We have been given a small taste of public disclosure albeit very confusing, controversial and even smelling of Government complacency in enforcing their Nations Immigration and Labor Laws as it relates to the deepening mystery about the Chinese Workers who are in Barbados. And who have been the focus of public controversy now for weeks with the BLP remaining completely silent on the matter!
The message I get from reading to-days coverage in the Sunday Nation, is that these Chinese workers were allowed into a Sovereign Nation without work permits and with the Immigration Authorities obviously having not one damn clue as to why they were there. The question begs to be asked, why were they then allowed to clear immigration enter the Barbados social and labor structure as though they had met all immigration and labor law requirements? Then when the Government is asked by the press for an explanation to this rather strange situation the Government spokesperson in the Prime Minister Office
takes the Fifth!
My next concern is the blatant, willful and obscene decimation of old and treasured trees at Batts Rock that has been the focus of both the public and media attention now for months. And originally was brought
to the attention of readers because it was felt that these trees were being decimated to accommodate yet another Pemberton involved venture. Originally we were assured the trees had not been destroyed but simply moved to a landscape site for protection and would be transplanted after the project was completed. As is usual for Barbados and depending on who is involved this issue was not followed up on by the Press.
To-days article is by a caring “guest” writer whose poignant and impassioned plea for environmental responsibility at Batts Rock seems to be falling on the deaf ears of most Bajans who complain regularly
but also do nothing like the Government about garbage being scattered all over the island. Yet these same Bajans are trying to sell themselves as “environmentalists” when remaining silent about the rape of the Batts Rock Environment and the impending sale for Development of Graeme Hall. Is this hypocrisy or what?
Finally the third article is about rising food costs and from my perspective it stinks of political patronage of the BLP and is a very misleading and deceitful coverage of the facts. First and foremost if Barbados keeps putting up taxes for this and that and it impacts local food costs, this is hardly grounds to then use food costs in India one of the poorest Nations in the world to use as a comparison. What does tax increases in Barbados have to do with inflation in other Nations or on the costs of food in those Nations? The inflation rate in North America is extremely low!
I live on a fixed income and I certainly do not see food costs rising in North America as is being depicted in this article. We are spending basically the same amount weekly now as we did two years ago to live very well and eat equally well. This is in spite of rising fuel costs, taxes etc. The reason for it? Good and honest North American “Competition”.
But here is what I find most humorous about the article they blame the increased port tax for”SECURITY” as one of the factors for increasing food costs. What has these new more expensive “SECURITY” measures done to make sure that the Chinese in Barbados who did not meet “Immigration” and “Labor” laws do not have some terrorists, spies etc among them?
T.D. Allamby
