| BY REUDON EVERSLEYCHANGE IS EASILY the most dominant feature of modern life. We hear stories daily of how people around the world are coping with change at home, in the workplace, community and country.
Right-sizing, re-engineering and repositioning are among common buzzwords in business parlance. They describe strategies companies are adopting in response to economic, technological and other changes. Driven mainly by globalisation and other economic and social pressures, change is also forcing individuals to rethink traditional ideas and approaches to work, education and other key aspects of life. Barbadians once believed a job with Government or certain companies made them set for life. Change has shifted this perspective to the point where there’s gradual acceptance that people are now more likely to hold several jobs in a lifetime. Change has always been a central feature of the human experience. The only real difference today is the speed and scope. Sometimes you haven’t fully adjusted to one form of change before another comes knocking. Change is everywhere and it’s affecting everyone and everything. After 13 years of Barbados Labour Party (BLP) rule, the winds of political change are blowing. A significant percentage of the population wants a change of Government. The BLP has repeatedly reminded Barbadians of the need to change. Yet, a strange scenario now exists, where the BLP is asking to be exempted from change. According to its reasoning, change is fine so long as it doesn’t result in its removal from office. Changing the Government, Prime Minister Owen Arthur argued last July, amounted to “gambl(ing) with the future . . .”. Ironically, the same argument could’ve been used against the largely inexperienced BLP team back in 1994. Yet they were given a chance. The Democratic Labour Party deserves no less. “He who rejects change is the architect of decay,” observed former British Prime Minister, the late Sir Harold Wilson. Instead of decay, a change of government offers hope for a beautiful spring of exciting opportunities and possibilities. A change of government is good psychologically for a country. It proves democracy is alive and well. In Barbados’ case, change surely can answer the growing national cry for a fresh start with new leadership, ideas and approaches. Change, not more of the same from a tired BLP, is the only meaningful solution for ending the present despair. Embrace the opportunity! |
December 9, 2007...5:50 pm
THE PEOPLE DESERVES A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE DLP
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December 15, 2007 at 9:00 am
Lickmout’ Lou – Poor black boy syndrome
Published on: 12/12/07.
Dear Nesta,
YOU REMEMBER ONE TIME, years ago, when my uncle did sen’ me a ticket to London an’ I was up dey ‘pon holiduh? An’ you remember when you was showin’ me de sights one day, you tek me to see a place dat uses to be some famous fish market name Billingsgate or somet’ing so? Well, de sittin’ o’ we House o’ Assembly las’ week Tuesduh remin’ me o’ dah fish market.
Ness, de behaviour was atrocious, hear wuh I tell you? An’ all because de subjeck o’ Hardwood Housin’ come up fuh debate. Ef you did hear de kin’ o’ suggestive remarks ’bout hard wood an’ sof’ wood, you woulda blush, nuh joke! An’ don’ talk ’bout de lotta laughin’ an’ stampin’ an’ carryin’-on dat went on in dah House ‘pon de part o’ de BLP, it was shameful.
Aldoh I is a fan o’ Liz Thompson, I got to say she really disapp’int me las’ week, faif. De kin’ o’ red herrin’s dat she t’row in dah debate, talkin’ ’bout de Dems an’ bounce cheques an’ all kin’ o’ foolishness did clear evidence she was only tryin’ to divert attention from de real issue. Liz is a powerful speaker, but wuh she get-on wid in Parliament las’ week did far below wuh she capable of. It was in poor tas’e.
Min’ you, de Bees got a monopoly ‘pon red herrin’s as soon as duh onder pressure. Duh strategy is always to try to trivialise de issue an’ mek mocksport at de Opposition. But I got to say dat dis time duh like duh in pottuh wid dah Hardwood affair ’cause, among other t’ings, de woman dat Clydie did say was at de centre o’ de affair come
out o’ de woodwork to deny all dem accusations dat get pelt at she an’ she soun’ very believable, too.
As fuh Clydie – I would like somebody to tell he dat, contrary to he belief, nobody en cay ’bout who an’ who in he fam’ly wash clothes at de Mental or de Physical, nor ’bout ef he grow up in a li’l board-an’-shingle house wid eighteen or eighty people!
Ef, as it would appear, Clydie got a complex ’bout he backgroun’, ‘e should try an’ get rid o’ de big chip ‘pon ‘e shoulder instead o’ usin’ de tired ole “poor-black-boy syndrome” in a effort to solicit sympat’y as soon as ‘e open ‘e mout’.
Ef I was he, I would be happy an’ t’ankful dat de Lord bless me wid sufficient brains to be able to rise t’rough eddication from a onderprivilege upbringin’ to hol’ down a high position, yuh en know?
Um is high time Clydie stop wavin’ de “poor-black-boy” igrance at people like some flag or de other an’ tek ‘e licks when duh come. ‘E got enough sense to know dat politricks en neider Sunduh school picnic . . . an’ ef ‘e cyahn stan’ de heat, ‘e should get out o’ de kitchen!
Nuh joke, Ness, I sick o’ dese people dat always tryin’ to use duh grass-roots beginnin’s to get sympat’y. Who de hell cay ’bout ef somebody mudduh was a hawker or ef duh fathuh was a lighterman? How dem t’ings get relevant to de high cos’-o’-livin’ in Buhbayduss or de fack dat de housin’ problem like um cyahn get solve? Gimme a break, do!
Anyhow, muh girl, I writin’ dis to you befo’ dis week House session, so yuh never know – by de time I pos’ dis, a election date mighta get call, yuh never know! Day runnin’ an’ night nearly ketchin’ it, so I gine keep yuh inform. Meanwhile, keep good, hear? An’ God bless.
December 16, 2007 at 8:25 am
The Government and its operatives, have sought to revert to the tactics of disruption, rather than engagement. In this style of electioneering, with operatives boasting – of nothing constructive – but simply their ability, not to engage, but to spew forth vile language, on those who seek no more, than discuss the issues of the day. It is now imperative, that the DLP focuses their address on the electorate.
Appeal to the people, over the heads of the present administration, for to engage the Government, is to meet an unwilling partner, who seems determined to roll in the gutter-like chasms, from which you can only reappear sullied – their supporters will see to that.
The Government has failed to debate relevant issues, there is a lack of accountability for resources not prudently spent, there is arrogance, integrity is not to be mentioned, it is not a character trait to be admired in our leader – if it was not so sad, it would be a joke. There is moral bankruptcy, with a bravado that cannot justify itself, to decent thinking Barbadians, these are only a few of the charges which can be laid against this administration. I have been conservative in this list, it is by no means exhaustive.
Are we to believe, that what we were taught by our mothers and fathers, to be decent law- abiding and upright citizens, means nothing anymore. Are we to believe, that the stamp that made us Barbadians is no longer evident on this little rock we inhabit.
I cannot believe, that there are not among us men and women, daughters and sons of this beloved country who are prepared to leave self-interest behind – however appealing – and think of the community of Barbados.
We do need change, or we become moribund, it is the seeking of change that has made the human experience as enriching as it has been.
Those black bodies silhoueted against the trees, that gingerly put their feet on the open savannahs – millions of years ago – and sought the experience, beyond the dense vegetation that was behind them, they were bold they sought change. The Europeans, that later took to the open seas not knowing what was beyond the horizon, it led to the new world and different experiences for them.
It is the boldness of spirit, to grasp the initiative that lies before us. It is to engage our minds for the future, we must, or we will be forever marooned in a cul-de-sac of fear, residing beside arrogance and impetuous sel interest, rubbing shoulders with those, who in recent months have sought to spew forth filth to defile us all. Barbadians deserve better than this.
I would fear the future, if there was no one to turn to, but that is not the case. I hope that when the time comes, we can search within ourselves and have the strength and courage, to reach out for a new experience, that will make our lives challenging and fulfilling, but most importantly, make an enriched space, for our children and future generations of Barbadians to inhabit.
December 16, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Neal McElroy // December 17, 2007 at 2:18 am
David Thompson is bringing more experience to the position of Prime minister than Owen Arthur had when lady luck rolled him into that position. Check the facts: David Thompson, Exhibition winner; Owen Arthur? David Thomson demonstrated his ability as a speaker, debater, youth leader from school days; Owen Arthur? David Thompson served as Minister in two Ministries, Owen Arthur was a Parliamentary Secretary for a few months. Owen Arthur helped Michael Manley to ruin the Jamaican economy with their IMF programme. Owen Arthur cannot point to anything that can be held up as his legacy except for overseeing the greatest wastage of taxpayers’ money in Barbados. He has presided over Greenland, the Government offices at Warrens that made George Payne and Barrack construction wealthy, Dodds, the highway – all with massive cost over runs. The decline of the QEH as a health institution, not to mention the kickbacks for his friends like Rodney Wilkinson, Hallam Nicholls and company. Owen Arthur is the most corrupt Prime Minister this country ever had. How could he on a Prime Minister’s salary have a divorce settlement of almost 4 million dollars? HE IS A CORRUPT DRUNKEN LIAR.
Dear Sir,
May I correct you on the value of the settlement it was not $ 4 million as you previously stated but the correct figure is $ 10 million the documents for this settlement are nowhere in the public records where every other document such as this would be, we the lesser mortals would be subjected to the ability of any lawyer to search and reveal the value of our settlements, not so in the drunkard’s case that is kept in safe keeping by the good friend and his long time partner in crime the CJ David Simmons.
As his last act carried out as the AG was to assist Owing in arriving at his settlement and he has assisted by sweeping it under the door mat.
Why is this settlement such a hushed case maybe if we the taxpayers were to see the details in black and white it will fully expose the obvious extent of the corruption that Owing is part of to arrive at a figure of $ 10 million dollars as settlement would clearly suggest that he has well in excess of $ 30 million to allow this level of settlement and where would these funds come from ?
I put it to you not likely from the honestly earned salary of a PM this would be a total joke.
So where has he amassed this mega wealth from it would be fair to assume that the VECO PRISON PROJECT although not the start of his scams it would have set about providing him with the largest block of retirement funds, then the DANOS 3 S ROAD WORKS PROJECT another cool $ 80 or $ 90 million, the OIL STORAGE FACILITY, GREENLAND, CWC and the OVAL PROJECT may Stephen Alleyne rst in his grave and the list goes on !!!!
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTION IN THIS ISLAND.
December 17, 2007 at 9:42 am
Arthur is on a mission; not only to lead this country for a fourth straight term but to ensure that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) never governs Barbados again.
I am sure he knows exactly why he would make such a wild and wicked and arrogant statement such as this one is, it is for reasons such as this statement that he and his people have been deterred people from wanting to vote for this moraless corrupt bunch.
Who gives him the right to want to see the DLP never governs this island ever again ?
That is an unbelievable does of mega ARROGANCE.
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTION IN THIS ISLAND.
December 17, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I would suggest that with each passing day his support is backtracking (no Jerome not in the manner you like) and his best choice is to call the election now sooner rather than later.
Bearing in mind that the Opposition has not yet turned its attention onto the issues of the scam that VECO, BANNISTER, NICHOLLS and OWING cast upon the project, nor have they addressed the GREENLAND PROJECT FIASCO, or more importantly have they addressed the DANOS 3 S ROAD WORKS PROJECT and we know based on this man’s track record with the JAMACIA KICKBACK AGREEMENT that this man DANOS has no qualms to be dishonest this is a proven beyond any shadow of a doubt the question remains to what level has he OWING, BANNISTER and NICHOLLS raped us and the treasury?
The is much in terms of real ammunition out there at the disposal of the dLP and for some strange reason many of Owings close friends are jumping ship like if it were on fire and in some cases they are providing relevant pieces of documentation that is showing him for what he is and that is purely a crook with no limits.
An example of this is the providing of yet another cheque written on the St.Peter Development fund account for $ 65,000.00 for reasons that offer no benefit to any St.Peter, St.Lucy or St.James communities but rather they are written to he Owing and his wife’s benefit, this is yet another immoral act done with no cares about the people who really need the help.
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTION IN THIS ISLAND..
December 17, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Kadri Therefore then am I to assume you are contented with the gross misconduct of the PM intaking care or the financial affairs of the island having overseen in excess of $ 750 MILLION in cost overruns on every project undertaken by this administration?
Secondly why would any logical thinking political party spill their plans when as we have been seeing the blp have jumped and half heartily tried to address each item that the DLP has brought to the forefront, why should the DLP be expected to lay all their plans out on the table for them to feed off of?
We recently saw the Leader of the Opposition suggest that the cost of living needs to addressed and went about suggesting the removal of the VAT on the fuel used to produce the electricty, the blp’s respose to the cost of living issue is to reduse the DUTY on TWO items of Meats wonderful really thoughtful action to a serious problem.
Then we have the laughable comedy of asking the importers to reduce the markups on imported items, what a clown do they not realise that this request will only lead to higher markups being put in place in Miami where the likes of BST have their own buying houses?
We really have the most stupid people trying to screw us up.
December 17, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Owing is under an undue amount of pressure, he is fighting for his political life.
I have now heard him on the radio trying to defend his actions of moving the residents of SIXMENS out of their homes for the sake of the PORT ST.CHARLES MARINA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
When he refers to building a facility for fishermen in the north of the island this is but mere spin, lets us ask who is building the project in who’s name is the investment being made?
It is not the gov’t or the taxpayers of Barbados this is part of the extension of the PORT ST.CHARLES MARINA PROJECT and the berths that will be available there will not be free to John Public they will be sold from prices starting at US $ 300,000.00 now you tell me which fisherman in Sixmens will be able to afford this asking price not many I would suggest.
There is no plan to accomodate the goodly fishermen of the area, it is a plan that Owing is keen to see proceed because it creates jobs in StPeter but destroys homes and living areas in Sixmens and provides NOTHING to the fishermen of the area but provides another Condo or two to him and more money in the bank for having done what he has promised to do that is to evict the residents of the area for his get rich scheme.
Thanks to PORT ST.CHARLES MARINA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT and a GROSSLY CORRUPT PRIME MINISTER for allowing the extension of the MARINA PROJECT at the expense of the fisherfolks of the area, well done Owing the higher the monkey climbs the more of its as you see you are a classic example of this outlook, you have displayed the worst taste in judgment ever as a sitting member of the house, you are a national disgrace and a liar of extreme proportions.
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTION IN THIS ISLAND.
December 18, 2007 at 11:20 am
Let me spend a minute to expose how poorly informed and his lack of education on the matter that he is shooting his mouth off about, he states that They used to pull up (boats) at Port St Charles. The Government cannot rely on that.
He is speaking on something that he is not informed on, or rather he is just lying thru his teeth, Port St.Charles Marina HAVE NEVER PULLED OUT ANY BOATS DURING ANY HURRICANE SEASON they may have open and provided a safe harbour but never have they hauled out any boats, they do no have such facilities available to them, I wish that before he rattles on about things he knows nothing about but designed to fool the masses and sound good, and to catch votes but he is a liar on this score and on many other issues as well.
It also seems that it has taken the absence of the Opposition and in particular the absence of the Leader of the Opposition Mr. David Thompson for Arthur to return to the house and say something after 8 months in absence.
December 19, 2007 at 12:28 pm
It is with some amusement that I read on page 24 A of today’s Nation Newspaper that the PM is stating the Beach Access is a must, how funny can he be.
Then to drive along the coast road in ST.JAMES as recently as yesterday and to see the BARRIER IS IN PLACE AND WORKING AT THE ENTRANCE TO COLONY CLUB AND HERON BAY HOUSE.
You know Mr. PM these grand statements that you make and that are as empty as ever, and hold no water, when you grandstand about the locals must have accesses to the beach but then turn around and approve TCP permissions that prevent locals from that access, what are you really saying and really doing?
These the vacant mouthing’s of Arthur, but still he allows his rich friends to carry out the injustice of blocking our rights of access to some of the best beaches in this island by the erection of multi million dollar homes and condos is it really a show of caring by he and his clan of corrupt crooks?
If he or the Minister had the will power and guts to confront those that have erected this barrier it would have long time ago disappeared but we will never see that, because he is too dependant on the funds from this group of wealthy foreigners, to worry about the rights of us the citizens of this island.
That is it in a nutshell, simple and plain!!!!
TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTION IN THIS ISLAND.