“Given the Democratic Labour Party’s propensity to self-implode (whether in Government or Opposition) and compounded by the level of indiscipline and mistrust now evident within its ranks – the ruling Party will most certainly have to call general election very soon in order to prevent increased warfare within its ranks.”
Already tensions are high. The Dems have simply lost sight of why they were elected and seem to be putting their personal interest before the interest of Barbados. And so, the bitter struggle for power continues.
But while the Dems battle among themselves to see who gets priority access to the fatted calf and to feed at the trough, the rest of the society are left to wonder – exactly where is the “Pathway to Progress“ the DLP promised. BARP members are also wondering what have they done the DLP, that it has implemented a policy that prevents them from getting back the money they invested in Clico. No one expected that having been asked to pay a 60% increase in water rates, that the taps would be dry or there would be so many water outages! There is also great disappointment that the 2000 houses the DLP promised to build every year for the next five year, are not being built and yet the DLP is claiming success in its so-called housing programme.
How is the DLP transforming this society to meet the needs of Barbadians when so many are losing their jobs daily; businesses are closing and crime is on the increase? What type of society does the DLP purport to be building when it cannot even build the road at Boarded Hall or at Coral Ridge?
Wasn’t the DLP’s priority number one, two and three – to reduce the cost of living? Did they not promise to reduce the VAT on electricity bills? Why can’t Barbadians get their Income Tax refunds for two years now? Weren’t we told that Barbados does not have a cash flow problem? Then why can’t senior citizens get their pension cheques to buy a tin of sardines, since that is all many of them can afford, especially since this cruel DLP has already cut the vote of the Welfare Department by $5 million and the vote of the National Assistance Board by $2 million?
Why is it now flooding in areas that never flooded before? Where is the Financial Service Authority legislation the DLP promised to implement by the first quarter of this year? Where is the Rent Control Act? Where is the much-touted Tourism Master-Plan that is supposed to be the centerpiece of this administration’s tourism development efforts? 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?
What is the status of the overhaul and upgrading of the Tourism Development Act the BLP articulated before it left office? How many rooms have the DLP built since January 15th 2008 and what about the plan to expand the luxury tourism market and to construct and open a major internationally-branded five star hotel every two years?
After nearly three years in office, where is the Cruise Ship Pier and facility that the DLP said it will build in the North? Where are the Marinas, the DLP promised to build, to attract Yachts?
A man in this county who is being paid $155,000 of our tax dollars annually – boasts that he is also (while being paid a full-time salary by the GOB) working for five other regional Governments, yet this same DLP Government, which gave him that sweetheart deal – now bellyaches that it cost $52,000 per year to dialyse one person at the QEH and $100,000 a month for the QEH to outsource the dialysis service.
Imagine! The DLP wrote-off $19 million for the Barbados Turf Club and gave a company that it said was sound, well managed and well regulated, $20 million but is now twisting the arms of poor people who cannot afford to pay the QEH.
When the ruling Party promised “change” no one expected that it had intended to save Barbadians from enjoying a high quality of life and standard of living. But it took the DLP less than two years to create a fiscal disaster and a political nightmare in this country.
More than two years in office and the DLP has not fulfilled its promise of hope and change, neither has it been able to reduce the cost of living or ease grid-lock on our roads. In fact, since it came to office, prices have increased by over 12%. Barbadians are growing impatient! They know that the DLP has lost sight of what is important to them, as well as why it was elected to office. It is time to “change” to something better: competent Government and to what actually works for Barbados. Team BLP therefore Stands Ready to Serve.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.