The Barbados Parliament Gun Issue and other Cowboy stories
All Jokes aside, I was shocked by what I read in MP Dale Marshal’s statement as it relates to what transpired between him and Minister David Estwick in the now infamous “Parliament Gun Incident”, whether you are a “B” “D” or a “Q” any right thinking Barbadian should be appalled of the manner in which this altercation allegedly unfolded in our honored halls of parliament.
In this social climate in which we live, where there is much discourse on “who is a good role model for our kids”, it is blatantly obvious that what is in Parliament masquerading as honorable ministers falls far short of providing such, unless we want our children to grow up to be thugs and uncouth louts.
All the talk about how Vibes Kartel and Movado would influence our youth, we already had negative influences of a higher order right here in our parliament waiting to rear its ugly head, or gun.
Lets look at some of the highlights of this Parliament incident shall we?
One minister shouting at the other “I am going to slap you cross your head”
“come back outside if you is a bad”
A minister displaying a gun menacingly and bellowing “I ready for you now”
Is this what is in Parliament running the affairs of our country? Is this what we are sending overseas to represent Barbados?
Not only is the behaviour puerile but it is also dangerous, When a gun is involved one can never tell when an “accident” might occur, though it would seem to me the language used might indicate any accident would be in fact deliberate.
When Parliament in its warped wisdom also refused to put a gun policy in place, is another negative sign that was sent to the Barbadian public, that decision can be seen as a ministerial endorsement of the gun.
When I read of the behavior of our politicians in “the gun” incident I feel a certain degree of shame.
Throughout the course of my plebeian existence as an entertainer, I have participated in meetings that were extremely contentious and volatile in nature and none have ever sunk to a level where I was threatened with a “come outside if I bad”.
There are many examples of good leadership examples that we have to follow,let me give you a few, Senator Branford Taitt, Dr Allyson Leacock, Sir Roy Trotman and our own Prime Minister David Thompson, these are examples of people who express themselves eloquently and can command attention and authority without having to shout or invite you to come outside and fight.
I think it’s time the good men and women of our Parliament pull themselves in check and recognize the responsible role they play as leaders of our country and as examples to our citizens, not just the youth but too everyone.
I write this blog with the full knowledge that for Boyce Voicing my views, I too might be Minister disciplined with a “slap round my head” for my effrontery.
But someone needs to impress on our “Honorable” ministers to leave out the puerile and bombastic behavior and proceed with the business of running to country in a dignified and respectful manner befitting of your position.
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
May 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
Cant disagree with you at all here. The Estwick/marshall incident and the recent cafuffle which led to the opposition walking out of parliament makes one wonder if our current leaders are mature enough to rule.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I am of the opinion that this incident was carefully orchestrated by certain members of the BLP. We all know that the Doc is a “Red,Hot Blooded” individual. I do not believe everything that i read or hear, but I believe that the behavior displayed in our Parliament leaves much to be desired. I do not think that a Gun Policy should be put in place just because the Opposition said SO! Mia & her members should get use to the fact that they no longer have care & control of this Country & that they have to take a back seat at this point in time & behave like a Popper Opposition, as opposed to behavior exhibited in Parliament recently. I believe that they should stick to the job at hand by trying to rebuild the party, concentrate on relative issues & keep David & his Ministers in line. I do not admire the behavior of Mia & her Ministers, though I must add that this have been a trait of Mia for years. Also Doctor Estwick, we all know how loud he could be & we also witnessed him make threats on the podium around election time, when he addressed Mia as “Bite Mah” & threatened to cuff she underneith she belly if she come near he tah talk foolishness! Why did she not make a complaint to the Police then regarding Mr Estwick’s threats, no doubt these were threats to harm? Why Parliament? Would it not have been more private in Parliament as opposed to speaking to thousands during the election? This thing has gone way too far! I think Bajans should stop with this foolishness now & think about how we can make life better for Us, our kids & Grans. Leave the Politicians alone, just think of it as WWE, where kick ass guine long, blood draw, then they all sit down to dinner, laughing & joking about events. Let us think about how we can make money to put into our Kids University funds, how we can make some extra money to build on de lil wall back or go pun dah 2 week cruise. I am sure that this Crop Over will be a very exciting one indeed!!!!!!!
May 3rd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Heres what my FaceBook Friend Kayla contributed on this post;
politics is just like the music industry, its all IMAGE that is all, they have to put on a certain face for people to see, a likable face that is, they cant show who they truly are and what they are truly capable of, cause no one would vote for them, this is what happens when u portray a fake image, at some point in time ur true self will show
May 8th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
wow Dawn….truly amazing…..so they also concocted the minister of housing pulling him away as well……hmmmmmmm! and an opposition is supposed to be vigilant and bring matters to the public’s eye….do u expect the PM to bring info of CLICO and his self admitted personal friend to the fore. PS no gun policy? fuh real? lemme even pull my finger pon the police and see if i dont get lost way! a man pulls a gun an it is considered a trivial matter so no gun policy because the opposition say so……by the way the opposition also said clico shud be under judicial management that didnt happen and since then the CEO withdrew nearly a million dollars when ordinary people cant even get back 500 farless 5000
October 7th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
barbados is having a visiter and he is going address the nation the people of barbados should be concern obout the future of the nation it does not look bright and there is no leader right now who can bring barbados out of this economic slavery not mia motley david thompson owen arther no political leader in bar bados can this man is god send a new leader with no ties to blp or dlp totle renavation of the political structure the blp andthe dlp both acuseing each other of corruption and no body care about the future of barbados too many land deals our natural resourses are being sold for a buck the future of our kids has no future we kneed change the blp and dlp should be ashame greed is the moto this saver will be in barbados late october or earley november [the general is comming