The Simple Truth: Outrageously expensive Barbados police blimp is dead. Replacements available from US$500

Poor old Police Commissioner Darwin Dottin. Today he told The Nation that the seldom-seen (and therefore seldom used) police blimp is laid up for repairs and ‘issues’.

‘Issues’ ???

Dottin refused to say when the blimp will be back in service, and any Bajan knows that is Bim-speak for ‘never’. Good lord, how many hundred thousand dollars did the Owen Arthur government pay for that bag of helium and some radio control parts and video?

And now it is rotting somewhere, virtually unused since its proud debut at the failed Cricket World Cup five years ago.

Dottin complains that the helium necessary to fly the blimp is expensive. Well, duh! Didn’t the police study the costs on a per-flight basis when they bought this turkey? I guess not ’cause the cost appears to have been a surprise to Commissioner Dottin.

Well, Darwin old chap, don’t you worry!

You see, technology has marched right on in the last five or six years and now the Royal Barbados Police Force can purchase UAV – unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles – for a lousy US$500 each. They are called Parrots, and they work with an iPhone or iPad and have incredible maneuverability along with HD video capability – live broadcast and recording. I’m not sure about their duration on station, but hey, for $500 bucks each you could afford to have dozens of them all over the island and you wouldn’t approach a twentieth of the cost of the Barbados Police Blimp.

So Commissioner Dottin, just fire up that iPad, iPhone or other smartphone, get on the ‘net and order a Parrot UAV for US$500.

You know: Internet. iPad. iPhone. Smartphone.

Commissioner Dottin, you know what I’m talking about, right?

Further Reading

The Nation: Blimp up for repairs

SUN, AUGUST 05, 2012 – 12:09 AM

THE BLIMP that was first deployed to help police keep watch and fight crime five years ago is out of commission for now.

The high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment, which was launched as part of security for Cricket World Cup (CWC) games held at Kensington Oval, is in need of repairs, Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin has confirmed.

Rihanna back with her abuser Chris Brown – Will Oprah tell it like it is?

“I’m going to beat the shit out of you when you get home. You wait and see.”

…Chris Brown as said to Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Detailed in court documents read on Oprah’s show, March 6, 2009

Rihanna and Oprah are in Barbados today, touring about and filming for an upcoming Oprah television spot. Oprah sent out a photo to her fans of the big O being driven around the island by RiRi. And by a strange coincidence (ha ha) the Barbados Tourism Authority announced another media campaign with Rihanna in the spotlight telling about how wonderful it is in Bim. And so it is.

Then in the middle of all that positive vibe we have the news that Rihanna and Chris Brown are back together as a couple.

… and that JAY-Z has given Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relationship the seal of approval.

A little advice from Auntie Moses for all the girls including Rihanna who appears to have left her self-worth somewhere else in her travels…

“He beat you once, he beat you again. Doan fool yourself about ‘sorry’.”

“Rihanna & Chris Brown: A Violent Mix

The court also heard that, as is often the case in these couples battles, there had been previous incidents of violence by both Brown and Rihanna. The sentencing report also confirmed the rumours about Chris Brown smashing the windows and mirrors of Rihanna’s Land Rover when they were in Barbados as a couple.

Hopefully both of them will have learned something from their mutually-destructive attraction for each other. The big life lesson is this: at the first sign of abuse – whether physical or verbal – terminate the relationship immediately.

It’s just not worth it to try and save a relationship that has already deteriorated to that point. At the first hint of abuse, I’m outta there permanently…”

… from BFP’s August 26, 2009 article Chris Brown Sentenced To Probation In Rihanna Assault – Court Reveals Ongoing Assaults By Both, Confirms Barbados Land Rover Damage Rumour