Submitted by Austin
1. The government of Barbados needs to implement contracting reform that allows greater transparency to tenders and contract opportunities that local non-elites can response too and win, and end bar side deal making with a few selected elites. All government tenders, contract/consulting opportunities, should be centralized and made available via the web, not the case today. Additionally, a policy should be implemented which require a percentage of all tenders to be fulfilled by Bajan small businesses as defined by adequate size standards. Bajans in key contract management roles need to be held to an ethical standard that end current non-ethical contracting behaviour.
2. The government via the BIDC should broaden it’s approach to attracting industries to Barbados by aggressively leveraging our educated masses, which is not being done properly today. The folks at the BIDC are using a Bajan business methodology to attract international industries to Barbados which in large part is not working as they are either unwilling or not knowledgeable enough for the task at hand. They are slow to response and ineffective (from personal experience). In large part new blood and thinking is desperately needed in all ministries with international facing responsibilities. Just try to open bidc.com which takes too long for starters and you will see what I mean.
3. Government needs to conduct an inward assessment of new goods and services that a renewed Bajan economy can deliver locally and on the world stage. With emphasis on creating sustainable good paying jobs, this has not occurred thus far.
4. The distribution of wealth in Barbados is out of control. With non-Bajans acquiring more and more as the years go by, simply not right. The previous government was so focused on attracting outside investment they left nothing for the average Bajan family. It has and is too easy for non-Bajans to setup shop at all levels to the exclusion of local entrepreneurs.
5. The general use of IT in Barbados is totally substandard, and can play a significant role in greater national productivity and civil service performance if addressed. UWI needs to find innovative ways to extend academic excellence into real world practical needs. To further illustrate this the Barbados Nation newspaper, a major newspaper with an online presence does not have one single job posting, and the Barbados Advocate the other major news outlet, has decided to post images of the entire printed paper online, which is embarrassing and goes completely against most of the values an Internet presence can offer.
6. The over-emphasis on tourism has proven to be a risky proposition based on the risk it places is when the world economy hits the expected bumps in the road. Let’s end the hotel and big house building drive which are often beyond the reach of local Bajans.
7. The VAT while a good idea needs to be reassessed based on how it is proportioned to meet national needs.
8. Promotion of a renewed Bajan work ethic is needed. The topic of foreign workers taking Bajan jobs is a sore subject for many, what most folks fail to realize is that a lack of pride in workmanship of many Bajans is partly to blame. While we want the work we don’t act like is and often do substandard work let’s be honest, key ingredients of our national work ethic has been lost along the way. We are being out paced by foreign workers, and it’s more than cost, it’s quality.
9. The governments needs to open up import export markets to more that the few elites that control it today. This is an essential part of future economic progress in Barbados.
And finally…
10. Failure to implement or consider some of these measures only serves to impact Bajan youth looking to take their place in our rapidly evolving world and nation. As it will restricts them from opportunities in the greater sense, and we all know what happens to young idle minds, just ask Jamaica and Trinidad.
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