Here is NEWS that was mailed to my readers on July 8, 1998:-
July 8, 1998 BAJAN NEWS ---------- CRIME AGE FROM 12 ----------------- A new law has been passed that children younger than 12 years old cannot be charged with criminal offences... and therefore cannot be sent to "Dodds"... the infamous Govenment Industrial School. Perhaps they could sentence the parents for the younger childrens "crimes". LEGAL BATTLE OVER ESTATES ------------------------- A dispute has errupted over the sale of 2,014 acres of land comprising Groves, Hannays and Foursquare plantations. These plantations owned by Plantations Holding Ltd, now in receivership, were about to be sold to C. O. Williams and his business partners for Bds.$6.6 million. The law firm of Patterson & Thompson is seeking to block the sale, on behalf of their clients, CLICO (a Trinidadian Insurance Company, with a 44% interest in Plantations Holding Ltd.) and Central Estates Ltd. (who offered a bid of Bds.$7.8 million). Apparently, Central Estates Ltd. encountered some difficulty in securing the downpayment by a "deadline" set by Patrick Toppin, the receiver, which prompted him to sell to the lower bidder. Central Estates is charging that the Royal Bank of Canada, turned down their loan request although they had adequate collateral, and this resulted in their inability to secure the downpayment by the set "deadline". There are also accusations flying around that racial prejudices are involved... the insinuation is that the Royal Bank turned down the loan because Central Estates Ltd. is a wholly "black" enterprise... and the receiver preferred to sell to the C. O. Williams Group because they were "white"... it is customary, in Barbados, to bring up "race discrimination" accusations whenever it might be useful to do so... the law courts will now have to decide whether "sound and prudent" financial business decisions were made... or not. However, my experience has shown that the people who harp on the most about "racial discrimination"... many times, have serious shortcomings... and use the racial excuse to sort of "cover up" their own incompetence. Individuals with truly great minds and brains are far too busy getting ahead with their great plans and schemes to dwell on hindrances (real or imagined) and be eaten up with racial prejudice or negative self-image. To use the words of Mr. Philip Moseley, a "black" Barbadian, attorney-at-law.."Your skin colour is a mere incident (or accident) of your birth. It is not a badge of honour or shame. In a country where our people are predominantly of mixed race, whether they appear darker or lighter, what is the point of belittling or demeaning the achievements of those honoured (as National Heroes) by calling attention to a skin colour inherited only by chance? It must be obvious to all how easy it is for skin colours to differ and change within families and from generation to generation" (My comment --- particularly with the high incidence of inter-racial marriages in our contry, which, I greatly approve of). Mr. Moseley, I wish indeed it were "obvious to all"... unfortunately that is not the case, yet. SEX in the NEWS --------------- Sparked by the VIAGRA excitement, SEX continues to be discussed in the newspapers, I briefly comment on two articles. Psychologist Victor Forde says that the behaviour of Barbadian men demonstrates their sexual insecurity. He says Bajan men are preoccupied with sex because they believe sex is a manifestation of their masculinity. He also thinks that men are rushing to buy Viagra to cope with premature ejaculation. I talked with consultant urologist, Dr. Jerry Emtage, who has an extensive practice throughout the Caribbean.... and he agrees that the VAST MAJORITY of men seeking Viagra... do not need it... and it WILL NOT HELP THEM... Apparently, men in this region are under a terrific SELF-IMPOSED stress to PERFORM.... and this is creating many of their "impotency" problems. I believe that the rapid advancement of Caribbean women.... and the shift towards a FEMALE DOMINATED society... combined with the lack of a proper male image for many of our boys... almost totally raised by competent and maybe agressive females... is leaving the males mentally stunted and pehaps believing (subconciously) that the ONLY thing that puts them on par with women IS their sex organ... which presumably, the women "need"... i.e. they have a serious INFERIORITY complex... which is not easily overcome... A whole page of the Sunday Sun was devoted to an "Alternative to Viagra -- NOW a penile PUMP to help those that can't take the drug" ---- there was even a large PENILE picture as well --- which, according to Dr. Emtage, was very mis-leading because it shows the device as nothing more than an inflatable and re-usable condom.... when, in fact, it is actually a SOLID, SEMI-RIGID prosthesis... and Dr. Emtage intends to go on National Television and expose the facts and risks of using the device. The importers and distributors of this device, Total Health Care Inc.... the marketer is one Henry Taylor, managing director of Enterprise 2000... have retained the services of a Dr. David Estwick, who will no doubt challenge all objections... and give the product the blessing of the "medical profession". The device itself goes by the intriguing name of "Intim-tango".
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