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135 comment found!

: 11/6/2009
I find Mr. Blackman’s comments to be dismissive and it is indicative of many civil servants in similar positions when addressing the plight of the common man. I venture to bet that if this was some person perceived be of the upper class the treatment across the board would be different. The near sightedness of these persons is mind altering. If you have the man’s car in the port and it took a year for a decision to be made on if he would be given the returning resident package with special circumstances, then whose fault it is, mine I guess. You people need to wake up; Barbados needs its Diaspora badly. Allow the setting up of US accounts, concession on the building of home and setting of businesses for the diasporic community not only the white hoteliers. I wish someone to answer the question. If this man was off the rock for upwards of 20 years and have to return home after this time what is he. Maybe he should be Guyanese.

RL

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SAD VERY SAD : 11/6/2009
I have been saying for years, at 50 you are going home until God calls you. Young professionals like me with degrees could come back there and provide valuable services, open businesses, teach etc. We would be able to share experiences and give back to Barbados. But no, we have to be 50 to get stuff duty free. That’s why I am looking at another Caribbean island to retire to.

Fed up with Gov

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PETE IN ATLANTA : 11/6/2009
I too am sorry to hear about the plight of those people. You have people who come into Barbados an rape the country and leave, take all the money out of the country. the government of Barbados would not even impliment any laws to stop these people and they have laws to stop a person from returning home early. So often we have said our navel string bury right here but we the government don't seem to understand that a barbadian shouldn't have to prove that he is a barbadian and the more we go on the more we will be able to agree with RPB that the country sick, the country in well and that the ones making these laws are not perfect but can be sick as well. Laws=results=mentality

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: 11/6/2009
The Public Service needs serious reform. Decisions take long because too many agencies, too many bosses and too many gate keepers are involved in a decision and you know what ? Nobody wants to take responsiblity because the thing is so complicated that some of the people to whom a decision is presented are unsure of what they are doing and who should really make the decision.You have worker at the bottom, then a supervisor then a division supervisor who controls the supervisior then a senior somebody incharge of the rest who has to report to the named boss who then reports to the Permanent secretary who then reports to the Minister who then reports to cabinet and or the Prime Minister who then reports to Parliament which is then supposed to report to the people through reporters in the News Media-------------Depending on the various personalities ALONG THE WAY A DECISION CAN remain on a desk for three years because it was not passed on to the next person in authority and then there is interpretation of the rules, cumbersomse and ambigious most of the time. People retire , go on vacation, GO ON 'SICK LEAVE 'too busy, dont care etc-----so there you are waiting and waiting and waiting-BARE NONSENSE I SAY . Some people in the Public Service seem not have human feelings and operate as though they are operating in the era of the 1920s and 1930s when discrimination against poor people was rife, THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE . THE PUBLIC DESERVES BETTER FROM THE *PUBLIC SERVICE*

SAM

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Barbados ah Come from : 11/6/2009
I wonder, what concessions or considerations are given to non nationals coming into the island to take up positions advertised "and no local suitable candidate could be found." What are they allowed to bring in (import) and the lack of "hassles" they endure. Why is it that Bajans still believe that Barbados is for Bajans, whether returning or living here?

Just as Frustrated Bajan

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SUV in Port : 11/6/2009
rETURNING bAJAN [who forgot to take the Caps Lock off] wrote: "After all they would not treat Simon Cowell, Michael Winner, Cilla Black, Cliff Richard or any of the other 48 millionaires in that manner and they are not expats." Probably not, because these people named would have to pay the duty on a vehicle otherwise it would not be cleared from the port. And they ARE expats, in Barbados as the guests of the GOB. Cliff Richard has a pick-up truck which was purchased in Barbados [duty-paid]. Why are you, apart from being provocative, attempting to create a phony "us-and-them" scenario? I do agree with you, however, that Mr. Antrobus should be allowed to pay the duties and collect his vehicle.

Returned National

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rETURNING bAJAN : 11/6/2009
I tend to agree with you to a point; but remember the millionaires you have mentioned would not been treated in that manner simply because they would not have found themselves in that position in the first place.They are rich enought to bring in whatever they would like to bring in and pay for it and not even miss the money. Us ordinary people have to watch our pennies.

observer

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ridiculous!! : 11/6/2009
This country should not be able to seize your property, okay they didn’t know the law, but they should have been given their jeep, the jeep is not the property of Barbados, they don’t qualify as returning nationals, but how did their property become the property of Barbados. They didn’t break any laws, why not give them their possessions, this is tantamount to a very big tax, but a tax I wouldn’t want to pay. I guess I’ll be in exile for a bit longer. I have sent money home for many years that have contributed to the economy, but now I’m not sending money home I must be 50 years to qualify for returning national status?

bajan in exile

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: 11/5/2009
Nation Editor, can we please have an update on this story. Having made the first error of failing to be fully informed, it seems that this family is now unable to pay the total sum of duty and storage charges. In a spirit of compromise The Barbados Government could offer this family an option to pay the Port in installments for their vehicle. I know the Port is not a cooley man business,but that way the Antrobus family get their vehicle and the Treasury gets some funds, and we all hopefully live happily ever after. Retired.

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rETURNING bAJAN : 11/5/2009
Rain sleet snow, what about insults one gets as well. I say give the couple his car, let him pay his duty(tax) to Custums. After all they would not treat Simon Cowell, Michael Winner, Cilla Black, Cliff Richard or any of the other 48 millionaires in that manner and they are not expats.

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SUV Stuck in Port : 11/5/2009
I am truly sorry that these people are having such a difficult time. However, before you uproot your family and make such a big move one would think that people would get pertinent information from reputable source. And, while I do not necessarily agree with some of the criteria to be a "returning national" that does not change the fact that these guidelines/rules are in place and there will be consequences if they are not followed.

nikki

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: 11/5/2009
The man is a bajan, therefore he should be able to return home, whenever, with whatever he has managed to accumulate, seems stange to me that many of you who are moaning/commenting negatievely on him, maybe feeling a little envious......just saying

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R.N. JEEP : 11/5/2009
All of us returning nationals and nationals at home, need to come together and let our voices make a differant things like this is a concerns the whole nation and let the public workers of b.dos see our taxes pay them and IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE.....let our money work for us and not againce us. And the leaders of our Country needs to enfouce it...AL PUB. WORKERS 1 AND 2 YEAR VACATIONS STOP NOW....IF YOU ARE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO WORK THEN WORK

FOR THE PEOPLE

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: 11/5/2009
Pure stupidity, if you are Bajan by birth you should be allowed to return to your homeland at anytime. Perhaps this family need to be like everyone else and get a custom officer as a buddy. This is disgusting not to say the least. I wonder how those big shots geet to drive all those big vehicles down there

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RETURNEES : 11/5/2009
The Prime Minister was on Amelia Island asking Barbadians to support their country. This is "RUM SHOP POLITICS" at its' best and has gone on long enough. Why would anyone want to return full time to what Barbados has become. Rude, disrespectful, and as usual the islanders see returnees as BAJAN YANKEES. When you have paid the price in a foreign country in the rain, sleet and snow to make a nest egg, you return, pay taxes and exorbitant prices for food,etc to support a country that is lock in STUPIDITY and DISREPECT.

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returning national's jeep : 11/4/2009
I feel their pain, however, Barbados needs to do something about the age limit of a returning national. this would deter individuals like me who want to come home and contribute to the economy including creating jobs for other Barbadiams. Barbados government i find at times can be to laid back, noticed by the amount of time it alledgedly took for them to get back to the famaily.

caribmass

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: 11/4/2009
Yes, I agree that the Antrobuses should have researched the facts regarding the benefits for returning nationals before they shipped their good. Ignorance is no excuse. I too feel that they should be treated sympathetically in veiw of the time it has taken the Authorities to deal with the matter. It is true that the grammar and spelling on most blog are atrocious. Most of the nationals who return to Barbados will not be coming back to work so I am not going to spend too much time bothering about their use of the English language. I am more concerned about those in Barbados who benefited from free education and cannot even construct a proper sentence, spell or speak in public. These are the future leaders of the country. This is more of a concern.

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Suv in port : 11/4/2009
Whilst i have sympathy for the Antrobus's, i have to agree with most of the comments on here and say they should have checked that rules etc. I too am looking at returning soon and have to admit it is a bit of a blow that i would have to be at least 50, before i can take advantage of the FURN :-( I hope the goverment see sense and change the ruling to allow some of us younger citizens to take advantage of it!!

roy2711

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: 11/4/2009
#1 - Ignorance is no excuse of the law, READ and ask questions. Shame on you for expecting a easy pass because you failed to cross your T's and dot your I's. #2 - Notwithstanding #1 Mr Antrobus et al should be entitled to consequential damages as a result of their incapability to obtain some measure of timely response and alternative resolution coupled with the mitigating factor which they said they used i.e. writing to the Ministry on numerous occasions. The Ministry's tardy and dismissive manner of handling this situation is ridiculous. That brings me to... #3 - The word is 'ridiculous' not rediculous. For a country which boasts of a near perfect literacy rate, the grammar on this blog is shameful. Perhaps you so called yankees and future eligible returning nationals should be required to take a English proficiency course before returning. That followed by a psychological analysis because I sense a bitter chip on many shoulders. You want to return yet in the same breath wish to drag down the system. It is by no means perfect but folks like "New Jersey girl" and "Bajan man" keep your negativity over in away as we sure do not need it or your myopic minimum earning attitudes.

Conkie Lover

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Response to Bajan in CANADA : 11/4/2009
Patriotic Bajan seems to have more than a chip on his shoulder. I think that he/she would have done well in the days of facism, such folks have a very narrow view pont of the world around them. Mr Antrobus is having a problem getting his SUV vehicle from the port and all Patriotic Bajan can think of is pointing is anger,direspect and hatred at older returning nationals who have done him no harm but have done Barbados proud by their ability to survive in sometimes very adverse conditions to better themselves and by extension helping Barbados and Barbadians in the final analysis. Most, if not all, returning nationals are a credit and not a liability to Barbados. Patriotic bajan has made a fool of himself/herself. I hope that Mr. Antrobus manages to have his problem resolved to his satisfaction.

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it's their fault : 11/4/2009
They have only themselves to blame. The information is published and easily available. I'm overseas and I know that I would have to wait til I'm 50 to qualify. I found this out a few years ago. Sad to hear their predicament but you should read and get as much information before making such a big move. You can't make exceptions for one, as then you would have to make exceptions for all.

essthree

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: 11/3/2009
CA DEAR GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR VEHICLE. THEY THEY RELAY WORKED AND JUST HOPING FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILD. I AM 37 AND Wa s looking to retire at 45 since I was here 15 years and love my little land. I have to wait until fifty. This is rediculous. I coming home and they better give me vehicle.

Mountain View

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: 11/3/2009
He wrote: You're telling me if I was 40 years old, I could leave this country right now and come back in ten years and qualify to be a returning national over someone who has been living abroad for more than that? NO YOU CAN'T!! THE LAW SAYS AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD!!!!

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: 11/3/2009
A lot of them have 'an attitude'. Read, read, read and if you don't understand, ask someone with higher intelligence. I am a Barbadian living in NY and can hardly wait to get back home. I have made my phone calls, written the Ministry, communicated with the car dealers and know EXACTLY what to do when and where.

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: 11/3/2009
Oh dear!! did 'for the people' actually write 'WHY DID IT TOOK A HOLE YEAR'? For which people? Not me! The law is AT LEAST 50 years old. They did not READ.

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suc in port : 11/3/2009
Citizens of B'dos everywhere, the fact still stands on one point that there havent answer. WHY DID IT TOOK A HOLE YEAR FOR THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO DENIED THE ANTROBUSES THEIR SUV, WHY THEIR DIDNT REPLY IN 6 WEEKS AND LET THE ANTROBUSES DECIDE WHAT TO DO. WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT THE MIN OF FINANCE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS INSULT TO THE PEOPLE OF BARBADOS. PRIME MINISTER THOMPSOM PLEASE TO THE THING.....

FOR THE PEOPLE

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Who's In Charge? : 11/3/2009
Who's In Charge? The government or the people? Remember that these are laws and not the commandments! Laws are amended all the time! Due diligence is what's needed here by the authorities to prevent fraud not a law that restricts Barbadians from returning home. And to those of you that think returning nationals are returning to burden the system PLEASE GET REAL!!!

One Voice

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Change the Law : 11/3/2009
I was in Ministry of Finance office about 5 years ago with a relative, and I was so disappointed to hear the way the security officer women were talking about returning nationals. They sounded so angry, talking about how Bajans who lived oversea wanted to come back home and get their goods duty free. I honestly feel that returning nationals are not fully welcome in bim and the reason for this stupid law shows it. If I was the leader of a country and people that were born there wanted to return home bringing their income with them, I will welcome that. I prefer the see a returning national anytime instead of a deportee. So what they lived out of the country, now that they are back, their are spending their oversea retirement checks in Barbados and it does not matter their age. This can only boost up the economy

Non returning national

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A Patriotic Bajan-_U R NOT : 11/3/2009
Patriotic Bajan, So you resent people like me who left Barbados at a young age (I was 9) and desire to return to Barbados. I am sure others such as myself have probably contributed more to the development and progress of Barbados than you, who seem to be an angry, low-minded moron. I visit Barbados at least 3 times a year and each time, I spend thousands of US $. Although I live in the US, I contribute to my local church (in Barbados, gives generously to several charitable causes that benefit Barbadians. I cannot tell you the number of events I attend to raise funds for wheelchairs, dialysis machines and for the Barbados Cancer Society. I can go on and on. Mr. Patriotic Bajan, tell me, what have you done for your country lately, other than show what an absolute low-life you are?

Put up or Shut UP:

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Back Home : 11/3/2009
Returning nationals are prime contributors to the Bajan economy. Whay are so many of you so resentful and harsh towards your fellow Bajans? I am 49 years old and left Barbados at the age of 9. Yet, I am looking forward to the day that I can return back to my native land. My husband and I have a 5 year plan and the utmost desire to be active participants in the on-going development and progress of our native Barbados. After spending 40 years in this country (USA), I still will not qualify for the returning national benefits until I reach age 50 next year. This rule is rediculous and does not reflect any rationale, thoughful thinking by those who sought to impose it. Shame on all you fat cats in government who stood firm in developing such a mindless barrier to folks like myself who are longing to come back home. My fellow Bajans, qhy so much anger towards us? Many of you are comfortable in knowing that non-native Barbadians and foreigners are treated far better than thos of us whose navel strings are buried in Barbados. The attitudes that I see here are distressing and maybe, my husband and I might just keep our Bajan tails up here in the cold and find other warm countries to spend our hard earned US $s during the winter months of our retirement.

Wunna Mek muh shame

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A prisoner in the US than return to Barbados : 11/3/2009
The person who made that comment put the nail in their coffin so I don't need to. As for jealousy and colour and all of this other foolishness - those of you who are always hot and sweaty to circumvent the law are contributors to the state of society being what it is. This is a case of rules/regulations/laws being disregarded. Who is jealous of Mr Antrobus and his Jeep SUV? Who wants it to drive after the sun done lick out all the upholstery? Stewps. I grant that SOME civil servants are discourteous and uncouth and they clearly have forgotten their purpose: civil/public service. There are ways of doing ones job in a way that ppl understand when they have done wrong and that there are consequences. Can any of you suggest when it will stop if he says he never knew and is pardoned? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. So tomorrow, three more say they made a mistake and never knew and after them, nine... cqrry on exponentially and then all of a sudden, there's a law on the statute books for no reason, like the death penalty. Jealousy and colour have no place here, ladies and gentlemen. If the law bothers you so much, LOBBY GOVERNMENT. Wunna Bajans too blasted lazy and gotta lotta mout. But nobody ain't gine say to Mr Antrobus let's get a group of us together and plead this case to have some LONGTERM solution worked out to benefit not just the Antrobuses, but everyone else coming after. That is what wunna should be talking bout, whey wunna is now? Not colour and haves and haves not and a whole setta foolishness. There was/is a law/regulation and he contravened it.

KA

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Stupid Law : 11/3/2009
I believe that I was to first person to be caught up in this situation. In 2004, I attempted to return to Barbados after almost 28 years of living in the US. I was 40 years old and just “Retired” from the US Military. I checked prior to returning, and at no time, I was told that the rules were changing. My car left the US prior to the new rule effective date. After my car arrived in port, I attempted to get it and was told that the rules changed about a week ago and I cannot get my car. I wrote several letters to the PM’s office, I asked to speak with the PM and everyone in the Government refused to hear my case I had proof that I was receiving a monthly retirement check and I was still denied. I had an interview with a Nation News reporter, I never saw my story posted and have never heard back from them. After six months, I decided to try to ship it back, sell it and maybe buy a car locally. I asked if they would let me ship it back to the US. Thy wanted to charge me six month storage fees, Due to the fact that the seal on the container was never broken, the fee was waived by one of the high ranking officials in the port. While in the US waiting for my car to arrive I was offered a job here, so I took it and stayed in the US. This entire deal cost me thousands of US dollars and six months of wasted time. I guess maybe one day I will return there, but for now I’m staying in the US.

Waiting til 50

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Derwin Puckerin : 11/3/2009
DERWIN PUCKERIN US ARMY GEORGIA USA.........Well said dude. However, I think we went to school togather, St Anthony's/ Lodge School in St John......I am proud of your comments anyway. Locals have no clue what contribution we make. Keep telling them......Balgobin7@gmail.com

Balgobin7

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The Patiotic Bajan. : 11/3/2009
They`re quite a few bajans that has a problem with the returnees and as Patriot is saying that they are returning and taking away the benifits from the seniors of the island,you better get the story right.One person commented that Barbados do not have any natural resources and is doing fine,what they don`t seem to know the amount of cash that is sent to B`dos by these same people.That`s the natural resources.Go to the port and see how many barrells will be there for their friends and families now that the holidays will soon be here.Do you think that the Cropover festival would be a sold out with only bajans at home,go to the air port and see how many planes touch down from Canada,US,UK and where ever Bajans are living that comes home and spend and give away,Mr.Patriot.

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PATRIOTIC BAJAN : 11/3/2009
WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY , YOU CANNOT BE A YOUNG PERSON OR A SENIOR CITIZEN YOU ARE AN IDIOT,SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WORK THERE BEFORE THEY EMIGRATE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE TO RIGHTS TO COME HOME AND ENJOY THE REST OF THEY LIVES ON THE ROCK YOUNG OR OLD, THE HEALTH SYSTEM THERE SUCKS ANYWAY. SO THE YOUNGER FOLKS DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTLILL RETIREMENT AND AS BAJANS THEY WANT TO COME HOME AND LIVE JUST LIKE THE GUYANESE HELLO

BINY

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SUV Stuck : 11/2/2009
Mr.Blackman, you are a pompous, insensitive clod. As a bajan, I feel quite offended. The government should be elated that their nationals are retuning home and do whatever possible to help them resettle regardless of age, as long as they were gone for over 10 years. Using age to me is a form of discrimination and should be abolished immediately. I say we need to get a petition going to help this poor man get him truck out of the port. Come on bajans, do something. Too much ignorance is going on in our beautiful homeland. Get the Prime Minister involved in this, please. What this family is experiencing is wrong.

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To Patrotic Bajan : 11/2/2009
You have a chip on your shoulder.Those of us who left Barbados in our early years,have contributed to the Economy of BARBADOS, by sending back our U.S.,CANADIAN DOLLARS,AND BRITISH POUNDS to our families,who in turn purchased whatever they needed. You too could have left but being PATRIOTIC you stayed and accepted lower wages,why blame us? when it is MINUS 30,we go to work,in my case,i started work at 4:00 AM.I am retired with a good pension,and MEDICAL BENEFITS PAYABLE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,i would not be a BURDEN ON YOUR SYSTEM,BUT NOT TO WORRY,I AM NOT RETURNING TO BUY THAT LAND YOU CAN'T AFFORD.

Bajan in CANADA

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Response to Patriotic Bajan : 11/2/2009
You seems to have a grouse against older returning nationals; but let us see the facts: returning national cannot claim non-contributary old age pensions, not even persons who are living here and had not paid NI contibutions can claim a pension as a right; there has to be exceptional cercumstances for them to be able to do so, like long term illness or incapacitation that prevented them from working, or if they had to give up work to look after a sick relative or something like that. Even so, they would have to submit an affedavit signed by a JP setting out any special or unusual circumstances relating to their particular case. Governments have acknowledged the value of remittances from overseas Nationals over the years, and the pensions received by returning nationals that help to keep the economy turning over, here. Returning nationals help to create aggregate demand for goods and services which help to keep people in employment and businesses going. Some returning nationals provide employment directly for people in the building trade,land sutveyors Lawyers, vehicle service stations and also, returning nationals pay taxes and in particular VAT on goods and services purchased, land taxes, road taxes; and moreover, returning nationals have a "birth right" to be here and to be able to enjoy the rights and privileges afforded to other citizens. Returning national are even providing work for funeral directors, Florists, printers, grave diggers, churches, Bank workers, gardeners, you name it, returning nationals are making valuable contributions.So please lay off the older returning nationals. You are just green with envy,or you have a very narrow view of life for an educated person. What do you propose, compulsory euthanasia for these older folks?

oldtimer

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Re: bitter no. angry YES. : 11/2/2009
Old but not ignorant - I am not bitter nor twisted but I certainly AM angry when I see the arrogance of many of the returning nationals who comment here and whom I encounter. I see all of you seized on the 'old' part of my comments and NOTHING ELSE. How convenient. If that makes you sleep better at night, go right ahead and pretend you don't understand that I am not insulting ALL old people. You have a lot of nerve telling me that I come across and this and that. You don't know me. If you see me as someone who would dump my elders and not look back, perhaps that is because you are seeing your own reflection. Are you one of the ones who 'dumped' good 'old' Barbados to take off for a new life in North America or Europe and never looked back? Visiting home every few years does not count as looking back - in fact, nationals who return for vacation, spend less than the average 'foreigner' tourist - because they stay with family, hardly eat out etc. So before you talk about me, take a look at yourself.

Patriotic Bajan

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Response to oldtimer : 11/2/2009
Oldtimer, I have great respect for senior citizens. My issue is not with senior citizens in general - far from. My issue is with those who leave Barbados when they are very young, work and contribute in another country all their life long and then want to return to Barbados when they are very old and do not have much to contribute. Quite simply, it is not fair. It is not fair on their fellow senior citizens who stuck it out here with lower wages but more dedication, to build Barbados. It is not fair that many of them game the system to pull a non-contributory pension, especially when the NIS is stretched out already. It is not fair that because they can afford to pay in pounds and US dollars and Canadian dollars, that they have driven up the cost of residential properties (4000 to 7000 square feet) so high that young Barbadians have great difficulty in buying land. It is not fair that they burden the health care system (old age means old age ailments - hypertension, diabetes and the lot), when they did not pay taxes here for 30, 40 years. It is not fair that they then turn around and bash it every chance they get because they have to wait because the system IS overburdened in part due to them. It is not fair that they benefit from free medication, free bus fares and other government subsidised programmes that they NEVER paid taxes towards building. I certainly hope I will live a long time which is why I would never insult 'older folks' in general. But I WILL speak out against selfish so-called patriots who have contributed little or nothing to our island but want to get every benefit from it when they're old.

Patriotic Bajan

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: 11/2/2009
Good evening Mr Partriotic you sound really angry, bitter and twisted. What a shame! I really hope for their sake you do not have any elderly parents or relatives who are expecting any assistance from you. You come across as one of those persons who could quite easily dump your elders somewhere and never look back. With any luck you would not become old and decrepit. Have a good day. Old but not ignorant bajan

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What's really the point here? : 11/2/2009
I commend the couple on wanting to return after spending the 20+ years abroad working and making a living from themselves. I am however a little confused as to what the problem is here. We get on as though we are not aware of how at certain levels Barbados and some of its entities are run. The Antrobuses should have done their dilligent homework before making the conscious decision to use the returning national act as a means to bring with them their belongings. There is nothing preventing any bajan from coming back to their birthplace, but lets be real here. If you want to capitalize on a system to benefit you, it kind of prudent to make sure you have all your areas covered and not just go on solely heresay or stuff that happened in the past. It's unfortunate what happened to them and I really do hope they can in fact retrieve their vehicle without much more hassle. They can't blame anyone but theirselves for not making sure they were adequately and appropriately informed. Maybe the government/the port should make a concession in this case as a signs of good public display. That's at the sole discretion of the powers that be. Maybe there needs to be a clause that stipulates either minimum number of years or age as a criteria to benefit from any returning national incentives. Despite all the maybes, The Antrobuses can's use ignorance as an excuse. Simply saying oh I didn't know, let me slide this time wont suffice. There are rules in place however assinine we might think they are. These laws/rules are that of the land and should be adhered to unless you have a godfather to pull a string for you. I feel your pain, but next time make yourself aware of the laws that stipulate to anything you want to do. It just makes good sense and would have saved you alot of the stress you are incurring now.

Still wondering what the point is...

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What a BACKWARD law! : : 11/2/2009
Patriotic Bajan, you sound just like an idiotic bajan; have you no respect for senior citizens? If you do live that long you will soon be up there, you aught to think about that before you go insulting older folks. Shame on you, TWIT.

oldtimer

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Returning National : 11/2/2009
To stranger in your own land The law was not always thus, but you see Bajans tried to outsmart the government by coming back home on a temporary 6 month basis and bringing down vehicles for relatives and friends and then going back up north and returning with more vehicles. So when ya say A ya have to say B. Peter pay for Paul and Paul pay for all. Nuff said.

Non- returning national

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: 11/2/2009
I am a returnee to Barbados, I was not and still is not 50, so when I decided to return home, I made sure that I followed the rules and paid my way. I knew that I would not qualify for retrning national status therefore, I buckled down and paid for my shipping costs. I did not and still do not drive so I did not have a vehicle to clear customs. Some people know the rules and they still try to defy them and when they come upon red tape then they complain. This couple knew that they did not qualify yet now they are looking for sympathy. I did not ship any appliances or large furniture for I knew that it would cost dearly so I bought those things here. Pish posh!!

Non returning national

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to follow up : 11/2/2009
I know a lot of people will jump on my comments and tell me a lot of nonsense because they don't like to hear the truth. So just FYI before you start: 1)NO, do not give me the remittances argument. This is not Guyana, Jamaica or Haiti, where remittances actually make up a big chunk of the economy. It is useful, but not useful enough- it has been proven that the value of remittances, even in those countries, are OUTWEIGHED by the impact of the brain drain caused by our people choosing not to live here. 2) YES, I have lived overseas - I know what it's like and how hard you work blah blah. I've done it too but like my name says - I am a REAL patriotic Bajan - not just one who is patriotic on the internet. I ent just talk. I could live anywhere in the world - Canada, USA, Europe but I chose to come back to Barbados because I APPRECIATE what this little island has managed to do for me - I was educated from primary up to master's level FREE. There are far larger countries where this doesn't happen - how could I not love Bim? With my education and training, I could make easily twice as much in another country - shoot, I made more working part-time in food service than I made in a 'professional' job here in Bim, but I am making enough to live well enough here and contributing to my country is more important than quickly bulking up my bank account. I am confident it will pay off in the long run. WE are the ones really helping Barbados. A lot of wunna got a lot of cheap talk but cheap talk and a few dollars via Western Union ent helping Barbados.

Patriotic Bajan

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What a BACKWARD law! : 11/2/2009
What a completely backward law! Quite frankly, it should be the other way around - returning nationals should only get benefits if they are under 50 - or maybe 55. But at least when they are young enough to still contribute some working years and pay some taxes into the system. But that seems to be us in Barbados. We welcome home the old, decrepit returning nationals who have spent all their useful years building up and paying taxes in someone else's country and only come home to pull a pension (sometimes two - nuff of them come home to Barbados and pull a non-contributory pension AS WELL AS their pension from overseas), build a little concrete box for themself alone, drive up the land costs and clutter up our health system with their chronic ailments. On the other hand, we make it difficult for the people who are young and vital and still have the energy to work, pay taxes for a number of years, have children to boost our falling birth rate and start businesses, to return. No wonder we have a brain drain! I fail to understand this. Are we trying to be the next Florida? A giant home for the elderly and retirees? And if so, shouldn't there be some govt policy endorsing this and putting things in place so we can be a genuine gerentology hub? I understand that people were abusing the system but to set it in such a way that it disadvantages the really useful returning nationals and benefits the selfish ones who think they have some divine right to bleed this country dry in their old age because their navel string happen to be buried here, is absurd.

Patriotic Bajan

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vehicle : 11/2/2009
I wont make such a gamble with my vehicle, I wouldve sent in the vehicle to a friend, and then come home and claim it, because with the returning national law, its a lot of red tape. They would let you send or bring in clothes and furniture, but for the vehicle, the antrobus would've been better off if they had a friend down at the port to give them a little 400 dollars or so and let the vehicle go, rather than waiting all this time and still cant get the vehicle back, some person with money is going to buy it.Its like a big trick.

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returning nationals : 11/2/2009
this is a lesson every returning national should learn, when you come over there with a nice vehicle, the government would keep it because they dont want you to have it, they will make all sorts of excuses.I see vehicles in barbados that is considered high class, and expensive, is outdated in the US, if the barbados government see someone come in with a 2008 jeep, what do you expect, they going to make all kinds of excuses and make you run around until they keep it. The best thing if you want to send in a vehicle is find out all the rules first and then send it in before you leave the US or whatever country, send the vehicle to a family member, when you get home change the information over to you, because barbados have vehicles from the US but not the lastest. I see a couple of lexus jeeps, but only rich people have those, in the US anyone can have one of those jeeps. The 2008 camrys is the latest in barbados, but in the US they are considered old. Check out the facts first because the port will keep your car, especially if it looks nice and a 2008? some rich person wants to buy it.

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: 11/2/2009
Didnt Errol Barrow say "Barbados is not a graveyard ..?"

8NT4H

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: 11/2/2009
Didnt Errol Barrow say "Barbados is not a grave yard?"

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Honest Mistake? : 11/2/2009
Can this be clarified as an honest mistake on the part of the returning national? Can gov't make amends for the time it took to respond to the returning nationals, a whole year? Seems as though this matter could be resolved if the two parties sit down face to face and come to an amicable agreement. Maybe the returning couple could pay a set monthly payment in port duties in return for immediate release of their vehicle. In addition, the returning couple should cease from making negative comments about the situation.

Zermatt

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De-Law : 11/2/2009
It is interesting to know how some people could have in their minds that what was good for yesterday is good for today. We all have to keep up with the laws and the times. When people live in countries outside of Barbados they have to abide by the laws, and prey tell me that because you are coming back home after some years, you are not going to keep in touch, check what the laws are to abide by; but just turn up. I am sorry, but this is also a lesson for many others who want to come back and bring their adopted lifestyle to Bim. Ting!

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wait... : 11/1/2009
they let the guyanese come in as they like but a bajan cannot return home...you can be sure that somebody up high will be driving around in a nice jeep...i won't be coming there to live although i thought about it once before. barbados treats people too shabby.

treat 'em like dirt!

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Use -by- Date expired : 11/1/2009
FURN........by now Returning Nationals, what a label, should realise what the first two letters in the acronym really stands for.And as far as politicians are concerned,their Use-By-Date has long expired.

Gunner ( Returnee)

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Dumber and dumber : 11/1/2009
I couldn't believe what I was reading, I was prepare to think it was an antiquated law until I read that it was only introduced in 2004. The fact that you could have a group of people around a table approving this idea is a puzzle to me. I guess dumbe and dumber. Maybe I give Bajan more credit for intelligence than is due. I am sure no one person came up with the idea and approved it all by themself. it must have been approved by dumb and dumber. You want to tell me that your age over-rules the amount of time you spent living abroad? Are there special allowances for our new found celebrities who made it big and want to return to call B'dos home? Do we tell tell they don't qualify until they reach 50? What a load of rubbish. I hated the tone in which John Blackman spoke about the case, you see it the old elitist system, I have and I'll keep you from getting mentality. Most homes is Barbados are 2 car homes, if not 3, why did they limit these 2 individuals to 1 car to share. The system is not abused by people like The Antrobuses but by the connections of people who never even left Barbados but are well connected within. Make the law so you cannot transfer or sell these vehicles in a specific period or you have to pay full duties. Now that's an idea.

Stranger in your own land

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System abused : 11/1/2009
When the system first started a returning couple were allowed to brin in a vehicle each, but there was a requirement that the vehicles were to be kept for five years. Unfortunately some people disposed of their vehicle long before the five year period had expired. Some people also brought in vehicles for their friends and families. That is called abusing the system , so the regulations were tightened up. The way to go about it, is to get it changed by lobbying the authorities not by flouting the rules.

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BE FOR REAL, REALEASE THE VEHICLE : 11/1/2009
This is madness. Give the man his vehicle. He wanted to come back to barbados and live the rest of his life with his family. That should say something about him. He is proud to ba a bajan. He should not be treated like that. You have non-nationals who get treated better. I am a born bajan living in the US for the past 25 years and reading articles like this is helping me to make up my mind NOT to return to barbados to live. I would love to but if I have to go through all of this nonsense, it does not worth the hassle. The government of Barbados should be happy that we who live abroad for such a long time wants to bring our retirement and 401Ks back home to help the economy. GIVE THE FAMILY THEIR VEHICLE. It is paid off. That is all the family wants. There should not place an age limit on returning nationals. Barbados is our Birth Place, so why should it matter how old you are? I am very disappointed at this decision. DERWIN PUCKERIN US ARMY GEORGIA USA

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Check it out : 11/1/2009
Bajans living abroad and wanting to return home, do not have to "check first" before returning. However, if you want to be considered a "returning national" so that you can enjoy the generous concession granted to this category of Bajans, then it is your duty to check all requirements and conditions first.

Real Real Bajan Fuh Trute

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Stop This belligerent appeasement! : 11/1/2009
Are you people cognizant of the role a passport plays in defining ones citizenship? It matters not how long you have lived abroad, every Barbadian pledges to "do credit to my nation, wherever I go". Government and locals must somehow see returning nationals through their eyes as potential investors. When we return we bring with us, 401K's, savings accounts, academics,dental, optical, medical coverage, pensions,technological savvy and a global perspective, that per capitol is impressive for a small nation such as ours. Every returning national, who brings these with him or her, automatically improves the lives of the whole........Have you ever said to an investor, tourist or white celebrity who shows up at you airport," You should check first".....To my critics,I make no apologies. Give the man his damm vehicle now.You bunch of belligerent imbeciles.......Sometimes it pays to be arrogant!........Balgobin7

Balgobin7

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Returning Nationals? : 11/1/2009
I always saw Barbados as a model of hope for the entire Black diaspora but unfortunately no more. Recently that hope for a successful first world nation of black people have been lost by attitudes of incredible arrogance. This country is headed down very slippery slope. The sad part is that most of us don't even realize this! As one poster on this forum recent stated, "where will our decendants be 50 to 100 years from now?" Why even bother calling these proud Bajans abroad nationals if they are treated in this manner? There are exceptions to very rule but rules only apply to certain people! Perhaps it's time for those overseas to stay overseas and work toward a better way!

No More

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Poor We's post : 11/1/2009
"Poor We" please read the FURN regulations before putting forward some hypothetical case which is not relevant to the discussion. The regulations are very clear, and the concessions are extremely generous if one qualifies as a Returning National. The regulations clearly state that to qualify as a "returning national," one must be over 50 years old, having lived in Barbados for at least 183 days prior to moving overseas, and must have lived outside of Barbados for at least 10 years. No mention about 5 years. Your hypothetical case is absurd and completely inaccurate. The GOB rightly recognizes that most Returning Nationals are Barbadians who have lived abroad for a long time [in excess of 10 years] and now wish to return to their homeland, like I did. Unfortunately, there seems to be some tension between Returning Nationals and those Barbadians who have never lived abroad. This is regrettable. But all Barbadians, including Returning Nationals, have to abide by the Laws of Barbados. The GOB treats its citizens very well. That is one of the reasons why I chose to return "home."

A Returned National

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suv stuck in port : 11/1/2009
I think in everything we must be reasonable. That law was stupid from the day it was thought of, i think gov't used a sledgehammer to kill a fly. Yes the system may have been abused but explain to me how someone in their late 30s living abroad for 18 years who can return as a CONTRIBUTING member of society, work pay taxes etc. be disadvantage for a near pensioner returning who comes back in their twilight years to 'relax' and may have lived abroad for 30 years and the most they contributed to Bim's development will be the land tax. Give the people a break OR at the very least give him first option to buy their own car back. I am sure gov't will attest to the fact that much bigger fraud is perpertrated on the citizens of B'dos daily!!

CommonSense

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Returning Nationals! : 11/1/2009
How the hell you could go to the states and in 5 yrs buy a car and a home unless you win the Lotto. They need to check things out first before making moves. Some of them have been returning and then going back to the States, they just want to get in their stuff at a cheaper rate. Some of them do out smart themselves. Ha Ha !

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YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE LAWS : 11/1/2009
I'm 44 years old,been living in NYC for 26yrs and have been a RN FOR 23YRS.I was ready to return to Bim two years ago and to my dismay was informed i wouldnt be considered a returning national under the laws of Barbados and thus not allowed the necessary concessions.I think its time the laws esp the age limit is changed.Those of us who left Barbados at a young age,who them became sucessful abroad and then are ready to return to our homeland,should have the right to return to our home with all our belongings without penalties.

Alex

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BARBADOS IS ALWAYS OUR HOME : 10/31/2009
Mr. ANTROBUS does have a point, the fact is, that it should not take 1 year to inform him about his jeep. OK, he was not aware of the laws concerning returning to "live back in YOUR HOME LAND". However, he seems like a reasonable man, willing to work with they system. I think someone should try to help him. Don't matter how long you leave Barbados, you always have an attachment. You always feel that you can return any time and be treated like a bajan. Barbados is always home.

Bajan in NY

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CarStuck in Port : 10/31/2009
After reading many of these replies, I find few that states the possible reason of the innocent paying for the guilty. Could it be that there was abuse by people using this ploy of going abroad for a few year and returning with merchandise of their own, or having a family member who was living abroad return with belonging only to "get away" with not paying the necessary duty. At the ripe old age of 68,in good health, collecting my pension and SS thankfully I can still go out and work for as much as I please here in the USA. So why return to the unmannerly treatment by some of Bajans. Guess there are trying to make Ian an example.

CaptainAl

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Re: Diaspora : 10/31/2009
Thank you for stating that. Some people want to turn everything into race and get on about "mental slavery" all the time. It is a shame they can't get past the 'dot' and get themselves out of their own mental slavery. Literally. If Barbados is to have a future the country needs to be a racially tolerant society or else we're going to have the same problem as all other multi-racial societies. (And yes, Barbados is indeed going to become more multi-racial in future.)

J. Payne

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Check First ???? : 10/31/2009
We let all kinds of people into this country, give them all kinds of concessions and a Bajan has to check to see what the rules are before he returns? Why is it that we want to play it by the book when it comes to our own, but for foreigners we let them come and go as they please with pretty much what they please. Surely common sense will prevail and all charges waived considering how long the issue was pending and give the man his jeep. If we were half this dilligent with some of the things that are showing up in Barbados we would have a much safer country.

Mr B

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suv stuck in port : 10/31/2009
i read some of the replies here and am no too surprised at the mentality of some bajans . most of the negative ones i can assure are not from people who have lived abroad ,whether USA or not . No one seems to care if Mr. Antrobus worked his butt off every day to achieve his goal to return to his native land after so many years abroad I too only this year after receiving my new book on returning nationals ,( which is not the easiest thing to obtain in bdos... i got mine 2 days before i left ,having called and visited most government places only to be told even by customs in the port they weren't sure where to obtain them)found out about the new rules of the 50 yr age limit and 1 car only and a few more changes .I also had an old edition with no age limit only after 10 yrs abroad. but what about when the Indian brought in trucks to sell and couldnt get them because dealer complained of his price ,and people of high class stepped in and he got them ,Indian has money ,, money talks poor Antrobus aint got none , would some one in any level place now step in for a poor RETURNING NATIONAL?? MR . Antrobus dont give up your hard earned dollars so easily. I in new york so i know what it is to work so hard

returning soo person

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Poor we : 10/31/2009
Ok, that "law" sucks, you mean to tell me if I go overseas at age 45 spend 5 years ,while there purchase a home, car, furniture and so on, they can return home with all their stuff? That sounds so retarted. But we who live here in Barbados and who have "common sense" know quite well of the double standards that exsist. We see it every day, at our schools, in our work places, in our governments, even in our laws. Barbados is well known throughout the world about the way it treats it's citizens, so one shouldn't be surprised about this case. It's a sad and unfortunate situation.The people deserve their car or the money it is auctioned of for.

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No one above the Law : 10/31/2009
Balgobin7, don't behave like an arrogant educated fool. Of course they aught to check the rules and regulations pertaining to returning nationals if they do not wish to fall foul of those rules and regulations. I speak as a so-called returning national myself, and I appreciate and acknowledge that returning nationals at not above the Laws, Rules and Regulations as enforced in Barbados. It looks like your University education has gone to waste.

A returning national

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Antrobus' SUV : 10/31/2009
Baje in toronot [sic], please do not introduce race into this fairly cut-and-dried argument. I returned to Barbados last year after living in Canada for 42 years. Part of my planning was to thoroughly familiarize myself with ALL the Returning-National regulations, which had been set by the government of Barbados. I have nothing but praise for FURN in general and Mr. John Blackman in particular. They were very helpful to me and my family. There was, however, a question regarding the importation of a vehicle, a divergence of opinion between FURN and the Ministry of Finance, which has the ultimate say as to whether a vehicle can be imported tax and duty free. I elected not to import a vehicle and bought a used vehicle locally. I have to say that the Returning National regulations are very clear as to qualifications. In this case, while my sympathies are with Mr. Antrobus, I would have to say that the Barbadian officials are correct. But as one other poster said, he can always pay the duty and import the car.

Diaspora

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Jayymacdee: : 10/31/2009
You are the jealous bajan we speak of.Why are you afraid of us coming back to the island we love,we come back asking for nothing,and we do not place a burden on the tax payers of Barbados.If i return to Barbados i have medical coverage for the rest of my life,plus a PENSION,yes and i will bring my TOYOTA with me,or should i bring my ACURA , can't decide.

OVERSEAS BAJAN

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: 10/31/2009
Some of these comments seem to be more of envy a mistake was made about thi vehicle and what exemptions the family were entitled to therefore why not let the family pay whatever duty they need to pay so as to get the vehicle. As for people thinking returning Bajans are rich or have too much should walk a mile in their shoes these people work hard put up with discrimination in the work place and the universities and never give up they also sent money and still is to relatives in Barbados on a monthly basis. And as for the weather whether it is raining, snowing or boiling hot sun you have to go through that door to work. For all those who envy or have a problem with returning nationals all I can say i thank God majority of Bajan people are not so narrow minded these returnees have skills/experiences which could be beneficial to Barbados. It is not only Bajan people who return home the Austrialians, Canadians, British and Americans also return to their homeland.

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: 10/31/2009
I am not sure that I read the same article that most people seemed to have read. I gathered that the Antrobuses were living in the US while their son was going to school here -benefitting from tax payers money- I would be silly to think that these people who were looking out for themselves did not know the requiremnets. There is absolutely nothing sad about this...it is just another case of persons wanting to benefit from both worlds without paying the price.

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SUV in Port : 10/31/2009
The problem I am seeing in Barbados is that if you do not have money to sink into Barbados you are not welcome here. I called the Ministry of Finance and was told that if you are not 50 years, you will need to have a profession and money to invest in Barbados you can not get your vehicle from the port. SAD, SAD, SAD. What is this country coming to. The reason for the 50 years as a returning national is because Barbados want retire people so the country can get their money. Again, SAD, SAD, SAD. GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR VEHICLE.

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Returning to hell : 10/30/2009
Its sad some of the comments made,someone returning should have a beautful home return it seems like they is a jealous minds at work you aloud other to come in and set up shop but those who leave and return your disposition is negative.grow up give the man his suv he payed for it not you.r

TQCKY

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Bajan Wonders never cease! : 10/30/2009
"Unfortunately, a large number of people come home without checking the policy. They decide they're just going to pack up and come to Barbados without checking"........... Are you *&^*@$# serious, WITHOUT CHECKING ? A Bajan, who migrates and feels the need to return to his proud place of birth and heritage, much check first ? ...............Did you morons go to school ? I am a Barbadian who has lived abroad for the past 31 years, who is working effortlessly to return to the country I love and establish my practice, and you want me to "check first" before I come home ? I don't recall "checking first" when I was accepted to Long Island University and my school and teachers were proud of me. Oh how stupid you people have become...

Balgobin7

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A Sad Story. : 10/30/2009
I doubt very much that KA,2gg4u and the others who think that Mr. Antrobuse should lose his vehicle do not know how hard that family worked so that they could return home.Some people have to go until 65 or more and if the Antrobuses could make it in their 40`s,good luck to them.Let the Government of Barbados give you the actual figure of the money that comes from overseas for the relatives and friends,look at the Bajans that come home for Cropover and the X-mas holidays,the barrels etc.I heard that one of the islands do not charge for barrels that has foodstuff. In Barbados they charge you sometimes more that the food cost. In Barbados a little rain and people don`t go to work,but I know Mr.Antrobus never let the snow or rain stop him from getting to his job,so KA and 2gg4u these people are the resourses of Barbados.Hear this, about 35 years ago I worked with a guy and he would say to me that he rather be a prisoner here in the US,than a free man in Barbados and he was serious.

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: 10/30/2009
There must always be room for some compromise and this situation is no different. Why should this family's car be auctioned? Why not allow him to pay a lesser % of the regular duty, especially since Mr Antrobus has found gainful employment and will therefore make a contribution. (I daresay that the fact that he is employed in the area of security is worthwhile.) Why not allow them this family to pay Customs in installments, rather than confiscate their vihicle. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but he hasn't committed a crime. Where is the spirit of caring and goodwill? what is wrong with us as a people? The assumption that returning nationals over 50 are most likely returning to retire is a big piece of crap and who ever has advised government in that regard has got their head stuck in the wrong place.

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A Little Common Sense : 10/30/2009
A little common was needed here. I understand the adjustment to the law because some people were abusing the system for personal gain. But the concerned agency could've just rolled up their sleeves, done a little investigation on this family, and should they be genuine let the people have their vehicle. From the other posts I've read, the question is, do Bajans at home want and welcome returning Bajans or not. What's with the jealousy by some.

Mal

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Jaymacdee : 10/30/2009
That is your opinion - but your opinion is just your opinion. No-one thinks they have worked harder, are smarter or have more money. That really is not the point, the point is how people regardless of where they have been, are being treated. You really cannot think for anyone - you can only think for yourself and your comments reveal how YOU think. We shouldn't be envious or jealous of our bros & sista, we are all on our own journey and should admire those who have bettered themselves in this harsh world that we all live in. None of us has it easy - A lot of us need to free our minds and respect our own people. As your people are a reflection of yourself!

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the suv : 10/30/2009
first i dont think of predujices, buti bet if ian was a white man, this would neva on God's green earth would this happen to him, no body knows the sacrifices you mek when you left bim fuh one uh dem big countries, yuh haffa wuk like a dog fuh mek ends meet, dem in just get da car by looking prety, dem wuk 3 jobs to go home and enjoy some the fruits of their labour, and now you gine tell me that you gine hold on to my fruit, yes, he might have to pay some taxes, but he should be made to pay his taxes and get his wheels, how on God earth are you going to auction the man wheels, and mek matters worse, to hold on pun their clothes and furniture, that is a disgrace and totally unfair, i neva thought of returning home until my sista keep bugging me fuh come home when i retire, but if i gine come home fuh da kinda uh treatment, i would radda enjoy de four searson, give de man he car, um in seh he steal it, he had to wuk like a dog to come home and enjoy a little, and he could not move dem wheels unless he pay for um fully, wuh wrong wid de people in bim, come on and get a life, i know dat one uh de big boys got deh eys pun de man wheel and dat is why it took a year, with nothing being done about his vec. and i bet yuh dat if it is autioned off like dem claiming, dem gine auction it for 50cents and one of the big boys gine end up with it, totally unfair, but God is not sleeping. baje in toronot

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What arrogance : 10/30/2009
these 'yankee bajans' are sick. every lil dog catcher feel the have worked harder, are smarter, got more money than every at home bajan. Stay where u are if that is your attitude!

jaymacdee

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Arrogant OSeas Bajans : 10/30/2009
Why are you so arrogant! every two bit dog catcher overseas, is smarter than every at home bajan, spends more money, blah blah. Ding Ding! people here drive SUV's too and have big houses, have worked stessful jobs, etc

jaymacdee

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law : 10/30/2009
how many of u go to barbados for vacation and when come back to new york u known to your self u wont to take back fish,breadfruite,and every thing u can butttttt they have lawwww in new york u can bring it in because they tell u it have bug so that the law so we have law in barbados

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The Governor-General of Barbados should be able to give them a pardon. : 10/30/2009
The Governor-General has the legal power to pardon people for various things. He should get involved.

J. Payne

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Come back : 10/30/2009
That is wrong.A lot of people come to Barbados and open they business get tax relief and the leave the country. Let the man come in he is a Bajan. Remember we bajans are looking to come back you need the money we are bringing back in pension get thing in shape.What is he to do now.Dump the things in the sea.This is something that can be worked out. Bajan48 Arkansas

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SUV STUCK AT PORT: : 10/30/2009
Why are the people who have never left the Island so afraid so afraid of Barbadians returning home? is it because we bring $40,000.00 CARS WITH US? these are are not expensive cars ,just normal everyday transportation we drive to work.Some of you are afraid of us coming back,because it shows your lack of drive and ambition.Most Barbadians are not envious,just the envious ones who don't like to work

OVERSEAS BAJAN

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Stuck in the port. : 10/30/2009
I was not stuck in the port,but how can I forget the hurt and humiliation when I gladly returned to my dear Barbados in the late 90's. I was so proud of my US trained RN with a BA in Nursing and a whole lot of experience. I was given the most promising round table interview and then to be told, "OUR retirement age is 60". I was then at the young age(by US standards) of an energenic 65, and rearing to contribute. I have never recovered because there was not even Agencies to continue my most illustrious profession, especially when I noticed how hard the Barbados nurses overworked at the QEH. i tried to stay home but just could not ajust to not being able to work. As they say, I put my tail between my legs and returned to USA where one can work as long as one wishes. I do hope that the rules have changed for others who qualify.

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Not returnable or refundable : 10/30/2009
The plane load of Nigerian Scammers got better treatment by the goverent than this couple. Discretion could have been used.

bob

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suv stuck in port : 10/30/2009
Has Mr. Anrobus considered getting himself a lawyer to fight his case. This is ABUSE at the highest level. Doesn't Mr. Blackman have someone over him to whom these poor people can turn? Do I detect JEALOUSY? Of course I do. Barbadians must learn that returning nationals are doing so because it is their right!!!!! They have worked under conditions that Mr. Blackman cannot and would not be able fathom. They think they are leaving racial discrimination for some peace in the land of their birth, but alas they are handed a rusty spoon upon their return. SHAME ON YOU!! DO THE RIGHT THING AND GIVE THE GENTLEMAN HIS CAR,so that he can continue his life's journey. It is no wonder that the west coast of Barbados is no longer owned by Barbadians. They have sold their souls to the devil!!! Wake up before it is too late. Barbados has 99% literacy but some of its citizens (You know who you are) still have have the Master/Slave mentality!!!! Think about it! Amen

,

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: 10/30/2009
I leave Barbados 25 yrs ago and will continue to visit every couple of years. I will retire and stay in my adopted country to avoid these kind of hassles. Barbados two tierd system of the haves and the have nots will continue to flourish if government do not teach their civil servants what good customer service is all about Mr. Blackman included. I personally refuse to spend my hard earned money anywhere I am treated like S**t,including my homeland. bajanjoy,N.Y.

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4X4 $tick : 10/30/2009
Aint this a case of common sense not being common. Gi d man he car an' charge he whatever duty wunna gine charge 'e. Imposing de letter of the law widout the spirit o' the law is a joke. Ian's argument is valid, wha' sense um mek to come back to Bubadus after you spend more time outside and get treat like dis? D one place yuh should expect to get treat proper is where part yuh born

Heds

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Envy and Jealousy : 10/30/2009
Let's be frank. Many in Barbados are generally envious of those who've had the opportunity to go overseas. They don't know the adjustments which we make to make to make it work but for some unknown reason they're jealous. They want to keep the vehicle because that can be seen and 'shown off' publicly. When to you, it's nothing but a basic means of transportation that you're accustomed to. If it was a ten yr old Suzuki, the response might have been different. Of course the Anthrobus family made a miscalculation but should not be spited because of it. Why can't a compromise be reached whereby the family swears to keep the vehicle for personal use for at least 3 yrs unless. If they choose to sell before that time, make them pay all the penalties and duties or something like that. They do not need to be mistreated by they own. Bare envy, jealousy and bureaucratic bungling.

Bajan Abroad

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SUV stuck in Port : 10/30/2009
I don't understand why Mr Antrobus wasn't told to just pay the taxes for the vehicle. He is entitled to bring in a vehicle but if he is not over 50yrs would have to pay Import Taxes. Was Mr Antrobus told he could have his vehicle if he paid the taxes ? Most people I know get their vehicle after 6 weeks of it being here. What was the reason for holding the vehicle for 1 year, what was the delay? Now to pay for storage and Import Tax would not be cost effective after paying also to bring it over. People tend to think when you come from overseas that you can afford to pay double/triple for the cost of services in Barbados. They think after working so hard in those stressful Westernized countries that you can afford to be taken advantage of over here. They are always talking about "you people from overseas don't know the system". But the system should be clearly set out so people can abide by it. After importing my vehicle I was expected to leave it at the port. Everyone works hard for their possessions in this world and whether you come from overseas or not NO-ONE LIKES TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. Overseas people don't have life any easier than anyone else, in fact if you leave the Island to travel you may well be surprised how hard those people worked overseas and are coming back to have a more stress-free life. Its a crying shame that people look at what others have and decide that they can afford to lose it by technicalities that they create. There is definitely a lack of respect of how individuals deal with each other, it appears that you are only liked when an individual can gain something from you - other than that you have no use.

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: 10/30/2009
Disappointed Bajan, I have to say that I am disappointed by your appearent 'ignorance' even with your two degrees. Do you really think that if nationals do not return home that our economy will flop. I mean we welcome you back and we welcome the remittences but really our country has always been blessed with good leadership and even though at times they will do things in self interest , as all governments are wont to do, they do a pretty damn good job when called upon to perform. We have always been a resilient people and country even with no natural resources we've done better than most countries around the world and we are darn proud of that. So get off your high horse and recognise that this is an issue that could have been avoided. If you do your due dilligence you would not suffer in the same way. I Excuse you for saying you were coming back at an outstanding citizen to make contributions to the ignorant people of Barbados( my people). I implore you, stay where you are we have enough oversized egos here that we would love to get rid of. We really don't need another. Thank you!

PROUD BAJAN!!!!!

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THIS IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE : 10/30/2009
It is so sad that so many Barbadians don't seem to understand the contributions Barbadians living overseas make to Barbados. When we are sending home our monies to our families to help them out and to save for our retirement, don't that help the country? When we are sending home the Barrels and such things especially when the country is going through hard times.When we are putting our money in Government BOND etc are we not making a contribution? When we are killing ourselves in the COLD to raise funds to help the POLITICAL PARTIES IN BARBADOS are we not contributing? There have been severals complaints by Barbadians returning home to live. When we are pumping foreign exchange into the Economy when we are building our expensive houses our money is welcome. I sincerely hope all Barbadians overseas who read or hear of this incident will withhold sending home any kind of money.Let us keep our monies where we are, and retire in the countries where we are living. I LOVE my COUNTRY with all my heart, but the people of my country must learn how to treat their own people. PRIME MINISTER THOMPSON I am taking it that this matter never came to your attention, because I know how the CIVIL SERVICE FUNCTION. I give you the benefit of the doubt. Mr.PRIME MINISTER you are the MINISTER OF FINANCE. I humbly beg of you to move swiftly to ensure MR. Antrobus get his Vehicle as a returning NATIONAL. Everyone who returns as a returning National does not have a lot of money.some of them might have been suffering overseas that is why they return to the PLACE of their BIRTH. In my humble opinion this is a NATIONAL DISGRACE

PRODICAL SON

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: 10/30/2009
Maybe some blame should go to the family in question.. However i find the issue of the vehicle strange,.. Ian somebody want your vehicle, them ppl in the port does do some crap at times, think only them hould get an ease with the big houses and the fancy, cheap cars... Go and get ur vehicle, and sue them tails... Suppse...

Baje

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SUV stuck in the Port : 10/30/2009
It is said that ignorance of the law is no excuse; this songs very harsh because we just don't/can't know everything and it is always a case of being wise after the event. However I think that it would be prudent if those planning to return home to check out the regulations.I know from experience that some returning nationals have abused the system and have made it bad for others. Laws and regulations are not made to be broken as some people seem to think and in their adopted countries they had to obey and abide by the rules and regulations. My advice to the Antrobus family at this stage is to fall on the mercy of the authorities to see if there are any discretionary powers available with which he can approach in order to get his problem resolved with as little discomfort as possible. You cannot be wrong and strong; when you are wrong, you eat humble pies and negotiate a way out, you just don't 'set the backs up' of those who are in contol and right. A lot of the cheap talk on here from some posters would most certainly do that.

observer

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SUV stuck in Port : 10/30/2009
I sympathise with the Antrobuses. I am one that CHECKED ALL the Returning National documentation before coming back, Definition Of a Returning National was at 8.02.07 the following (1) A Barbadian citizen by birth, descent, registration or naturalisation who is returning to Barbados to resettle after a period of ten (10) years abroad, (2) An adult Barbadian/citizen by descent who has never lived in Barbados, (3) An alient spouse of a Barbadian national accompanying him/her to Barbados. I even called several times and spoke to a gentleman in Customs and Excise gave him all the particulars of my car eg. age, cost etc. who calculated the Import Duty and informed me it was ok to bring the vehicle in. I already owned & had paid for my vehicle and felt I was paying for my own vehicle again. After bringing in the vehicle I was told that the process had changed, there was no warning that it would change in 6 months etc. I ended up in a similar position as the Antrobuses being told my vehicle was too old to be on the road, but because I had covered myself with e-mails and the gentleman's name in C&E, I pursued the matter telling them the ONLY reason it was here was because I was given consent. I eventually got the vehicle after 6 weeks insisting that they reimburse me for bringing it here and pay to send it back. If you are under 50, you don't benefit for anything as a Returning National - in fact you end up paying a lot of taxes for your personal belongings. I think this policy needs to change - why is there an age limit of 50 years. I tend to think a Returning National is a Returning National no matter what age. If you are younger than 50 there are no benefits for you. I thought there was more consideration for Barbadians in the diaspora but this is not the case. Misinformation can cost individuals unnecessary money. Policies need to be kept up-to-date and clear to those utilizing them. I also experienced a lack of response when sending e-mails to certain government departments in order to follow the rules. When dealing with individuals there should be more respect and focus on people than the money that is involved. I hope the Antrobuses get their vehicle, no-one can afford to import a vehicle and not be able to use it. Vehicles in Barbados are so expensive to buy. It is real unfair that those who don't abuse the system are the ones being penalised now.

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: 10/30/2009
I tell the stree the the Bajan government put us through. I wanted to return but I may as well stay here in someone else's country because I am not welcome in Barbados. People have to go through to much stress to go back home. Other nationality dont have this problem is it that the government is not eager to have us back. what a shame

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SUV stuck in Port : 10/30/2009
This is a sad and frustrating situation, I believe that if you are a born and bred bajan you have a right to return home and bring yuh thing wid yuh tax free, simple as that. You have people who don't know nothing about this island that come here to work and are given concessions and go back home after 2 or 3 years with all of our Bajan dollars, they hardly spend any there. Mr. Blackman sounds like an arrogant angry person and he needs to realise that he's dealing with people's livelihoods and stop messing around. I think this is something the Government has to deal with once and forall

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SUV stuck in port : 10/30/2009
It hurts my heart to read this sad story about this couple who is about to lose the vehicle that they apparently worked so hard to achieve. It is ashame that in our society we who were born in this beautiful island given a time frame when we could return to the land of our birth, when the white people come and go as they please and enjoy all the things we have to fight to get. Some of us chose to go abroad and study or work for a while and then return home, but apparently our Barbados government no longer wants that. As a person also abroad, I visit what I still call my home quite often with the intentions of returning within the next year and I can sadly say that I have spoken to Mr. John Blackman. He desperately needs to be trained on how to communite with the public. He an arrogant individual who thinks that because he holds a "so called" big position in government that he can speak to you as he likes. Our Prime Minister need to listen to our cries for help and get rid of some of those big head arrogant government personnel because they couldn't work any place else. TIRED OF IT FROM NY.

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bloodties : 10/30/2009
The Antrobuses should have checked to ensure they had their ducks in a row before returning. By his own admission above, he was told that he did not qualify as a returning national but they had their plans so they came anyway. Maybe he was hoping his brother had enough power to pull a few strings for him! Sorry but your party aint in power buddy. Stop confusing the place because your ignorance of the law. I'm sure your brother a former high ranking law man turned politician would tell you, ignorance to the law is no excuse. Whether the law makes sense or not the smart thing to do would be to protest and cause change to the law before acting foolhardy and then expecting special treatment.

Bajan in NY

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Mistake -> Policy -> Empathy : 10/30/2009
Beautiful Barbados! Situations like this make it obvious that one should reap the benefits of whatever education the country offers, then be selfish in your development of yourself - in the absence of any nationalistic thinking. Sure, this family was at fault for not checking the rules, dotting the i's and crossing the t's. However, a sympathetic set of countrymen (even if civil servants and govt ministers), especially to the financial implications to the resettling family would have been nice. There MUST be other options apart from trapping the vehicle and letting the charges further rack up! Almost all rules give Ministers discretionary powers. Almost all departments have managers/supervisors, it is their job to handle the exceptions to the usual course of business in a reasonable manner. There is always a bunch of civil servants somewhere in the island to make your life a little more stressful than necessary.

Orson Sinds

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: 10/30/2009
I am a professional with not one but two college degrees living in the US, I am under fifty and was hoping to return home to offer my contributions as an outstanding citizen to the people of Barbados( my people). After hearing the horror stories and witnessing the ignorance of Bajans still living there first hand, I have decided not to return there as many other "Bajan Yankees" have as well. What Bajans don't realize is that it is us that come back whether it be to visit or to live and spend our money there. Thats what make your economy run! It is all too easy for us to go somewhere else and uplift their economy.

Disappointed Bajan

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SUV stuck in Port : 10/30/2009
It seems as though people born in Barbados has less rights when returning to Barbados then those born elsewhere.

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No more SUV's : 10/30/2009
Why must every returning national be allowed to bring an SUV into the island? Sell the thing and buy a good family car. You will not die if your friends see you driving a Toyota and you can still pop nuff style. Steups

Returnee

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don't be silly : 10/30/2009
do you really expect everyone who has resided abroad for only ten years to return to barbados and be granted a wealth of concessions? i would abuse that and encourage my children to - leave home at 20 and come back at 30. but what benefit will government coffers and be extension the peeps of bim get from that? there's no pension in foreign exchange until we hit retirement age ie >50yrs. i feel for the antrobuses, because dealing with most government agencies is a royal pain! because they were misinformed or chose not to inform themselves properly before spending money they have lost. the age requirement does seem unfair, but it's practical. and besides... what was there before? nothing, so be thankful. returning home doesn't have to be lucrative.

KA

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PRIME MINISTER THOMPSON HAVE A HEART : 10/30/2009
This is an injustice. The Gentleman has put forward she a logical argument. How can the Government of Barbados treat two of its CITIZENS who have lived overseas for twenty three years. From my own experience If you are living overseas and is returning to Barbados as a returning National, it is very difficult to get any information from the consulates overseas. This case is very sad. These people who has been living overseas for so long and have been sending back money to help our foreign exchange position are now being treated in this manner. Come on PRIME MINISTER THOMPSON, you are the MINISTER OF FINANCE. Please let Antrobus have his Jeep. Show that your GOVERNMENT have a heart. This matter should not have to reach the press.

YOGI

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Why is breaking the rules ok? : 10/30/2009
i am convinced these people knew what they were up to when they were come back here.ie. they knew of the restrictions governing the duty free concessions on their vehicle. They just didn't care about the rules, and if they lost it to auction it is only their fault. getting in the paper and prancing only highlights their folly. as the article says hundreds of others return home without issues simply by using the guide lines. An old boy close to where i live just brought back a champagne colored 5 series BMW and happy as a clam. and as for all the talk about treating returning nationals, where ever they coming from, they HAVE to abide by the rules of where they where the last how many ever years...coming back here its the same deal. follow the rules. auction it! and as bad as what you all say about Barbados , its still times better for everyone than where-ever you leaving to come here

2gq4u

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Backward policies : 10/30/2009
I always shake my head when I read of the continued backwardness of Barbadian politics and policies. It is really sad that I am forced to continue to contribute to my adopted home rather that have a meaningful impact on Barbados just because I am not 50 years old. Has FURN ever thought about differnt levels of returning nationals, such as those who are retired versus those who are coming back to work or open a business? One size does not fit all.

smith

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Jkae : 10/30/2009
After all the friends and family who have benefited from liberal interpretation of the rules over the years (in both administrations) we now have some egghead bureaucrat reading the rule book verbatim. How about going back and auditing all the concessions given by the Min of Finance over the past 15 years! Gimme a break.

Jake

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understand/policy/low : 10/30/2009
we as people we leaved our country saying we going for a better life but do not ever forget our country have policy we needed to up hold if people goes to other country work for year and expect to bring they whole house into the country and at the same they working over there, and paying taxes over there, and then expect no deal with the policy of barbados what are we doing for your country when that the low of barbados is pay for the thing u bring from other country or buy your house hole stuff in barbados it will cost less for those u live over the sea

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Our Money but not Us : 10/30/2009
I have said it before and I will say it again. Inspite of Thompson's declaration several budget speeches ago, about reaching out to Barbadians in the Diaspora, the fact remains that Barbadians at home who are in positions to carry out the mandate of government do not take kindly to any benefits being given to Barbadians returning home. We can continue to send our money to Barbados in the form of remittances which is a significant contributor to the Island's GDP, but we can stay to hell out. Our money but not us seems to to be the approach by some.

Adrian Hinds

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Reason : 10/30/2009
Does anyone know the reason for having to be more than 50 to qualify ? Clearly the aim is not to have productive people returning and contributing. Many of the scholarship winners study internationally then go on to get jobs worldwide. Is it that these peoplewould have no contribution to make after 10 years abroad ?Or that we just dont care about the brain drain and want to have our brightest citizens building other nations and not our own. I think more shuld be done to encourage these younger people to return as the county would benefit significantly. Perhaps we should seek to import jobs for accountants and software developers for our service industry rather than jobs like data entry and call centres which amount to modern day cane cutting an cotton picking.

Iman

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CITIZENS : 10/30/2009
IF ITS THAT HARD TO BRING YOUR THINGS HOME we should stay outthe port is a mess and time is runing out on this goverment to fix it he should not have to pay for storage THOMPSON get your house in orderyou want people to come back and invest give us a break say what you mean and do what you say things take too long there get someone to wake up the sleepers i mean goverment workers CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE this is what we vote for give it up

kk

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FURN : 10/30/2009
Some of us could really shut up and do the peoples' business that we are being paid to do. I too am a Barbadian living overseas. I was in Barbados for holiday earlier this year and called the FURN office several times (about six times over a 2-week period). Each time I was put through to John Blackman’s desk only to be greeted by voice mail, which falsely promised that he will return the call. I left after four weeks and none of my calls were returned. Reading his arrogant and self righteous response to the above case, I can only surmise that it is part and parcel of his over inflated ego. Is it a one-man show at FURN? Must all calls be put through to him personally? How can it be right to sell off the people's car? and to add insult to injury, he is trying to make out that they deserve this. Why is the information not put where we can see it? The nation or VOB website perhaps can have a link to it. That's how the bajans overseas keep in touch with what is happening at home. Yes some Bajans abused the system. So is it not abuse when some others are holding peoples vehicles in the port, not informing them in a proper and timely manner about what is going on and then selling them off (or maybe giving them away to their friends for a pittance)? It is my country and I love it dearly, but the service is piss poor in several areas. Another thing, after all this time in office all the "new" government can respond about the unfairness of the 50 yr old/ 10 years out scenario is "we lookin at it". SSSteuuuuupp$$e

another bajan abroad

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SUV STUCK IN PORT : 10/30/2009
I AM IN SYMPATHY WITH THE ANTROBUSES, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THEY WERE POLICIES ON COMING HOME. I PERSONALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS SITUATION IN ANOTHER LIGHT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING HOME, WITH MY FAMILY.

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: 10/30/2009
I empathize with you Mr Antrobus. I am a Barbadian living overseas and was anxiously looking forward to returning to give back something more to my country. My plan was to spend 10 years abroad and benefit from the duty free policy, but low and behold about two years ago I learnt that not only would I have to spend 10 years out of the country but I would have to be 50 years old!! You cannot imagine how devastated and angry I felt. The result - I am still living and working overseas and waiting until I get to 50 ( God willing) In the meantime I continue to send my money home to Barbados to help the country. It seems like that is what overseas nationals are MOST useful for! I have spoken to John Blackman before and I can't say he has been any help. He's line is always others have abused the system so the innocent Peters and Pauls have to pay for them. My response - make the guilty ones pay not the innocent. It would not surprise me in the least if persons like the said Mr Blackman or his family members or close friends once benefitted from the same policy. I know the damage seems to already have been done but rest assured God isn't sleeping!!!!!! One who understands

Duty Free Policy

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SUV stuck in Port : 10/30/2009
Mr.Antrobus,i feel your pain.I left Barbados 40 years ago,and have only returned twice in that time.One year after leaving Barbados,i returned for a funeral,still holding a valid Barbados Passport and was treated as if were trying to enter the country Illegally. I am now retired with a decent pension,and i considered returning ,but with stories like this,why would i want to?one thing that has not changed about Barbados,people who have position(so called power)continue to abuse it.Good luck in claiming your vehicle

Bajan Man

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: 10/30/2009
Mr. Ian and wifey should have checked the rules before making their move. Now they want a free ride. That's your dead baby. Yes I know people broke the rules and show off about it. Why are they mad when they are wrong.

8RZNC

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Settle this - meet halfway!! : 10/30/2009
So Mr. Antrobus, in his excitement and haste to return home, managed to overlook some fine print. Big deal. Is that a good reason to nail the man to a cross? We, including some lawyers, have all missed fineprint from time to time. And of course Mr. Blackman's job as a bureaucrat is to execute the finest details of the law. There is no question that Antrobus should have been more diligent, but that does not mean that we have to hit a fellow Bajan a blow of this magnitude. This situation should have been declared at the start and not a year later. This would have afforded the returning resident an opportunity to ship the vehicle back to the USA. The delay has put Mr. Antrobus in an unfortunate position. Surely, since there is blame on both sides, the two parties can come to an agreement which is mutually satisfactory without taking this fiasco any further. Big tough government fellows, could you show a little mercy to the little man? My goodness, have a heart!! The man made a mistake, he did not commit a major crime.

Jeannette G.

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What`s going here. : 10/30/2009
I agree that rules should should be followed, but when they make no sense,that`s when I have a problem. Mr.Antrobus made a point when he said that a person who resides out of Barbados for 20 years or more and is not 50 years or more is not deem as a returning national but one who is 50 years or more and only do 5 years is granted the status. Somebody has their eyes on that vehicle and for one year no one cantacted him about what was going on with the vehicle.The problems that the returnees have to go through to get their belongings,it maybe better to stay right where you are.Barbados does a lot of talking but not the walking.Everyday I go on `Net and read the news there`s always some article that shows how the people that have the power thinks,just like the size of the island. During the last campaign the minister that won the seat in St.James in the last election had a meeting with some returnees and some of these issues were brought up and they spoke mostly about the hassle you get when after spending most of your life outside of Barbados.

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: 10/30/2009
What a way to treat a returning national! And all this talk about the diaspora returning to share their learned skills with their country! Clearly there should be some provisions for returning nationals who are younger than 50!!!!

Shonte

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Returing National : 10/30/2009
I hope that returning nationals read the above article. Yes, the rule change in 2004, but, the Antrobuses somehow overlooked the change. From reading the story it seems, like most of us are guilty of at sometime, there made a genuine error by overelooking that change. But, can a compromise be reached, obviously, the family saved and wanted to return home after 23 yrs, The qualifying period is after 10 yrs, why cant a compromise be reached in this situation(he has one vechicle). I am sure that it could not be easy to buy a vehicle for US$25,000, and now do not have the use of their vechicle. These are hard times, why is that Dept. of Government putting the jeep up for auction. Come on, the best of us make mistakes. From what is said in the above article, it is not a family with unlimited resources. Come on, do the right thing, after a year the family's jeep is still being held. Where is the justice for the poor black man. I am sure that if this was a 'rich' family, some compromise would have been reached. Come on give the man his vehicle, I am sure that people who should know better, glaringly abuse the law, how about people who bring in mercedes, are these people paying any duties. Have a Heart, this government say it was for the poor man, prove it. Digusted

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IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE : 10/30/2009
There is a saying in the U.S., "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." I personally would have made sure I got something in writing outlining the rules and regulations as they pertain to returning nationals before I packed up my belongings and shipped them to Barbados. Too often people blame the government for things that are their own fault.

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stuck in port : 10/30/2009
boy oh boy , here we go again , i cab bet my last dollar that this man is not white , we know in this country how things go , i know you have to follow the laws of the land but the laws only cover some while some others go under a different law , it is so easy for the rich to do things in this island while the natives or returning nationals get the run around

andy boyce

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SUV stuck in port : 10/30/2009
I think the government should allow them to claim their vehicle and waive the fees. When I emigratred here from the United States in 2007.....No One and I mean No One from the Port, Immigration , or the people in the U.S. could give me a correct answer about whether or not I could bring my vehicle in. first it was yes no problem, then no because it was over three years old, then it was maybe.then finally no, because of "strict new emission standards. When We got here all I see are these old buses and cars spewing black toxic smoke from their exhausts... If Barbados wants to become a true developed nation then we need to start acting like one not only in our "regulations" but how we enforce them and how we deal with our citizens.

Bajan Yankee

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suv in port : 10/30/2009
this is the usual (*)&^%$£ you get from the so called government officials if that jeep had come from Simpson motors there would not be a problem these j***** in charge will always give you the runaround as for what is a returning national their criteria is just bull what they don't like is people returning who can see through all nonsense barriers,if a person bring in more than one vehicle all they have to do is put zero duty on one and that is the necessity vehicle ,,,and charged the other at whatever duty the government decides,every one has the right to enter their home when they want and leave when they want and the same thing should go for citizens of Barbados..it was once told to me by a government official that the government did not want me to come back until i was ready to retire so that they could get the foreign exchange

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Where is Gabby? : 10/30/2009
That is a ridiculous law. That man's navel string is buried in Barbados so why shouldn't he qualify? Bet if it was some Anglo with deep pockets the rules would change rather quickly.

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Returning nationals : 10/30/2009
Amazing that the government would want you to return to the island at 50 years when you can return earlier and make a solid contribution to the island. The only requirement should be over ten years oversees. Give the Antrobus thei jeep and act with common sense!!

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: 10/30/2009
So what! Mr. Antrobus made an error. Give the man his property. This is outrageous. Barbados government is not giving people the incentive to come back home and set up businesses that would generate jobs to the community. Taking such an unprofessional and hard nose stance is not good business practice. Where is the empathy? Oops! forgot. Barbados has become a cruel place when it allows it's double amputee senior citizens to live in old cars. I wish Mr. Antrobus good luck. Why can't the goverment make a compromise with this gentleman to get his jeep out of the Port? If the jeep was abandoned property I would understand they reason to auction it. It has a owner who was not aware of the laws. The jeep is not unclaim property. Give the damn man his jeep. I bet if it was election time someone would have been willing to help. After keeping the jeep in the Port building up all those unnecessary fees making it harder for the man to get his property. Where is the R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Barbados is becoming a cold place. Makes me think twice of returning. New Jersey Girl.

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