Barbados Free Press Welcomes: Transparency International, UK Investment Property Forum, Global Voices – Harvard Law School

The hit-meter is going wild today with international visitors to Barbados Free Press – with most of the new visitors arriving from three websites…

– Transparency International

– Global Voices (Harvard Law School)

– UK Investment Property Forum

Global Voices Online and Transparency International have linked to several of our current and past stories, but the UK Investment Property Forum is an upscale “members only” site, so we are not really sure what they are saying about BFP or Barbados. (Any members care to let us know?)

Here is a bit about each organization from their websites:

Global Voices Online

Global Voices Online is a non-profit global citizens’ media project, sponsored by and launched from the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at the Harvard Law School.

A growing number of bloggers around the world are emerging as “bridge bloggers:” people who are talking about their country or region to a global audience. Global Voices is your guide to the most interesting conversations, information, and ideas appearing around the world on various forms of participatory media such as blogs, podcasts, photo sharing sites, and videoblogs.

Transparency International

Transparency International (TI) is the leading international non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption. Through its International Secretariat in Berlin and its 99 independent National Chapters around the world, TI works at both the international and national level to curb the supply and demand of corrupt practices.

Transparency International’s “Barbados Free Press” story here.

UK Investment Property Forum

Set up in 1988, the Investment Property Forum (IPF) is now recognised as one of the leading specialist property industry bodies in the UK. It comprises an influential network of senior professionals all active in the property investment market. Individuals join because the Forum remains focused, proactive and makes a difference.

The strength of the organisation lies in its diversity of members of over 1500, which includes investment agents, fund managers, bankers, lawyers, researchers, academics, actuaries and other related professionals. It operates in London, Scotland, the Midlands and the North West.

The IPF’s mission is to improve the awareness, understanding and efficiency of property as an investment for members and others in the wider business community by:

Undertaking research and special projects;

Providing education; and

Encouraging discussion and debate.

A warm Bajan welcome to all!

Remembering the Message of Dr. Colin Hudson – Barbados Environmental Advocate

The internet is a marvelous place. A few minutes of almost random searching and one can stumble across all sorts of fascinating stories that are new or, like this story, just forgotten as our lives get busier and busier.

I had not forgotten Dr. Colin Hudson, but I did need to remember his message…

Until his death in 2004, Dr. Colin Hudson was one of the foremost Bajan clarions against development gone wild. The government often tried to use or misuse his credibility for their own purpose, but he continued to pound out his message of sustainable development for Barbados right to the last.

I accidentally discovered a number of websites that continue to promote the good doctor’s message, and remind us that more and more hotels, roads, cars and menial servant jobs for our children is not the choice that most Bajans would make. (Which, of course, begs the question: Who is making these choices for us?)

Here is a small excerpt from one of the websites…

“As we watch the rapid urbanization and suburbanization of Barbados and the agricultural lands, seascapes and landscapes being lost to inappropriate physical development, we feel an inner and outer loss that is very profound; we feel a disconnect; we feel and see the pressing need for an adequate planning legislation that will protect and conserve those lands which provide the fodder for our basic needs.”

“When I say basic needs, I not only mean the need for residential housing and commercial ventures, food, quality air and water, I include our cultural, recreational, psychological, aesthetic and ecological needs. It is the fulfillment of these needs which make us whole.”

Here are some of the websites. Visit one and you will find a dozen all connected…

Barbados Environmental Society

Memorial Site for Colin Hudson, 1938-2004

Tributes to Colin Hudson (Some excellent information about his work)

Thanks for all your work Colin.