The Broken Trident

There are many definitions of corruption:

-decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation)

-destroying someone’s (or some group’s) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity

-In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public office for private gain. All forms of government are susceptible in practice to political corruption. Degrees of corruption vary greatly, from minor uses of influence and patronage to do and return favours, to institutionalised bribery and beyond. The end-point of political corruption is kleptocracy, literally rule by thieves, where even the external pretence of honesty is abandoned. 

The implication of corruption is that something was destroyed in order for the corruption to be perceived, however we must realize that the system was flawed to begin with. What we see in government today is merely as symptom, fruit as it were,  from the seeds planted so long ago. We must face the facts that everything in our history is funneling us towards some point in future history. Will it be a time of positive revelation or woeful submission? that is up to us.

As “Jesus” said: Be as harmless as a dove and wise as a serpent. Our government is a creature of mystery and power only to those who are ignorant of its function. Why is it that the average man views the government differently than the rich man. Why to the poor, the government is a tiger and the rich it is a house cat?.

Understanding.

What the poor in understanding are led to believe is; they have no say, they have no choice. At times they rally to the one that gives them the perception of choice but on deeper inspection the choice is false, “heads I win, tails you lose”. The system is designed to keep you in a state of a-maze-ment. To keep you minds along particular paths to keep you predictable and therefore controllable.

1833 Abolition of Slavery Act – Britain abolishes slavery and provides for the emancipation of enslaved people in the British West Indies, to take effect in August 1834. The Act declares that the former enslaved people must serve a period of apprenticeship before receiving full emancipation. Originally this period was set at six years, but it was later reduced to four. 1838 Emancipation of enslaved people in British territories. Colonial assemblies pass laws against vagrancy and squatting to support the planters’ interests.

Slavery, abolished in 1834, was followed by a 4-year apprenticeship period during which free men continued to work a 45-hour week without pay in exchange for living in the tiny huts provided by the plantation owners.  Freedom from slavery was celebrated in 1838 at the end of the apprenticeship period with over 70,000 Barbadians of African descent taking to the streets with the Barbados folk song:

“Lick an Lock-up Done Wid, Hurray fuh Jin-Jin (Queen Victoria).
De Queen come from England to set we free
Now Lick an Lock-up Done Wid, Hurray fuh Jin-Jin”

 1961-1966 Independence Barbados was first occupied by the British in 1627 and remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted  in 1961. The Island gained full independence in 1966, and maintains ties to the Britain monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth.  The first leader of Barbados as a free nation was the Right Honourable Errol Walton Barrow, of the Democratic Labour Party. The other major political party is the Barbados Labour Party, led by the current Prime Minister – The Right Honourable Owen Arthur.

(ref: http://www.barbados.org/history1.htm, http://www.nmm.ac.uk/freedom/viewTheme.cfm/theme/timeline)

 Let us take a look at the word ‘Independence”

-freedom from control or influence of another or others

-Independence is fully autonomous self-government of a nation by its residents and indigenous population, generally exercising sovereignty. The term independence is used in contrast to subjugation, which refers to a region as a “territory” —subject to the political and military control of an external government.

-The state or quality of being free from subjection or from the influence, control, or guidance of individuals, things, or situations. As applied to examining officials and their respective organizations, there is a responsibility for maintaining neutrality and exercising objectivity so that opinions, judgments, conclusions, and recommendations on examined allegations are impartial and shall be viewed as impartial by disinterested third parties.

 Not seeing the irony?, lets shed a little more light….

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

I, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God.

Oath for the due execution of

the office of Governor General

I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and successors, in the office of Governor General. So help me God.

Oath for the due execution of

the office of Prime Minister or

other Minister or Parliamentary

secretary.

I, , being appointed Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary, do swear that I will do the best of my judgment, at all times when so required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor General (or any other person for the time being lawfully performing the functions of that office) for the good management of the public affairs of Barbados, and I do further swear that I will not on any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose the counsel, advice, opinion or vote of any particular Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and that I will not, except with the authority of the Cabinet and to such extent as may be required for the good management of the affairs of Barbados, directly or indirectly reveal the business or proceedings of the Cabinet or the nature or contents of any documents communicated to me as Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary or any matter coming to my knowledge in my capacity as such and that in all things I will be a true and faithful Prime Minister/Minister/Parliamentary Secretary, so Help me God.

Oath for the due execution of

the office of Director of Public Prosecutions.

I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of Director of Public Prosecutions. So help me god.

Judicial Oath.

I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of Chief Justice/Judge of the Supreme Court and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of Barbados without fear or favour, affection or ill will. so help me God.

(ref The Barbados Constitution)

 thinking about it yet….

The Golden Shield carries two Pride of Barbados flowers (the National Flower) and the Bearded Fig Tree (after which Barbados is named). The shield is supported by a dolphin (symbolic of the fishing industry) and by a pelican (after a small island called Pelican Island which existed off Barbados).

Above the shield is a helmet and mantling and above is a hand of a Barbadian holding two crossed pieces of sugarcane (symbolic of the Barbados sugar industry). The cross formed by the cane is a reference to the cross on which St.Andrew was crucified – Barbados’ Independence Day is celebrated on November 30th, Saint Andrews Day.

-this is our coat of arms.

Where are our loyalties people? what exactly was this country founded on?