This what you’ve been waiting for, a look back at what was hot or not at Bajan Reporter in the previous 12 months. This is a Top 10 list with the another 10 plus certain other categories as Honourable Mentions…

At the end of 2014, we showed you what was by far the top Meme created on Facebook which was concerning the plight of Reverend Charles Morris.

TOP SOUNDCLOUD HITS

There were two stories which were mild in reaction in and of themselves but what was said got the attention of Soundcloud users – the “Honourees” 😉 were both audio clips on censorship interestingly enough?

The Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, was at a CDEMA conference earlier this year and the story only got 4 Likes but his clip where he tells press how to craft a story had a hefty 76 plays.

The other massive Soundcloud embedded item was when Donville Inniss toured Banks Breweries with John Boyce, before the press conference began, rules were stipulated to journalists (It smacked of an assault on Press Freedom) and the extract which confirmed this had 54 plays!

BEST VIDEOS

The video which got the most hits in 2014 was a chat with cast and crew from local picture “Two Smart,” which got 377 hits. The team Bajans In Motion which also made the top stories of 2014 are in the process of finalising the big sequel “The Next Payday.”

Narrowly at Second Place was a chat with some of the musicians and singers from Broadway To Barbados and hearing from Diamonds International what charities benefit, this first try with a Nikon Coolpix L28 earned 371 views!

TOP TEN

#10 – Tired of all the carping from Opposition and Government over what to do with Barbados, it inspired me to look at it all and compose “CAN BARBADOS BE RUN LIKE A COMPANY?” this earned 25 Facebook Likes on February 3rd plus 2 other Social Media shares.

#9 – Shortly after my birthday (Oct. 17th), I reviewed a Don Bruns book from 2003 and the author answered eMail queries, this earned 29 Shares…

“T-Beau and Sever chug several bottles of Banks beer, while they learn how it is both difficult and easy to get Police to cooperate in attempting to dredge a Cold Case of a 20 year old murder. When they do hit paydirt and access the true nitty-gritty, it becomes apparent based on statements recorded even back then, people turned a blind eye as money passed hands… How many cases in Barbados have remained ‘Unsolved‘ for those very reasons?”

#8 – Was a sad one which is yet to be solved, there was a suspected drowning off of Rockley – it even generated a call directly to me from England! This was 29 Shares plus 5 other Social Media alerts.

#7 – Two Smart, the Barbadian Thriller, apart from its video of the cast and crew, its review got 38 Likes plus 2 Shares on other Social Media sites.

“…it appears LIME has significant shares in the facility. Imagine my surprise and amusement when I viewed a trailer encouraging patrons to use the Cineplex for corporate or charity events and the number to call was a Digicel prefix?”

That number has since changed and now reflects LIME! LOL!

#6 – This is a topic very dear to me, Press Freedom and the ongoing tug of war with Police over Social Media – curiously close to Bajan Independence at 26th Nov. 2014, this was when a Facebook comment earned Omar Watson a courtroom appearance. Since the matter is now in a lawyer’s hands, I have to leave it alone until it is finally decided on – but readers made it 46 Shares plus 3 other Social Media alerts;-

“Sometime in mid November 2014, a message appeared on social media which was menacing in character and caused Michael Lashley, MP annoyance, distress and anxiety. Investigations led to the arrest of Watson.”

#5 –  Honey Jam earned 44 Likes on March 4th, plus their video of interviewing cast from Broadway to Barbados also did well as a Top Video of 2014.

#4 – There was a successful protest march by Mia Mottley which irked Owen Arthur and the fallout was not expected… My review of the acrimony over the years earned 44 Likes as well as 2 Shares on other Social Media engines narrowly edging Honey Jam, on July 28th I wrote on the former PM’s departure from the BLP.

#3 – Asher Mains, the Grenadian/USA artist and appearing here since this site began, was the 27th July focal point of a Christina Cornier scrutiny of  his “Re/Vision” exhibition and this was 53 Likes;-

“Mains uses sail cloth, stencil, duck tape, paint and sea fans to conjure up the feeling of life. These portraits hang from the ceiling and are back-lit, inviting the viewer to walk behind and around them as part of the experience. As the pieces catch the air ever so slightly, the oscillating shadows of the sea fans mimic quivering lungs in “Breathe,” fluttering wings in “Fly,” a beating heart in “Beat” and a firing brain in “Think.””

#2 – This was truly unexpected, it was simply a press release – no Editorial from any contributor nor any personal essay I crafted, this was the Barbados U19‘s in NACRA Rugby pulling 55 Likes!

Numero Uno – The number One share flew on May 18th with an ongoing saga with a particular aviation entity, this drew 58 Likes and the attention of Barbados Free Press…

“LIAT is demanding for all news houses to stop speaking on the matter; what’s democracy between pals – eh? Since Damon has only his wife and her nephew’s word against ALL their staff at Ogle, they are now counter striking by alleging she was late and they never said the fare was too low… so a judge would decide who to believe, her or them, and out in the Caribbean (as Damon sees it) it will be them.”