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GEORGE WHO?
LIONEL CRAIG: George Griffith wants his head examining.
Published on: 2/8/2010.
by WADE GIBBONS
OWEN ARTHUR IS A SPENT FORCE - and who the hell is George?
Those were the sentiments yesterday of two long-standing stalwarts of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) as they dismissed the 2008 St Philip North BLP candidate George Griffith as a "nuisance" and lamented his attempts to make former Prime Minister Arthur relevant at the expense of Opposition Leader Mia Mottley.
Speaking to the DAILY NATION, former Cabinet ministers Lionel Craig and
Clyde Griffith questioned the authority by which George Griffith was making public statements about the BLP.
On Friday George Griffith accused Mottley of trying to muzzle Arthur, using dictator-like tactics and "usurping" the authority of the party chairman with the cancellation of all branch meetings for yesterday.
Arthur was to have addressed a Christ Church South BLP constituency meeting.
Suggesting that George Griffith "wants his head examining", Craig said the only person who required muzzling was George Griffith.
"Firstly, I consider George Griffith a nuisance. Secondly, on whose authority is George Griffith speaking for the Barbados Labour Party? He is not an officer of the party . . . ."
The BLP stalwart said no one could muzzle Arthur, and agreed that people wanted to hear Arthur's opinions. He said Arthur was the best person to speak on the economy. But he noted Barbadians did not want to hear him in an isolated room with 500 people.
Craig contended the people wanted to hear Arthur in the House of Assembly. Arthur has been noticeably absent from some sittings of the Lower House over the past two years.
Clyde Griffith, a former BLP general secretary, said that if the BLP was having a national meeting, that superseded all branch meetings. He added that if Mottley wanted to cancel branch meetings, by convention she could to support any national meeting.
"[George] Griffith is totally out of place making a comment like that just to keep the flames burning for Mr Arthur," Clyde Griffith said.
He added: "Let's be honest. Arthur is a spent force . . . . If you look at Arthur's last five years in office, he made a lot of mistakes . . . . "
Griffith advised Arthur to instruct the likes of George Griffith to allow the "youthful, intelligent and energetic" Mottley to fulfil her leadership mandate.
34 comment found!
: 2/8/2010
George 'Ali Baba' Griffith could not even muster enough to hold a seat, now he is so versed on politics. Added to these two, why don't these three ancient political (hot) airbags leave well alone.
Retired
wind of change : 2/8/2010
barbajan in SE LONDON, is that what you are planning to do in the UK come May? "Vote independent , Vote independent
and put single persons in the house and not party. Too much chiefs, no indians." We will see how you lot get on, and who knows, we might consider it. But be very careful you do not let in the BNP.
: 2/8/2010
Wait Lemme Craigg, yo still there? You finish St. Leonards school yet?
: 2/8/2010
@ Barbajan in SE London, if everbody would think like you and I, all these politicians would know their place, run the people's business, forget about corruption, and we would have a healthy, moral (or close enough to)Barbados. The losers are a pitiful bunch at election time crying on tv with the mucus/snot running all over their faces. The winnwers forget us and this country the day after elections until next time. I can't understand why they don't contain the licks and mire to Roebuck Street.
Retired
TWO NAME, ONE PARTY : 2/8/2010
BlP/DLP two names same party, let the young folks in bim form there own party to look after there own interest. I was a barrow dem. untill a fellow calling him self sandy tell the people of barbados her had a plan.the plan he had was to distroy bardados.myself and hundred of barbadian left home because of him.... i Rest my Case.
: 2/8/2010
WHEN YOU GUYS DID A ARTICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO ON LAMMY CRAIG I MADE THE COMMENT THAT HE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A BULLY AND TODAY IT GOES TO SHOW AGAIN EVEN IN HIS ELDER YEARS . I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH GEORGE GRIFFITH WE USE TO CALL HIM REDMAN AND HE ALWAYS HAD AND SPOKE HIS OWN VIEW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT EXCEPT IN THE EYES OF LAMMY CRAIG.
CALIFORNIA BAJAN
: 2/8/2010
Go yardfowls! BLP yardfowls! keep going at each other's throats.
Clyde Grifith : 2/8/2010
Hi Clyde,
We remember your days up North man, and we know that Clyde only care about his personal well being.
Democracy at work : 2/8/2010
Folks, what is happening within the BLP, is what is called a healthy dose of democracy at work. The pass leaders, always had this kind of health debate, which assured that this great party will continue to be the best.
We are not afraid to deal with our laundry in the public domain, if necessary. It reassures our party members, that our party is alive and well. Leadership squabbles, will always be there within a party, so do not for one second think that the DLP have not got theirs.
Getting back to the Craig, Clyde and George Griffith matter, one must note that every time there is some difference of opinion on our leader, Craig-Clyde suddenly appear as spokespersons for her. This should make loyal party members wonder.One should take what is said by these two, with a serious dose of, not regular sodium chloride, but with Epsoms. The reason being, that if you have ever to take those two at their words, you will surely end up sitting on a toilet to relieve oneself of their toxins.
Barbados, feel free that we are living in a Democracy, and be proud of the very strong and vocal debate that is occurring within the BLP. You can rest assure, that transparency is coming back to our great party. So fear not, oh ye of little faith.
Shut up Lammy : 2/8/2010
The more Lammy Craig talks, the more it shows how brain-washed he is by the the old BLP heirarchy. A few weeks ago, Lammy said that Tom Adams' death, hurt him(Lammy) more than his(Lammy)son Ricky's death. It just goes to show that when you are not liked by Lammy Craig, you will be subjected to a severe and humiliating tongue-lashing, by this BLP "GO-FER".
wind of change : 2/8/2010
I tell bajans to suprise both parties next election day .
Vote independent , Vote independent
and put single persons in the house and not party. Too much chiefs, no indians
GEORGE WHO : 2/8/2010
One can also ask the question, who is Lammy Craig and Clyde Griffith? We do not know you. You are some body's messenger and come to think of it you always were. Both you and Clyde are a waste of time and space. George has the same right to is opinion as you. Is this what your party represents? A dictatorship? I suppose you do not know any better because I understand that for years back in the ages your use to use corn beef tactics and it seems like you are still using that strategy. As for Clyde you all are acting like some washed up messengers for the big ma ma. Any one is entitled to his or her opinion it is a free country at least for now. God forbid when the likes of you are in charge again.
Don't blame Arthur for Jamaica's problems : 2/8/2010
Arthur is the BEST person to speak on the economy....just like how he spoke on Jamaica's economy... ahahaha thanks to his 'advice' to the then Jamaican PM.
To the author of the above statement, you should try to obtain and watch a copy of the DVD "Life and Debt | A Film By Stephanie Black".
After doing so you may have a more realistic view of what happened to Jamaica, and could easily happen to most of the other countries in the region.
Yes but waht about a wage freeze : 2/8/2010
Yes! I know you want to talk about what George Griffith but let's talk about something important like the DLP'/IMF' wage freeze? This is a non issue. In T&T Kamla got over 13,000+ votes while Panday got a mere 1,300+ yet he feels that as citizen first class - he must RULE. Same thing in Barbados. UNC+BLP+T&T=B'dos= BAJAN PANDAY.
Get on with the job : 2/8/2010
All of you want muzzling .Instead of working togather for the good of a party at this crucial time in our economy you all are creating rifts .Lammie should be ashamed to talk . George if i was him i was shut up , He was an ambadssador to his own self when he was posted overseas . No one cannot muzzle a big man .If Owen wanted to say something he can get a bull horn and do like Eric Fly .You all need to shut up and get on ewiththe job ahead . Mia does not have to live in the shadows of Owen she is her own woman .Unlike the ruling party members who have to rely on the doings of a dead man .Who does not make mistakes Lammie ? The Iraq war is a big one .Owen made alot of mistakes like placing confidence in political grasshoppers ,white mouth fowls ,political misfits , opportunists and jokers .
: 2/8/2010
Mr Friggin Bajan.....
I agree with you. Mr Arthur should stop undermining the party leader and show his support. If he cannot in all conscience do this he needs to go quietly into the night. But by hanging on and marginalizing the current leader is doing a disservice to the party.
Craig / Griffiths : 2/8/2010
Sirs:
It is a sad day,when we see members of a party taking open shots in the newspapers. This speak volumes to a crisis of leadership. It is either the leadership is not listening to its members, or that leadership is seen within the party, as inept. The Barbados Labour Party membership, by and large, are saying that they do not have confidence in Mia. When you hear the general public opinion of Ms. Motley, it suggest that in order for Barbados to recover, the country needs, a strong and effective leader. The membership has the right to call for a change, if they do not feel confident with its leaders.
There is a serious groundswell, within the party, that want a change in the party's current leadership, and all the Craigs, and Clyde Griffith's, cannot hide it under the mat.
From constituency to constituency, they are all calling for a change in leadership in secret, and it is just that George Griffith, has the temerity to come out in the open and say it.
The no confidence in the party leadership, has been, an open secret fro quite sometime, but the leaders of the party, are trying to be tone deaf.
: 2/8/2010
Arthur is the BEST person to speak on the economy....just like how he spoke on Jamaica's economy... ahahaha thanks to his 'advice' to the then Jamaican PM. I don't think a person has to be an 'officer' of a party to give an opinion.
to Arthur/BLP fan...... I agree with you on ONE point...WHO IS CLYDE GRIFFITH? You mean the 'grasshopper'?
Seems lile 1976 to early 80s : 2/8/2010
Man Craig aint change a bit. Birds of a feather flock together. Muzzle and shut the mouths of the masses. Hey this is not 1976 to the early 80s. If your leader is not careful people might start remembering those days and it will be down hill from there. One TomTom the piper's son was enuff.
: 2/8/2010
Nuisance BLP
the BLP is the one that got Bim in this problem by overspending, wasteful projects and arrigance in public oofice. they handed the DLP a sinking ship. hard choices have to be made. Arthur was robbing one Gov'tment department, the NIS, to shore up the economy when his tricks weren't working and now we are saying that the BLP is and can be our saviour.14 years of selling off our lands to foreign investors, encouraaging the population to borrow and spend, plus the global economic meltdown and bajans believe Bim should be immuned and this is a DLP plot.
asking the BLP to come to our rescue is like Americans asking the Conversatives to solve America's economic woes
BAJAN PANDAY - Citizen First Class who feels he has a divine right to rule - not serve : 2/8/2010
Is this Barbados or Triniddad all yah talking bout? Are we talking about the UNC or the BLP? Are we talking about Kamla or Mia? Are we talking about a citizen first-class in the UNC or the BLP? Does Barbados have a BAJAN PANDAY
What ever the problem : 2/8/2010
I want to see persons like Lionel Craigg and to a lesser degree Clyde Griffith as far away from politics (BLP/DLP) as possible. Just a little note to some posters, Authur never had a problem with Mia leading, however, for a very long time he has been saying to her to watch her lifestyle. We take wrong and try to brand it as right a little to often. May GOD have mercy on us all. BTW George Griffith is a barbadian with the freedom of speech.
George Who : 2/8/2010
Come on! Most politicans in Barbados started as virtual unknowns. We got those who wrote newspaper coloums, political hacks, career civil servants, hot shot lawyers, outright opportuntists and the list goes on. We are at the stage in our political history as a country where collective wisdom is very important. Politics of the 60's and 70's, when we were still in the younger staghes of growth no longer applies. The back and forth jousting and partisan politics does not help in an age of serious economic times. Lead or the people would have to take the lead!
Nuisance George : 2/8/2010
Who the hell is George Griffith? I could not have asked it better. But I can provide an answer to the Nation's question. George Griffith is NOBODY!
What is the peeve all about!! : 2/8/2010
Come on, you people are falling for the pranks of the DLP. All the nonsense the DLP members are talking about rifts in the ranks of the BLP, come on cant you see that this is a ploy to deflect the attention from them. I am ashamed that the BLP members are spending so much time on such frivial things. At the moment, the DLP do not have an answer for the people in terms of the high cost of living, the rise in utilities, now they are talking about freezing salaries, with the cost of living rising daily, come onm the DLP has failed so far, all the promises have not materialise. Also, most of projects that were going on were projects that were being completed when the BLP lost the election. Any one who is honest, cannot deny that Owen Arthur left a relatively stong economy. All this blaming the recession is not the answer to our problems. I think that the people should not have changed the govt just because they were in power for long, we all know that the best person to handle the economy in these times were Owen Arthur. Yes, Owen made mistakes, but when it comes to the economy, there is not one that can challenge him. David Thompson is not in his category when it comes to ecomonics. He is a lawyer, and he has to be very dependent on his advisors. One of the other things that is quite noticeable is that most of his ministers are very inexperience when it comes to actually running a government. It is ok to stand on the sidelines when in opposition to critise, but when the reality of the situation has to be dealt with, it is very amateurish. Why is is that the DLP never have a mix of oldsters with some youngsters.
I really think that the DLP should stop trying to pay attention of what is going on within the BLP. And the BLP should stop the bickering, and do they job. The Craigs, Griffiths are not important at this stage.
Neutral by Stander who would not vote for the present government based on performance.
Asses the debate for what it is!!! : 2/8/2010
Nuisance George : 2/8/2010
Who the hell is George Griffith? I could not have asked it better. But I can provide an answer to the Nation's question. George Griffith is NOBODY!
In Time My Friends in Time : 2/8/2010
Whenever there's a changing of the guard, the old general and his supporters have a hard time stepping aside. Some go reluctantly and try to mount a comeback soon after. Thompson took a long while to assert himself as the party leader as well. However, in time Arthur and his supporters will get over themselves and let Ms Mottley get on with leading the party. This is still a grieving and separation process. In time, my friends, in time.
Move on, Owen : 2/8/2010
People once thought Winston Churchill drank, smoke and cursed too much to be Britain's leader. How wrong they were. Many once thought that people of Barrack Obama's pigmentation could never be America's President. How wrong they were. Owen Arthur would lead people to believe that Mia Mottley does not have the right stuff to be Barbados' Prime Minister. How wrong he will soon prove to be.
Of relics and non-entities : 2/8/2010
My sentiments exactly! George Griffith has been a political failure for over 25 years, rejected by the Barbadian electorate at every toss, and frequently used as a sacrificial lamb because of expediency. Where is his authority to speak on behalf of my beloved Barbados Labour Party?
Owen Arthur's time has passed. If he wants to return to the national spotlight, he should visit the House of Assembly and contribute more often than he has done for years. If he cannot constructively help Mia Mottley to win the Government, Arthur should go quietly into the night and allow us to groom a candidate for St Peter. This is Mia Mottley's time and only divine intervention can stop her becoming Prime Minister of Barbados ...sooner, more than later.
They call it 'politics?' : 2/8/2010
Barbadso politics is not politics. It is where old hens get together and make disparaging remarks about one another and nothing about the economy or the about the people's interest. They are act like women (sorry to say so). This goes for every party. Talk POLITICS and if they do not know what the word mean then look in the dictionary.
Give me a break : 2/8/2010
Barbadso politics is not politics. It is where old hens get together and make disparaging remarks about one another and nothing about the economy or the about the people's interest. They are act like women (sorry to say so). This goes for every party. Talk POLITICS and if they do not know what the word mean then look in the dictionary.
"Spent force," Nuisance," Head examining." : 2/8/2010
Ah too like opposition politics! Everybody jockeying fuh position and being loyal to their masters (and mistresses). Too much fun! Wuhlossssss!
OWEN ARTHUR : 2/8/2010
WHO IS CLYDE GRIFFITH A MAN THAT NEVER HELD A SEAT IN THE BLP. OWEN ARTHUR IS AN ICON IN BARBADOS BIGGER THAN LIONEL GRAIG OR CYYDE GRIFFITH . WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IS GIVING THE DLP ANOTHER TERM WHICH THEY DONT DESERVE
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