“The fundamental feature of every genuine system of local government is that ownership and control of the system resides with the people of the local communities, and that the local councils enjoy an acceptable level of independence from the central government. However, the defining feature of the DLP’s proposed system of constituency councils is that the “minister responsible for constituency councils” (that is, the Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development) will be “the person” who personally selects and appoints the 450 councillors who will serve on the 30 constituency councils.”
DLP Has Merely Formalised The BLP Corruption Technique
During the 14 year reign of King Arthur from his palace in Bridgetown, the Barbados Labour Party perfected a method of transferring public funds to its supporters and political organisation that gave the BLP enough resources to run roughshod over any political or media opposition. Government projects and millions of dollars were handed out to BLP friends to keep the political machine well-greased. All this ensured that if a Minister had a speech to give on a Wednesday afternoon in, say, Grape Hall, the event would be packed to overflowing with happy, cheering citizens.
All of whom understood their obligations and the “special relationship” that they had with the BLP government.
In opposition, the DLP rightly criticised the government for the cozy bisquits and corned-beef corruption, but now that the DLP has been elected – well… its the DLP’s turn to hand out the bully-beef.
Through the new “Constituency Councils”, the DLP has formalised and even quasi-legitimized the arbitrary patronage handouts that they once so strongly criticised.
Who chooses the recipients of this government money? Why, none other than the Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development.
Or as we should we say, “the DLP Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development”.
The People’s Empowerment Party has some worthy comments in The Nation column: Bogus Constituency Councils!
and so it continues
get elected on a promise of ITAL and FOI and then forget the promises and rule with a heavy hand and Divine Right.
BFP keeps talking about corruption under the former BLP Government but to date not a single thread of empirical evidence has ever been produced. The last Government did everything to give Parliament oversight over the management of its affairs by giving broad sweeping powers to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Government.
What is fascinating about the corruption charges against the BLP by bloggers on BFP is that when challenged to show evidence of these criminal acts they runaway by saying that persons and institutions in the country are withholding information to avoid prosecutions.
You now have the classic case where a Prime Minister walks around talking about the sordid mess and corruption under the BLP and when challenged by Ellis to bring evidence and prosecute someone, he started to mumble and talk idle.
Worst yet, Hammie was the only MP in the last Government for whom, according to the Urban Report, a serious case of corruption, abuse of government funds could have been built, but strangely enough that is the same man that the Thompson sees fit and proper to advise Minister Sinckler.
These Constituency Councils, by their very design are to execute Thompson’s “Fatted Calf” programme. The fact is that millions of dollars will now be placed in the hands of DLP operatives to mobilize DLP support at the constituency level.
However, the defining feature of the DLP’s proposed system of constituency councils is that the “minister responsible for constituency councils” (that is, the Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development) will be “the person” who personally selects and appoints the 450 councillors who will serve on the 30 constituency councils.”
************************
BFP, I could n’t believe it when I read that!! R u quite SURE, that you’ve got that right!! It sounds too preposterous for words, even emanating from Bim!! Maybe, I should start polishing my high-heel shoes and ting and hope to impress the minister!!
Free and fair council elections are ABSOLUTELY, OBLIGATORY!!
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING!!
kofi
“The last Government did everything to give Parliament oversight over the management of its affairs by giving broad sweeping powers to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Government.”
Give us a break !!!
no free press, no ministerial rules against direct and indirect involvement in contracts, no open tendered contracts (web site ), costs of offshore contracts ballooning to 300% of original, entrenched unelected BLP and DLP civil service to continue the corruption and frustrate change, no audited statements of all government corporations, and on and on.
same clothes, same set of jaded and emasculated politicians.
Barbadians have every right to feel cheated and more so by the last bunch of “tiefs” in power for 13 years that you so tirelessly attempt to defend by who was and is worse.
The BLP really need to go back to the drawing boards and find younger people who still believe in honesty and integrity.
The problem with those like Kofi is that their political devotion to their party blinds them to the sins that are being committed.
So Kofi if you are there to say yes I love the BLP and they can steal and rob as much as they want then you are on the right track.
Most of us, however. think that the BLP is there to serve the people and there is not much evidence that Arthur and his kind did that very much. They spent a lot of our money on things which we can’t see while the things we can see are in hopeless trouble because they have been ignored so long.
Kofi when you say there is no empirical evidence you show up how corrupt BLP were – and DLP doing it now. Why? Because corrupt people make no records, allow no transparency, and threaten anyone who might have empirical evidence not to show it. They don’t want you to find where they hid our money.
An honest BLP would by now have given an accounting good and bad so we could judge them.
Would President Obama go for hand-picked Constituency Councils or elected Community Councils?
Is constituency Councils giving power back to the people or to Minister Sinckler?
Why not protect and safeguard the people’s right to vote? Are we fast becoming like Zimbaywe?
Then why all the censorship and DLP dictatorship?
If the DLP knew what it was doing, then they could stay in Parliament for years, but they do not! In fact, the DLP is “intellectually weak.”
That the present Prime Minister does not see any connection between Clico Barbados and CL Finanical T&T – is embarrassingly silly.
Fellow bloggers you are well aware that the Leader Of The Opposition, Ms. Mottley held a press conference yesterday to address matters of the Clico bailout and handpicking of members to the constituency councils.
As has been the policy in this country for years, the media was invited to cover the conference. I am reliably informed that as soon as the news team at CBC had completed their script which was to have been carried on the CBC evening news, it’s Chairman, Leroy Parris called the station and demanded that the news item be pulled from the news package. The staff was not pleased but could do nothing to override the decision.
Is this the change that Barbadians voted for? How can we take an institution as important as CBC and as important to this country development and put it in the hands of a person the caliber of Leroy Parris?
That’s not all. Ms. Mottley offered to buy the time on CBC and was also refused. Can you imagine cash strap CBC refusing to sell its airtime because it’s chairman wants to stifle credible public information. When former PM Arthur was being criticized on CBC by all and sundry nobody stopped it. In fact the level of press freedom in Barbados under the last BLP Government was exemplary.
Who Parris feels he is that he cannot be criticized? If he has a problem dealing with public criticism then he should get out public life.
This should send a clear message to Barbadians. If this Government could allow this kind of filthy behaviour to occur on a matter as simple as Parris’ false impression he holds of himself, then one can understand how they will behave with information of critical national interest and decisions to be determined by the Constituency Councils over which the Minister will have absolute control.
The talk on the ground is that last night a call was made by Parrish to CBC instructing that Mia Mottley not be shown. The clip was pulled.
Leroy Parrish – the Chairman of Clico – was able to call CBC, where he is Chairman, to instruct CBC not to show news about Leroy Parrish the Chairman of Clico who are one in the same.
Now llok at that in the context of constituency councils?
Has anyone asked the question about the cost of these councils?? Where is the money coming from!!! Is this part of Thompson’s stimulating package for the economy
Just for you OP
http://www.cbc.bb/index.pl/article?id=3242879
Kofi…
What do you think of a Minister of Government building a home for his mistress on land his government expropriated?
Gline Clarke did that.
Do you think that is corrupt or not corrupt?
http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2006/09/05/barbados-government-minister-gline-clarke-house-and-mercedes-on-expropriated-land/
@Hants
Are you calling OP a liar? Shame on you, you should know that a man who is intellectual superior would never stoop to lie to us common folk.
Donald Duck, Esq
February 6, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Has anyone asked the question about the cost of these councils?? Where is the money coming from!!! Is this part of Thompson’s stimulating package for the economy
********************
Donald, I wondered about this myself but, presumably, the PM knows that we can afford it or, he would n’t have made the suggestion!! Whichever is the financial position, Bim could, almost certainly, benefit hugely, from a heavy-dose of local government plus, it would give many of you political-bloggers on here, who live at home, the opportunity to make a serious, contribution to the development of Barbados, greater than you’re able to do, at the moment!
Does anybody have any doubts about the wisdom and appropriateness of the advent of local-politics for Bim!!
Optimist Prime & Kofi,
Wunnah now gine suck salts !
The people elected the DLP to form the constituency councils among other things……over 12 national consultations were held ….the matter will be dabated in the House of Assembly on the 10th Feb 2009……and the rest will be HISTORY !
Ah……but under the TIEFFING…LYING ……BLP gov’t what did they tell the people about the REPUBLIC status for Barbados…..WHAT DID THEY BLP DO IN THE end ???
NADA………!
Just like the first letter in our NAME……Dems……get things…..Done…!
I agree with optimist Prime in saying the people should have a say in who are their leaders. The councils should be as non-partisan and inclusive as can be achieved. New governments will change members as pawns otherwise.
Would it not be so much better, in the parish councils, in the examination of Clico remittances and loans, if the promised integrity and disclosure laws were brought?
The BLP had power and at first they were good. They did what was best for the people of Barbados. But then they became corrupted and were turned to evil. They diverted our public cash.
DLP sees these things, uses them, and although elected on a ticket of anti-corruption I have no qualms in today saying they will faster than the BLP be turned also to evil. Probably even already.
Bring the promised laws DLP. In these times more than ever, if you are men and woman. The people who voted you in are watching you.
For Barbados. Your 100 days are up.
BFP do you really want more elections in Barbados? The idea of Community Councils is laudable and if it works the way it is supposed to, it would provide the public with an opportunity for their voice to be heard in the open, without having to depend on their local MP. This would be especially beneficial to those whose MP was from the opposition party.
How do you keep the politics out of it? I don’t have the answer but if elections were held there will be a divide along party lines and you will have the same DLP/BLP face off and that we can do without. The ruling party however has a vested interest in toning down any criticism from these councils and ensuring that they get the credit for any largesse which is distributed.
I also think that elections would be a revival of Local Government councils which ironically enough were abolished by the DLP when they were elected in 1961. I haven’t done any research on these councils but I remember hearing that the local council/vestry system was also rife with corruption and it is our duty to ensure that opportunities for corruption are eliminated or at least minimized
“I haven’t done any research on these councils but I remember hearing that the local council/vestry system was also rife with corruption and it is our duty to ensure that opportunities for corruption are eliminated or at least minimized”
So enact ITAL legislation with very strict rules, let everyone know and then enforce it across the board. Then Barbadians from the PM down will know their is a system, at every level, in place to safeguard every citizen against corruption and a process.
This kind of leadership starts at the top.
Why are we waiting?
Its not a question of if we can afford it its a question of if we can afford not to have public involvement in our “democratic” society. The real solution to a lot of the issues discussed in this paper is public involvement. If the public is involved in politics they act as environmental and political watchdogs for our society.
this kind of leadership starts from the “bottom up” not the “top down”. I agree that we have corruption in our government and that they could do a hell of a lot better but what are we the poeple waiting for. Its not going to come from the government its going to come from us!
It is fascinating how otherwise reasonable people are twisting and bending to defend the notion that in order to increase power to the people, a member of the governing party should hand pick those that will represent local constituencies. Er. No gentlemen. There is no logic to this.
Either we decide that we want centralised power and we elect a government and let them make the decisions down to the local level – we are a small country after all – or we say we want some decentralised government, power to the people and we elect local representatives.
The only reason to fudge the issue is if the government party wants to give patronage to its supporters under the veil of increased democracy, but not even Robert Mugabe would be silly enough to expect us to buy that. Barbadians can see through that crap.
Hand picking of representative of local constituencies by the government party is what they used to do in the Soviet Union. Its what the Generals do in Burma. Its how China replaced democracy in Hong Kong. The Chinese Communist Party hand selects a majority of the legislative council and its leader.
The Chinese Communist party also claims to speak for the people, they just dont want the people to speak for themselves in a free and fair election. The Communist party also claims that democracy leads to corruption. There are challenges with democracy – yes, but why, oh why, should we follow the Chinese model of government? I recall the famous Winston Churchill quote about democracy – it is the worst form of government, bar all the others.
Can anyone show me this practice of hand selection of local representatives by a governing party being practiced elsewhere in a mature democracy? Name a few please. Thanks
TG: What you wrote makes sense but you honestly expect that you can have Community Councils without political involvement? This is Barbados politics is everywhere and in everything, there is no off season. If the priest preaches a sermon on Sunday that is merely critical of the Gov’t or some institution he is instantly labeled a D or B and no amount of protestation will change some people’s mind.
I had a conversation with an acquaintance who had some expertise in a particular field and who was offered a contract by an overseas agency which required the minister’s approval. The minister blatantly refused and said as long as he was a minister this individual would not be going anywhere; why you ask? This person was perceived to support the other party.
Just ask around and you will hear many similar stories.
I think you better take those ideas back to England or Canada or some other country but don’t bring them bout hey
The constituency councils as proposed by the DLP(and I’ve voted for them many times and I hope to do so many more times; but I’ve voted for the BLP many times also) are just a way for the DLP to try to entrench its power.
I predict that the councils as presently proposed won’t work.
And this nonsense is going to cause the party to lose a lot of votes next election.
I predict that the BLP is going to give the DLP nuff, nuff licks on the platforms regarding this naked grab for power.
I heard David Denny on Brass Tacks Sunday and he was talking bare nonsense!!! He says that councils appointed by the Minister is a way of deepening democracy. It isn’t.
I don’t generally agree with David Commisiong but he was talking sense on Brass Tacks Sunday.
I believe that we should have elected councils or no councils at all. However I don’t believe that we need councils, especially as presently proposed. In the age of modern communicatons why do I need a concillor to filter my message to my MP? Why can’t my MP pubish his email address so that I and his other constituents can address him directly? MP’s have on average about 6,000 constutients? MOst constituents NEVER approach thier MP’s for anything. For those that do surely a competent office manager, a secretary and 2 clerks per MP will permit them to hear and respond to the needs of their constitutients.
Optimist Prime wrote “That the present Prime Minister does not see any connection between Clico Barbados and CL Finanical T&T”
Remember “The fatted calf will be slaughtered and shared”
CLICO done get their share?
You get your share of veal yet Optimist?
Kofi wrote “I am reliably informed that as soon as the news team at CBC had completed their script which was to have been carried on the CBC evening news, it’s Chairman, Leroy Parris called the station and demanded that the news item be pulled from the news package. The staff was not pleased but could do nothing to override the decision.”
The staff could and should have refused. Shown the clip, and let the Chairman do whatever he felt olike afterwards.
Unfortunately the staff have no balls.
Kofi wrote “When former PM Arthur was being criticized on CBC by all and sundry nobody stopped it. In fact the level of press freedom in Barbados under the last BLP Government was exemplary. ”
Dear Kofi: dat in true ya hear. Word on the street is that you favourite former PM regularly tried to bully journalists. Although I hear without much success.
Your comments about mottley being vocal about the constituency councils does not surprise me in the least, after all this is the same empty vessel that ranted and raved because the DLP provided free bus rides for our children!!!
As she has been instructed by The Hon Prime Minister Mr. David Thompson that she needs to learn when she should speak and when she should mumble, at this stage of her political struggles she needs to be wiser and more logical, as opposing for the sake of opposing is just downright stupid.
I fully understand that her struggles are multi tasked after all she finds herself not only fighting the Government in Parliament but she is also having to fight for her survival as Co Leader Arthur and Mascot of Hardwood Housing fame are undermining her every step along the way.
Despite whatever she attempts to drum up, these councils will take effect and with time we will all see the positive impact that they will have in the villages and communities around Barbados, mottley has nothing to fear as she too will get funds to work with, who know she may find it more worthwhile to spend it on buying and smoking herb on the block with the fellows of which she tries so hard to be one.
The reality is that mottley has never been nor will ever relate to the grass roots of politics because having been raised in an elite family with a silver spoon in her mouth she does not understand the needs of the poor in this society, hence her harsh words when the free school bus rides were introduced, she would not relate to saving $ 30.00 or $ 40.00 per week as meaningful because that kind of money is small change to her but a massive value to those less fortunate than herself.
If we cast our minds back it was the same BLP who opposed Independence, Free Education and Free School Meals, so to me mottley and the BLP have a track record of opposing good, progressive, uplifting programs for the betterment of our Barbadian people.
I honestly think her opposition to the constituency councils is mislaid only because the DLP will be putting in place a program that is people caring and focused on helping those in our society that cannot help themselves, we understand the people’s needs, she does not, as was evidenced by the level of full fledged corruption that she and Arthur fuelled and was part of, NO mottley this is for the people who need the help the most and it not for your type.
Oppose and speak out when there is sensible reason to do so, when it has value but to oppose because you want to be in the press more often than Owing and get your one ups MAN ship on your rival Owing is just downright stupid.
I think it is great program that will help empower people to give them their voice in the running of their affairs and any program that empowers ordinary people is a worthwhile, progressive, uplifting program that will get my support and the support of the Caring DLP Government.
PS Mottlet / Owing always remember why you were evicted from office, your lack of caring for the people and your own greed and dishonesty with public funds, it will take a long time to get anyone (other those of your same ilk) to trust you again.
Trust is something that is earned and you blew that trust with your corrupt acts, so when you speak to us the people we find you very shallow and very empty because we CANNOT TRUST YOU OR YOUR WORDS.
Remember that line you mottley took when speaking to the group of Barbadian builders when you were in the heat of the Four Seasons / Chinese workers issue, that they would tow the line or be subject to a VAT and or a TAX audit of, it was that type of arrogance and high handed manner that got you kicked out of office.
YOUR HONESTY IS SHOT YOUR VOICE IS DOUBTFUL AT LEAST A LIAR AT BEST.
Above post by Yardbroom of BU
Sargeant says:
“The idea of Community Councils is laudable and if it works the way it is supposed to, it would provide the public with an opportunity for their voice to be heard in the open, without having to depend on their local MP”.
I am very sorry Sargeant but you are dead wrong on that. The regulations governing the conduct of the Constituency Councils clearly states on page 13, section 5.17 Public Information: “All public information is to be reviewed by the Minister/DLP’s General Secretary before dissemination”. In other words not a single Council member can speak to the public without first being approved by the Minister
As has been the practice in Barbados for years NGO bodies and other independent community groups had the right to speak out against any ills in the community as they deem fit. They never had to get the approval of any Minister to speak their minds on any matter.
We now have a proposal for deeper democracy, as defined by the DLP, under the Constituency Council that says that the information you are reporting to the public must first be reviewed and approved by the Minister/DLP’s General Secretary.
If a member of the Council speaks to the public without first securing the approval of the Minister/DLP’s General Secretary that member can be deemed to have breached the confidentiality of the Council and will be disqualified from holding office on the Council as set out in section 5.11.2 which states that “An individual shall be disqualified from being a Member of a Council if he/she has breached the confidentiality of the business of the Council”.
This is a scary form of democracy coming from a party that trumpeted the view that persons in public life should be subjected to full public scrutiny. What is therefore so confidential about the business of a group of men and women being paid by the taxpayers to do the public’s work?
If this affront to freedom and democracy is visited upon our Nation then clearly the independent voices in our community that has kept the checks and balances in our democracy alive will be seriously undermined.
Contrary to the view that these Community Councils will rein in the power of the Minister, what is being proposed will in fact confer upon the Minister/DLP’s General Secretary greater power where it did not exist before.
When one considers the fact that these Councils will be made up of Faith Based Organizations, Emergency Management Organization, Youth Organizations, Sports Organization, Senior Clubs and Retired Person’s Organization, Women’s Organizations and recognized individuals in the community then one can imaging the full scope of the evil being proposed.
This is a desperate act of political survival by the DLP that will only serve to usher in an outdated form of political polarization.
The leader of the opposition all of a sudden seems concern about democracy.When King Arthur gave Bostic about $2 mil to repair and paint houses in the city before the last general elections was that democracy? When the BLP used UDC and RDC and Oasis to dish out money to their supporters was that democracy?
don’t forget the Commissioners as well…..all hand picked by the BLP
A mottley group
February 9, 2009 at 7:49 am
Your comments about mottley being vocal about the constituency councils does not surprise me in the least, after all this is the same empty vessel that ranted and raved because the DLP provided free bus rides for our children!!!
………………………………………………………………………………….
You get fool again BFP. Check BU under Constituency Councils by Wishing……Vain. Same excretion, different name.
Dear Sargent,
I am surprised at you. What are you trying to say? We are not good enough for democracy? Democracy can only be had in Canada and the UK? (By the way, dont tell me to take my ideas off to Canada and the UK – I am the one who lives here remember and you are the one that may return. Duh?) I assure you we can handle demcracy quite well here in Bim. In fact, far better than they seem to in America where you have to queue for five hours if you are black and lucky enough to still be on the register.
Representation is political. Period. If you want local representation that is not political you have to go back to the Soviet days or go off to China. There, the one party state will say that, in order to avoid things getting political, it is best if they hand pick the representatives…..sounds familiar?
Look, you are a sensible man. My advice is that when your party proposes something that is either stupid or anti-democratic and possibly both there is no need to destroy your credibility by defending it. Let the party hacks do that, just smile and stay quiet. You can’t be expected to support everything one party says or does. You can say that you support the DLP on balance and in preference to the BLP without defending everything the DLP does. Or can you not?
TG
I’m sorry you read my post as strident, that reference to the UK or Canada was tongue in cheek it was not to say that Barbados is not capable of democracy. I was just pointing out that there is no off season in Barbados when it comes to politics. Every political party and politician seeks an edge to retain power and their seats at the next election. Whatever the stripe of the governing party they will not be amused if a constituency council opposes their initiatives even if that opposition has merit. It would take a nano second for the political opposition to point out the dissension and use it to their advantage. What Gov’t wants to put itself at a disadvantage?
If it is possible to find a group of apolitical persons to fill the Constituency Councils I am all for it, but you will never find them in Barbados.
BTW the local councilors in Toronto are supposed to be independent and to put the interest of the City first in all debates. However there is still a rump that can be predicted to vote a particular party platform each and every time.
TG
And another thing, I did support the DLP during the past election as it was time for a change, but by no means am I a die hard supporter, time and distance has given me some perspective.
Since there are no term limits in Barbados changing gov’t after two terms should ensure that we are not mired in corruption.
I am a firm believer of Lord Acton’s dictum: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely
BTW I am in agreement with Arthur’s statement re CLICO in today’s Nation.
Dear Sargent,
I agree with you on term limits. I guess it is hard when you have a parliamentary system, but the office of PM is recognised constitutionally, and so we could probably make an amendment to limit the term someone can hold that office to ten years. That should be long enough for someone to make a good mark and short enough for the rest of us to recover if it was not.
What about the nepotism and hypocrisy that is seeping through the place like a crafty snake? One back bencher seems to have more say than ever. Will his daughter throw her weight around in the Pine starting with taking over an office space then not having a clue what she’s supposed to do, demanding help. What about those new construction companies rising out of the earth like sinister beasts waiting to devour the fatted calf? Somebody tell us about these and the rest…….
Where does Owing find the guts to talk his nonsense, is his memory so short to forget about the scam that taxpayers paid Danos 3 S $ 117 million for road works and yet still the two main contractors saw the grand sum of $ 60 million out of that vast payment the ones that really did the work collected a mere $ 6 million more that the commission takers did and the rest heading to the pockets of Steven Hobson, Hallam Nicholls, J Danos, Bizzy Williams and He Owing ????
Nor does he not remember his wayward spending on Gems, Southern Meats, Edutech.
Nor does he remember his creation of the Rural and Urban commissions that when created the former Prime Minister Mr Sandiford described them as multi headed hyrdrants when one was cut off another rose up.
Nor does he remember his role as well as mascoll’s and mottleys role in Hardwood Housing fiasco??
Nor does he remember his role with those cheques he collected for favours???
Nor does he remember the conversion of zone 1 land to commercial land for his financial benefit???
Nor does he remember his involvement with the VTL that he and Hallam Nicholls brought into this island???
Nor does he remember the blessing the he betowed on the sole agent for the gov’t for each and every vehicle brought into this island that he collected a commission on nor the fact that he over aw saw a scam where Sanitation vehicles were sold to the taxpayers at three times the cost of what the would normally cost if purchased directly from the agent????
Give me a break Owing your corruption stinks to high heavens, you ought to be the last one to preach, you only preach corruption.
Watch out! Do not let the DLP’s Pork Wagon Crush you.
Let’s face it. Constituency Councils is a desperate attempt by a “clueless,” “POWER HUNGRY” non-performing DLP administration, which does not know what it is doing – to hold onto State power at all cost.
In the face of a global crisis, it is the DLP’s way of ensuring that its members are able to feed at the trough.
Constituency Councils is therefore the DLP’s way of rolling out the “pork wagon” for its membership – consistent with its “Members First – Fatted Calf Doctrine.”
The DLP has calculated that there is no need for a job-creation strategy because it has found a way to get the “fatted calf – directly onto the table of DLP members.
Instead of bringing a stimulus package to protect Barbadians, in the face of a global crisis – the DLP opts to roll out the “pork wagon” so that hand-picked DLP members and those whom it finds deserving – will be able to gouge themselves obese on the “fatted calf, while everyone else suck salts.
It is therefore left to be seen if Barbadians will contribute to a famine by remaining silent, while the DLP hand-pick persons to serve on Constituency Councils.
I am ready to join the movement!
Community Councils, Yes! Constituency Councils, No!
Elected members, Yes! Hand-picked member, No!
Why not protect your Right to Vote?
I thought Chris Sinckler’s presentation was out of the top draw, a class act as one would expect from Chris.
He went about destroying the myth that the Constituency Councils were to be used in the same way that the BLP used URBAN and that they used RURAL and the YOUTH COMMISSIONERS, sadly mottley fell flat on her face when she fell for the old one two on the matter of the YOUTH COMMISSIONERS when she stated that they were not going to be used in the program as a result of a meeting the evening before with the Minister.
This is a group who masterminded corruption and dishonesty, Politics of inclusion, the RURAL AND URBAN slush funding,GEMS, HARDWOOD HOUSING, DANOS 3S, VECO, the St Peter Development Fund that saw after Owing and his needs and they have the gall to tell John Public about what or what not they should do.
Dale Marshall was a sad excuse for the person given the task to reply to the eloquent Chris Sinckler, once again his manner and style suggest that he is of the belief that his Sh__t does not smell type, well the sad news for you Marshall is that it does smell, it smells of your previous rein of corruption and dishonesty in office, that is a thing of the past this is a new era, minus mottley and owing’s style of dishonest gov’t.
My advice to the ruling party waste no time with that empty, devoid bunch of misfits, press ahead with you program to empower the people of Barbados at great haste.
Pray tell me how you “empower the people of Barbados at great haste” by creating a unique form of representation where representatives are not elected by the people of Barbados but hand picked by the ruling party…..unique to democracies, but common practice in China and the Soviet Union. Please. I dont mind honest political debate. But this is stupidity masquerading as politics.
I recommend the last poster to step back, close your eyes as to who is speaking and responding and just think about it. You are supporting the notion that to give power to the people you will support hand-picking representatives as opposed to electing them. Now, imagine making this argument in any democracy outside of Barbados…..I have asked proponents of this before, to no avail, to give us a couple examples of other democracies in which local representatives of local constituents are hand picked by the ruling party?
Thomas Gresham I know that you try to appear educated on each subject discussed on this site and I take my hat off to you because if you were as educated as you pretend to be, you would be heading up Oxford or Cambridge University, and not here delving into dark mistruths and concocted lies, be that as it may.
In your trivial attempt to downplay the giant leap forward to social empowerment you either skillfully or dishonestly ommitted to factor in that very clearly in the setting up of these councils you will see that a position is made available to seat a representative of the opposition, why then you stray from the path of truth and honesty in your submission??
When I listened to the call in show today it amazing to me that the councils did not attract any comment , that says to me that the people who elected the gov’t of the day are happy with their management of their affairs and have well and truly signed onto the program for the creation of the constituency councils moreover the only person complaining is the Poor Rakey BLP misfits left stranded under mottley / Owing fiasco in the clean up of 15 th Jan 2008.
PS Who is the leader of the opposition??
It is not clear to many!!!
“I thought Chris Sinckler’s presentation was out of the top draw, a class act as one would expect from Chris.”
—————————————–
What rubbish!.
Christ was trying to prove that he is not “intellectually weak” or “poor rakey.” His pit-bull presentation shows the fundamental difference bewteen he and Dale Marshall, who was calm, and dynamic.
Christopher Sinckler did not add anything to what Denis Lowe said before, as regards Constituency Councils and we all know that “low” was fired because Thompson felt he said and did nothing.
By the way, Clico’ jet is grounded in St. Kitts. Thompson will have to catch LIAT.
The money spent to set up and operate the 30 Constituency Councils WILL NEVER equate to a fraction of the vast millions you and your party spent at URBAN and RURAL in your attempt to control the power base nor will it come close to the MILLIONS corruptly stashed away in your projects such as GEMS, HARDWOOD HOUSING, DANOS 3 S, VECO OIL STORAGE, VECO PRISON and the St Peter Development Fund.
You really have some guts to lecture the nation on the rights and wrongs in Government office, you of all Governments that were the masters of gross corruption and stealing, you remember the garbage trucks that we the tax payers paid for at three times the true cost because your friend HALLAM NICHOLLS had to get his and your share??
You have no creditability whatsoever and it is amusing to hear you try to lecture this new administration on the rights and the wrongs of governance.
There will be 30 councils that will be there to serve the people of Barbados you can like it or lump it, the rest of Barbados and Barbadians like the plan and want the plan so the few of you misfits of the BLP you have a choice you either get onboard and let the councils help work for you or stand aside and be bypassed.
Head over to BU where the case for the CC and the petty partisan opposition to them are dealt with. Maybe you have and realize the errors in your thinking and have since then choosen to remain silent.
This constituency council idea reminds me of the Cuban committees for the defense of the revolution. Be warned.
Dear Mottley Group,
What a relief, the governing party is going to hand select a member of the opposition to sit on the Constituency Councils.
So its OK then…….Er?
You clearly do not understand democracy. Which makes the move to hand selection even more frightening.