Submitted by Alex Fergussion

In a DLP commissioned/Wickham Poll, on Tourism, the DLP received a performance rating of 6.0 out of a possible 10, even though arrivals had declined by some 13.5% by the end of August 2009 and revenues are down because of discounting. Fewer tourists are coming and the few who come are paying and spending substantially less. In fact, it is being said that Barbados’ tourism has fallen off a cliff. And instead of taking action, as any responsible government would – the DLP commissioned a Poll.

The ruling party bellyaches that there are negative factors affecting this Sector: the slowdown in the EU and US economies, the steep rise in oil prices last year, increases in airfares and airlift challenges as a result. But, every tourism destination faces the same conditions that the DLP is complaining about – and is doing much better than Barbados. PM Thompson will leave with his begging bowl soon, but will negotiate from a position of serious weakness.

Two years after being elected, where is the much-touted Tourism Master-plan that is supposed to be the centerpiece of this administration’s Tourism development efforts? Here is where the DLP should get an “F” and not a 6.0. But it gets worst and you know there is a serious crisis when the PM starts to do the Minister of Tourism’s job. Talk about no-confidence!

We are now hearing about targeting the Diaspora and ‘staycations.’ Despite this country having hosted World Cup Cricket and the Golf World Cup, and not withstanding the legacy benefits to Barbados of having done so – the man at the top of the BTA seem to have stumbled on the importance of sports tourism. Others talk about health tourism – even though the former BLP government left a blue print for wellness and active ageing promotion on the desk.

But what is the Barbadian reality? It has now become so ridiculous that we are hearing about money back if the temperature drops. The DLP’s big plan is to market our tourism product on the Internet and on the Blogs. My! Why has no one else in the world thought about such a very novel, earth-shattering idea?

Under DLP rule, Four Seasons sent home over 800 and numerous tourism projects have been placed on hold; workers in the industry are on week-on-week-off. Some have taken a salary cut, yet a 6.0 performance grade. How is that possible when day after day, yet another Barbadian loses his/her job? Another bread-winner goes home to tell the sad news. Will you be next?

The Prime Minister of Barbados held out the hope that Four Seasons would have restarted work in 2 weeks. It is now 7 months on and no activity on the site – 800 persons are out of work. Unfortunately, this is yet another in a never ending series of DLP broken promises! Eight hundred bread-winners have now exhausted their 13 weeks’ unemployment benefits but with construction down and investor confidence shattered, compounded by high cost of living – how will they buy food and pay their bills?

While people are suffering, the DLP tightens the screws even more and increases water rates by 60%, petroleum prices by 10% and is also doing all in its power to price gouge Barbadians on land tax – trying to please the IMF but increasing the same cost of living it promised to reduce. And, to camouflage its poor judgment, bad decisions and political incompetence, as regards the management of the economy – the DLP blames the global financial crisis, even though the major economies in the world are showing signs of growth.

But, where is the small hotels specific incentive package that was to continue the work started by the BLP to shore up this segment of the industry? And what is the status of the overhaul and upgrading of the Tourism Development Act the BLP articulated before it left office. None of these things have happened yet the DLP commissioned/Wickham Poll gave the DLP a 6.0 performance grade on Tourism. The people of Barbados are unemployed and suffering, yet the Dems pat their backs, as they get obese on the fatted calf.

We have an uncaring DLP government that is quick to listen to the dictates of big business and the IMF but reluctant to respond to the cries from the people of Barbados for relief from the severe pain it is causing them. The fundamental message that every Barbadian must hear and note – is that this country’s economy is in deep trouble but the ruling DLP does not know what to do. Barbadians are unemployed and suffering, yet the DLP celebrate and continue on frequent trips overseas at taxpayers expense! Hello!!!