The surfeit of the dueling public and the storm of accusations about Barbadians’ poor treatment of visitors that are not tourists or others of European descent, continue to highlight a fundamental split in the Caribbean.
Although recent developments in the world at large mark the end of legislated apartheid, it seems that its entrenched social and economic effect operates covertly on Barbadian shores. Thus, political, social and cultural ambitions differ tremendously from the glorious morn of West Indian federation, and in its wake the very fabric of national self-determination is destroyed amidst the silence of the masses.
Common sense is no longer the given, but a corrupted oppressive factor in whose reign the seed of distorted perception finds new meaning in a glowing age of literacy.
While opponents consider the analogy of apartheid defamatory and reflecting a double standard when applied to Barbados, it cannot be denied that in light of recent discriminatory practices towards their own Caribbean brothers and sisters, apartheid is practiced both internally and externally in Barbados. It is true that Barbadians have protected themselves with an aggressive nationalism, but sadly enough in the hierarchy of rights; it is not a fair nationalism.
The many xenophobic impulses released in the name of nationalism endanger the future sovereignty of Barbados because it is not a nationalism that speaks of the rights of minorities. Moreover, if the Hegelian dialectic of synthesis lists high autonomy as one of those preconditions that create powerful common mythologies in the art of nation building, then nations are formed through the inclusion of the whole populace and not just the voices of the elites or of the ruling class.
In Barbados’s struggle to present to the rest of the Caribbean the picture of a perfect society or the Utopian dream, covert segregation among its own people prevails, denying the ordinary working class the historical legacies that they had overcome since the days of slavery to their present day liberation.
Unlike other Caribbean islands, where private interest is fiercely protected and states cater to their own people before tourism, supermarkets in Barbados only cater for tourists — another exchange that deliberately conceals the truth that Barbadians are treated unfairly on their own shores by the white bureaucracy — an exchange that prompted local calypsonian Gabby to reclaim Barbadian heritage for all in song and poetry. Hence, the Marxist theory that ideologies are conceived from the productive forces existing within the bowels of society holds true in Barbados.
Externally, Barbados’s treatment of Guyanese, Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals has been compared by social activists, investigators, and human rights groups as apartheid on Caribbean soil.
The Myrie affair is not only the voice that speaks for all Caribbean nationals, but also an insult to Barbadians overseas. As this matter transcends to an international human rights investigation, they will notice that with a tarnished reputation as a people strangled from within and one that discriminates against their own colour, they will in time be treated the same by immigration officials on the international scene and their tourist industry will suffer as well.
Foreign minister McClean’s illogical conclusion that “the Jamaican woman lied, since her body was never searched” and later emphasized that “Barbados is committed to the truth to ensure that justice is done” will yield that facts are the worst enemy of truth; and at the heart of the matter lies the complicated relationship of ‘conceptual fixation.’
Minister McClean must pay careful attention to the notion that the power of sentences has nothing to do with their sense or the logic of their construction because words are ambiguous and yield to ‘conceptual fixations.’ It is ‘conceptual fixations’ that still contribute to anti-Semitism, discrimination against women, intellectuals, pacifists, and homosexuals in society. It is ‘conceptual fixations’ that paved the way to the gas chambers, slavery and the civil war and ‘conceptual fixations’ may very well put a dullness on the spirit of Caribbean unity if Barbados fails to examine the problem of apartheid both within and without and the sweeping generalizations about Barbadians overseas.
Barbados needs a new dialogue with other Caribbean states to understand that apartheid is a crime. The Myrie matter questions the expertise of the Caribbean Court of Justice in determining public policy. While not ideal in other Caribbean states, the CCJ is very much alive in Barbados and has authority to set policy and make decisions about accusations of criminal behaviour. The call for the matter to be resolved without further embarrassment and that all government officials in Barbados and Jamaica need to pause and stop talking cannot be muted. The matter reflects a certitude in the ability of governments to determine the truth and in seeing that security and freedom cannot be perceived if freedom to subvert them is permitted.
Thus, at this point, words have taken over my realism but the chaotic and baroque practice of apartheid in Barbados must be examined. The consequences of this duel have great significance for the broader Barbadian society as well as for the future of Caribbean unity.
No, but close. Been to present day S.A. and there is lots of similarities.
As a white Barbadian who has lived in th U.K. I can assure you that my half-cast wife and I receive much more open hostility from black Barbadians than any black person I know in the U.K. Ever got from white people. The staring, chump sing or just plain being ignored along with open hostility. It makes me wonder if the black Barbadians actually have any National pride at all since they seem very insecure in themselves. They are, generally, a very angry looking miserable bunch. The result is a terrible crime rate with shootings and stabbings more like that in a city in the U.K. or U.S. I think much of Barbados, including Politics, has stood still since the day of Independance. I think Barbados would be a much better place if it had kept it’s affiliation with the U.K. In the same way that Martinique kept its link with France, and Martinique is a much more developed and well organised island.
You might be right about the hostility you received and I’m very ashamed and disappointed as a black Bajan (and not Barbadian) that you did have to suffer these ills. As a white Barbadian (and not Bajan, since you didn’t associate yourself with the well known colloquial identity) you really don’t understand what it is to be black on this little rock, so I wouldn’t expound too much. That anger and misery that you see stems from the history which is less than 50 years of oppression and a sad state for transition into freedom, while being left in poverty. I’m not saying that’s your fault, but from a psychoanalysis this is an issue that we’re not gonna see change tomorrow.
Moving on…please don’t spread misinformation. Barbados doesn’t have a TERRIBLE crime rate, neither can it be ever comparable to any cities in the UK or US unless you’re talking about a small town on the prairie! If you think we should’ve kept affiliation (MODERN SLAVERY) with the UK, STAY IN UK! PLEASE…
EDIT: less than 60 years since our freedom from 400 years of oppression
barbadoes is worse than an aparthaid state, the mind of most barbarian is programed like the boar people of south africa,they swear and hate and kill in the name of the satanic queen of england,I visited barbadoes in the early eighties and barbadoes remind me of what we read about colonialism the building in barbadoes look like in the 18 centuary,the people act like slaves,they bow down to white people when they see them,only black people are are called criminals or is a suspect. a barbadian man with black skin think that he is inferior the light skin barbarian is always the leader they have areas of barbadoes that is desnignated for white people only,the black barbadian always brag about high education but where did there high education do for them there mind is just like a 14 centuary african man he hate himself and in the process try to drag down other caribbean people in the filth a muck they are all wallowing in.
the discrimination againt black people of colour have been in barbadoes going back to slavery days.only now it start to get some attention,barbadoes have a lot of whote or mix white people and they are always never or ever charged with a crime no matter what they do they look at black foreign people to pick on , they have a slave mentality ,they do everything to please white people include become homosexuasl, hater of there own kind,barbadian claim that they are british not barbadian,that,s a shame they claim that barbadoes is in europe,and they are so european,that,s low self esteem,the britisdh spread the hate of jamaica in barbadoes because jamaican is always defy the evil british. Jamaicans have fight and kill hndreds of british colonialist in jamaica during the colonial and slave era,there were some jamaicans (maroons) were not slaves of british people,no barbadian ever do that barbadian gladly bow down to white man jamaican people dont bow to no white man so fire burn ever evil satanic hateful BARBARIAN.
How sad ms Trini. Barbados is going green like the rest of the world,soon no one will depend on the oil and gas your people,an country like to harp on. But how ironic that those same Black Bajans you hate,are better off than trinis, better education, better healthcare.better, infrastructure, stronger currency live longer,and have the highest human development rating after US,an Can. -WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOU MONEY AIDS COUNTRY?– yo Trinis,J,cans Guy;Dom,-until any of your countries can match Barbados in any of these catagories SHUT TO – Even today in 2012 Bajans still out rank s o bs.
I’ve notice& witness the creeping arrogance in Barbados ever since it challenged to steel Trinidad& Tobago territorials waters.They think that with EU&US backing they have become a colonial power. Oil and sand makes everything black Bajans lest the Tourist take flight.
the only people steel-ing (learn to spell)t&t territorial waters is Venezuela.you can’t fight south so you creep north.We so arrogant yet Trinidad still wants to own the place.toti
and i have noticed a creeping jealousy towards Barbadians oh and for the record oh smart one each caribbean country has a 200 mile water territory and Trinidad and Tobago’s boundary overlaps into Barbados’s ones but yet when trinidadians are caught in our waters nothing happens to them so why do it to our fishermen then??? If the boundary overlaps share it simple common sense. But in any country you have laws and i know in any other country and she came with that story she came with she would have gotten the same treatment or even worse and barbadians are subject to the same procedures but in reverse they want to charge us for bringing what they call too much new stuff and we live there so where the hell do you get off if you have to disclose where you are staying if ur not staying at a hotel and then to change contacts mid- questioning and then disclose the name of a KNOWN DRUG AND HUMAN trafficker hmmmmmm and you wonder why she was searched? just because it is barbados that this blew out of proportion and you call us racists against our own kind????? when all of you out there have it in for bajans dont make me laugh.
NOW final thing ……. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT HERE NO ONE IS FORCING YOU TO STAY GO TO HELL BACK SIMPLE OR DONT COME BACK cant be that bad if you are still coming hmmm?? people need to stop jumping on bandwagons and use their brains
one can clearly see miss theodore is the product of diverse racial mixing in a non apartheid environment
lollll lolll
My message to all those who hate Barbados, is too please LEAVE OUR ISLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Businesses and people have flocked to Barbados, because of our stable economy.
To the Guyanese: You are a wonderful people from a BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, and many of you are very intellegent. If you are in Barbados, please visit the SAWH SHOP! We are pleased to have you.
,
To the Jamaicans: There are alot of you down here! And I would say to those who visit us often, that we are pleased to have you. Every where we go, we see you wearing your country’s colours with pride, and we are happy that you do this. DO NOT LET HATERS GET YOU DOWN.
To the Vincentians: I have friends who are proud to say “I AM A VINCENTIAN” And we bajans just LOVE your accent! Many of you are GREAT COOKS!
Barbados is a MIX of all caribbean islands. Most bajans say that they have family in some caribbean nation. Like all nations, Barbados is not perfect! But then again, which NATION IS?!
AGAIN I WILL SAY: If you are in Barbados, and you don’t like it here – PLEASE LEAVE!!!!!!!
Couldn’t have said it better!!!!!
I do not make it a habit to reply to articles such as yours which seek to cast aspersions on my country, but on this occasion I feel it is my civic and moral duty to do so. The boldness of your assertions, and the fact that some people may repose confidence in what you say given your stated level of academic accomplishment necessitate that I set the record straight. I have read your article and am frankly stunned either at the level of misinformation or the malice intent I see oozing from your words. I will be charitable and assume that you have been grossly misinformed. As a fellow academic, you should know that words have meaning and that the word apartheid refers not just to social segregation, but institutionalized and legalised segregation. Ms Theodore, blacks in Barbados are not kept down or oppressed. I am a young black middle class Barbadian woman and the free education that my black-run Government gives to ALL of its citizens (black, white or other) has given me just as much opportunity for social advancement as my white friends. It is these strategic social policies of our government which account for Barbados’ being classified as a developed country in terms of social advancement on the UN Human Development Index (2010). I therefore, ask where is your evidence that there is apartheid in Barbados? There is no business in Barbados that has refused to hire me or grant me service because I am black. Ms Theodore, how have you arrived at the conclusion that all supermarkets in Barbados cater only to tourists? Have you conducted an empirical study to ascertain this? If so, please state your methodology and give us a copy of your findings so we may learn from them. What you say is patently untrue. Another false assertion you make is that of an oppressive white bureaucracy in Barbados. Ms Theodore, a modicum of research would have shown you that Barbados’ bureaucracy has not been lily white since colonial times. Our civil servants are predominantly black from the police force to the government ministries and agencies. What I believe you mean is that there is a white economic elite. It is true that whites (and non-blacks) in Barbados continue for the most part to own the majority of big businesses. However, this is slowly changing as more blacks move into entrepreneurial activity. Moreover, this phenomenon is not unique to Barbados. Across the Caribbean, non-blacks, due to cultural and other societal factors, tend to typically be the ones to gravitate entrepreneurial activity, while blacks usually enter the civil service or established professions like medicine and law. I encourage you to read the book “Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean: Culture, Structure, Conjuncture” by Ryan and Stewart (1994) for more substantive discourse on this subject. While I myself have been annoyed at times at the way SOME, though, not all, service providers in Barbados treat whites and tourists as against how they treat persons of darker skin, this inequality of treatment again is not unique to Barbados and I have encountered it in other Caribbean islands as well. It is symptomatic of mental slavery born of centuries of brainwashing to believe black is inferior, and white superior. The shackles of mental slavery, of which Bob Marley had sang so poignantly, strangle the minds not just of some Barbadians but many Afro-communities across the Caribbean and the world. I also take issue with your suggesting that Barbadians all ill-treat our fellow CARICOM nationals. We do not. I am aware that there is this false perception by some in the Region, particularly given the alleged incident with Ms. Myrie, that Barbadians do not like non-nationals. The majority of Barbadians do not. While I agree that there is a very small minority of Barbadians which may harbour some xenophobic sentiments, this is by no means the majority and in every country, one can find these kinds of ignorant people. I consider myself fortunate to have friends across the length and breadth of the Region. Lastly, you argue that we Barbadians have protected ourselves by pseudo-nationalism. What you call false nationalism, we call national pride. It is pride that arises from our high standard of living, our never having a civil war, our rule of law. A pride that we can vote freely in elections and not worry about being shot or victimized if we support the “wrong” party. It is a pride that no matter where we go, Barbados is recognized as a country that cares about its people. Barbados is not perfect. No country is. But the Barbados of which you speak, is a Barbados that does not exist and I find your use of the term apartheid to describe my country as highly irresponsible and malicious. I leave you and other people in this forum like yourself who seek to take pleasure out of spewing untruths about my country with the sterling words of the second verse of our anthem: “The Lord has been the people’s guide for past three hundred years. With him still on the people’s side we have no doubts or fears. Upwards and onwards we shall go inspired, exulting, FREE. And greater will our nation grow in STRENGTH and UNITY!”
To A Proud Barbadian
I too am a Barbadian and could not have said it any better. I fully endorse your sentiments and the second verse of our national anthem.
Thank You
I applaud you for a very well written column, this needs to be published… Very good work indeed… wow… must say as a non national living in Barbados I could not have said it better…
Miss Theodore should take a leaf from your writing style. I remain profoundly embarassed by this article penned by Miss Theodore.
AMEN!!!! That woman is clearly ON drugs or NOT taking her medication!
Thank you for the wise words. You are a voice of reason amid so many extremist cries. As an outsider who has always been fascinated by Barbados (and has done much research on it and visited twice now for extensive stays), I have not found the island to be overtly xenophobic to me, and I suppose I can’t comment on whether or not I’ve received any privileges by being white (I would not know the difference, I guess). As a Caucasian, I have actually sometimes wished I were Black here so I could fit in more, but that’s the same anywhere where there is a social norm– when you feel like an outsider you sometimes wish you could be an insider. But anyway, I value your comment very much and I think Barbados is an incredible place and a model society in many ways.
Here is a link to the biggest supermarket chain in Barbados. See if only tourists are catered for on the shelves.
http://www.supercentre.com
This is a stupid article, totally unsubstantiated and poorly written.
I am with Caribbean Lady all the way!
To pre-amble my response I need to expressmy gravest concern that the level of commentary from some of my fellow dominican is quite horrid,loathsome and incalculably trashy-not fit to be printed far less to be read.
1.My most learned and astute fellow national writing out from Toronto (I am proud of her achievements) went overboard in placing this immigration abuse incident into an unnecessarily unrelated ‘apartheid’contex ( I remain greatly befuddled on the most untenable charge of white tourist shopping only at supermarkets).She exhnibited gross insensitivity to Barbadians and may have unwittingly subjected Dominicans many of whom do not necessarily share her opinion,to possible antipathy from Barbadians.Madame Toussaint please think before you write.. 2.All reports seems to suggest that are a few trigger happy immigration officials in Barbados ( not necessarily the majority I believe ) who need to be investigated and weeded out-or be redeployed in the Barbados regiment for training. 3.Hardly any Island or country in the region is left untainted from some sort of inter-racial friction,or complaints of discrimination towards outsiders.It may be at times overblown or even percieved more than real but the problem in some or fashion exist to one gdegree or another.eg African and East Indian in the Twin Republic and Guyana.A senior police official was dismissed in Trinidad for intimating preduicially disproportionate composition of staff.In Dominica there has been allegations of economic discrimination levelled by the indegenious peoples against the mostly african dominated adminiistation from time to time.I have personally heard a few Dominicans speak very disdainfully against Haitians while hearing others speaking commendably about them,Must Doninicans be judged as being anti-hatian on account of a few?
I still cherish very fond memories of great hospitality shown to me by bajans during visits to that country.I remember the many times of inttransiting Grantly Adams Int.while I was a student in Trinidad and subsequently a resident for several years betweem 1981-1992.I recall no instance of verbal or other abuse from any immigration official in those days,
Let us allow the Barbadian authorities to complete the investigation.And let us see what valuable lessons we can all learn from these mishaps that could enable greater inter-regional comraderie and cooperation based on mutual respect and a common caribbean identity.
Proud Bajan and wouldnt change that for the world.
Dear Ms. Becky: I must admit I feel you are in verbal pain. I suggest an immediate visit to the doctor before matters get worse…if you do not believe in medical doctors, well, take my advice and stop swallowing dictionaries without first learning one of the most important rules of writing – not every word in same should be used so that others might consider one intelligent…it causes others to consider you a sad poppet actually. I do thank you, however, for allowing me to know that supermarkets in Barbados only cater to white tourists. You have given me hope for my future for I am a white Bajan. Always knew one day this fact would put me in good stead. I live in Barbados too and now, because of your article, I can rest in peace in the safe knowledge that I am and will always be able to shop at supermarkets with impunity and those owning same will take my whiteness and blond hair to be that of a visitor to the island (just have to keep de mout’ shut and point if help required!). At last, free at last… I am finally able to, without fear and standing tall as I shop, aliment myself – yes! I did say aliment (also got it in the dictionary – Oxford’s that is) – a word that if changed around a little can be transformed into ailment, something I believe you have.
Bless.
Can someone tell me why so many of the comments sem to have have been taken out/deleted?
Mr Waldrond and others left responses to this article and they seem not to be here anymore.
Rebecca Theodore has been turned into a literary celebrity. It wouldn’t be long before the big networks come knocking asking her to explain her point of view and she will be making millions for such interviews.
I admire your courage. You have definitely put the Caribbean on the map.
Rebecca will struggle in life when persons make her out to be a liar or indeed to flex academic dishonesty without regard to truth.
At least back your claims of intellectual fraud with one example, so that we are wiser.
I have to admit, I have been educated to the postgraduate level and I had to struggle to get through the above article. As a suggestion for the future I would ask Ms. Theodore to consider one of the most eloquent sentences ever written; “Jesus wept” , one of my old professors used to hold that as the gold standard in writing.
Ok on to the above article, I think wrapped up in all the jargon Ms. Theodore attempts to pin the blame on some nameless faceless white person or bureaucrat. Easier to blame a “colonial legacy” or “elite” than to look at the actual evidence on the ground.
Barbados has always been in the forefront of the regional integration movement, when one looks at the track record of Caricom endeavors that were actually implemented you will see that Barbados is near the top of the table. This includes the CCJ which actually is a final court of appeal for Barbados unlike most of the Caribbean. To suggest that it “has authority to set policy and make decisions about accusations of criminal behaviour.” betrays a fundamental lack of understanding of its role and function both in Barbados and in the wider jurisdiction.
Yes there is a xenophobic backlash in Barbados but I would submit that it is not driven from the top down as Ms. Theodore seems to indicate, but rather it stems from the bottom up. The Barbadian electorate has punished politicians who got “too far ahead of the curve” where regional integration is concerned, and continues to be fiercely nationalistic.
In most circumstances, the most vocal cases are in the working class who see more “foreigners” coming in and feel that they should not have to compete for jobs in their native country. Reasoned arguments about the benefits of a single market space have little comfort for someone who is trying to put food on the table.Similarly, the comment reported by Ms. Myrie about “foreigners” “coming in and taking the Bajan men” is often heard in certain female circles. Why should a Bajan woman have to compete with outsiders for a Bajan man? (or so the reasoning goes).
From a macro level the influx of qualified immigrants is only a benefit for Barbados, at a personal level for a working class Bajan with no qualifications and limited options they represent a real threat to the future.
Further… while the vast majority of immigrants are decent people who are simply seeking a better life, very often immigrants who are not decent find their ways to our shores. Almost daily one can see immigrants in the newspaper in Barbados before the court answering charges related to theft, drugs etc. They are a small minority, but a very visible one. One Guyanese or Jamaican before the courts for theft or drugs, is far more visible than a hundred immigrants (with work permits) holding down jobs and paying taxes.
So in summary, yes there is xenophobia in segments of Barbados society, but Ms. Theodore has completely missed the mark in her opinion on where and why it exists. To get into statements about “supermarkets that serve tourists” just shows how fundamentally off base her understanding of the situation is.
The existence of the xenophobic mindset represents the failure of the policy makers to explain the benefits of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy in terms that have a resonance with the man in the street. Certainly the concept is popular with the Business Classes and the Middle and Upper Classes (they feel equipped to compete in the new reality) however until the grass roots man in the street can see a benefit to him or her the mindset will persist.
This is one of the most balanced, reasoned, reply to the article and I endorse what it says. Thank you.
At the end of it all. The article served its purpose.
Whether you criticize it for the style and ‘big’ language, just the way that the message was brought out caused people to give a lot of insight and personal experiences on the matter, as maybe never before on DNO.
It was very brave of this young lady to come out openly and express her views on the subject, no matter how badly they would have been criticized. Caricom leaders and even we as Dominicans need to take a similar stance. We would get better results in what we do and how things are done.
But how do you support blatant untruths? You hinted that you are Dominican, must not Rebecca carry integrity with her wherever she goes? barbados or Barbadians are not beyond criticism, but this young lady has heaped coals to several things that she nor anyone else can substantiate. I am an academic and she is one. We are both from the Caribbean. I have studied at York University (student exchange), but Rebecca is as dishonest an academic as there ever was one. That to me is very, very sad and unfortunate.
Again, a substantial charge of dishonesty on the part of the lady. I am not one of her supporters, but I reserve judgement on her intellectual slant until I know more. So please enlighten us on where or how the lady has run afoul of intellectual integrity.
Thanks
Great article, but some scholarly references, statistics etc would have given more credence to this point of view.
so then how is it great?
I was wondering the same thing!!!
I lived in Barbados for five years form the late 1990’s. As a professional in a specialized area, managing a project national significance I was well treated. I made many life long friends. However as a black man who has lived in many countries (Africa, North America and the Caribbean) I found Barbados to be a bit strange, l felt that if I were a White South African forced to leave my home land, Barbados would be my choice of a place to live. There is definitely an advantage to being white in Barbados.
The same is true of all Caribbean nations.
So True, not only Barbados
which caribbean island is it not an advantage to be white? LMAO
Only thing I can say is that Ms Becky Teddy is so cute but the article is nonsense. Barbadians are not mad people so if you get treated badly, first thing you should do is check yourself.
NO BARBADOS IS NOT AN APARTHIED STATE…BUT IT’S NOT FAR FROM BEING AN OPENLY GAY STATE, WHILE DOMINICA, IS CLOSED ABOUT ITS HIGH GAY POPULATION AND GAY SEXUAL SUB CULTURE…
What utter CRAP!!!!
It is amazing that while this woman accuses local Foreign Affairs Minister of being quick to say the Jamaican woman lied; she doesn’t see the “plank in her own eye” for RUSHING to the conclusion that the Minister is mistaken! Where are your FACTS- just a lot of big words with no meaning but an obvious agenda to divide.
What about the crap treatment that many Caribbean nationals of ALL territories experience at the hands of US Immigration or when applying for visas? Was Mrs. Theadore there when the incident happened? NO SHE WAS NOT!!!!! Stop using intellectualism as a platform to hide the obvious anti-Barbadian sentiment. In all your misguided ramblings you have said..NOTHING!
You know I can understand Barbadian artisans and working class people feeling pressured by low cost labor from Guyana. But I think Barbados did sign the treaty of Chaguramas.
So I think that this means that Guyanese laborers who come into Barbados looking for work are doing nothing wrong and should not be treated as if they are doing anything wrong.
Anymore than Barbadians who went to Guyana seeking work when economic conditions in Barbados were worse than they are now should be treated badly by Guyanese workers.
With regard to the Myrie incident, I think the treatment meted out to that lady was horrible and completely uncalled for.
If a Barbadian woman had gone to the US or the UK or even Jamaica, and been treated in that manner there would have been an enormous international outcry. Even if the woman had been found to be carrying drugs.
Imagine the headlines, “Bajan woman assualted at Heathrow/JFK/Donald Sangster, customs official says she hates these ###@$% Bajans!”
That would be a hard one to live down, for any country, so I don’t see how so many Bajans can be so comfortable with that kind of behavior.
I mean the Barbadian authorities logic doesn’t make any sense. They say the woman was being picked up by a known human trafficker, so why had the human trafficker not been put behind bars already? Is human trafficking legal in Barbados?
They found no contraband on the woman so why was she deported?
Wasn’t she originally supposed to meet a female Barbadian?
Didn’t she call that person, and didn’t that person say that she couldn’t come to the airport herself but she would send somebody else to pick the woman up? I think that person was the, “known human trafficker”, who has still not been arrested.
So Ms. Myrie didn’t change her story under questioning, the circumstances of her pickup from the airport upon arrival changed, and she relayed those changed circumstances faithfully.
Makes sense to me. What doesn’t make sense is the treatment meted out to Ms.Myrie.
My feeling is that if you catch someone smuggling drugs or engaging in some other illegal activity, then you prosecute them.
That is done all over the world without singling people out. Even the Americans are not allowed to single out Middle Eastern people after 9/11.
I don’t think it is fair for officials of Caribbean territories to single out nationals from other Caribbean territories.
I think if officials of any Caribbean territory are going to do this, they need to opt out of the treaty of Chaguramas, and the UN Declaration of Human Rights and any other international and national legal framework that deals with discriminatory actions.
Yes if you are white in Barbados you are all right and so in all caribbean countries Dominica
FOR THE FIRST TIME I HAVE READ AN ARTICLE WHICH I CAN SAY HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY A JOURNALIST. this is very well written, minus the little typos. good to see that dca has great writers. very well done… everything in there is true and does not only apply to barbados. antigua is now suffering because they once thought that they were bigger than the rest of the caribbean. they believe that it doesnt cripple their economy, well we will see what happens within the next few years with bdos.
Run that one by me again? A journalist? Well-written minus typos?
All I can say from my experience when I visited Bridgetown Barbados on a cruise, is that the taxi drivers have a very negative outlook at people from the other islands. Don’t know why, maybe it stems from a superiority complex.
That’s because the claim that the other islands are jealous of Barbados’s development and they are protecting their turf, because there are forces trying to bring down their island…….BS
Or it could be an inferior complex, who knows what goes on in them Bajans head.
The term would be inferiority complex and it is clear one cannot claim we Barbadians BOTH feel we are better than everyone else WHILE AT THE SAME TIME in THE SAME BREATH feel inferior…make up your minds!
I have never been defies transiting through Barbados or when vacationing. In every country you travel to, you are going to find obstinate people, (not yielding to argument)
Am making this point: if someone house is contaminated with roaches or rats; what that home owner to do burned his/her home to the ashes (the powdery residue of matter that remains after burning) No; no one will ever burn there house, to terminate rats & roaches. You can’t be pointing your finger and condemning the entire country, my opinion on the Bajan immigration officers, fired the one who commit the despicable act along with the manager, so am asking all the Caribbean bloggers pleased be very eloquently in your speech, so whenever you are traveling to any country, you’ll endeavor a good experience traveling through a next man country, when others are looking to obliterate anyone and everything comes their way..!
In Barbados University SVG has the second highest number in student after Barbados, and I have never hear anyone complain about abuse, or spill any kind of venom towards them, SVG has over 15 FM radio station, because we love to talk, we has program for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have never heard anyone call in and complain about bajan, matter fact bajan calling all the time and those station, and I never hear them prey any venom about anyone.
In SVG. Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Mustique, Bequia, Palm Island and PSV resort, there are people from Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, Trinidad and the list goes on, especially in mustique where you have the rich and famous people from USA & European countries living. What the government said to them, pleased gets a working permit go to the NIS and have your number so you can pay taxes. No one has ever complained about hostility toward them.
The point am making throughout this sentence, where ever you travel, it can be in your own country, goes shopping, you traveling through an airport and someone feel they can show extreme aversion or extreme hostility toward you or ask you to follow them, and your conscience or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Ask for a supervisor or someone in authority to come to your aide, and don’t be intimidated by them especially the person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people. Never leaved without taking care of the problem, by doing this you are helping out your brother & sister avoid the act or process of annihilating to come upon them.
ooopppsss i forgot to mention,,, ahem,,, ms theodore u look stunningly beautiful!!!!!
Holy moly…what is this woman talking about? A whole set of big words to say what again?
Apartheid? Ms Theodore, I am Dominican so I would be more inclined to side with you in this debate that you seem to have created mostly in your head, but really where do you get off with your pontificating?
Oh my!
Ms. Rebecca Theodore opinion,no real facts.I wonder when was the last time she visited the Caribbean islands including Barbados. It’s maybe been years since she visited DA too.ebeh!
Very true, that is Barbados
Those dam copawazon Bajans again. If they ever come down from their high horses and take those hot potatoes out of their mouths, other people might begin to take them seriously. If I was in the awards business, Bajans would win the ugliest people in the Caribbean award hands down….nuff said.
you’re f-u-n-n-y man
I second that
YOU MEAN HOT DOGS
U NEED TO STOP HATING ON BAJANS….U SILLY FOOL
While I cannot claim “I born here”, I have lived the greater part of my adult life in the Caribbean and spent time on most of the islands, including Barbados.
What I have come to realise is that thankfully, we don’t have racism, but sadly, we do have tribalism. Hence, “the glorious morn of West Indian federation” may never see the light of day.
Cuhdear, don’t say that. For all the vitriol spewed here and other places, I truly have hope that it will.
If Europe can form the EU after two World Wars where they killed hundreds of millions of each other’s people, if Rwanda can stay together as a country after a horrific genocide, if the U.S. kept together as one state even after their Civil War, why can’t we in the Caribbean?
We cussing but we ent try to kill each other yet. So there must be hope. Chin up!
Caribbean Lady you will be blue in the face before that ever happens…..can’t you see?
I happen to like the colour blue.
You are definitely right! The Caribbean will pull through, I believe it.
In 1969, Sir Garfield Sobers gave preferential treatment with the new ball to Holder, himself, and one more bajan whose name i can’t recall right now over our late Grayson Shillingford, the fastest of them all, something Clive Lloyd or Basil Butcher would not have done had they been captain at the time.
Do you Remember hat the most fair and impartial captain the west indies ever had was a gentleman by the name of Sir. Frank Worrel? who was also the first black captain and also fought for equality and fairness amongst black and white players? furthermore it was said that Clive Lloyd was simply carrying on Sir. Franks Legacy
maybe you should shut up.
to CC, did not Lloyd open the bowling with Andy Roberts always who hails from little Antigua? He was not a guyanese, or bajan, or jamaican, or Trini. Maybe you need to shut up because you know nothing about cricket, probably cannot even play cricket.
that regards to your statement about preferential treatment was in to your statement about preferential treatment and stating that about a bajan and their attitude. Obviously with all of those qualifications you cant see that. i guess its true what they say Education is not common sense.
in any event you have a great Day star what a sham……………..
I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH MS. THEODORE.
As a Guyanese living in Barbados, Me and many of my country folks have had very bad experiences with many bajans. The fact of the matter is that these ‘SO-CALLED ALLIGATIONS’ do happen, but how can we expect the truth to surface, when the perpetrators are the ones who are conducting the investigations?
1. IT IS ASSUMED THAT GT WOMEN COME TO BARBADOS TO TAKE BAJAN WOMEN’S MEN AND JOBS, so from the time one enters the airport, ‘ALL HELL BREAK LOOSE’.
2. IT IS ASSUMED THAT WHENEVER A BAJAN MAN GOES TO GUYANA AND RETURNS WITH A GT WOMAN, HE WENT TO MARRY HER. So, a few years ago, when i took my then fiance to Guyana, i initially got the nasty treatment when we went to the immigration woman. However, when she checked my passport and saw my occupation, she immediately became polite.
3. Those who are saying that Ms. Theodore is blowing things out of porportion, try being a Guyanese for one day, go shopping and try greeting the cashier. THEY NEVER RESPOND TO YOUR GREETING.
4. A MAN’S NIECE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A WOMAN IN GT, AND USED TO VISIT GUYANA REGULARLY. Know why he stopped visiting Guyana? CUSTOMS DID THE FINGER SEARCH ON HIM (THE SAME ONE THEY DID TO THE JAMAICAN WOMAN).
5. As a Guyanese, travelling on public transportation, miss your stop and see if the reception will be nice. Miss your stop as a ‘tourist’ and see the difference in treatment.
6. Walk into Columbian Emerald, as a black person, and see how many staff will pay attention to you, as against a white person entering the same store.
And I can go on and on.
So those bloggers who think that these are all fabricated stories, THEY ARE NOT.
MANY BARBADIANS WORSHIP WHITES, BUT LOOK AT THEIR OWN BLACKS WITH SCORN. MANY ARE STILL MENTALLY ENSLAVE. ALTHOUGH SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED MANY YEARS AGO, MANY BAJANS ARE STILL SLAVES TO THE ‘TOURISTS’. ONLY THE ‘TOURISTS’ CAN TRULY SAY THAT ALL BAJANS ARE NICE.
Bro….
You are true about that. These people will worship white folks but scorn a black. Ive been to barbados a couple times and thats the impression,i get from this places….uncle tom lil puppies.
so why don’t you leave barbados?
I married a wonderful bajan man, and will not allow strangers to cause me to leave him. His family have never shown me a ‘bad face’. Besides, wherever he is, I have to be, since when i married him, I MADE A VOW TO GOD AND HIM TO BE WITH HIM TILL DEATH.
If you were married to a bajan, would you leave because strangers in his/her land dislike you, because you are a non-national?
Remember that Guyana’s Future was not in the west indies it was in South America as a Guyanese woman you should know your history as well. Research that statement. and no matter where you go in the Caribbean which has Tourism as it’s main income earner ppl in those high end business will react the same to serve whites differently from blacks.
if i may ask if you dislike it so much in Barbados and find the treatment and the people so appalling why do you stay? why not return home or to another territory to call your home?
What you Ms. GT in Bim, need to realise is that the same way, one immigration/customs official can cause all Barbadians to painted with one brush, you need to realise that the actions of several of your countrymen have caused Guyanese to be painted with the same brush. You have a terrible reputation not only in Barbados but in other islands as well just ask the Trinis!!
It is sad but the truth is that many of your country men are known to be liars and thieves and you are also know for the practice of obeah. You cannot get upset with people, if you sold them costume jewellery and told them that it was gold, if you told them that you were single and childless and after you are married it turns out that you have 6 kids in Guyana and a partner!! You cuss the bajans but they are the ones that marry you so that you can get citizenship!! How can you then call them unkind?? For that reason alone immigration has to be very vigilant when it comes to these marriages between Bajans and Guyanese especially now since visa restrictions have been removed for entry into most European countries.
What you also need to realise is that some of you do not fit into Barbadian society, your culture and customs stick out like a sore thumb. The Vincies, Lucians, Trinis etc have integrated into Barbadian society but somehow some Guyanese just dont fit.
The problem in Barbados is not racial, it is a class thing and that is universal. People treat you better depending on how much money they perceive you to have. Their is segregation in every society of this world, not just in Barbados. If Barbados, is segregated based on colour, class or religion that is their thing and it is working for them. That is how their society developed, it is not as if it is written on their statute books.
If you have such a problem with Barbados and Bajans, no one is holding you against your will in Barbados, you are free to return to Guyana or any other country for that matter who will accept you and I know that with a green Guyanese passport, you will get hassles anywhere because of the reputation that your people have built for themselves and any Guyanese who is worth his/her salt will tell you that.
You seem to have a similar mentality as those immigration officers, who paint all Guyanese and Jamaicans, with the same brush.
What you need to realise is that EVERY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ON HIS OR HER OWN MERRIT.
HAD THE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS DONE THAT, THIS ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, REGARDING MS MYRIE, WOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED.
Just pray that the day never comes, when persons from other islands start branding all dominicans.
As do you my good lady. Your comment tarred Bajans with the same brush, making many broad, sweeping and unfair statements. Before you point out the speck in someone else’s eye…
For your information, I CAME TO BARBADOS AS A UNIVERSITY GRADUATE. So there was no reason for me to marry for status.
well why are you so bitter if you are educated then you have mobility you can work many other places in the region and the world for that matter. All i’m saying is that a lot of nationals come to Barbados and they have a problem with Bajans who do you expect to find when you come to Barbados. they are Vincentians and St. lucians who have come here many a time and have gotten Married raised families and have been happy they are not pleased with every facet of society but they see that they are a lot of benefits. and look at the carnivals and music festivals and so on in the caribbean and see the number of Barbadians who repeatedly frequent these festivals.
relief is needed after disasters and the wallets are opened and millions of dollars raised. i love this caribbean and i am not going to let a few foolish ppl take away the love that i have for this caribbean and caricom if an immigration officer does not see it fit that i enter their country then so be it that is their choice. i would ask a question as to why but i would most likely try again. Don’t let petty things deter me. And just so you know first impressions are not always lasting because you meet some of the nicest people on their worst days and i have meet some of the nicest caricom nationals on their worst days but they always remembered me. Love them to the max. CARICOM I Love you Bigg Hug and a kiss take that.
So tell me, why u living in a country you hate so. I wouldnt do that for nothing or nobody. If barbados has been so unkind to you why dont you go back to Guyana?
There is nobody that panders to the tourist like the Jamaicans does that make them haters of blacks?. . no. They are known for they excellent service to tourists, so why are we different when we are doing the same thing. We in the Caribbean will always be the puppets in the white man’s world because we would not stand together as a people. All of us should be ashamed at our behavior towards one another as Caribbean people for as far i can see we have not progressed much from the tribalism in Africa from whence we came. I am not an intellect but i would say this our new immigration policy needs to be reviewed it is not a fair one. How can we be so harsh with our neighbors and have regional integration.As i see it we don’t want it because we have some very selfish leaders in the Caribbean.
THAT IS A TRUE STATEMENT MENTAL SLAVERY STILL HAVE US HATING EACH OTHER. MAY THE GOOD LORD HELP US HELP!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!!!.
There is so much to this debate. You are the model guyanese citizen in barbados but you are not the mean. Not saying they mostly bad but the “great migration” of guyanese to barbados was done wrong on so many levels where the people were over staying their VISITS where they werent allowed to work and on top of that sending the currency to guyana and i dont fault them for that, but the government should have recognize the problem and impliment steps so guyanese can work legaly sooner. Mean while bajan women are jealous because they see you in a position they would like but dont want to work to be in, and their men dating a pretty, curlie hair indian woman so you hear “them guyanese come bout hey and tek we men and jobs” and it is true.. But who do you blame !!
Their are benefits to being white in Barbados like in any other country, the statement that every man is born equal is a pretty big joke. And there is a big flaw in how blacks see blacks who are trying to make a better life for themselves, let me give you an example a three men open stores one black, one indian, and a white man, a white man comes to town looking to buy something he is going in the white mans store. The indian we know going in the indian store, but the black man going in the white man store then the indian and only if he got to he going go into the black man’s store, even if the black store is cheaper. I say that to say black people in general have been left in those days of slavery when some slaves were put in the house and others were had to slave in the hot sun, so that a black man always have some kind of negative impression when they see another black man trying to make it or making it. Next scenario same stores now who they going hire white man hiring whites for supervisory positions and a black or two to do the ground work. Indians hiring indians, blacks going hire whites, indians, and blacks who will for ever be looking at the boss man as “making sooo much money” and not as a model to where they could be. I say all this to say that everyone supports their own expecting blacks and this black against black was installed in us from slavery days and will forever be there…
This is way to big a topic to discuss it all now but the only way to fix it is at the home level and in this day and age with kids having kids we are going nowhere fast only declining.
After reading this commentary I ask my self is this a fact as to what is happening in Barbados or is this an opinion expressed. I believe it to be the latter, which is an opinion expressed. Now I’m not saying that you Rebecca Theodore is not entitled to having an opinion, of course you have all the right to express your self and give your opinion, but there is something we must remember opinions are not necessarily the truth. When you use the word “Apartheid” to describe the state of Barbados, i do not think you understand what that word means, you did a poor job establishing that as a fact or factual, you spent more time writing eloquently than being factual.
You live in Toronto, would you write such commentary describing the Province of Ontario using the word “Apartheid” in its treatment of The Native people, immigrants, Farm workers and People of Color who live in that province, i dare you not. My point is the use of the word Apartheid used to describe the State Barbados is not a true representation of that Country at all. probably if you had used the words Nationalism and Protectionism then there could be some debate as to the policy describing Barbados Government.
Dominicans should visit Caribbean news where this same article was published and look at the many reads it already has at 1.45 pm (1003 and counting) and the nature of the comments. Compared to the other articles Ms. Theodore always has the highest readership. This proves that a prophet really has no honor in his land.
Ms Theodore, you are a very good writer and keep at it. I can’t wait to buy your book.
Lol… you are either Ms. Theodore herself or her cousin. Just because a lot of people read it, does not mean it is any good.
A lot of people read the comments written on the doors of public bathrooms too – does not mean that the writers are ‘prophets without honor’. Come off it!
Take a good read of my blogg and u would discover that i used the word MANY, not all. So i don’t know how u can say that i am generalizing.
You are not a Guyanese, so you can never speak about such experiences. However, I am sure if you ask MANY NON-NATIONALS LIVING IN BARBADOS, THEY WILL TELL YOU OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
IF YOU DON’T LIVE HER, COME AND LIVE, JUST DON’T SPEND A VACATION, AND YOU WILL SPEAK DIFFERENTLY.
PLEASE READ THE OTHER COMMENTS AND YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD SUCH BAD EXPERIENCES.
Remember the days when the west indies cricket side was a 4 island thing jealously controlled.Jamaica,Trinidad, and Guyana are not different.period
I sure do, and remember when they dropped Irving Shillingford after he scored 100 + runs the game before…..that’s why to this day I can NEVER support West Indies NEVER
As a West Indian who was born in Bahamas, lived my formative years in Dominica and Barbados I can certainly a test to the treatment on non-white Carribean nationals by bajans. I was singled out from the time I attend school, told I came from a small island (Dominica) spoke funny, this continued into my teenage years no matter the learning institution I attended. I saw segregation in the schools, there where schools that were mainly for the so called “white bajans”, I saw it in the churches, night clubs and ofcourse it was apparent in the work place. Growing up in Barbados in the 80s I constantly heard Barbados refered to as “Bimshire” or “little South Africa”. I was most shocked to see a sign on the polo field of C.O. Williams (yes the same one building Dominica’s roads) which stated “Animals or persons (sic Locals) found tresspassing WILL be shot” that should speak volumes to the respect the so called whites have for locals. I have visited Barbados on many occasion since leaving in the late 80s, I have been told that there are parties that are organised by the so called whites where they set up a tent in the middle of the canefield and the colour of your skin determines if you are invited. Apparently they want a place they can go and not have to deal with or see the black people. Unfortunately I think the problem is with the people and history teaches us that many of the most docile slaves were brought to Barbados during the slave trade, and historically Barbados had the least numebr of violent uprising.
To this day I doubt most Bajans have the back bone to stand up to white people but will do their best to take down any other memeber of the African diaspora.
By the way Mr jahknow there are parties in Barbados being held by Black people that certain Black people cannot attend because they don’t “fit in”. Believe me I’ve experienced it. It’s a class thing my friend not colour. Maybe you should open both eyes. I’ve also seen a similar sign to the one by the polo feild on a property owned by a Black person. Shooting wasn’t the threat but the end result would have been the same.
Those who have eyes can indeed see. Last time checked I hade 20-20 vision. If it is a class thing then why was it when I visited beaches with friends who were white (living Barbados) they could use the showers that bordered the beaches and the chairs that were for hotel guests, but if I stepped under a shower a guard (bajan)) woud rush over to tell me the showers are for guests of the hotel. I have never experienced this type of behaviour in Antigua, St.Lucia or Dominica. To me it is not so much a class thing as much it is a caste mentaliity.
I can only speculate that those parties being held by black people that refuse entry to other black people are held by very confused/ignorant indivuduals who are trying desperately to be accepted by a group of people who really don’t wan’t anything to do with them.
It is easier for a white person to be seen as a tourist than a black person nothing to do with you being discriminated against. Understand that you are black and accept it. That guard would have stop them to but 9 out 10 times it is a white tourist using the showers. Its just satistics.
TELL ME BAJANS GAY INCLINED I WILL SAY YES BUT RACIST I WILL SAY NAH.
I don’t know about docile slaves, many of the slave revolts in Jamaica were led by Barbadians that were slave trafficked into Jamaica by the plantation owners.
In fact after awhile the Jamaican planters would not accept any Barbadian slaves ’cause they were too bad.
That said, bad treatment is bad treatment.
People don’t have to justify themselves, if you are treated badly, you are supposed to be able to voice your ill treatment without being told to, “go back to where you came from.”
I don’t think that’s right.
Oh yeah, Barbadians could be very haughty. I’ve been to university with all sorts of people and the Bajans stood out for their attitude.
My room mate however was Barbadian and but is one of the sweetest, almost most perfect persons I know. Unlike many of the others, she was not scared to say that she was poor and was a struggling like me. She always said that she could not keep up with the class system and had to run from it. She did.
thanks for my college education i understood or got around what she wanted to say,,,, ms theodore u are well educated but remember to get to the masses u have to speak to the masses,,,, communication only occurs when the parties involved have reached a common understanding,,, this is to say that 65% of dno readers may not fully understand such article,,, it went normal at the middle down,,, but the beginning would make any average reader click the back button,,, xenophobia is the fear of foreign people or places etc,,,,, u said for e.g “xenophobic impulses” my my if someone don’t have tertiary education then they won’t comprehend what u are trying to say,,, so please ms theodore speak to the masses,,,, i’m not asking u to lower ur levels or any such but u have to know ur crowd,,, this isn’t a retreat at fort young or garraway,,, this isn’t one of the seminars where u have to give a speech among other intellectuals,,,, this is d/ca’s #1 online news site,,, so u r dealing with the masses,,, majority don’t have 3rd level edu.,,,, otherwise i think u have some points but there’s a problem,,,, u stated no facts,,, no source of info,,, and the intellectual crowd is going to have an issue with this,,, so next time please state some source of factual information so it will make ur piece stand out and be credible
Nicely said MOTS.
Some DNO readers may remember Professor Stanley Unwin, the comedian who originated the word gobbledygook. Gobbledygook, for the uninitiated, is any text containing jargon or especially convoluted English that results in it being excessively hard to understand or even incomprehensible.
When the first posting on Ms Theodore appeared on DNO I made a strong point about her writings since i frequently visit Caribbean News Now. Many thougt i was being unappreciative of a fellow Dominican acheivement. I am sure that many now can see where I am coming from. I fully agree with MOTS (for once) on this.
Unfortunately there are many other ‘intellectuals’ amoung us who seem to fall in that same category, such as the ‘good Doc’ at UWI and the ALBA ambassador to name a few.
hello,
no all becarefull not to insult your own people please,its not nice,( simple english) lol.
im from curacao we speaks 4 languages,english ,dutch, spanish papiamento,so tell me are we stupid too,ha hahahaha, que barbaro
Lady, mind u don’t let Barbadians ban Dominicans from entering Barbados with your Apartheid nonsense, We have enough problems in caricom, I visit Barbados all the time and never had problems.
HA HA HA
To Rebecca Theodore your article is so off,I THINK THAT YOU ARE MISLEADING THE PEOPLE OF DOMONICA WITH YOUR SPECLATION AND INNUENDO.You mention that the supermarkets cater to the tourist.The last time i check the population of Barbados the last time i check it was two hundred and eighty thousand, at any given time there are no more than about four thousand tourist on the island.Tourist dont have to shop in a supper market if there are staying in a hotel so you should get your fact straight before your start spewing your disguise anti bajan venom and the word apartheid means racial segreation, enough said
Your grammar is frightening !!
Your digressing from the POINT is too!
to gee, dont bother about the grammar , i must agree with your you i didn’t take my time and word my spelling correct but the important thing is the message, i forgot the G in the word segregation hope its not frightening anymore. lol.have a nice day.
I agree totally with you Caribbean man. This person (Theodore) who is writing and purports to know what Barbados is and what it is not and indicating that the supermarkets cater to tourists and not to Barbadians shows what she really is – someone who really knows nothing.
It is so ludicrous and to think that the writer would wish to present herself as an educated, thinking person. She is as you have said “spewing her anti bajan venom” under the disguise and veneer of a learned person, when she really isn’t . I really pity her and all like her. I end with your sentiments…enough said.
To Ms. Theodore and the commenters joining her in crying down Barbados (ironically enough, characters like the Vincentian Mr. Findlay who like Ms. Theodore, has also ABANDONED the Caribbean), I say this – until you have walked a mile in Barbados’ shoes, perhaps you should not judge.
Going back to my handy-dandy World Bank report, Barbados has one of the highest rate of immigrants in the Caribbean – 10.9% of the population. Only Grenada with 12.1% and Antigua and Barbuda (also much maligned) with a whopping 23.6%, Cayman with a huge 63.6% and Bermuda with 30.7% of non-nationals living there, have more.
For all Dominicans cry down Haitians, the percentage of foreigners living in Dominica is 8.3%. Jamaica has 1.1%. Guyana has 1.5%. St. Lucia has 5.9%. St. Vincent 7.9% Even big rich Trinidad only has 2.6%.
So WHO ARE THE ONES that are really not welcoming to non-nationals? Tell me. Who is practising ‘apartheid’ in this Caribbean, Ms. Theodore? I dare you to answer with FACTS.
Meanwhile, Barbados is the among the TOP TEN destination countries for migrants from Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad. What does that tell you?
Barbados may have one of the highest rate of immigrants in the Caribbean – 10.9% of the population, but just one question, could you break it down to how much of that is caribbean Imigrants. Come dont be ashame Barbados does possess that apartheid mentality and it is about time that all the Caribbean members state let them know that it is not accepted.
Check my other post where I noted that seven out of the top 10 countries of origin for Barbados’ immigrant population were CARIBBEAN countries.
Also in that post I noted that Barbados was among the top 10 DESTINATION countries for people migrating from other Caribbean countries – namely Guyana, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada and T&T.
The fact that the two sets of stats match up is a clear indication that the majority of the immigrants living in Barbados are of Caribbean origin.
I don’t know if the World Bank stats list the origin countries in order of the numbers of their migrants in the country, but that certainly seems to be the case (since there seems to be no other kind of ordering in how they are listed).
And the order is SVG, SLU, UK, Guyana, GT, T&T, US, Can, JA, Gren and Dom.
Meaning two things – 1) there are less Guyanese in Barbados than Bajans perceive and 2) no wonder I ended up married to a looshan!
If Barbados is the apartheid land then stay away!
There are some islands that depend on airlines such as LIAT (no large airline can or will fly there), do not hold up their side of the bargain when it comes to financing and supporting it and then have the gall to cry down Barbados who does not depend on it and who provides financial support for that and almost everything else that operates in the Caribbean.
What utter cheek!!
it doesn’t mean that Bajans are not arrogant, looking down yours noses at the rest of us, standoffish people. Take a trip around the region and poll just how people view you all. And it’s all because of the “attitude”.
I have no doubt that people’s OPINION may be that Bajans are arrogant and look down their noses. I am saying the FACTS do not prove that to be true. The facts show that Barbadians are some of the most welcoming people in the Caribbean or else 28,000 non-nationals would not make their homes there.
I am saying that when a country has more immigrants (as Barbados does, and as Antigua does), that there will be more incidents that cause offense.
Just like when I was a student in Jamaica, I had several unpleasant and embarassing experiences with the customs and immigrations officials there. Are the officials at Norman Manley ruder than others? Or did I have more bad experiences, because as a student, I was travelling there more often than the average person? More equals more – more bad and more good.
I am saying that many of the countries bashing Bajans have no recent experience with high levels of immigration. How friendly would you be if 11% of your country was non-nationals? And Haitians get so many problems now? Hypocritical I say.
And just FYI – I have taken many, many trips around the region – and people view me just fine.
Caribbean Lady, I also agree with you.
I too was a student in more than one Caribbean territory and while I found many pleasant persons from various islands and totally enjoyed my sojourn in the territories in which I studied,of course there were some not so nice experiences.
As a Barbadian, I and the majority of my coutrymen and women never disrespected persons from the other islands and generally remained our quite, reserved selves, However, people outside of Barbados, called me foreigner and I had absolutely no problem with that and did not find it offensive, because I was indeed a foreigner. Foreign means “not of that place” and I was not of that nationality, so why would I get upset.
I had a room mate who was not Barbadian and I never said a bad word to her or about her but she came crying down my accent on more than one occasion.
Mind you, I never said anything bad or treated her badly, yet people here and in other places believe they can say what they like to you as a Bajan and you are to accept it. They talk about Barbadians bad attitude and arrogance? What I would say is that there is much spite, envy and vindictiveness on these sites and the ones who indulge in it and espouse it have the effrontery to call Barbadians arrogant, spiteful and ‘standoffish’? Now who is hypocritical? Tell me.
True dat
Maybe it’s because others have an inferiority complex! Does my valuing myself indicate that I think I’m better than someone else??? Who has the right to dictate to me how I feel about someone else and decide for me what I’m thinking?
Having been a student at the UWI and serving on the Guild of Students (student government) it was amazing how many non-national students CAME with PRE-CONCEIVED notions about Barbadians and now we are all life-long FRIENDS- is every Jamaican aggressive, do all Vincentians grow marijuana, do all Trinidadians try to deceive you CERTAINLY NOT…all thing which I heard about my fellow Caribbean people and If I had been STUPID enough to swallow the HOGWASH (like that that Mrs. Theadore is feeding as truth) then I would never have had the pleasure of life-long friends from ALL those countries. The longer we use incidents like these to spew our own internal agendas and hatred we can never be united as a Caribbean people!
What utter RUBBISH!!!!!
dont forget latino’s too oooh and dont forget a few curacao ppl too,and dutch,and suriname ppl,
I’ve got a headache!!!!! I would humbly count myself as a well educated and well read, but after having read the commentary above by Rebecca Theodore, i am still trying to make sense of what she is trying to say. I mean even though you are well educated and have a command of the english oxford dictionary, that dont mean to say that you have to write in a way that most folks will quickly get your point. Come on get off your high horse rewrite this in layman terms. Just ot let you know that I beg to differ, and Bajans are just looking after their interests; cant blame them.
As Proud West Indian put it, this is truly a bunch of pseudo-intellectual tripe.
For someone who clearly fancies herself an intellectual of some sort, this “commentary” is worse than mediocre. Ms. Theodore brings not a single FACT to support wild statements like “supermarkets in Barbados only cater for tourists.” Utter piffle. So where do Bajans buy food to eat then? Nonsense!
Not only that, she shows up her idiocy and haste to use words she doesn’t even understand with statements like “the chaotic and baroque practice of apartheid in Barbados must be examined.” Baroque practice of apartheid? The definition of “baroque” is a European artistic style from the 16th and 17th centuries. So Barbados’ so-called “apartheid” resembles 16th century European art???
This woman is a blithering idiot and I would laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.
Furthermore, here are two facts that disprove much of what she’s saying. 1) According to the World Bank’s Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011, BARBADOS and Antigua & Barbuda are among the TOP TEN (10) destination countries for migrants from Dominica. 2) 28,000 or ELEVEN (11) per cent of Barbados’ residents are non-Barbadians – and the top 10 ‘source countries’ for these people who have made Barbados home? St. Vincent, St. Lucia, UK, Guyana, Trinidad, US, Canada, Jamaica, Grenada and Dominica.
Seven out of 10 are from other Caribbean countries, including Dominica – which proves the LIE of Ms. Theodore’s argument that a few isolated incidents make Barbados some kind of apartheid state inherently hostile to Caribbean nationals. People from all Caribbean nationalities live happily in Barbados – including my husband, myself and many friends, workmates and neighbors I have.
But what would she know since she’s ran off to Canada and ABANDONED the Caribbean?
Oh and since unlike Ms. Theodore, I like to back up my statements of FACT with EVIDENCE, here is the link to the World Bank document I mentioned.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/Factbook2011-Ebook.pdf
DNO would do well to pull some stories from that rather than running this insular, ignorant, unsubstantiated CRAP.
Well said. Too often the fortunate few get ahead of themselves and put out there pure rubbish in the hope of sounding more in the know than the common man.
The word ” Baroque” is used within the confines of this medium to take on the personification of a European artistic style painting from the 16th and 17th century, hence denoting apartheid’s mythic properties in the realm of 21st century political discourse and intellectual debate.
weh papa Rebecca, you just making it worse. I am sorry. But this is NOT a well written piece. In fact it is the perfect example of how people should NOT write if they endeavour to reach their readership.
Again Ms. Theodore, you are making absolutely no sense.
1. Does baroque art have some kind of “mythic properties”? And if you realise that the term “mythic properties” is usually used to mean something positive, legendary or magical?
Putting aside the fact that baroque art is often considered tacky, over the top and lacking depth, let’s pretend for the sake of argument that it has these so-called “mythic properties.”
2. So are you saying that like baroque art, apartheid still has a magical pull in 21st century discourse?
Sounds entirely too positive, considering the negative tone of your article.
3. Or are you saying it has “mythic properties” for myopic pseudo-commentators like yourself who throw the term around in a loose manner, unsubstantiated by facts? Because you might be right on that!
4. BUT! Still doesn’t make sense – because you did not use the word “baroque” when referring to apartheid’s “properties” within discourse and debate – you referred to it in a very literal manner, saying that the “baroque practice of apartheid in Barbados” should be examined.
So what do you really mean dear lady? And have you come up with any FACTS yet to substantiate the rest of your nonsense?
Oh for goodness sake Rebecca – Can it!! You lost the bulk of your audience from your first couple of paragraphs, I couldn’t agree with Caribbean Lady more. She is absolutely right in her summation of the article….pure unsubstantiated rubbish!!
This piece is well written however in my view, it is very hard for the average person (below college education) to understand.
Greater effort should be spent on using simpler words to convey the message. Take a leaf from Ernest Hemingway –“The Old Man and the sea”
I too think that Barbados need to make a greater effort at dishing out fairness and equality to all persons.
If this article is as difficult to read as you make it to be it simply means that we will have to significantly increase our effort to upgrade our level of literacy on Dominica.
No – Ms. Theodore needs to “significantly increase” her level of literacy. Even for those who are well educated – it makes very little sense.
She is “showing her tail” using words COMPLETELY out of context – like my personal favourite howler in her piece – “chaotic and baroque practice of apartheid.”
Baroque practice of apartheid? Baroque refers to a lavish, over-the-top European artistic and musical style from the 16th century. So what the HELL does she mean by that? Using words that are too big for her to try to make her nonsense seem intellectual. Dishonest at best.
Hats off to you Caribbean Lady, honestly, you have done justice to your arguments…..
To My Two Cents
What exactly do you mean by fairness and equality to all persons? Do you mean like the fairness and equality you dish out to your people and those who immigrate into your country?
To be very honest Commentaries like this are what will DESTROY the possibility of Caribbean Integration. The concept of free movement in the Caribbean is based on the free movement of ‘skilled labor’ and it is very insulting to the entire Caribbean at large what was just said above. What if Haitians begin to say the same thing about Dominicans, every thought that they may be suffering similar fates at the hands of our immigration? Does a country not have the right and obligation to protect its borders? Come on people every Caribbean Island that you visit has some form of prejudice against one or two other islands, its not right but thats the way it is for various reasons.
Both Antigua and Anguilla have certain levels of prejudice towards Dominicans yet no one says anything about that.
To suggest that a Country within that Barbados has an Apartheid is an INSULT. Ask the majority of Caribbean nationals who visit Barbados if the go through any derogatory treatment and they will most likely tell you NO.
FYI: I am a DOMINICA who has been travelling to Barbados for the past few years and I have NEVER experienced any for of prejudice towards or have I never seen it happen to anyone who has been on a flight with me and I am sure there are those who would share similar testimony. I fear now that after this Commentary get circulated it might make it difficult for Dominicans to travel to Barbados.
COMMENTARY: Is Barbados an apartheid state?
I believe that it is the lingering effects of their colonial past. This has been going on for many years now. Somehow, Barbadians have always seen themselves as privileged among the other Caribbean countries. I don’t know why! As a result, they have not have not made the transition from a colonized island to an independent state like the neighbouring islands. I recalled watching their cricket teams of the early 70s playing at the Gardens and wondering whether there were no blacks in Barbados. They have adopted the kind of tourist industry that has transformed them into a society of waiter boys /girls with towel and tray in hand and not one of host greeting and meeting their visitors’ needs.
I recall as a student traveling intransit to T/dad they use to give me hell while the white tourist were whizzed through immigration to Nelson Street. With D/can head held high, I always replied to them that I would not live in B/dos if it was the last place on earth! I almost missed my flight once because I got into a fight when they were trying to prevent me from carrying on a handbag with my text books while the white tourist in front of me were allowed to carry on golf bag size carryons. My brother was in transit once with his baby daughter and requested that a crib be brought to up to his hotel room. The two hotel workers who brought it up wanted to know how he came by this baby sitting job!
I’m happy that they are now being scrutinized more closely. They need to change this attitude now by beginning a massive education program in their schools to eliminate this backward colonial culture and way of thinking. The other islands should help in moving them in this direction.
And Dominican does not have or suffer from the remnants of any colonial past? If the posts that I see here bashing Barbados were not so pathetic, one would really laugh.
What stops you from thinking that you also are priveleged? No one but yourself.
well said… you have lots of merit. I am a non national living here and ive wondered the same thing all the years… Even within Barbados there is a serious service issue, NISE has been created and is making some progress. I always say the word PRIDE in the National Pledge is a serious error… Because they believe in it. The problem with Immigration is that some of them are very rude and cruel, but there are some very professional. I am a male and I was bluntly asked, ” Wait why you always going to the low islands, cant you find a good woman here? Imagine i had just return from doing a youth seminar in CSME… There is a fear ref loosing they men to non nationals but they are not addressing the cause, its simply the men are better treated by non national females… Yes education stands out among Barbadians, and you clearly recognize this as you travel but its no excuse to feel that they are better than any other island. Many people use to say God is a bajan, until Hurricane Thomas in 2010. They were so arrogant to themselves they would cuss the Emergency Officials if nothing hit the island, when Tomas did hit they still cuss them and said oh not enough early notice. The island is filled with lots of criticism of each other, daily on call in programs non nationals are humiliated. When you go school, catch bus, walk, run only time ur not insulted is when u keep absolutely quiet. Because most cannot tell the difference if your not white or of Indian decent. Yes there are similar problems existing in each country or state but this one has really gone out of hand in Barbados. Yes the Jamaican case raised its ugly head but now look there are four other serious cases that has surfaced that has totally embarrassed the People and Government of Barbados. If they had dealt with these issues before I know it wud not get to this. Many people are already cancelling travel to Barbados and Jamaica and this is sad. my mentor told me one choose battles you know you can win that goes same for living in Barbados and any other island as a non national, it has hit me though that now Caribbean teachers are in fear of being deported from USA… Workers have already been slashed in Canada Farm Labour… these intl countries are not gonna stay quiet and let this slide, we will more than likely suffer more unless we learn how to love our neighbors as ourselves….
wow you talk about backward and colonial you are someone who simply has formed an opinion and are just stupidly following such misguided opinions of a place you have obviously never stayed. i have worked in the travel industry and at the airport for some time ans i have met some nice Dominicans, Grenadians, St. Lucians, Antiguans, Vincentians and so on and i have met some bad ones as well and despite being shuffeled out of an immigration line in St. Vincent as well as being scrutinized and having to wait over an hour to clear immigration in Trinidad to having to answer some of the strangest questions in Antigua i would still go back because once i got passed the border patrol i had a great stay. and you would be surprised to see the number of CARICOM nationals who live in Barbados who hold key positions in governmental and non governmental institutions. you sound like sour grapes. oh i almost forgot to mention the Dominican Minister that cursed me out a few years ago because i didn’t put him on a flight he was not booked for and wanted me to take ppl off to put him on wow really.
wow, wow, Ive seen the arrogance all over the Caribbean as I travel… as I put it give some of us a bunch of keys and we loose it…
Hi Rebecca,
My name is David Findlay, I’m a Vincentian living in Winnipeg.
Having read your piece titled “Is Barbados an apartheid state” I must say that this kind of behavior is not new in Barbados.
I can recall going to Barbados back in 1988 for the reason of getting a US visa, and was interegated by the immigration officer at the airport. I was only going to be there for one day and I informed the office of this.
I remember him asking me how much US dollars I had and how much Barbadian dollars I had. These questions I fine were unnecessary. At the moment my family and I are planning on going home next year and we are hoping that the international airport in St.Vincent would be completed by then, just so we don’t have to go through Barbados.
I must also say that this kind of behavior is not unique to Barbados, it goes on in other Caribbean islands as well. I lived in Montserrat for five years after hurricane Hugo which devastated the island. After a few years I felt comfortable enough to live there, so I decided to purchase some land to build a house, so I proceeded to the government department to do so, but I got stop in my tracks. I was told that foreigners cannot buy land in Montserrat. Now I was a carpenter then, and I worked on a number of new houses that were being built from the ground up, owned by Americans, so a lot of the Caribbean islands do cater for the white foreigners but not the black Caribbean foreigners.
Thanks for bringing this to the front
Your comment is complete nonsense. Maybe if we here in Dominica employed the same level of vigilance at our ports of entry, we wouldn’t be dealing with the drugs and guns we are dealing with today.
Ever been to Miami International. They ask you how much money you have to make sure that you can afford to stay and not become a burden to the tax payers.
As for staying one day we have alot of them. If you plan on staying illegally one day is just as good as 20.
Well written. The real question is: will the caribbean leaders stand up and speak out? This Caricom free movement thing is clearly not feasible. The leaders need to say it for what it is.
Rihannah that may be causing that, since she get international Bajans think that they is it and everyone else is S###!!!
jealousy is a bitch
What a bunch of pseudo-intellectual babble! Having lived in South Africa, just after the end apartheid, I find it a tremendous insult to the government and people of Barbados to put forth such an outlandish accusation.
I think the current round of Barbados bashing is counter-productive and serves no real purpose. Barbadians, for the most part, are friendly, decent, industrious people just like the rest of us. They do exhibit considerable national pride and rightly so, as do Jamaicans, Dominicans, Trini’s, etc. All Caribbean nationals have the right to be proud of their respective homelands.
Let us not overreact and attack Barbados over what is an isolated incidence, and certainly not a systemic problem. The Barbados constitution guarantees equal protection under the law for all people (nationals, residents and visitors) they certainly do not practice nor do they condone discriminatory apartheid policies!
The Myrie situation might be an isolated situation to you but Caribbean Nationals are victims of harsh and over reacted treatments in Barbados, and though the constitution may in ‘words’ provide equal protection for all we have just seen this week the removal of health care for non-Barbadians. i.e caricom citizens paying national insurance and vat will no longer be beneficiaries of free medication etc.
I certainly don’t think it is ” ..a bunch of pseudo-intellectual babble ..”
I am a Caricom Citizen and I have been going to Barbados every year since 2004 and I can assure you that these are not ” ..isolated incidence..”
I have had run ins with several immigration officers because of their rude and sometimes condescending comments.
The whole Caricom/CSME thing is a waste of resources. it will never happen; our policy makers are far too parochial and narrow-minded for this!
What goes around comes around.
Cayman Islands used to be part of Jamaica; no Jamaicans need Visas to go there.
In the 50’s caribbean nationals were travelling to Cuba, Cayene and Santo Domingo in horded to find work.
BVIslanders were travelling to the Dominican republic to work as agricultural contract workers in the 50’s and 60’s. Now the reverse is happening.
You live and you learn, as Jimmy Cliff says!
Maybe you should examine your attitude a little bit more closely next time you travel.
COME ON!!!!! So should Haitians or any other nationality be entitled to Free health Care in Dominica. COME ON!!!! Dont want to be Mr. Pessimistic but if a country had to raise its Vat from 15-17.5% doesn’t it suggest that there is obvious financial problems? Their 2 major expenses are Free Education up to the Tertiary level and Free Health Care.
Everyone is making such a big fuss about “no free health care” for non Barbadians but if you were in their Government what would you do when you need to find ways to cut costs to try stabilize the economy. It is also good to note as well they are looking at ways to cut back on the Free Education as well especially those who go to UWI and waste time, the Government is currently thinking of putting strict time limits on degrees. Therefore, all this is to say that not only Non Barbadian will be affected by the changes the Barbadians themselves will be affected as well.
Stranger, on this point me and you will part. I am (mostly) Bajan but a true Caribbean citizen and I find this policy truly unfair.
The fact is, any non-national who is in Barbados working legally (for instance, with immigrant status and a work permit or as a CARICOM skilled national) is paying both income tax and national insurance.
Even those who live in Barbados illegally contribute to the tax coffers through VAT and other consumer taxes and duties when they buy their groceries, clothes etc.
These taxes pay for Barbados’ social services and if they contribute to it, they deserve to benefit from it too.
It is especially wrong when you consider that Barbadian ‘citizens’ who have lived outside of Barbados all of their adult lives and never paid a cent in tax, would be entitled to free health care, just because they have citizenship through birth.
some of you are unbelievable. Can you imagine living for 15/20+ years in Barbados, applied for Immigrant Status which you got to pay nuff money for and it is granted, work, pay the same taxes the the bajans pay, build/boy house and God forbid you’re in an accident and you cannot get health care like a bajan? I say all the other islands must adopt the same policy.
So u think it is fair that your paying insurance and tax and can’t benefit from it!!
Can a Bajan go to another CARICOM country and get free health care and free education whether they are working there or not? I do not understand why you people insist on bashing Barbadians. Maybe if your governments would take a leaf out of Barbados’ book maybe, just maybe, you would be able to transform your societies and provide such services for citizens. Barbados is 166 sqaure miles, the reality of the matter is that its physical space, resources and its economy cannot support the numbers that wish to reside their and benefit from the provision of services, it is impossible!! Do not kill the government if it realises that it is no longer affordable and it seeks to implement some measure of control so that their systems remain sustainable. Persons who come from larger islands like Jamaica, TnT and Guyana… who have vast amounts natural resources, should not be bombarding the shores of a smaller island, it should be the other way around. Immigration needs to be controlled especially in a small society like Barbados.
God forbid, but if Barbados were to degenerate into a disorderly, violent society and the benefits like free edu and health were stopped, more than half the immigrants would pack up and leave.
Leave the Bajans alone as they seek to protect and preserve what is their own. Jamaica, Dominica, Guyana, SVG, SLU… will not do it for them, they have to do it themselves.
To Chicharron
No a Barbadian cannot go to another Caribbean country and get free health care except probably in an emergency. This also occurs in Barbados for non-Barbadians.
Do you know how many non-Barbadians come to Barbados on a daily basis and get health care at the Government run state-owned hospital at a fraction of the cost it really is and also sometimes the fee is waived because they are from the Caribbean? And I am not guessing! I know because I work in the health care sector. It seems to me that persons from outside of Barbados wish to have access to everything that Barbados has to offer, and believe that they are entitled to it. Barbadians would never ever go to another Caribbean country and DEMAND that they be given free anything.
They have too much common sense, pride and an understanding of how systems work.
Why should Barbados have to provide free anything for all and sundry? Why don’t those who are demanding free health care DEMAND it from their own governments. I will tell you why…because they know they will not get it – it is very costly (education and health especially), so they prefer to come to a country where successive governments had the foresight to invest in their people and try to demand what their own will not provide.
Again, I was a student in more than one Caribbean country and I did not get ‘free health care’. I had to pay for certain procedures and medication. I did not demand I have it free because I was not entitled to it as a non-national and I had the good sense and understanding to know I was not entitled to it. Now if I had been a CITIZEN or PERMANENT RESIDENT of that country then I would have been entitled to it.
I totally agree with your comments. I have visited Barbados a number of times and have found the vast majority of the people I interacted with very helpful and couteous. In every society you are going to find a few bad apples, but the image of the entire society should not be tarnished by the actions of these individuals. Let us look at the attitude of some Dominicans towards our fellow Haitians which is down right dispicable. Should all Dominicans be held complicite in this dispicable behaviour? I should think not.
You are ignorant to face that they are treating other non nationals like garbage…. i mean come on read up on the injustices out the come back and ammend yor comment.. if not next time shut up
@proud west Indian..reading your comment made me think if you are really what you say you are.what right have the Barbadian government or people to make other’s uncomfortable on there soil? didn’t you read what the lady said? Barbadians are treated unfairly on their own shores by the white bureaucracy ,Unlike other Caribbean islands, where private interest is fiercely protected and states cater to their own people before tourism, supermarkets in Barbados only cater for tourists..well proud west Indian if your skin is not white or you don’t hold a non-Caribbean passport then don’t think of going to Barbados .
On another note i think the us embassy should be moved to another island..so that Barbados can get there act together cuz if they don’t then the rest of the Caribbean is going to treat them the same way they are treating other islanders
I did “read what the lady said”… but just because she said it, doesn’t make it so. She offered no factual basis for her argument and as explained by “Caribbean Lady” she is stating her seriously confused and misguided opinion as fact.
Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, and that is what this article is, it is NOT NEWS or a statement of FACTS it is simply the opinion of a supposedly educated Dominican lady in the diaspora. She is free to comment on the sunny Caribbean from HER HOME in snowy Canada.
I live in Barbados and im a legal non national, I do not agree that supermarkets are catering to whites, supermarkets can be found in Barbados to every income earner and type of product one desires. People just need to learn not to put they hand where they cannot reach it. Its a marketing tool not racist. And due to the down turn in the economy Barbadian supermarkets are now understanding that most shoppers are at the middle and lower income and are diversifying they products. The main issue is price gouging, where dishonest operators are taking advantage of the current recession and constant rise and fall in world market price for oil, wheat etc… Ive been back to my own island and had to open my mouth wide at the prices in supermarkets where they economy is no where close to the boom in Barbados now that’s a shame… Less salary yet prices in some cases double even when you work out the exchange rates. Many people have sough to take advantage of the strength and stability of Barbados ans its dollar hence high wages etc.. The problem emerged because it went out of control and at the same time the world recession has hit all of us hence threatening to lower Barbados strength and the Government moved swiftly to put measures in place, hence Immigration reform. Along with relationship issues where more Barbadian men were now joining with non nationals many by false pretense to get status and it sky rocketed. Now its a dog eat dog world that has developed but you know what was more than embarrassing for me going back to my own island where i never gave up my citizenship and being treated like dirt. I say that to say I have a bajan accent, but i have a Caricom passport so i fit ideally in between both worlds. Our leaders even at Caricom level are simply not serious or rightfully serving the people of the Caribbean like persons in the past whom would have initiated these processes, these days its a get rich scheme. Therefore we are merely reaping the results of a much greater problem , GREED… I wonder honestly where is the so called Nationalism… where is the service, I went to SCG to CSME office to seek the right to establishment I was told clearly they dont have on idea what am talking about and to kindly leave and go to Attorney Generals office, mind you CSME office is on same floor as PM’s Office just opposite doors. What a major shame… While i have hope resolutions will be found many will have to suffer first…
You really need to visit Barbados!! Think logically how can supermarkets cater only for tourists? Does that make sense?? Where do Bajans shop?? Visit Barbados and you will see how untrue this lady’s article is. Ya know what, ya all need to shut up cuz when you visit the USA and Canada and they ill treat you, you take it with a smile and plan your next trip there. Furthermore, you go to Barbados to the US embassy and pay a whole set a cash for a US visa and if you dont get it, you come back like dogs begging again. People understand that US is trying to control immigration and police their borders and no one makes any noise!! Leave the Bajans alone!!
Chicharron
I agree with you totally.
But then again with regard to the visit to Barbados, it still might not work because they will find something to gripe about and curse Barbadians about since it is not from an objective perspective they are coming. There exists an evil and deep seated sense of envy and self hatred which is fuelling these comments.
And again, they have the temerity to call Barbadians xenophobic, arrogant, hateful and spiteful?
What bloody cheek!!