A prominent political activist is questioning the timing of a scathing US travel advisory on Barbados, contending a strangely coincidence with Barbados leading CARICOM’s diplomatic intervention in the Venezuelan crisis.
According to David Denny, Barbados has always channelled its foreign policy by the Errol Barrow mantra, “friends of all and satellites of none”, and that it would not be the first time that such pressure is exerted.
Denny told journalists at the Venezuelan Embassy: “We realize that the United States of America has been putting a lot of pressure on small nations because they have been taking very aggressive positions as it relates to Venezuela. So, when a country like Barbados takes the position that they have, it is expected that they will receive some pressure. Now yesterday we see this travel advisory.”
Denny was briefing reporters about his recent visit to the strife-torn South American nation.
CARICOM has continued to oppose interventionist threats by some countries, including the US, in response to the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, warning about implications for peace within the region.
But possibly triggered by the recent uptick in gun crimes, the March 5 advisory issued on the US State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs urged its citizens not to visit Crab Hill, Ivy, Nelson Street, Wellington Street or Maxwell Coast Road – scenes of deadly gun attacks this year.
Two entertainment night spots were also listed among areas that should be avoided. The notice went on to advise “increased caution” for the St Michael areas of Black Rock, Deacons, Carrington Village, Greenfields, New Orleans and The Pine.
Denny queried the rationale behind singling out these communities, including an integral section of the tourist belt.
Barbados TODAY yesterday contacted the US Embassy in Wildey to clarify the rationale for the advisory and the singling out of the above-mentioned areas. Embassy officials had promised to respond to queries by today, no response has so far been received.
The advisory and the ensuing concern have been dismissed by Attorney General Dale Marshall as much ado about nothing.
Declaring that the US issues travel advisories for each country as a matter of course, Marshall said Barbados still enjoys the US Government’s lowest risk assessment. The advisory went viral on social media but this morning the Attorney General sought to assure Barbadians that the country’s safety record was not in jeopardy.
But Denny contends that if the advisory is indeed an attempt to force support for Washington’s policy in Venezuela, Caribbean nation’s must remain united as they have the most to lose.
“The United States will try to put pressure on developing nations, and they would use these things like travel advisories and all these kinds of things,” he stressed. “I think if the Caribbean people maintain their position and solidarity with Venezuela our Governments will continue to remain on that path.”
Venezuela ….? Sort out the social issues ,
and increasing gun crime in Barbados .
If things get worse , who would Risk a visit to this beautiful island . Let the Venezuelans sort out there own problems …. Barbados government
Have to get to grips with it’s image worldwide .
Hog wash! This advisory has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with the reality of an increasingly violent society. Starting the year with 14 murders would, sooner or later, result in the action of responsible governments warning their citizens about the increasing danger of visiting this “paradise.”
I however see a silver lining here. I have contended in the past that we will never see a seriously concerted effort to stem the violence until it starts to impact tourism. Well, even though the AG poo-poos this as no big deal, I can bet that he and the other BLP fat cats are shaking in their boots.
Now we will some action to stem the rising tide of gun violence.
The premise of the BLP’s IMF dictated BERT stranglehold program is to tax the middle class into oblivion and increase tourism. The former will lead to a one term government, and the latter is in jeopardy.
But they ain’t lying .the violence is out of control
A lot of our people go to the US for ten days, come back to Barbados , with the boys in the hood attitude ang the ghetto mentality and behaviour……..This makes a lot of you feel proud so we cannot expect nothing better from the US….
As for the issue of Venezuela ,I agree with this gentleman, I was call names for commenting that this is nothing to do with Barbados, let the people of that country settle they own problems.
We cant even fix our roads ,or run a nation wide bus service and getting involve in a part of the world , who is rule by dictators , and drug cartels….
You cant miss the documentaries on UK televisions about this part of the world…….
LORD have mercy…
First of all, any man who claims he fully understands the mind of a woman, should be given the Noble Peace Prize. Anyone who fully understands the minds of communists activists, like David Comissiong and David Denny, should keep away from the staff room of the UWI, but take up residence in those countries that they claim to love, not bout hey.
The American embassy had a right to issue the warning.. I live here and the thought of going into those hotspots scares the black off me . So Mr. Denny stop with posturing.
Hold it, David Denny! While this writer agrees that the USA has employed strong-armed tactics to get smaller and weaker countries to tow their foreign policy line, this latest travel advisory is just another one of several Barbados has received dating back to 2013.
It will be interesting to see if the other islands at the forefront of bringing a peaceful resolution to the Venezuela crisis has been or will be issued with travel advisories to add validity to your claim.
There is no denying that since the start of the year the number of shootings have shot up (no pun intended). The illegal guns and drugs culture that manifested itself on the island during the past 10 years is being tackled head-on.
Kadooment revelers should feel just as safe on Spring Garden this year as they did last year. The recall of 23 people being shot and one dead on that strip in 2017 is still fresh in this writer’s memory.
Rest assured, that just like all the other problems (debt, low forex, sewage on the streets, pothole-filled roads, egregious contracts, corr uption, etc.) left behind by the last DLP administration, gun crime too will be brought under control. These are the reasons the fine people of Barbados elected the BLP 30-0 do do — fix the crises.
I dont expect this MIA AMOR MOTTLEY Barbados Labour Party yard fowl to say any thing different.
The United States of America has a duty of care to protect its citizens. That is what the advisory is all about.
I and right thinking Bajans are in agreement with the United States of America Govt.
Bajans beware; the eyes of the world are now surely upon us. Dale Marshall is a clown if he thinks that making dismissive statements is going to hush away the effects of this advisory. On the contrary, as AG of Barbados, he has made matters worse by belittling the advice of officials of the USA.
Unless something is done to drastically reduce the escalating crime in Barbados these negatives will become etched into future advisories. I need not state the effect of such.
As usual this man Dale does not think before he speaks; now he may be right in arguing that this trait is commonplace among his colleagues in government.
Party hopper,why don’t you go live in Venezuela
He is right to a point but lets be real this travel advisory maybe now will get the attention of this garbage government on finding out the real importers of illegal guns and drugs into Barbados.These clowns trying to act like block folks are the importers but real smart Bajans know thats a load of dog poo,they might be the group using them but definitely not the importers,these block cats can not even afford a cold coke on a hot day.
DAVID DENNY, VENEZUELA IS NOT OUR FIGHT, CARICOM SHOULD JUST HOLD TALKS AND THATS IT, I DONT EVEN THINK BARBADOS SHOULD TAKE PPL FROM THERE IF THINGS GET WORST, WE BARLEY MAKING IT WE CANT TAKE ANY ONE ELSE, AND THE USA AGGRESSIVE POSITION WITH VENEZUELA AINT BOUT CRIME ITS BOUT OIL, AND THE ABILITY OF VENEZUELA TO SUPPLY THE ENTIRE CARIBBEAN WITH IT, AMERICANS ARE CRIMINALS, FOR AS FAR BACK AS YOU KNOW FROM THE TIME THEM SET FOOT ON THE LAND CALLED AMERICA THEY FOUND INDIANS AND BLACKS, AND THEY STARTED KILLING THEM AND WERE KILLING EVERY SINCE, THEM WHITE PPL,
US travel advisory on Barbados is relevant as the BLP Government continue to Make Mock Sport at Crime and Violence
Don’t do a “spin doctor” style here, you know quite well shooting going on in BIM as often as the Sun rise in the east and set in the west. Do something bout that.
As you read the dailies you are shocked of the “new wave” of gun violence on the Island. This is cause for concern for everyone but you big head lot.
Leave Trump toys alone .
It is no joking matter that crime is on the increase and horrendous behaviour…we have to be honest. it has nothing to do with who is in power….crime is on the rise…face it and deal with it….and stop pointing back to the past
I thought this Jack Palance would of stayed in Venezuela and take along Comealong wid he
And if you are applying for a US Visa in the near future, you better not list your address as one of these No-Go areas.
What is a social activist?
They did the same to T&T for our stance on Venezuela also,and no mention of Yard where countless Americans have been killed,even this year..nasty wicked USA,be very afraid of them.
A social activist is someone whose ass and mouth battle for the top position, and the ass wins.
These people defend the Chavista regime. Read up for yourselves how rich the Chavez family is today.
@JRSMITH; who you know went to the US for 10 days and came back with the ghetto and block mentality? they would not even learned how to take a train going uptown or downtown.
A bread and fish Jack Ass singing for his supper which is late in coming