Barbados models its system of government on the Westminster system, in reality what we have is a watered down version. Take for example the practice of members of the UK parliament getting the opportunity each Wednesday to question ministers, including the Prime Minister, on matters related to the portfolios they have been assigned responsibility referred to as  Question Time.

When the Late Prime Minister David Thompson assumed office he promised Barbadians he would hold frequent post-Cabinet press briefings and he honoured his promise for a couple sessions. To be fair, he compensated somewhat by holding regular quarterly press conferences, in our opinion he became the most accessible Prime Minister to media of all our Prime Ministers. Regrettably he has passed to the great beyond and life moseys on.

We are two years plus from a constitutionally due general election and the Late Prime Minister David Thompson’s successor is an unknown quantity. The prevailing economic challenges will not permit the usual honeymoon period. He has to hit the ground running because Barbadians, we think, are beginning to awake to the realization that the economy is in deep do do. It cannot* be business as usual.

A few questions Mr Prime Minister which are of concern:

Barbadians were alarmed when the news leaked from the highest policy making institution in the land that there was a scuffle between Minister of Agriculture David Estwick and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dale Marshall. What caused even more consternation was the confirmation that a gun was ‘brandished’ during the fracas. We have subsequently learned that Minister Estwick has attended anger management sessions. Recent public appearances which publicised his relatively calm demeanour has demonstrated he has been receptive to instruction.

Against the foregoing Mr. Prime Minister is it not time to use your influence to insist that the Committee of Privileges rule on the matter?

Most right thinking Barbadians appreciate that the CLICO matter has become a very difficult issue for the government. The financial implications of a bailout which is estimated at 200 million dollars to inflate domestic debt is a burden which no government managing an economy in a recession wants to confront. The public relations clutter which the CLICO saga continues to generate will give the DLP Campaign Manager grey hairs. The reality that the financial woes of the parent created a contagious which exposed inherent flaws in our governance structure confirms what an earlier International Monetary Fund (IMF) report highlighted. Of note has been the lack of communication emanating from the Office of the Supervisor Insurance to assure Barbadians that some institutional strengthening has occurred since that office failed to prudently managed CLICO’s statutory deficit position.

Against the foregoing Prime Minister, Barbadians need to be taken into your confidence. What is on the cards for CLICO? The health of the nation’s psyche depends on it!

Sometime ago BU posted a series of blogs which highlighted a worrying relationship between Minister Denis Lowe  and Canadian Peter Allard, owner of Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary. Peter Allard is also well known for the unmitigated gall of suing the government of Barbados, including late Prime Minister David Thompson and other prominent Barbadians in the Nelson/Kingsland matter. To date Minister Denis Lowe, the Fourth Estate and others have stood idle while Minister Lowe continues to nurse the public purse. We are not happy that Peter Allard assisted Lowe in his election campaign and that he (Lowe) continues to be responsible for a ministry which is of interest to Allard. With a Cabinet reshuffle imminent nothing less than the firing of Denis Lowe will seem to be acceptable.

Against the foregoing Prime Minister, BU remains hopeful that you are able to send an unequivocal message to Minister Lowe that there is a conflict of interest position to which you have to respond. Do you have the balls to make the right decision?

Final question from BU. Our reliance on fossil fuel has reached the point of being ridiculous. Why is it we have not advanced a credible national renewable energy program? Such an approach would help to build energy security. It is time our governments got serious about protecting future generations of Barbadians. This year we learned about a loan (45 million) which government procured from the IADB to build an energy framework.

Against the foregoing Prime Minister, when will you be in a position to announce a coherent government renewable energy program?

The list of questions is not exhaustive.