The ‘jump and wave’ season in Barbados has forced us to do more than merely ‘put our hands in the air’ and ‘wuk up’ to the rhythms of sweet soca. The people are ‘pooching back’ on several fronts knowing that although the beat to ‘home drums’ are still within the remit of the populace, other international occurrences do impact on what happens in Barbados.
With talk of the IMF and global recession denting earlier public perceptions of Barbados’ growth patterns throughout the late 1990s and up to about a year or so ago, a number of familiar cries are caught amidst the sobering effects of the ‘Crop-Over’ music. Is Barbados on alert? If so, what kind of alert? And, how is it possible to overcome the shock of waking up next morning to the sounds of RPB or TC knowing that you have joined a growing number of persons categorised as the unemployed?
I am convinced that there is little comfort when the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados says that we are in recession. Dr. Williams asserts that “we have seen the performance of the American and European economies” yet she goes on to wonder “why should people be any more afraid by hearing the word recession than they would have before?” Clearly the Governor is attempting to bring some reassurance to Barbadians; but does this sentiment not amount to an alert? I stress on this especially since the vulnerability of Barbados to exogenous shocks and economic volatility are more debilitating due primarily to our economic size and dependence on the need to earn substantial foreign exchange than obtains in America or Europe.
Perhaps more staggering because it becomes individualised in the scheme of things is that while using statistical data “up to March 31, 2009,” the Governor pointed out that for the first time in the history of Barbados’ employment records, there were more men than women out of work over the first six months of 2009. This represents crisis in the context when in various spheres, persons are already alluding to the declining ability for attracting men into certain jobs namely teaching, the police, nursing and I can go on to add other categories. Linked to rising increases of unemployment and the pauperisation of men in global countries is the trend of growth and intensity in crime. We in Barbados cannot overlook such a possibility despite the hard work coming from our dedicated police men and women.
In similar regard, the problems facing the Barbadian economy at this time are equally social as they are economic. It is not surprising that the Prime Minister of Barbados continues to ride on a goodwill that springs from his momentous 2008 electoral victory in which people genuinely anticipated social and economic stability to be maintained. If changes were to come about, these were expected to be for the betterment of the Barbadian society. The Prime Minister now appeals to Barbados’ sense of resilience and “the perseverance and the ability of Barbadians essentially to stand up and defend what they thought was important to them.” I too choose this path notwithstanding that the Prime Minister reminds me of a former Prime Minister who told Barbadians that “I am taking you in my confidence. We have no intentions of cutting back on any employment at this stage.” Within months of that statement there was a rapid rise in unemployment which culminated in a trek to the IMF.
To be sure, and wanting to alienate Barbados’ position from what occurred when Mr. Thompson himself was a previous Minister in Government, and to draw a line of separation between Barbados and its CARICOM neighbours, the Prime Minister suggests that “Barbados still has an investment grade rating so we can still go to the capital markets … so that we are not in the exact position like Jamaica.” While I generally view myself as an optimist, my concerns compel me to probe more into the Prime Minister Thompson’s statement.
I am not buoyed by the fact that Barbadians appear unable to take this pacifying comment made by the Prime Minister with a sense of assurance. Indeed, there is some apprehension given that we do not have to be in the exact position for which Jamaica found itself in the past to become destabilised as a country. Barbadians do not cherish the idea of being reasonably close even if not in a similar position as Jamaica finds itself today. Jamaica has once again turned to the IMF for US$1.2 billion, the maximum it can get under a Stand-By Agreement.
The truth is that the Leader of the Opposition – Miss Mia Mottley’s query comes much closer to the real anxiety being quietly and gradually more expressed by Barbadians. That is, once Barbados has accepted the utility extended by the IMF so that the country can take advantage of its allocation under the Special Drawing Rights (SDR), and subsequently the use of these financial injections does not bring about the envisaged economic stability, avert the increasing numbers being put on the breadline, or turn around the recessionary decline, then what next? Answering this all important question becomes the crux of what Barbadians are feeling – fear at this time without being panic-stricken.
It is my contention that preparedness for weathering the economic storm would need us to pay particular concern at this time to the social stability of the country. This means not only emphasising the proposed initiative for government intervention in the market with the possibility for “the elimination of the middle man” so that consumers get an ease with the high costs of living, but it means that Government has to be sensitive in areas where such things as increases in water rates are not set vexingly high at this time of recession when more persons are finding themselves unemployed.
The current administration cannot afford to bring disquiet on the one hand to the private sector while on the other hand attempt to sideline them; the DLP administration should not simultaneously ask private consortia to keep persons employed while invoking an argument to rid the consumer of job providers. It is true that on November 23, 1993 in the House of Assembly, Mr. David Thompson said then that “the Barbadian private sector has no claims to greater levels of efficiency than the Government and there is a lot of evidence of that.” Even in acknowledgement that this could be the case although I think differently, evolving times do bring about significant changes in regards to perceptions and realities.
Rivalry in the public/private scenario to which the Prime Minister believes that “the distributive sector has not been as sensible as it should have been in responding to consumers” may hold merit but may also run contrary to really enhancing opportunities for easing the burden on ordinary peoples. Now is not a time for government to setup itself as replacement for private sector initiative and entrepreneurship. I urge the Prime Minister to proceed through negotiation and diplomacy rather than through legal declaration and/or autocratic connivance.
It is further compelling that the current administration has to do more than expand the social net to accommodate persons disconcerted from being pummelled into the abyss of unemployment. Pronouncements that the “period of benefit is extended from 26 to 40 weeks,” is the extension of a social entitlement by the state apparatus, but rest assured, persons have to maintain their security in employment (i.e. public and private sectors), and more training coupled with re-skilling has to take place, and leadership has to be aptly demonstrated by the Prime Minister, the administration, and the public sector.
These actions are preferable to that being manifested whereby Members of Parliament from the government side appear overly to concentrate on the blame-game without prescribing clear-cut goals for the socio-economic development of all Barbadians, and frustratingly, the opposition Members of Parliament seem distracted having to waste time and energy on defending a period of unprecedented socio-economic growth and people empowerment in Barbados (i.e. 1994-2007).
This is a prime opportunity for the incumbent Government of Barbados to demonstrate innovativeness. The administration through its leadership, policies, and actions has to show willingness and the capacity to socially and economically engineer change for the better. In a democratic society, differences of outlook ought not to be silenced by those wielding political power and relative control over policies and the public purse. Opposition political parties, civil society, and all manner of advocates can make meaningful contributions thus keeping the electorate in tune with prevailing events. In this way the country benefits and the people are comforted in part by the realisation that alternatives do exist.
I end this provocative piece by reminding Barbadians of the words that the then Prime Minister, the Honourable Erskine L. Sandiford stated: “we Barbadians have all worked too hard to build up our economy, society and culture to allow a stranger to come within our gates and arrogantly seek to pull down what we, as Barbadians, with pride have built up over the years.” Using the SDR facility is to our advantage, but reverting to the IMF for concessional or other loans is not a desired option for advancing this country’s need. We need to work together for the good of all Barbadians during this period of recession. Working together however does not mean always having the same mind-set.
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