@sgtdjones

@sgtdjones

Trinidad and Tobago is the leading supporter and a major funding contributor to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). 

Then maybe its time for Trinidad to withdraw from Caricom if you feel the rest of us are a burden. Wouldn't want to drain your ATM.

Personally i would be grateful to be unburdened by the longstanding Common External Tariff that really benefits only Trinidad. Let's see how Charles Chocolates competes with Cadbury when they got to pay the same duties. Lets see how Berger Paints fares when it has to pay the same 35 to 50% duties that non-Caricom suppliers have to pay, or how Bermudez, Holiday Snacks, Blue Waters fares against better quality international competitors when they dont have that 20% protection. TCL would not sell another bag of cement in Barbados if the External 60% tariff on Non-Caricom cement was removed.

Cost of living would go down in Barbados overnight and quality of life (because most of your products are inferior to international substitutes) would go up

Instead we have to put with this shit from you and your loony PM. Go away ......please

@Halliwell

That phrasing is so transparent. Come on. In 2026 I would hope that LLMs can vary their prose

You don’t have rebuttals. You have awkward little gaps where avowal is supposed to live.

You have made numerous allegations...when asked for proof, you fail to provide any to date...but carry on; it's normal for those born in the Caribbean.

@Logic

Then maybe it's time for Trinidad to withdraw from Caricom if you feel the rest of us are a burden. Wouldn't want to drain your ATM.

Can you note where I said the above? T&T has numerous problems left by a political entity that ruled for over 50 years. Its strongholds, since the days of Eric Williams, 63 years later, still exist in squalor, lacking basic necessities and poverty. In the last decade, its HSF was squandered, leaving less than 6 months of cover. The T&T PM and cabinet decided to focus on such areas of poverty.

Berger Paints has announced its leaving Barbados. Now you can purchase Brits products.

So if T&T products have advantages over the US or Brits, they pay duties. Can you explain your logic of how such will unburden Barbados as you personally wish? You prefer something to be more expensive?...

TCL is owned by a Mexican company via its subsidiary, Sierra Trading; it has been phasing down its operation in T&T.

The cost of living would go down in Barbados overnight, and quality of life would improve.

How can such occur since you claim foreign entities will supply better products with duties? Would it not cost more?

TT entities bought Barbados companies and made them more efficient, employing locals and paying taxes.

Such is helpful to your economy. Can you use your logic and say why Trinidad and Tobago is a major, and arguably the largest, trading partner and investor for Barbados? Companies from T&T often engage in regional distribution agreements, making them deeply embedded in the Barbadian commercial landscape and economy. Significant investment exists, particularly in the energy, financial, and manufacturing sectors.

Get your redlegs to buy out all T&T entities in Barbados...so you can be happy.

@sgtdjones

Berger Paints has announced its leaving Barbados. Now you can purchase Brits products.

I was speaking to the situation that would accrue now that Berger Paints has left.

But just as with TCL when it was Trinidad owned and had a manufacturing operation in Barbados they would contrive to sell product manufactured in Barbados to the Barbados market at a higher price than sold to the rest of the Caribbean, effectively using Barbados as the ATM. Now Berger has closed operations in Barbados sending home a host of people without first consulting with the unions. You will now sell the paint to us under the protection of the CET and then want to turn around and tell us we are a burden on you. Go to hell

@sgtdjones

How can such occur since you claim foreign entities will supply better products with duties? Would it not cost more?

Are you thick. The CET pushes up the cost on non-Caricom products. If the CET dictated that a non-Caricom product had a 40% tariff then without CET the the tariff could be removed, making it cheaper, or increased on the TnT product making the foreign product (which by the way could come from Latin America, Asia, Africa or the rest of Europe, not just England and USA...you clown) more competitive.

Barbados has a general and financial services based economy. The tariff largely hurts rather than helps us. It is particularly injurious to our tourism industry where high costs are prohibitve for some markets

@Logic

Berger Paints Barbados to close all sites on April 24

Berger Paints Barbados Ltd. will begin winding down its manufacturing and site operations, with all sites closing on April 24. “This action has become necessary due to sustained changes in the operating environment, including the impact of Article 164, which has affected the long-term viability of local manufacturing operations for Berger Paints Barbados,” the release stated.

The company noted that it recognized that “this transition has a real and personal impact on our employees and their families." ”.

“The company is committed to handling this process in a way that is fair, respectful, and centred on its people,” it stated. It continued: “A formal consultation process commences next week. This process is designed to ensure that employees are engaged directly, given time to ask questions, and supported through every step of the transition.”

Beyond the regulatory requirements, Berger Paints Barbados stated that it is providing additional support to its employees, such as

• All Berger Paints Barbados employees will continue to have access to the ANSA McAL Group’s Employee Assistance Programme, which includes well-being support services and financial planning assistance.

• Financial counselling sessions are also being scheduled for employees.

Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (CARICOM) is a provision within the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework designed to promote industrial development in the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) of CARICOM (specifically OECS countries and Belize)

Your government signed the above agreement; why complain? 🤔

@sgtdjones

TT entities bought Barbados companies and made them more efficient, employing locals and paying taxes.

You have largely invested in the low risk distributive sector where right now you are doing a good job of using your oil dollars, associated low energy costs and ironically the wealth gained from the same CET protection to squeeze out competition, incidentally coming from smaller black businesses.

The whites were happy to sell to you rather than to risk transferring wealth and know how to black Barbadians and you were happy to intercede.

I reject any suggestion that you have improved efficiency. In fact our landscape is dotted with incompetent managers who are only managers BECAUSE they are Trini.

Unfortunately our leaders in government brought up on the idealistic Federation dream cant see past the next election. They are prepared to take the shortfall fallout of casting out your ATM for the long term gain of realignment.

Meantime you sick PM aligns her country with the current fascists in the USA who would (in)discriminately bomb/murder Caribbean peoples on the high seas, pretending to care about the drug trade

@Logic

You have largely invested in the low risk distributive sector where right now you are doing a good job of using your oil dollars, associated low energy costs and ironically the wealth gained from the same CET protection to squeeze out competition

Such can't be permitted without your government approval...can it?

The whites were happy to sell to you rather than to risk transferring wealth and know how to black Barbadians and you were happy to intercede.

And Mia permits such...wow, I would tar and feather her. That's treason!!!

I love your diatribe and agony towards T&T.

Such only exist when a group of citizens are doing something positive.

I reject any suggestion that you have improved efficiency. In fact our landscape is dotted with incompetent managers who are only managers BECAUSE they are Trini.

If such occurred, you wouldn't have a surplus. Gosh, those Trinis should be deported. Don't you think?

Unfortunately our leaders in government, brought up on the idealistic Federation dream, can't see past the next election.

Such appears when the electorate warrants it...

Meantime, you sick PM aligns her country with the current fascists in the USA

You don't understand the criminal elements in T&T; guns and drugs are coming owing to our close proximity to South America. T&T cannot solve such a problem alone, so she seeks help. Over 5,000 have died, with over 80% being young African males.

I am glad she is sick and making a dent in such crime.

Sarge

@sgtdjones

Such can't be permitted without your government approval...can it?

Somewhere in my responses i did blame succcessive Barbadian governments for their idealistic commitment to Caricom. You lock up our fishermen for fishing for flying fish that you use as bait while we eschew all protections from your engagement in our commerce

Years ago.when i lived in Antigua supermarket shopping was a treat because i could get all manner of non Caricom goods at reasonable prices. Back then Antigua was giving only lip service to Caricom treaties. Barbados has always abided by the rules.... to our detriment.

As to your PM being concerned about crime i find it telling that she has no qualms about the US summarily executing fishermen at sea but can make such a public strop about the "kidnapping" by a fellow Caricom governement of a gun dealer