United Nations Vote Let Down

-

By Michael Headley
The November 29th abstention, by the Barbados delegation, on the vote for the non-voter member status of Palestine in the United Nations General Assembly, reeks of the perceived inertia, by some,  of the country's current leadership decision making.  Coincidently, the abstention was on the eve of Barbados' 46th year of Independence.
 
Ambassador Mr. Joseph Goddard
According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, to abstain is to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial.   What plausible reason could Barbados have for denying itself a chance to help a displaced people get a better seat at the international table?    Only recently, Minister Louis Farrakhan was in Barbados and he intimated that Barbados should be leading the Caribbean.  My question is, how can we lead when we don't have the guts, to vote, to give another nation some rights?  Whereas Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname all voted in the affirmative.  With such indecision, on Barbados' part we may be leading  the Caribbean from behind.  Although the nine countries that voted against the resolution, will eventually come down on the wrong side of history, they should be respected for exercising their right to vote. 
 
Recently, some have been vocally calling for Rihanna's recall, as Ambassador, because in their minds, her behaviour is too risque to warrant an Ambassadorship.  Albeit she is trying tirelessly to perfect her art.  However, there is  a deafening silence, for the recall of the U N delegation that cannot make a decision.  The opposition party has also been silent as though they have given tacit approval to the abstention?   It is appaling that the UN Ambassador, Joseph Goddard did not give an explanation and apparently he is not required to. 
 
My only hope is that Barbados' inaction was not influenced by any outside pressure, or any other promise of a reward, if they tow the line. The non-vote could result in hampering advancement for any  Barbados delegate who needs the other voting country's assistance to aspire to higher office at the United Nations     
 
As a tourist destination we might be walking a tight rope as we try to be 'friends of all and satellites of none', but if our Independence means anything to us, and if we are going to set an example for the youth, we should not miss out on letting our voice be heard on such an historic and meaningful vote. 

Michael Headley is a commentator on social and political matters  

Comments

Anonymous said…
We concur. Even when one wants to meet this ambassador to discuss significant investment in Barbados months go by and there is not even a response for a meeting. Goddard is an ass and so are those he serves!
December 13, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

International Women's Day : Our Caribbean Women, Our Hope

-
Image
One Caribbean Nation As we celebrate International Womens’ Day, we are cognizant of the role our Caribbean women have played in the cultural social and economic growth of our region and evolving Caribbean civilization. They , like our men , have risen from the depths and decadence of slavery , to the highest political and corporate ladders in the region. They have given birth, to millions and have made and continue to make significant contributions to those in the Diaspora. In many cases, where they were not the biological mothers, they nurtured, cared and developed those , who were deprived of parenthood , and socio-economic hope. They are in our classrooms, directing young and fragile minds , how to navigate a world that we in the region , must forever avoid being dragged into conflicts of the so-called super powers. They are pursuing all the opportunities of our tertiary educational institutions, including the University of the West Undies, often in higher numbers than our men. I
Read more

Barbados Elections 2013 and Cash

-
Image
The Mahogany Coconut Group submits that the real vote buying is in the upper echelons of our society. What we witnessed on Election Day was some voters getting   cash, cell phones, IPods and a bill paid here and there. The real votes were bought by those shadows- black and white, - who Dr. Don Blackman referred to a few decades ago! Of course Dr. Blackman talked only about white shadows but the corporate landscape has dramatically changed over the years – we now have shadows of all colors and ethnicities. While we shout from the roof tops about what took place on elections day, we bury our heads in the proverbial sand, by refusing to ask one simple question: How did the two political parties, both claiming to be rather financially impoverished, raise a conservative estimate of over twenty million dollars to pour into a three week campaign? We ask Dale Marshall (BLP) to tell us about the successful “cake sales and car washes” that raised their money. We ask Ronald Jones (DLP) to t
Read more

Me and V: a personal introduction to gay tolerance

-
Image
One Caribbean Nation. By William Skinner Me and V: a personal introduction to gay tolerance I must have been around nine or ten years old. V was a well-known gay citizen, who lived in my beloved hometown of Britton’s Hill, in the parish of St. Michael, Barbados. My earliest recollection of V was his apparent penchant for dressing in white. I seldom saw him in a long pants, and he walked with an amazing rhythm. Even at that early age, I realized that he was very effeminate. He always seemed busy   out and about in the Brittons Hill area and it was obvious that everybody knew him, and his notoriety was island wide. I also noticed that he was always exceptionally clean. Later, I would learn that he was also known as a popular pudding and souse vendor, who carried on his trade in the vicinity of Nelson Street, in the city. He was well loved and respected in Britton’s Hill; along with that respect came good-natured heckling. One day, around midafternoon, about three of my childhoo
Read more