#BulletBxtch

Bathseba, Barbados (by garyegarye)

Kids soccer game Barbados by Trini D on Flickr.

My home away from home…

DSC09833 on Flickr.

DSC00203 on Flickr.

DSC00417 on Flickr.

Rihanna - Rude Boy

Both my mom and my cousin think I’m an idiot for wanting to experience the flavors of the Bajan Fridays.

 ”You gon lef America fuh go all de way to Barbados fuh try Friday’s, sucks teeth*.” -my dear sweet mother verbatum(sp?)

“Sooooo Kenni wants to go to Fridays whenever we go to Barbados..The thing I dont understand is why do you wanna wait till you reach Barbados to go to Fridays when there’s a Friday all over the place in her current city..smh I guess she expects it to serve pea and rices with flying fish……..” -my lovely cousin via facebook

 

 

Bridgetown, Barbados

It seems like just yesterday that I wrote on the alleged failure of multiculturalism in the UK and the British government’s new immigration controls, conveniently ignoring my personal views on the fatally-flawed notion of freedom of movement within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Barbados has taken the lead, and the bulk of criticism, for its critical stance on the freedom of movement regime, but it now appears that there is some political will within the Community - at least from incoming CARICOM chair, Dr. Denzil Douglas - to revisit the framework.

The Barbados Nationreports:

“Barbados’ tough immigration policy that triggered a crescendo of criticism across the region seems to be becoming better understood and increasingly accepted.

Essentially, Barbados’ message that it simply can’t afford the cost of opening doors to all CARICOM nationals who wish to live in the country under the original freedom of movement regional plan, has apparently got through to some prime ministers and presidents.

Dr Denzil Douglas, St Kitts-Nevis’ prime minister, who is to become CARICOM’s next chairman on June 30, gives Barbados high marks for the way it approached the thorny issue by pointing to the financial costs of absorbing so many people at a time of economic difficulties.

He suggested that when Heads of Government meet in his country in less than three weeks, they should review the list of categories of people who could move without restriction.”

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, especially considering the countervailing views of St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, and Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Still, Prime Minister Douglas has proven himself to be an independent leader within the Caribbean Community, having also taken a key role in advocating for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in CARICOM member states, another equally-uncomfortable political stance.

#BulletBxtch