Electronic International Media “Dangerous”
I never said that Mia Mottley is not intelligent and articulate, because in truth she is both.
But after 15 years of BLP government – much of it with Mia Mottley as Deputy Prime Minister – there is a hollowness though, when she now expresses an opinion about what should be done in or by government. One has to ask or at least think, “Well, Mia… if that’s your opinion on what should be done, why didn’t you do it when you were Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General or sometime during your majority government?”
Still, Mia is an impressive speaker who almost sounds reasonable until you step back and really listen to her ideas – not the flow of her words. Because although she is intelligent and articulate, there is that smug elitism, that “We know what’s good for you better than you know yourself” attitude that permeates her thinking.
And then there is that hollowness where her words and ideas are betrayed by her actions for over a decade when part of a majority government.
Consider this from Mia in the Jamaica Gleaner…
“…I came into the political arena at a time in our development when there was rampant cynicism and apathy as it relates to public service and politics. I, therefore, feel that you can only reverse people’s negative perception about access to justice through a culture of transparency and fairness you can only restore people’s faith in the political class by politicians being sincere and earning trust by speaking to issues and implementing them.”
Two concepts stand out…
1/ Mia sees the existence of a “political class” not only as the way things are – but also as the way that things should be. We at BFP deplore the existence of a “political class”, but as a child of the ruling elite, Mia seems to view her status as a natural inheritance.
In our opinion, politicians should be ordinary citizens who serve their country for a time, and who are term limited so they must return to their ordinary lives. Do that and you’ll stop half of the abuses for sure!
2/ Mia talks about a “culture of transparency” when she and her government were anything but transparent and accountable. (Hey Mia baby… we’re all still waiting for those audited GEMS Hotels statements! Or maybe the costings and sub-contractor list for the new jail a Dodds… you know – the one built by the corrupt American company VECO that paid bribes to politicians all over the world because, well, that’s how they operated.)
And speaking of transparency, Mia… do you have any offshore bank accounts or assets? Hmmmm? If it is transparency that you’re after, then a simple yes or no answer to that question would go a long way, baby!
Mia Wants That Pesky Uncontrollable News Media To Be Available For The Use Of The Political Elites!
To top it all off, Mia is still upset with the lack of government control over that pesky “international electronic media”. Gosh… I wonder who she means by that? Do you think she’s talking about CNN? Nonetheless, whoever she’s talking about – she is desperately frustrated at her inability to control what citizens hear and think about.
Here’s part of what Mia has to say…
“There are challenges, but the media have to be an active partner. We cannot fight chronic diseases if the average citizen does not realise that he/she has a disease or the consequences for public health and safety. The media must educate them in small repetitive doses, much in the same way that musicians do. On the other hand, the very thing that people find attractive in the daily doses of negative input from electronic international media can also be dangerous.
Very often some media practitioners are constrained by having to keep in line with the agenda of the bosses and the need to first respect the bottom line.
Recently in Barbados, there was a call for a journalistic body that is representative of journalistic issues. There needs to be a balance because you cannot conduct yourself so that you have no revenue. There needs to be more creativity in how revenue is raised and not be reckless in expenditure.
I recognise the media’s important role but, in the decades to come, many of the challenges are going to rely on citizen action and participation. In that scenario, the mechanism by which we mobilise that citizen action is through media.“
… from an interview of Mia Mottley at the Jamaica Gleaner (link here)
We’ve Got News For You Mia…
The citizens are mobilising themselves…
Further Reading
Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Says Internet Blogs “Marginalize…Parliament…”
Interview of Mia Mottley at the Jamaica Gleaner (link here)
22 Comments
April 17, 2008 at 10:36 am
An aristocracy is always evolutionary.
With the end of colonialism, the old aristocracy was not Barbadian but really British-inherent.
The first wave of parliamentarians at independence and their colleagues who shared a similar ideology based on social development balanced by capitalism and democracy drove the country forward in the 1960s and ’70s. Over those 15 years, many politicians had become entrenched in the public’s mind and in occupation.
The concept of a career politician was certainly formed. Floor-crossing, remaining leader after defeat at polls, and an absence of differentiation between the political parties blurred conventions that have existed in other Western political systems. A politician would remain in the system at any cost instead of bowing out gracefully and returning to the private sector or a private life.
The political class evolved from these career politicians who from humble beginnings have been able to secure substantial amounts of wealth and prestige. They are an identifiable group that is above the social standing of most Barbadians. They are neither working class nor middle class, though they may have been born into those ranks.
They share a common set of values, have an identifiable position in relation to others, expect special treatment, and will take action to protect their interests and that of others in their class.
Barbados has an elite class, and it is comprised of Barbadians. There are a few elite, rich Barbadians who have replaced the old aristocracy, but they cannot enter the political class though they support and are entrenched with that class. Any other rich are from overseas and are not part of the society as they are intransient.
April 17, 2008 at 11:02 am
This article was obviously written by an intoxicated idiot.
You don’t establish credibility on these blogs by quoting what someone says and adding your own grotesquely twisted version of what you would have wanted them to say.
“political class” means exactly that… people in the school (or profession) of politics.
Uneducated morons like you need to avail yourselves of free education and basic common sense.
Idiots like you are not mobilising anything. You are simply swell-headed and misguided fools who believe that you can control political power simply by hiding like cowards behind an internet blog. You fail to realise that you only produce words for your own meagre consumption. Barbados Free Press remains a fringe element even among Barbadians who use the internet for political and national discussions… and for the vast majority of Barbadians who fall outside that class, Barbados Free Press is a non-entity.
April 17, 2008 at 12:32 pm
“…I came into the political arena at a time in our development when there was rampant cynicism and apathy as it relates to public service and politics. I, therefore, feel that you can only reverse people’s negative perception about access to justice through a culture of transparency and fairness you can only restore people’s faith in the political class by politicians being sincere and earning trust by speaking to issues and implementing them.”
What unmitigated claptrap.
Long before she was born “there was rampant cynicism and apathy as it relates to public service and politics.”
I wonder why? Could it be that since pre-Roman times there’s never actually been a single politician capable of sincerely and honestly wanting to earn our trust?
But turning to the present.
I’m sick and tired of pontificating people whose only recognisable talent (and job) is to appear “intelligent and articulate.” Who wait for some lackey to open their government-owned limo door.
We who are also “intelligent and articulate,” who can open our own car doors and actually have a job that creates wealth for the whole community (instead of spending it) will decide for ourselves how dangerous electronic international media is.
In the not-too-distant future or for as long as local traditional media owners continue to cringe at the thought of getting a call from “angry, intelligent and articulate” persons incapable of opening their own car doors there will be ONLY electronic international media and we’ll need to use Google 3.9.0 to find out who a Ms. Mottley was.
April 17, 2008 at 1:11 pm
This article for me is so well written. It details every reservation that I have held about this person. I really do not listen to much to her anymore, particularly since she introduced this notion of a “political class” two years ago. I told Sir Henry (he adores her) that she is no where as bright as she appears. Photographic memories are an awesome asset bought they can so easily mask so many deficiencies.
April 17, 2008 at 1:41 pm
ha ha ha Mia Mottley knows very well that citizen moblization is the biggest threat to he goal of being PM one day. I emplore all Bajans in the diaspora to follow my lead and cultivate your own email distribution list, i have 7000+ that i message regularly.
April 17, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I have news for Mia Mottley.
“The New York Times Company, the parent of The New York Times, reported a loss of $335,000 for its first quarter, as newspaper publishers continue to battle a drop in advertising revenue that has led to an industrywide decline.”
Why?
“Newspaper companies are contending with a slew of ailments, including a shift of advertising from print publications to the Internet, a slumping economy that has reduced advertisers’ budgets and dropping circulation.”
In other words we’re getting the REAL news from “electronic international media.”
Especially from thoughtful bloggers like the 2 main ones in Barbados.
April 17, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Adrian Hinds
care to publish your email address?
April 17, 2008 at 4:26 pm
adrianhinds0@gmail.com
April 17, 2008 at 4:43 pm
The last government worked really hard to marginalize bajans in the diaspora, we were ignored for most of their reign only in the last stages was there some pandering in the form of speeches from consul generals to attempt a coming together, but I have been working just as hard.
Let them continue to ignore me, it makes my task that much easier.
April 17, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Electronic media is only dangerous to those who have something to hide.
You get the opportunity to question and make up your own mind in what is real and what could be heresay.
April 17, 2008 at 6:21 pm
KK
Barbados Free Press remains a fringe element even among Barbadians who use the internet for political and national discussions… and for the vast majority of Barbadians who fall outside that class, Barbados Free Press is a non-entity.
___________________________________
If there’s nothing for the “political class” to worry about then I wonder why they bother to worry.
April 17, 2008 at 6:46 pm
KK
the same holier than thou self-righteous comments as the Ku Klux
The Ku Klux don’t like to be challenged either from their pathetic position of superiority.
Mia says a lot but if analyzed most comments are completely without substance.
More importantly, one must judge one by their actions and contributions to the citizens of Barbados.
Mia has failed with flying colors.
April 17, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Don’t get Mia mad or she will bite you on your nu nu.
April 17, 2008 at 10:51 pm
BFP,
You said, “I never said that Mia Mottley is not intelligent and articulate, because in truth she is both.”
Are you implying that she is a cunning linguist?
LOL
April 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Apparently at a meeting (I believe the SBA) where Miss Mottey’s was to address, her speech was handed out in advance to the participants. Apparently she delivered it word for word without once referring to a sheet of any kind, not even one that KK would wear.
April 18, 2008 at 4:40 pm
God forbid she ever gets power in this country. It will be like China, blocking google.com and certain websites like this one.
April 18, 2008 at 5:06 pm
BFP asks about offshore assets, what about onshore assets? Barney got a lot of flack for assets he acquired during his tenure as a minister. Which former BLP minister owns a condo/hotel in Worthing?
April 18, 2008 at 8:34 pm
BFP,
Do some research……is it possible for the PM’s private jet to fly the stranded Ghanians back to Ghana ?
If possible I would recommend David Commissiong as pilot ……..to be seated on the outside above the cockpit !
April 19, 2008 at 12:50 am
… send Ras Ikael too.
April 20, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[...] Mr. Moore seems to be labouring under. His willingness to criticize the blogs, we assume he means Barbados Free Press (BFP) and Barbados Underground (BU) when he really means some commenters suggests that he has some [...]
April 22, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Technology changes things.
Technology has always changed things, and as every Bajan knows…”change is not good” in a land where we prefer things to stay the same over the course of our average lifespans of 80 yrs.
Good luck on things remaining the same! Technology changes things – BIGtime, and nothing has changed the world more, in the last 10 yrs. that the globalization of all cultures via the internet.
Indeed the internet spells doom for your classic mid-20th. Century style of small-island politics…and there’s Mia’s rub.
Everything Daddy brought her up to learn and believe and act out, has now been rubbished by a change of technology.
Damn damn DAMN!!
Back to Square One, girl. Time to start with honesty,for starters. All the old things and ways are now more changed THAN EVER, since this blasted internet thing came in a screwed-up all those fine-tuned (albeit archaic) ’systems’.
What a shame, nuh?
No-one listened, 25 yrs. ago, when the futurists predicted that the globalization of telecommunications would make us ALL (6,600,000,000 ppl) a big ‘global village’ of sorts.
Well, look it here and now.
We know everything, within five minutes.
Keep your nose clean!
February 16, 2009 at 7:54 pm
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