[Administrator]

Barbados on the calling program (Down To Brass Tacks) this morning 7/23/03 at around 11:45am they was a caller who was speaking about Barbados and refer to Barbados as being a Paradise, and she really made me think about what she was speaking about.

But my main question to you as a Barbadian living at home or abroad do you see Barbados as another country/island or just a Paradis? In answering the question can you please give examples as to why you say it’s a paradise, or not a paradise in your opinion?

[DeTruth]

GS, I’ll respond by saying that quote in my opinion is open to interpretation.  However, I acknowledge B/dos as an island and not a country.  

Putting that aside, there is a saying, "one man’s meat is another man’s poison.  One man’s junk is another man’s treasure." To make my point, an individual could refer to his/her home as a castle. When someone goes to that person’s home, it is seen as beneath those standards of what that visitor envisions to be a castle.  

I might be taking your question too literal.  But I think some people would view B/dos as an island/country of paradise, based on its comparison to other places they may have visited/lived, and vice versa.  

[Confucius]

GS, I had considerable difficulty understanding what the caller to DTB today, to whom you referred was trying to say.  The fact that David Ellis was unable to say anything in reply to her suggests that he had difficulty understanding her, as well.

I gained the impression, however, that her reference to "paradise" in the context of Barbados was not intended to be approbatory.  From my perspective it is not helpful to regard our Island in such terms.  Barbados is not a perfect place, but when compared with many less salubrious locations, it comes out rather well, even if we do not use the UN HDI to measure it.

Let's hope that all Bajans are prepared to do their best  to continue to make it so!

[Bendedknees]

Confucius I do enjoy reading your posts but can you do us a favour? When you are using the various jargons and terms of arts in your posts can you append a glossary please?  ;D

[Confucius]

OK.  

Approbatory - expressing approval of.
Salubrious - pleasant.

Thanks to BK for the hint that discussants prefer me to use simpler words do not require an explanation.

On the point however, it is to be expected that persons who are born in a particular place should love it.  We are taught to do so, even if this involves a measure of brainwashing.  Recall how many people responded to the piece titled "Stuff they don't tell you about living in Barbados.  I would regard it as a serious problem if the majority of Bajans disliked living on our island.

[Didi]

Confucius, I too like your posts but muh fingers tearing up muh dickshunery trying tuh figguh out dem 50ct words dat yuh duz be using.  Alluhwe ent nerds summuh we jess dint learn in skule so can yuh help out yuh sistuhs and brudders dat doan know wuh dem words mean?
Tanking yuh in advance fuh yuh kine coperashun,
Babsie dauter.
;D

OK.  

Approbatory - expressinng approval of.
Salubrious - pleasant.

Thanks to BK for the hint that discussants prefer me to use simpler words do not require an explanation.

On the point however, it is to be expected that persons who are born in a particular place should love it.  We are taught to do so, even if this involves a measure of brainwashing.  Recall how many people responded to the piece titled "Stuff they don't tell you about living in Barbados.  I would regard it as a serious problem if the majority of Bajans disliked living on our island.

[Confucius]

Thanks to Vogelsang for reminding us that to describe a real or actual place as a "paradise" may do very little to reveal the things that the speaker likes about it.

Perhaps GS' original question could have been answered by each of us providing his/her own shopping list. For balance, when we list the good things, we should also list the bad.

[Bendedknees]

Of course the definition of paradise is subjective to some extent. However, there are many things in life that are measured by what the majority think. It is no secret that mainstream opinions generally are used to measure the success factors of a country in economic terms. The level of foreign reserves, per capita income, employment level and so on. These benchmarks are then juxtaposed with the crime rate which is usually a barometer of the social health of the country

[Confucius]

The definition of "paradise" cannot be other than subjective.  It is unfortunate that we choose to apply a term to real situations that is rooted in both Christian and Muslim theological notions of the afterlife.  This is most evident when we speak of a paradise on earth.  Can we seriously describe Barbados in this manner?  Or do we really believe the BTA propaganda that our island is just a bit beyond the imagination?

[Bendedknees]

Conficius you seem held bent on being philosophical to the point where it causes you to merge the reality with the esoteric. We live in a rule based society and we measure everything. This is the context in which I speak. :

[Confucius]

Beeks, I hear you!  All I am saying is that we can find lots of alternative terms to describe Barbados as a place in which the majority of its inhabitants find LIFE to be pleasant, enjoyable, or only just satisfactory.  I cannot think about paradise without thinking about DEATH.

It doesn't really matter to me how anyone describes our Rock.  I have no difficulty discerning from their language whether they like it or not.

[BTW, I think that we have just had a couple of posts that really don't say a pang!]

[Bendedknees]

Confu I can always rely on you to stay on the straight and narrow, thanks buddy. Let me end by saying when we compare Barbados to most African countries for example in terms of being a stable political climate, we are light years ahead. When we look at our crime rate although above what it was in previous years we are a peaceful society....)

I rest my case. :

[Confucius]

BK, to use one of your one liners: May you rest in paradise - or is it Abraham's bosom?

[Administrator]

I find the two articles below to be very interesting, and can be used for debating.
I would like to know why the Barbados Light & Power (BL&P), contracted a Korean company to do installation work at its Spring Garden site, 100 Filipino and Korean at that?

Also how did the living arrangements really come about, it just goes to show what lengths the large corporations in Barbados are willing to take to get cheap labour. In the end the consumers will be paying higher energy charges for the new upgrade that was done with cheap labour.

[Administrator]

Paradise Puzzle - Friday 13, August-2004

by TIM SLINGER

THE ONCE PLUSH Paradise Village and Beach Hotel Club, closed down and embroiled in controversy for the past 12 years, now has new overseas guests.

It’s now the temporary home of about 100 Filipino and Korean workers, who told the WEEKEND NATION yesterday they have been living at the dilapidated buildings since last April.

The workers claimed they have been contracted by a Korean company to do installation work for the Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) at its Spring Garden site.

“We came here since April on a contract and we remain here until early next year when the contract finishes,” said Virgilio Bayami, who identifies himself as one of two Filipino chefs, whose duties include the preparation of three daily meals for the 100-odd workers.

When contacted yesterday, Stephen Worme, corporate communications manager of (BL&P), said his company had nothing whatsoever to do with the accommodation of the Asian workers.

However, he confirmed that the workers were involved in the installation of his company’s $120 million generator project which they hoped to swing into operation by mid next year.

Worme also noted that (BL&P) had contracted Hyundai to install the two 30 megawatts generators, which will be the largest generators of the plant.

Meanwhile, Bayami and fellow chef Apollo Malazarte operate a kitchen on the western end where the once popular hotel had its offices.

Yesterday morning the two were busy preparing and serving a traditional Korean breakfast of coffee, steamed rice, pork and hot-dogs.

It’s the same side that the workers have transformed into living and dining quarters, complete with makeshift beds and recreational facilities, which include a self-made table tennis board and an area reserved for volleyball.

There is also a full complement of basic necessities including electricity and water.

“When we first came there was no light and water, but we installed them,” spokesman Bayami said, while pointing out that they were all multi-skilled people, ranging from pipe-fitters to electricians and steel-benders.

A sign on one of the over 20 rooms now occupied, dates back to 1990 and indicates that the rooms fetched prices ranging from winter rates of US$240 per night to summer rates of US$160 to US$180.

The workers, who are mainly first time-visitors to Barbados and the Caribbean said they have never experienced any problems since moving into their new quarters.

They said Barbados’ climatic and other living conditions were very similar to their home.

“Same conditions; the environment is about same. It was an easy transformation for all of us; same plants, same weather.

“We require little adjustment,” plumber Mejddo Leo said.

But who granted permission for the new living quarters?

A source told the WEEKEND NATION that the wing currently housing the Asian workers might not be part of the controversial 30-acre Paradise Beach Hotel which has become embroiled in legal wrangling ever since hotel magnate, Jamaican Gordon “Butch” Stewart negotiated for the sale of the property 12 years ago.

The source added that the section of the buildings referred to as The Arcadia Block was sold by Paradise Beach Limited in 1998 to another company which has since sold it over to Criterion Investments Limited.

A check with the solicitors firm, Mandeville and Company, identified as representatives of Criterion, said they were not aware of any contractual or other agreement to lease or rent the property.

When contacted, Dale Thornton, an official of Sandals Barbados Limited, said the property occupied by the Asian workers was no longer part of their establishment but had been sold about ten years ago.

Copyright © 2001-2004 Nation Publishing Co. Limited

[Beep_Beep]

Perhaps this hammers home the fact that Bajan labour is very unreliable, and with a multimillion dollar contract such as this, the Koreans are making sure that work is not held up due to chronic absenteeism and work stoppages.
But who would have issued 100 work permits?
An ex-pat working in Saudia Arabia told me recently that a Vehicle Importer , had this great idea of bringing in a number of mini-forklift trucks, that are attached to the back of a truck and used by the truck driver to off- load his cargo. After two years or so, not one has been sold, because the warehouses and truckers find it much cheaper to employ a load of Filipinos to offload cargo in record time,and still have change in thier pockets.
What I am worried about, is that around 10 years ago, a firm calling itself China Construction Company came here to build the Gymnasium, and like a bad cold we can't seem to get rid of it. Will we be seeing a Filipino/Korean Construction Company setting up a permanent workbench in Barbados? And we are worried about our Caribbean brothers and sisters coming her to make a better life for themselves.

[Bendedknees]

Follow-up story:

Paradise Loss - Saturday 14, August-2004
by TIM SLINGER
HEALTH AUTHORITIES have pulled the plug on the kitchen at the former Paradise Beach Hotel complex that was being used to provide meals for about 100 Filipino and Korean workers.

Yesterday, public health inspectors moved into the former luxury hotel which has also been used for accommodation for the Asian workers and expressed dissatisfaction with certain health standards and practices.

“We have serious concern about the accommodation and food preparation and a number of other issues,” Dr Ronald Knight, Senior Medical Officer told the SATURDAY SUN yesterday, minutes after receiving a report from health officers attached to the Black Rock Polyclinic.

He said there were a number of areas that existed in the former plush hotel, transformed into living quarters, that did not meet health regulations and requirements.

Health officials were also awaiting the handing over of a lease agreement which allegedly granted permission for the Asian workers to use the somewhat dilapidated buildings as a temporary accommodation facility.

Sources have also reported that to-date, authorities have only been able to identify a “Mr Bake” and “Mr Lee” as representatives of the Hyundai company contracted to carry out the Barbados Light & Power’s $120 million generator installation project at its Spring Garden site.

The doctor, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation from parties involved and said that environmental officers would be on hand to assist those involved in bringing the temporary accommodation site to satisfactory standards.

The latest development follows yesterday’s WEEKEND NATION’s exposé of the once plush hotel which had been closed for the past 12 years.