Barbados is a nation facing many, many problems.  The lone Government-run hospital in the island is in near chaos, Bajans are afraid to get sick because they fear going to the hospital.  Almost every month there is a work stoppage or a strike in one Government department after the other. 

The staff at the Caribbean Examination Council's staff had to abandon their work office because of poor, rodent-infested conditions.  We all know of the burning down of the country's jail because the current Government failed to address serious problems there, which eventually led to the insurrection.  Much of the road network is in poor condition. 

Bajans, especially lower income earners are finding it impossible to buy land or homes due to the high level of real estate speculation.  It is difficult for a Bajan earning $300 per week to own a home since many of them are in the region of $400,000 to $1,000,000. Far too many Bajans are losing their jobs to Guyanese who are undercutting them in the market place, offering their services for next to nothing.  The tourist industry, which is the engine of growth in Barbados, is going through very tough times with occupancies way down all over the Island. I could go on and on but I guess you get the picture.
 
With all the problems in the country, which Bajans have to wade through every single day, one would think that the Prime Minister would use every single waking moment of his life trying to solve at least a few of them.  But what do we see?  Owen Arthur at a Heads of Government talk shop lambasting, vilifying and denigrating his own Customs and Immigration Officers. Talk about not knowing which way is up! 
 
Any country headed by a sane Prime Minister or President would be proud of the good job that their Customs and Immigration Officers are performing in securing the country's borders.  President George Bush would give them a medal! But not Owen Arthur!  Once you are from Guyana he wants no questions asked.  No passport, no problem.  No money, no problem.  Don't have a place to stay, no problem. Don't know how long you will be in the country, no problem.  The only clothes you have are the ones on your back, no problem.  We are running a free for all here in Barbados.  Come on in!  And coming soon there will no Immigration Officers to annoy you.  How about that?
 
Is Prime Minister Owen Arthur losing it?
 
There countless unsolved murders in Guyana.  Can the Prime Minister of Barbados assure anyone that many of the perpetrators are not in Barbados?  With the hands of the Immigration Officers being tied who is to say that some of these killers are not relaxing on Bajan beaches sipping Pina Coladas and reading the local newspaper?
 
This stance that he is taking against his own officers have many of us here in Barbados very disturbed to say the least.
 
Carson C. Cadogan
Barbados