Central Bank of Barbados still hiding from news media

That’s Governor ‘Weasel Words’ Worrell on the right… er, left!

Over a year ago Dr. DeLisle Worrell, the head thug of the Central Bank of Barbados, took issue with a Nation News story about the central bank.

So did Worrell ask the paper for space to present his thoughts to the citizens? Did he demand an apology, retraction or correction? Did he write an article to be published in the media or on the bank’s website?

Nope… Worrell banned Nation journalists from all bank events. Worrell wants to control what the press says about him and banning them was his stupid, thuggish reaction to an article he disagreed with.

This is so typical of the Bajan elites’ contempt for freedom of the press and the right of citizens to hold government officials and institutions accountable.

Journalist Ian Bourne

Then the central bank issued a press release in an attempt to backpedal, but as our friend Ian Bourne of Bajan Reporter points out, the Central Bank of Barbados hasn’t held a quarterly statement media briefing since then.

Bajan Reporter is sticking to its guns and hasn’t published the bank’s quarterly reports, and won’t until the institution resumes press briefings. In return, the bank has cut off advertising revenues to The Bajan Reporter, but as Bourne says, he will not sacrifice his dignity at the alter of CBB’s coffers.

And as Worrell is showing – once a thug, always a thug.

Check out The Bajan Reporter for the whole story on how the Central Bank of Barbados is failing to be accountable and transparent to citizens and government alike: Bajan Reporter will carry CBB’s media statements as soon as Quarterly Press Conferences resume.

The government we deserve…

Many of our politicians have fallen short of their promises, or have done great injury to their stewardship. In some cases, they have shown to be less than scrupulous in their management of our affairs. Yet we reward them with more time for embarrassment. Our only excuse, perhaps, is that within the context of our democracy there must be a Government –– good, bad or indifferent.

But how can we explain retaining any Government that seizes land compulsorily and breaches the law by refusing to pay for it? How can we contemplate returning the same Government to power that squanders more than $300 million on failed projects? How can we give succour to any leader who fails to discipline a parliamentary colleague brought to public shame by the highest court in the land?

How can we forgive any Government that has ravaged our agriculture sector? How can we forgive politicians who facilitate construction contracts without a bidding process? How can we be satisfied with leadership that doesn’t boast of achievements, but wallows in lofty verbosity, smug claims of not reading newspapers and punishing dissenters with laughter?

How can we not ask for accountability in situations where some politicians possess six high-end cars, obtained on Government salaries that are common knowledge in the Official Gazette? How can millions of dollars be spirited away from an insurance company and our Attorney General not demand a criminal investigation by the police? How can a state-appointed insurance supervisory body fail to carry out its mandate to the detriment of thousands of policyholders and no heads roll? How can an Auditor General annually expose instances of fraud and blatant theft and yet no one is held to account?

… read the entire editorial at Barbados Today – Getting the governance we deserve

Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite is a LIAR

It’s an old story, an old lie, but it’s still true that Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and his DLP gang lied to get elected and then lied again to get re-elected.

They said they would put Conflict of Interest rules in place immediately upon election. They lied.

They said they would pass Integrity Legislation within 100 days of election. They lied.

They said they would pass Freedom of Information laws. They lied.

Brathwaite is a liar.

And we’re going to continue telling like it is.

Come and get us Brathwaite. YOU ARE A DAMNED LIAR.

And here’s the proof…

Barbados Attorney General admits Integrity Legislation is dead, dead, dead

Lost your job recently? Tough luck… your first Solid Waste Tax payment is due at the end of June

New tax heaps insult upon injury

About to be unleashed on tens of thousands of Barbados Property owners is a new Tax that over time will cost thousands of dollars per household. Slipped into Parliament, approved and now to be implemented by month end, the first Solid Waste Tax installment is due by the end of June.

Please correct me, but were we not already paying taxes that the government said supported waste collection?

Where are people going to get the money to pay this new onerous tax?

Madness… this is what people in other countries take to the streets for! Help!

BLP Senator Wilfred Abrahams sees the harm coming…

“There are people in Barbados who do not have $215 to pay to keep on the electricity, to keep on the water… I do not believe that legislation aimed at raising revenue should catch people like pensioners. There is a reason they were excluded from Land Tax, there is a reason that concessions are usually being given in respect of pensioners. Why are we dragging them into this catch all?”

Senator Wilfred Abrahams talks to the Barbados Advocate

Meanwhile, Government Senator Maxine McClean says another tax is no problem so shut up.

First Solid Waste Tax Installment Due Month End
Dated June 11, 2014

Property owners are advised that the first installment of the new Municipal Solid Waste Tax should be paid by month-end.

Revenue Commissioner of the Barbados Revenue Authority, Margaret Sivers, said property owners would be allowed to pay the new tax in two equal installments.

Tennyson Joseph: DeLisle Worrell’s folly

Tin-pot dictator, Insecure, drunk on power…

“To issue a ban and to accuse the Nation of “lack of professional integrity” is burning a house to kill an ant. Banning a media house for a misleading headline is the kind of action associated with backward tin-pot dictators, rather than very intelligent, highly placed civil servants.

In a context of authoritarian political leadership, our leading public servants must lift the political culture above the paranoid vindictiveness we associate with insecure politicians, drunk on power…”

Good reading at the Trinidad Express – Tennyson Joseph: DeLisle Worrell’s folly

A new model of Governance for Barbados

by David Comissiong

During the 2013 General Election season the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) spent millions of dollars on a propaganda campaign that was designed to convince you – the people of Barbados  – that the DLP was profoundly committed to maintaining all existing jobs in the public sector of Barbados.

They used the millions of dollars given to them by un-named wealthy “donors” on advertisements and public meetings in which they assured you that a vote for the DLP was a vote to preserve public sector jobs, and that a vote for the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) would be a vote for privatisation of public entities and loss of public sector jobs!

Indeed, they even went beyond this and actually created additional public sector jobs during the year leading up to the General Elections!

Now, a few months later, the leaders of the DLP have callously and unabashedly informed you that there are too many persons employed in the public sector ; that over 5,000 of these jobs are being cut; and that — in the words of Minister Donville Inniss – the decision to cut these jobs was not a tough decision to make!  This, mind you, is the same Donville Inniss that is a member of the largest and highest paid Cabinet in the history of Barbados – the same Donville Inniss who publicly rubbished the proposal that Ministers of Government should take a salary cut!

Well, there you have it!  Once again you have been taken for a ride!    

LPG prices up Sunday midnight, but we’re not supposed to know until 7pm

Barbados Government Information Service: This press release EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:00 P.M Sunday February 20

LPG PRICES UP AGAIN

There has been a slight increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Effective midnight, Sunday, February 20, the retail cost of LPG will be increased in keeping with the imported price of petroleum products.  As a consequence, the 100-pound cylinder will now be retailed at $155.02 – an increase of 42 cents.  The 25-pound cylinder will now cost $41.40, up by 11 cents; while the 20-pound cylinder will now be retailed at $33.12 – an increase of 9 cents. (AR/BGIS)

Barbados prepares for a new political party – Part 1 – How the Integrity, Transparency and Accountability standards changed for DLP supporters

First in the New BFP Series: Preparing for a new political party

When Barbados Free Press burst upon the Bajan political scene back in January of 2006, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) supporters embraced our call for Integrity, Transparency and Accountability (ITAL) in government and legislation to force compliance by the political elites. When we highlighted specific acts of corruption by the then BLP Arthur/Mottley government our DLP friends joined in the call for accountability, criminal charges and generally for heads to roll and effective laws to be implemented.

Domain name “www.barbadosfreepress.com” secured for the DLP!

Many hardcore DLP supporters, including our old (but now estranged) friend Jerome Hinds, were convinced that Barbados Free Press was an arm of their beloved DLP.

I think it was Jerome Hinds himself who advised us during a little tête–à-tête in 2006 that the domain name “barbadosfreepress.com” had been secured for the DLP so that the BFP team could “go public” after the DLP won the next election.

That was then… when Jerome & the DLP thought BFP’s staff members were DLP first and Bajans second.

But as Jerome and the other DLP diehards soon found out after the January 2008  DLP election victory, Barbados Free Press is the real thing: non-aligned citizens calling for ITAL and a dethroning of the political elites who for too long have treated our country like their own little bank account.

What the DLP & their supporters said before they were elected

Barbados Free Press and its readers continue to attack Prime Minister Thompson’s DLP government for lack of integrity, transparency and accountability. We want answers as to what became of the billions of our tax dollars that disappeared during the BLP government’s 14 years in office. We want answers about VECO’s corrupt activities in Barbados. We want to know who received VECO money when the oil terminal and prison were built. We want answers about GEMS, Hardwood Housing, highway construction, the FBI files, illegal payments to politicians and so much more.

Jerome Hinds and his fellow hardcore DLP friends used to want the same.

What happened to change your mind, Jerome? The DLP winning the election and achieving power?

Ya, that’s what we thought…

From Jerome Hinds’ October 5, 2007 comment on BFP’s article Government Says: Barbados Free Press, Barbados Underground Are Unpatriotic…

Jerome Hinds

October 5, 2007 at 7:15 pm

It is amazing how these BLP scoundrels are behaving !

You gave the people education……..but by the same token they must not ask you the government to account for your shady deals !

** Where is the promised audited accounts for GEMS ?

** Where did the proceeds from the sale of Silver Rock & Eastry House go ?

** Now Mr. Prime Minister, about that $750,000 “campaign donation cheque” that you deposited into your personal bank account … ?

** Now Mr. Prime Minister, where is the FBI file you told Barbadians was on your desk ?

Doan mind doh…….the BLOGS gine stay pun yuh case ?

Yuh check how Keith Mitchell in Grenada bawling……bout the POWER of the PRESS…..?

Freedom to BFP & BU……!

Death to the cruel deeds of Owen Arthur’s Administration !

Barbados government continues to pour good money after bad into GEMS Hotels fiasco

The Nation newspaper says the Government of Barbados now has $150 million into Hotels and Resorts – otherwise known as the GEMS scandal – after pouring in another $3 million.

I’m not sure I believe the Nation. I think it’s a lot more than $150 million of our tax money has been poured down that hole in the ground – and that’s not counting all the “free” marketing and subsidies that have been thrown at GEMS over the years through the Barbados Tourism Authority budget. (Oh… they thought we stupid taxpayers missed that trick for hiding the expenditures!)

Wouldn’t it be nice (or at least useful) if citizens could put in a freedom of information request to learn how much of our money has been put into this failed business model?

What do you think folks? Is $150 million a believable figure for how much we’ve lost through GEMS Hotels or is there more to it?

Nation News article: $1.1 million Arch Cot bill

Barbados Government On Integrity Legislation: “Not until we’ve pigged out at the public trough for a few more years”

We Told You So…

At the last moment in the 2007 election campaign, David Thompson and the DLP were dragged kicking and screaming into announcing they would introduce Integrity Legislation and Freedom of Information laws within 100 days of taking office in January, 2008 – and also “immediately” declare a Ministerial Code with conflict of interest rules.

We had our doubts – especially when it appeared that Thompson’s commitment included doing some last minute cut and pasting off the internet for his then-proposed legislation – but Thompson and the DLP gave the promise in writing. Like many citizens we took him at his word, held our noses and voted.

What suckers we were. Thompson took office and did not “immediately” declare a Ministerial Code as he had promised to do, and the 100 days came and went without ITAL.

In June of 2008, the DLP Thompson government announced that the promised Integrity, Transparency and Accountability laws (ITAL) would be in final draft form by the end of 2008. (BFP June 25, 2008 article here)

That was over a year ago and now we are being told that the draft legislation won’t see Parliament until 2010.

In today’s Advocate, Senator Orlando Marville explains the process of Integrity and Freedom of Information legislation to us poor dumb citizens. It’s all very complex, you see. Takes a lot of time, you see. After the draft legislation goes to Parliament for a first look, then the legislation will have to be sent back for “corrections”, then back to “the drafter” then “back to Cabinet” who “would take some time to examine the document.” (Barbados Advocate: Drafts Complete)

Yup… and that will no doubt bring us heading into 2011 and the next election campaign. Maybe. If we’re lucky.

Thompson Didn’t Even Keep The Simplest and Easiest Of His ITAL Promises: An Immediate Code of Conduct Policy Announcement

Meanwhile, the piggies of the DLP Thompson Government continue to operate without the Code of Conduct that David Thompson promised would be declared IMMEDIATELY upon taking office in January of 2008. That code of conduct would have prevented, for instance, a government official from issuing government contracts to a company owned by the government official or a close family member. David Thompson and the DLP promised that IN WRITING during the campaign.

David Thompson lied. You see, once the DLP had the power of government and the cheque book in their hands, that was the end of making that simple policy declaration that Thompson promised.

Friends, we’re not talking about the Integrity Legislation or FOI law that he promised in 100 days. Nope… we’re talking about a simple policy change that Thompson promised to make on day one. No legislation required, just a simple government policy order – but Thompson didn’t do it because his Cabinet and his party rebelled when he brought it up. So much for leadership. So much for a real commitment to integrity by the Democratic Labour Party.

Have no doubts, folks. The sharing of the fatted calf will continue right up to the next election so Thompson and the DLP can continue to feed at the public trough without worrying about integrity laws. Then, at the last moment, the DLP may try to pass some weak integrity and FOI legislation with holes so big that a cruise ship with Mia Mottley on deck could slide through.

My fellow citizens: this latest Barbados Advocate article is the same song and dance that was published in the papers in June of 2008 with Thompson broke his “100 days” promise. The lies mean nothing anymore.

Senator Marville: If, as you say, the draft Integrity Legislation and Freedom of Information laws are ready, release them publicly so citizens can have the time to carefully study the legislation.

You see, we citizens don’t trust the politicians. We believe the law will be carefully crafted for the benefit of the politicians, not for the good of Barbados.

Further Reading

December 29, 2008: Thanks To Prime Minister David Thompson, Barbados Government Officials Can Still Use Their Office For Personal Profit

September 19, 2008: Conversations About Integrity And The Current DLP Piggies In Government

July 19, 2008: Ho Hum – Another ‘Special Forensic Audit’ To Nowhere In Barbados

June 25, 2008: UPDATED: Barbados Government Says Integrity, Freedom Of Information and Defamation Laws In A Year Or So – Or Maybe Two Years

William Duguid Re-appears In Barbados Parliament – Speaks… but not about his Canada Permanent Residency Application

Has William Duguid applied for Canadian Permanent Residency or not?

Barbados Labour Party MP Dr. William Duguid has been quite prominent in the last few days in and out of Parliament. This flurry of activity was no doubt the result of recent reports here and in the Nation that Dr. Duguid had been neglecting Parliament and his constituents while “visiting family” in Canada. (See BFP’s Dr. Duguid Returns To Barbados – Fails To Address THE QUESTION: Did William Duguid Apply For Canadian Immigration?)

Questions are naturally on people’s minds: Is their absent MP getting ready to pull the ejection handles from Barbados and the BLP? Is he trying to live a dual life between Canada and Barbados so he can complete the little time remaining to receive a full pension? Is it fair that constituents elected a full time Member of Parliament but now have a part-time MP whose focus is wavering?

The island press, Interim Opposition leader Mia Mottley and Duguid himself made things worse instead of better by tap-dancing all around the question of whether or not the Member of Parliament for Christ Church West has applied for permanent residency in Canada.

Nobody in the regular media has asked the question directly of Dr. Duguid or interim BLP leader Mia Mottley.

So how about it, Dr. Duguid? How about some direct and honest communication with the people of Barbados? Frankly, as far as we’re concerned at BFP we’d be prepared to cut you some slack if you were forthright about your intentions, worked hard while you are in Barbados and publicly announce your on-island/off-island schedule.

How about it, Dr. Duguid… Have you applied for permanent residency in Canada? Do you intend to? Do you intend to complete your term?

Thanks!

Is Rihanna About To Do Something Stupid? Rihanna & Chris Brown Attend Orlando NBA Game – Separately

At the MTV Awards The Night Of The Assault

We Hope Rihanna Isn’t Getting Stupes Again!

People Magazine reported yesterday (Thursday) morning that Rihanna and Chris Brown would be sitting together last night at Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Orlando. When game time arrived sure enough they were both there – but sitting far apart.

How unusual that both should end up at the same game, and that it should be reported in the press beforehand. Then again, Tiger Woods, Chris Tucker and Hulk Hogan also attended the game so its not as if its unknown to have multiple celebrities at an NBA Final.

But still…

What happened? Did Rihanna and Chris Brown initially intend to sit together and then change their minds after the publicity?

I hope that Rihanna hasn’t decided to “forgive and forget” after the famous incident last February when it is alleged that Brown beat her and left her by the side of the road. Rihanna has been subpoenaed to testify against Chris Brown at his June 22, 2009 preliminary hearing on assault charges.

Rihanna Fans: Before you leave Barbados Free Press, please take the time to read the following…

Help Rihanna’s Home Island Save The Last Mangrove Forest…

For any of Rihanna’s fans who are interested in knowing about her home island of Barbados and the kind of natural, quiet and peaceful place that Bajans need once in a while, please visit the website of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary and also the Graeme Hall National Park.

We’re in a battle here to save the last natural area on the south of our island. The Government and their land developer friends want to turn the Graeme Hall wetlands into a row of highrise condos, golf course and water park. This is the last Mangrove Forest on the island!

Please help raise awareness around the world.

You can also help by joining the Facebook Group: Save The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary.

Thank you from the ordinary people of Barbados!

Here are a few background stories…

How The Barbados Government Is Stealing Graeme Hall National Park From Our Children – With The Help Of The News Media

Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary Closing – Canadian Philanthropist Gives Up On Barbados – World-Class Eco-Tourism Attraction, 85+ Jobs Gone

Barbados Government Confirms Plans To Develop Graeme Hall Wetlands. Thompson’s Million-Dollar Lie

Impotent and Frustrated Barbados Auditor General Rages Against The Political Machine – And Bajan Culture

UPDATED: March 13, 2010

Folks, read what the Auditor General had to say last June and then ask yourself: Has anything changed since then? Has anyone been charged?

Original article as published June 9, 2009…

“There is general consensus that something has to be done. How we go forward from here, I am not too sure that we know how to go forward. But we concede that something has to be done. It just cannot keep going on like this all the time“

… Barbados Auditor General Leigh Trotman talks about zero accountability for corrupt and incompetent government officials in The Nation article Trio’s Call

Auditor General Leigh Trotman’s Unprecedented Media Statements Reveal His Disgust For Two Corrupt Barbados Governments

Barbados has a serious and deep-rooted problem with corruption that is eating away at the health of our society and polluting the thinking and behaviour of coming generations. Rather than fighting this trend, our leaders empower corrupt individuals through refusing to hold them accountable. In a culture of corruption where “sharing the fatted calf“ is the expected prize of an election victory, all parties are frightened to throw the first stone.

Both the current DLP Thompson administration and the past Arthur/Mottley government have done everything they can to shield corrupt and incompetent individuals in government from being held accountable. According to the current Auditor General’s report, government officials now have so little fear of the Auditor General that they often don’t bother to respond at all to official demands for documentation and records. (eg: Auditor General’s Report 2008, reference 3.157 page 79)

Reader Letter: Barbados Turf Club Received Millions, Taxes Up – Nothing For Education

Dear Barbados Free Press,

First let me say thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I have been watching how things are changing in Barbados but it seems to be only helping the government and the rich.

Take for example, on November 20th, 2008, government wrote of a debt of $19.1 MILLION dollars for the Barbados Turf club.

Road tax for all private vehicles jumped from $265.00 to $404.01, larger vehicles $1060.00 to $1600.00. Food prices also went up like we didn’t see that coming.

With this said, Prime Minister David Thompson, decided to raise the student revolving loan from $50, 000 to $100, 000, which after more than a year still hasn’t officially been implemented. I am one of those whose education will benefit dearly from this. However, each time I call the office they say they are awaiting funds, was the government awaiting funds for the turf club also when they decided to write of their debt of $19.1 million dollars to stay in someone’s good graces? I am sure if any other business operating in Barbados owed that amount of money, would have either been shut down or further more they would not have been allowed to accumulate that high a debt in the first instance.

I have also taken the other steps to call the Higher Learning Center (Ministry of Education), which deals with the National Development Scholarship, generally available in May, I was only to be told by staff “Oh dat ent ready yet, call back in June!” The lack of care, customer service, and wanting for this island to be know for its excellence in education and leadership is thoroughly DISSAPOINTING.

The Ministry of Education has continued in the past few years, despite which ever government is in, with NOT helping to nurture persons who wish to further their studies overseas and return to develop their country. This government proved that a $19.1 million write off is much easier, than investing into THE FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE IN BARBADOS.

Time To Obtain Justice In Barbados Courts: 17 Years… or Never

Caribbean Court of Justice Hammers Barbados Courts Again

Looking for justice in Barbados? Don’t hold your breath. Barbados courts can move swiftly if the ruling party needs a judgment or some stamp of approval on the expropriation of land, but if it is not in the interest of certain elites, court cases can drag on for decades.

The courts in Barbados have always been a highly politicized but this reality moved to new heights during the BLP government when then-Prime Minister Owen Arthur appointed his long time political colleague and Attorney General as the Chief Justice of Barbados. The move effectively consolidated the power of the government and the courts under the control of Barbados political elites – and the image of both the courts and the Office of the Chief Justice have never recovered.

Chief Justice Simmons - Career Politician Is No Independent Judge!

Certainly when David Anthony Cathcart Simmons agreed to accept the position from his old friend Owen Arthur, the act brought the administration of justice in Barbados into disrepute. It is the very presence of a career politician, former Attorney General and former Acting Prime Minister as Chief Justice that warns ordinary people that they haven’t a hope of seeing justice in Barbados. (See David Simmons’ bio here. Very impressive career politician!)

But what is the image of our Justice System and our country compared to raw power and personal ambition? No matter, in Barbados the courts, the judges, the prosecutors and the government are all the same. One might even be able to throw the news media into the mix too.

And don’t forget, folks… Chief Justice Sir David Simmons also publicly stated that he wants to see all Barbados police and military personnel united into one agency under government control!

“It must be admitted that Chief Justice Sir David Simmons knows a thing or two about consolidation of power.”

We at Barbados Free Press continue to hammer the issue of the politicization of our courts because it is foundational to rights and freedoms for all in our country. When citizens or foreigners become involved in disputes with the elites or the government, they simply cannot rely upon Barbados courts to deliver independent, impartial and fair justice. In Barbados, the courts are often used as a blunt weapon to deny justice to victims. Oh, everything is done according to procedure: day by day, month by month, year by year and decade by decade until the weak die or give up.

And if the courts give a decision that the government of the day doesn’t like? The foreign investor is just as likely to see the army sent in with guns to overrule the court’s decision. They don’t usually print the story of Barbados Sea Island Cotton and Nitin Amersey in the local news!

That is the reality of our Barbados courts and it has been recognized again and again but nothing changes.

Here is the latest story. Just today’s story — but citizens and foreign investors alike should be aware that if they have a dispute with one of the Barbados elites or the government, this is what they are in for…

CCJ criticises island’s judiciary

by WADE GIBBONS

BARBADOS’ JUDICIARY has once again come in for sharp criticism from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over its tardiness.

The admonishment came during the recent judgement in an appeal brought by former chief electrical engineer Winton Campbell against the Office of The Attorney General. The CCJ’s final ruling marked almost 17 years that Campbell’s case had been making the rounds in the judicial system.

Following an enquiry into the Electrical Inspection Department, a report to Government in 1989 proposed a reorganisation and transferral of some of its functions to the Ministry of Transport and Works.

… continue reading this Nation article CCJ Criticises Island’s Judiciary

Further Reading

BFP – Oct 3, 2008: Would Bussa Have Accompanied Barbados Chief Justice and Prime Minister To Chinese Embassy Celebration?

BFP – July 25, 2008: Pastor Jippy Doyle – Barbados Child Sex Trial Finally Starts After 7 Years – Police Witness Died Weeks Ago!

BFP – July 16, 2008: How One Of The Richest Women In Barbados Was Robbed Of Everything By Scheming Lawyers, Politicians and Government Insiders

BFP – July 12, 2008: Rule Of Law Dead In Barbados: Government Allows Certain Companies To Ignore Laws

BFP – July 2, 2008: Child Rape Haven Barbados – 12-Year-Old Girl Raped Ten Years Ago, No Trial For Ten Years – Defense Lawyers Succeed In Subverting Courts

BFP – April 14, 2008: Chaotic & Corrupt Land Titles System Makes For Risky Real Estate Transactions In Barbados

BFP – Feb 28, 2008: Nation News Prints Damning Condemnation Of Barbados Justice System

BFP – Feb 3, 2008: Nitin Amersey – Sea Cotton Story: When The Barbados Government Sent In The Military To Overrule The Barbados Courts!

Keltruth Blog: Police, Army and Chief Justice in Barbados

Keltruth Blog: Barbados Government’s Treatment of Those who Dare to Complain

President & Mrs. Obama Release Income Tax Returns – Will Barbados Politicians Do The Same?

UPDATED: April 17, 2010

ONE YEAR SINCE we published this article about President Obama and his lovely wife releasing their tax returns for public scrutiny. That’s another year passed without the integrity, transparency and accountability laws that David Thompson and his DLP promised to implement “immediately upon taking office” in January of 2008.

Transparency? More like “cover up” especially regarding the CLICO scandal and the Prime Minister’s continuing protection of his old friend Leroy Parris. Some things never change ’bout hey. Now the problem becomes “Who do we vote for in the next election?” because – really – there is only one political party in Barbados.

So how about it Prime Minister Thompson… can we see your income tax filings too?

Here’s our original story published in April of 2009…

Bajans Got Fooled Again When They Believed David Thompson And The DLP

Barbadians were told that the David Thompson government would be “The most transparent, most accountable government Barbados has ever seen…”

Well, we all know what became of that, don’t we? We were promised integrity legislation, freedom of information, and a Ministerial code with conflict of interest rules. Instead, we are still a country without standards of conduct for elected and appointed government officials. It is still legal in Barbados for government officials to award government contracts to companies owned by themselves or their immediate family members.

David Thompson and the DLP government lied to us during their 2007 campaign. Their supporters, who so heavily criticized former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and his government for failing to introduce integrity legislation and conflicts of interest standards, remain silent one year two years and 100 days after David Thompson became Prime Minister of our country.

In the United States though, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have released six years of income tax returns.

It’s called Transparency, Accountability and Integrity.

Further Reading

TaxProf Blog: Obama Releases 2000-2006 Tax Returns

Reuters: Obama tax return reveals memoirs made millions

Barbados Government Bailed Out CLICO Even Though Company Failed To File Financial Statements

PM Thompson Says His Conflicts Of Interest Are None Of Your Business... but CLICO is getting an excellent return on loaning their corporate jet to David Thompson!

Barbados Prime Minister Thompson Was Lawyer For CLICO When They Failed To File Financials For 13 Years!

David Thompson and CLICO CEO Leroy Parris have had quite the cozy relationship and it just keeps getting better. Well, better for them anyway. Whether the relationship is healthy for the taxpayers of Barbados, that is another question. Especially after they read the new article by Keltruth that shines some light on a few areas the two gentlemen would probably rather not have mentioned.

Thompson was the lawyer for CLICO in 2004 when that company hadn’t filed financial statements for over a decade. CLICO Holdings (Barbados) Ltd. 1993 financial statements were filed in 2006!!!

Some of the CLICO sub-companies haven’t filed financial statements in years and years and some have NEVER FILED financial statements!

But Prime Minister David Thompson and his government are bailing them out anyway.

And it is the same with his rich horse-owner friends at the Barbados Turf Club where Thompy’s government bailed them out to the tune of $19 million dollars or so even though the latest financial statements on file are for the year 2004!

Keltruth Blog did proper searches at the government office and has copies of the corporate records to back up everything they have printed in their latest story.

Oversight? Rule of law? Accountability?

Cha! The DLP is handing out millions and millions of your tax dollars to bail out companies that don’t even keep or file their financial statements according to law.

Another disgusting illustration that electing the Thompson DLP government changed nothing except to provide a new bunch of piggies with their time at the public trough.

Keltruth Blog: Did Thompson’s DLP Have Audited Financials for the Companies that they Bailed Out?

Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary – 85 Employees To Be Terminated, Barbados Government’s Double Standard Against Canadian Philanthropist

Sanctuary officials confirmed that there was still no word from Government on their intentions regarding the future of the Sanctuary…

…Saying that that the future of the Sanctuary and Graeme Hall National Park is in the hands of the Government of Barbados, Allard believes that the Friends of Graeme Hall and the citizens of Barbados must decide what their priorities are.  “We have great affection and regard for the people of Barbados.  This has been an incredibly painful and saddening decision, but ultimately it is not for us to initiate or set national goals and long term environmental legacies for the nation.”

… from a press release by Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary covered at Bajan Reporter

The Double Standard From Prime Minister Thompson

It seems that David Thompson and other Ministers of the Barbados Government have been everywhere lately trying to save jobs and convince businesses and investors not to cut back on employment in these hard times. Whether talking with LIME about keeping a hundred jobs at the call center open, addressing business people at the Chamber of Commerce, giving away tens of millions to rich horse owners and Thompson’s close friend and legal client Leroy Parris, or making secret deals and guarantees to keep the Four Seasons project abuilding, the Barbados Government has been in frenzied efforts to save jobs everywhere.

Everywhere that is, except for the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary where the Government of Barbados has not even bothered to send a letter or make a phone call to the management.

Why the Double Standard?

On Wednesday, Barbados Free Press will present a compelling argument (complete with visual evidence) that the Government of Barbados is carrying out a strategy designed to allow certain friends of government to make huge profits from Graeme Hall: the last natural green space between the airport and the city. This profit will come at the expense of the citizens of Barbados who will be denied their Graeme Hall National Park. To effectively carry out the plan, the Barbados government would like to seize land from Peter Allard – the Canadian philanthropist who offered to GIVE the land to people of Barbados as part of a National Park.

The Barbados government is happy to have the gift of the land of course – but government officials want no strings so they can later sell or lease the land to friends and family members in their quest for personal wealth.

Don’t forget to visit BFP on Friday for part 2 of this article, with details that should interest every foreign investor and foreign landowner in Barbados. If it can happen to Canadian Allard (and a few others we’ll talk about) it could happen to you!

Meanwhile, head over to Bajan Reporter for the story of the layoffs and the full press release…

Bajan Reporter: BREAKING NEWS – Final Employee Termination Schedule At Sanctuary, Let’s Try And Stop This Please