Barbados PM Owen Arthur Coming To Live Online Blog Chat
From Dr. Duguid at The Barbados Labour Party Blog…
I hope to have a live comment session with the Prime Minister in the not too distant future. That should also be an excellent event and a first for Blogging in the Caribbean.
The BLP Blog also gives a word of thanks to the Barbados Free Press for technical help and… wait for it… "Inspiration In Getting The Blog Going"…
We also have to say thank you to the people at Barbados Free Press and although they were very critical and harsh about our website they have also given us alot of technical help and inspiration in getting the Blog going.
Hmmmm. Never thought we'd see the day that the Government would be thanking the Barbados Free Press for "Inspiration in getting the Blog going." It looks like Titilayo and Journalist Karen Walrond were correct in their analysis.
BLP Blog Conducts Poll, but…
And lastly, the BLP Blog is conducting an online poll. We are hesitating to respond to the poll ourselves as the technology places a "cookie" onto your computer. The "Privacy Policy" from the survey company (Makesurvey.Net) makes it clear that your movements on the net will then be tracked and your information will be collected – including your IP number – for ever and ever.
This theoretically could be used to identify the survey respondent and relies upon the good will and integrity of all involved to ensure that this will not be done, and that the information collected will not be misused by Makesurvey.net or "the client" (BLP Blog).
Presumably the little cookie gift from Makesurvey.Net calls home once in a while, but you could take the survey and then clear the cookie. You could also use a Proxy Server to conceal your true IP address. I guess.
If you want to take the BLP Blog survey, click here.
Editorial Comment
If Prime Minister Owen Arthur does conduct a live comment session at the BLP Blog – without controls, editing or censorship of comments from visitors – (taking the bad along with the good) – then the entire Barbados Free Press staff will sincerely raise a glass of Banks Beer to the PM at our next meeting.
Gutsy move, Prime Minister. After all, during a live online chat, you just never know which of your old friends might drop in to leave a word of encouragement…
29 Comments
June 2, 2006 at 10:51 am
What an opportunity!!! Makes you wonder.
June 2, 2006 at 1:51 pm
I think the fair comment should be made that most online polls place cookies to prevent abuse of the system by one person voting multiple times. Theoretically one could write an application to plug votes into the poll continually which would skew the result.
That said the concerns mentioned in the article are also true from a theoretical basis. What would be interesting to find out, is if makesurvey.net releases that data to the person who sets up the poll.
June 2, 2006 at 2:51 pm
ha ha haha This article took me thru a few different feelings; I do differ and agree on it’s varous parts. One thing that can be said about BFP so far in it’s life is that Linette Eastman may be correct that hoarding and gaining access to information is privilage cultural thing. I would say thou that i am yet to be excited by the current use of information.
June 2, 2006 at 5:41 pm
[...] Also see our new story "BLP Blog Announces Live Online Chat With Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur" [...]
June 2, 2006 at 9:03 pm
i’m pretty sure he cant type
June 2, 2006 at 9:55 pm
OH OH! Somebody will have to type for him. Hope that the somebody types what the PM says and not something else.
June 3, 2006 at 6:26 am
Maybe the cookie will allow certain people to get your phone # so they can phone and cuss you.
It is said (known) that in Barbados noone is too big to do something so small.
June 3, 2006 at 6:29 am
People refer to the HAND FROM THE SOUTH but I now realise from this picture that there is also a HAND FROM THE NORTH that will grab our goodies as well.
June 3, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Soothsayers, Prophets, Sophist, doom-gloomers, and negativist, welcome to the nineteenth century.
never the less a disgusting picture; no doubt.
I have no doubt that there is still a large conservative polity in Barbados, that if we had a conservative party this picture would to my mind make a great vote getter.
June 4, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Dear BFP,
Is there a way to do this session with PM in a live or nearly live manner on wordpress. Like how ICQ works
June 5, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Dr. Duguid, I hope the PM knows what plans you are making for him.
June 5, 2006 at 4:59 pm
…..Wait wunnuh tink Owen can’t handle himself in an online chat? I heard Owen took on, David Ellis, Chris Sinclair, David Commisiong, and Harold Hoyte on a sunday calling program and hog de show till de very end, not once at a loss for words, and to my mind speaking on the radio calls for quick wit which makes it more difficult than an online chat. Pluse given the luke warm responses the BLP blog I don’t see online Bajans presenting any formidable obsticle to Owen. De man fought and some say successfully agains the supporters of the OECD, dem is big big people, who wunnuh tink wunnuh is in terms of a challenge to the PM? :d
June 6, 2006 at 2:10 am
Adrian You have the lyrics. You are sure you do not have Political aspirations. I think you would be a great asset to the Barbados Labour Party. you do not have to be a candidate. A Political wonk like the guy on CNN sometimes Cargill I think his name is.
June 6, 2006 at 4:30 am
No not me no such aspirations. I can’t be a man and a party member too. It just wouldn’t work for me. I cannot bite my tongue as would be required when the party is doing the wrong things. Plus i have a much more important role that i cherish, it is call citizen, A politicaly independent, and active citizen, and i am not for hire. Senator Edgehill might remember me, if he doesn’t, mention Ricky Walters, and let Ric tell him about me, I Can’t be persuaded.
June 6, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Adrian
You are too modest and self effacing.
June 6, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Willaim
Adrian says you can’t be a man and a party member too.
You are going to have to watch this guy.
June 6, 2006 at 1:58 pm
John: Self effacing is right, I represent the “absense” of the people at the table of governance. Qualified, ready, able, but not allowed.
So why would Duguid have to watch me? They are many more Adrians out there than you will imagine, and for every one that is shot down or shut up another will rise up, finding a way to be heard as he/she agitates for real change to the way we practice democracy.
June 6, 2006 at 2:01 pm
John: I said that I Adrian can’t be a man and a party member too. I did not attempt to define anyone else association or manhood by MY definition.
it is strictly patented by me for me.
June 6, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Why would you not allow other people to think the same way you do?
You would sue me for patent infringement if I were to say that “I John can’t be a man and a party member too.”
Come on!!
June 6, 2006 at 10:46 pm
I am not holding my breath. We have to wait and see if this really comes to pass.
I am sure it is not only Bajans who participate in this blog.
June 7, 2006 at 2:12 am
Adrian,
I wil continue to keep my eye on you. Still think that you can be of tremendous service to your country.
June 10, 2006 at 1:54 am
Duguid: I think i am providing that service right now. I will continue to speak where the 2’s and the 3’s are gathered like socrates unfettered and without alliances will i speak up for luv my Barbados.
John surely you jest. I wouldn’t sue you thats too easy, I would make you sit and listen to me pontificate and opinionate while i enjoy a bottle of sugarcane brandy, without sharing.
June 11, 2006 at 12:12 am
I have never seen anybody drink and talk at the same time.
It would be an experience I would relish.
Humans are amazing people.
June 11, 2006 at 12:48 pm
I’ve seen people drink and talk at the same time but, depending on how much they drink, it is ususally nonsense they talk anyway.
June 11, 2006 at 12:48 pm
So what is happening with the online chat with the PM?
October 9, 2006 at 11:58 pm
[...] Original Barbados Free Press article: BLP Blog Announces Live Online Chat With Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur [...]
October 10, 2006 at 1:38 am
Drinking and talking? Politicians are amazing people too, John. Look no further than Winston Churchill to understand what can be accomplished by a dedicated drinker who is also a loquacious polititian. The words flow like Velvet Falernum and the effect is similar, that is; sweet and syruppy with a kick that kerfuffles. The connund-rum is vast.
October 10, 2006 at 11:57 am
Maybe that’s why William is keeping an eye on Adrian. He may figure that Adrian has the basic qualification to be a successful politician.
Maybe there is a Winston Churchill out there waiting to be discovered.
Then again, maybe not. William has to balance this against Adrian’s propensity to stick by what he says, something any good politician simply cannot, must not do.
July 19, 2007 at 12:15 pm
[...] BLP Blog Announces Live Online Chat With Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur [...]