Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

With Standard and Poor’s recent downgrade of our economic forecast to negative, I do not believe that the Government will have the resources to support the mass of unemployed and under-employed persons if the high level of predicted unemployment is realised.  Let me recommend a solution for Barbados, and other nations that face a similar predicament.

One solution is for the Government to encourage all property owners to plant food crops on their available lands.  A suitable incentive would be a reduction in their land or property tax bill. 

 How can this work?

A property owner who plants 50% of their available land in vegetables should pay 50% less tax on the land value assessed.  If they planted 100% of their available land in food crops, then they should pay no tax on the land value assessed.

 We can go further with this.  An added incentive would be for the property owner to pay a similar reduction on the improved (house) value.  Therefore, if the property owner planted one large tree, like breadfruit, mango or golden apple, for every 50 sq-m area of available land, then they should pay no tax on the land improved value, because they can feed many in the community.  If they planted one large tree for every 100 sq-m area of land, then they would pay 50% of the tax on the land improvement value, and so on.

 How can this be assessed?

 An efficient way of assessing the taxes payable would be to pay for two high resolution images of Barbados each year, and digitally overlay the Land Valuations maps.  Therefore, each property can easily be examined in the comfort of an air-conditioned office, and verification visits can be conducted as required.

 What are the likely benefits?

 There are several potential benefits which can be realised within one year.

 1.  It can leave more money in property owners’ possession, so that they can purchase additional goods and services and indirectly stimulate the local economy.

 2.  It can reduce the burdensome national food import bill as property owners and their neighbours begin to eat more of the food that they grow.

 3.  It can reduce the burdensome national drug import bill as more households begin to eat the healthier food that they grow, and get more physical exercise during the planting, maintaining, and reaping of this food.

 4.  The unemployed property owner will have an independent source of food and revenue.

 Regards,

Grenville

Funding Social Services

The manner in which successive  administrations have promoted our provision of education, health-care, and other social services, has had unintended consequences.  The Government offers various social services free to the public, without properly informing the recipients that these services are primarily funded by taxing personal and business income.

During times of economic recession, responsible Governments can either pay for the level of social services that tax-payers can afford to fund, or it can obtain the citizen’s approval to go into a short-term debt in order to maintain the same level of social services during the challenging economic period.  However, successive Governments have inexplicably forced us all into debt to pay for a level of social services that our taxes cannot sustain.  This reinforces the notion that services are funded by an entity called ‘the Government’ rather than by the sacrifices of the tax-paying public.

This approach to governing has misled the general public into believing that free social services is something to which they are entitled.  There are stages of consequences for misleading (even unintentionally) recipients of government services in such a manner.  The first stage is for the recipients of “free” social services to not appreciate their value, or the sacrifices of tax-payers who are burdened with funding these services.  The next stage is for recipients to become ungrateful dependent mendicants who complain if the level of funding for any social service is reduced.  The final stage is for the recipients to forcibly demand such services.

Let me disabuse every reader of this article of the notion that Government funds social services. They are funded by tax-payers, and for many, the yoke is not easy, neither is the burden light.

Regards,

Grenville

What Do You Have In Your House?

While I do not normally endorse products or service on this web-site, given the current economic climate, I feel compelled to highly recommend a little booklet that I read in less than one hour.  It is a well-written, clear and concise guide on how to develop and implement a workable plan to get out of debt.  It is titled “What do you have in your house?” and it is written by Barbadian author and chartered accountant, Donna Every.

 It is written for anyone with the desire to get out of debt, but who lacks the guidance and/or encouragement to do so. The book is not padded with extraneous information, but it is packed with wise advice and inspirational true stories that can give the reader the suggestions, tools, and hope that is necessary to start.

 If you are struggling to repay a mortgage, or wish to get out of debt, then I strongly recommend that you read this book.  If your lack of finances is creating problems in your relationship with your spouse, then this book can become the catalyst for a new beginning where you can work together towards a common financial goal.

 For the record, I have no financial interest in this book whatsoever, but I highly recommend it because it has the potential to literally change your life.  It is available from Donna Every’s web-site:  http://www.donnaevery.com/services.html

 Regards,

Grenville

The Most Important Role of a Father

I was preparing to make a presentation of ‘Brothers Kept Apart’ at the Grande Salle, Central Bank complex, and I had to get there early to prepare.  As I was putting on my tie, my 4-year old son came into the bedroom and asked: “Daddy, where are you going?”  I am going to give a presentation, I replied.  “Can you give me a present too?” He asked.  I am not going to give a present but a speech.  Immediately he responded: “Oh! I know. You are going to say blah blah blah blah blah.”  Well, yes. I replied.

Mid-way through my presentation, I noticed my wife and son in the back row.  It was a school night, but my wife brought him along to see his father in action.  When our eyes met, he waved, and I waved back.  My wife had to restrain him from speaking.

 When I finished the presentation, there was a 15 minute intermission and complimentary refreshment break.  He ran to me, greeted me with a hug and said “You did good Daddy.”  While I got an ovation for the presentation, and received and appreciated the many kind and encouraging words from dignitaries, friends, and those whom I did not know, it was the response of my only begotten son that had me chocking back tears.  Thank you. I replied.

 I love my son.  I love when we walk together with his little trusting hand in mine, or when he climbs onto my back, or when I lift him into my arms as he raises his arms signalling to me that he is tired.  I feel rewarded just serving him.  However, I am fully aware that the most important function that I must play is to facilitate the transfer of his precious and complete trust from my hand to God’s hand, from my arms to God’s unfailing arms, from me to God.  For I am flesh, and my strength and knowledge will fade, but God is perfect and almighty and all-wise and good, and his guidance is sure.

 When I was fifteen years old, shortly before my high school examinations, my father and I were at home alone cleaning up.  Daddy was washing the dishes and I was drying them.  As we conversed, my father encouraged me to trust God and to seek his guidance.  Thus began not only an acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, but the cultivation of a relationship with God, my heavenly Father.

 My hope for all of you fathers is that you be reconciled to the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that you facilitate the reconciliation of your son to God, your heavenly Father.  There is no greater responsibility than that.

 Regards,

Grenville

Public Presentation of Brothers Kept Apart

Dear Readers:

You are invited to a free public presentation of the concepts contained in Brothers Kept Apart.

The Book assumed that both the Bible and the Qurán were authentic, and then found harmony between their principal teachings without compromising the teachings, or damaging the integrity of any verse in the Bible or the Qurán.

The presentation is scheduled to be held on Thursday 18th June 2009 at the Grande Salle (Central Bank) starting at 6:00 pm.

Given the limited seating, you are encouraged to reserve your seat by e-mailing BrothersKeptApart@gmail.com, or text or call 232-9783.  Please note that seats will be reserved until 5:50 pm.

Regards,

Grenville

The Audacity of Hope

Dear Readers:

Christians and Muslims claim to serve the same God. However, Christian and Muslim teachers have convinced their adherents that God had rejected the other group. This has led to an acrimonious and sometimes violent relationship between Christians and Muslims over the past 1,300 years. Both of these groups believe that they will stand before the God of Abraham at the end of the age. Can these brothers, who have been kept apart for far too long, be reconciled before that time?

An Honest Look at Mohammed

Mohammed was born in 570 AD. He was an orphan and was raised by his uncle who was a trader. Mohammed also became a trader where he traveled from his home in Mecca around the Arabian Peninsula. When Mohammed was 25 years old, he married a widow named Khadīja and took no other wife during her lifetime.

When Mohammed was 40 years old, he reported receiving revelation from an angel. The message was that the Ishmaelites should reject their idols and submit to the One God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who was the God of the Jews and the Christians. His wife believed him, and she called her Christian cousin, Waraqa, who encouraged Mohammed that he was God’s prophet to the Ishmaelites, but to expect persecution.

Before Mohammed started preaching, Mohammed was financially well off, and he belonged to an influential family of the descendents of Ishmael. However, he risked it all and preached an unpopular message.

Mohammed’s Message

Mohammed started preaching in Arabia when he was 40 years old, and he preached a message of non-violence for the next 9 years. His message included:

• return to the religion of Abraham, and worship the One God, who is identified as the one God of Abraham, the Jews and the Christians;
• adopt responsible cultural practices;
• believe God’s revelation sent to the Old Testament prophets, and recorded in the Gospel;
• believe in the Messiah Jesus, who was born of the virgin Mary;
• believe that there is a resurrection and a judgment where everyone’s eternal future would be determined;
• believe that the Holy Sprit was sent to strengthen and guide believers;
• reject the ways of satan; and
• avoid the penalty of eternal hell fire.

Mohammed interacted with several Christian and Jewish religious leaders during his lifetime; however, many of them rejected him and his message. Mohammed’s message of returning to the One God of Abraham was very unpopular in the polytheistic region. It resulted in many family divisions, and severe persecution of those who forsook the dominant polytheistic religion. Many of his followers fled to Ethiopia in 615 AD to escape the persecution in Arabia. However, Mohammed remained in Mecca under the protection of his uncle.

From a Message of Peace to the Sword

Mohammed’s uncle and wife both died in 619 AD and to escape persecution, Mohammed fled from Mecca. Mohammed later declared that he was sent to humanity to call them to serve God alone. Later, he claimed that God had given him permission to defend his followers, and then to execute God’s judgment on the surrounding nations.

Mohammed sent letters to: Roman Emperor Heraclius, Persian king Khosrow II, Ethopian king Negus, the Egyptian king Muqauqis, and the kings of Uman, Yamama, Yaman, Bahrayn and Ghassani, warning them to submit to God or to face the consequences. After Mohammed’s death in 632, the Islamic armies would go on defeat most of these kingdoms, including the Persian and Roman armies. The Islamic army’s victories during the first approximately 100 years were as impressive as those undertaken by the Israelite army under Joshua approximately 1,000 years earlier.

The Compilation of the Qur’an

Mohammed did not write the Qur’an during his lifetime, but his scribe had written the dictated messages on hundreds of stones, bones, and leafs. Approximately 24 years after Mohammed’s death, the final written compilation of the Qur’an was completed. However, rather than order the compiled chapters chronologically, they were ordered generally from the longer to the shorter chapters. Of all of the books ever written, in any civilization of this world, and at any time in recorded history, the Qur’an is perhaps the easiest book to misunderstand and to misinterpret for three principal reasons:

• its non-chronological ordering;
• the end of the ‘Period of Judgment’ is not recorded in the Qur’an;
• the Qur’an contains responses to various questions, teachings, and behaviors of Jews and Christians, but it rarely includes the questions.

Unverified Assumptions

These issues have led to Islamic teachers making the following unverified assumptions.

• Since the initial 9 years of non-violent teachings appeared to conflict with the later retaliatory and ‘Period of Judgment’ instructions, then some later “violent” verses permanently replaced or abrogated some earlier more “peaceful” ones.
• The ‘Period of Judgment’ or ‘Holy War’ is to continue until the end of time.
• Since the Qur’an is responding in a negative way to Biblical teachings, then the Bible had to have been corrupted.

Understanding the Qur’an

These assumptions actually damage the integrity of several verses in the Qur’an. However, they have become entrenched in Islamic religious tradition for the past 1,300 years. Given these challenges, the proper interpretation of the Qur’an requires a working knowledge of the following:

1. the Qur’an read in chronological order;
2. the Books of the Bible, to which the Qur’an refers the reader;
3. the historical biography of Mohammed;
4. the development of Christian and Jewish religious traditions from the time of Jesus to the time of Mohammed;
5. a history of Rome, Persia, and Arabia, whose activities are recorded in the Qur’an;
6. the Islamic commentaries, in order to understand the Islamic traditional interpretations.

Brothers Kept Apart

After undertaking this research over the past 30 years, I have found that there is harmony between the principal teachings of the Bible and the Qur’an. Given that both Christians and Muslims claim that the same God was the principal author of their Book, then why should anyone be surprised that there is harmony between both books?  The research is titled Brothers Kept Apart.

Regards.

Preparing to Howl

It seems that we are all in for a very rough ride.  Based on the evidence to-date, the US seems determined to reset its economy. But since misery loves company, many nations of the world have been drawn into the same sorry boat.  There are some benefits in resetting the global economy, and three of them follow.

 The First Benefit – Relief from Despots

 Many despots around the world have stolen and hidden money that was intended for their countries.  Many of them are well known, but the governments of other nations appear unwilling to confront them.  This money should have been circulating in the nation to invest in their companies, provide employment to their citizens, and to enable the general population to pay for their basic necessities and other property.  Since this money is out of circulation, then the masses become a burden to the state.

If the state is governed by a despot, then history has shown that only the military and the politically favored will be cared for.  Resetting the global economy can eliminate this practice if a single global banking authority, issuing a single global currency in digital form, is used.

 The Second Benefit – Relief from those who Hoard Money

 When people hoard vast sums of money in safety deposit boxes and other non-investment instruments, then the money is removed from the economic system and it cannot circulate.

 I believe that money is an economic tool that should be used, not laid aside to be idle for long periods of time.  Property can be hoarded, but our current economic system depends on everyone purchasing and selling property using the same tool called money.  Therefore, money is not property.  Rather, money is a tool of the economic system and it must circulate if the system is to work for everyone.

 People should purchase physical assets with the (not their) money, so that this money can return to the system for others to use.  People should be free to accumulate as much property as they wish, and to hold a reasonable amount of money to pay for their transactions.  But removing large sums from the circulatory system can hurt everyone.  Therefore, resetting the system can solve the problem of persons who hoard the tools of the economic system, whether by greed, spite, or ignorance.

 The Third Benefit – Relief from Counterfeiters

 Resetting the economy can provide an opportunity to solve the massive monetary counterfeiting problem, which can increase inflation if the counterfeited money is circulated.

 Challenges with Resetting the Economy

 The problems with resetting the economic system so that everyone starts with the same amount, is that the currency must become worthless.  One way of achieving this is by printing money that is not backed by an equivalent value of assets.  The most recent example of this is Zimbabwe, whose currency has essentially failed.  The US President and Congress appear set to print trillions of dollars, increase social services, and increase taxes, while encouraging other nations to do the same.  So far, Europe is resisting.  We should all pay attention to the G20 meeting in London next month.

 The greater consequences of resetting the economy have to do with the likely national social upheaval, and the nation-to-nation conflicts.

 National Planning for the Resetting of the Economy

 With proper planning, a country can make the reset-transition less painful.  As the value of the currency declines, the Government can selectively nationalize major banks, private sector businesses, and personal property.  Therefore, by embarking on a massive house building and government expansion program before the economic crisis, the Government can both employ and house its desperate citizens following the crisis.

 Hostility Risks

 The principal challenge with resetting the economy is dealing with other nations who are holding your now worthless currency.  Iceland is a recent example.  When the Government of Iceland stated that they could not guarantee the UK investors’ 3 billion pounds, the UK Government seized 4 billion pounds of Island’s assets until an agreement could be reached.  Previous amicable relations between nations mean little if one party cannot fulfill their financial obligations.

 China currently holds US$3 trillion in US assets, most of which will become worthless if the economy is reset.  Should the US not provide satisfactory guarantees to China and other nations in a similar predicament, then we should prepare for some hostile relations.

 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! (James 5:1)

Who can we trust?

As babies, we trust our parents or guardians completely for our survival.  As children, we continue to trust them while learning to trust in our abilities.  However, our parents normally make those decisions for us that can have long term consequences.  As adults, we trust ourselves to make our own decisions, and should be mature enough to accept and live with the consequences.

As we continue in our careers, we develop confidence in our abilities, opinions, health, memory, finances, influence, friends, etc, and we behave accordingly.  However, as we get older, we may recognize that these things are not as permanent as we had believed when we were younger.

During our lifetime, we will arrive at several crossroads where our abilities cannot help us predict the way with any certainty, and where the choice of a path can be likened to a lottery.  It is not a sign of weakness, or a lack of confidence to listen to wise counsel if the consequences of our decisions can be harmful to ourselves.  It is highly irresponsible not to seek such counsel if our decisions can be harmful to others.  These situations should prompt us to develop a relationship with our Creator who is willing to help us.

As we get well advanced in age, we know that we cannot trust in our abilities or health in planning for the future.  We entered the world completely dependent upon our earthly parents for our survival, and we will leave this world completely dependent upon Jesus the Messiah for our preservation.  In the interim, our trust shifts from our parents to ourselves, and then to God.  At the point of our death, our abilities, finances, influence, etc cannot help us.  If we have not learnt to trust God completely by that time, then who can we trust?

Regards,

Grenville

Starving for Corporate Worship of God

There are two types of songs typically sung in Churches.  There are those that are directed to us and those directed to God.  Both types are acceptable.

The songs directed to us normally declare how great and good God is, or include a call for us to worship Him.  Typical lines of these songs include:

Declarations:

• God is Great and His mercy endures forever.
• Our God is an awesome God.
• The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.
• He is Lord, every knee shall bow.

Call to Worship:

• Exalt the Lord Our God, and Worship at His footstool.
• Come worship the Lord, let us exalt His name together.
• How great is our God, sing with me.
• Let us proclaim His majesty.

After we have declared how great He is, and how worthy He is of our worship, and after calling the Church to worship this great and loving God, then it would seem logical to actually worship Him. However, typically what happens is that the time allotted for corporate worship expires, and we all sit.

This is analogous to arriving for a sprint race, setting up the blocks, and waiting under the starter’s orders. The adrenalin is flowing and excitement mounts as you wait in the blocks. “On your Mark” (analogous to declaring that God is good and worthy of our praise), “Get Set” (analogous to calling people to worship this loving God), Get Set, Get Set, Get Set, Get Set. OK, times up. Back to the dressing room.

Many have been conditioned to believe that the ‘race’ consisted of simply getting in and out of the blocks, without actually running.  They happily repeat this process every week and comment on how well the race went.  However, it must be frustrating to those who know that after “Get Set” has been declared, “Go!” must follow.

Yes, I can and do worship God alone; however, in my community, once a week for approximately one half hour I get the opportunity to worship God corporately.  Regrettably, my experience is that such opportunities for actually worshipping God are not frequent.

The typical experience goes something like this.

We sing: “Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in heaven above …”

In my mind is say: I agree with you, He truly is awesome.

“Great and mighty is He, clothed in glory …”

Yes He is mighty. I am fully convinced of this.

“How great is our God, sing with me …”

Yes, I am singing with and to you. But, when can we actually sing to our God?

“Let us proclaim His majesty. …”

Ok, we have proclaimed it repeatedly. Can we worship Him now? Pleeeaaase.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise …”

Yes, let us do this.  Can we address God now?

“time’s up, sit please.”

What?  What happened?  Oh no. Not again.  Why, why, why are you doing this? Good grief!

Last Sunday, we sang to ourselves again.  As usual, I participated fully, but in the hope that at least one of the songs would have been directed to God in order to facilitate our worship of Him.  I hoped in vain.  However, this time, the unrealized optimistic hope resulted in more than the mental anguish.  This time I felt sharp pains in my arm and chest.

I imagined that God was on His throne, and Gabriel reported to Him. “Your people are singing to themselves again.”  I wonder what God thinks when this is all that we do.  Since I am frustrated to the point of physical pain after 30 years, I cannot imagine the hurt that God must feel. However, He is longsuffering and patient.

To preserve my life, I have resigned myself not to expect that any songs will be directed to God during the time scheduled on Sunday for corporate worship.  I realize that I may be pleasantly surprised once in a while, but I will not have an expectant attitude.  I believe that if I continue in hope, then when I am in the casket, you may wonder whether it was the stress from work or home that did me in.  While I can still respond, let me say that it was neither.

Before I sign off, let me give some examples of songs that are directed to God.

• God you are good and Your mercy endures forever.
• God You are my God, and I will celebrate you.
• Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways.
• You, we worship You.
• I love You Lord, and I lift my voice.
• You deserve the glory, and the honor.
• You did not wait for me to draw near to you.

There are many more and some can be found here:

http://www.justworship.com/worshipsongs.html

Regards,

Grenville

Highly Recommended

Approximately five years ago I purchased a new car.  It drove perfectly until I took it in to the dealer for the first service.  After every successive service it performed worse than before until it became unsafe to drive.

After each service, a lady would call me to survey the service quality.  Each time I would explain that the front staff with whom I interacted were excellent.  They were polite, kept me informed, allowed me to read their newspaper while I waited, etc.  However, the technical service was terrible – they appeared unable to properly service the car.

I was paying for the technical service – the customer interaction was an overhead charge.  However, I would rather an unruly and unkempt but technically proficient auto mechanic than a polite, tidy, but incompetent one.

I explained to the surveyor that the car would be changed in 5 years, and that the quality of after sales service would determine whether I selected them in the future.  However, the technical service continued to decline – as if that were at all possible.

This year is year five, and the dealer in question was not even considered, even though they were the agents for the car that I was interested in.  It seems that the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE) appears to be concentrating too much on improving the customer interface service, but not on the product’s technical standards.  The value of the dealership’s customer interface service to me is zero, if I am driving away from the dealership with the car performing worse than when I drove it in.

Since the year has almost ended, I have decided to identify those businesses, with whom I have patronized this past year, that have given me high standards of technical and customer interface service.  This is obviously a subjective exercise, but I am defining high service as not only getting value for my time and money, but the feeling of being impressed long after I have departed the establishment.

EXCELLENCE CATEGORY

Fortress Fund Managers Ltd.

They appeared happy to efficiently receive my money, and even happier to efficiently return it.  Well done! 

Photo Finish, Worthing.

Send them digital pictures on-line and receive prints promptly.  Very efficient, economical, and done with a smile.  Well done!  

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Courts, renovated store in Mall International.

A pleasant shopping experience.  However, they either need to either remove the storage boxes in the back where the cashier is located, or relocate the cashier to another area of the store. 

Carters General Store, Wildey.

Helpful and friendly staff, and the Carters card brings useful benefits.  Sometimes the wait by the cashier is long – which is understandable if all of the cashier spots are in use … 

Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office.

All of the necessary forms and regulations are on-line, helpful staff, significant improvement. 

Boucan Restaurant, Savannah.

Friendly staff, diverse selection of tasty food.

Regards,

Grenville

Killing the Goose

 The Prime Minister has explained that wealth creation through innovation should be a normal return on the investments made in education, and other social services in Barbados.  I agree with him.  However, the seed capital that one initially uses to fund the development of these innovative products will normally come from one’s disposable income.

 The Government must be commended for doing so much to assist the “have-nots” in Barbados.  However, as long as they remain have-nots, they will continue to spend all of their disposable income on essential services, and will still require additional assistance from the haves.

 The haves are those who “have” enough to help themselves and others.  They normally have enough to give to their churches, dependents, professional and social organisations, PTA and Old Scholars associations, the various community and national appeals for assistance, the poor and needy whose income only covers basic necessities, etc.  From where do the haves give?  They give from their disposable incomes.

 There is a third group whom we can call the “have-mores”.  They “have more” than enough.  However, the principal difference between the haves and the have-mores, is that the have-mores are not vulnerable to high taxes.  The high taxes that do not affect the have-mores can easily send the haves into the ranks of the dependent have-nots.

 The have-nots are normally exempt from paying taxes on their incomes or property.  The have-mores have learnt to use the loop holes in the regulations to avoid paying what Obama calls “their fair share”.  Some haves have also learned this skill.  However, the tax burden is mostly felt by the haves, who are normally called the “middle class”, or the class between the financially dependent have-nots and the financially independent have-mores.

 Many in this middle class have learnt to maintain their position by carefully managing their disposable income.  Thus, they are able to pay a home mortgage, feed and clothe their children, and give to others.  What they have not generally done is to create wealth.  They have not considered that the investments in their education were meant for more than just maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.  They have not realized that they have something valuable within them that can benefit humanity.

 After working for some time, most people intuitively know how they can be more effective at what they are responsible for.  It is Rule No.3 for life on Earth: Only God is perfect, everything else can be improved.

 Every experienced automotive mechanic knows how to make an engine run more efficiently.  The mechanic does not get the opportunity to capitalise on this knowledge, because the car manufacturing company’s research and development department continuously improves the last year’s car model.  However, every manufactured product, service and process can be improved, and the actual innovative idea can be found in any user of the product, including users here in Barbados.

 There are three major impediments to innovation.  The first one is unbelief.  If people do not believe that they can actually innovate, then they most likely will not.  That is why it is important that Barbadians are taught the rules of this life governing human behaviour.

 The second impediment is lack of compensation.  If people believe that they can find an innovative solution, but do not believe that they will derive any benefit from it, then the innovation will likely remain an idea.  Government can assist in overcoming this obstacle by allocating $5M annually to provide development grants of $100,000 for the top 50 viable innovative products.  I believe that this will usher in a culture of innovation in Barbados.

 However, the single greatest impediment to innovation is a lack of personal disposable income, which will be used as seed capital to initially develop the innovative idea.  In this regard, the Government should seriously reconsider the high 0.45% and the unconscionable 0.75% property tax rate on single family dwellings.

Dear New Drainage Minister

Dear New Drainage Minister:

Much of the flooding problems in Barbados occur when storm water is not disposed of fast enough. Storm water can be disposed of in wells, in gullies, in agricultural land, or in communities. When it is disposed of in communities, we call it flooding.

Why are some communities experiencing flooding that never experienced flooding before? The most likely answer is that the former areas where water was disposed are no longer functioning in that capacity. The main storm water facilities that this applies to are the storm water wells.

The problem with storm water wells is that they require cleaning. However, another problem is that they are not always built properly. When excavating a storm water well, the well digger should dig until he finds a fracture or fissure in the rock. This creates the suck in a suckwell. The well digger should then dig a further 1.5 m (5 feet) to create a silt trap. The silt trap can hold enough silt for years, even decades, depending on the quality of the storm water. The additional cost to dig the well properly is between $0.00 and $300.

During the current building boom, inexperienced well diggers have dug wells that have had no fractures. Therefore, once they became full, they simply overflowed and flooded the area. Others have dug wells until they reached a fissure, and then they stopped without digging out the silt trap. Therefore, during rainfall, the silt quickly blocked the fissure, and the well would overflow when it became full.

Why are the older wells, which have been recently cleaned, also clogging up quickly? The principal reason for this is that agricultural workers remove the vegetation from the side of the road. This vegetation helps to prevent the silt from washing into the road and blocking the wells. Once the wells, that intercept water flowing towards a community, are clogged and overflowing, then the community will receive a larger volume of water from even a short rainfall event.

Perhaps these photos can shed some light on the problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is how they still do it in some rural communities. The Khus Khus grass binds the soil and prevents the washout of silt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observe this fellow as he removes the protective grass from the soil on the ridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This loose soil will soon wash onto the road and clog up a newly cleaned well during the next rainfall event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observe this fellow killing the protective grass bounding the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the removal of the grass, the storm water will wash the silt onto the road, and down the well where it will clog the fissure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This reveals another problem. If we build our roads below the level of the adjacent agricultural lands, then the storm water will flow from these lands onto the road. Therefore, you should coordinate your work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Works.

Perhaps you could consider the following. Your Ministry could:

1. instruct all well diggers on the proper method of constructing a well.

2. clean out the silt from the existing wells, and install silt traps within them.

3. instruct the Ministry of Agricultural to stop agricultural workers from killing the protective grasses on the roads that bound agricultural lands.

4. instruct the Ministry of Public Works not to build any more roads below the level of the adjacent agricultural road, unless it is consciously done with sufficient facilities to detain the silt.

Finally, do you know the principal reason why Barbados is experiencing so many flooding problems in 2008?  Perhaps this can help. In the 1970’s there were several Chartered Engineers working in the Ministry of Public Works. Today, there is not a single Chartered Engineer in the entire Civil Service of Barbados. It is a lack of knowledge problem.

Regards,
Grenville

THE 545 PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF AMERICA’S WOES

I am reproducing a relevant article written by Mr Charlie Reese.

Regards.
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Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don’t write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices – 545 human beings out of the 300 million – are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all but the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.

No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislation’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY

Don’t you see how the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized a President for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes.

Nanci Peloci is the speaker of the House. She is the leader of the majority party. She and her fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetos it, they can pass it over his veto.

REPLACE SCOUNDRELS

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can’t think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in Iraq, it’s because they want them in Iraq.

There are no insolvable government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses – provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees..

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Solving Barbados’ Flooding Problems

Why is there flooding in some areas of Barbados whenever there is a torrential downpour?

1.  The areas that flooded were not designed to accommodate the amount of storm-water.

2.  The areas were designed to accommodate the amount of storm-water, but the drainage infrastructure (drains and wells) were not properly maintained.

The maintenance issue can be solved by increasing the frequency of maintenance, and providing sufficient resources to do this.  The design issue can be solved with significantly less effort.

When designing a drainage solution, the designer needs to know the amount of storm-water that the drainage infrastructure should accommodate.  This amount of storm-water is normally expressed as the rainfall event that is expected once in, say, 20 years.  The designer can easily determine the amount of storm-water that is expected from a rainfall event that is expected once in every: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 years.  Therefore, a lack of information is not the problem.

The principal problem is that there are no drainage standards in Barbados for designers to follow, and for Clients to insist be followed.  I believe that all drainage structures in Barbados should be designed for a rainfall event that is expected once in at least every 20 years.  If this drain is poorly maintained, then it should still work for a storm that is expected once in 10 years.  However, if the drain is designed for a 1 in 2-year event, and it is poorly maintained, then we should expect flooding whenever we get a torrential downpour.

Now that we know the principal problem, and we have determined a solution, it is up to the Government to simply state that from henceforth, all drainage facilities in Barbados must be designed for a minimum 1 in 20-year rainfall event.

Obama-mania in Barbados

Early in the campaign, I reviewed Barack Obama’s stated positions on various issues on his web site (www.barackobama.com), and I found it difficult to contain my excitement on realizing that I shared his views on most issues.  In fact, I was ready to take a vacation, travel to the US, and be deployed wherever he felt that I was most needed.  “Obama-mania” was real, and I felt a part of it.

 What attracted me most to his campaign was his willingness to listen to alternative opinions and be convinced otherwise through compelling evidence.  What a leader.  Stubbornness is normally a leader’s downfall, and it was exciting to witness the evolution of this new type of leader.

 His desire for Government supported healthcare and other social services for all US citizens, which we already enjoy in Barbados, was admirable.  It does not preclude private health care for those who can afford it; however, like him, I believe that the Government should look after those in need.

 As the President of the United States of America, he could advocate his social agenda around the world.  He is clearly inspirational, and I have no doubt that he would be influential.  I believe that he could change the way that healthcare, education, environmental stewardship, border conflicts, and other worldwide concerns are addressed.  He has explained that there are no issues or options that are off of the table – except one.

 Obama supports abortion.  I was able to convince myself that perhaps that was a small price to pay for having Obama as President.  Then I learnt that Obama supports no limits on abortion, even supporting abortion while the mother is in labour.

 Why did I not know of this before?  Then I realised that I had heard of it, but I was so caught up in Obama-mania that I did not consider it important enough.  When criticised by the National Organisation for Women and Hilary Clinton for his voting record on abortion legislation, Obama and Planned Parenthood admitted that they had agreed to deceive voters by having Obama vote “present”, rather than let his true opinion be known at the time.

 Then I learnt that he supports Partial Birth Abortion, even after the Supreme Court banned this abortion procedure.  It consists of allowing the baby to be partially born, and then crushing the baby’s head as he exits the womb and takes his first look at the world.

 As if that were not bad enough, I then learnt that he opposes the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.  He opposed legislation would have given assistance to babies who managed to survive the horrifying abortion procedures.  This Act had been passed unanimously in the US Senate (98 to 0).  Even Senator Clinton and other abortion supporters realised that denying assistance to the survivor was infanticide.  Even abortion organisations like NARAL, who fight for the partial birth abortion procedure to be recognised as a right for women, agreed to support babies who survived an abortion.  But not Obama.  For him, the issue was off of the table, and not subject to discussion.

 I wrote to Obama, and posted my letter on his website.  I wanted to know what was compelling him to believe that there can be no compromising on this issue with him.  I wanted to know what was possessing him to support measures that are so far beyond what even the abortion lobbyists want.  I checked recently and found that my post is still on his website. However, none of his staff or supporters had replied to it.

 I am now greatly disillusioned.  What other issues that have not become campaign issues are also under the table.  The lid is being dislodged, and I am getting a peek at the monster inside … and I do not like it.