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No Pain No Gain: Barbados Economy On Life Support

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Dennis Clarke, General Secretary, NUPW
Pedro Shepherd, President of BUT

The tenor of public debate about where the government will cut 400 million has become interesting to follow in recent days. Can we pick up the conversation from before the general election when the platform cry by the government was that public sector workers will not be sent home?  A few months later, and as recent as today, we have had to listen to the head of two unions address the prospect of government slashing public sector jobs.

First up this week we listened to an incoherent position from Dennis Clarke of the NUPW. He suggested that public workers have not enjoyed a pay increase in recent times, and with trending inflation, public sector workers have suffered a reduction in spending power.  He went on to suggest the NUPW will not support any initiative to cut public sector workers. He acknowledged that although the government is having a cashflow problem, one option available to avoid sending home workers, is to dismantle at least one statutory board which he did not reveal. Perhaps Dennis Clarke, the head of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), is privy to the content of a report which the government commissioned with the brief to rationalize statutory corporations. Does Clarke understand that rationalization through mergers of government agencies must of necessity displace jobs?

Today on the news Pedro Shepherd, head of the Barbados Union Teachers (BUT), appeared to have taken a defensive position by suggesting that the teaching service will be the last sector to be touched by a cash strapped government. How the hell does he know what the government will do?

It is a moot point to debate whether any right thinking Barbadian would want to see people sent to the breadline. However, there is a reality of now which cannot be ignored. The government has been borrowing to pay salaries which is an unsustainable position. If the government is committed to maintain staff levels, what are the options?

The reality of now is that we have a burgeoning current account deficit which has also eroded the external position. In a simple descriptive, the economic is on life support and immediate interventionist measures must be taken NOW.

No pain no gain.

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129 responses to “No Pain No Gain: Barbados Economy On Life Support”

  1. Can't wait Avatar
    Can’t wait

    Dennis Clarke is a big ass fraud. From the time I heard him in May of this year talking about the strong possibility of public sectors workers going home, I know he was no blasted good. He did not even put up any defence for the workers. He, the NUPW and the BUT are all wrapped up and tie up in this inept government. I heard him (Dennis Clarke) today on one of the newscast on VOB resisting any thought of cutting salaries. I nearly fall out my chair. All of that talk is just public relations. He and Pedro shepherd, head of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) know exactly what is to come. I do not know how workers still continue to pay union dues to the NUPW. The union is a sell out. I will take my chances with the BWU .At least Sir Roy will keep some noise in the workers interest.

  2. ac Avatar
    ac

    who wrote this article ! Onions1 I didn’t even bother to look. So predictable. the same ole same ole… wunna sound so miserable, Wish the yardfowls well! Btw miller yuh Big boat no yacht is ready for pick up. so you can sailed off into the sunset and neva have to worry about bubadus any more, Get my Drift!

  3. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    As Ryan Straughn pointed this government has passed the point of no return. A line has already been drawn in the sand and crossed like the Rubicon.
    Nothing more is negotiable and the die is cast like a fait accompli.
    The only thing left to decide is if this government will be brave enough like Sandie’s and break its promises to the electorate or leave it up to the IMF to jettison the entire Cabinet to sink or swim like wooden chess pieces in the shape of puppets as flotsam.

    If this administration can’t even get the simple things like cleaning up the muck and debris after weeding the gutters within 48 hours how on earth can we expect the PM to be so proactive as to actually make such a profound decision without being pushed into a corner?
    This is one occasion when molasses will run backwards up a hill like water off a duck’ back.

  4. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac | July 2, 2013 at 7:55 PM |
    “so you can sailed off into the sunset and neva have to worry about bubadus any more, Get my Drift!”

    Not your drift but your stench from the rotten lies you are about to emit from your intestines of hypocrisy and deceit.

    Don’t worry about the miller’s yacht but more about the WTE plant you plan to build. It will come in handy when the poor people start to fall like flies after the dreaded “D” word becomes a stark reality later this year should you guys fail to do as you have been told. Cut, cut, cut and more cuts!
    How many public sector workers are to go again? Donville’s 10,000 or Stinkliar’s 6,000?

  5. Tired on nonsense Avatar
    Tired on nonsense

    @millertheanunnaki | July 2, 2013 at 7:55 PM |
    As Ryan Straughn pointed this government has passed the point of no return. A line has already been drawn in the sand and crossed like the Rubicon.
    ———-
    miller are you a shut in ? If not you should find an activity more constructive than posting doo doo day after day night after night .

    Do you even rise to take a leak?

    I put it to you next year this time Barbados will function as normal without devaluation. Unemployment will be at same rate it was under Owen 10%- 11% and Bajans will be getting on with their lives.

    The Governemant will be doing their job of governing Barabdos fairly and fearlessly. Barbados will remain the NO 1 Developing country in the world.

    The social services will still be intact. Schools, transport, hospitals all will be working next year. Book mark this fool.

    Go outside for a little fresh air clear your tiny brain and stop posting the doomsday day stuff you wish on Barbados. You BLP yardfowls are delirious at prospect of economic collapse. Well its not going to happen.

    What Ryan Straughan what!

  6. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    No one can help you stupid Dems!

    miller, do not bother to take this idiot from George on!

  7. Gabriel Tackle Avatar
    Gabriel Tackle

    According to data from Maxine and Denis low,the full complement of public sector workers is about 30000 when you add the money sucking consultants to the civil service complement(18000)and the statutory boards complement(12000).Here is a synopsis of what will happen when the IMF comes a visiting.
    First the number of Ministers will be cut,followed by Parliamentary Secretaries.The remaining complement will have to bear a 20% cut in salary,allowances and pension privilege.Statutory Boards will be stripped and chopped to the bone.Once again existing legislation that is a burden to employers such as the Severance Pay Act,the Holidays with Pay Act,The Employee Rights Act, will all be reviewed towards helping to attract foreign based investors.Free education other than Primary will be no more.Free Health care would be revisited and rebranded.The text book scheme will be revisited.The Constituency Councils will be demolised like the first order of business.Bus fares will increase to $2.00 initially and no more free rides for anyone.Civil servants will have a wage freeze for the next 5 years.All overtime will be eliminated except in most unusual circumstances.Barbados Water Authority will be downsized,Port Authority will be downsized and made more effective and efficient.No new hospital will be built until growth returns to the economy.Privitization will be the order of the day.Business must flourish if Barbados is to be sucessful.Government must provide the enabling environment and stop meddling in matters more efficiently run by the private sector.

  8. ac Avatar
    ac

    Day afta day the BLP mantra goes on and on listen up Folks,
    The IMF knocking at the door,
    Ten thousand people to be laid off
    Devaluation of the dollar
    Barbados down
    STLUCiA up
    THe governor is a liar,
    everything Wrong
    Sincklar is Mt stinkliar
    The PM is asleep
    On and on from sunrise to sunset,, the BLP yardfowls cackling like wild geese, can’t understand that they lost the election. dat should neva had happen.
    last but not Least ,,
    In one thunderous voice they yell and THe dlp stole the election!
    Wuhloss

  9. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Tired on nonsense | July 2, 2013 at 8:25 PM |

    And to think you spend just as much time reading the same nonsense and doomsday shit as the miller writes!
    Now on whom does that reflect? At least I shit do you?

    Yes do your bidding and cuss the miller, cuss Ryan Straughn, cuss Prof. Howard, cuss Mia and OSA; even cuss off the credit rating agencies and even the Governor of the CB.

    But one thing we know you dare not cuss; the IMF who will be your lender of last resort!
    It is not only the miller that is telling you that you Bajans have to go through some serious sacrifice and pain but the PM himself!

    Before you really get tired of nonsense just remember you cannot use the new money to pay for imports. In case you don’t understand it takes imports (paid for with forex which you don’t have much of) to maintain the same transport system, schools and other social services not cow itch growing in cane fields.

    BTW, nonsense where were you a few weeks back when the miller was looking down on your little rock from a distance. Taking a leak in Bush Hill?

  10. CHAUCER Avatar
    CHAUCER

    Notwithstanding the DLP mouthings, the reality is that the twin deficits of the
    Bdos economy coupled with IADB & IMF will dictate the events . Bdos requires
    FDI and local private sector funding, $500M annually for the next 4years for sustainable growth. To restore investor confidence , Bdos must reduce the evil twin deficits.

  11. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

    This maybe the best thing to happen to Barbados ,When people have JOBs under paid and running like slaves and getting no where. Just working to pay over priced things.
    Now that said , they will have time to listen to Us as why things are the way they are , as warned .
    Fraud is the case in all things wrong with Barbados with the BLP and now the help of the DLP.
    Over price land , over price rents, over price food , VAT, road TAX and more.
    When We show and tell them what did not have time to hear when JOBBING and running up and down , Now they might find time to read, look, see, listen to what the 2 crook parties were doing and then RUN them out of TOWN, Now they can see first hand what buying and paying for VOTES get you ” NOW WHERE”,
    We are working hard even from the Registrar of the High court today playing game with the returns , Not want to to give , showing books and section , talking out her neck , behaving like Dottin working for Mia.
    We will deal with her soon, You have to see it to call it , We seen it 3 times going there and she running in her Office.
    As you can see , we have RATs in the People house and Rats in the high court also. Nasty crooks all in this 2 parties fraud on the People government ,
    The worker now in Barbados now see what happen when you sell your birth right ,Slave to others again , BUSSA , seem we need to chain his feet and hands at the roundabout to send a message to the People of Barbados,

  12. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Even a bushman as experienced in pessimism and low expectations as Bushie has been over the past years is shocked at the level of idiocy and suicidal ignorance being displayed by Bajans – including BU political regulars.
    WHAT WE ARE FACING IS NOT A PARTY POLITICAL DIVIDE.
    BOTH parties are equal idiotic, dishonest and inept…and the fringe third parties have been totally asinine….

    Here we have a small unproductive country full of educated hifulluting brass bowls who are so inept that they cannot even manage their OWN businesses, banks, utilities, news organizations, or hospital…..but who sees themselves as “developed”…

    What are we good at….?
    Wukking up half naked in public – as if it takes some special skill or creativity to pretend to be having sex….
    Writing the most inane and childish songs, 98% of which are somehow hinting about…you guessed it….having sex

    These brass bowls just happen to live on the single best piece of real estate anywhere on this earth and like true brass bowls, have been steadily selling that birthright like a young prostitute sells her natural beauty during her youth to the highest bidders.

    So rather that use our much-vaunted education to learn to become CREATIVE, PRODUCTIVE and INGENIOUS, we have been selling our birthrights under the guise of tourism to foreigners with money.

    PEOPLE! ALL prostitutes …..A L L !! …eventually become old hags- with bad reputations, bad health and bad memories.
    Can someone PLEASE tell this to Adrian Loveridge? Tell him what happens to 47 year-old-HOs……Explain that there is INEVITABLE DECLINE at that age… not growth.

    The only kind of people who can expect growth as they age are those who are productive, creative and hard working during their youth. Typically, the OPPOSITE is true for those who sell their birthrights for an easy sweet- life during their youth.

    So what economic reform are we now seeking? Do we expect that the international johns will remain loyal to us for sentimental reasons…when so many fresh young options are available?

    Are we supposed to suddenly become productive. creative and hard working ….after 47 years of easy sweet life?

    Wake up and smell the reality, Bajans….our future is identical to that of old whores…..nothing but memories of the “good” times while scrunting to meet basic needs….no productive skills on which to fall back, and ignored by our former suitors

    @ Miller
    Listen Bro.
    It is time to stop the childish political shite talk now. The election is DONE and THE BRASS BOWL people have spoken.
    ACCEPT THEIR DECISION NUH! RESPECT the idiots who wunna crave to represent and serve nuh!

    ANY POLITICIANS WHO CANNOT RESPECT THE PEOPLE’S DECISION WHEN IT GOES AGAINST THEM DO NOT DESERVE TO BE EVEN CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE OFFICE.

    If indeed wunna want to SERVE the people wunna MUST be able to RESPECT those people and their decisions by vote.

    Most importantly, it REALLY is the ultimate in “brass bowlery” to have BLP supporters sounding gleeful that our COUNTRY is halfway down the drain…

    CAN WE NOW collectively FOCUS ON WHAT a 47 year old whore can do – in order to guarantee some form of meaningful and successful middle age life..?…for all our sakes…?

  13. CHAUCER Avatar
    CHAUCER

    @GT
    Your prescription is bitter, but real. It is estimated that layoffs will be in the amount of 2,500 being temporary workers in the civil service and redundancies in the statutory corps.

  14. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @Prodigal Son | July 2, 2013 at 8:40 PM |

    Prodigal, he is a very lightweight.
    Any time a person seeks to attack the writer instead of what is being written we automatically know we are dealing a tired idiot full of nonsense.

    The miller writes shit but up to this day that nonsensical clown has not offered one proposal to trim the $400 million from the expenditure budget.
    Everything is fine in La, La land with all social services to remain intact despite the PM’s dire warnings that it will not or cannot continue to be so.

    Tired on nonsense is just like a silly irritant or a fly around a horse’s ass.
    BTW, I need to take a leak, are you coming to watch “tired on nonsense?

  15. David Avatar
    David

    While the blog states the obvious i.e. that the economy is performing poorly. Those from the DLP yardfowl brigade can refer to what the Governor of the Central Bank had to say at the Consultation. BU is interested in the role the union (labour) has to pay in the road map which we have to agree from this point onward.

  16. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Bush Tea | July 2, 2013 at 9:08 PM |
    “CAN WE NOW collectively FOCUS ON WHAT a 47 year old whore can do – in order to guarantee some form of meaningful and successful middle age life..?…for all our sakes…?”

    Now that you have trumpeted all sound and fury signifying nothing what do you have to offer or tell that 47 year old whore? Get off streets!

    Come on Bushman, tell us what to do. Your Education revamping proposal of 100 million for the system and 400 million for the “good” teachers has already ended up in smoke according to Jones pronouncements of pending cuts.

    What else can you offer to the whore other than bad talking the miller who is constantly criticizing but also offering alternative proposals / solutions? Much unlike you who condemn everything but offer no substitute other than your imaginary BBE.

    Now Bushman once again focus and put some proposals on the table to deal with the $400 million cutback and stop bad talking the same 47 year old whore.

    BTW, the miller is not your “BRO” as long you refer to tourism as prostitution and Bim as your “HOE”. Your BBE will be most upset and angry too!

  17. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Why are you referring to Dennis “Goat Parts” Clarke and Pedro “Mutley do Something” Shepherd? They have both been discredited in the eyes of workers in this country. They are apologists for this Government. Since Dennis got his duty free Audi motor car, has he spoken up publicly in support of workers against the Government. As far as I can recall, he was the first person to call for a wage freeze in 2010.

    Pedro was seeking the nomination to replace Hammie La: don’t forget that. Elections are around the corner whether you like it or not and he is keeping his options open. I remember hearing him blaming students for teachers’ decisions to retire early. When many of the teachers are blaming principals and being overlooked for promotion through political interference, but he is not honest enough to put forward the real reasons out of fear that the Dems would be angry and he can’t have that.

  18. CHAUCER Avatar
    CHAUCER

    @BT
    What you have identify is a moral, social and political crisis which is the root of the current economic crisis, but in the short term the economy must be addressed. A philosophy of BAJAN ZIONISM must be part of our education at all levels plus compulsory national youth service

  19. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    I attended some of the DLP meetings this past election cycle. I remembered speakers especially Sinckler saying that during the last 5 years that the civil service did not had job cuts. I don’t remember any speaker talking about what will happen to the civil service in the future. Someone can correct me if. But I just saying what I heard.

  20. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    @Caswell Franklyn
    “Since Dennis got his duty free Audi motor car,….”

    Really? If true, what was the basis for getting a duty free car?

  21. David Avatar
    David

    @Kevin

    As recent as Sunday on the VoB talk show Minister Inniss stated that he does not subscribe to layoffs in the public service. Yes one can argue that he stated his personal opinion but when a minister speaks one can make a reasonable conclude that he does so under the cloak of collective responsibility.

  22. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Nostradamus

    I don’t know the basis for getting the duty free car. All I know is that NUPW is allowed duty free educational material for the Public Workers’ Academy, according part 2 of the Customs Tariff. Outside of that the Minister of Finance can waive any tax or duty but he is required by law to publish it in the Official Gazette. Three years have passed and the notice has not been published. Smells fishy to me.

  23. LOOK Avatar
    LOOK

    Detroit, Michigan (United States) will fully recover, Barbados, probably not.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Did Minister Sinckler continue on the same path as recommended by outgoing Minister of Economic affair Estwick BEFORE he was moved to Agriculture by Thompson?

    Four weeks ago, as Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs I presented a paper to cabinet to make adjustments to the medium term fiscal strategy in light of the prolonged recession in Europe and the slow growth in the United States. The thrust of the Cabinet paper was to high-light that the strategy of expenditure cuts and revenue gains through increased efficiency, would not be enough to have the Medium Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) achieve its macroeconomic targets and that further cuts in the Current Account Expenditure in the areas of goods and services would be counter productive.

    Barbados has a very heavy debt burden. We now pay $981 million BDS per year from a-revenue of $2.4 billion BDS. This is the key to the continued underdevelopment of the country. I suggested that we introduce a debt restructuring program to take advantage of the very low international interest rates being offered on Country to Country loans and Private Sector Loans. The proposal from Economic Affairs highlighted that we could realize a savings of $541 million dollars per year for 25 years if my recommendation is followed by interest rate savings as well as principle savings. This Strategy would achieve the targets in the MTFS by 2012 and show a healthy surplus on the fiscal balance by 2014 and reduce the Debt/GDP ratio to 66% of GDP by 2014.

    I would like to wish my colleague Minister Sinckler, all that is good, and that he in his new capacity of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, adopt the measures which I have presented to cabinet…for these measures I am sure would restore Barbados’ economic balance and reestablish Barbados’ international investment grade to A instead of a negative outlook.

    http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/estwick-pledges-continued-service/

  25. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Miller
    Bushie offers no solutions…..? R U KRAZY?

    Our biggest (and only REAL problem) is a complete lack of leadership and vision.
    Bushie DETAILS a mechanism AND THE PERSONALITIES that could have made it work – for a completely NEW approach to professional leadership and for open and transparent governance…and you say Bushie offers no solutions…?
    ..while you are still stuck in your 1950’s BLP /DLP back and forth….

    Bushie outlines the philosophical basis AND the solution to our education mess (EWB banked on education rather than merit as a driver of national development) and the solution (even now) to CHANGE THIS PHILOSOPHICAL FOCUS.

    Bushie identifies the solution to the sugar industry. ….headhunt and recruit a sugar czar and assign exclusive management authority..removing the politics and the graft.
    …..while your only contributions have been to cuss Bushie and to bring back Arthur and Mascoll…..and privatize (ie go back to plantation times)

    …and if you don’t get the point about tourism then perhaps you ARE as dense as many bloggers are beginning to note…
    Wake up Miller… 🙂

    @ Chaucer
    That is a correct analysis, and the examples that you have given are excellent.
    HOWEVER, unless we first address the ROOT underlying rot, those EXCELLENT ideas would be brought to NOUGHT before they even get launched….like many many others….
    By greed, incompetence and political graft.

  26. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    The DLP is doing well real well
    The Economy is shotting on all cynlinders
    Barbadians are hapy

    Wait I now realise it
    Its a Dream
    The 3 Ss in ASSES is for Stuart/StinkLiar/ Sealy

  27. David Avatar
    David

    Here is a blog which BU posted in 2010 when Minister Estwick tabled the idea of a wage freeze. Sometimes it is good to look back to help with a sober approach/outlook t the future.
    #####################
    Is The Ship Sinking Captain Thompson?
    Posted on February 3, 2010 by David | 41 Comments | Edit

    Prime Minister of Barbados David Thompson
    The Financial Times reported today of Moody’s warning to the USA concerning its burgeoning budget deficit. Unbelievable some would say. It seems Barbados is not the only country coming under the microscope from the international credit rating agency. In a nutshell the triple A rating which the USA has routinely enjoyed maybe under threat. Truth be told BU will believe the markdown when it happens.
    Almost two years since the collapse of the global financial market and as predicted the lag indicators are beginning to take hold in the Barbados economy. In the lead productive sector tourism, revenue has contracted, unemployment has bent upwards passed 10%, foreign direct investment has significantly dwindled …The financial state of the global financial market continues to challenge all governments around the world. To accentuate the problem is the fact Barbados has a new government which has to acclimatize to the workings of government operating in a complex global environment.
    On the weekend Minister David Estwick announced at a constituency meeting his concern at the ailing economy and indicated he would recommend a wage freeze to Prime Minister David Thompson. Prime Minister David Thompson has subsequently been reported in the media as supporting Minister Estwick’s call. It makes it a no-brainer for anyone to suspect that the Barbados economy must be tottering on the brink of disaster.  To be honest the calls by Minister Estwick backed by his boss conjured up a sinister reminder of the dark days of the Sandiford government when the 8% cut to the public purse was administered. Prime Minister David Thompson will have to work his magic and some to remove his DLP government from the shadow of the Sandiford administration of the 90’s.
    The reaction to Estwick’s announcement has been fast and furious by the usual suspects. Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley has made a strong statement condemning any plan to freeze public sector wages. The unions have roundly condemned the suggestion. Even David Commisiong has been quoted in the media asking why. In fact he has suggested the government is mouthing IMF recommended policies coming out of the last IMF consultation. To back-up a bit, the Barbados Workers Union boss Leroy Trotman suggested his union would not be drawn into a public position on the matter, protocol requires that wage negotiations are done behind closed doors he was quoted to say.
    BU is obviously concerned about a deteriorating Barbados economy. Of equal concern is a situation being played out which sees a key member of the Social Partnership of Barbados (government, private sector, union) violating the spirit of the protocol by going public, a ploy (flying a kite) made famous by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur. The coming days and weeks will make for interesting theatre as the several actors perform in their expected roles. What is evident, the Barbados economy appears to be headed for the rocks.
    Captain Thompson is the ship sinking?

  28. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Look
    For your elucidation Bushie can RELIABLY inform that you are talking rot.
    The FACT is that, compared to your adopted abode, Barbados will be like heaven shortly. Your homeland will be in even worse straits than you have been predicting for Barbados….it won’t be long now….
    Wunna have a lotta karma to be settled…. Bajans may be brass bowls and as a result will not reach their collective potential,…. but wunna folks have been satanic demons – representing the devil himself, in wunna actions around our world…..wunna obviously got to pay…..big…..
    Katrina, the tornadoes and the NY storm last year were just preludes…
    A people ALWAYS get their just desserts….

  29. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Bush Tea | July 2, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    When you and the apologists for a sinking DLP ship think the miller is dense then the miller is on the correct course. We suppose you share the same view like “tired on nonsense” about Ryan Straughn with whom the miller sees eye to eye.

    This is the same brigade headed by you (it has been told by those who were around at the time) was in the forefront of the delivery of the barrage of criticism and attacks on the poor BLP leading up to the 2008 elections and which in propaganda terms contributed heavily to its electoral defeat.

    The miller knows nothing of that era other than what was read or said.
    So it comes as no surprise that such strident attacks of the BLP would eventually turn into a volt-face defense of the same ruling party that totally lacks the same leadership attributes you claim to be totally essential for your vision of a new Barbados.

    Again you are very much strong in idealistic tautological doublespeak but very weak and almost nonexistent in putting workable, practical measurable proposals on the table.

    Case in point: “Bushie identifies the solution to the sugar industry. ….headhunt and recruit a sugar czar and assign exclusive management authority..removing the politics and the graft.”

    What a load of mixed up confusion and borrowed words of foolish advice as if the problem is one of trained personnel!
    If the problem is that easy to solve, why not offer the services of Mr. Know-It-All himself, none other than the management guru and agricultural specialist Mr. Bushman?

    What about the ownership and control of the major sugar lands and the funding of such a massive resuscitation project? Or do you believe the money would fall like manna from you BBE above to bring back to life a dying industry? Isn’t Dr. Atlee Brathwaite a czar?

    Btw, the miller would rather come across as a dense blogger than one who is totally beset with psychological contradictions and demons involving heavy dark shades of misogyny, racism, classism, sexual deviance with the tendency to rape but still homophobic with closeted inclinations and most of all arrogant with your religious bigotry and openly hypocritical partisan politics albeit with a rather limited world view of events other than what you believe to be the word of your BBE given to you only to direct the affairs of mankind and to be the tin pot cracking heads dictator of little 2×3 Barbados.

  30. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Miller
    Steupssss

  31. David Avatar
    David

    Anyone in Barbados who is interacting with private sector players, the attitude and outlook for doing business is pessimistic. Whether they are wrong isn’t the point. The government, and particularly the MoF is critical to organizing key stakeholders to get onboard.

    Where do we go from here because bashing the private sector which has to mobilize to achieve productivity and growth will not do it. And as Straughn pointed out today, by suppressing demand in the domestic economy to guard the forex this is in parallel stunting growth in domestic. A real dosey!

  32. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Bush Tea | July 2, 2013 at 11:03 PM |

    “@ Miller: Steupssss”

    We are glad you have taken your intellectual place, rude boy!

    Stanton O. “Du Mauriers” Gittens would have been most unimpressed with you and given you a good whipping of sadistic proportions that would have been right up your street or behind. Or would you have preferred Bumpy Moore? Never mind, my friend Harry Sealy would have protected you.

    Next!

  33. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    David
    The longer FS refuses to turn the MoF over to the capable Dr Estwick the more he insures he will NOT serve his five term or be Prime Minister for much longer.
    Thompson saddled Barbados with Sinckler as MoF and while Sinckler is of the view that he won the battle, it is now abundantly clear that Barbados including the DLP lost the war.

  34. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    David
    Politicians like Sinckler might fool the electorate, they may even fool other politicians but rarely can they fool the Private Sector.

    Plain and simple the Private Sector has no confidence in Sinckler, none whatsoever. It’s not his fault, he’s just not equipped intellectually to perform in the position of Minister of Finance. He is out of his depth and to be honest he’s been struggling so long that is both comical and painful at the same time.

  35. Who want Mottley ? Avatar
    Who want Mottley ?

    Dummy and they got less in Mottley have a read from one from with in the inner bowels of the BLP,

    THE US EMBASSY CABLES.

    Mottley, Until recently, she was viewed as the unquestioned heir apparent to
    PM Arthur. However, the February 2006 cabinet reshuffle saw
    Mottley lose the important Attorney General and Home Affairs
    portfolio and assume the position of Deputy Prime Minister
    and Minister of Economic Affairs and Development. Some
    commentators have viewed this change as a demotion for
    Mottley and as a sign that PM Arthur was seeking to sideline
    her by putting her in charge of the economic portfolio, in
    which she had no prior experience or interest. Many also
    took PM Arthur’s decision last fall to seek a fourth term,
    despite earlier signals that he was preparing to retire, as a
    confirmation that PM Arthur and the ruling Barbados Labour
    Party (BLP) leadership were no longer prepared to see Mottley
    take over the BLP reins.

    ¶13. (C) Former Senator Philip Goddard, an excellent contact
    of the Embassy, recently confirmed to the DCM in a private
    conversation that internal BLP leadership is absolutely
    determined that Mottley would not lead the party, should they
    be returned to power in the next elections. According to
    Goddard, senior BLP officials believe that Mottley,s
    personal life makes her an unacceptable choice to lead the
    party and the nation. Mottley is widely believed to be gay,

    and while that does not seem to have hindered her career,
    Goddard clarified that it was her episodes of physical
    violence that lost her support among the BLP kingmakers.
    This information has not surfaced publicly and has not been
    confirmed. However, in mid-May, one of Barbados’ dailies,
    The Nation, reported that Mottley had submitted her
    resignation from cabinet because of her disagreements with PM
    Arthur. The Nation went on to say that PM Arthur refused to
    accept her resignation. Mottley later vehemently denied this
    report.

    ¶14. (C) At 41, Mottley is among the youngest members of PM
    Arthur’s cabinet. She is also probably the most capable and
    articulate. Nevertheless, Goddard’s claims, if true, coupled
    with Mottley’s abrasiveness and overconfidence, which are
    unlikely to have won her many friends within the BLP, could
    bring her promising political career to an end. While that
    would leave the BLP without an apparent successor to PM
    Arthur, the BLP’s leadership may have calculated that they
    will have sufficient time to find an appropriate replacement
    during PM Arthur’s fourth term, which it is widely believed
    he will win in the next election.
    OURISMAN

  36. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    @ Who Want Mottley

    I ain’t really nothing about Mottley. I concerned with the economy and the fact that the only man who has a modicum of knowledge in the DLP about economics is being sidelined in favour of a man who does not have more than a very basic understanding of the concepts of economics.

  37. The Dummy @ Dumo Avatar
    The Dummy @ Dumo

    PM you have punished Sinckler enough for his role as instigator of the Eager 11 but you are taking it too far now. Relieve the man let him go and do something for which he is mentally equipped.

  38. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

    The Dummy @ Dumo@ You are so funny

  39. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    The $400 million question is: what happens to Barbados if this reduction is unsuccessful? Any economist knows we operate within a bubble. Are you guys ready for when it pops?

  40. sashquash Avatar
    sashquash

    We have to be rational about how things are done to reduce the expenditure. whether we like it or not public sector jobs form part of the social net of the country and d
    rives commerce. So before we bring the axe to such areas let me suggest other areas:
    1 RSS spending must be rationalized and drastic cuts implemented there.
    2 Examine spending in LIAT
    3 Close BDF and place members in coast guard, RBPF, Fire Service and HMP where fitting. Retire those wishing such. That is a great cut as the operational expenses are gone. Keep the Regiment. Next lease out the prime real estate of St Anns Fort to hotel business and earn foreign exchange. It can be called A heritage military museum hotel and it sits right in the ideal location next to the Hilton. Remember land must always bring the best return as it is a valuable asset.
    4 Collect all debt from those owing QEH and other entities or levy on their properties and deny further treatment unless they pay once non nationals. This is crunch time .
    5 Send home medically all ass playing sick employees in public service
    6 Freeze salaries
    6 Cut the number of consultants in public service they are able to find their own work.
    7 Employ attrition in public sector– freeze recruitment
    8 Ensure that all workers public and private sector who earn tax payable salaries pay appropriate tax. Even the self employed.
    9 Ensure that all non national arriving for public health care pay bills up front
    10 Corral all free loading and driving around of government vehicles at night and weekends.
    LET US START NOW

  41. Amused Avatar
    Amused

    @Miller. Listen to the Bush Man. Time for you to draw back. Better still, listen to Baffy’s advice to you on another thread and shut the f**k up.

  42. erice Avatar
    erice

    Sashquash —I agree with your advise ,can we also reduce or stop the subvention that is given to CTUSAB which is used for the payments of wagessalaries and allowances of the staff and officers (Depeiza,.Murrell and Burke )along with the payment of rent for its new Headquarters –check carefully and see that this subvention was increase after the General elections you will also see that the keypersons behind this increase were that same that removed TROTMAN from going to the ILO—so here we can see how workers are being sold out by Trade Unions more so by NUPW and BUT .

  43. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Erice

    Are you sure that Government increased the bribe to CTUSAB? I was told that the vote to the Welfare Department. How can that be justified?

  44. David Avatar
    David

    Apparently this is an extract from an authoritative source, Caribbean Development Bank a while back:

    Caribbean economies are not only confronting fiscal and debt challenges, given the depth and protracted nature of the global crisis, but also facing structural hurdles that weigh heavily on productivity, competitiveness and, by extension, economic growth. Additionally, levels of poverty and vulnerability in many countries remain unacceptably high. Indeed, there are challenges in accelerating the pace of poverty reduction, and these can become acute given the deceleration in regional growth in recent years and the less than sanguine prospects going forward. Development gains are under threat of reversal in the absence of fundamental reforms to prevent further socioeconomic unravelling. Reforms are ongoing and will require ratcheted-up assistance from the donor community to ensure sustainability.

  45. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2354231/Economic-recovery-20-years-warns-Britains-civil-servant.html

  46. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Sashquash
    Excellent suggestions.
    The problem is that we will need leaders and managers WHO CAN GET THEM EXECUTED.

    ……so while there are many VIABLE options for us to confront our challenges, the CRITICAL ISSUE will be execution.

    Have you seen how long our ‘leaders’ took to deal with simple things like AX?
    If they took 20 years to come up with a pension plan for the BDF how long do you think those morons will take to disband that complete waste of time and money? …..as you said, the volunteer Regiment was a far more effective AND cost effective mechanism.

  47. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    HA HA … Bush Tea and Miller locking horns … HA HA …

    @sashquash and Gabriel Tackle
    Yes of course drop the c’s (consultants and councils) and the other political gimmicks. .. but why not just cut the salaries by 10%, that way no one gets sent home and the Lawyers for the Service against the Crown will be tied up with arguments for an eternity, certainly far longer than the next four years.

    @The Dummy @ Dumo
    Do you have any idea how many Finance heads there are that are paid for by tax payers, either as consultants or directly? Do you think that it is just one man that is responsible simply because his is the face that you see?

    @Chaucer
    Has National (Toy Soldier) service ever worked … anywhere? I suppose it keeps the kids off the streets for a time

  48. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Bush Tea | July 3, 2013 at 8:18 AM |
    “The problem is that we will need leaders and managers WHO CAN GET THEM EXECUTED.”

    There you go again identifying the same problem over and over again without out offering alternatives!
    Why don’t you call for the resignation of the PM and his Cabinet to be replaced by a set of technocrats personally identified and appointed by the dictator Bushie under the influence of your imaginary BBE! Now leave Caswell out of it!

    Go ahead and cuss the “dense” miller with your shallow crap to silence him!

  49. Pagan Avatar
    Pagan

    BAFBFP

    You are making a valid point and I agree totally.
    If the Minister of Finance has and has had the benefit of many consulting and directly employed finance heads and is still failing, does that not tell you that the man is a complete and utter FAILURE as Minister of Finance?
    If you choose blame someone else or look in another direction then good for you but that won’t do for Barbados. He wanted to be Minister of Finance, he got his wish, he’s has satisfied his ego and now its time to go and let someone else who is really interested get to work.

  50. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Miller
    …check with Bushie when your period is over…..
    Nothing worse than a menopausal old hag…..

    @ Baffy
    What lock what horns what?…. Miller could test a bushman…? Shoite man that would be like chile abuse…..

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