Lapdog Nation News Talks About 100 Day Deadline – Gives Thompson A Soft Touch, Fails To Mention Integrity Legislation, Broken Promise Of Ministerial Code

Woof Woof – Yes Massa Thompson!

The 100 day deadline for the Thompson Barbados Government’s election promises is fast approaching and the lapdog Nation News has already begun to soften the public’s expectations. Yup… there’s nothing so welcome by a group of politicians as a newspaper that is willing to help manage fallout from broken promises!

It didn’t take the owners and editors of the Nation News very long to switch their allegiance from the defeated BLP to the newly elected DLP. (Sigh… if they could only remember that their allegiance is supposed to be to their profession and the people of Barbados.)

You should read the entire disgusting editorial yourself (link here), but here is a sample of the tone and intent…

“But the reality is, even if Government does not have much to report, the fact that it has stuck its necks out to address issues with some degree of urgency is commendable.

What Barbadians must realise is that there is a big difference between talking about what you will do when you win Government, and being able to achieve those goals when you actually have power. This is the reality with which the DLP is battling.”

… from a disgusting Nation News editorial softening up public expectations for the Thompson Government. (link here)

Not a word about ITAL – Integrity, Transparency, Accountability Legislation

Not a word about David Thompson’s broken promise to adopt a Ministerial Code “immediately” upon forming a government. (see BFP’s Barbados Government Ministers Free To Accept “Gifts” From Persons Wanting Government Approvals Or Contracts)

Not a word about the lack of transparency and the ethics concerning Thompson’s use of a business jet owned by an entity doing business with the Barbados government.

Not a word about the recent land approvals given in contravention of Thompson’s promise that a 2/3 majority of the House would be necessary to switch land permissions from agricultural use.

Not a word demanding answers about wrong-doing by the previous BLP government. What about the GEMS Hotels audit? What about the jail contract with the corrupt builder VECO?

The Nation News – Traitors to the people of Barbados

We Add Barbados West Coast Blog To Our Sidebar

Who broke the story of Holetown Chefette being sold over a month before the Barbados newspapers?

Barbados West Coast Blog, that’s who!

We have a feeling that the writer of West Coast Blog might be in a different income level than the folks who live around Grape Hall, but just as it takes all of us to make this island work it takes a team of different types of bloggers to provide the type of coverage and variety of subjects that the old news media can’t touch.

Head over to Barbados West Coast Blog and have a read.

Barbados West Coast Blog – Home

Article: Bye Bye Chefette Holetown

Letter From Africa – Six Maasai Warriors To Run London Marathon This Sunday

Barbados Free Press received the following letter from an old friend. Of course we’ll run the story…

Hi everyone!

I know it’s been quite awhile since I’ve spoken to or seen some of you, but I just wanted to pass this on.

The Maasai I was living with in Tanzania, along with Greenforce (the organization I originally went to Africa with), hatched a plan to run in the London Marathon to raise money and awareness for their village. They’re hoping to be able to build wells to get access to clean water. They actually came up with the plan while I was there, but it’s taken a couple years to finally come to a fruition. At one point, even (name deleted) herself was involved, as there were plans to make an accompanying documentary and I thought she might be interested or know some contacts. (I’m not sure if the doc ended up happening, but at one point BBC was interested.)

Anyway, the 6 Maasai warriors have arrived in London to run the Marathon this Sunday. It’s a pretty unbelievable story. I’m linking a short CNN video that has some great scenes of them navigating the wonders of London (keep in mind they’ve never really left their village, which consists of a few spread-out huts in the middle of nowhere!). I lived with and taught English to 3 of the guys in the video (including Isaya, the one who taught us Maasai when we first arrived in Arusha, and the one speaking in this video), and met the other 3 while I was there. It’s hard to believe they’re now in London as we speak!

Apparently, and not surprisingly, they’ve been getting a fair bit of media attention since their arrival.

Given your help in getting me to Africa in first place, I thought you might enjoy seeing the Maasai I told you about in the (video) flesh, and at the very least, it’s quite a fascinating story. Hope you enjoy!

And here’s the link to the story behind the marathon, and what a success it’s been so far (they’ve raised more than £26,000 so far!!).

www.maasaimarathon.org

The CNN video is HERE or click the photo above

Hope everyone is doing well!
All the best,

Deacon’s Farm and Rosemont Housing: Time To Send Your Dead Fridge To Appliance Heaven!

Dead Fridges Can Be Made Happy Again!

Town Hall Meeting on Bulky Waste at Deacon’s Primary School

Next Wednesday 16th April 2008

The Blackrock Polyclinic with the Barbados Ministries of Environment & Health will be hosting a Town Hall meeting at the Deacon’s Primary School, 1st Ave. Bird’s River, St Michael at 7:00 pm on Wednesday 16th April 2008.

This meeting is for the following districts only – the Deacon’s Farm and Rosemont Housing areas – persons from these communities will be told about a bulky waste cleaning campaign for the Farm and Rosemont during April 21st to 25th.

Talks at Deacon’s Primary will be given by – the Sanitation Service Authority, the Environmental Protection Department, the Solid Waste Project Unit and the Vector Control Unit.

Bulky waste items consist of old appliances like fridges and ovens as well as similar metallic items like galvanise as well as old furniture or other wooden or plastic items, etc.

These items are to be set near your regular refuse by no later than 2:00 pm of Sunday 20th April 2008, please separate your bulky waste items into wood and other items in one pile and another for only metal objects.

Once again, all residents from the Deacon’s Farm and Rosemont Housing areas are asked to make a special effort to attend Deacon’s Primary at seven o’clock, Wednesday night on 16th April 2008. Together, we can all keep Barbados clean!

Sunday April 20th Is Dead Appliance Day For Deacon’s Farm & Rosemont Housing – THIS MEANS YOU, MR. PHILLIPS!