ANY NATIONALITY CAN PLAY?
Peter Morgan and Aaron Truss were two Bajan Cabinet Ministers who were not Barbadian as far as I am aware, I may write under correction – I also learned Thursday night that both David Thompson and Michael Lashley were born in England, but as far as I know their parents are Bajan.
How is it anyone has not sought out the situation of Mara Thompson’s nationality (Her St Lucian accent was still very present when she addressed thousands of ‘St Johnians‘)? What does the constitution of Barbados say with regards to family of extraneous nationality holding significant positions in this country? In the USA, they are very clear – a citizen running for office should at least be born in the USA – look at how in America there is still controversy surrounding the Birth Certificate of Barack Obama, since his Kenyan father held a UK citizenry, and if that affects Obama’s nationality?
It is rather ironic when one recalls the late David Thompson’s vigorous and assiduous desire to remove all illegal Guyanese and keep Barbados for Bajans, huh?
What does Barbados now have in common with the Phillipines? Widows who continue their late spouse’s causes some for good like Corazon Aquino and some for personal aggrandisement like Imelda Marcos, now Barbados may create a third such phenomenon where the wife follows her hubby’s political ambitions to fulfil his final wishes. The opening night for Mara Thompson (Check Video Gallery for her speech as raw footage) as the Democratic Labour Party candidate for St John was reminiscent of the aphorism from Charles Dickens – simultaneously one experienced the best and worst – in this case, the slings and arrows of Political Drama.
CARTOON CHARACTER IN PERIL
Senator Jepter Ince needs voice lessons, really, his screeching made me think of Mickey Mouse caught in a trap and begging for his life… The microphone is already boosting your voice, so why yell, to prove how sycophantic you can be? This was sad as he brought up good points – how can Owen Arthur be busy with the By-Election if he’s trying to find files he’s not sure were stolen?
WHAT IS TRUE STATE OF TREASURY?
Denis Kellman, the new Environment Minister made an odd comment… As you know, there are some Bajans who are yet to receive either 2009 or 2010 Tax Rebates and one of the rumours was there’s no fundage in the Treasury… So when Kellman exhorted the myriad ‘St Johnians‘ present that night to make sure all 8,000 votes went to Mara this was his reasoning behind it {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
Why does the Treasury need money? To finally pay of all overdue Income Tax Refunds? Kellman’s reasoning behind why a BLP survey claims St John is poor because they never begged Owen Arthur or Tom Adams for anything, by maintaining their Independence they were made to appear as ‘poor‘ to the rest of the Island.
ONLY BY-ELECTION, NO “SNAP POLL’S”
Esther Byer-Suckoo‘s contribution was to dispel any ideas there were plans by the ruling DLP to have a ‘Snap Poll‘ {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
She was also amazed at how the BLP called for a footpath in Bath when the Dem’s just made a Highway alongside the same are, she also cited the Gall Hill pavilion as another David Thompson accomplishment. The DEMS that night kept referring to two themes – one was how Owen did Mia wrong and the BLP is in disarray and at the same time they were flourishing the spectre of St David every chance they got, even some diehard Dems were heard saying that such morbidity needs to be stopped as they are here for Mara the next generation and not to mourn David all over again.
ASSAULTED 4 YEARS AGO?
Michael Lashley made a number of harsh and unsubstantiated claims which had the crowd rocking that night, he says a key BLP member seems to have a skeleton in their closet from 2007. Lashley also insinuated a previous BLP candidate cut a deal for Bath beachfront property at 99 years with what he implied was “peppercorn rent” – he was obviously hinting at the period in August to September last year when he was at the centre of hotbed over where contracts were awarded for housing.
Jumping ahead a bit, at the end of the evening – current PM Freundel Stuart defended Lashley saying that all DEM Housing Ministers have come under attack from the Bees for doing their job; it’s not that Lashley wasn’t giving houses to Bajans but how were the contracts awarded and what terms they were built under?
IS THERE A POLYCLINIC IN ST JOSEPH?
When Chris Sinckler made his contribution, he was quick to point out how Dale Marshall in St Joseph had an opportunity to build a Polyclinic in his own constituency and ignored it {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
MASCOLL SAID TO BE ON THE RISE – DO GEORGE & DALE KNOW?
Sinckler also pledged that UWI’s funding remains as is and he was misquoted by Media. Then Hartley Henry, a failed candidate for St George but eventually personal consultant to St David at thousands of dollars from Barbados’ tax coffers, made intriguing assertions about St Thomas which George Payne and Dale Marshall need to pay strict heed {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
If, as Henry says, that Mascoll is gaining the other ‘safe seat‘ of St Thomas (In Barbados political myths, St John is perpetually for Dems no matter what; whereas St Thomas is viewed to be perpetually Barbados Labour Party) and he was once considered by Owen Arthur as “Co-Leader” of the BLP, then where does this leave the engineers of the Gang Of Five?
LONG SPEECHES AFTER KEYNOTE ADDRESS = ANTI-CLIMAX
Mara finally spoke about ten or 10:30-ish and she was intro’d by Hartley Henry and welcomed by Freundel Stuart, he mother and her daughters also came out and everyone was bouncing to the strains of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family“, her speech was about 24 minutes all told and very succinct…
Unlike Prime Minister Stuart.
He talked and he talked – also dismissing any “Snap Poll” charges and implying that that is a Bee tactic.
When you thought he was done, he talked even more?
He seems fond of Classical literature, one would think he’d browse Shakespeare’s Hamlet once in a while and come across Polonius’ dry yet succinct admonition? “BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT.” I heard he collapsed after the campaign and I am sorry to hear that, perhaps if he kept his soliloquy shorter he could have attended his own needs even better?
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