Community Affairs Consultants

Present events rattling global security were not created overnight. Rather, they are the sum of the actions of too many selfish, attention-seeking, money-'god' and greedy individuals, who, in their fallible pursuits to self satisfaction and boastfulness, would instigate and oversee the disembowelment of all facets of humanity from households, to villages, to towns, to cities, to nations and to continents, if allowed to cointinue with their agendas.

Each human being, including the actors of ill-will themselves, knows an actor promoting insecurity. The identity of the bad actors are not limited to those in positions of governance. Instead, the majority of the actors supporting and enabling world instability, knowingly or unknowingly, dwell in the homes of households, in the offices of businesses and in the realms of cyberspace. In these places, the murkiest of evils of the bad actors are conceptualized, fed, then released upon non-suspecting family members, friends, associates and fellow world citizens

These are the said actors that stand in the way of greater world progress and human development. They are impediments to fighting Climate Change, eradicating hunger, easing poverty, ending conflicts, promoting peace and affirming harmonious households. 

Therefore, it is the responsibility of all non bad actors to reject the sly operations of all bad actors. Once this responsibility has been fulfilled, only then would meaningful global cohesion, equality and security return to all of humanity.

[NB: It's been a while since I've written here. In this non published period, I admit that I underwent a second enlightenment, so to speak, or of sorts. Therefore, I should add that I now see many things differently than before. My new ideaology will evidently be revealed as I write more posts.]

But for today, I submit that calculated and callous betrayals by individuals, institutions and states have created the current reality of uncertainty - a period marred by fading hopes, violence and insecurity among humankind. Furthermore, I resubmit to you that it is the ill character of too many of humanity that feeds present insecurity and it is poised to sustain agaitations and conflicts among individuals, institutions and states for a very long foreseeable time.

From the war in Ukraine, to high inflation, to a disrupted supplychain, to various managements of the COVID-19 pandemic, to slow perfmances by institutions and to the betraying actions of individuals within homes and communities; violence, harsdships and damaged relations have come to rule the day. Insecurity will prevail for sometime. 

That a sovereign nation would be assaulted by another is betrayal. That energy and agriculture systems have come under weighty pressure from the conflict in Ukraine, is yet another example of betrayal. That communities continue to flounder in their responsibilities to protect the free, the innocent and the meek are more examples of betrayal. And that individuals seek to destroy the trust and the honor of households is by far the greatest betrayal facing all of humanity.

The COVID-19 pandemic alone has heaped a number of secondary effects upon humanity from mental and medical health issues, to economic strain and panic, and stretching to within the halls of governance.

Until major stabalizing featrures become more evident, there will be wars, there will be stark violence, there will be conflicts, there will be economic challenges and there will be the peeling apart of households transcending all nations. The actions and deeds of humankind are now on full display.

Yesterday, an 18-year-old male breached a classroom of innocent primary school children in Uvalde, Texas, where he shot and killed 19 pre-teen students and two teachers. Other victims of the violent massacre are hospitalized with injuries inflicted during the cowardly attack.

The sorrowful massacre in Texas represents yet another of the too many and often gun-perpetrated crimes in the United States (US) that stand as bitter examples of a diminishing civility across our beloved Republic amid the broad prevalence of too many guns in the hands of questionable folks.

Earlier this month, another 18-year-old, racially motivated, attacked and killed 10 shoppers at a market in Buffalo, New York. Also earlier this month, on the 13th of March, another gunman, 23, unloarded some 200 rounds of ammunition toward a school in Washington, DC; luckily, no lives were lost. However, prior deadly episodes at Columbine, Colorado; Sandy Hook, Connecticut; and Parkland, Florida; have made these names household items because of a shared tragic association to the too often school massacres in the America.

American society cannot sustain such rapid gun propelled crimes while maintaining its function as a world-leading community. Ease of access to guns and subsequent crimes committed, point to a clear decline in civilization in this western country. Violent evidence now suggest that America is attacking itself from within, thus inferring a possible collapse of a high-functioning civil society for which America is famouly known. 

Therefore, in ending  America's internal attack upon itself, the Republic, acting as one-unit, should admit the too high prevalency of guns and then act via a bi-partisan Congress, to limit firearm sales and possessions by mentally compromised people.

I tender a deep feeling of sorrow to all humanity for the continuing struggles and tribulations that appear unending despite the full qualifications of humankind to bring into being a gentler and kinder world of peace, equality and security for all people.

My utter sorrow over the current state of affairs of humanity has contributed to me not posting any Blogs for a considerable amount of time. Since starting this Blog back in 2013, my intentions have always been to promote democracy, the rule of law, equality, hope, opportunity and happiness for all people. I must admit that my hardest years of trying to assure a world audience that hope and security were readily available, were from January 2017 to January of 2020.  

Under the Donald Trump presidency; democracy, the rule of law, hope and opportunity for all appeared as mere things written in fairy tale themes. However, with the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States (US), hope for all good aspirations seemed renewed. Yet, persistent influence by Trump, white supremists, economic hiccups, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and continuing social and political events, I'm forced to sing a bitter lamentation for humanity, especially against the possibility that Republicans, still under Trump's control, could win the US House of Representatives and Senate in the Fall of 2022, thus paving a damning path back to the White House in 2024. Racially motivated crimes and other counter-productive events remain too prevalent in America.

Across the globe, including in many developing countries, economic pressures brought to wrought by the still persisting COVID-19 pandemic and compounded by leaps in inflation rates amid the woeful effects of disasters exacerbated by Climate Change, people and progress remain deeply threatened with hundreds of thousands of people facing immediate food and shelter security.

Humanity can do better, humanity deserves better. But to accomplish better feats, enough of the good people must take a stand for progress, opportunity, democracy, the rule of law and equality. The good people should do whatever is necessary to demand a gentler, kinder, more hopefull, peaceful and secure world. I have taken my stand! When will you take yours?

Russian forces under the direction of President Vladimir Putin have invaded neighbor Ukraine, an event the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), have warned about for a number of weeks as an imminent event.

Under sanctions and threats of greater sanctions for the sovereign assault of Ukraine, Putin has blatantly rebuked the communlative power of the Western alliance and has persisted with his flagrant sovereign violation upon independent Ukraine. CNN and the BBC-News are reporting that Russian tanks, planes, missiles and soldiers have crossed the borders of Russian and Belarus into Ukraine. Deaths and explosions have been reported deep inside Ukraine and close to its capital, Kyiv.

Ukraine, defending alone, stands unmatched to the power of Putin and his formidable military forces. And while the US and NATO continue to speak of sanctions to punish Putin and Russia for the assault upon Ukraine, Ukrainians will die and perhaps lose their sovereignty in the absence of military help from neighbors, friends, NATO and the international community.

That the international community has thus far failed to put together, at least, a voluntary military personnel force to counter Putin's aggression on a sovereign nation, clearly speaks of the weakness, the exposure and the vulnerability of non-NATO members to aggression from any foe.

Eight-years-ago on this Blog, I wrote in support of the Ukrainian youth, who stood at the Maidan and expressed a very strong willingness to be closer to the West, yet, today, they stand alone again amid a heavy assault from Russia as western powers speak of idle sanctions to combat Putin's crimes against humanity. Ukraine needs military defense against the dictator Putin and any failure to deliver assistance to the people of Ukraine amounts to a travesty of humanity.

Disclaimer: [I was born in Barbados and worked there as a journalist until my immigration to the Unisted States (US), Christmas Day, 1984. On the island, I was a staunch supporter of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).]

Barbadians went to the polls on January 19, two-days-ago in a snap election and they resoundingly reaffirmed great support for the island's first female Prime Minister Mia Mottley as they voted all 30-seats in the Barbados Parliament to Mottley and her Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

It was the second landslide victory for the 56-year-old Mottley and her party. They previously accomplished a similar feat back in the General Election of 2018, however one-member of the BLP crossed the Parliament aisle and became the lone parliamentary Opposition.

Wednesday's vote was called some 18-months earlier than the constitutional deadline and it came upon the November 30, 2021 declaration of Republic by the island-nation, which ended more than 400-years of British sovereign leadership despite the country's Independence on November 30, 1966. Queen Elizabeth II has been replaced by a Barbadian head of State, Sandra Mason, who previously had been the Queen's appointed Governor General on the island.

That Mottley and her BLP were that overwhelmly victorius over the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and other smaller political parties, greatly speaks of the confidence Barbadians have placed in their first female prime minister, the nations's eighth leader since 1966. Prime Minister Mottley has achieved international acclaimed ever since her frank ramarks last year at COP26, Glasglow, Scotland, where she deemed any inaction and delay on Climate Change as a death sentence for small island nations. Her stark remarks resulted in much respect from world leaders, including a hand-in-hand walk with United States President Joe Biden.

Mottley in 2018  inherited an almost bankrupt treasury from the former DLP government, which had led from 2008. Negotiations and confidence from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)  has now netted Barbados much needed fiscal relief. Yet, fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has severely blighted the nation's 'bread-and-butter' tourism industry. Some international investments have rolled in to assist on infrastructural projects and Mottley has promised to build 10 000 affordable homes for Bajans. 

The Prime Minister and her new Cabinet will face the reality of meeting IMF obligations via a six percent growth on GDP. And with a resounding mandate of confidence from the people, Mottley must now deliver on relief from a still pestering COVID-19 pandemic as well as increase investments in order to employ and to house thousands of Barbadians. The tenacity of Mia Mottle could certainly deliver the goods and services needed to sustain Barbados. May God Bless Barbados and all its people.

History shall now record that on this 30th Day of November, 2021, the people of Barbados - my birthland, on the said day of the 55th anniversary of  independence of the island, stood before the entire World, including the British monarchy, and duly and peacefully declared a new Republic, thus ending 396-years of British doiminance over the 166-square-miles island in the Caribbean.

Barbados first came under the spell of the British Empire in 1625 which settled the island in February 1627. Slavery became systematic at the height of the sugar revolution in the 1640s; emancipation finally came in 1834; and independence on November 30, 1966. Barbadians did not attain full sovereignty via independence as the British monarch remained as head of state of the island, ruling through a Governor General and within a constitutional monarchy system with a Prime Minister as head of government of a bi-carmel parliamentary democracy.

At midnight on November 30, 2021, Dame Sandra Mason was installed as the first President of the world's newsest Republic - Barbados, in a ceremony full of pomp in the capital city, Bridgetown, and attended by the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, superstar Rihanna and other dignitaries. So the British monarchy is no longer head of Barbados, a Barbadian is, yet good 'blood' remains between Barbados and the United Kingdom and Barbados will remain in the Commonwealth.

The transition to a Republic was championed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the island's first female head of government, who appears to be evolving as a Barbadian, Caribbean and international politician intent on leaving a remarkable mark on humanity.

My two younger sons - both now High Schoolers, yesterday, returned to their classrooms in Washington, District of Columbia - the first time since Friday, March 13, 2020, when District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), shuttered its education institutions because of health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, places of learning in the United States (US) and in the continents - from elementary to tertiary level education, are functioning once again. That my sons and millions of other American school children and others across the globe were absent from physically being at school for some 18-months, is truly extraordinary. 

Yet, the resolve for human continuity questing the light of knowledge within a framework toward the polonged existence of humankind on Planet Earth, was clearly  exhibited by many children, therefore underscoring a new beginning for humanity - a new beginning, mindful of humanity's inherent weaknesses and of humanity's direct responsibility for the health and welfare of the environment.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still very much evident and up-ending millions of lives across thje world. While new highly contagious variants of the disease account for uncertainties as to humanity's immediate future, very effective vaccines made available by reputable drug companies and taken by informative adults and children (12-17-years-old) offer wide stability in a chaotic world of mis-information and vast stupidity.

Uncertainties per the full impact of human actions that have harmed the environment are major sources of concern. But with increasing numbers of youth now more aware of the necessity to protecting the environment, there's high hope for an emergence of a large and sustaining generation of environment-conscious leaders. Today's youth are the vanguard of all change in society. Their return to a certain degree of normalcy denotes a leading path for other branches of humanity out of uncertainty and chaos and into a new charted future of human exploration, discovery and continuity.

As long as those who explicitly tried to maim American democracy remain free -  living, under an assumed impunity to callous inciting speech and violence, and deliberate acts against the security of the Republic, then democracy in the United States (US) will not return to its pre-Donald Trump highs of great integrity, admiration and wide global influence.

Moreover, the added reality that many Republicans are championing voter restriction laws nationally and across the many States, underscores the arduous task toward salvaging America's injured democracy, which grossly suffered with the violent and deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, January 6, 2021. 

Furthermore, Republican pushback in the US Senate against an inquiry commission into the events of January 6, 2021, also confirms the extent to which democracy has been damaged and surppressed in America. 

The difficult task of halting the waning of American democracy should include a broadening of voter rights in full rebuke to Republican efforts toward voter suppression. And even more crucial to the salvaging and resurrecting of the integrity of democracy would be the held-accountability of those responsible for the events leading up to, including, and after the deadly violent insurrection at the seat of the US Legislature - the Capitol, January 6, 2021.

Ever since the election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States (US), American confidence of a better tomorrow has soared. So has global confidence to the real prospect of a returned rational American ally to help yield broad world security.

Moreover, the nationally and internationally accepted level-headedness of the new Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration in Washington, DC, has made marked early success in setting a global backdrop toward sustaining newly recaptured global confidence and security. This has been accomplished in stark contrast to the tone once set by the one-term Donald Trump, whose foreign policy veered significantly from the historically sound and ally-faithful policies of all other administrations, in Washington, DC. Trump was unpredictable, often appearing irrational as he ranted and feuded with traditional American allies in deference to despots Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong-un of North Korea.

President Biden's current and his first overseas trip as president affirms actions toward sustaining international confidence and world security. His visit with allies the United Kingdom (UK), NATO and the European Union (EU), underscores decades of American friendship and partnership with trusted and loyal allies. What these friends accomplish and agree to over the next five-days, will go a long way in sustaining a re-claimed world security and confidence.