Moontown

DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN’S – THE DEBATE

OCTOBER 18, 2006

The West Indies Cricket team has been fortunate lately to find itself in a winnable situation, but has failed to deliver. This cannot continue and some named players will have to play from the pavilion until they understand that cricket is not a sport anymore, but a profession.  These players who are one sided still have to decide whether having a popular name is scoring runs. These players must understand that we are expecting the big day soon and the best marketing must be in place to match the expectation.

World Cup Cricket is big and the players who want to be involved must display the ability to represent their team at the highest level. Years within the team cannot be the only factor, it must be performance. We cannot any longer pick a team base on expectation, it has to be on delivery.

It is rather interesting to observe that in the West Indies, everybody can oppose me on the selection of Dwayne Smith, but cannot find fault with batsmen who are scoring runs if bowlers who are not taking wickets. At least if Dwayne Smith, the all rounder does not score runs, you can expect him to bowl and filed well.

I have watched the team created good opportunities and then squandered them, but when one looks at the reports of the team officials, one gets the impression that indiscipline is the accepted norm and performing is a crime.

The West Indies cricket family can only expect to see high class cricket when they are prepared to use Lara’s achievement as the benchmark. Too many of our players are still being judged and praised using Hooper’s standards.

The DLP has been able to attract large crowds and we must continue to deal with the issues. Our focus must be concentrated on the supporters of the BLP and that 42 per cent that is unsure. These groups must be prepared and we must nourish them with the goods we have to offer. It should be accepted that fish in the fish pot need not be baited, but must be fed. The ones outside the pot must be baited with the best bait and must be pointed higher to show them what they have been missing. The fish inside the fish pot must be treated in such a way that those looking in world feel jealous and want to be trapped.

As we get closer to elections, it is clear that certain elements have already promised the goodwill of the workers of the BLP. These workers will find themselves being part of the party, but not enjoying the benefits of the party.

These workers will not be included in the rewards at Independence, but will watch their bosses receiving the rewards for controlling their destiny. Workers will have to look back to find their medium because where they have been lodged now is against their growth.

The politics of inclusion as it relates to workers and the masses is to include the leaders and the others will follow. This means that once you make the leaders happy, they will in turn provide the followers for the master. Someone asked me a couple weeks ago, if there is a similarity between the Indentured Servant and those who have been included. I told the person on second thought it seems reasonable to compare the behavior of certain individuals to that particular group.

It is with interest that the trade union movement has pledged its support with the private sector and Government at a time when the workers are crying out for increased disposable incomes, burdensome high cost of living and taxation.  One would have expected the support to come to the union from its members, when one considers what was said by the Government about Private Sector as it relates to price gouging, and what the Private Sector said about Government as it relates to over taxation.

The end result is a promise from Government to abolish the CESS and the Bound Rates by passing these decreases through the same players which the Government has accused of price gouging. This sector of the economy has been accused of not passing on the savings from VAT to the consumers.

It was rather interesting to have read a speech delivered by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in St. Philip West as week after I spoke at a joint meeting in that parish. He actually agreed with what I said a week before, that the removal of the CESS and the Bound Rates will have a negative effect on employment and will create a higher current account deficit. This is something that must be studied carefully, because it is one thing to get cheap local goods, but another thing to get cheap foreign goods at a time when your imports have risen by $1bn during last year. We must earn our way and we must find the best approach to deal with the problem. We cannot sell the Hilton because our import bill is high.

It is clear that the same problems created for us before by this BLP Government is occurring again. If we do not forewarn the country, we will be blamed for it, when we have to correct the problems.

Inflation is an economic tool which should be used wisely. The problem occurs when a Government willfully creates inflation and then seeks to reverse it. This time around, we have to find a better way to deal with the high cost of living. Dealing with it the way the Government is suggesting is reversing what it said when it was introduced by this present administration. We cannot afford to allow this Government to destroy the workers or local manufacturing to please IMF to whom they do not listen.

Minister Mascoll should be congratulated for making this speech as a technocrat and not as a politician, because he had demonstrated that he understood what I said to him when he was vacating office and was supporting me to take over. What I said then was that, he should concentrate on his training as a technocrat and stop trying to be a politician. I felt then that he was trying too hard to be a politician and not a technocrat which led him to look bad in the eyes of the public.

It was regrettable that he had to behave like a politician, when he said at a public meeting that I turned up at his office two hours before 4 o’clock seeking leadership, something that I do not beg or fight for. The truth is I turned up at his office on time as was expected. This could easily be confirmed by someone who would not lie for either of us. I have nothing to say about the point that he supported me for the leadership and would like to tell him that he was not the only person who called to pledge their support. The truth is I do not know the others who did not support me. I did not ask. I took him at his word and proceeded without begging. I want to thank Mr. David Thompson for his boldness.

Peace, love, honesty, unity, humility, truthfulness and understanding.

DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN- THE DEBATE

JUNE 22, 2006

It is clear to me that politics is not a science. It seems to me that they are some politicians who have been able to treat it like one. The O’Neale’s family has been able to achieve this fate. It is rather interesting that whenever this has occurred, someone from among has been able to bad mouth them with their own. Such persons not only carry the dagger internally, but are prepared to remove their limited shares to the enemy seeking ransom. It seems to occur with thirty being a factor.

 I have already said that this family has served the party well and it is time that the party shows the public that politics in this family is not by accident. This country needs solutions and it needs them now. Should we continue delaying the process, this country will be destroyed. One only has to remember what happened to Nigerian in the seventies when it had all going for it, Capital projects were constructed and located without proper advice. Cost was not important, the private sector of the country was not worried about the foreign exchange problem, because when they looked at the bottom line everything was well.

We as a small country must learn to harness wisdom and stop behaving like cliques looking for manner to drop from heaven and not being able to associate with what you have because you are always looking for a person created in your own vision and not what God has sent for you. One only has to refer to the Bible and one would see what I speak about. Our country Barbados has to change to suit what is happening in the world.  We stopped believing that we are God and that we can create inequality for God has made us all one. We should remember the French Revolution. We must also remember the famous quote by Napoleon that “all men are equal, but some are more equal than others.” This type of thinking has caused Snowball to flee, but Boxer remained until his death, even though he worked hard and was badly treated. He understood the fight and stuck it out. Our country needs some men with backbones, who can remain and fight the good fight.

Some of us can be peace makers, even though in the end, we suffer at the hands of the persons we defend; we still have to fight for the cause. Nothing good comes easily, but the Lord has always been able to provide vision for men who mean well, while others do their plotting. I have always been told not to fear the enemy, because you know their intentions, but fear those who pretend to be your friends, but cannot say anything good about you in your absence. Many times I have to ask my Lord to keep reminding me as I walk, about the role of Judas, not only because I admired him, but because once you can work him out, then you can deal with all others.

We in Barbados have to understand that because someone plays foolish, it does not mean that the person is foolish. Gear Box was regarded as the biggest fool in Barbados, but any young person could have gained from his mouthing under his breath. Some of the best knowledge I have gained in this country came from men like Eric Sealy, Julian Hunte and Gear Box. I have had some of the best teachers in my life, but these stand out because they were not paid for their knowledge proffered. I have never seen a bad idea from Julian Hunte, but I have seen him robbed of his intellectual right. Many persons staking claims to the fame created by him have not even acknowledged the source or paid the necessary royalties.

This region has to stop trampling under-privileged persons and compensate them for their common sense. This is why the WICB and its selectors cannot accept that Brian Charles Lara is more brilliant than they are. One would believe that Lara had requested to pick the team. A captain must be given the best team to work with and the councils must understand their roles. If the councils give Lara a team, they should not believe that it is made of concrete. They should expect any captain to express an opinion in the interest of the team and organization.

It is rather interesting that persons who had no foresight as it relates to World Cup Cricket, can now seek to dictate and refuse dialogue with their most talented player and then ignore his views because he is a batsman and not a bowler, forgetting that in order to be a good batsman, you have to understand bowlers and their ability.

The people of the Caribbean must tell the cliques that it is not about them anymore, that is about a better life for all. The Caribbean must be seen as a place of equal opportunity. It can no longer be for the too few. Globalization and Trade Liberalization have demanded that a new thinking is required and persons can no longer be branded by birth. The branding has to be the ability to think and execute.

I am begging the Board and the Selectors to understand that cricket is not the livelihood of cricketers anymore. Instead, it is the livelihood of all of us. So if you do not listen to them, you are not listening to us. These councils must represent the interest of the people and not the too few. Wake up! Caribbean the world is not waiting on us. We have to understand that we have to pay our way by producing and not by begging or borrowing. Cricket is the game that promotes Barbados and tourism and these players cannot any longer ignore the significance of this industry to the development of the region.

Peace, love, unity, humility and understanding.

SPLIT PEAS AND RICE; VEGETABLE CHOWMEIN

MACARONI PIE; CREAMED POTATOES

BAKED CHICKEN; BAKED LAMB

FRIED KING FISH; LAMB STEW

FISH GRAVY; STEAMED VEGETABLES

TOSSED SALAD; COLE SLAW

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Ramnaresh Sarwan has withdrawn from Guyana’s squad with a back injury, further depleting the side ahead of their opening match of the WICB Regional Four-Day, first class season this weekend in Antigua.

The West Indies right-hander, who was expected to captain the squad, has now been replaced by Rajendrika Chandrika, with left-hander Sewnarine Chattergoon expected to lead the side.
Sarwan’s withdrawal is the second blow to Guyana after his Test teammate Shiv Chanderpaul withdrew earlier this week with a finger injury.

The duo are Guyana’s two most experienced batsmen with 206 Tests and nearly 15,000 Tests runs between them and are both expected to travel to Australia later this month on the Windies one-day tour.

Their absence leaves the squad to depend heavily on their fledgling Test batsmen Travis Dowlin, Narsingh Deonarine and Chattergoon.

The 13-man squad will leave tomorrow for Antigua where they will meet Trinidad & Tobago in the historic day/night match at the Vivian Richards Stadium starting Friday.

Guyana drew a bye for the first round of matches currently being played in Jamaica. (Antigua Sun)

Former Antigua and Barbuda and Leeward Islands opening batsman, coach and cricket administrator, Hayden “Sharlo” Walsh is dead at the age of 46 years.

The body of the left hander was pulled from the swimming pool at Dove Cove at Dry Hill where he had gone to enjoy a family outing on Saturday.

Local police said they are conducting thorough investigations of the incident to determine whether Walsh drowned or might have succumbed to some other illness that might have caused his collapse in the pool.

Walsh’s brother Audwin, who also played cricket for Antigua and Barbuda, said all members of the Walsh family are holding up well despite the tragedy.

“Everybody is doing quite fine up to this stage and even mom has not hung her head at all,” he told the AntiguaSun.

Walsh was known to be very passionate about Caribbean cricket and formed the Technical Cricket Academy in 1999 to help provide the region with a pool of youngsters from which they could choose to keep the strong legacy of West Indies cricket intact.

He was also an active member of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA)

Walsh, played 18 first-class matches and 11 List A games between 1987 and 1999 and was a part of the team to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia when cricket was played for the first time on such a platform.

He was one of four brothers who represented Antigua and Barbuda at the same time. This included Audwin, Wade and Vaughn “Hungry” Walsh.
Cricket commentator and former work colleague of Walsh, Austin Richards, told the SUN he was devastated when he got the news of the death of a man who was also a very close family friend.

“He will be sadly missed, not just in Antigua but across the region. Hayden was a man dedicated to his work, quick to share his knowledge and sought to get the best out of everyone. Most of all, Hayden Walsh genuinely loved children,” said Richards, who worked with Walsh as his deputy as co-ordinator of schools cricket in Antigua and Barbuda.

Former Director of Sports, outstanding umpire and cricket commentator Patrick Whyte told the SUN that the Hayden Walsh he knew “was of an incredibly fertile mind.”

“Hayden had a lot of ideas and once he had a conviction it was extremely difficult to get him to move away from it. He was never afraid to put plans together and was a great organiser. It is really a shock that he has passed at this time. He made his mark and we are the worse off as a result of his passing,” Whyte said. (Antigua Sun)

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
Golding

THE GOVERNMENT has said there would be no room for failure when it implements its debt-management programme, which is said to be a critical plank of its economic agenda.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz told The Gleaner yesterday that Cabinet, which had just emerged from a four-day retreat, signed off on a new policy position, which could have “far reaching consequences” if not properly implemented.

“It has to be something that is fully supported by all … it will be the most significant change that is going to come about, save and except for the IMF agreement,” Vaz said.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw told a post-Cabinet press briefing last week that the Government would be undertaking an initiative aimed at reducing interest rates.

Debt-management initiative

Shaw said that a debt-management initiative was part of the Government’s efforts to curtail its borrowing and reduce interest rates.

“It is an open secret that the country cannot survive on high interest rates when the rest of the world is at low single-digit interest rates. It just can’t work, it’s unsustainable,” Shaw said last week.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding called his Cabinet into a retreat last week as his government grappled with major issues such as rising crime and a worrying economy.

“This Cabinet retreat is probably one of the most crucial in recent history and in terms of what is to come. The fundamental shift and changes of policy will definitely be some of the most significant in terms of the direction since Independence,” Vaz told The Gleaner.

The information minister said Golding was in a ‘no-hold-back’ mood as he made it clear that “there was absolutely no room for error”.

“He was not specific to ministers but what he did was to indicate, without holding back anything, the challenges that we face, the mistakes that had been made in the past and to make sure that we realise that we have to go a road here that has no room for mistakes based on the delicate nature of what we are trying to pursue,” Vaz said.

Ongoing consultations

Golding is expected to address the nation this week after wrapping up ongoing consultations with interest groups and sector leaders with regard to the debt-management programme.

Meanwhile, Vaz said that Cabinet has signed off on the letter of intent, which he said could be sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by tomorrow.

“There is broad area of agreement between the Government and the IMF. Cabinet suggested minor changes, which are to be finalised with the IMF this evening in order for submission of the letter of intent to the IMF management soon after,” Vaz said.

Jamaica is seeking to borrow nearly US$1.3 billion from the multilateral agency for balance-of- payment support.

While the letter of intent for the IMF is being readied for Washington, Vaz said the Government was “very, very clear” about what was required to save the country from further economic plunge.

Working behind the scene

“The Cabinet continues to work assiduously, and so too the technocrats who have been working behind the scene for many, many months. I think, finally, we are all on the same page in terms of what has to be done,” Vaz said.

But it was not just the economy that occupied most of the attention of Cabinet. Vaz said the matter of crime “remains a major, major worry of the Government”.

“The Cabinet, even within the constraints of the funding that Government has available has given its approval for certain things that have been been requested by the acting commissioner and the minister of national security,” Vaz said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

( L - R ) Shaw, Vaz

FREDERICK TROTMAN speaking passionately about the glory days of Everton House (in the background) the Richmond Fellowship of the Caribbean therapeutic institution for psychiatric patients, which is now closed.

by MARIA BRADSHAW

TWO MEN who were behind the early success of Everton House, the halfway facility for psychiatric patients, want to see the institution functioning again.

George Griffith, who was its first organiser, and Frederick Trotman, who held various positions on the board including president, said they were both devastated by the closure of the Richmond Fellowship of the Caribbean-operated institution at Dash Valley, St George.

The facility closed last October, and board member Dr Ermine Belle cited a lack of funds and the deterioration of the building as reasons why the Richmond Fellowship could no longer afford to operate.

Everton House, a therapeutic facility for psychiatric patients, depended mainly on monies paid to it by the Psychiatric Hospital.

Reacting to the closure, Griffith, who is executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association, said such a facility was needed in Barbados.

“There is still a need for the halfway house. We had worked out that it needed about ten to 12 residents to keep it financially stable and when I was there it had an occupancy of about 16 residents.

“Over time there was a problem with the Psychiatric Hospital referring clients, but the intention was to decentralise the Psychiatric Hospital by having a facility which would serve some of the patients leaving the hospital to assist in reintegrating them back into the community and with their families.”

Griffith, who spent three years with the institution from its inception in 1989, said he was recently asked by an official at the Psychiatric Hospital to visit the institution to see what could be done to revive it.

“When I saw the facility I knew it was on its back. When I was there we used to have a lot of fund-raising ventures to raise money.

“We provided counselling for the patients and gave them the confidence needed to get back with their families and the community. Over time the vision seemed to have become obscured and the halfway house became a residential facility simply because the persons there did not work between the client and the family.

“All is not lost; the project can be utilised and put back on stream. It can be recovered,” he said, adding that the building should not be sold.

Trotman, 83, who lives opposite the halfway house, which he said was owned by his great-uncle before it was sold to Richmond Fellowship, was particularly concerned about the many people who were in need of the services which Everton House provided.

“I remember when Judge Christopher Blackman came up with the idea of a halfway house it was rejected. People in the community protested against it opening here and we spent several Saturdays going into the community and educating people about what we intended to do.

“When it was opened the community began to embrace it because we showed them what it was all about. We developed a farm and vegetable garden and we used to supply the whole of Dash Valley with their produce and we used to have several fund-raising activities to keep the place going.

“It was very successful - the residents loved it and so did their families. It was very beneficial.” (Nation News)