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In the immediate post-Independence period Barbados was blessed with political leadership which laid the foundation for the social and economic success we are still reaping today. The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow and the late J.M.G. ‘Tom’ Adams are the two who stand head and shoulders above the others we should credit. Some may argue that the local and global economic environment carried the economic capacity which afforded Barbados the opportunity to implement social and economic programmes that resulted in ‘Barbados punching above its weight class’. Regrettably that fertile condition has long disappeared and now more than at any time since adult suffrage, Barbadians will need to lever against the knowledge capital which we should have accumulated as a result of the enormous investment in education.
What we have seen from the political leadership since Barrow and Adams has been a ‘follow-pattern’ approach which has not resulted in any fundamental and strategic policy formulation and planning to ensure Barbados charts its own path; operating in a global economy not withstanding. Even as the world is changing literally by the week Barbados remains stapled to the economic fundamentals which have guided our path striking back to the Barrow and Adams era.
As is our wont given our proclivity for things American, Barbadians have become increasingly divisive on the issues driven by partisan political stripes. Not dissimilar to what the world is witnessing in the USA. Given that neither the Barbados labour Party or the Democratic Labour Party are not philosophical so far apart on the issues, it begs the question why a nation which boasts of a superior education system would allow ‘yardfowlism’ to compromise the greater national interest. More and more Barbadians have become adept at ‘rationalizing’ every problem which manifest itself in Barbados.
An article posted in Aljazeera has captured some points which should give Barbadians reason to pause and reflect. Although economic globalization has unleashed many advantages to the world it has also brought its challenges. One of the biggest has been how globalization has exposed the unskilled or inadequately educated citizen. Here is a quote from the article which resonated:
“What globalisation requires, therefore, are smart government policies. Governments should promote high-quality education, to ensure that young people are prepared to face global competition. They should raise productivity by building modern infrastructure and promoting science and technology. And governments should cooperate globally to regulate those parts of the economy – notably finance and the environment – in which problems in one country can spill over to other parts of the world.”
In a single paragraph the author, a Professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, has identified where Barbados and the Caribbean has fallen short in the last 20 years. Barbados prides itself on its education system which has perfected turning out the traditional graduate. Unfortunately we have not yet mastered doing the same for the technical and other non traditional vocations. In a world where we have become interconnected our ability to grow GDP or whatever economic measure we use must be to anchored to a strategy which is aligned to what is required in the global market. This is even more critical for a 2×3 country.
Coincidentally Rawle Brancker, a former cricketer and an entrepreneur of repute, delivered an interesting DLP lunch time lecture this week. He suggested that in the area of alternative energy, especially solar energy, Barbados should have been a leader given our head start. He also talked about the importance of government, banks and the small business sector collaborating to avoid catastrophic failure. He opined that the protracted global recession has decimated the capital base of SME’s in Barbados which historically have always been undercapitalized. The other point he could have made is the need for best in class regulation to better regulate companies with a regional footprint, CLICO anyone?
So far successive governments have demonstrated a lack of political will to recalibrate and in some cases dismantle parts of our education system to ensure it remains relevant in today’s world. If we continue to be laissez-faire and ignorant as to what is required to negotiate the global economic turbulence, then our socio-economic mosaic will begin to blur as it is already showing the signs. After all we are about building a society.
Why is it so difficult to appreciate that to build our economy mainly on tourism and international business is a joke and not sustainable in a world of globalization? On the flipside we import most of our food and let us not forget fossil fuel and we talk about growing as if we have an economy like Guyana which can gain advantage from exporting things produced. Read something somewhere recently, we have to start producing stuff that people want and sell it to get foreign exchange.
David | October 9, 2011 at 7:38 AM |
…because you continue to elect leaders with the right “lineage” per your earlier comment. If you did not know of Barbados, but of its policies, etc., would you picture Barbados as it is?
@Alien
The comment about lineage was to state the obvious.
This is the psyche of the Bajan as far as their expectation of our political leader is concerned.
The acrimony within the BLP exposes the point, Arthur/Payne versus Mottley. A clash of classicisms etc.
The last thing the party machinery funded by the shadows want is someone like Estwick.
Do you think they will sit back and allow it to occur?
@ DAVID
From that wonderful piece one can deduce that “JACK” is neither “NIMBLE” neither is “JACK” QUICK*…
So “JACK” won’t be able to jump over the current “CANDLESTICK”!!!
During the 19th century James “Orchard” Halliwell poetically, lyrical, rhythmic words portended that this idea of “jumping a candlestick” was part of the magical sophistry of “FORTUNETELLING” – a ubiquitous challenge which suggested more of CONJECTURE* & GUESSWORK* than actual hard empirical factualization…
Interestingly enough, GOVERNMENTS* and politicians are all still fanning these same decadent flames with most trying to jump the proverbial candlestick – yet “CLUELESS” as to how to provide any real answers to the current ills which plague our economies…
[10] YEARS AGO WE HAD:
Steve “JOBS”
Bob “HOPE” &
Johnny “CASH”
TODAY WE HAVE:
No “JOBS”
No “HOPE” &
No “CASH”…
It maybe time to reclassify the pro rata pay of our political representatives…
If pay must be based on performance – then most of these smart arses* will be earning MINIMUM* WAGES**…
Let see if they could live like some of our young mothers with [2] children and some old FOLKS* who have to choose between “heat” or “EAT”…
Time for these “BASTARDS” to swallow a “REALITY PILL”*…
@TB
Don’t you see any hope at all?
That said, the super wealthy of the USA, or at least some of them, seem to make material financial contributions toward various causes in their country, whether out of the goodness of their hearts or in appreciation of the support received from the society. Unless really quietly done, this does not appear to happen in Barbados. We have some individuals in Barbados that have benefited, sometimes disproportionately, from this society. Taxpayers of Barbados should not have to look for all, even if some, of the funds for projects of national importance, such as a new hospital, not when we have individuals that have earned billions from the support of the society. Is there something unique about Barbados that does not motivate the wealthy, who have much more that enough, to contribute to our wellbeing in a meaningful way?
@Alien
What do you think will have to happen to create a new normal?
This article makes for interesting reading and you should keep top of mind that T&T boasts if Integrity Legislation:
@ David, you really giving the lame duck newspapers in Barbados a run for their money when it comes to investigative stories.Great article!
The politicians these days are just looking for ways to line their pockets until their time is up. Pure and simple.
The world is falling apart, as it has many times before, and it will only be a matter of time until the crap hits the fan. When it does, there will be some who will come out to build it back up, and some who will follow just to get their money’s worth…AGAIN!
Did the eyes of David deceive him when he saw a picture in today’s press of Leroy Parris of Clico fame, Minister John Boyce and lawyer Hal Gollop at the function yesterday at Valerie housing project?
They were all with drinks in hand having a hearty laugh.
David | October 9, 2011 at 9:21 AM | @Alien What do you think will have to happen to create a new normal?
Life is simple and nothing is as complicated as we make it seem to be. I really do not think it is difficult. Our leaders need to have a deep genuine love for all of their people and make decisions that are for the good of all. Our leaders tend to protect people that do not need protection – people that have the resources to compete in this country under alternative policies. The protected see our leaders as ignorant, acting in the interest of the privileged, at the expense of others, to be manipulated. The position of the privileged – why work hard for it, if it comes easily. As I previously said, we are not as smart as we would like to believe that we are.
@Alien
You expounded well on what can best be described as a sound philosophical construct.
Let us can start to factor a heavy dose of reality now.
@ DAVID
Yes there’s always HOPE* – that’s etched in the INVINCIBLE* nature of the HUMAN* spirit…
What challenges us is the “WILL” to create that “HOPE”…
It cannot be acquiesced from an “ARMCHAIR” sitting in front a cheap Chinese-made 52 in flat screen TV…
You don’t put a soldier in a “LAZY-BOY CHAIR”…
You put him in the heat of the battle…
Many are too “COWARD” to even face the “MUSIC” far less a heated “BATTLE”…
@ David:
“Did the eyes of David deceive him when he saw a picture in today’s press of Leroy Parris of Clico fame, Minister John Boyce and lawyer Hal Gollop at the function yesterday at Valerie housing project?
They were all with drinks in hand having a hearty laugh.”
Are you surprised! These people are clearly telling us to “F off “.
We are untouchable! Forensic audit or no forensic audit! Nothing will come of it except the passage of time and clogged memories of the policyholders.
So you thought that FS was making joke when he said his pal is no leper.
You could talk until your tongues drop out you can’t touch us. You touch one, you touch all!. Circle the DLP wagons, the BU posse is approaching!
Just one of the DLP’s “Dudus moments”.
millertheanunnaki
Are YOU surprised? what can we do about it? what about the Four Seasons Project ?
@ BU David
Reality is…we’re screwed.
Unless we move about things smartly. Protect yourself, then attack.