I can’t see how we are going to avoid cutting some of the fat when brtter developed countries than ours are tightening their belt.Yes, we can be creative a save a few bucks hear and there by being more efficient and productive but what significant difference will this make.? Unless some miracle happen, some of our more generous welfare and transfer program will have to be tweaked or rationalized.Postponing the inevitable might win the directorate some political goodwill for now but at the end of the day reality and pragmatism wins.

To continue from above.
(7) Free tertiary education is a luxury. Issue scholarships to UWI based on a set criteria for A’ level (3 A levels grade A – C or 6 CXC Grades 1 and 2) in the secondary school system and a GPA of 3 or above for those students at BCC. Student not meeting the criteria will pay their way or obtain loans from the student revolving loan scheme

There has got to be some austerity measures taken to bring this country from the brink of economic disaster. Point made, the problem that politicians from both parties over the years, have encourage too many of their supporters to be mendicant and as such it is now hard to break them off. Sandi tried it in the early 90’s and it ending up haunting him, Sinckler has to find a way to convince the public that they have to tighten their belts. The problem that the Christmas season is upon us and this is when bajans find money from somewhere to spend and to cut at this time will not go down to well with a lot of bajans. We have to become a bit insular and look after the welfare of bajans first, no longer can we play fairy godfather to the whole of the caribbean, this will not go down well with the rest of the region. Along with stopping the free bus service for school children, ( only needy children be entertained), but those who can afford should pay a subsidised school fee and university fee, plus any student who fails his subject more than twice should have to pay full fees if he/she wants to continue. There should be a ban on luxury vehicles including SUV’s or a very high tax on them, plus any vehicle over 1800cc’s, these vehicle use up too much fuel, hence foreign exchange. There should be a luxury tax on the rich, especially those fifthy rich who use Barbados as their playground. These are some of the serious but necessary austerity measures that Sinckler will have to take if this government is serious of taking Barbados out of the economic pit we’re in right now. Let me warn, it will not be popular but like Sandi said “this is not a popularity contest.

Fair and Balance
Your Ideas are hereby Dismissed and you have ben sentenced to
TEN YEARS IN JAIL
Report to Glendairy Tomorrow—Yes Glendairy!
You must understand what Solitary confinement really means.
Dont let us have to come for you.
Report to Glendairy by noon

@ Under-Disguise
since my proposal are dismissed what do you suggest? Continue as we have been for the last 10 years.
If we do then maybe jail will be the best place to be LOL.

I think the DLP is committing political suicide by calling a austerity budget at this time of the year. The late David Thompson, himself, would have come in for some lashes for so doing but he might have been able to weather the storm, these MP’s without him are “green” and will be eaten raw by more seasoned politicians on the other side. I HOPE I’M WRONG. As I have stated earlier in another blog, it would have been better if P.M Stuart had call a general elections and given himself time to put these harsh measures in place and start to show that they are working by the end of his five year term, right now at the end of the remaining two years left in this term, these measures will now be hitting hard and the party can become very unpopular. Contrary to belief, it might only take a few weeks for the BLP to reunite if they taste blood, and go for the kill. As stated before the BLP is at the starting line just waiting for the DLP to false start and disqualify themselves.

Fair and Balance,
Dont worry with bloggers like Carson Cadogan and Under Disguise, they are living in La La Land and have their heads buried in the proverbial sand.
Read Sanka Price’s article in today’s Nation.
Government ran a current account deficit of $449 million in 2009 up $121.6 million in 2008. And between January and August this year according to the Central Bank the deficit is at $367.2 million compared to $303.5 million for 2009. By year end, the deficit may be more than one billion dollars. In others words, Government is borrowing money on a monthly basis to pay wages and salaries and running costs.
And where is this money coming from? Yours and my NIS funds. They are using NIS funds like a slush fund. No wonder their supporters keep saying things are not so bad here.
Wait and see.

C.C.C
I don’t know if you live her, but in case you don’t know, there are many students at UWI, Cave hill, who have been there for over ten years. They are registered for a particular course but very seldom attend classes, instead they can be found in the students’ guild gambling. Yet every year, my government is paying tuition fees for these individuals and after all this time they are no where near qualifying in anything except games of chance

SCOUT

“in case you don’t know, there are many students at UWI, Cave hill, who have been there for over ten years.”

I have asked people associated with UWI about your claim. They are all in the dark about it. Are you sure this is not just propaganda to fuel the assault aganist Free tertiary education by those who have benefited it from but are now trying their best to dismantle it?

Or better yet adrian build a hotel where the putting in the office block might not be big but i sure it would increase LESC buisness.

Scout you aren’t wrong but those are few and far in between vast majority of uwi students just want there degrees.

@The Scout

Agreed!

The thrust of this blog is the bad attitude to wastage and soft corruption which is endemic.

There are only two options available to who ever was the government of Barbados at this time (increase revenue or reduce expenditure) and since it is far easier to do the latter, then here are the options:

Government will have to carefully consider the recommendations in the last IMF Arthicle 1V Consultation and try to make its Medium Term Fiscal Strategy workable.

If I was the government, I would (1) never have brought a budget at this time – UNLESS!!!!! (2) Secondly, that $34 million for Tomas house repair, I would never have given it to UDC/RDC or NHC, I would have given at least $10,000 – $15,000 to everyone who house was damaged. Do you know what people could do with $15,000 at this time? (3) I would allow CBC every minute to show that 500,000 public servants went or are being sent home in Britain and I would also show what it happening in Europe to let Barbadian know what the world faces. (4) I would show what it happeing in Haiti/St. Lucia and those places where people are suffering and cannot get water. (5) I would put tremendous emphasis on Independence this year (highlight Barrow and the DLP) (6) I would reduce taxes such as on shops, petrolum prices, road tax and so on giving people more disposable income (7) I would give public servants a 3% increase, (8) I would assign some of those vancant houses built at Greens< Country Road and so on- to persons affected by Tomas (9) I would immediate establish the joint select committee of both houses on finance and the economy (of course inviting Arthur to serve on it and call the first meeting in three days); implement campaign finance reform, get the Prevention of Corruption Bill through both Houses of Parliament next week, THEN (10) call elections with nomination day on November 29th and polling day on December 14th.

IN CONTRAST – If the DLP is so mad as to let Barbadians go through Christmas without calling elections, there will be in serious trouble – split in the BLP or not. By Christmas most Barbadians will realise that they cannot buy a roll of toilet paper and it will be trouble.

Christopher my friend, (I kid you not my friend) this has to be an election budget – you inherited this mess, not created it. Remember that!

Study it!!!

Oh by the way, there is a danger in sending soldiers home, but why are they being employed in the first place ?

Bajan Panday,
Stop misleading the public. The nearly 500,000 civil servants in th UK will be sent home over a three to four year time period.

Secondly, the Government has no money to place so much emphasis on Independence this year, you aint see they cant light up and today is November 18th. After all the big party jump up for the last two years depriving Bajans of seeing the Independence parade, you now hear an announcement from a permanent secretary quietly saying the concerts were never meant to be a permanent thing but before that in 2008, the deceitful Maxine McClean was the one who announced the jump up. Time for a change she said.

Another reason that the Government and the NHC is in so much trouble is because in an effort to score cheap political points that they are building houses, they went and build all these match boxes which to me is an insult to Bajans and now nobody is buying them beacuse they are too small, too expensive and things are so hard. Many cant qualify for the loans. After all the big party at Six Roads, not many of those are sold and the same goes for Greens.

The government cannot afford to give civil servants any raise, nor can they reduce any taxes on petroleum products, they need revenue. Dont you understand that the deficit will be over one BILLION dollars this year.

I thought Owen Arthur was a spent force and now you want him to serve on a board to help you all. I heard with my own ears Chris Sinkler, Donville Inniss and David Estwick from the floor of the house shouting and telling the BLP ” We dont want to hear anything from wunnah. Wunnah had 14 years, now is we time and we gine do things we way”

Oh how time reveal things!

@Fair and Balance | November 17, 2010 at 10:35 PM | Some points for Mr. Sinckler to reduce the deficit.
(1) End the Free Bus Fares to all school children. Issue free school bus tickets to the needy as determine by the guidance councillor. Who can afford to pay should be made to pay.
————————————————
The main reason for school children riding free on the gov’t buses was to get them off the ZRs and minibuses. That was a good strategic move and should not change. I also disagree with your points 5 & 6.

Instead, I think citizens who are financially well off should be made to pay for their children’s education, and should be made to pay for healthcare at the QEH.

How could some of you idiots be calling for a general election in December when the St. John by-election has not yet taken place. Rather than worrying about retaining the government, the DLP needs to worry about nursing the economy back to good health…everything else would follow naturally. Quite frankly I doubt they have what it takes to get the job done anyway.

Stupse!!!!

Bajan Panday; Written like a true political strategist.

I think that your strategy above is probably the best way for the DLP to deal with our serious economic problems in a political way that might be to the best benefit of the people in the uncertain times we are now seeing.

Unfortunately, having already set a timetable for the St John bye election and the Budget debate it seems unlikely that a December general election could be possible.

I am looking forward to seeing the details of the Budget proposals but I would be surprised if they would be mistaken for an election budget. But hope springs eternal.

The DLP and Sinckler now have a golden opportunity again to be the best thing in Barbados since slice bread.

How often does a leader dies and a hurricance occurs which causes that party to spend $34 million? All the DLP has to do is in the Budget on Monday is to implement aspects of the new development model (to the top right of this page) which Mia Mottley explained to the BCCI.

The economy needs restructuring. Sinckler did not cause the problem but will get the credit for attempting to fix it in a serious way.

It will be something that Arthur never did and for sure the academic are already saying that it (the Mottley plan) makes sense. At least one half of the BLP will support it so to the brightest people in Barbados.

Here are the benefits to him and the DLP (1) Sinckler assumes the role as the man who finally restructures the Barbados economy (2) though not being an economist he immediately downgrades Arthur relevance even further (3) the DLP can then say that having to face the worst economic crisis ever known to manking, they restructured the economy and weathered the storm with no imput from Arthur (4) Arthur’s legacy is further crushed (5) the DLP is re-elected (6) democracy in Barbados is given a fresh start (7) Sinckler’s star rises as Arthur’s continues to fade, (8) Sinckler gains the experience he needs and becomes the leader the DLP wants (9) the DLP is no longer seen as being soft on the economy and would have bragging rights that they did in less than 3 years – what Arthur did not do in 14 (10) economic enfrashment will come to Barbadians who would now become a property owning class with the government finally realising that its role is more than to tax and spend.

Sinckler and the DLP can make history on Monday by implementing Mia Mottley’s vision. It is the national unity the late PM Thompson called for. I have to admit that I read it, listened to people like Dr. Marshall on the call-in-programme and others and they say it makes sense.

For me, it is not whose idea it is but who puts it into action. The plan would be good for Barbados and Barbadians.

Sinckler and the DLP must act now. Implement the plan in the national interest. This is too good an economic crisis to be wasted.

SPLIT THE BLP ON MONDAY AND SHOW THE DIVIDE – implement Mia’s Plan.

@ Fair and Balance

How much do you feel the airport cost, how about the sea port? Does the government have to own those or should the people: credit unions, churches ordinary Barbadians who have a few coppers to invest?

Why can’t SSA workers own the trucks, why now structure the transportation system and let the people own it and work for themselves? why does the government have to own the bueses?

what are the essential jobs in Barbados going forward?

Do you need NCC workers on government pay roll or let them have responsibility for as stretch of road with a contract to keep it clean?

What should the government own and pay for as re-current expenditure: the police, healthcare, education, water, and what else????

This country needs to have serious discussions, Sinckler has been passed a golden opportunity he should not squander.

The DLP needs to be reminded of its pledge to put the govenment closer to the people. Talk. Engage the people. Show them the plan. Discuss. Agree on a shared vison.

It is either we will fix our problem of the IMF will. Level with the people!!!!

@ Fair and Balance

TO FURTHER ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF YOU CLICK ON THE SPEECH TO THE RIGHT ABOVE YOU CAN READ AS I HAVE BEEN DOING.

HERE IS AN EXTRACT:

“The truth is that while we have made great strides in our physical and social development we have fallen behind the curve in the areas of government and governance and enterprise.

Strategic use of taxation and expenditure will continue to be part of the arsenal of government, but there are far more powers available to a government to unleash growth in the economy.

The power of a Government to legislate so as to influence behaviour, to regulate rather than to own, to facilitate and coordinate activities that would not otherwise happen, to empower our people through a myriad of ways are increasingly more effective and serve as beneficial tools in managing a modern economy.”

THIS IS WHAT SINCKLER AND THE DLP SHOULD IMPLEMENT BUT MUST ALSO START HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE.

WHETHER DLP OR BLP SERIOUS ACTION WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN EVENTHOUGH SOME CLAIM TO HAVE A MAGIC WAND AND QUICK FIX APPROACH.

That is also why the DLP needs to implement the Joing Select Committee now.

BAJAN Panday
Are you telling me that the DLP didn’t have a clue until Mia made her address to the BCCI? Then what were you doing for all these months because the budget is almost a year overdue? Isn’t the Mia plan you talking about not also be a BLP plan? Is she not still a member and M.P of the BLP or has she crossed the floor? If she is planning to cross the floor, wouldn’t she have done the very same thing Clyde Mascoll did, that the DLP curse him so badly for? Wouldn’t it be just as disgraceful for a former leader of the BLP to cross the floor as a former leader of the DLP did? It seem you are catching at a feather in the middle of a turbulent ocean. I hope Mr Sinckler doesn’t listen to anything you say but come with a solid well thought out plan to rescue Barbados

KISSMYA

Yah idiot . I miss yah … ja ja

Bajan panday
I’m not saying that Mia’s address was good or bad but for you to tell me that Mr Sinckler should usethe Mia Mottley Concept means what you had to offer was poor. You will be playing into the oppisition’s hand unless Mia is now one of you. If she is then you need to read my earlier comment and answer the questions.

@islandgal246 | November 18, 2010 at 1:05 PM | @ Anonymous | November 18, 2010 at 11:17 AM |
Has it worked? Is it still working? Who are these young people in uniforms I see and hear in these ZRs every week day just after 3 o’clock?
————————————
I am willing to bet that much less children travel to and from school on ZRs and minibuses. Did you expect that each and every school child who were taking those PSVs before would all stop? Why do you think the PSV operators were complaining so bitterly about their loss of revenue Miss Ting?