Barbados government should not deal with “Rich white boys”
contributed by “Former Barbados Tourist Mr. Kilkenny”
“Mister Speaker, I am appalled. I am really appalled that a government in two thousand and eleven would be dealing with a group of white, conservative, rich people.”
“If the member want me to withdraw ‘conservative’ I will withdraw it and substitute it with the word ‘rich’, I will substitute it with ‘a group of rich white boys’…”
MP Gline Clarke, former Minister of Public Works, expresses his disgust in Parliament that the current DLP government would do business with people of the white race.
No Concern in Barbados
The lack of news stories and comments on the internet say that very few Barbados persons are concerned about the outrageously racist statements in the Barbados Parliament by former Minister of Public Works Gline Clarke. There is precious little in the newspapers about what would be a “hanging offense” in the United Kingdom if an elected politician and representative of the people chastised the government for doing business with blacks or any other named race.
Racial politics are nothing special in Barbados
My wife and I found that Mr. Gline Clarke’s statements and beliefs and attitudes are nothing special in Barbados. We’ve learned that in our past trips to Barbados. For sixteen years until December 16, 2009 while the Barbados Tourism Authority spent millions to lure travellers like myself to Barbados, Mr. Clarke, Prime Minister Arthur and their contemporaries were hating the very ground that we walked upon because of the colour of our skin. That is evident by looking at their few public statements that made it to the news, and it was proven to us time and time again during our eleven trips to Barbados. (My wife and I are gluttons for punishment, it is true.)
The racist anti-whites attitude of the Barbados government representatives set an example for the young people of Barbados and you can see the results in the disdain and outright hostility of the shop clerks to white and Indian tourists. We felt it every time when we rode a mini-bus to Oistins and no one would make conversation with us. We saw it at the reception desk at Time Out at the Gap and two other package hotels. We experienced it first hand at the airport where unsmiling officers made us feel like we were criminals for the offense of wanting to vacation in the sunshine.
“ENOUGH!” we said in December 2009. Why should we take this abuse? Spain is closer, much cheaper and much more friendly and they speak English.
Former Barbados Tourist Mr. Kilkenny
BFP Editor’s Note
This above is one of several emails we received asking why we didn’t immediately cover the story of MP Gline Clarke’s comments about whites. Frankly we didn’t see Clarke’s comments as unusual and I guess we’re just used to that kind of talk.
This email from “Former Tourist Mr. Kilkenny” was a bit of a wake-up call for our thick skin. Obviously people from the countries have a lesser tolerance for racism. Something to think about and discuss at our next BFP staff meeting. (Staff meeting? You mean ‘drunk-up” Ha ha ha! – george)
The email is printed as received with the addition of the title, subtitles and format and colour etc. We removed some “bad” (F) words as we don’t appreciate there is a need for that no matter how passionately the writer feels. Got that? F’ing right! 
Transcript of Gline Clarke, Member of Parliament
Mister Speaker, I am appalled. I am really appalled that a government in two thousand and eleven would be dealing with a group of white, conservative, rich people.
I am saying, Mister Speaker, the Barbados ????? club is a group of white conservative group of people. I’m, I am saying that the Minister really should have been dealing with the Barbados Motor Federation. ?????? here.
Something is wrong,
And all across Barbados today, people were asking “Is this government mad?” Something is wrong.
I got no fewer that twenty calls tonight on this. I am saying to you, Mister Speaker, that
Reply by Mr. Sinkler ????
The honourable member, Sir, is correct in saying that the text does say ‘Barbados Riding Club’. That, Mister Speaker, was a typographical mistake and owt to have read ‘Barbados Motoring Federation”. However, however, Sir: to say that the Barbados Rally Club is constituted, as he has put it, of ‘white conservative people’, is I think, reflects very poorly on the club itself, and frankly, is not deserving of the commentary in this Parliament.
So, I really think that the honourable member should withdraw that comment. It does not reflect very good on the house at all.
Reply by Gline Clarke:
??? every member ???? racist position is right ???? It is not something that I can withdraw???
If the member want me to withdraw ‘conservative’ I will withdraw it and substitute it with the word ‘rich’, I will substitute it with “a group of rich white boys” ???
