shut-up and just go away. BU over the years would not have agreed on some of the issues which Peter has introduced, but in general we have a healthy respect for the man who has not been afraid to air and defend his position on behalf of his colleagues involved in Crop Over industry.
SOME THICK FANS wanting to jump with the popular Baje International Kadooment band feel they’re getting the thin end of the stick. A complaint about discrimination and the unavailability of large-sized costumes has been making the rounds, claiming that only a limited number of “special orders” – which includes double and triple extra-large costumes – were offered to customers by Baje’s band, Lost Tribe. According to a few full-sized women who wanted to jump with the band, Baje only made five “special orders” for each of its eight sections.
Hell, even the Kadooment bands getting “take-over” by the Trinidadians. This morning the story broke that fat people who want to jump with the popular Crop Over band Baje International are being told a loud, NO! The “official excuse” provided by the band leader Richard Haynes__only five “big costumes” were made for each of the eight sections of the band. Consequently Baje International is unable to satisfy the demand from the “big, fat and thick” Barbadians.
It appears to us here at BU the lack of recognition of National Heroes Day tomorrow because of the hosting of CWC 2007 is a true reflection on the current state of Barbados. We can aptly describe our mirror image of that of “hypocrite”.
National Hero’s day is April 28th. We celebrate the 10 Patriots who have made a mark on Barbados. A slave rebellion leader, a woman preaching equality in the church, a skilled writer and orator, a political activist, populist leader, public educator, a trade union leader, the complete athlete,the Father of Independence and the founder of our Democracy. Celebrations take place in Hero’s Square, where their pictures have been painted by the best Barbadian artists.
1. Grantley Adams
2. Errol Walton Barrow
3. Sir Garfield Sobers
4. Sir Frank Leslie Walcott
5. Sir Hugh Springer
6. Clement Osbourne Payne
7. Charles Duncan O’Neal
8. Samuel Jackman Prescod
9. Sarah Ann Gill
10. Bussa By Amie Ferris-Rotman
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s slave trading past gets a human face on Friday as an ancestry-tracing Web site starts putting the personal histories of the victims online for the first time.
The Web site, posted 100,000 names of Barbados slaves registered in 1834 in the colony.
It seems that we are ruffling some folks feathers on the Rayside post and we are sorry but BU intends to call it like we see it. Since we are ruffling feathers let us continue in that vain.It was only last year August that Rihanna announced to the world that she was intent on maintaining a pristine image. Many Barbadian may agree that she has managed to maintain a relatively decent image in the world of hip hop and R&B. We all remember the furore which Rihanna caused when she entered Chefette Accra in a low cut swim top, even though she wore jeans. That incident and others and the comments it evoked all over Barbados prompted Rihanna to make statements like:
“I don’t like to wear things too skimpy,” said the Barbados-born singer, according to Female First. “If I do shorts on the bottom, it’s gotta be something very conservative on top. If it’s skimpy at the top, it’s gotta be long jeans or something.”
She went on to say that she strives to be like fellow songstress Alicia Keys when it comes to balancing her music with her sexy image.
“That’s what I admire so much about Alicia Keys. She became so successful off of just her music. She was really conservative about her style at first.”
BU supported Rihanna’s approach even though we are not her biggest music fan. We feel that her background of a relatively sedate upbringing, attending the Kew church in Tudor Bridge and Combermere School would have served her well in warding away the flash of the entertainment world in which she finds herself. After reading the statement reported to have been made by Rihanna we have become concerned about what she will have to do to change to a sexy image.
London, Apr 12 (ANI): Songbird Rihanna is about to make the fantasies of her male fans come true – by sexing up her image.
The ‘Unfaithful’ singer insists that she has come a long way in her career, and is finally ready to move on from her ‘innocent’, girl-next-door look to something more serious and sexy.
“I have broken out of my shell, I have come into my own. I am singing about a lot more serious things, a lot sexier things at times,” The Sun quoted her, as saying.
Rihanna revealed that fans will get to see a whole new her in her new album, for she will be taking a lot more risks in it.
“I have changed my image, the whole sound is about me not being the little innocent Rihanna and taking more risks,” she said.
It would be great to hear what Barbadians and especially the young posse feels about Rihanna’s decision to change her image. BU will monitor our Bajan DIVA to see if she makes a 360 turn in less than one year about the image she wants to carry – pristine or saucy? Only time will tell!
Submitted by Looking Glass “Barbados Face Bankruptcy, the prospect of paying for a range of services which are not free…and even ending up with a banana republic…..the Government pushed into a position of bankruptcy with its heavy borrowing.” (Dr’ Estwick; Nation 4/22/06) He was also quoted as saying that the national debt moved from $1bn to [...]
National Geographic’s award-winning “Locked Up Abroad” TV series will feature an episode documenting a true-life tale of a tourist (Zara Whittaker) being arrested and imprisoned in Barbados. No info yet on what the specific circumstances are, but it could be interesting. Watch on National Geographic channel at 10pm EDT on Wednesday 22 July. […]
Submitted by Damian, Dominican BU family member We definitely need more websites like these in the region and I’m appreciative but not at all surprised that the only one has its genesis deeply rooted in Barbados. I’m from Dominica. For example, and the difference between us is not only our physical environment, the geology of the [...]
The deck seems to be stacked against Minister of Education Ronald Jones who we have previously suggested is unsuited for the job, parents and all the other stakeholders as we attempt to arrest the counter-culture which has taken root in our society. Yesterday afternoon we listened with interest to VOB moderator Mark Forde passionately expressing [...]
Submitted by Jevon Suralie/CGID Director of Communications For the benefit of your subscribers, I suggest that you post the attached photos of some of the CGID Board Members with then Leader of the British House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. This will demonstrate how [...]
The caller was adamant that it was the Leader of the Opposition who was behind a recent criticism of me that was carried in the political gossip column of the other publication. He insisted that the concern about my absence from the country was consistent with laments that had emanated from the Leader of the Opposition [...]
Submitted by CGID NEW YORK: The New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has harshly condemned the July 15, arrest of Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labor; Norris Witter, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress as well as journalist and former political, Mark Benschop, by the Guyana [...]
Submitted by Edward, Guyanese Family Member Today July 15 2009 Mark Benshcop, Lincoln Lewis and Norris Witter have been arrested by the Guyana Police for staging a three man protest in front of Police Headquarters Eveleary. They are currently being processed by the police as I write this. Their protest is intended to bring attention to [...]
Submitted by Yardbroom “The International Federation For Human Rights (FIDH) welcomed the Caribbean Court Of Justice first death penalty ruling given on Nov 8, 2006, which dismissed an appeal by the Barbados Government seeking to restore execution orders for two convicted murderers. The case was largely perceived as a test case of the new court […]
The West Indies cricket test team was beaten by the Bangladeshis today. The significance of this result of being beaten by a team ranked last in the ICC Rankings is yet to needle its way into the psyche of the depraved West Indian cricket fan. The West Cricket team represents one of the few regional entities [...]
The June 28, 2009 election for chairman of Guyana’s opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Georgetown District, has been sullied by credible allegations of fraud. The party said that Ms. Volda Lawrence, a party vice chairman and supporter of party leader, Robert Corbin, in the ongoing leadership crisis, allegedly beat then chairman, Aubrey Nort […]
Link submitted by Living in Barbados Blog The recently constructed Boardwalk on the South coast which stretches from Accra Beach for about half mile towards Bridgetown has been well received by locals and tourists alike. This week it was reported in the news that the Segway Scooters donated to the Royal Barbados Police Force have been [...]
Submitted by Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary [Bridgetown, BARBADOS] Low water levels caused by an inoperative government-owned sluice gate at Worthing Beach continue to cause mosquito infestations at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, according to Sanctuary officials. “The water either drains completely or is stopped up,” said Stuart Heaslet, representative for the […]
Two separate but yet related matters sparked my attention this past week. First, there was the predictable hue and cry from “professional opposers” to the increase in water rates. Second, there was Barrack Jagdeo swiping and getting clean bowled by his fellow countrymen. It is clear to me that if water rates had been increased by [...]
Submitted by Greame Hall Nature Sanctuary [Bridgetown, BARBADOS] According to officials at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, the emergency sewage pipe and outfall from the South Coast Sewerage Treatment Plant facility to the sea has been effectively abandoned and is not operational, threatening the biodiversity and operation of the Sanctuary and Graeme Hall we […]
Submitted as a comment by Ecoanalyst Let us stop making this a political football that aims at revising history and making the BLP blameless for the present situation…. It is not a question of political blame BLP vs. DLP, but rather the political parties reflecting the majority will of the people. We still have to decide [...]
Submitted by Ready-Done Sugar cane was king in Barbados from the beginning, however the preferential treatment sugar received is no longer a reality, but the industry’s infrastructure is still present, still no one with the authority seems to want to make a definitive decision as to how to progress the sugar cane industry. The value is [...]
Submitted by the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy Heads of Government re-affirmed the goal of free movement of persons as expressed in Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and that free movement is an essential element of the CSME, but given the current global economic and financial crisis, its full implementation at this point [...]
Oh Rihanna our once beautiful and unspoilt. How are you? Are you feeling fine? Is this what you want? If we were to jot your current circumstance as an equation would it reflect at the output, I am Happy? See the write-up on Rihanna’a most recent wardrobe malfunction. How are Barbadians feeling about Rihanna the [...]
Almost like a thief in the night the much discussed and contentious Constituency Councils (CCs) will be given life today at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre at 4.30PM. Recently when asked by a local reporter what are some of his government’s immediate objectives and priorities, Prime Minister Thompson listed the implementation of the CCs high [...]
