est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

, , ,

Senator Crichlow Asks Opposition Senators to Account For Monies

The following article reproduced from the Barbados Advocate at the request of a DLP supporter. His Honour Senator The Very Reverend Harold Crichlow says he would like at some point to hear Opposition senators give an account on the behalf of the previous government, on issues raised in “disturbing reports” from the Auditor General. His…

,

The following article reproduced from the Barbados Advocate at the request of a DLP supporter.

Canon Harold Crichlow

His Honour Senator The Very Reverend Harold Crichlow says he would like at some point to hear Opposition senators give an account on the behalf of the previous government, on issues raised in “disturbing reports” from the Auditor General.

His call for Opposition senators to speak on this issue came as he spoke in the Senate yesterday, on the Catastrophe Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2012.

“I don’t think that any Government, this present one included, should just be contented with the millions of dollars that the Auditor General said cannot be accounted for. This is the big problem that we need to tackle in this country. Granted the economic stress we’re having, I don’t think that we would be in as deep a problem now if those monies that the Auditor General spoke about, were repaid or reclaimed. We would be in a position to do so much,” Crichlow stated.

However, Opposition Senator Kerrie Symmond, in response to Crichlow rose on a point of order to indicate that any one member of the Opposition cannot account for the wide array of issues raised in the previous Auditor General’s report.

He however stressed that if Crichlow wanted to bring a private member’s resolution to address any of the issues with specificity, he would be willing to be part of that debate. However, he maintained that he had no collective responsibility as a member of the previous Cabinet and therefore, cannot be asked to shed light on where money went and who should put it back.

Continuing his contribution Crichlow then stated, “There are only two members of the Opposition in the Senate and that is a tremendous disadvantage I think. It is being said that the Senate cannot hear what the former Government did because one member who was a minister of that Government cannot take responsibility. I know that the Opposition only has two members, but how are the other members of the Senate to hear what happened to those millions of dollars that were not accounted for? Where do we have to go to hear that?”

“I thought that anything coming up in the Senate where the former Government was accused, that members of the Opposition here and certainly one who formed part of the Government, would be able to tell us. I am not saying that he is responsible, but surely he could have asked other members of the Government why certain  things were done and so on, but in any case, Cabinet is supposed to act as one. It is the Government and I think that when such questions are raised, the members of the Senate representing the Opposition should get the answer from those who ought to know something about it, so that we here can know what happened. Because all we have been knowing for a couple of months is trying to understand how those millions of dollars went unaccounted for and nobody can tell us why,” he concluded. (RSM)

  1. Never again Avatar
    Never again

    like Something is strange @ August 31, 2012 at 12:44 PM I wanted to ask for particulars of theiving and light fingers of the blp, I see Fractured jot down a few. David give us more on the BLp corruption, stealing, which would make a die in the wool blp stalwart as Crichlow turn on Arhtur and woman batterer Kerrie Simmons to demand they give answers? Arhtur’s hand was caught in the Treasury’s cookie jar nicking monies for his friend pimp Victor Hinckson. He confessed to it even as he backtracked on breaking the law hiring undocumented foreign workers.

  2. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Miller
    “Would any opposition politician in the Senate or the other place help the Dean with what transpired between January 2008 and July 2012?”
    ***********
    YES!
    If they wanted Bajans to vote for them this time around….
    ….otherwise- OF COURSE NOT…

  3. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    You DLP yard fowls don’t ever sleep WAANA CUD LIE…but is ok…..STILL ONE TERM YA HEAR……..TEKK DAT and STUFF IT up waana BEAT ASS SOLES…..I gine and drink my drinks…….fec#kn AHOLES

  4. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Granted the economic stress we’re having, I don’t think that we would be in as deep a problem now if those monies that the Auditor General spoke about, were repaid or reclaimed. We would be in a position to do so much,” Crichlow stated.

    Makes no sense!!

  5. balance Avatar
    balance

    “It seems to me that Crichlow’s questions are appropriate and deserving of an answer. From BOTH parties.”
    i would understand how these supposedly loaded questions by the Independent Senator would be seized upon and rightfully so by the DLP apologists to offer them some respite in this their most perilous time but The Senator’s questions are more suitable foruse as campaign rhetoric and show an abysmal lack of understanding for the system of governance of which he has been an integral part as a Legislator for almost 20 years.
    In support of Mr Miller’s and Mr Franklyn’s positions of the role/responsibilities/duties of the Minister of the Crown and or Legislator with respect to the accounting for the expenditure of public monies; i respectfully refer commentators to Part111-ADMINISTRATION of the Financial Admininistration and Audit Act CAP 5, Sections 5-8,10(3)(4), 12(1).

    Careful reading would indicate to all in no uncertain terms that the questions by the Honourable Dean were misdirected, and in the Upper House would be deemed out of order since there is a bi-partisan Public Accounts Committee of the Upper House and Senate which is mandated by an Act of Parliament to investigate matters of impropriety highlighted in the report of the Auditor-General.

    With respect to the specific request for information about the purported mis-spending of monies in the last 14 years as is the right of the Honourable Dean to do both as a Legislator and as a taxpayer, Sections 13 – 17 sets out the responsibilities of the Director of Finance and Planning and his power to surcharge Accounting officers(not Ministers/Parliamentarians) upon a report by the Auditor-General with respect to the failure of Accounting Officers( not Ministers/ Parliamentarians) to collect, improper payment, payment not duly vouched, expenditure in excess of the amount authorised,deficiency, loss, damage o destruction as the case may be and the right of appeal by person surcharged and the recovery of surchargebefor a Magistrateof District”A”‘

    Section 18(1) PART 1V- THE COLLECTION, ISSUE ANDPAYMENT OF PUBLIC MONEYS reads thus ‘ Subject to the provisions of this Act and any rules, the Accountant-General is hereby charged with the general management and supervision of the cash transactions and accounting operations of the Crown and is accountable for all public moneys received by him’.

  6. balance Avatar
    balance

    Which Permanent Secretary or Head of Department APPROVED the $ 80 million for GREENLAND
    Sir, this is simply a policy initiative that went wrong as happens with all Governments. Other policy initiatives which went wrong during the life of Govt’s in Barbados in my lifetime are:
    highway 2A awarded to highest bidder 1.5 million more paid out
    greenland
    agricultural developent corporation
    incomplete BLP housing project at country road now completed by DLP
    Seafoods
    caribbean airways –
    carsiscott
    caricargo,1987-89 lost 65 million
    coast guard station at enterpise
    crematorium at warrens
    st john’s polyclinic now rescued as a bye-election gimmick; but APPROVAL CONNOTES LEGITIMACY AS DISTINCT FOM THE LAND FILL/RIVER BAY LAND DEAL which i am sure should attract the attention of the Auditor-General next year if the policy did not have Parliamentary approval and it would be noticeable that these failed projects above-mentioned do not attract criticism from the Auditor-General for even though the Auditor-General is mandated to carry out examinations into the economical, efficient and effective use of resources of any Ministry or Department HE IS NOT ENTITLED TO REVIEW THE MERITS OF THE POLICY OBJECTIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT. PARLIAMENT APPROVES; THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER OF THE MINISTRY EXECUTES WITHIN THE TENETS OF THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT ACT
    By the way, let me state emphatically that i am not suggesting for one moment that corruption/stealing was reponsible for failure of and consequent wastage resulting from the above projects for none was so reported by the Auditor-General.

  7. Fractured BLP Party Avatar
    Fractured BLP Party

    balance | August 31, 2012 at 11:15 PM |
    “since there is a bi-partisan Public Accounts Committee of the Upper House and Senate which is mandated by an Act of Parliament to investigate matters of impropriety highlighted in the report of the Auditor-General.”

    ___________________________________________________

    Your point is taken. Then why don’t Owen Arthur summon the PAC and start the ball rolling ?

    Ooops….I forgot some of his own SHITE….will blind him !

  8. balance Avatar
    balance

    PART V – AUDIT
    26. (1) The Auditor-General is the auditor of the financial statements
    of the Government of Barbados.
    (2) The Auditor-General shall also
    (a) be responsible for the audit and inspection of all public
    accounts whether such accounts are of general revenue paid
    into, and expenditure met from the Consolidated Fund, special
    funds or departmental accounts and statutory bodies which
    receive all or part of their funds from the Consolidated Fund;
    (b) apply to the public accounts such an examination as will
    enable him to ascertain that in his opinion the accounts are
    kept on a proper system, that they are punctually and properly
    posted and that checks against irregularities and fraud are
    adequate and effective;
    (c) satisfy himself that all standing instructions, enactments and
    other laws of Barbados relating to finance and accounts are
    strictly observed; and
    (d) examine and report in accordance with the outcome of his
    examination the several statements and accounts which are
    required to be submitted to him under this Act.
    (3) The Auditor-General may carry out examinations into the
    economical, efficient and effective use of resources of any Ministry or
    Department or any other entity required to be audited by him.
    (4) Subsection (3) shall not be construed as entitling the
    Auditor-General to review the merits of the policy objectives of
    Government in respect of any Ministry, Department or statutory body.
    ss.25A-26
    1998-36.
    1998-36.
    1998-36.
    1998-36.
    1998-36.
    Duties of
    Auditor-
    General.
    1998-36.
    Loans.
    1998-36.
    THE LAWS OF BARBADOS
    Printed by the Government Printer, Bay Street, St. Michael
    by the authority of the Government of Barbados
    19 L.R.O. 1998 Financial Administration and Audit CAP. 5
    27. It shall be the duty of the Auditor-General to examine the
    calculations and computations of all pensions and gratuities or similar
    awards before any award is made and to certify that they are
    arithmetically correct and are in accordance with all statutory
    provisions relating thereto.
    28. (1) The Auditor-General shall report annually, as soon as
    possible and not later than the last day of December following the
    close of each financial year, the results of his examination of the
    accounts and any failure to observe the enactments or other laws of
    Barbados.
    (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Auditor-General may at
    any time, if it appears to him to be desirable, transmit to the House of
    Assembly a special report on any matter incidental to his power and
    duties under this Act.
    (3) Every report of the Auditor-General shall be addressed to the
    Speaker of the House of Assembly who shall lay such report before
    the House of Assembly as soon as possible after its receipt by him.
    (4) A copy of every report of the Auditor-General shall also be
    transmitted to the Senate for information.
    29. (1) For the purpose of his examination under section 26 the
    Auditor-General is at all times entitled
    (a) to have access to all books, records, including data held or stored
    electronically, vouchers, payment requests, documents, returns,
    cash, stamps, securities, stores or other property in whatever
    form existing in the possession of the audited body and every
    facility shall be given for carrying out the examination;
    (b) to send for and have custody of any books, accounts,
    vouchers, payment requests, papers, data held or stored
    electronically or any other information in whatever form
    existing under the control of the audited body relating to the
    matter under examination and to keep such books, accounts,
    vouchers, payment requests or papers for such time as he may
    require them;
    ss.27-29
    Certification
    of pensions.
    Auditor-
    General’s
    report.
    Powers of
    Auditor-
    General.
    1998-36.
    1998-36.
    CAP. 5 Financial Administration and Audit L.R.O. 1998 20
    (c) to call upon any officer for any explanation and information
    the Auditor-General may require in order to enable him to
    discharge his duties;
    (d) to require any department concerned to furnish him from time
    to time or at regular periods with accounts of the transactions
    of such department up to such date as he may specify;
    (e) without payment of any fee, to cause search to be made in, and
    extracts to be taken from, any book, document or record in any
    public office;
    (f) to summon and examine upon oath, declaration or affirmation
    (which oath, declaration or affirmation the Auditor-General is
    hereby empowered to administer) all persons whom he thinks
    fit to examine respecting the receipt or expenditure of money
    or the receipt or issue of any stores affected by this Act and
    respecting all other matters and things whatever necessary for
    the due performance of his functions; and any person
    summoned as aforesaid is upon production of a certificate of
    the Auditor-General entitled to payment for his attendance in
    accordance with the provisions of the Witnesses and Interpreters
    (Payment) Act as if he were a witness attending a legal
    proceeding in obedience to a summons issued at the instance
    of the Crown; but the Auditor-General may, if he thinks fit in
    any case, disallow the whole or any part of such payment;
    (g) to require every person employed in his office who has to
    examine the accounts of a department to comply with any
    security requirements applicable thereto and to take any oath
    of secrecy required to be taken by persons employed in that
    department.
    (2) Any person summoned under paragraph (f) of subsection (1)
    who without reasonable excuse fails to obey such summons shall be
    guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine
    of $1 000, or, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a period of
    3 months.
    s.29
    1998-36.
    Cap. 119.
    THE LAWS OF BARBADOS
    Printed by the Government Printer, Bay Street, St. Michael
    by the authority of the Government of Barbados
    21 L.R.O. 1998 Financial Administration and Audit CAP. 5
    30. The Auditor-General may authorise any officer of his office to
    perform on his behalf any of his functions under this Act or any other
    Act other than the administering of oaths and the certifying of and
    reporting on accounts for the House of Assembly.
    31. If at any time it appears to the Auditor-General that
    (a) any irregularities have occurred in the collection, custody or
    expenditure of public moneys, or in the accounting for the same;
    or
    (b) any irregularities have occurred in the receipt, custody, issue,
    sale, transfer or delivery of any stamps, securities, stores, or
    other property of the Crown, or in the accounting for the same;
    or
    (c) any loss of or damage to property of the Crown has not been
    duly reported to the Director,
    he shall immediately bring the matter to the notice of the accounting
    officer and if the case is serious, report the circumstances to the
    Director.
    32. (1) The Auditor-General shall, if required
    (a) by a resolution of the House of Assembly; or
    (b) by the Minister,
    examine the accounts of any person or organisation
    (aa) who has received moneys by way of grant or loan out of funds
    voted by Parliament; or
    (bb) in respect of whom financial aid from the Crown is sought,
    and shall submit a report on the results of his examination to the House
    of Assembly or the Minister.
    (2) Where the Minister fails within a reasonable time to present
    the report referred to in subsection (1) to the House of Assembly the
    Auditor-General shall transmit such report to the Speaker of the House
    of Assembly to be presented by him to the House of Assembly.
    ss.30-32
    Auditor-
    General may
    authorise
    officers to
    perform
    duties.
    1998-36.
    Notification
    of irregularities
    to
    Director.
    1985-7.
    Examination
    of

  9. balance Avatar
    balance

    “Ooops….I forgot some of his own SHITE….will blind him !”
    could very well be- wouldn’t be surprised at all. i warned one of his henchmen that the floating vote is not a party vote and hence should not be taken for granted.he needs to explain why the PAC has not met under his watch and certain other misdemeanours otherwise AC would continue to eat him for bait.

  10. balance Avatar
    balance

    CONSOLIDATED FUND
    3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this or any other Act for the
    time being in force, the revenues of Barbados shall be paid into the
    Consolidated Fund.
    (2) The public debt of Barbados, including the interest on that debt,
    sinking fund payments and redemption moneys in respect of that debt
    and the costs, charges and expenses incidental to the management of
    that debt, shall be a charge on the Consolidated Fund.
    4. (1) No sum shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund except
    upon the authority of a warrant under the hand of the Minister or
    under the hand of some person authorised by him in writing.
    (2) Any sums issued in accordance with subsection (1) shall be
    disposed of for meeting the cost of the public services specified by the
    Appropriation Act for the financial year during which the withdrawal
    is to take place or for services otherwise lawfully charged on the
    Consolidated Fund.
    PART III – ADMINISTRATION
    A. Financial
    5. (1) The Minister shall, before the end of each financial year,
    cause to be prepared annual estimates in detail of the probable
    revenue and expenditure of Barbados for public services during the
    succeeding financial year.
    Payment of
    revenues
    into the
    Consolidated
    Fund.
    1967-15.
    1985-7.
    1998-36.
    Withdrawals
    from the
    Consolidated
    Fund.
    1967-15.
    1998-36.
    Estimates.
    ss.3-5
    CAP. 5 Financial Administration and Audit L.R.O. 1998 8
    (2) The estimates when prepared shall be laid before the House of
    Assembly for its consideration and shall be introduced by the
    Minister.
    (3) The estimates of expenditure shall show separately the sums
    required to meet statutory expenditure and the sums required to meet
    other expenditure proposed to be charged on the Consolidated Fund.
    6. (1) The Minister shall, in respect of each financial year, at the
    earliest convenient moment before the commencement of that
    financial year, introduce in the House of Assembly an Appropriation
    Bill containing, under appropriate heads for the several services
    required, the estimated aggregate sums which are proposed to be
    expended (otherwise than by way of statutory expenditure) during that
    financial year.
    (2) Subject to subsection (4), the sums voted on the estimates by
    the House of Assembly in respect of a financial year represent the
    limit and extent of the public expenditure for that financial year.
    (3) Where any sum is voted on the estimates by the House of
    Assembly in respect of a financial year and, at the end of that year,
    there is an unexpended balance of that sum, the unexpended balance
    shall lapse.
    (4) The Minister may, in case of necessity, from time to time cause
    to be prepared supplementary estimates of expenditure which shall be
    laid before and voted on by the House of Assembly.
    (5) In respect of all supplementary expenditure voted on by the
    House of Assembly pursuant to subsection (4), the Minister may, at
    any time before the end of the financial year, introduce into the House
    of Assembly a Supplementary Appropriation Bill containing under
    appropriate heads the aggregate sums so voted, and shall as soon as
    possible after the end of each financial year, introduce into the House
    of Assembly a Final Appropriation Bill containing any such sums
    which have not yet been included in any Appropriation Bill.
    1967-15.
    1998-36.
    Authorisation
    of
    expenditure.
    1967-15.
    s.6
    THE LAWS OF BARBADOS
    Printed by the Government Printer, Bay Street, St. Michael
    by the authority of the Government of Barbados
    9 L.R.O. 1998 Financial Administration and Audit CAP. 5
    (6) That part of any estimate of expenditure laid before the House
    of Assembly which shows statutory expenditure shall not be voted on
    by the House of Assembly but such expenditure shall, without further
    authority of the House of Assembly, be charged on the Consolidated
    Fund.
    7. Repealed by 1998-36.
    8. (1) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as restricting or in
    any way interfering with the right of individual members of the House
    of Assembly to introduce any bill, resolution, or any other measure of
    legislation where such bill, resolution or other measure of legislation
    does not create any charge upon the Consolidated Fund or does not
    provide for the expenditure of public moneys.
    (2) Notwithstanding this Act, all aids and supplies to the Crown
    shall be the sole gift of the House of Assembly, and the House of
    Assembly has and may exercise its undoubted and sole right to withhold,
    reduce, or grant such aids and supplies and to direct, limit, and
    appoint such aids and supplies, whensoever granted, and to limit and
    appoint the ends, purposes, conditions, limitations, and qualifications
    of such grants, aids and supplies; but it shall not be competent for the
    House of Assembly to increase any of the items or the aggregate amount
    of any estimates submitted in accordance with this Part.
    B. Accounting
    9. (1) The Director shall from time to time designate in writing
    the officers who shall be accounting officers or collectors of revenue.
    (2) An accounting officer may, by instrument in writing, delegate
    to his authorised representative, on such conditions as he determines,
    any of his functions arising under or by virtue of this Act, but such
    delegation does not relieve an accounting officer of his accountability
    under this Act.

  11. balance Avatar
    balance

    CHAPTER 5
    FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT
    ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
    SECTION
    1. Short title.
    PART I – PRELIMINARY
    2. Interpretation.
    PART II – CONSOLIDATED FUND
    3. Payment of revenues into the Consolidated Fund.
    4. Withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund.
    PART III – ADMINISTRATION
    A. Financial
    5. Estimates.
    6. Authorisation of expenditure.
    7. Repealed by 1998-36.
    8. Saving of certain rights of House of Assembly.
    B. Accounting
    9. Accounting officers and collectors of revenue.
    10. Functions of Director, Accountant-General and Minister.
    11. Control of expenditure and revenue.
    12. Annual statements.
    CAP. 5 Financial Administration and Audit L.R.O. 1998 2
    SECTION
    13. Surcharge by Director.
    14. Notification of surcharge.
    15. Withdrawal of surcharge.
    16. Right of appeal by person aggrieved by surcharge.
    17. Recovery of surcharge.
    PART IV – THE COLLECTION, ISSUE AND PAYMENT
    OF PUBLIC MONEYS
    18. Duties of Accountant-General.
    19. Treasury Account.
    20. Deposit of public moneys in Treasury Account and meeting of
    expenditure therefrom.
    21. Deposit of excess moneys.
    22. Withdrawal of public moneys.
    23. Disposal of public moneys.
    24. Payments in respect of salaries, services and allowances.
    25. Advances to the Government.
    25A. Loans.
    PART V – AUDIT
    26. Duties of Auditor-General.
    27. Certification of pensions.
    28. Auditor-General’s report.
    29. Powers of Auditor-General.
    30. Auditor-General may authorise officers to perform duties.
    THE LAWS OF BARBADOS
    Printed by the Government Printer, Bay Street, St. Michael
    by the authority of the Government of Barbados
    3 L.R.O. 1998 Financial Administration and Audit CAP. 5
    SECTION
    31. Notification of irregularities to Director.
    32. Examination of accounts.
    33. Fees for auditing certain accounts.
    33A. Auditor-General may engage services of professionals.
    33B. Officers of the Audit Office.
    34. Examination of accounts of Auditor-General’s Office.
    PART VI – MISCELLANEOUS
    35. Remission of duties imposed by way of penalty.
    36. Remission of duties on address of House of Assembly.
    37. Power of Minister to dispense with probate or letters of administration in
    certain cases.
    38. Advances by Accountant-General to other Governments or Administrations.
    39. Power to make rules.

    THE LAWS OF BARBADOS
    Printed by the Government Printer, Bay Street, St. Michael
    by the authority of the Government of Barbados
    5

  12. balance Avatar
    balance

    over and out Mr Miller

  13. To the point Avatar
    To the point

    This is the same Harold Crichlow who felt the DLP was getting out of hand in the 70’s and preached against them, so why cant he ask for the blp to account for its stewardship of the people’s money?

    Just inquisitive

  14. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ To the pointless
    Ask bout the CLICO $145 Million first (pensioners) and $ 3.3 Million african snail trail that led to sin john………then his ask be of equity…..and not partisan……why presently it is as if he is a political football don’t you think?
    ….Say something or lose your pick……

  15. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    The Scarlet Letter thread amplified….yet the DLP yard fowls sought to boycott it… nick pic even, in preference for this …..where a Canon now seeks to wanna burn to the stake… a Hester Prynne ….not set in 17th-century Puritan Salem, Massachusetts, but right here in 2012 Bridgetown …..poetic justice if any or satire by compunction.

    “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” : George Santayana,

    ….read more rant less, one eyed owls….
    OOB

  16. ac Avatar
    ac

    The dean is a man of god not going sacrifice his soul at the table of corruption and dishonesty for the likes of OSA and the BLP he has a God to answer and a public to which he serves to speak on their behalf how can he be preaching righteouness and be condoning illegalities . he must be admired and respected for his truthfulness and his ability to put the good of the country over political oportunity wish the same could be said for onions miller and OSA

  17. balance Avatar
    balance

    WHAT CONSTITUTES WASTAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS?
    Are decisions involving expenditure such as demolition of the multi million dollar Old Hilton Hotel to make way for the new one or the abandoning of the Louis Lynch Secondary School and the Eagle Hall market or giving away NHC houses or turning around Nelson or building an Independence Arch or the roundabouts at boarded hall or coral ridge or the demolition of the once imposing Diocesan House next to the Cathedral which have attracted public criticism for good or ill constitute wastage for which an administation can be held accountable? only if there is incontrovertible evidence to link the administration to having received some form of benefit to the detriment of the taxpayer and in the case of the Diocesan house to the Anglican Community as a result of the policy initiative;
    and the wastage alluded to by Auditor-General with respect for example the construction of the Crab Hill Police station was not as a result of the policy to construct but because there was evidence to indicate that there was uneconomical, inefficient and ineffective use of the Ministry’s resources by those so entrusted to execute the policy.
    There was some speculation in the public domain that the contract suffered because of the purported links between the then Attorney-General and the initial contractor but there was no evidence to substantiate this view. Similarly there is speculation also in the public domain that Dean Emeritus Critchlow as te longest serving incumbent should be held responsible and mad to answer questions for the deplorable condition of the St Michael’s Cathedral, the once proud flagship of the Anglican community and a tourist attraction and heritage site in its own right and what was happeninng with the collections during the time te cathedral was allowd to progresively fall into disrepair.Of course, i do not hold that view.
    There is nothing in the Financial Rules to constrain the Auditor-General from identifying/ reporting on any parlamentarian should there be evidence of his/her involvement in corrupt practices.
    The British let us with a rich legacy. We are not entirely a banana republic Al Barrack debt not propery identified in the accounts notwithstanding.

  18. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ ac
    Ya doan Know they thief my Deloitte report too……a burglar,a hamburger,Bulgaria even…..who’s dunnit?

    Like pillage in the night, they reaped with thunder,
    Now leaves me a confused and broken pensioner.
    Why now I am at the mercies of the wind,
    His to home, pockets stuffed to the brim.
    Hark a lonely drunken vet.
    Pray, I beg you reconsider this twitt
    His accomplices, present and perforce
    Leprosy and meningitis,
    Dreaded diseases akin to perpetuity moors.

    OOB

  19. balance Avatar
    balance

    ‘It only goes to show that with the BLP the same mouth that bless you in quick order will turn around and curse you as is happening to Crichlow. now.
    First Mia, then Eastmond,then Andrew Bynoe and his brother Paul Bynoe, lifelong supporters of the Barbados Labour Party”
    First ernest mottley who helped the dlp win in 1961, then wynter crawford, denis hunte, john connell , richie haynes, denis kellman, clyde mascoll, david estwick, – peas do not go down that road as Sir brandord would say when admonishing his fellow parliamentarians not so to do.

  20. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    The Thief

    Thou robb’st my days of business and delights,
    Of sleep thou robb’st my nights ;
    Ah, lovely thief, what wilt thou do?
    What? rob me of heaven too?
    Even in my prayers thou hauntest me:
    And I, with wild idolatry,
    Begin to God, and end them all to thee.

    Is it a sin to love, that it should thus
    Like an ill conscience torture us?
    Whate’er I do, where’er I go—
    None guiltless e’er was haunted so!—
    Still, still, methinks, thy face I view,
    And still thy shape does me pursue,
    As if, not you me, but I had murdered you.

    From books I strive some remedy to take,
    But thy name all the letters make;
    Whate’er ’tis writ, I find thee there,
    Like points and commas everywhere.
    Me blessed for this let no man hold,
    For I, as Midas did of old,
    Perish by turning every thing to gold.
    What do I seek, alas, or why do I
    Attempt in vain from thee to fly?
    For, making thee my deity,
    I gave thee then ubiquity.
    My pains resemble hell in this:
    The divine presence there too is,
    But to torment men, not to give them bliss.

    Abraham Cowley

  21. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    Dear me Oh Harrad
    Help me hold this thief….
    How much so, he can ever elude
    Quiks like a tempest
    Taking all once cherished ..
    Show me my cannon, that I can
    KaBoom the Moor…
    Ever so, before he wrecks another door.

    Nasty thief, indeed I say,
    Capitulating, skullduggery on hard worked fray
    The miscreant oblivious like cello-tape..
    Be wary though of the Baskville fakes.

    Give me a cannon and I shall obliterate
    Nothing to lose, all to gain.

    OOB.

  22. mash up and buy back Avatar
    mash up and buy back

    “and the wastage alluded to by Auditor-General with respect for example the construction of the Crab Hill Police station was not as a result of the policy to construct but because there was evidence to indicate that there was uneconomical, inefficient and ineffective use of the Ministry’s resources by those so entrusted to execute the policy.
    There was some speculation in the public domain that the contract suffered because of the purported links between the then Attorney-General and the initial contractor but there was no evidence to substantiate this view.”

    THE ABOVE IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM BALANCE.Boy some people would do anything – even lie for their party.

    Everyone knows because it was in the public domain that the Crab Hill Police station was so badly built that even though the contract had gone over its agreed contract price by a large sum,when this administration came in,they had to spend large sums of money correcting the bad work AND ONE OF THE CHARGES WAS:MIA WHO WAS A.G. AT THE TIME GAVE THE CONTRACT TO A PARTNER IN HER COMPANY – JOSE & JOSE, WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING AND WHOSE EXPERTISE WAS IN TRANSPORTING FAECES OR WASTE.

    Yet Balance will have gall to tell us that there was no eveidence to support the speculation that the contract suffered because of the link between the A.G. Mia and the Company Jose and Jose.

    But Mia did not stop there she also gave contracts to her ‘special friend’ Carol Roberts to construct buildings – this carol roberts who probably never lifted a hammer in her life and who could not tell the difference between a saw and a drill.

    I now understand why AC sees the need to be constantly vigilant on this blog,because there are agents of the BLP sent here to put figures out there and to spin so smoothly that if one was not careful,one would be taken in by their lies.
    Thank God for Bush Tea as well who at times intervene to put things right.

  23. balance Avatar
    balance

    It is ironic that some of us who are now catching at last straws and vigorously calling for investigations into purported inappropriate expenditures of Govt funds over the last 14 years are some of the same of us who vehemently ridiculed the enquiry into the allegations of wasteful spending with respect to the refurbishment of the St Joseph Hospital even though it is clear except to the non-partisan that funds were diverted to purposes not intended by policy or approved by Parliament. The enquiry did not touch on the merits of the policy but on the execution, the use of public funds. The DLP administration is free to establish any amount of enquiries/investigations into any areas of corruption/malfeasance which they consider to have occurred under the BLP administration for the past 14 years.They owe it to the public to expose any wrongdoing by the last administrationif what retains as governance in this country is to have any credibility.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Here we go again and this is the problem with Barbados nowadays, no wonder the rot has set in and may god help us.

    Instead of embracing the message i.e. as citizens we need to become more involved in our democracy, more strident in our advocacy, more aware/vigilant. We instead get caught up in why the Dean has come out, or why did others not come out before.

    Hello everyone, the issue is how are we going to effectively lobby policymakers and those responsible to execute to do the right thing.

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @mash up

    You know that you are free to intervene to clarify when you see the need?

    This is what BU is all about.

    Of course we have the spin coming from both sides but some of us are able discern the nuggets of truth.

  26. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    It seems as though everyone, depending on political persuasion, can cite instances of bad behaviour that occurred while their opponents were in office. However, that does not fix the problem. Let’s face it, we have crooks on either side of the political divide. What we are seeing here, as comments on this post, is a competition between the two sides to see who is the most corrupt or rather which side stole more. That is not helpful, what we should be seeing is who we can jail for their corruption. I am sure John Nurse would welcome them with open arms.

    My initial concern is that Crichlow’s questions were too long in coming. His first attempts are commendable but will we see more or will the other “independent” senators join him. Personally, I think that the Senate in its present form should be abolished. As presently constituted, it only provides a forum for political has beens, the never was and the never likely to be anythings.

  27. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Balance
    Which Permanent Secretary or Head of Department APPROVED the $ 80 million for GREENLAND
    Sir, this is simply a policy initiative that went wrong as happens with all Governments.
    *********
    This is the stuff that comedians would have a field day with, are you sure you are not an entrant for the next “open mic” for fledging comedians? You realize that every politician could use this as an excuse for their Gov’t failures.

    “Policy initiative that went wrong” Wuhloss muh belly!

  28. ac Avatar
    ac

    And to think a Nation iof educators would want to subect themselves to more iof the same bull s. h..t! educated fools if you asked me and some them following onions in kline. wuh go ..blimma it doesn,t take all that to understand where there is smoke there is fire. onions and miller have done there job in getting their message out of a present administration “lost” the dlp stalwarts have been challenged and the only way is tofight fire with fire reminding the public of the history of a corrupt BLP

  29. Not easily fooled Avatar
    Not easily fooled

    old onion bags | August 31, 2012 at 10:16 PM |
    You DLP yard fowls don’t ever sleep WAANA CUD LIE…but is ok…..STILL ONE TERM YA HEAR……..TEKK DAT and STUFF IT up waana BEAT ASS SOLES…..I gine and drink my drinks…….fec#kn AHOLES
    ————————————————-
    Temper !Temper! ole ass onion.
    Man behave yourself the stress you undergoing will make you look ancient like Owen in no time. Bajans are NOT buying the lies the BLP selling. The real chatter out there is that the DEms will be returned to office.

    The government is doing an incredible job with the tight economic hand they’ve been dealt. Its hard to keep abreast of all the projects the DLP gov have started. The MOF should commission a booklet with the project list. Most Bajans will be impressed.
    balance I beg you spare us the long roll of sh*te you putting on the people blog. Nobody not even tired mad ass onion reading that foolishness-stop nuh yuh clown..

  30. Fractured BLP Party Avatar
    Fractured BLP Party

    Sargeant | September 1, 2012 at 9:15 AM |
    @Balance
    Which Permanent Secretary or Head of Department APPROVED the $ 80 million for GREENLAND
    Sir, this is simply a policy initiative that went wrong as happens with all Governments.
    *********
    This is the stuff that comedians would have a field day with, are you sure you are not an entrant for the next “open mic” for fledging comedians? You realize that every politician could use this as an excuse for their Gov’t failures.

    “Policy initiative that went wrong” Wuhloss muh belly!
    ********************************************************************

    Sargeant,

    You have just give yourself a promotion !
    You have just been promoted to the position of CLOWN PRINCE.

    HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE of how the POLITICIANS – and NOT the Public Service technocrats…..take the praise glory for their ACTIONS.

    REMIND us again who was the TOURISM MINISTER in 2007 who declared that Cricket World Cup 2007 was a resounding success in Barbados. That person even bragged that the US $ 30 MILLION spent to float a half empty Carnival Victory cruise ship in the Bridgetown Port……was the best money the Owen Arthur Cabinet approved to be spent .

    Luckily……an astute Dean Crichlow and thousands of other right thinking Barbadians ( with you being the obvious EXCEPTION ) DO NOT agree.

  31. ac Avatar
    ac

    The DLP have got to stop letting the BLP yardflows using them likev the proverbial punching bag making them take all the blame for CLICO! AX! and barrack! which came out about be cause of them covered up by glorified lies and charades and ram down the public throats as fact that all these problems were created by the DLP calling on all stalwarts to step up the action and STOP THE BIG LIES bandied about by the BLP the economy is in shambles because of their ruthless waste and exhorborant spending

  32. Sittin Bull Avatar
    Sittin Bull

    Quote from Gladiator…..”and when ye (DLP) leave this land abyss it shall be to the sound of…..Alligators we salute you”….LOL

  33. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David | September 1, 2012 at 8:52 AM |
    “Hello everyone, the issue is how are we going to effectively lobby policymakers and those responsible to execute to do the right thing.”

    OK, David I hear your call loud and clear. Let us hope we have learnt from the past to encourage us not to conduct continuous postmortems but to focus on what is happening around us today in these exceptionally trying times when out sacred cow and idol Education is under severe threat and is about to topple from its pinnacle. Can we first disabuse our minds of the notion that the Law is there to be broken? If we are committed to the rule of law then we cannot entertain the practice that since the laws were flagrantly violated under a former administration then the present administration is just as entitled to disrespect and even break the Law.

    So can we as concerned citizens ask the present administration responsible for the execution of the “right thing” the following questions without the usual harangue and retort about “why did you not ask the OSA administration similar questions”?

    Can we be informed about the status of the Pierhead Marina project? Has the company who was given the contract to redesign the project been paid the odd $40 million for services and has any work been started although we were promised a January 2012 start date for the initial phase?
    It seems we cannot get the PAC to work for us so we are lobbying the policymakers as recommended by David BU.

    What action will be taken in light of the Auditor General’s report into the financial dealings of the BWA? Are we to expect similar sweeping under the carpet as prevailed in the past?

    Watch out, ac, “!” Fractured BLPParty, mash up and buy back, Bushie and the other armchair lawbreakers! The probation officers are monitoring you on BU to see if your recidivistic behaviours are incurable.
    David (BU), take note! After all we the people took the folowing to heart as a geniune promise and offer which we accepted and gave as consideration our vote and elected them to office and power.

    (22) GOOD GOVERNANCE
    The DLP administration’s attitude to accountability
    will be based on the understanding that as servants
    and representatives of the people there can
    be no secrets or matters to be hidden from the
    population. Consequently, a DLP administration
    will be accountable for its actions and policies
    and take the public into its confidence.
    Under a DLP government, the people will be kept
    informed of what the government is doing on their
    behalf through:
    • Regular press briefings following meetings of the Cabinet of Barbados
    • Press briefings by Ministries/Departments to inform Barbadians of major developments and changes
    • The publication of details of agreements and contracts involving the government and its agencies
    • Formal Ministerial statements at regular intervals on the progress of ongoing programmes and projects
    • A revision of and adherence to the rules regarding Parliamentary questions

  34. balance Avatar
    balance

    Then Mash up, the situation more calls for an enquiry than the alexandra issue. this is a flagrant use of parliamentary privilege and political power. if your party has the evidence of such wrongdoings by Miss Mottley, go ahead and hold her accountable but you would not receive any support from the Auditor-general as was with the St joseph Hospital enquiry. Am i to assume that Mr Thompson’s links to Mr parris renders him culpable in the CLICO ponzi scheme as some are suggesting.

  35. ac Avatar
    ac

  36. ac Avatar
    ac

Older Comments
1 2 3 4

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading