BARBADOS; KENNETH RIJOCK EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR HIS READERS; A COUNTRY EVEN MORE CORRUPT THAN MALTA

It seems that the defrocked former Prime Minister of Malta, JOSEPH MUSCAT, will be taking a holiday in Barbados this summer, with reportedly no less than forty "guests' along for the ride( do you remember the story about Ali Baba and his thieves?) Muscat claims, in his statements to the press, that he must first visit "clients" in China, and them will travel on to the East Caribbean with his Entourage. Funds for that voyage, given his assets are totally frozen? Previously-planned, and prepaid, family vacation with all his Maltese Mafiosi with whom is a Made Man.

Let me tell you about the island paradise that JM is going to spend a substantial amount of beachfront time in; Its rampant and systemic corruption rivals that of his home, Malta, but in many ways it is worse. Allow me to explain for my Maltese readers.

Cursed with a major overpopulation of attorneys, meaning that there's simply not enough legal work  for them to fund that upscale residence and law office that young, ambitious Bajan lawyers expect will be in their future, they must resort to "extraordinary" measures to acquire them. We call that crime.

The most fortunate amongst them become itinerant money launderers, although this endeavour can be hazardous to their health, if they steal from their clients. One young woman attorney who thought she was immune from retribution after diverting drug profits bound for Panamanian banks. Late one night, and explosion at her home killed here and her entire family, children included; crime never solved, by the way.

Most of the lawyers not selected to be laundrymen engage in probate and real estate fraud. The way it generally happens is that, during the probate of the estate of an uneducated, absent, or ill-informed owner of oceanfront property, some of the realty disappears from the list of assets, if it was not already removed  from the Inventory. Given that the land records can be changed by corrupt government clerks, who often are participants in the fraud, the heirs have no remedy either at law, or in equity. Even when lawyers are caught and imprisoned, they have already sold the land to as European resort operator, and the money is in a bank in the Cayman Islands. There is no justice in Barbados.

Many of the lawyers go on to become judges, and who perpetuate the system to protect what they stole decades ago. Perhaps JM is there to buy a hotel built on waterfront land stolen from a victim. Or maybe he has the intention to do business, or curry favour with the country's sitting Prime Minister, who could be the next head of the United Nations. Whatever it is, it's not just a summer vacation; Something Wicked This Way Comes.