BFP’s Opinion: United States Eats Crow Responding To China In The Caribbean

The 2003 decision by the United States to cease providing military aid to Barbados and other Caribbean area nations who refused to sign agreements exempting US troops from prosecution under the International Criminal Court ended up being nothing more that a gift to Communist China.

After the U.S. tried to “punish” Barbados and the other nations, China happily stepped in and showered the Caribbean with military equipment, training and co-operation.

Now, after having left the party in a hissy-fit, the gorgeous but ill-tempered Miss America wants to come back and dance with her old boyfriend. She has announced that she will give Mr. Barbados a kiss and maybe even allow a hand on her knee.

Oh, what excitement! But will Mr. Barbados give up that new Oriental girlfriend and go back with the rich man’s daughter? Who knows!

Excerpts from the Barbados Advocate…

The United States government has reversed a 2003 decision which prevented Barbados and several other countries across the Caribbean and the world, from receiving military aid because of their failure to sign the “Article 98″ agreements to ensure that US troops are not prosecuted under the International Criminal Court (ICC).

…

The US cut military aid to 35 countries that failed to sign exemptions in July 2003, including the Caribbean countries; Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. …

…Meanwhile, the US argued that its decision was necessary to protect its troops on missions abroad who could be subjected to politically motivated trials. The unpopular move to suspend military aid was expected to eliminate important funding for counter-narcotics and anti-terrorism operations in the Caribbean.

…read the full article at the Barbados Advocate. Link following…

http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=28125

Bajans and Tourists Choose Quiet When They Have The Choice

Shouldn’t Each Of Us Have A Choice About Noise?

Traffic jams, noise, vehicle exhaust, increasing crime, bad manners, heggling (that’s heggle, not haggle), water quality & sewerage problems and all the other “changes” that Bajans have come to know over the last couple of decades are taking their toll on this island’s economy and quality of life.

Although we can each do something in a small way about each of these issues, to be effective, one has to pick an issue or two and be a standard-bearer.

For Carl Moore and his friends, the issue is noise and noise pollution, so they formed the Society for a Quieter Barbados. Here is what they have to say on their website…

“The Society for a Quieter Barbados (SQB) was founded in December 2002 with a stated purpose: to foster recognition of the right to quiet as a basic human right; to promote awareness of the ever-increasing problem of noise pollution in Barbados and the dangers of noise to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being; to work for reduction of noise through better regulation and enforcement of existing laws; to encourage responsible behaviour by Government agencies, corporate entities and individuals; and to advocate and lobby for the expansion of relevant legislation…”

Drop by and see what they have to say (quietly, of course!).

Shhhhh!

http://www.sqb.org.bb/