TREMAINE SHAW won’t be serving life anymore.

Just 13 months after receiving a lifetime ban for his role in last year’s infamous brawl, the talented local basketballer will now be eligible to return for the 2015 season after having his sanction effectively reduced to a two-and-a-half-year suspension.

An inside source of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association’s executive confirmed the council’s decision to slash Shaw’s sentence following an earlier appeal from Shaw’s lawyer and Warriors’ club representatives.

“You can see he’s been very repentant of what has happened and is eager to make amends for his role in the brawl,” said the source.

“He went to the council in a conciliatory manner and explained some of the issues he had, so I believe the council is genuinely ready to give him a second chance.”

HEAD OF THE ISLAND’S SECOND LARGEST CREDIT UNION, City of Bridgetown Co-operative Credit Union (COB), is maintaining that the Financial Services Commission (FSC) wants it and other credit unions to remove millions of dollars deposited in financial institutions and shift them to banks.

Steve Belle, general manager of COB, told the WEEKEND NATION yesterday that he was sticking by his position that the FSC had instructed it to prepare a plan to remove the credit union’s deposits from non-bank financial institutions and put them in banks as the law strictly states and there were documents to support his contention.

Belle explained the COB had placed deposits in First Citizen Investment Services, Signia Financial, Capita Financial and Consolidated Finance, all of which were reputable non-bank financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Barbados that usually paid better returns on investments than commercial banks. He said it also had investments in Government bonds.

His comments contradicted a statement on Wednesday evening from the Barbados Co-operative Credit Union League which denied that the movement had been given any such directive by the FSC.

LORNA FORDE, one of the finest track athletes this country has ever produced, is calling on the Athletic Association of Barbados (AAB) and the business sector to do more to take the sport to the next level.

The darling of women’s track here in the 1970s returned home this week to attend the funeral of her aunt Carmen Payne-McCaskie, and she told the WEEKEND NATION that this country is capable of producing more Obadele Thompsons and Ryan Brathwaites but talent without help will not cut it.

“I think more can be done.

We have had Oba and Ryan, but we should be doing better. The athletes need support at every turn and everyone must come on board,” said Forde, now a respiratory therapist in New York.

“We have got to work with them from young, but we also have to have a programme after CARIFTA.

“The powers that be need to have something for those who are in their early 20s, who have not been lucky enough to get a scholarship,” she said.

PLANS by some dairy farmers to dump milk this weekend because they exceeded their quotas to the Pine Hill Dairy (PHD) have been shelved.

The PHD has decided to pay the farmers concerned $1 per kilogram for the extra milk.

 Farmers are usually paid $2.60 per kilogram of milk in quota.

Farmers who contacted the WEEKEND NATION complained that they were informed by an official at the PHD that they could not lease any excess quotas to other farmers because it was cutting into the dairy’s sales.

“About three farmers were planning to dump the excess milk on Saturday but yesterday we received word from PHD that they would pay us $1 per kilogram for the extra milk.

“We decided to take the offer because we usually lease quotas for 95 cents,” said one of the affected farmers, who also pointed out that the farmers considered taking legal action against PHD because they feltthis move was illegal.

But  chief executive officer Richard Cozier has denied that such instructions were ever given.

A PUBLIC SECTOR union executive has said he would not be surprised if Government had to start laying off workers.

Speaking to Starcom Network a day after Minister of Industry Donville Inniss spoke of the need to cut costs in the public service, general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Denis Clarke, admitted that the Government departments might be overstaffed.

He said that the number had risen from about 21 000 to in excess of 30 000 since the early 1990s.

He attributed the increased numbers in the public sector to the fact that the private sector was not creating enough jobs and there would be social chaos if Government did not step in.  (YB)

THERE ARE NO efforts being made to stifle the growth of the alternative energy sector.

That’s according to Barbados Light and Power’s managing director, Mark King, who said there was no “silver bullet” or quick fix to lower ballooning energy costs and electricity bills of consumers.

Instead, King said “the renewable energy or sustainable energy approach must be a multi-faceted approach” consisting of photovoltaic systems (PV), wind and biomass “to ultimately establish a sustainable and secure source of energy for Barbados”.

King made the comments yesterday during one of the company’s Let’s Talk sessions with the media at its headquarters, Bay Street.  (MM)

The world knew him as the second oldest man alive, but to James Sisnett’s children, he was simply “a very good father”.

Sisnett passed away yesterday, three months after celebrating his 113th birthday with five generations of his offspring, many of whom had flown to Barbados from different parts of the globe for the occasion.

His eldest son Desmond told the WEEKEND NATION: “He was a very good father. I will always miss him.”

Another son, Lindsay, said: “At that age you expect he will pass some time, but he will still be missed.”

Lindsay said he would be remembered as a father who “could always give you a good word of advice”, someone to whom “you could always turn because you knew he would tell you something wise.”

Sisnett’s youngest child Francis, a sergeant with the Royal Barbados Police Force, said he was “saddened” by his father’s passing.

“My father was a strict man and a good disciplinarian who loved the church. He also loved his children, his grandchildren and the great-grands and enjoyed having them around him.”

Francis Sisnett also remembered a hardworking father who impressed on his children the value of education. He said they in turn honoured his vision by excelling in their various professions, with the family now boasting seven doctors in three generations as well as a number of educators.

James Sisnett was married in 1923 and had five children with his first wife who died in 1937. He remarried in 1942 and had six children with his second wife. Two of the children pre-deceased him.

Those surviving are Everine, Desmond, Lauretta, Esther, Vincent, Lindsay, Barbara, Michael and Francis, four of them living in Barbados.

Trained as a blacksmith, Sisnett spent most of his life working as a sugar factory engineer before retiring in 1970.

His granddaughter Marietta Carter-Narcisse, a Hollywood make-up artist, yesterday wrote in a Facebook tribute to her grandfather, “granddaddy we are going to miss you so much . . . you lived a great life. To God be the glory. Soar with the angels. I can’t even think of all the things that you have seen happen in your lifetime.”

The Government of Barbados had earlier honoured Sisnett, naming the Ellerton St George road where he had lived for many years, James Sisnett Road. (GC)

AS SMALL HOTELS struggle to keep their doors open, they are calling on Government to help fund their marketing ventures and provide a long term plan for the tourism industry.

Chairman of Intimate Hotels Barbados, Renee Coppin, told the media yesterday that small hotels were unable to “predict where we are going to be in September, October and already occupancies are not looking very promising”.

Coppin summed up the situation at Pirates Inn Hotel at Browne’s Gap, Hastings, Christ Church, following a tour of several small hotels, including Ocean 15, Ocean 2 and Rostrevor in St Lawrence Gap and Nautilus Beach Apartments on Bay Street, St Michael.

Coppin said that small hoteliers had attempted to implement a number of marketing initiatives but were challenged by limited funding from Government. They could not do it on their own. AH)

Above , Chairman of Intimate Hotels Barbados Renee Coppin (left) speaking to (second from left) Shadow Minister of Tourism Santia Bradshaw, assistant to the Opposition Leader Pat Parris, Shadow Minister of Small Business Cynthia Forde and Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, about the challenges small hotels in Barbados are facing. The meeting was at Pirates Inn Apartment Hotel, Browne’s Gap, Hastings, Christ Church, yesterday following a tour of a number of small hotels. (Picture by Lennox Devonish.)

BARBADOS’ MOST RECENT centenarian is Eustace Mellowes, formerly of Lascelles Terrace, Pine, St Michael.

He reached that rare milestone on May 10 and received a visit from Governor General Sir Elliot Belgrave, as customary.

The centenarian attributed his long life to the mercy of God and thanked Him for his family and friends – the “beautiful people that God has made”.  

Mellowes has been father and stepfather to five children, including Maureen Jones, Winston Mellowes, Yvette Walcott, Anthony Ruck and Peggy Ruck. His other descendants include nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Mellowes engaged in witty exchanges with Sir Elliot, who asked the centenarian if he was able to walk around the room. Mellowes replied that he could, quickly adding, “but it isn’t necessary”.

Mellowes is the oldest retiree of Barbados Light & Power Company Limited and representatives of the company shared in the occasion. The company honoured him by way of a gift and a letter of appreciation from managing director Mark King.

His son, Professor Emeritus Winston Mellowes of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, thanked his father for all he did to make sure that his children had a good education. (PR)

THIS WEEK, Street Beat is looking at the work of a few of the people who keep Barbados from slipping off the map.

They are members of the forestry and engineering divisions of the Soil Conservation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture.

General workers Timothy Carrington and Adrian Campbell and “spray man” Roger Inniss were spotted near Morgan Lewis Beach in St Andrew. The men, who are part of the forestry division, were on a lunch break, relaxing in a small hut. Evidence of their work was clear all around.

“We keep the path clear of trees and plants so people who want to go to the beach or back to Shorey Village can do so. We also keep the water course clear,” said Inniss.

He said the job was challenging and involved a lot of moving around but he did not mind.

“It’s not a [static] job, we float around to different areas; we can get called to go somewhere else on a temporary basis then come back but staying on one place all the time can get boring so I like it. Plus, you get to learn about nuff plants and which ones take to which soils better.”

For his part, Carrington said their jobs also entailed gully maintenance – keeping them clear so they don’t flood over – and addressing land slippage.

“It is a nice job; it gives a lot of learning experience. This job has helped feed my three sons and I am proud to do it,” he said.

However, he admitted he was hoping for something different for his children as he did not wish for them to have to work as hard as he did in the hot sun.

Campbell has been at the Soil Conservation Unit for the past four years. He acknowledged the work could be difficult but said it was something he had already made up his mind to do.

“I can’t work in an office so I got to beat the sun. Besides, when you are in agriculture, you got to work hard,” he said.

Campbell said the best part of the job was his comrades, challenging each other to see who could work the fastest and looking out for each other.

The men pointed to another hut, located far away up a hill. They said another section of the unit was up there working and Street Beat could also talk to them. The journey was one the team was glad they did not have to traverse on foot but this is apparently something workers have to deal with on a regular basis.

On arrival, the mostly female engineering division wasted no time in informing the team about its hardships.

“We have a problem with the lack of transport to the work sites. We have to walk over an hour sometimes but it wasn’t always like this,” said Evadne Howard.

Howard said she had been in the unit for more than 30 years. Back then, it was a way for women to be financially independent and a means to help raise their children.

“It’s a good job, you get engineering experience. There’s nothing wrong with the work but once we get proper management, I would be happy,” she said.

Supervisor Andrew Best said the job was an important one – controlling water courses and debushing areas.

“We are a de-bushing gang. We float from one valley to the next. It is not a bad job as you get to see how to combat soil erosion and do your part in protecting the environment,” he said.

As the team was travelling between the divisions, it came across two men out in the field in Cottage, part of the expansive Morgan Lewis land. Curious as to why they were in such a desolate locale, the team stopped to speak to them.

It turns out the land is owned by one of the men, Hartley Forde. He said that while he lived in Black Rock, St Michael, he owned four and a half acres of land there and was out today cultivating it. However, he said he was no longer a young man and was looking to sell.

“I’ve had this land since 1973 and it has served its purpose. I used to reap cane but I started to lose money so now we are planting vegetables,” he said. (CA)

A “For Sale” sign is posted outside the unfinished wall structure which British visitor June Pickering was hoping to make her dream home in Barbados.

Hers is another sad story of construction gone wrong.

After giving a local contractor $101 000 to build the downstairs section of the two-storey house, Pickering has been forced to give up her dream and walk away counting her losses.

The house, which was supposed to consist of a one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment, is unfinished and engineers have informed her that the mason work was of such poor quality that the entire structure should be demolished and rebuilt.

Fighting back tears, the 58-year-old mother of three who completely fell in love with Barbados after coming here for the first time seven years ago, said she had no choice but to walk away from her investment.

She explained that she bought the land at Hopewell Development, Christ Church in 2009 for $120 000.

She said the first contractor she hired quoted a price of $305 000 but after taking her to a bank to secure a loan, he increased the building cost to $648 000.

“I told him ‘no way’, that I would get somebody else to build the house and he said if he was not getting the job I could not get the loan, and the bank refused to give me the loan,” she said.

Faced with that dilemma Pickering said one day she was complaining to her sister’s gardener about the situation and he introduced her to another contractor.

“I showed the contractor two drawings that I had – one was for a small bungalow and the other was for the two-storey house. I told him how much money I had to build the house and I also told him that the two-storey house was my dream home. He said ‘June, if that is your dream home, I will build it for you’.”

She said the contractor then told her that the $101 000 would complete the downstairs section and all she would have to do was to get additional funds to install the kitchens and bathrooms. She decided to proceed with that plan and complete the upstairs section at a later date.

“I went back to England and I would send money onto his account. He kept calling me telling me that everything was going good and when I come back here I would be able to live in the house and that I would be very pleased with the work. I was very excited.

However, Pickering said when she arrived in Barbados in January and visited the house she broke down in tears when she saw it.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that it was still unfinished and when I asked him what was going on he told me that I owed him money and that he needed more money to finish the house.”

Pickering said she demanded all her receipts back from the contractor and that was when she noticed that some of them had an address at Inchcape Terrace, St Philip.

“When I went to the address in St Philip I found a recently built wall house on the land but there was nobody living there,” she cried.

“I have spoken to about 30 builders about completing the house and I have received quotes from $21 000 to $84 000. I am so confused. I don’t know what the price is anymore. I think some people are just looking to overcharge me because I am British and I am a single woman.”

She added that one quantity surveyor advised her to rebuild the house because the upstairs floor as well as the stairs were poorly constructed while another told her that there was $30 000 in work which was unaccounted for.

Pointing out that she had funded the building by taking out a loan on her home in England and also with some of the funds she had received as a settlement from an accident, Pickering said she was now forced to sell the house because it would be too expensive to complete it and do the remedial work.

“I was informed that because of the bad work on the house I would have to sell it at a loss. So after spending $265 000 so far I would have to sell the house at $240 000.

“This is just heartbreaking. I was in an accident and damaged my back and my daughter said to me to follow my dream and go and live in the sun. I fell in love with Barbados. I mean look at the beaches and the wonderful people I have met. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Since going through this experience Pickering said she had been hearing similar horror stories from locals and visitors.

“In England builders would not be able to get away with this,” she said. “The [local government] council would have come out at every stage and inspected the work. I believe the Government of Barbados has to put a system in place to monitor these contractors because it is turning away a lot of visitors to the island.”   

When contacted the contractor said the money advanced to him by Pickering was for labour and material.

“I called her in England and told her that I would need more money to complete the job,” he said. “I even used some of my funds and she told me that she would repay me. She came back here and started scandalizing my name and telling everybody that I rob her.

“We signed a contract and I told her that as long as she give me the money I will finish the job. I have gone to my attorney and he advised me to give her all of the receipts for the job which I did.

“If June feel that I rob her then she can take me to court and let us settle the matter there.”

DELHI – Dwayne Smith says his Mumbai Indians are charged for one more shot for a spot in the finals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.

The Barbadian T20 captain said Mumbai were eager to perform and would regroup from their thrashing at the hands of Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.

Mumbai, who also feature another West Indian Kieron Pollard, meet Rajasthan Royals in the final play-off match today in Kolkata for a place in the final against the Super Kings.

 “We still have another chance. We have to regroup and come back strong in the next game to get a chance to play in the final. We are still in the competition and our confidence will not drop,” Smith said.

He added that he was “gutted” after Mumbai Indians succumbed to Chennai by 48 runs.

Smith scored 68 off 28 balls with five sixes and six fours to put Mumbai Indians in control as they chased a daunting target of 191.

However, after he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja in the ninth over things start to go downhill. New West Indies One-Day captain Dwayne Bravo took three wickets for nine runs to close out victory for the Super Kings.

Pollard was the second highest scorer with 24 from 16 balls.

“It is unfortunate to end up on the losing side. I love to win,” Smith told IPLT20.com.

He was scoring at a strike rate of over 200 when Super Kings decided to take the strategic time-out before the seventh over. Smith was dismissed an over after the time-out.

 “I do not think that the time-out broke the momentum of the game. At some point of time it always had to happen and I was ready to regroup my innings after the short break,” Smith said.

“If I had been there for a little more time, we could have probably gone on to win.” (CMC

ABOUT 50 PEOPLE will get jobs when fast food chain Chefette opens its 15th branch by Christmas.

The multimillion dollar restaurant at Welches Plaza, St Thomas, work on which began this month, will include a drive-thru, a MEGA three-storey playground and a fully digital indoor menu.

It will be built on 6 000 square feet with seating for 130 people.

The announcement was made yesterday at a Press launch at Chefette Rockley, Christ Church.

Executive chairman Assad Haloute said the new location, which has been in the planning stages for over 18 months, would allow the restaurant to better serve customers and offer more convenience in the Warrens area.

He said while other businesses were downsizing, shutting down and not expanding, Chefette, which employs over 750 people, continued to invest in the country, especially its “well trained staff to ensure that we as a company will continue getting stronger”.

“Despite the tough economy and the worst recession the world has ever experienced, Chefette remains committed to Barbados, our employees and our loyal and dedicated customers. We will continue to build and invest to keep our companies strong and protect the jobs of staff,” he said.

Managing director Ryan Haloute said Chefette has always played a vital role in giving back to communities even more now during “these challenging economic times”, and it has already begun to assist neighbouring schools such as Welches Primary, Sharon Primary, Queen’s College and The Lester Vaughan School.

He also announced that over the last week, Chefette’s 14 restaurants, nine drive-thrus and two BBQ Barns, have gone fully digital.

He said the move was an effort to communicate with customers, keeping them up to date and informed on specials and promotions in a world which was becoming digitally demanding.

“I like to call this the game changer not seen in Barbados as yet. We are the first restaurant in the whole Caribbean to have gone fully digital, fully, meaning as well that it incorporates the drive-thru which is our exterior menus.

“This new digital drive-thru concept is something which is fairly new in the United States as well. The major chains in the USA don’t have all of their drive-thrus digital,” Haloute noted. (AH)

WITH AN INCREASE in prize money and participation from top road tennis players, next month’s Silver Hill Road Tennis Championship is gearing up to be one of the biggest competitions of the year.

With defending champion Mark “Venom” Griffith having already confirmed his participation, several other “brand name” players are also scheduled to appear in the competition which serves off on June 15 and runs until July 13 on the Silver Hill hard court.

Top-ranked Julian “Michael Jackson” White, Victor “Earth” Ward, Antoine “Lil Man” Daniel, Jeffrey “Borah” Best, Adrian “Dan” Skeete, Anthony “Ears” Mitchell, Kerry “TC” Francis and David Arrendell are all expected to compete in the “A” Class division.

There will also be a Silver Hill In-house division, while the Under-16 division has been replaced by an Under-21.

There has been a $500 increase in prize money in the “A” Class, with the winner taking home $1 500, second place $750, third place $400 and fourth $300.

Those competing in the Silver Hill In-house category will battle for $750 and $400 for first and second respectively, with the two losing semi-finalists each getting $200.

The Under-21 winner will walk away with $500 and the runner-up $300, while the losing semi-finalists will receive $200 each.

Tournament organizer Orette Haynes told WEEKEND SPORT that he was expecting the number of competitors to surpass the 58 in the inaugural competition.

He said a decision had been made to host the competition early in the year this time around, having held it in December last year.

Haynes revealed that this was done so as to accommodate a “shotgun-style” tournament which he was looking at hosting in November.

Griffith, who overcame Ward in the finals of the 2012 edition, said he had already started his preparations.

“I have started to train already because I know I will have to be in very good shape to defend my title,” he added.

He had changed his diet, begun beach training and running on the highway alongside sharpening his game skills.

“It won’t be easy because there are a lot of good players who will be looking to take me down, but I still think that I have a good chance of winning the competition again,” Griffith said.

Jackson, who was upstaged by Ward in the quarter-finals last year, said he intended to make amends for that shock exit.

“I’m looking to redeem myself and since it’s the only competition in Barbados which I haven’t won, I would really like to add this to my collection.

“Last year I was a bit overconfident, but this time around I will be more focused because I plan on coming out on top,” he insisted.

Registration fee is $10 and entry forms can be obtained from Haynes, Chesterfield Winfield, Philip Garner and at the Oistins tennis court.

ST. JOHN’S – Barbadian pacer Miguel Cummins has been named in a 13-man West Indies A-Team squad which includes eight players with Test experience for the first four-day match against the Sri Lanka A-Team at Warner Park in St Kitts from June 5.

Cummins, 22, was the leading fast bowler in the Regional 4-Day Tournament with 35 wickets at 14.77 runs apiece, helping new champions Barbados to their 21st regional first class title.

Jamaican left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, who played a solitary Test for the West Indies in 2009 against Bangladesh has also been selected.

Miller was the most successful bowler in the tournament. He took 52 wickets at 8.05 runs apiece, tying with Shane Shillingford for the highest number of wickets.

Another left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, who previously captained the A-Team, is also included but the West Indies Cricket Board said Wednesday a captain would be named at a later date.

Apart from Miller and Permaul, the other players who have appeared in Test matches are Barbados’ captain Kirk Edwards, his compatriot Kraigg Brathwaite, Guyanese batsmen Assad Fudadin and Narsingh Deonarine, Trinidadian fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and Jamaican wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, who plays for the Combined Campuses and Colleges.

Guyana’s left-handed batsman Leon Johnson has had a couple of One-Day Internationals.

The selectors have called up uncapped Leeward Islands wicketkeeper/batsman Jahmar Hamilton to join Walton but there is no room for Barbadian Shane Dowrich.

Barbadian left-handed batsman Jonathan Carter and Jamaican left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell complete the squad.

Squad

Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cotterell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Veerasammy Permaul, Chadwick Walton. (EZS)

THE OFFSHORE SECTOR has always been major part of the financial employment generating and foreign exchange earning aspects of our economy, and along with tourism, it has helped to fill the breach created by the decline of sugar.

But the potential for that sector to do even more for the Barbadian economy can be gauged from the major input that it makes to the economies of The Bahamas, Singapore, The Channel Islands, Bermuda, The Virgin Islands and Britain itself which provides significant benefits to some persons who may live in Britain but are not domiciled there.

In a sentence, international financial planning is major business and major money, and many are the skills required for the proper financial planning that goes into the usual Treasury operations of most major international companies nowadays. Given the present state of international finance, our country needs to do everything in terms of training its people; studying the market and advertising our product availability in order to extract every legitimate advantage that we can from this important business avenue.

We raise this point yet again because it now seems clear that at the G8 meeting which is slated for next week and which Britain will chair there will be a massive assault against international tax avoidance. Essentially that is an attack on our offshore sector.

Moreover, the recession, which has bitten hard at the revenue intakes of major industrial countries, has provided the ideal cover for sabre rattling by a number of left-leaning (and some not so left-leaning) politicians who dislike tolerating large profits which yield the level of taxes paid which the tax laws allow.

We have returned to this topic because this new challenge appears to be more wholesale and widespread than any of the previous challenges. We had the World Trade Organization’s challenge, which wiped out a large swathe of foreign sales corporations that were said to be unfair and inimical to the interests of international fair trading.

We took that attack, counted our losses, along with the major American companies who have established their “foreign sales corporations” here, and we moved on. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) challenge in 2001 was successfully fought off by us and we continued to grow the sector with the benefit of a flexible Canadian tax treaty, which was soon neutralized when the unique benefits were shared with other territories, and recently there were murmurings in Canadian circles about the alleged tax haven status of our country.

All these developments and challenges have now led, as it were, to the latest criticisms of major companies and the offshore financial sectors that they have used to lawfully lessen their tax burden.

We feel that it is imperative that this country should redouble its efforts at marketing our island as a financial centre. Even more critical, we absolutely must get on with the business of specifically training our accountants and lawyers in the highly sophisticated techniques of international tax planning – for while we may not be able to prevent G8 members from legislating as they please, we can keep two steps ahead by tailoring our relevant offshore laws to satisfy the altered demands of our international business companies and other such entities! But that approach calls for proactive planning. The stakes are high enough to make it worthwhile.

They say “if crab don’t walk, he never get fat”, yet “a rolling stone gathers no moss”. You can’t win. Anyway, to test it out, I travelled over the last weekend to the pokoors of Jinpoor, the paradox of St Philip, across the Atlantic in a luxury liner and finally to the affluence of Apes Hill. Starting with . . .

Sabir Nakhuda’s Bengal To Barbados is an amazing tale of man’s triumph over adversity. Imagine poor, often uneducated, rural East Indians landing here with a few dollars in their pockets. Knowing no one, not speaking the language, not having a clue to the districts.

Yet they moved around with their suitcases, sold on credit, kept accounts for hundreds of customers and ended up with bicycles, cars, vans and finally stores in Bridgetown.

How did they do it? By strict adherence to their religion (while we scoff at ours on the radio); helping each other; getting nuff children and involving them in business; respecting their elders; and, of course, knowing the value of a dollar saved.

At the launching one told me about an Indian man drowning in the sea. A passing Bajan shouts: “Hey, man, I’ll save you for ten dollars!” And the Indian sinks, struggles, surfaces and finally splutters: “You don’t think you could do it for nine?”

Sabir’s book should be read by all Barbadian schoolchildren. Let us bury the notions that getting a job is a “right”; that not doing well in school is an excuse for turning to crime; or that a university degree is a passport to success.

It is true my wife got first class honours and landed the best job in the universe – sleepingnaked with me for 38 years – but everyone can’t be that lucky. (Happy birthday next Wednesday, wife!)

Over then to St Philip where Ken Mullin processes My Milk and Mauby Milk. Ken uses the most gentle pasteurization possible so that the milk retains its nutritive goodness. More anon.

But one can’t help but be struck by the paradox of today’s Bajan countryside. “For sale” signs on houses everywhere. Yet land is being taken out of agriculture to build even more.

Barbados desperately needs foreign exchange. Sugar is a good foreign exchange earner. Cuba is currently reopening over 12 sugar factories to capitalize on the rise in sugar prices. Government employs lots of workers doing very little. Why not employ them productively growing sugar? And win-win all around?

Finally to an 80th birthday do for cousin Jack. Jackie, you may recall, planted his cassava in the sandy Fontabelle soil near a wide, deep crab hole. It grew to wondrous proportions. As did other things. Jack reportedly passed the 11-plus when he was only nine.

Jack’s wife Jeanette, the pepper-jelly queen, was telling me about a cruise they just did which included crossing the Atlantic in eight days. Relaxing, but never boring for there are all sorts of exciting pastimes to keep you enthralled.

For instance, one day the steward assembled the passengers and asked them to guess – wait for it – how many rolls of toilet paper they would need on a cruise like that! Jeanette guessed right – 5 000 – and got a badge. Or something.

The party was held at the Apes Hill home of one of Jack and Jeanette’s daughters. Food aplenty. We sat around a crystal-clear jacuzzi which apparently has little Japanese arms which come out to massage any body parts which so requireth. Remind me to add “bathing naked in a jacuzzi” to my bucket list.

A delightful young lady, unfortunately related, sat seductively on my lap for some time. I was so engrossed in recalling that “A man may not marry . . .” table from the hymn book that when she got up I didn’t realize something had shifted.

Upon resuming her seat, she promptly shot up about four feet like a startled mustang.    And that pleased me no end. Everyone laughs at my old Nokia cellphone. But there is no way a BlackBerry in your pocket could get that sort of reaction from a sitting lass.

As we left the hostess advised us to keep to the flagstones as her husband pees on the lawn. How good to see that great tradition even in high places!

Although we tend to go behind the garage.  

• Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator. Email porkhoad @gmail.com.

JOHNSON CHARLES may not be as well known as his illustrious West Indies opening partner Chris Gayle, but the St Lucian right-hander is putting in some extra work as he prepares for next month’s ICC World Champions Trophy in England.

Here, Charles, who scored back-to-back centuries in his last two ODIs versus Australia and Zimbabwe, is pictured driving through the offside during a net session at the West Indies’ training camp at the 3Ws Oval yesterday. (Picture by Shaka Mayers.)

NOW THAT former three-term Prime Minister Owen Arthur has announced his withdrawal from elective politics after three decades, perhaps the powers that be should give serious consideration to awarding him with this nation’s highest national honour as a Knight of St Andrew – if he is so disposed.

Even a cursory glance of the names of this country’s recipients who adorn the gallery of Knights and Dames, honoured for “extraordinary and outstanding achievement and merit services in Barbados or to humanity at large”, would be sufficient for impartial observers to welcome the inclusion of Owen Seymour Arthur.

With all the bitterness and viciousness of the February 21 general election behind us, and Barbadians across the political divide coping strenuously with stressful cost-of-living challenges, objective independent assessments of the intellectual contributions of the now 63-year-old economist and politician can hardly fail to welcome his elevation.

In my journalistic coverage of the Caribbean Community, I came to recognize Arthur’s voice among the strongest, most eloquent and persuasive in support of meaningful regional economic integration and functional cooperation while he served as Prime Minister and held lead responsibility for establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that remains a work in progress.

As one of the contributors to the valued Contending With Destiny (The Caribbean In The 21st Century – (published on December 31, 2000, for the University of the West Indies by Ian Randle Publishers) – Arthur had outlined six “strategic dimensions” in articulating economic policy options for the Caribbean in the 21st century.

Arthur had observed: “To realize its full potential, the Caribbean needs to move to a new form of governance. No Caribbean society can succeed unless all of its resources are mobilized into support of national development . . . However, the unfortunate aspect of the Westminster model of governance we have inherited is that it has encouraged a ‘to the victors, the spoils mentality’.

“There has been too destructive a competition for political office; too heavy a concentration of power in the hands of ruling elites; an unhealthy preservation of anti-development party and tribal divisions . . .”

This scenario, as is well known, remains a sad reality in this second decade of the 21st century.

Congrats, Mr Arthur, on your first grandchild this July. We have had good interactions over the years, some spiced with strongly expressed disagreements, but with mutual respect. I look forward to reading your promised memoirs.

• Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist; rickeysingh2000@gmail.com.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. – Acts 3:4-6

There is begging everywhere in Barbados and it is not because of the recession.

The beggars have moved from “a dollar” or “anything” in order to buy “something to eat”. Nowadays they beg for whatever their eyes come into contact with.

Two weeks ago I went to the Ministry of Education to collect a monitor for a visually impaired student who was writing the CXC examination in electronic document preparation and management.  

While on my way back to the school where I was supervising the exam, I stopped at a gas station to put some petrol in the car. Guess what happened? The female attendant said: “Give me that flat-screen TV; I need it for my bedroom.”  

It really shocked me. The monitor was not even exposed; it was in a box! Some women are first-class beggars; they are always begging for something.

I do not like anyone to beg me for anything; let me give you of my own free will.

Supposed I was foolish and gave away the property (the monitor) of the crown (Government)? I would be writing this week’s column from Her Majesty Prisons Dodds in St Philip; that is if I am allowed!

This is where some men will fall down – by giving women the things they beg for. Be careful and do not give in to temptation.

We as a people must learn to separate our wants from our needs, stop begging and live within our means!

Choirs to perform

Under the patronage of Archbishop Dr John Holder, 20 members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs of the Church of the Transfiguration, New York City, with their acclaimed organist and choirmaster Claudia Dumschat, will make three appearances in Barbados.

Today at 7 p.m. Dumschat will give an organ recital featuring works by Bach, Cesar Franck and Louis Vierne at St James Parish Church.

The choirs will sing at the solemn Eucharist at Christ Church Parish Church on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and, together with members of the St Michael’s Cathedral Choir, will perform at a concert at St Mary’s Anglican Church later that day at 6 p.m.

The programme will include works by Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Ireland, and selected Negro spirituals.

Tickets and further information are available at the St James Parish Church and St Mary’s Church offices.

Fair

St Martin’s Anglican Church will hold its annual fair tomorrow on the rectory grounds, St Martin’s, St Philip, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fair and fun day

Bethlehem Moravian Church, Maxwell Gardens, Christ Church, invites the public to its fair and fun day tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Flea market

Clifton Hill Moravian Church, Clifton Hill, St Thomas, invites the public to its annual flea market tomorrow from 9 a.m.

Fish fry

The Church of Christ The King will host a fish fry on the church grounds, Rock Dundo Park, Cave Hill, St Michael, tomorrow from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Festival

Holy Trinity Church continues its feast of title today with Love Feast at 7:30 p.m. The preacher will be Reverend Jillian Crawford. There will be sung Eucharist on Sunday at 9 a.m., with Rev. Merlene Lucas as preacher, a luncheon at 12 p.m. and Songs Of Praise at 5 p.m.