It is not that Bajans don’t like Rhianna or that they are jealous of her. Instead of Rhianna coming here to bim and flaunting her riches she should instead be flaunting her support to teenagers such as i am; but, then again, her ambassadorship, music and image is just another story. As i have stated before, contrary to what Mr.Lashley believes in, she’s PERFECT. Sad.

An island that provides free education from primary through tertiary cannot owe a 20 year old girl anything. An island that maintains a relatively free society in which a girl can pursue a singing career or one in modelling or in anything her little heart desires without coercion from government to follow a particular path does not owe a lucky young girl anything.

When will Barbados taxpayers make administrations realize that the high taxes they pay do not belong to the cabinet to do whatever they please with. When will we demand accountability for the way they spend our moneys? If the government wants to employ Rihanna as a promoter of tourism, they can give her a job and pay her for work done. She can then buy all the land she wants wherever she wants it. Stop the madness!

Posted by M. JORDAN JULY 03, 2010 - 1:10 PM
Andi, I guess you do not promote Barbados.

Are you not proud of your birth place?

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That’s not the point. Despite exporting thousands of people for years, Barbados was still hardly known outside of the Caribbean - How far is the reach of a typical Bajan expatriate when compared to Rihanna who can impress millions in a few minutes.
Those Barbados shout outs are worth millions of dollars and come at no cost to the Barbados taxpayers.
Companies and other ventures which benefit from free promotion often show their gratitude with some form of appreciation and I am sure Rihanna does not expect anything from the people of Barbados.
The young lady was not even given the opportunity to decide what she would do with the gift before the haters jumped on her. I bet Rihanna, a proud Bajan,  is grinding inside that her advisors would not support her giving the land back. Get it jealous bajans - Rihanna does not need that land.

The nays have it. Bim doesn’t owe Ms.Songbird ‘uh ting.‘It’s the other way around.

Somebody quoted JFK’s famous line about doing for country as opposed to your country doing something for you. It’s relevant to this discussion.

The young lady has done well for herself outside of B’dos. She doesn’t need any land as she could buy the whole Apes Hill Development if she so desired.Hasn’t she been appointed an ambassadress already? I think that’s sufficient for now.

dont see any prob with giving Rihanna the land,she put us on the map.
my prob is all that money she spent on cartoon paintings,not a cent to help the kids in the island.
another thing [don’t like] her new vidieo smooching with a woman.

Give me the land, Rhianna will never build a house on such a small lot beside she can buy a whole parish.

Thanks

I wholeheartedly agree amongst all the negative responses received and read..
Why don’t the senator provide or give up her lot to please the minority who obviously oppose giving Rihanna a lot in Apes Hill(wherever the place is located)..
Accordingly the famous late cricketer Worrell(are u senator forgetting him) he made barbados famous,also Sir Garfield Sobers/Wes Hall/to name a few…how about the international Bajans Lawyers/Researcher/Judges/Writers that obviously made great strides to promote the beautiful island. Take the money fix your h’ways,unemployed/and mostly the QEH…

I don’t think she should get land,when so many people are suffering.She can afford it already.I don’t think she is a role model.

As a barbadian I am proud of Rhianna and her accomplishments.  However, I do not agree with the proposed gift.

Why not name a street, music school or some other landmark after her.

Leave the expensive property for those to whom she is promoting the island to buy - then use this money (foreign currency)to take care of our economy.

Yes, the average Joe and Jill does promote the island everyday, in their quiet way and have been doing so for many years.  I travel far and wide and quietly advertise Barbados with each given moment.

Find an alternative gift to appreciate Rhianna - the tax payers do deserve a say, they are the ones who are funding this gift and - we are still a democracy.

The things I would say about this cannot be printed in good taste, but who are the good senators trying to fool? Et tu Brute? Please?! What does Barbados owe Ms Fenty? In my opinion nothing. However if the government wants to honor her, give her a piece of land in Ebenezer, it’s a whole lot cheaper than Apes Hill, Sugar Hill or Turtle Back Ridge. Don’t try to give the people a six for a nine, why put more money in Sir Cow’s hands when there are more pertinent things in Barbados that need fixing? Tell the people the truth.

there were and are lots of other bajan stars that advertise for Barbados. These two ladies acting like if the world only know of Barbados after Rhianna came along to the US and became a star. Its not that people dont value themselves, so they can’t value others, its that there are many poor people in Barbados, and the government should help the poor first, like get a piece of land and build somewhere where homeless people can get accommodation, focus more on the mentally ill people that government ignore. Mentally ill people have no rights, and Barbados claim to be one of the leading countries in the Caribbean that uphold human rights. Why help out those who already are rich, help the nation’s poor, handicap, mentally ill, that have no place to live.

rhianna tries really hard to break her bajan accent when she’s talking, many places she goes there’s no mention of barbados, reading what these two women said made my stomach boil. The people who help out barbados are the ones who spend and send their money to the country, paying for land, houses and sending money to their families. Bajans are all over the world, so people know of Barbados before Rhianna came along. The government should’ve taken that money and build a hospital in the far side of the island so people can have easy access to health care, lower the food prices so poor people can enjoy good food, not waste money on someone who already have millions, its like throwing water in the sea.

is the government gonna pay the land taxes on the land also? in the st Philip area where natural gas is originated many poor districts are without natural gas, dont get sick and call an ambulance, proper street lights, another hospital, help for the poor and fix up the psychiatric hospital, and stop hiding and pushing aside the mentally ill, give them some rights and dignity. Schools pushing out slow learners at 15 years old. If Rhianna was old and dark skin Barbados wont give two hoots about how much she advertise.That is the same thing with rich people that buying up all the beach properties, and putting up signs that bajans cant access their beaches.

Rihanna is a human being not a marketing strategy stop seeing her as one. It would be excellent to give others the opportunity to get where rihanna is now, I’m not saying that she hasn’t done anything but can do more, plus government, private businesses & people don’t support anyone in the start but then look to shower them with gifts when they can more than support themselves and in my book your trying to buy publicity at all cost but all publicity isn’t good. deal with the (have nots) then see just how much more you will have to lift this country up ( maybe they’re 50 more rihanna’s your ignoring RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!! THINK.

M. Jordan, N. Jordan, and Anita are plain old ignorant - simply put. I have read dozens of magazine articles and have seen many television appearances by Rihanna and in each one Barbados is mentioned.  The publicity whether negative or positive is exposure for our little island.  The most powerful nation on Earth - U.S.A - is also the most hated and everyone wants to go there. So, my advice to you three is to stop being so negative because the Government of Barbados and C.O.W didn’t reward you with a piece of Apes Hill.  Go Rihanna..do you thing!

I agree with the Senators 100%. I am a Barbadian living in the USA. What Rihanna is doing has more impact than many in the island realize. I have seen many, many of her appearances and interviews. She has always been introduced as Rihanna from Barbados. This she did not have to do… mind you… she does it from her heart. She is so proud of her heritage, it is very clear!!! Tears come to my eyes when I see how she always speak so proudly of her country. Every magazine, at the grammies…you name it!! Apart from her talent, this is why she will always have my support!! People, pay attention, this girl does not deserve all the negativity. I am not saying that she is perfect… but she is down right amazing!!!!!!!!

Have you heard of Greece?
It looks like Barbados is in a giving mood and thinks government welfare is good.
Who pays for government welfare?
Does Barbados really collect enough money in taxes to be a welfare state?
Greece was bailed out by the EU for spending money they did not have.
Who will bail out Barbados?

I am here looking at these comments in the context of just having read a spread on Rihanna in today’s New York Daily News Mazagine where reference is made to Barbados or things Bajan about six or seven times.  I am sure that they have been numerous Bajans who have had great accomplishments.  However, I would challenge anyone to name a Bajan who has brought the international spotlight on Barbados the way Rihanna has done and continues to do.

I don’t believe what I am reading of these three and posters such as A walker and Bajan need to get some sense.  All I can say is that their mothers must have dropped them on their heads when they were born.

People go to Barbados because they love the island and this has been the history of the island well before people like Rhianna were born.

This is not about the crucifying of Rihanna, this land deal is a bad idea, and it sets a very bad precedence. Rihanna is a very accomplished artist that has received global recognition for her work. Rihanna is also very much an “American product that was made in Barbados”; she is as American as Mariah Carey. Some of the people jumping on the bandwagon for free land to Rihanna have their own agenda, and it does not include the needs of the average Barbadian. Further, Rihanna’s social circles exclude any of these persons that are willing to give this multi-millionaire $100,000 of tax payer’s money. Suggestion; as a tribute to her country, let Rihanna use some of her millions to build a “Center for the Performing Arts” in Barbados and we will name it for her!