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Tongue-lashing
Attorney General Freundel Stuart. (FP)
Published on: 11/28/2009.
by TREVOR YEARWOOD
BARBADIANS got a tongue-lashing for their love of feteing and poor dress sense yesterday.
Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart levelled this charge saying there was too much entertainment and too little "quiet time" here.
Stuart's criticism came in a lecture that raised concerns about young men "wearing their pants nearly off", under-achievements in heavily State-bankrolled education, and not enough help and compassion for welfare-seekers "living on the edge".
"The stage has now been reached in this country where everything is a fete," Stuart said, delivering the Democratic Labour Party's (DLP) weekly lunchtime lecture at the party's George Street, Belleville, St Michael, headquarters.
Even in the Lenten Season, there was an abundance of feteing, with Trinidadians and other artistes coming here to what was regarded as "the entertainment capital" of the region to perform, Stuart remarked.
There was "too little quiet time in this country" and "far too much entertainment", he told the gathering that included former Prime Minister Sir Lloyd Sandiford.
Stuart underscored the importance of "quiet time" for reflection, for "revisiting" national concepts and "reconstructing" policies.
He said the heavy entertainment schedule was one of the worrisome "ugly, little signs" as Barbados prepares to mark the anniversary of political independence in 1966.
Together, they contributed to "a galloping decay in our national standards" that was bothering other members of Cabinet, Stuart pointed out.
He took a crack at the dress of young men, saying the time had passed when they showed "a particular delight in how they carried themselves".
He spoke of "young men around this country for whom clothes now seem to be a burden".
According to Stuart, "Most of them wear their pants nearly off, exposing more of themselves than anybody in public wants to see."
He described this as part of the trend of "mimicking" and "aping" the "worst" habits of "cultures that are inferior to ours".
The Acting Prime Minister also said Barbadians have to be concerned about "what is going on in our schools" and about "the quality that is coming out of our schools".
He noted that Barbados was producing "too large a number of young people whose literacy skills and numeracy skills are not as good as those of their grandparents ... or their great grandparents, who didn't have the same opportunities".
The unhappy and unfortunate tendency to accentuate and to highlight the achievements of those who pass through the system and to "sweep under the carpet" the failures of those who do not survive it "has to come to an end", he said.
He listed the emphasis on quantity and "turning too blind an eye" to issues of quality as one of the biggest challenges facing Barbados 43 years after Independence.
According to Stuart, Government has to revisit the entire education sector "and do what corrective work needs to be done".
He also expressed some concern about the treatment of people seeking welfare.
He said the focus of institutions dispensing welfare should not be on telling applicants why they do not qualify but on help them.
He appealed for "a little more understanding" and "a little more compassion" when public agencies deal with such people "living on the edge" of society. (TY)
45 comment found!
w word to all you foolish people : 12/5/2009
what are we complaining about, we all acting like this now start happening. our society have been losing it's morals for years and we only now realise it. Think about it where are the most public ladies of the night located ........? Answer.. garrison savannah less than 400 metres from a police station and to my recollection they operate freely. next, where is the most propular spot for the island's (i am hurt to know this happenings in my country) gays plying thier wares .....answer within eyesight of the central police station. Dont get me wrong i am not bashing the police ...what i am trying to show you guys is that we sit by watch and let all these immoral things creep in and blossom in our society then we complain when when we cant control it anymore.When we allow homosexuality to blossom here no spoke out against it ..we just sat back and allowed it to happen so when we see our teenage girls kissing each other we should not complain..cause we allowed it to get this far (it didnt happen overnight). I dont want to jump on this conversation of partying too much .... i have to laugh when i hear people trying to blame the world problems on young people when really and truly we inherited it from those before us.I dont like politics i perfer dealing with the truth, facts and common sense.(NOTE TO READERS WHO BROUGHT IN OVERSEAS ARTISTE TO PERFORM TO BOOST THEIR PARTY'S IMAGE AND WHO ENCOURAGES US TO JUMP HALF NAKED AND INTOXICATED FOR CROP OVER EVRY YEAR) I DOES GOT TO LAUGH ....MY WORDS TO YOU ARE TO DIE WITH A CLEAN CONCIENCE BUT ENJOY EVERY LAST MINUTE ON THIS EARTH CAUSE NO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
: 12/5/2009
18 AND FIRM : your forgot to mention' .and BRAIN DEAD' I think we can consider you a write off with no moral. I feel sure that you are speaking for your self and NOT the majority of 18 years old. You are missing the point. They are trying to save you from yourself. Nothing wrong with young people enjoying themselves and looking good. It is to do with walking around with all parts exposed and looking cheap.
An observer
: 12/4/2009
@ 18 AND FIRM: I've passed that way too, had I had good clean, never smoked dope, never had a Police at my door except when a retard in your age group made a bad decision to take what didn't belong to him,sensibly from outside. Why sensibly? because wrinkled as I am I ate alot of fish use seamoss and ground provision and can still stand strong against a high wind, unlike you. So while you are still firm, your brain should be firm too and firm enough to realise that you will one day despite all the chemicals and all the viagra you will use, you will still get wrinkles and wrinkled. In your self enduced brain dead state then,i pray you will gleam enough to know where the church is located. AMEN.
TONGUE LASHING : 12/4/2009
You can not be half Barbadian and half American .Not even if you were born in a plane .(the two aint close).You born here or there .You are hot or cold not luke warm . You are a whole persons not half .You are male or female . This isa real togue lashing Mr.AG . the tongue is soft it will hurt not even a fly .This topic will be like a nine day wonder then the next topic which is jucier take its place . All of this is talk .Change has to come from 1)every individual 2) Stop the NATO approach to things in Barbados .Stop talking to sound good and to score political milage. 3)Stop making people think yo ureally care when this was just a speech for the lecture. 4) When we respect ourselves and know what it is that we really want for ourselves ,our children and the future of this nation .Now All the talk about all the shows and we must cut back .Now mouth twist the shows that we have in the island encouraging certain behaviours . Then the shows in lent .Who sanction them? Does the promoters just bring in the acts ? Does the VAT office ,the Immigration , Customs and the rest of government entities work togather ? Some one benefitting from the monies ! There we have it !Head bad body ill .
Well said... : 12/4/2009
Showing of the butt crack should be left for the bedroom not the public.The world is turning upside down and our morrals are all gone, sad to say.I remember as a child growing up we had no telivision. So our other option was to read a book do home-work or we will be outside playing some games with our friends in the neighbourhood.Then again I must say we had great parents,some of our parents were'nt rich.Some work in the fields on plantations, some were maids and house keepers, but they were strick disciplinarians.
Therefore we had to be on the righ track. Now we see that the parents want to be their kids friend not parents.Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get back to where we used to be.There's too much that our children are seeing on the TV.Then there is play station and other games and our children have no time for education and other things that would make them fine young ladies and gentlemen.We wore DOG MUSSLES to school and never complain.I know of some prominent men and women of today that wore shoes with no bottom back then and look at them today.They are great assets to this our country.Now we see that some parents can't afford to by food and pay bills, but want to by the most expensive shoes for their kids.And some of the kids are bad ass kids. We need to teach this new generation of vipers that it's not all about what you wear but how you wear it.And get some education in their heads.
Mr ATTORNEY GENERAL/ACTING PRIME MINISTER I
tip my hat off to you MY BROTHER.Don't just talk, you have the power in your hands to see that our kids, the next generation become great men and women.I don't like the idea of sending youths to jail among adults.
If you can have somewhere like a BOOT CAMP where the naughty ones can go to be disciplined that would be great.Remember we want them to be good kids when they return into society, and not angry ones. Some of these kids don't have fathers in they lives.We have plenty of single mothers out there raising some nuckle heads and it is very hard.Boys need MEN as roll models and they don't have none in the house hold.Once apon a time the community would raise the kids, but we are not seeing that anymore.Everyone for themselves now and our children are suffering.So MR ATTORNEY GENERAL think about this very carefully.Have some counselors ready because there are some very nise single mothers out there that need help with their children.Search for the good for nothing fathers or as I would call them SPERM DONORS and make them pay ALSO.Put them in jail also.Keep up the good work.God bless
BAJAN LIVING ABROAD.
: 12/4/2009
We can wear and dress however we want, after all we in got no land to inherit,the police breaking the law nobody complaining,the church breaking up people relationship as you can read in dear Christine,the lawyers stealing all the people money,what shall we young people do if the older people is not setting an example.
Hot Air! Hot Air! : 12/3/2009
To Sandra Padmore Lewis.Nothing will happen. We are a nation of damn blow hards. Hasn't this same man many months ago said that he is going to deal with those persons who indiscriminately burn garbage on their premises,affecting him and many other citizens?
These youths will be part of the electorate of tomorrow,or at least in 2013,and will be handled with kids gloves by those who stand to benefit.
Example : 12/3/2009
Tongue lashing in Barbados is like blowing bubbles in the air - very soon there are gone. Save the tongue-lashing and begin with some action. People have grown weary with the talk coming from our leaders and the years come and go and the bad situations remain the same. Also, the leaders themselves need to lead by example.
To Annoyed elder : 12/3/2009
I share your concerns. The male species are in crises, just look around and see the females striving to educate themselves in the various educational establishments and institutions while the males are wasting away on the street corners and under the trees liming.Look around you and see the females in jobs and in some good jobs too, many in senior positons and driving big cars and have nice houses, and where are the males among us?? I most certainly do not envy the females, they have their heads screwed on right;, but as for the males, well I think that they are just pathetic creatures with little or no ambition or vision, all for the easy life.
Showing their butts amd butt cracks ... : 12/3/2009
These youths of today is following a trend started in jail. Comuunities should come to gether and stamp this out. Legistrative goverment need to meet and confidentlly vote on this issue/problem and stamp it out. You ban camoflague in the country why not ban that;also issue citation to parent(s) and to grown men and woen the encourage this type of behavior. There is a word called RESPECT; IF YOU DONT WANT TO RESPECT ONESELF THEN IT SHALL BE ENFORCE UPON YOU
Tongue Lashing : 12/3/2009
What will be done about the groups of drop out young men who hang around schools trying to entice young school girls away from school. It is becoming a problem in the roads leading up to Springer Memorial. Instead of looking for jobs they try to lead astray young women who are trying to get an education. To the credit of the girls, they generally ignore them but who knows what these pests would do if a girl is walking alone after school? The things they say to these girls would burn your ears (or turn your stomach).
WHAT ACTIONS WILL FOLLOW THE TONGUE-LASHING? : 12/3/2009
Mr. Stuart has obviously brought to the table some unnerving issues threatening to diminish the qualities of our little Island but I am forced to ask are these issues going to be acted upon or will they just lie on the table. It is one thing to highlight issues…anyone can do that..but to do something about the issues is another thing. In order to criticize you should have an alternative because to criticize and offer no alternative is to add lip service, which further compounds the problem.. Justice Worrell, in another forum, also cried out about our education system. Why then aren’t these “very visible society people” coming together and putting together methods to rescue our failing education system. I propose an educational system that mandates no child leaving school before the age of 18. This will not only allow enough time for each child to learn the fundamentals – reading writing and arithmetic – but it will also allow each child to measure their self worth be it academically inclined or trade wise. To criticize and do nothing will only help to create a very large illiterate population and we do not want that in Barbados. Stuart also talks about the by gone days of quiet time but that too can be remedied. It is so common to go into local districts and hear music blasting over and over from the local “shops”. At night this music is even worst as it penetrates that precious time for sleeping which is so disturbing. Laws and penalties can be put in place to combat the noise and partying and therefore restore our quiet time….there is a time for everything. One thing I do agree with Mr. Stuart is that even though these are modern times and things have changed, the value of things do not have to change and so parents need to revert to their own values in raising their children. My son will not wear his pants below his ass simply because he knows that such behavior is not allowed in our house… My son knows that the broomstick is not only used for the purpose of sweeping. We as parents have to guide and chastise our children continuously helping them to see the errors of their ways. The church, which also played a big part in maintaining some semblance in our culture, has taken on another path. Some churches are more into the worldly things than the worldly things themselves and as such have darkened the path to the Light…There was a time when the Lenten observance was so solemn and meaningful no one in their right mind would dare disturb that reflection furthermore to party and fete but the church in itself no longer fosters that reverence. I say all of this to say that our culture must be maintained, not to be stagnant, but to grow with dignity, and instead of our figureheads just mouthing off they should convene and reconstruct and put methods to work for the betterment of our land, especially for our school system.
Arrogance! : 12/3/2009
well mr. stuart sounds like he is just saying what a lot of people think...but i think he went a little too far with his statement about "cultures that are inferior to ours"...sagging is from America.
i am 1/2 bajan and 1/2 american so i can speak for both. there are some ignorant black people in america who have no class, true. but there are also some very low-life bajans, who are just as inferior in their behavior especially evident around crop-over with their vulgar dancing that they call "culture". what is worse? the ignorant illiterates in America, or the ones in Barbados? they are both bad and shameful.
one thing is true. the white man did a good job of keeping black people looking down upon each other...but they see us all as one thing: N-----.
Just saying : 12/3/2009
(Just Saying) i totally agree with your comment,out of all the comments here yours are the best, you pick the words out of my mouth,what you said is true,true.It also seems like the politicians just focus all their anger on young people,these are the people that cannot vote,or interfere with politic,these are the people that dont make a difference on voting day,why dont Stuart focus his attention somewhere else and remember we will be voting soon.
tonguelashing : 12/2/2009
Barbados is not the only place dress trends has changed. it's all over the world. Why is it so important????? these dress trends been recycling for many years. just like everything else, it will pass and come again. get over it, really.....there is more important pending situations that need our attention, as far governing the land. think about it.
tonguelashing : 12/2/2009
tongue-lashing : 12/2/2009
Am sure there are many people out there that think the same way Mr Stuart do, but why keep complaining and not contribute to improving the situation. "Partying", like he put it- this also is another form of income, since our tourists/visitors come to the island to enjoy the night life that Barbados offers as entertainment. This is just another way of them to enjoy part of our culture and music. As for the boys wearing their pants off their behinds, this i agree is dumb....cause if you ask any of them what is the meaning of it, they wouldn't be able to tell you. Which makes them even more ignorant. Our kids need to learn to be LEADERS and NOT FOLLOWERS. School has become a place to make money and not dedicated to the students. Teachers feel as though they are wasting their time and students just going through the motions daily. If the teachers wouldd take control back off the classrooms and re-dedicate themselves, maybe then the students will be encouraged a little more, seeing there are teachers that still care. So, Mr Stuart, rather than bitch and whine - Try being part of a solution, not part of the problem.
TOUNGE LASHING : 12/2/2009
Mr.Stuart this is what people in your position normally do to the young men of barbados i.e degrade,deride. Instead you shoud be offering solutions as you are in a position to do so. Why cant you carry out some kind of research or investigation to identify the source of all these problems especially those that offend you and other cabinet members. If your education system continues to fail the young men of the country stop pay lip service and improve it.
Flabby & Wrinkel : 12/2/2009
All of you sounds like a bunch of old people from way back in the 1600s.If you guys are getting old and wrinkel you should focus your attention somewhere else,when you guys were young you use to show it off the same way,we are the vipers that you old people create,go to church and focus your attention there.All of you are jealous because you are old and flabby leave we young people alone,people complain about the muslim dress,everything people complain bout except for their own problems.
Tongue-lashing : 12/2/2009
I certainly agree with most of the article. The first step to a solution is to first acknowledge that there is a problem. Where do we go from here? First we must stop pointing fingers and suggest solutions. I love to party, but i believe part of the demise of values can slowed by the gov't limiting the Sunday partying events; you have all week to party, keep Sunday as a rest day(for most part). Gov't intervention is not always the best or correct answer, but in the absence of a better answer, create an obscenity law to curb the embarrassing way the young men are wearing their pants (fine them when caught...monetary or pulic service).
We all have a part to play in restoring our communities; the gov't is in the best position to make the biggest impact in the shortest time period.
I wish we had all the time to solve these "problems" without gov't intervention but we do not.
We have hung our future success on tourism, there is not turning back now. Unless we curb the down sloping values of out society we will suffer with the reduce trend in visiting tourist dollars.
Seriously : 12/2/2009
Tell Stuart to go get his well dressed lawyer friends to stop stealing all poeples' hard-earned money and hiding behind the bar association. They are deviants in all spheres of society....police, lawyers, POLITICIANS. Get them right first.....the partygoers can't be that high on your list Mr. Attorney General !!
: 12/2/2009
Well said Sir. In addition to what you have said, i just want to add to the new trend of young teenage girls dressing like men. These days it is very difficult to tell if it a boy or girl you are seeing, because the some of the young girls dress like men, talk like men, and walk like men. They add foul language, to their new appearance. For the life of me, i cannot understand how parents can have tolerate their young daughters dressing in such a manner. Another area in which i have notice a breakdown in values is in the area of comman courtesies. When travelling on the ZRs, if a person needs to press the buzzer, that person (adult or child), just pushes his or her hand in front of your face or over your head (depending on where the buzzer is), without asking for an excuse. Both adults and children board the public transportation, without bothering to say greeting others. So when one speaks of development within a nation, one needs to ask oneself the question, if such development is worth celebrating about.
: 11/29/2009
As an American who visits Barbados frequently, I can say that the island (as the world) is changing - unfortunately with the media portrayals and Internet, Barbados looks like a party island, and not intelligent, dignified, professionals. It's unfortunate b/c the masses will only know the island from these images and a lot of them are just vulgar partygoers and that is definitely not what the island is overall.
Concern : 11/29/2009
Mr. Stuart, the horses are out of the gate & off to a bad start, but I have faith, things can turn around. We are always a copy cat fr.the USA. the pants on the young people down by the ankle with 1 or 2 pant on with the underware showing too. then don't forget the plated hair too. Then they want a job interview & the blacks folks up here want to know why they can't get a job. i wonder why?. As for Lenten days, the massive may think different but all the feting should be tone down. As for the less fortunate seeking help, I think you need to help them if you can. Some people do fall on hard times. This is not a DLP or BLP problem, this is everybody's problem. God forbid, some of those people that are critical of what you are saying, they may need help someday too.
tounge lashing : 11/29/2009
not only in barbados its the way of the younger generation culture in the world 2day all morals have gone this is a generation of vipers its in the Bible prophesy has 2b fullfilled
Tongue-lashing : 11/28/2009
My son once came to my job to meet me with his pants hanging low,I told him that in no way shall he ever let me seeing him dressed like this.
I never had to tell him again,and he never wore his pants like this again.
He knew what I meant.Show the kids that you are serious with them,no compromise,the kids will listen.
: 11/28/2009
Is it not the parents who are first influences on children? if children arn't being guided correctly then they will stray down wrong paths. Im not saying don't party or have fun cause i'm 20, studying at UWI and I have to thank my parents for guiding me along the way. However, I still party. I can't understand why would men want to wear there pants falling off. As far as I know this is an act that is done in jails to let the other men know where the person stands.
I think the only way to correct this growing trend is to start from the begining. The parents need to be more influential in there childrens lives and if the parents are the same said offenders then teachers need to play a more parenting role as this will not only guide them down a correct path but also instill in them the need to succeed in school
Short Memory : 11/28/2009
I am sure that Owen Arthur got many negative responses to his comment regarding Barbadian partying. Will Mr. Stuart get the same treatment? Guess not...
Our People : 11/28/2009
Our people and the culture we once knew is on the decline. We have always patterned the North American culture and the young folks are only following suit. North America does have a lot of good things to offer but sadly enough the worse trends are being patterned by our youth. However, the parents, church and government are to be blamed for much of what is happening in our society today. In order to correct these trends, a complete overhaul of the government, judicial system, churches, etc.. has to be done. These young people shortly will be the leaders of tomorrow and judging from what is going on, all I can say is may the Lord help those who will be around.
Dont Knock Entertainment : 11/28/2009
I like everything that you say except for your comment on Entertainment. I agree with everything you say except for what you said about Entertainment. Just look at those bajan artistes who have made it overseas : they could not have made it if the environment was not right for them to be exposed here in Barbados and I mean exposed to entertainment and the hype and atmosphere around shows and music.It is because of this exposure ,Sir, that these artistes have come through so please dont knock it; use it for its utility. Otherwise I agree with your comments now and comments that you have made before now.You are a philosopher and I identify with you in this regard.
: 11/28/2009
in these times people just do not care about anybody but themselves
: 11/28/2009
I could not agree with Mr. Stuart more. What our young men need to understand is that it's not cool to embrace the negative practices they can find, but instead take those who are successful as role models. What is also disturbing is that many of our young women also think it's cool to have such men in their lives.
We need to get back to the basics and again embrace those morals that have sustained our previous generations and positioned us to be a successful nation.
I would hope that as a society, we can find a way to refocus our young people or else crime will escalate to the place where our economic base will further erode as visitors find other places to spend their money.
I would also hope that our legal system can find a way of making males who dress with their underwear showing guilty of indecent exposure. Perhaps this will send a strong message.
A proud Barbadian living in Florida.
: 11/28/2009
I agree dat is de same thing i say when st. philip add a foreday morning fete to their carnival. Next thing yuh know they will extend carnival to two days and every parish will want a carnival for what ever reason in a show of decen tralising cropover. tell dem Mr. stuart
Where does the freeness arrow points : 11/28/2009
Broken Promises; Fetes, tours, free camps, free bus rides, free breakfast, constituency councils, frequent trips overseas, increase NIS benefits for persons who did not contribute, free NHC units for those who did not pay deposits - see where the arrow is pointing. Mr. Stuart must not be bashful and credit the DLP with all of the above.
are you serious : 11/28/2009
it is so amasing to see a island like barbados that has been rated so high aganist other countries in this world to have a dupy prime minister who live in the dark ages after reading his speach i could not beleive a man claims to have an high education can be so stupid with words from his mouth i love barbados but those people you have incharge need to move in to the times that we are presently in stop focuss on who's parting and find a way to employ the same yound men
Inferior culturecomes in many forms. : 11/28/2009
You are in a position to do something other than talk, So quit talking and start acting. You sound like a foreigner lambasting us when you are part of the problem too, and can be a major part of the solution. Speaking of outside cultures, I see people in CD vehicles, easily identifiable as non Barbadians doing some ugly things in this land, like running red lights, that there would never attempt to do in their homeland. One Sunday, I got 'put in my old place' by three of them, including a female with her feet up high on the dashboard when I admonished them for running the light and throwing a beer bottle out the window. I mention this to say that inferior culture comes in all forms. Time to take hard long look at Diplomatic immunity as responsible for our decay.
ALZIMA'S
A whetting of the appetite with comedy : 11/28/2009
And who or what is responsible for this decay? If the Captain and leaders at the helm are not responsible ,then who is? Who is responsible for enacting and amending legislation and fail repeatedly to do so? Who humbugs Civil Servants trying to do their duties dutifully? Who is responsible for grants permits and liquor licenses? Do you understand that the fact that court sentencing appears to be soft stems from the fact that Judges and Magistrates cannot sentence outside of what the archaic laws dictate? Who is responsible for a determination of whether to flog or not to flog school children? Which politicians think that flogging is barbaric? Why is the fine still $50.00 for failing to send to school a child and how often is it imposed? Where is the legislation to make irresponsible parents accountable for their offspring? Who do you think is responsible for this decay in morals and values? Do foreigners and foreign cultural penetration run this country? How long have we been asking for changes in BWA and Licensing Authority with regards to public service vehicles? When will hanging resume? You are in the right church, but sitting on the wrong pew. Your duty as AG is to stepup to the pulpit and get the legislation righted. This lunchtime lecture really whetted the appetite. it's more of the comedy that keeps me smiling in my old age.
Retired
tongue-lashing : 11/28/2009
Here, Here!! It is a blight on Barbados with how the younger generation behave, dress, speak these days and their lack of morality and ethics so an embarrassment. Bds needs more of its leaders (both in government and in the home) to take a firmer stance or God only knows what will become of the country when this generation takes over!
Tongue-lashing : 11/28/2009
Yes pa, you make me feel like a child.do you want to take away our freedom? No one is above the law. when the laws are broken is one thing. But you cannot treat us like children.do not forget, Christians in Most Muslim countries have no rights. is this where you want to heard us by denying non Christians any rights? Only this week in Northern Sudan [MUSLIM] A CHRISTAN School girl from Southern Sudan [CHRISTAIN] was whipped for wearing a skirt in public that was deemed too short in the North. is this where we are heading?
Losing it : 11/28/2009
I would give anything to have those good old days back. Education is no longer the priority, decent dressing is out, everything America does, bajans follow. Uniqueness was what Barbados was once known for but not anymore .The quality of culture has change dramatically . Keep it up you are going to fall harder than American is doing now. We have lost our way. not to late to turn around. I wholeheartedly agree with Mr.Stuart.
: 11/28/2009
The bajan society is reflecting the lapses and lack of training initiatives by subsequent governments whose focus have not been one to instill programmes which provides its citizens with a sense of duty, responsibility and discipline. There is a high degree of delinquency in our society. All the education and opportunities that Barbadians have enjoyed for years have not changed many of their engrained habits. What is now has always been, I find it interesting that Stuart feels the need now to address a perennial problem that long existed.
: 11/28/2009
nothing new, bajans alwaya thaught that they were better than the next person as soon as they get a little more. whether it be education or wealth, looking on the other person,that is the bajan style
jersey joe
Too Little Too Late : 11/28/2009
Well said but I fear it may be a case of too little too late. Our dunces are being rewarded with brand name clothing, brand name gadgets, feting and freedom, the likes of which I never saw as an A-Student. There are no incentives in place to motivate them. Their minimum wage parents/guardians go out of their way to keep up with the Jones without a thought of what this child will do when his meager earnings cannot support the lifestyle they have struggled to keep up appearances with. We have done away with discipline in schools, the students have become more and more disrespectful; we are even hiding their lack of accomplishments with the new age classification of forms, e.g. what used to be 3C6 is now a 3-1, etc. Whatever the thinking was behind this it has not succeeded in increased enrollment of students at tertiary level. We, are also failing them. There is not enough time to fully respond to this but I hope that other readers can shed some light on this educational and moral decline we are seeing in this country.
: 11/28/2009
I did not have the opportunity to hear or see the full text of Mr. Stuarts comments I hope that he also commented not just on the dress of the young men but also the young girls and women of this society who dress in “fashions” that hardened big city street prostitutes would not wear not so many years ago.
But societal breakdown is the inevitable consequence when the society rejects God. Regarding education I can assure you that if it had to be paid for by the parents in a more direct fashion it would be more respected and vastly more appreciated than it is. There is a down side to “free” education and we are beginning to see it.
Tongue-lashing : 11/28/2009
Too true, too much emphasis on feteing and not enough of building true respectful relationships within the community. The guys standard of dress has dropped and their manners to go with it. The women make more effort on their appearance then men. Men who are supposed to be the leaders of our society are not leading by example with their dress sense and the disrespectful way they treat women is a reflection of how they feel inside. I think if you want to lead this should be reflected in your manner and dress code.
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