Local lawyer to take on Crosstalk with business show

| 20/10/2011

(CNS): Lawyer and businessman, Richard Barton, has been selected to host a new morning talk-show to be aired on Radio Cayman by the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI). Launching on 8 November, the DCI said the new talk show will be a conduit for informed, in-depth business commentary on matters related to economic growth and development in the Cayman Islands. Business Buzz will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings from 7:30am to 9am, up against the popular and controversial phone-in morning show ‘CaymanCrosstalk'. The new show, which will be going head to head with Rooster’s long standing programme two mornings per week, was described by the DCI as “the dawn of a new day in talk radio”.

DCI Director Jonathan Piercy said he was confident that the show would help the agency carry out its mission during challenging times forthe country. 

“The Cayman Islands still has that unyielding spirit to succeed and the willingness to make things happen,” said Piercy, who was an unsuccesful UDP candidate in George Town before taking up the government job. “Significant strides have been made to identify new sector opportunities and more is being done to develop a long-term economic plan that will benefit the jurisdiction in the years to come.”

Piercy said that the DCI would be using ‘The Business Buzz’ to highlight how far the department has come to support small business, attract inward investment and what it will take to move the Cayman Islands forward over the longer term.

The show will feature guests from the public and private sector, who will provide updates on the business environment and share insights and perspectives on new projects. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to call in and join the discussions as often as they wish.

Host Richard Barton, who will be competing for listeners with Austin Harris and Glibert McLean, was enthusiastic about being on board with Business Buzz. “Cayman boasts a wealth of innovative minds and I have long recognised that knowledge in the fundamentals of business is the catalyst that transforms such innovation into success,” he said.

“The Business Buzz offers a platform where entrepreneurs can benefit from the dissemination of information that is central to the principles of business. I am truly honoured to partner with the DCI in its quest to promote and facilitate long-term foreign and local investment in the Cayman Islands."

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Did this show ever go on the air, or is it just another one of McKeeva's promises?

  2. Anon says:

    I wish you all the success with your show as long as you copy Gilbert McLean's style of hosting shows. He is very articulate and balanced.

  3. Anonymous says:

    "Local lawyer and businessman" — pray tell what business has richie has or had…?

    And if his quotes are anything to go by, we will be scratching our heads trying to decipher such gems as

    "“Cayman boasts a wealth of innovative minds and I have long recognised that knowledge in the fundamentals of business is the catalyst that transforms such innovation into success” hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually he does have a business – a valet parking service.

      He is saying we have a lot of people with good ideas but they need some basic education on how businesses operate in order to be successful. 

      • Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

        I thought he was a Lawyer, or at least that is how this story is headed!

        • Anonymous says:

          You should try reading beyond the headline. The first sentence says "local lawyer and businessman…". Obviously they are not mutually exclusive.

        • Anonymous says:

          He is both a lawyer and a businessman and he has other businesses other than the valet service

  4. SMH says:

    Austin, you must be doing something right for McGaddafi to want to go head to head with CrossTalk. Keep that fire going!!!  Looks like McG is a lil scared, his days are numbered, 2013 can't come soon enough.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Final Nail in the Coffin Mac.

    Ok, now that economic instability and perceived corruption of the UDP administration has overshadowed us for the past 2 years and there is no longer vibrant business activity on island (unless you are Dart or Ryan), i guess all that is left is for us to TALK about commerce.

    Sounds like a good idea to me. Hint, its much easier to keep what you have instead of trying to talk about the "good ole days" and woo it back after it is gone.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Business Buzz Kill…….

  7. Mr. Spooner says:

    A step in the right direction.  I for one am tired of all the negativity talked on the radio these days.  At least, this allows people to improve their business if they have one, learn more about small business, help the economy and inwards investment and still keep a positive vibe.

    Of course, shock headlines and negative topics of the day have always ruled the airwaves everywhere. 

  8. Anonymouse says:

    Interestingly, theDCI used to sponsor a regular morning on CrossTalk for something similar: focusing attention ont he small bussinesses they were helping.

  9. Yo Mama says:

    I'm bored already.

     

    Business news? zzzzzzzzzzzzzz…..  The host seems like a great guy but short of adopting Howard Sternish tactics, he has little chance of beating Rooster's AM crazy talk.

     

    The reason Rooster's show works and is probably unbeatable is that it appeals to two demographics. The loonies love it because it appears to give credibility and respect to their madness. The rest of us love it because it's the best kind of comedy: unintentional and unscripted.

     

    I can ask for no better start to my day than hearing Gilbert mumbling off topic and Austin praising the courage and heroism of some caller who says he has a potion that cures cancer and AIDS. I for onewon't be tuning out because nothing makes me feel better about myself than listening to the people on CrossTalk.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      crosstalk is like groundhog day……the same nonsense by the same people being spouted every week……..

    • Anonymous says:

      I like the lady who sings songs about current events…kind of….

  10. Ritchie says:

    We love you but quit while you are ahead!

  11. Bueller says:

    “Cayman boasts a wealth of innovative minds and I have long recognised that knowledge in the fundamentals of business is the catalyst that transforms such innovation into success,” he said

     

    LOL

  12. Anonymous says:

    No need to worry Rooster  Austin and Gilbert is the best right on target everytime  only competition would be Joel Francis the great seems the evening one with the DOCTOR not working or wha

  13. Anonymous says:

    Anything is better than Crosstalk. Same thing Every day Is politics all they can talk about? is there nothing else going on on the world? Give it a rest !!!!

  14. Anonymous says:

    Nice timing too, 3 days after Guy Fawkes Day!

    • Anonymous says:

      Who is Guy Fawkes and what relevance is that to the Cayman Islands?

      There is no such celebration here.

  15. Anonymous says:

    I predict Radio Cayman’s listener figures plummeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What a load of drivel

  16. Concerned Caymanian says:

    Congratulations Richie!!  I hope it goes well.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Another show for boring the pants of the public.  Sorry, but that will be two shows competing for the 10 listeners and callers who struggle to get a sentence out!  Thank god for the CD player part of the car radio

    • Anonymous says:

      Now 2 boring talk shows.   can't wait.  Give us a real talk show with topics others than politic.

    • Anonymous says:

      We need a morning show like Steve Harvey's in Tampa…read a strawberry letter to me in the morning and I'll laugh for days. 95.7 da beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. Anonymous says:

    whats the udp connection?

  19. Anonymous says:

    As the first write in listener to the show I would like to ask the Premier, and presumably the first guest, to please turn the economy around.

    I do realize that he turned it around last year, but wherever it was headed then can't be any worse than where it is headed now.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Given the clear intention of the show and its content, I think the political spin put on this article is unnecessary and irresponsible.  Not everyone has a political motive in this country. Give it a chance before bashing it and making it a party issue.

  21. Anonymous says:

    DCI said the new talk show will be a conduit for informed, in-depth business commentary on matters related to economic growth and development in the Cayman Islands. Business Buzz will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings from 7:30am to 9am, ….. I'm thinking they could really wrap it up by 7:35am.

  22. Anonymous says:

    OMG! Are you seriously saying government is going to use their resources to combat the rooster show. Talk about tit for tat! We have far more burning issues to be dealing with.

     

  23. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Auditor General would you please do a value for money audit on this one?

    • Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

      This will be a talk show that will have to follow whatever rules that McGadaffi sets out, therefore I will stick to what I know and that is Crosstalk.

      A Government radio talk show to take on Crosstalk will only be a way of UDP to get their agenda out to the people but I have news for them as they will be preaching to their 3 converted lost souls that are already living off "perks" obtained by being faithful! – What an audience, 3 listeners!

      • Anonymous says:

        Is this also an agenda to compete with Super Tuesdays with Ezzard Miller on Cayman Crosstalk? Really? 

    • Anonymous says:

      there goes the donkeys with their head in the sand mentality again.  highly critical,negative abd certainly not progressive.

  24. Anonymous says:

    So clearly this is not intended to sell the party using public money.