Submitted by Dear Loving Person
“With general elections not due for another five years though, team Barbados urgently needs to address the economy and does not need so much political rhetoric.”
The above is an unsolicited bit of advice from Nation columnist, Sanka Price, posing as he often feigns to be the omniscient editor, who is attuned to the pulse of the nation. He would be well advised to take some of the same medicine he is prescribing. His “weakly” contributions are precisely that – partisan political rhetoric, being passed off each time as objective, analytical prose. I wonder if he reads the texts presented before he affixes his name. If he did, he would realize that his opening sentiments are acutely applicable to him.Talk about ‘spitting in the wind and it lands in your face.’ Well, his contribution in today’s issue was a classic example.
He is being used to fight other people’s battles, as week after week his dislike and condemnation of the DLP administration are patently obvious. The February elections are barely three months behind us, yet his drawn campaign swords remain unsheathed. But, he is not alone in this misguided effort to seek to derail this administration, rather than face the stark economic reality that is confronting EVERY OTHER country in the world – including the US, the UK, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Canada, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Venezuela, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, etc.
For instance, only last Monday, a public holiday, on VOB’s Brass Tacks programme, we heard still BLP hopeful, Indar Weir, and DLP antagonist, Dr. Sally Cools, asking, Senator Reggie Hunte, not once but three times, to “name at least 10 things the DLP did in the last five years’. Senator Hunte started by stating “we have built lots of houses”; but before he could continue he was unceremoniously interrupted by both of his above mentioned opponents who shouted: “you see, he cannot even mention one thing they have done”.
I wonder where these two individuals were last February. All the pertinent issues were well ventilated; the DLP’s achievements and challenges were clearly articulated; and the electorate spoke. Weir and Cools were probably on another planet. They certainly could not have been in Barbados during the campaign to ask such a question.
Well, without seeking to rehash the last election, here is some salient information for both of them, as well as for Sanka Price, Peter Wickham, Albert Branford, Patrick Hoyos, Carl Moore and the other BLP mouthpieces at the Nation, who also contribute their ‘weakly’ diatribe, seemingly oblivious to what is taking place across the globe.
Here are the unvarnished facts:
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the DLP executed a fantastic housing programme; building more houses in 5 years than the BLP built in 14 years in office – Workhall, Woodbourne, Parish Land, Marchfield, Greens, River Crescent, French Village, Cherry Grove, Vineyard, Coverly, Arlie Heights, Sayers Court, Pool, Forty Acres, Lancaster, Four Hill, Tweedside Road, Country Towers, Valarie, and Forde’s Road, etc. all attest to this;
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the 500 housing lot programme provided many low income persons with lots at $5 a sq. ft;
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NHC tenants of 20 years standing were given their units FREE of cost;
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land taxes were reduced;
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first-time home owners did not pay VAT on building materials;
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new Blackman-Gollop Primary School, new Maria Holder Nursery School and new Thelma Berry School built, while St. Ambrose Primary and Anne Hill School were rebuilt;
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sixth forms created at the Ch. Ch. Foundation and St. Michael Schools;
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the Lodge school was re-built;
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construction of additional blocs at Harrison College, the Alleyne School, Parkinson School, the SJPP and St. Lucy Secondary, and hard courts at Princess Margaret and St. James Secondary;
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construction of roundabouts at Boarded Hall, Coral Ridge, Speightstown and Lancaster;
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widening of the ABC Highway from two to four lanes from the Darcy Scott Roundabout to the Garfield Sobers Roundabout;
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construction of new Post Office at Oistins;
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Barbadian students can now borrow up to $100,000 from the Student Revolving Loan Fund (it used to be $50,000);
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the interest rate on Student Revolving Loans was reduced from 8% to 4%;
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revised income tax bands that gave all workers additional disposable income;
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major remedial work completed on the BIDC building at Newton Industrial Park, on which the last Government wasted $M9, and from which the last contractor ran off with millions of taxpayers’ $$;
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the St. John Polyclinic substantially completed;
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free bus rides for all students;
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free summer camps;
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energy grants provided to assist unemployed persons and the elderly, over 65 years old, in paying their electricity bills;
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establishment of a $25 millionTourism Industry Relief Fund to assist hoteliers and stakeholders;
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increase in the minimum wage from $200 to $250 a week;
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a massive $M60 Warrens Road and Traffic Safety Improvement Project;
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an intensified road repair programme along major highways as well as secondary roads;
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NIS unemployment benefits were increased from 26 to 40 weeks;
* Constituency Councils were established and are functioning; -
passage of the very important Employments Right Act;
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several Double Taxation Treaties signed to favourably position the country;
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construction of a Leachate Treatment Plant;
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commencement of a modern Waste to Energy Plant began;
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commencement of new headquarters for the Barbados Water Authority;
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start of a new headquarters building for CXC;
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improvements to the QEH and polyclinics;
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expansion of the Community Health Programme to include home visits to mentally ill patients;
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increase in old age (non-contributory) pensions and maternity and funeral grants;
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several elderly people’s home repaired and replaced by RDC and UDC;
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novel agricultural initiatives with small farmers in Christ Church, St. John and St. Philip;
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reduced the fiscal deficit from 9.1% to 7.4 % by 2011;
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maintained the foreign reserves at 1.5 billion $$ ( 18 weeks of imports) during the recession;
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laid the foundation for a green economy;
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initiated a Water Augmentation Project and a National Tractor Cultivation Project;
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started the Cassava Feed Project;
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improvement to the Drug Service and overhaul of the national formulary;
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intensification of programme to eradicate plant pest, like the Giant African Snail,
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which is now under control;
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re-introduction of an agricultural extension service to farmers;
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work commenced on a new Fairchild Street Public Market;
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and, single mothers no longer have to go to the courts for child support, and leave empty-handed and disappointed because of delinquent fathers.
All these were accomplished in the worst economic recession the world has seen since the 1930. That is the DLP’s record over the last five years, and there is more. Dr. Cools and Mr. Weir, on the other hand, you failed to ask Senator Hunte on Monday what the DLP inherited in 2008. You ought to be ‘fair and balanced’ as moderator, David Ellis, said during the discussion.
Here is some of what greeted us on assuming office: colossal wastage, cost over-runs, nepotism, infelicities, corruption, unethical hiring practices, dozens of over-paid but non-functioning ‘friends and family’ consultants, massive debt, an inflated and under-functioning public service – several departments and statutory boards were set up that are duplicating what others are doing, e.g. UDC, RDC, Invest Barbados, the Pan African Commission, etc.
So, armed with the above irrefutable evidence of the DLP’s achievements, and in spite of the difficulties created for us by several factions last time out; in spite of the worst global economic recession in 100 years; in spite of the related socio-economic challenges; in spite of the doomsday prophets; in spite of the persistent canards; and in spite of the back-stabbers, the mature and knowledgeable Barbadian electorate realised that the challenges and difficulties we faced were not of our own making (and that the opposition could not do better) re-entrusted the country’s affairs to a caring and capable DLP.
It is evident that Team BLP, including the above mentioned apologists, are still in anguish from the their February loss, and they are now hell-bent on fighting a five-year election campaign. The DLP will neither be drawn into nor be engaged is such tactics.
With God’s help and an understanding and reasonable electorate, we will continue to work in the interest of the vast majority of Barbadians, and pitch tent at the appropriate time. Not before!
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