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Prime Minister David Thompson Grabs Centre Stage Delivering His First Budget

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Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson
Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson

As we write this blog Prime Minister David Thompson stands in the spotlight of delivering his first budget. Of interest to Barbadians will be what kind of budget the neophyte Prime Minister can produce which will ward-off external shocks caused by global economic turbulence rooted in the rising oil commodities market. Barbadians have long enjoyed a high standard of living which belies its size and resources.

The Prime Minister in a classic General Custer move fired an opening salvo in the budget presentation when he announced that the controversial ‘flyover project’, managed by 3S Barbados Ltd will be halted and the Ministry of Transport and Works in conjunction with local contractors given the task to complete the road widening part of the project. The Prime Minister told the nation that his government will investigate thoroughly the suspect procurement policy adopted by the previous government on the Project.

We commend sister blog Barbados Free Press for its relentless pursuit of ITAL. It appears that the new government is committed to ITAL but good implementation will be key – read Budget 2008 compliments Nation newspaper

The BU household, and no doubt Barbados Free Press feel vindicated that our persistence and exposure of corruption of the ABC Highway Project and 3S Barbados Ltd has now been given validation by the highest office in the land. We must mention that the mainstream media gave this matter token coverage. History must record that the local media failed the PEOPLE on the matter of the ABC Highway Project. We wish to take this opportunity to condemn the local media in the strongest manner, for their passive behaviour on the issue of the handling of the ABC Highway Project by the former government.

There is no doubt that Prime Minister David Thompson is building is a populist position from which to govern Barbados. We applaud this refreshing philosophy to governance. Our democracy can only flourish if the PEOPLE fully participate. The Prime Minister appears at the early stage of his stewardship to be paying close attention to matters of governance. We hope that when integrity legislation and other governance initiatives promised are rolled out that our environment will be PEOPLE centric.

For the moment we will retire to listen to the budget. In the days and weeks ahead we will provide our views on the performance of the Prime Minister at his first budget presentation. in detail.

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118 responses to “Prime Minister David Thompson Grabs Centre Stage Delivering His First Budget”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    The People’s Democratic Congress // July 8, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    The Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals presented in the House Assembly and to the people of Barbados are the WORST and MOST BACKWARD to be presented by a Minister of Finance in the recent history of parliamentary governance of this beloved country called Barbados.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    “……sell of our land to pay bills”

    I would rather face hardship and deprivation than follow the dicta of a former economist who was also prime minister …. or is it it the other way round.

  2. ROBOT Avatar
    ROBOT

    How de rastoblasto can somebody praise this budget ?

    new cars gone up
    busfares gone up –(for school chillun)
    road tax gone up
    professional fees gone up
    rum gone up
    cigarettes gone up
    lottery playing gone up
    permits gone up -visitors vexx
    bicyle tax gone up
    cell phones
    new cars: environmental levy up from 300 to 1500 will increase price of new cars

    busfares: if school chillun can’t get buses-(dealt with in my previous post

    roadtax: in addition to all the other increases in prices before over last weeks

    rum : people buy rum, people not dogs and monkeys
    —–Man thompson hit everybody who were not hit before

    minibus men losing money as a result of budget
    bicycle men paying more

    HOW CAN THIS BE A GOOD BUDGET

    THIS IS A MUGGET——-mugged by bandelero thompSON

  3. ROBOT Avatar
    ROBOT

    in my opinion

    this is the worse goverment in the history of barbados

  4. Bush tea Avatar
    Bush tea

    So ROBOT,

    …exactly who did you think would pay for all the waste, thievery, mis-management, arrogance and ignorance of the last administration?

    Who did you think would pay for the subsidy that Bajans enjoyed on fuel since mid 2007 when everyone else in the world were paying increased prices? … our uncle BNOC?

    Where you thought the $400 Million for the ABC would come from?

    ROBOT, surely you have enough intelligence to work some of these things out….
    …what kind of processor chip are you using?!?

  5. JC Avatar
    JC

    I want to know who listened to Estwick.

    We were being robbed BLIND!

    WILL SOMEBODY BE CHARGED?

    I hope so (perhaps wishful thinking).

  6. The scout Avatar
    The scout

    Would anyone really believe that any opposition whether B or D don’t know the state of the economy? This antequated type of politics has long pass. The PAC was is there to bring the gov’t in order. A new gov’t need to start implimenting their policies and stop blaming the other side. The elections are over start doing what we put this gov’t there to do. PLEASE don’t disappoint me

  7. JC Avatar
    JC

    I still say some person (s) rob the tax payers blind.

    NOT FAIR!

  8. World Citizen Avatar
    World Citizen

    As a person that used to catch bus to go to school. and started with the transport board. Leaving school one day at 3 o clock sharp and only ariving home at around 9, during to no BUSES, i really hope that we have the buses to handle this change, and backup buses in case of an emergency, and back up plans incases the transport board workers strike. The children need to get home. I even remember getting passes at the bus stop because i was paying less money for a seat than an adult. So while it looks good.. hopefully we have the man power to handle such situations. However with the amount of children that get dropped school on the rise might not be a significant problem. but i for took other means to get home other than the transport board after leaving school @3 and getting home @9.

  9. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Is it really true that Owen Arthur and George Payne are hardly in parliament at the same time? Did i hear correctly that Rawle Eastmand abstain from voting on the budget? If so why are these events not listed as infighting in the BLP?

    Hammie Lah : I was the first person that i know of to refer to him as Barbados first independent member of parliament in modern times, and he did not disappoint.

    I am amaze that Kellman sojourn to parliament simply to be register, after Thompy as LOTO said the DLP will not be returning to the house, resulted in so much comments of disunity, and disharmony in the DLP from BLP hacks, as compared to the glaring refusal of de Independent man de rasta man to tow the party line.
    He backs the parish council
    He backs and voted yes for the budget

    Now let me say that i have never had a problem with a parliamentarian speaking to his conciense and not the party line, though it is a rarity in Barbados it is nevertheless the best thing for our democracy.

  10. JC Avatar
    JC

    Adrian no truer words have been spoken!

  11. bajan2nv Avatar
    bajan2nv

    Dear Mr. Prime Minister

    Thanks to you I will be much healthier by 2009 than I currently am now in 2009.

    Now that you have raised diesel and gas prices, I find it much easier and convenient to take a ride on my recently purchased bicycle every now and then. Further to that, now that u have also raised the fee for vehicle road tax and bicycle licenses I find even much more pleasure in walking.

    Food costs are so high that i have found it necessary to cut-out all fastfood from my diet as well as lots of meats and other items normally purchased from the supermarket.

    You have made arrangement for the raising of professional fees as of next year. With this in mind I will be much more careful with aspects of my health so as not to have to visit a doctor, chiropractor dermatologist or dentist anytime soon, as visits are expected to cost more from January 2009.

    My friends who normally visit at different times of the year also wish to thank you for raising the Visitor Driving Permits to $100, up from the current $10, as they too would be able to do alot more walking.

    My cousins are all indebted to you for allowing the school children to travel free on the buses. The expected overcrowded anticipated onboard the buses will create a sauna-like effect which means that they would have a good sweat on the way to/from work.

    All members of my family will now have a bit more money when we deactivate or cellphones. You have showed us that the cellphone is a luxury and not a necessity. Thanks for that $4 a month tax on cellphones.

    I personally cannot thank you enough. Your new policies are certainly revolutionary, you have certainly put families first this time. My family and friends can all spend more time together as my brother who until recently delivered cars to and from hotels in the Car Rental Business will soon be unemployed, my sister who conducts on ZR van and friends who work on Minibuses will soon all be able to congregate on the block from morning to night. Now that you have abandoned the Project Oasis (boys on the block) Program it has been one grand lime daily.

    Finally, with the increases in alcohol and tobacco the citizens of Barbados and Tourists alike can rest assured than vagrancy and drunks will be at a minimal, plus there would probably be less alcohol sales in our hotels, clubs and bars.

    Thanking you
    Mr. A. Small-Blackman

  12. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    QUOTE (Bendedknees @ Dec 31 2006, 11:31 AM)
    the big question is whether Minister Eastmond’s credo/reputation is shot! Is he now a liabilty destine to the political trash can.

    It may be within the halls of power, he is a threat to that concentration, but if he has the capacity to marshall grassroot support that would signal to the leadership that this support is beyond poltical party affiliation then he would become a Dennis Kellman, a Hammie Lah, that will benefit him and his constituency. The future of political longevity will belong to those parliamentary representatives that are true adherants to what Barbadians holds to be true true representation. I think there is much utility in a Eastmond, Hammie lah, Dennis Kellman alternative poltical institution, they have a momemtum that can lead to some watershed occurance in the poltical landscape of Barbados, but the challenge is to get these men on the same page and infuse with a vision of the future, and future that they can shape. Eastmond speech if he is serious would put in on the same philosophical plain as Hammie Lah. Barbados needs more of this type of leadership. Black enfranshizement will not happen with any of the current power brokers.

  13. Someone said the 'BLP Stalwart' Avatar
    Someone said the ‘BLP Stalwart’

    Did someone say that Prime Minister David Thompson is proposing to re-name the Democratic Labour Party? What is the new name or shame? The ‘CLP’. Yes you heard me right, the ‘CLP’. The Clumsy Lot of Politicians. It suits them from all that I have been reading since I could not really listen in too much. Prime Minister, give the people a break with the taxes! You somehow managed to convince them that change was necessary, please, for the sake of our builders and present and future generations, ease the pain. Please do not destroy the ‘middle-classes’ who trusted you only six months ago. Keep your promises of looking for ways to drive cost of living down; look to keep the standard of life relatively high; declare the assets of you and your team; stop firing ‘willy-nilly’; thanks for the free bus-fare for my children but they need some inspiration. Judging from your 2008 Budget, the future looks dim. Your so-called patriots were so clumsy in their deliveries, much of what they said brought no ease to the pains I feel for my brothers and sisters in Barbados. I agree with you Mr. Prime Minister, they are a Clumsy Lot of Politicians. Let’s see what else we can change in Barbados. The vote was for change. Use positive before that operative word and then you will begin to understand how and what I am feeling after listening to your deception called a budget. I am gone less you say that I did you something wrong and fire me too.

  14. The Devil Avatar
    The Devil

    Should Israel attack Iran, will this budget still be relevant?

  15. Bush tea Avatar
    Bush tea

    Devil,
    Should Israel attack Iran, the only thing that will be relevant will be Bush tea’s end game scenario… ask MME for details…

  16. Adrian Hinds Avatar
    Adrian Hinds

    Wunnuh mean the same Iran that claim they test fired 4 missles and produce a doctored photo as evidence? Think of Mia’s evidence of a 2,500 lock and see if you can come up with possible answers.

  17. The Devil Avatar
    The Devil

    Iran is not threatening anyone. It is Israel (and the US) that is chomping at the bit to attack and they DO have the capacity.

    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91R2K500&show_article=1

    http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330937574&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

    And as to why my concern see ….

    http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/10/business/opec.php

    So are our national planners taking into account the effects of spiralling oil prices in the event of conflict in the Mid East?

  18. The Devil Avatar
    The Devil

    Interesting, I have never been moderated before on BU. So I am politely enquiring if there is a problem with “The Devil” or is it that there are links in my post?

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