How can any intelligent Barbadian not see that this is a mature, developmental budget which would lead to sustainable growth in the Barbados economy.
This budget addresses the structural issues :
Alternative Energy – The most incentives ever offered for renewable energy in any budget in the history of Barbados- simply BRILLIANT!
It is clear that unless we lessen the dependence of this economy on oil , we will continue to be exposed to massive shocks when the price fluctuates.These policies combined with the excellent work which Dr. Estwick is doing in moving the Natural gas pipeline discussion forward is exactly the right direction for energy policy in Barbados.

50% REDUCTION in the interest rate on loans from Student Revolving Fund in areas that will strengthen our competitivenesseg: network technologies,photovoltaic and wind generation,mobile and web applications, etc. Great move by an obviously visionary government.

Broadening the economic enfranchisement of Barbadians through initial public offerings of 30% of shares in GAIA,The oil company and the Port.

Health care expenditure on NCD’S can be reduced if we have greater focus on preventative care and screening- the $750 “ounce of prevention” tax credit directly speaks to this issue.

Increase in the tax threshold from 24 200 – 35 000 is a definite and significant ease for many persons.

I couls go on and on. The government presented an excellent budget in the context of the current economic environment and resisted the immature approach of promising things are not practicable at this time.
We all have our political preferences but credit mjust be given where it is due.

@Miller Jun29 637pm
Your analysis of Chris Sinckler is absolutely on the money.In a scale of 1-10 you have my 10 for that brief overview of the member’s attitude and total lack of decorum.What he has failed to recognise is that to earn the respect of others you have first to respect yourself.Sinckler has no self respect.

it was a moral incentive which the PM utlised to boast moral among his employees more often than not an employee produces more when they feel as if they are appreciated. by their employer .

@ac | June 29, 2012 at 8:35 PM |
“Can’t even imagine the disappointment and let down the DLP felt when on arriving to take up the helm . instead of finding money to implement the policies they had so proudly and truthfully given to they electorate found a basket of DEBT!”

Why was the DLP disappointed? Was it not the same party that went all over Barbados accusing the BLP administration of corruption and stealing from the treasury to enriched themselves and friends?
How do you expect to find money in a treasury that was allegedly pillaged during 14 years of BLP corruption, squandermania and economic decline?
But speaking with a forked tongue can lead you, “ac” into a political cul-de-sac. How can the Fatted Calf be slaughtered and shared among DLP politicians & Yardfowls as promised by the dead king when there was nothing left after the BLP feasting but a dead economic carcass?

If the DLP political preachers promoted themselves as Saviours to the poor Bajan people and would rescue them from the depressing and exploitative yolk of the BLP why did the same DLP administration, instead of removing the massive millstone of Debt around the people’s necks, have the gall and disdain to increase the debt burden twofold.

Answer that, “ac,” without cussing poor OSA!

The BLP yardfowls like to talk about the increase in debt. If you do not want to increase debt, you will have to cut expenditure- that is send home thousands of public sector workers- plain and simple.

This government could have done that and the books would look better but you know what – the same BLP supporters that are now talking about debt would be on this blog talking about the poor civil servants who were sent home and could not feed their families .
There would have been public meetings at every corner talking about the poor civil servants and the same politicians who right now are talking about the debt would have been saying that the government should have maintained the public sector employment which would have kept a level of aggregate demand in the economy.
There you have it- they criticise you when you do and if you don’t they will still criticise and as we saw in the budget the BLP brings nuff criticsm and no realistic solutions.
If the BLP proposals were realistic will someone please tell the country how the 500 million tourism fund announced by Alice in Wonderland will be financed- Jokers.
The BLP will fool those who allow themselves to be fooled.

@miller

In recent dates you have been uncharacteristically scathing in your comments of the DLP, have you experienced a millerlite moment…lol?

When all is said and done it’s politics. We had Arthur cussing Immigration Officers in his last term and we have Stuart putting his civil service above the others?

Of the two which should we take if there was a choice?

@Bush Tea | June 30, 2012 at 11:58 AM |
“Why take the politics overboard….
…besides, pissy as they are, there are BY FAR the best in the region…”

Do not compare yourself with others; you might become vain and bitter.
Mediocrity compared with mediocrity can only reveal mediocrity.

I am sure a lot of people in the International Business Sector (and stridently supported by other locals including politicians from both side of the divide) would not agree the Civil Service is excellent.

Do you know that the Ministry of Agriculture has more workers with PhDs that any other sector of Barbados? Now look at the state of agriculture!

When the bureaucrats can remove a significant percentage of the almost 30,000 unlicensed vehicles from the roads of tiny Barbados we will listen to the praises of the effectiveness of the civil service. People who have been involved in road accidents involving unlicensed and uninsured vehicles would not be too impressed with that vaunted efficiency.

To the pint and a half……….your backside is faulty, please cork it!

Why must people compare themselves with the other islands? Where does that get them? It will only further inflate an already large ego. But how does that help us? Miller I agree that “Mediocrity compared with mediocrity can only reveal mediocrity.”
“Do not compare yourself with others; you might become vain and bitter.” Miller I am afraid that has already set in and that is how the Barbadian is referred to by the islanders.

We need to stop looking over the ocean at others and start looking into our own back yards to take care of our business.

Islandgal246

I have come to the conclusion that you are not a Bajan. You are always critical of Bajans whenever they stand up for this country.
What is wrong with a leader of a country saying positive things about his people?
The Prime Minister praised the Civil service by making the point that the reason Haiti was having so many problems is because of the organization of the Public service.

Can you see what you people are doing to us because of our good nature? You lock up our fishermen, would not import our products, take over our business and then shut them down or restructure them.
I am praying that Butch Stuart do not get Almond because I feel he is going to do the same thing like what he did at Paradise.
Bajans must read the plot and see why the other Caricom people want the DLP out. They are vex about paying for medicines. Mia says she with remove that. They were told to go home and wait for a call; Mascoll says bring them back because Barbados needs them to increase the population so that more production can be achieved. What about our social services Mr. Mascoll?

You line up the skills sets of the ministers of the current DLP government ( Freundel Stuart, Dr. David Estwick, Darcy Boyce, Chris Sinckler, Richard Sealy, John Boyce, Donville Inniss, Harry Husbands, Adriel Brathwaite, Dennis Kellman, etc, etc, etc, and you line up the skill sets of the current candidates of the opposition BLP and a very strong and convincing argument can be made that the “paucity of the intellectual capital” actually lies in the BLP with the worst set of BLP candidates ever foisted on the people of this country.
You can spend all day cussing the government but as we saw in the last budget debate when it was time for specifics on spending cuts and solutions, what did we get from the BLP – Alice in Wonderland and a bunch of wild , irresponsible promises that not even the BLP supporters can tell you how they could possibly be paid for.
The BLP will fool those who allow themselves to be fooled.

@ ! | June 30, 2012 at 2:55 PM |

That surfeit of ‘misplaced’ educational achievements is indicative of the level of mediocrity and failure to translate paper qualifications into doable outcomes to advance the development of the country. A bunch of educated jackasses! Don’t you think that if the Bajan public see them in such an estimable light that their ratings and popularity would surpass the BLP and its leaders?

But then again, !, you don’t believe or accept Wickham polls unless they are the ones leading up to 2008 Elections.

I don’t expect you to be fair here at all. You accept polls when they are anti Owen or BLP but reject them when they reflect the general feelings of the electorate.

The comparison between who is being offered on both sides is worthy of debate. There is no evidence that the BLP can bring anything new, different and most importantly better to the table.
It is one thing to spend all day cussing a government but then the opposition must show clearly solutions. BLP supporters should recognise that this is not 1994 and the world is a different place but thr BLP is beleiving its own propaganda and therefore they beleive that there is an easy , magical pie in the sky solution and this was proven by the wreckless budget response by Alice in Wonderland.

Clown……Can’t a Bajan criticize their own? Is this how the PM is making Barbados ” the envy of the Caribbean once more”? If the civil service is doing a great job then commend them on that instead of trying to put others down in the process. It does not help our image one bit and we should not go around boasting to all about our accomplishments. They will shine regardless and others will see. You have forgotten in the 40″s, and the 50’s many Bajans went to the islands to work and seek a better life. Remember no man is an island.

You sound like you have eaten a fowl gall. We are an open economy and if people like you won’t invest in local businesses you should stop braying.Don’t blame me that the flying fish have packed up and jumped ship because it has become too expensive to live in these waters.

Now you blaming the Caricom community for trying to get the DLP out? Lawd you bazoodee or what? Clown you are turning too many cart wheels so sit down and take a rest.

“The PM’s comment must be taken in context, it is the silly season and being a politician he is wooing a rather large constituent of the voter block.”

the dlp is the recipient of much goodwill from the management bloc in the public service who were indoctrinated to believe that Mr Barrow gave them free education and they owe their success in life to the dlp’ consequently they support the dlp even though by and large the blp has been more generous in the overall scheme of things to the public service than he blp.phyrric praise might well be in order with elections around the corner but words must be matched by deeds. i for one am grateful to Mr Arthur for restoring my 8% and allowing me to retire with $200. more than i would have received with the cut in place; casual workers ought to be eternally grateful for having had their pension rights placed on the same status as established workers and the blp administration guaranteed the loan against opposition from the dlp to enable the nupw to construct a monstrousityin dalkeith road for the benefit of public workers. the bottom line is that arthur cusses them and gives them something tangible ; mr stuart praises them with nothing to show for it. words, words, words must be matched with deeds, deeds, deeds.

Amused are you suggesting to the PM to dig into the coffers because words alone are cheap? LOLLL And that action speaks louder than words?

This comment was meant for Balance………. are you suggesting to the PM to dig into the coffers because words alone are cheap? LOLLL And that action speaks louder than words?

@Island gal

your reasoning is stupid, what putting down what, you have been caought with your panties down in your stupid reasoning and dont want to admit. When you have the eleven plus results and you promote those who got the best marks, ar you putting down the others, or are you saying against the becnhmark of 100 these students reached that or against 90 0r 80 etc.

Simple as that red woman.

colin jordan want cussing and i am happy that sombebody got the balls to cuss the house nigger, that ungrateful bastard.

@Caswell

nobody cares if you think if is froth or not, the point is that some ease came to those paying income tax, and your party buget presentation was ransid piss.

TTP……..take you pointed end and sit on it!

remember it was Mr Barrow who titled the public service as an army of occupation a reference much used up to this day to malign public servants by painting all with the same brush. perhaps Mr Stuart’s comments are intended to redress the insult.better late than never. thank you Mr Stuart.

A look of bewilderment on Chris face in the picture as if Chris was thinking’ what de hell is this man talking about? he just doesn’t get it! a picture is indeed worth a thousand words

“The choice is a very clear one if you stand for Morals, Honesty in Public Life and good Values for you as a people from children to adults there can be no comparison to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for values and morals and decency.”

What a lot of crock… talking about morals isn’t Mr Stuart is an unwed father? Hasn’t he been caught telling untruths? And associating with “Friends” whose company robbed many of their money?