Anthony Barrows

100% Jamaican...read widely, comment sparingly but always truthfully. Unrelenting supporter of what's best for Jamaica.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

It is important that we expose ourselves to views that are even grating to our soul. There are views expressed here that are seriously conflicting with my own views and values but expansion of the mind only comes when we engage with opposing ideas. Don't have to like to follow!

[Tanya Hunter 🇯🇲 @huntertotheworl]

Unuh say the issue was with Panton, then Greg, then the other one. All 3 are gone. Now is another one is the problem. Unuh nuh see seh unuh a big head bud?

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@DalveyG @huntertotheworl Just means the government is subsidising the development on behalf of the private partners...

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@DalveyG It seem like it was a well thought out position by that person...why yuh jus throw cold water all over it? 🤣🤣

[JLess @winstonorr3]

I am not privy to all the information, and yes, some members of civil society groups may be politically aligned. But confronting concerns by simply labeling critics as political does not set a healthy precedent.

That is perhaps the least diplomatic way to address public concerns.

The danger is that every national policy debate eventually becomes a political war rather than a discussion of principles and evidence.

Is there no middle ground? No space for independent voices? Must every disagreement be reduced to Labourites versus Comrades?

That is an overly linear way of viewing a complex society.

[Livern Barrett🇯🇲 @livern_barrett]

A former journalist urging others to go after journalists???

Wow!!!

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@RenairB @zoomafrika1 Bwoy, this must be the heights of religious delusions 🥴

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

This coordinated defense of the House Speaker to create impression she was done wrong by a 'first term MP' misses the mark.

The fact is the House Speaker has done harm to the Speaker's role by her biased partisan rulings and her lack of tact.
The return serves are killing her!

[Fayval Williams @williams_fayval]

Recent disparaging remarks from first term Opposition MP Nekeisha Burchell, about Speaker of the House Mrs. Holness, should concern every Jamaican, not just women.

Likening the Speaker’s efforts to maintain order in Parliament to “control of a husband in marriage” are unrefined, inappropriate, disrespectful and downright low.

The country looks to Parliament for direction, leadership and examples.

As MPs, we are guided by the Standing Orders of Parliament. Until those Standing Orders are changed, let decorum reign!

[DalveyG @DalveyG]

PM a sue IC. Jr. Finance Minister a sue IC. FLA a sue IC. SMA a sue IC. Now AG a sue IC. This isn’t accident.
And pree, so far them nuh won a single case on merit.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

They don't believe in integrity, Period!

[DalveyG @DalveyG]

At this point the JLP Government need to table a new act to repeal the Integrity Commission act.
Cause it obvious them never read the original act properly.
Or don’t believe in integrity.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@JKavJA Very clever 😂😂👍🏾👍🏾

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@Errolmcneil1 Hahahahah...gonna continue to be a good sport 😂

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with what was said and the context in which it was said.
Drawing on relatable, descriptable examples to describe an intangible is common use of language.

The powerful description has hit home...THAT is what's being felt in Parliament!!

[underpaid man @Errolmcneil1]

This seems to be a full blown rift & it’s bcoming very personal now, this woman never misses an opportunity to insult the speaker and for a 1st time MP she’s bcom a bit 2 combative & antagonistic

[Carol Narcisse @CarolNarcisse]

This much is clear to me.The JA State & its agents do not regard or value the people.They deserve nothing. Not life. Not money spent for their shelter & relief proportionate to their dispossession,loss &suffering. Their existence is an offense except if serving as props & pawns.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@Jcanguy Which of the madness? To say it happens or that it is a silly conspiracy?

The moment I saw the news on Al Jazeera last night my mind went to 'malevolent forces about to exploit the Congo'

I happen to think that a lot of these things are by design!

[Rampanpiza @dentona22]

This is the worst relief effort I have ever seen by a Jamaican govt. They do not care for people, they are more interested in building a scheme to side-step accountability for their own benefits.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

Talk about obtusity...👇🏾

[WifeMomBoss 💚💚💚 @GlobalTeach4]

BREAKING NEWS: According to the Auditor General, not one red cent is missing from the hurricane relief funds. Hallelujah amen.

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

@thelaymansdr Pricesmart isn't designed for "10 or less" so that nah goh happen!

[Anthony Barrows @BarrowsAnthony]

When clear independent thoughts engage with political posturing you get this...👇🏾

[Breakthrough 2026 @yaneekpage]

Senator @AbkaFitzHenley thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to post the same tweet about 3 times in the space of a few minutes.

Now, let me address your last line first:
The ‘pantry full’ narrative is not false; it is a mathematical certainty. $1.44b from Melissa donations is a full pantry.

People suffering is not a narrative. It is a fact.

We can’t bury that 1.8% utilization rate of donated funds under the weight of $11 billion in future contracts.

That’s akin to moving the goalposts to avoid the Auditor General’s helpful scorecard.

My juxtaposition, which is shared by many donors and people in need is simple & remains undisputed: suffering is a fact, and a full pantry, specifically a $1.44 billion one, is a fact.

"Earmarked" is also not "expended." The Auditor General’s real-time audit captured the state of play as of February 23, 2026, confirming that while citizens were sleeping in demolished dwellings, the cash to house them was sitting in a bank account. Is that ok?

If the pantry is full of building materials that haven't reached the site, the people are still homeless.

ODPEM’s own response in the audit was that the delay was due to an "absence of authorisation from the Ministry of Finance".

Pointing to long-term infrastructure contracts to excuse the failure of emergency relief is a classic redirection.

You can’t pay a January 2026 bill with a 2028 highway project. We are talking about the $1.44 billion specifically donated for immediate relief, of which only $26.2 million reached the street in 4 months.

It is frightening that not even the most damning evidence that the process is broken is being addressed. There is $150 million left over from Hurricane Beryl in 2024. That money has been sitting in the pantry for nearly 2 years. If the "process" takes two years to move emergency funds, the process is the disaster.

[Breakthrough 2026 @yaneekpage]

Senator @AbkaFitzHenley thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to post the same tweet about 3 times in the space of a few minutes.

Now, let me address your last line first:
The ‘pantry full’ narrative is not false; it is a mathematical certainty. $1.44b from Melissa donations is a full pantry.

People suffering is not a narrative. It is a fact.

We can’t bury that 1.8% utilization rate of donated funds under the weight of $11 billion in future contracts.

That’s akin to moving the goalposts to avoid the Auditor General’s helpful scorecard.

My juxtaposition, which is shared by many donors and people in need is simple & remains undisputed: suffering is a fact, and a full pantry, specifically a $1.44 billion one, is a fact.

"Earmarked" is also not "expended." The Auditor General’s real-time audit captured the state of play as of February 23, 2026, confirming that while citizens were sleeping in demolished dwellings, the cash to house them was sitting in a bank account. Is that ok?

If the pantry is full of building materials that haven't reached the site, the people are still homeless.

ODPEM’s own response in the audit was that the delay was due to an "absence of authorisation from the Ministry of Finance".

Pointing to long-term infrastructure contracts to excuse the failure of emergency relief is a classic redirection.

You can’t pay a January 2026 bill with a 2028 highway project. We are talking about the $1.44 billion specifically donated for immediate relief, of which only $26.2 million reached the street in 4 months.

It is frightening that not even the most damning evidence that the process is broken is being addressed. There is $150 million left over from Hurricane Beryl in 2024. That money has been sitting in the pantry for nearly 2 years. If the "process" takes two years to move emergency funds, the process is the disaster.

[Breakthrough 2026 @yaneekpage]

This is a good editorial, but the Gleaner does not go far enough. Hotels are importing nearly 70% of the food and beverages consumed by guests. Hotel workers are earning less than $5 dollars an hour, without the ability to accept tips - many of them working “split shifts” that start in the morning and end at nearly midnight.

At this point, the product is far too extractive - and fuels a wealth gap that is untenable.