British Foreign Office Says Prime Minister Thompson’s “100 Days” Integrity Promise Was A Deciding Factor In Barbados Election

“Although the BLP under Owen Arthur had run the country effectively for almost 14 years, helping Barbados become one of the most affluent developing countries in the world with low unemployment and relatively low crime rates, there was a strong desire for change. Concern had also been expressed about Owen Arthur’s increasingly autocratic style, and there were allegations of property fraud and of backhanders being paid in relation to government contracts.

This gave David Thompson the opportunity to win over voters with a strong campaign, which built up his credibility as a leader. Thompson also pledged to introduce integrity legislation within 100 days. Other priorities include making life better for ordinary Barbadians: reducing the cost of living; giving people access to affordable housing; and improving public services, especially health and education.”

… from the website of the U.K. Foreign & Commonwealth Office (link here)

Prime Minister Thompson: Barbados Elites Cannot Hide Wrong-Doing From The World Any Longer

The internet has empowered ordinary people. We now have access to information and source data that was once censored from mass distribution by various political, business and media elites. As well, the ordinary citizen can communicate with the world on a mass basis without the costs and gatekeepers that previously limited this ability.

True, there is a whole lot of junk, lies and errors out there in cyberspace, but citizens of the world are increasingly saying “We prefer to sort the good from the bad for ourselves. No government or media gatekeepers wanted, thank you.”

As we have seen with fictional news published by Reuters and by the L.A. Times and the New York Times, much of what appears in the “mainstream” press is agenda-driven and often outright lies. Not to mention what doesn’t appear in the news media – and especially in the local Barbados news media. (Think about the failure of the Barbados news media to publish stories about a Minister of Government building a home on expropriated land, the Director of Public Prosecutions misusing his position to collect back rent and the failure of the Barbados Media to cover a story of corruption surrounding the flyover project until they were shamed into it by the blogs.)

So ordinary Bajans are quite capable of sorting out the information for themselves. What is in the news media is not necessarily true, and what is on the blogs is not necessarily any less reliable than stories in the news media. We’ll decide for ourselves, thank you.

Prime Minister Thompson… You Can’t Control Information

Mr. Prime Minister, the British Foreign Office is officially on the record saying that there were allegations of fraud in the Owen Arthur Government and that your “100 days” Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Legislation (ITAL) promise was a big part of the DLP election win.

How long will it be before the British Foreign Office reports that you’ve done nothing with your “100 days” ITAL promise?

How long will it be before the British Foreign Office reports that your Royal Barbados Police Force is refusing to investigate politically-motivated threats with racial overtones against a British investor who purchased a hotel in Barbados?

How long will it be before the British Foreign Office reports that the new DLP Government failed to charge even one person with corruption-related activities when the evidence in several cases is overwhelming?

Google Me This…

Prime Minister Thompson, try a few Google searches on the internet and you’ll see what a billion people all over the world can access instantly when they are curious about Barbados – or perhaps want to do business with your government.

Try a few of these Google searches, Sir, and then think very carefully about what you and your government’s priorities should be for the next few years. Out of the millions of hits returned with the following Google searches, articles by Barbados citizens on this and other blogs are in the top ten on the first page…

“David Thompson integrity”

“Barbados government integrity”

“Foreign investment in Barbados”

“DLP Government Barbados”

“Justice in Barbados”

“investment Barbados”

“Barbados stock exchange”

“corruption in Barbados”

“Barbados aviation”

“Barbados Prime Minister”

“Prime Minister David Thompson”

“Prime Minister Owen Arthur”

“Owen Arthur”

“DLP Barbados”