‘Ode to the taxpayer’

Between 1988 and 2001, I participated in every Independence Day Parade playing in the mass band which comprised the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, Regiment Band and the Combermere School Cadet Band. 

I cannot describe the pride and joy of standing next to Cortez Callender from the Police Band as a youngster playing clarinet and getting goose bumps trying to emulate his playing of the melodic runs in Cavalry Brigade or his complete mastery of Pack She Back, Brown Girl or Matilda. 

Looking back on those years, first as a cadet rising within the ranks and then as a member of the Zouave Band, the experience made my Independence very memorable and the sense of patriotism it engendered seemed surreal.  Cortez Callender retired this year from the Police Band after 52 years of service and therefore will not be participating in this year’s parade.

Left to me and if he was willing, I would give him the opportunity to be the Parade Director of the Mass Band as an appreciation of his long service to Barbados. 

In this our 50th year of Independence, I cannot help but reminisce about the ‘good ole days’ but I also feel compelled not to wallow in what once was.  There is a deep sense in me to want to take pride in what Barbados has been able to achieve but one still has a very strong nagging sense that better must be done today, otherwise that pride may very well be misplaced.

Anthony Walrond, if you don’t know him, is a local songwriter who has penned a calypso entitled A Golden Jubilee which represents an Ode to the Taxpayer.  It hasn’t received much airplay on the radio stations but I feel compelled to share the lyrics of his composition with you and hope that perhaps you may share in the sentiments he has expressed.

Verse one

50th Anniversary Independence Celebration

For you the dignitary with a special invitation

Did they reserve a seat for you up in the front row?

With the pompous and the elite for the ceremony and show.

Someone the ushers had missed,

For there was an empty spot

When they check the guest list,

It was you they forgot

Who should receive any tribute paid

for the best national contribution made

It is you, it is you, it is you

Who is it time and time again, stop the economy gine down the drain

It is you, it is you, it is you

Who is the country’s greatest asset,

To raise revenue and to pay out debt

To replenish Treasury funds,

Cover up them overruns

It is you, it is you, it is you

If anyone truly deserves,

Honours for these 50 years served

And respect long over due

Taxpayer it is you

It is you, it is you, it is you, it is you

Verse 2

Our Golden Jubilee, an appropriate celebration

Of an epic winding journey, down the hard road as a nation

Our leaders just like Moses headed for the promised land,

With no guide to their bed of roses, only footprints in the sand.

Politicians steady and good, they arrived on the shores

Only then they understood, all those footprints were yours.

Who gave him all that confidence,

To go and demand Independence

It is you, it is you, it is you

And gave him all the faith he did need

to make ambitious programmes succeed

It is you, it is you, it is you

For example, education free

Now cut back up there at UWI

National Insurance Scheme and no one supporting me

It is you, it is you, it is you

Other leaders emulate the Skipper of ship of State

Who made up their tireless crew

Taxpayer, It is you

It is you, it is you, Taxpayer, it is you

Verse 3

50th Anniversary, an affordable celebration

Of sacrifice and bravery, by the builders of this nation.

On faith and trust it was founded, pillars never to be shaken

And workers by whom it was grounded, should never be forsaken

Like an anniversary pardon, grant them a little gift

An ease in the tax burden, the nation’s spirit will lift

Who feeling the loss of spending power, though we didn’t devalue we dollar

It is we, it is we, it is we

Land, income, NIS and VAT,

tipping solid waste who absorbing that?

It is we, it is we, it is we

These questions for Ministers ask

Who paid pensioners in the past?

And this golden 7 mil and

10 percent members back pay bill?

It is we, It is we, It is we

50 Barbados who gine cheer

Hip pip… Hip hip hooray

And launch their 5 year Jubilee

Taxpayer, it is we, it is we, Taxpayer it is we

Calypsos and their lyrics have a way of capturing the essence of Bajans and so with these few words, I wish you and your family and very Happy Independence.

(Ryan Straughn is an UWI Cave Hill and Central Bank of Barbados-trained economist who is the endorsed Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for Christ Church East Central at the next general election. Email: straughn.ryan@gmail.com)

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6 ways the US election results may affect the Caribbean (by loopnews)

Donald Trump's victory at the polls spells a new era for the USA, which will also have ramifications for the Caribbean region.

Dr Richard Bernal, Pro Vice Chancellor, Global Affairs, at the University of the West Indies (UWI), said there are several concerns the Caribbean should be aware of moving forward, involving critical issues such as trade, finance and global security.

Speaking at the Vice Chancellor's forum at the UWI, Mona, entitled 'The Caribbean Say on USA Today', Dr Bernal said these issues need immediate focus if the region is to progress. 

 

1. Trade

There are numerous trade agreements with the US however this is predominantly in the area of goods, and Dr Bernal says there is the need for an expansion into services.

He says this can mean a transition into investment into services, however this may require the liberalization of policies which can mean a possible loss in revenue for Caribbean territories.

According to a Forbes report, Trump’s mercantilist trade plan calls for using the power of the Executive Order to impose a 45% tariff on a broad swath of imports from China, 35% tariffs on items produced in Mexico, and arbitrary tariffs of between 15% – 45% for any country deemed to be a “currency manipulator.”

Prime targets include the European Union, Japan and South Korea, which, taken together with China and Mexico, represent five out of America’s top six trading partners.

These protectionist tariffs would be the precursor to a destructive chain of events that would harm manufacturers and consumers in both the U.S. and Asia and would lead to disrupted supply chains, imploded trade relationships and, ultimately, trade wars.

 

2. Global Security

Dr Bernal said the issue of global security will remain one of continuous focus and added that much more technical support and cooperation will be needed from the US.

There are chances of increased security policies for travel in and out of the US, which will also affect the Caribbean.

 

3. Finance

Dr Bernal said Caribbean countries should be concerned with financial de-risking measures between Caribbean territories and the US. 

The de-risking process, that is, cutting financial ties with clients or businesses considered high-risk, can have fallout effects on Caribbean investments and other Caribbean businesses.

He says so far Caribbean countries have complied, but the matter remains open moving forward, referring to Belize, which has received severe financial penalties after failing to comply with several US finance agreement requirements.

He also mentioned the region’s high financial debt which he says is detrimental to the Caribbean’s progress.

“It is time for a new initiative for small middle-income countries (like the Caribbean) which are highly indebted. It has reached a point where it needs a ‘grand bargain’, a new intiative.”

 

4. Climate change

Dr Bernal says this is a continuous issue of paramount importance for the region and may require additional focus considering the new policies of the Trump administration.

“This will require some serious lobbying as Republicans are not particularly strong on environmental issues….we’re going to have to work hard on that.”

 

5. Energy

Dr Bernal says he thinks there will be continued assistance from the US in terms of exploring sources for renewable energy however he thinks this will continue to be in the form of technical assistance within the private sector.

Trump plans to employ the country's coal, shale gas and "other American energy sources", including "safe fracking", which could have a negative effect on Trinidad and Tobago, which is one of the USA's suppliers of liquified natural gas. 

 

6. Travel

Immigration policies may be tightened moving forward, which can also have severe results for Caribbean workers seeking employment or travel within the US.

Trump said he would "Restore integrity to our immigration system by prioritizing the interests of Americans first. Enforce our immigration laws – at the border and at the workplace. Build a border wall and end sanctuary cities. Send criminal aliens home. Welcome those who embrace our way of life, but keep out immigrants and refugees who don’t through rigorous vetting."

 

Dr Bernal emphasized a united approach toward in working together with the new US Republican government moving forward, in order to ensure a positive environment for Caribbean policies.

“We have to work with whichever administration is in. It is possible to succeed with both Republican and Democratic administrations.”

“As we continue to build a fourth border of the US, it is for us to make sure our goals are incorporated into the policy.”

“We need to move on it quickly and we need to move on it collectively and proactively.”

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Water woes hit south (by nationnews)

SOME OF THE water woes being experienced in the north of the island now appear to be trickling down to the south. - See more at:

And much like their northern brethren over the last year, residents of parts of Christ Church are crying out for an explanation from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) over the cause of the week-long outages. Residents of Vauxhall, Kingsland, Silver Hill and Wotton in Christ Church have been trying to come to grips with bone dry and dripping taps. Wade Alleyne, of Vauxhall, told the DAILY NATION yesterday that for the last week, water at his house went off each day around 7:30 a.m. and did not come back on until 10 p.m. (AD)

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Christ Church East Central win again (by barbadostoday)

The Christ Church East Central juggernaut continued last Friday night at the Glebe, St George, in the latest action of the David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils Football Classic.

The defending champions had few problems in disposing of the challenge of St George North, defeating them 3-0. Keion Harding opened the scoring in the 15th minute and just before the half-time break Jabarry Chandler made it 2-0. He entered the game in lethal form having already scored seven goals in the competition and he was a threatening force throughout the game.

None of the St George North’s players could score on Christ Church East Central, so Reco Elliott did the next best thing and scored on his own goalkeeper to gift a goal to his opponents in the 62nd minute.

Also at the Glebe, Jomo Harris scored in the 8th and 87th minute as St Michael North beat Christ Church South 2-1. Trevor Mayers scored in the 76th minute for the Christ Church side.

At Briar Hall, Christ Church, St James Central brought their ‘A’ game to defeat a plucky Christ Church West unit 4-2. National player Hadan Holligan scored in the very first minute of the game to give the north side an early lead. But Kemar Smith found the equalizer in the 30th minute. And just before half-time Damon Ifill gave St James Central a 2-1 lead.

Ifill returned on the resumption to make it 3-1 in the 53rd minute and all but bury Christ Church West. But showing great spirit the Christ Church side would find a second goal in the 57th minute to make the score line 3-2. What followed was a rousing climax to the game as Christ Church West went in search of that equalizer.

But as often happens in these situations they conceded a fourth goal in the 90th minute as Jamario Worrell dashed their hopes and those of their supporters.

At the same venue it was more woes for another Christ Church team as this time West Central were beaten 3-0 by St Michael South East thanks to goals from Akeem Browne in the 12th and 42nd minutes and Mario Harte in the 83rd.

In action Saturday at Rices, St Philip, national player Tristan ‘Fishy’ Parris’ 33rd minute effort, along with goals in the 34th minute from Omari Leacock and the 42nd from Tremaine Cobham, cancelled out St John’s Romario Harewood’s 17th minute effort to give St Michael South a 3-1 win.

Christ Church East’s defenders were like deer in headlights in their match-up against St Philip South as Carlo Perry went on a rampage with four goals in their 5-2 victory over the Christ Church team.

Perry netted in the 30th, 90th and 93rd minutes, he also buried a penalty in the 70th minute. T’Shane Lorde had opened the scoring for St Philip South in the 22nd minute. Scoring for Christ Church East were Cameron Lewis in the 44th minute and Kenny Miller-Jones in the 63rd minute.

At Valery, Dwayne Mars scored in the 49th and 55th minutes to give the City of Bridgetown a 2-1 win over St Thomas for whom Kyle Burrowes scored in the 58th minute.

St James South got off to a good start at the same venue when St Michael South Central conceded a 27th minute penalty which Romario Williams netted. But that was as good as it got for the St James lads. Goals from Elsid Miggins in the 42nd minute and Walton Burrowes in the 81st, gave St Michael South Central the win.

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