est. 2007

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The Slide of the Barbados Economy: Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Numbers

BU family member Inkwell has submitted the following graphs/information originally presented by economist Ryan Straughn in the local media in an article titled – Who Will Put the Genie Back in the Bottle? 2008/2009. The government spends $256 million more than it receives in revenue. 2009/2010. The government spends $557 million more than it receives…

BU family member Inkwell has submitted the following graphs/information originally presented by economist Ryan Straughn in the local media in an article titled – Who Will Put the Genie Back in the Bottle?

Public Finances of the Grantley Adams administration from 1955 to 1962. Note that in every year, current revenue exceeded current expenditure.
Public Finances of the Grantley Adams administration from 1955 to 1962. Note that in every year, current revenue exceeded current expenditure.

Public Finances of the Errol Barrow Administration. Note that there was a deficit on current account in only two of the fourteen years and for relatively small amounts.
Public Finances of the Errol Barrow Administration. Note that there was a deficit on current account in only two of the fourteen years and for relatively small amounts.
Public Finances of the Adams/St John administration. Note that current revenue exceeded current expenditure in each year except 1977/78 and then for a nominal amount
Public Finances of the Adams/St John administration. Note that current revenue exceeded current expenditure in each year except 1977/78 and then for a nominal amount
Public Finances of the Barrow/Sandiford administration. Note that current expenditure exceeded current revenue in two years only and for relatively small amounts
Public Finances of the Barrow/Sandiford administration. Note that current expenditure exceeded current revenue in two years only and for relatively small amounts
Public Finances of the Arthur adminintratioin. Note that current revenue exceeded current expenditure in each of its fourteen years.
Public Finances of the Arthur administration. Note that current revenue exceeded current expenditure in each of its fourteen years.
Then along comes the Thompson/Stuart administration and this is what happens
Then along comes the Thompson/Stuart administration and this is what happens

2008/2009. The government spends $256 million more than it receives in revenue.
2009/2010. The government spends $557 million more than it receives in revenue.
2010/2011. The government spends $647 million more than it receives in revenue.
2011/2012. The government spends $284 million more than it receives in revenue.
2012/2013. The government spends $260 million more than it receives in revenue.

That is a total deficit of $2.004 billion, excluding the appropriation of $100 million of NIS funds. The facts speak for themselves. What would you say about any housewife who kept overspending her income by massive amounts. What would such spending do to the family’s bank account, provided it had a banker stupid enough to let her continue to do it.
Can this be considered prudent management of the country’s finances?
Can we continue to blame the world recession for Barbados’ financial woes? Or put the blame on the profligate spending of the Government.

Also note. Maximum revenue of the Arthur administration was $2.3billion in 2007/2008
Revenue of the DLP administration as per graph was as follows:
2008/2009 – $2.6 billion approx
2009/2010 – $2.3 billion approx
2010/2011 – $2.3 billion approx
2011/2012 – $2.5 billion
2012/2013 – $1.8 billion approx

Ask yourself. Where was the money spent and was it spent wisely? Clearly it was not spent on capital works, as the graphs show.

Now that revenue has fallen dramatically, despite desperate tax grabs, the government recognizes (or somebody has told it) that the spending spree has to come to an end. 2012/2013 expenditure shows considerable contraction, but more cuts must be made as revenue continues to plummet. The pigs at the trough are being brought to a fine market.

128 responses to “The Slide of the Barbados Economy: Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Numbers”

  1. 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

    All about the Numbers that dont lie? The People in the peoples House are Crooks and Liars.
    Show us the money in your offshore Accounts DLP / BLP
    vote 3rd or any other Party .
    vote buying need to be added to the Numbers

  2. balance Avatar
    balance

    yes indeed the facts do speak for themselves and no amount of partisan bullshit from party apologists can refute the information published for the benefit of those who put Barbados first and party considerations after. This is a call for all hands to the plough otherwise the poor would have to contend with further onslaughts of the standard International Monetary Fund medicinal prescription of cuts in social services already surreptitiously imposed on the services of health and education to impress the IMF.

  3. ac Avatar
    ac

    hey u two faced hypocrites the cuts have started and the bellyaching has begun . yes when the surgeon draws the kinife , the cuts will effect all .including higher property taxes. which no one wants to pay. possible cut in all services beneficial to the progress of the nation. where does the BLP want these Cuts. CUTS! CUTS ! and more CUTS however they are not saying. just a reminder, more cuts to save money means saving money only and paying bills . However the overall maintaineance of a country is also a vital importance to its growth and and progress and it does cost. Health ! EDUCATION SANITATION SOCIAL SERVICES> those are the areas where there is need for spending at high cost , Cutting those services to the bone, would have a negative impact overall to the the countries progress taking us way back to a satutus of negilgence! So money i saved Then What!looking at figures does not tell a true picture of the cost it takes and where the money goes a in keeping services above board, the reality it COST.

  4. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    If only Mr. Ryan Straughn (economist) would bring a higher and deeper level of consciousness analysis synthesis to the national discussion on the present state of the joke political economy and services industry sectors of Barbados, such that – at the same time – he would be presenting the truth – or even near it – about some of the things that are happening in the money affairs of the government of Barbados and the wider national society, then there would have been no need even for him to have brought those distortive graphs along with the statistical information rendered in the first place, and no need then for another person to submit electronic copies of them to another forum – BU – and for another person (David) to publish them too on the said BU.

    Furthermore, the PDC’s thoughts on the matter are such that had Mr. Straughn recognized that the government has been stealing and robbing the relevant peoples, businesses and other entities of their respective portions of their incomes, payments and transfers on a long running basis, and that therefore it has been criminally egregiously wrong, evil, anti-masses, anti-middle classes, anti-production and distribution, and anti-national development for its political variations – DLP/BLP governments – to have been doing such, and that the worse and worse the political, material, and financial effects of such TAXATION policies on the afore-mentioned affairs will be, the longer this TAX stealing robbing system continues, then there would have been an entirely different set of dialectics arguments at the national level about the way forward towards a POST-TAXATION society for a brighter better Barbados of this region.

    But, unfortunately, as indicated by Mr. Straughn’s above offerings – which are riddled with entirely false assumptions, propositions and connotations – HIS Barbados ( the one that he visualises) will deepen and deepen more and more into this very tortuous and dire dedevelopment abyss, given the increasingly barren, poor, and shabby intellectual political leadership, et al negative, that has been for a long while occupying main stream politics in Barbados.

    For, it is crystal clear that the government CANNOT be getting any REVENUES whatsoever – other than in negligible cases – when what it has been long so flagrantly long doing, in regard of TAXATION, has been stealing robbing the properties of the relevant others in this case.

    Therefore, what the government – through its respective criminal unconstitutional actions – has been getting are THEFT PROCEEDS, in mass, NOT ANY DAMNED REVENUES!!

    That is what it has been getting, like any bunch of criminal robbers would get.

    Otherwise, it is the vendors, the public transport vehicle operators, it is the merchants, it is the fisher people, the agriculturalists, the manufacturers, the builders, the utility service providers, etc, in this country, who – through the respective transactive political commercial actions of themselves, and through the respective transactive political actions of others, within the commercial business environment of Barbados and beyond, that are able to REALIZE REVENUES for themselves, their businesses, and for the country.

    And they have NOT been long imposing any TAXATION – for it is inconceivable for them to have been doing so at the same time – on anybody’s any entity’s remunerations, in the realization of such REVENUES!!

    Only where the government, in certain areas of its operations (commercial), does similarly, does it REALIZE REVENUES. And it does REALIZE REVENUES – however slight in total they are on a yearly basis – through the operations of the Barbados Water Authority, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, the National Petroleum Corporation, the Barbados Transport Board, etc and their customers giving them monies in satisfaction for their services.

    Now, given those incontrovertible unvarnished facts, how could a government be projected by Mr. Straughn as spending so much out of what it – by deliberate historic design especially – hardly has – REVENUES?? How in this world is such possible?? Well it is not possible, even when the language is changed via some economic teachings and absorptions, to help create lies, deceptions, myths, doubts, etc. in the minds of many people in Barbados.

    For, the effects of the TAXATION system, globally too, were from the start, in time immemorial, have all along continued to be, are, and will ever be criminally egregiously wrong, wicked and evil, the in the same ways, or similarly, any place.

    Thus, the facts are too that the government does not have EXPENDITURES, other than possibly in the contexts of its commercial operations. What is does however have, instead, in the main, are ill-gotten illegal spoils, TAX PROCEEDS, that it has criminally looted from out of the properties of the relevant peoples, businesses and others in this country, and of which it is repeatedly handing out for whatever purposes to the respective recipients of these spoils (genteelly called TRANSFERS) whosoever wheresoever they are inside or outside of this country.

    So, the PDC’s thoughts, too, in conclusion, are: that had this immediate past President of the Barbados Economics Society and so many other Barbadians realized to above facts, and had had the political will – which they really are capabable of having and asserting in any case – we – many people in Barbados – would not have been at this juncture seeing any copies of graphs information about any false fictitious circumstances of government revenues, expenditures, deficits, etc. in pursuance of any partisan useless sterile arguments, but would have been treating to the emergence of the kinds of moral philosophical justiciable scientific principles and parameters that are required in the wider process of a newer, more emergent, more evolved and more developed Barbados.

    PDC

  5. ronald Avatar
    ronald

    To all right thinking Bajans the figures published are heart breaking. How can we allow such a group of arrogant and incompetent Dems continue to destroy our country. What do they have to show for all the money spent? free summer camps, free bus fairs, Constituency councils, football tournament in the name of a man that never kick a football. The arrogance of the DLP MPs really baffles the mind. Can u imagine a party that claim to have introduce free education and from which poor Barbadians have been able to seek upward mobility, have now destroyed the hopes of all Barbadians from the working class, and they seem not to care, or is it that they are so intellectual bankrupt, that they don’t know what they are doing. How long are we going to endure such suffering from a very inept administration, who have now unleashed one of their own in the person of Marilyn Rice Bowen on the men of Barbados….. I think she is going too far and the men of Barbados needs to fight back……. Imagine that they are proposing legislation where it would be a mandatory jail term for a man accused of domestic violence…….What are we going to the hundreds of women who on daily basis dish out the worst form of abuse to men, psychological, emotional, financial, sexual come on men what are we doing . We must stand up don’t allow this arm of the DLP to inflict greater hardship and suffering on the people of Barbados.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @PDC

    Rubbish you have written!

  7. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ ac | September 14, 2013 at 7:53 AM |
    “However the overall maintaineance of a country is also a vital importance to its growth and and progress and it does cost. Health ! EDUCATION SANITATION SOCIAL SERVICES> those are the areas where there is need for spending at high cost , Cutting those services to the bone, would have a negative impact overall to the the countries progress taking us way back to a satutus of negilgence!”

    Ac, are you mentally challenged? Not that you are capable of telling the truth.
    Do you really understand the internal contradictions of what you just wrote? Why don’t you beg your literate friend to write for you when it comes to matters like the one in hand? You know, the friend who wrote a bit of sense on the LIAT issue.

    Cutting the social services to the bone is exactly what your DLP administration is embarking on that would hasten the dislocation of the very social fabric you boast about in that famous copied cliché ‘Barbados is not just an economy is more a society’.
    What do you call cutting $35 million from the QEH budget leaving merely enough to cover its manpower related costs? Don’t you think that medical workers use more just their hands to provide medical care?

    All of this cutting of social services would be more palatable to the general population (even DLP yard fowls like you, CCC, and Fractured) if this intellectually bankrupt administration would lead by example and cut discretionary spending such as paying for a superfluous political administration, free summer camps, football tournaments and constituency councils. If these constituencies are not there to serve the partisan political ends of the ruling administration why not combine some of them to cut across constituencies. Barbados is a little 2×3 place with no major geographical hurdles to prevent easy access to any part of the island.
    Why not one council to service the Northern constituencies, One the Eastern 2 for the Christ Church or Southern area and say 3 or 4 to handle the more densely populated St. Michael conurbation?

  8. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ balance | September 14, 2013 at 7:03 AM |
    “yes indeed the facts do speak for themselves and no amount of partisan bullshit from party apologists can refute the information published for the benefit of those who put Barbados first and party considerations after.”

    Don’t expect any meaningful contribution from the DLP propagandist vanguard led by the interchangeable standard bearers and intellectual cannon fodder like CCC, Fractured BLP, cc and those with multiple monikers who know who they are.

    These are facts and figures we are dealing with not hearsay and calumnies.
    There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from the above financial data.

    What would shed more light on the deceitful lying hypocritical incompetence of the ruling administration is the national debt profile from 1976 to 2012. The BLP is rightly and ‘roundly’ criticized for a build up a debt portfolio of almost $ 5 billion by the time they demitted office. But what has taken place since then is astronomically shocking and the massive financial millstone to service the huge debt has contributed significantly to the current fiscal mess.

  9. ac Avatar
    ac

    no need to answer ur shite miller……the govt is not cutting the vital areas in the qeh that would compromise and impact negatively of the health and well being of an individual . as sen boyce clearly outlined recently. ur propaganda has no bounds, ,,,,u the blp has said over and over again there are many inefficiencies that are costing the govt millions of dollars ,now all u guys see is how these cuts would affect poor. now sir please point out to ac where and how these cuts are going to effect poor and the areas pertaining to QEh. decent standard of living is what is requried and must be maintained by govt. the govt has embarked on proposal that would find a balance in doing so. the fact is in order to sustained and maintain such a balance outside of borrowing in a hostile economic climate the other option to generate revenue would be to ask the taxpayers to pay more, the options are limited and in any case would mean that spending less means a slowing of progress across sboard , asking the taxpayers to pay more would be a financial burden too much to bear. in an economy where the stabilty of a nations economy is reliant of one sector which is at the moment stagnant, the options are few, in any case whether it is cuts to generate income or borrowing to stablise and maitain a reasonable standard of living, the cost are high, so miller ac awaits the blp plan to maintain and create growth to build an economy is a hostile economical enviroment,

  10. David Avatar
    David

    Even before the recent cuts the QEH was very short of supplies. The CEO of the QEH has stated as a matter of public record that the budget for the QEH should be $200 million. It is impossible to discuss any issue in Barbados without partisans positions being held.

    This week we had an interesting statement from the Chief Medical Officer. She stated that more Barbadians have been using the services of the Polyclinics. While this is good and probably happening because of rising cost of living the question BU has is whether increase in traffic will not now add more cost to healthcare delivery in Barbados.

  11. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    ac | September 14, 2013 at 9:21 AM |

    Weren’t you advise to get your friend to write on your behalf?
    What you have just written is a measure of the intellectual capacity that encourages this administration in nonsense and fiscal and political hari-kari.

    Are you saying that the CEO of the Hospital is a liar and incompetent executive?
    Are you saying that the previous Minister of Health whom many see as the next possible leader of the DLP is a liar and ministerial joker who during his term as MoF allowed tens of millions of dollars in inefficiencies and wastage to continue during his watch?

    If the QEH, based on ministerial confirmation, cannot function to an effectively sustainable level of health care delivery for the 21st Century unless its annual funding budget is in the region of $200 million how can it now function effectively with less than $120 million?

    John Boyce needs his pension- as Caswell pointed out- and would lie to his god to protect it.
    Why should the BLP offer a plan, fool? The BLP, according to you was rejected by the electorate why would the DLP want to adopt something like a stimulus package prepared by a bunch of incompetent lying crooked political bastards? But you could never tell when you are dealing with both Tweedle(bee) Tweedle(dumb).

  12. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    Miller………..both ac and Carson are starting to crack. Those two may want to do some research on the Pineal Gland, or ask you about it.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    A look at the numbers will generate all kinds of responses. The bottom line is if we want to build a system and culture of meritocracy we have to demonstrate nimbleness in thinking and strategy. The numbers show a certain trend (rot?) setting in even before 2008 and what did successive government do? We wait until we hit base. Mind you in the good times we were all proud to boast that government is continuum.

  14. caribcanadian Avatar
    caribcanadian

    The economic mess is happening everywhere. All governments are corrupt. They are all thieves. The stealing is not merely a local issue it is international, IMF et al. We are experiencing the cracks in the pyramid scheme that is the global financial system. Because of the global financial agreements, the collapse touches every country.

    Who, at the top, is raking in the money? Always follow the money.

    I am in Canada….the province I live in is rife with political scandal. Never mind at the federal level. Corruption up and down for decades. Politicians playing they did not know. Construction industry scandal and our roads, bridges and highways are falling a part. People have been killed but you can’t sue the city. The infrastucture is crumbling. Sink holes opening up in the middle of the city.

    Slashes, for years, to Health and Education. We’ve lost 45,000 jobs in the last year.

    Who benefits? It’s not simply a local thing. The middle class is disappearing every where. Massive taxation is burdening the middle class. Where I lilve, we pay the highest taxes in North America. Everyone is paying higher food costs for less product.

    Voting means nothing. Look around the world. Whether it’s the liberal or conservatives, republicans or democrats, dlp or blp, it’s all the same animal. Isn’t it interesting and criminal that many go in with little means and leave have quite a financial portfolio. And we all watch, complain and do nothing. I’m guilty too.

    My .00000001 cents…it’s not worth 2 cents anymore.

    Oh..and to @ronald…..Yeah, a person who is abusive, who assaults another and is convicted of such…should go to jail. Violence is violence no matter what label you want to put on it and should never be acceptable. Such backward thinking.

  15. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    “Everybody knows that the Democratic Labour Party
    has been getting it wrong from the third term of the Errol Barrow led Government between 1971 and 1976.” (my older relatives)
    Certainly in my time they have gotten it wrong consistently. Yet the people have voted for them and each time, the people give them a chance, they foul up. It is not so much that the there is economic crisis but it is the way the DLP has managed, the interpersonal, the stupid remarks, the palatalize -afire

  16. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Well Well. | September 14, 2013 at 9:58 AM |

    Have you noticed too? Both of them are beginning to collapse from strain the revelation of blatant incompetence and lies is having on their psyche.

    Despite possessing some hierophantic techniques to discuss things like the pineal gland is like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo. A total waste of time and hot air.
    Ac might think we are referring to “Pineapple glans” (pardon the Freudian slip or cut); the third optical aperture of that idiot called Carson with whom she is visually proud to associate.

  17. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    caribcanadian | September 14, 2013 at 10:23 AM |

    The economic mess is happening everywhere. All governments are corrupt.
    ______________________________

    Been trying to tell this yardfowl brigade on BU that voters everywhere are fed up of lying, thieving, corrupt politicians, it is a world wide weary and worrisome feeling, most people worldwide are now feeling that the stains on the earth calling themselves politicians should just synchronize and disappear all at the same time and rid the earth of the current blight,

    Miller…………….the yardfowl’s masters may soon have to assume the position and find the money to build mental institutions for their yardfowls at the rate they are starting to become unglued. If they experience a Greece like scenario shortly the state of mind of their acs and carsons will degrade even further and at an alarming rate.

  18. Irene Sandiford-Garner Avatar
    Irene Sandiford-Garner

    The lead story is indeed a very graphic portrayal of our finances. The lynch rope could not have been tighter David. I want you to go one step further. Mr. Straughan’s weapons are inexhaustible. So David, as the objective host of this site that you are, could you possibly ask him to return to the shed and present to your readers the following:
    The sources of state revenue which he has has displayed via his graphs between 1994-2013, as well as a breakdown, by line, of the expenditure of governments between 1994-2013?

  19. David Avatar
    David

    Senator, BU would welcome his response but we as not optimistic. Not many have your courage to post in a forum such as this using their name. We will try to send him an alert via LinkedIn.

  20. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    @ronald | September 14, 2013 at 8:29 AM |

    To all right thinking Bajans the figures published are heart breaking. How can we allow such a group of arrogant and incompetent Dems continue to destroy our country. What do they have to show for all the money spent? free summer camps, free bus fairs, Constituency councils, football tournament in the name of a man that never kick a football. The arrogance of the DLP MPs really baffles the mind. Can u imagine a party that claim to have introduce free education and from which poor Barbadians have been able to seek upward mobility, have now destroyed the hopes of all Barbadians from the working class, and they seem not to care, or is it that they are so intellectual bankrupt, that they don’t know what they are doing. How long are we going to endure such suffering from a very inept administration
    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    No truer words spoken as those you wrote, Ronald.

    Isn’t it funny that the DLP would give people free busfares…………..but when they get to UWI, they will not be able to go in next year as their parents will not be able to afford the tuition fees.

    Give free summer camps…which by the way were so poor this year, the camps had little resources to do anything. For my own information I went around one and the children were just there doing nothing only waiting for the free food. You all know this was all about sharing the fatted calf, even Haynesley Benn run one this year!

    The idea is to keep the people dependant upon the DLP, they would continue to vote DLP while they the DLP keep them on the free plantation, denying them a university education.

    What a mess!

  21. David Avatar
    David

    @Prodigal Son

    You may not agree with the strategy of government post 2008 but it is obvious that Senator Boyce’s position (and government) is that we had accrued enough social capital as reflected on the HDI to soak up resources with a view to ride out the global depression. Obviously the slowdown has been protracted and severe than predicted and we are where we are now.

  22. Irene Sandiford-Garner Avatar
    Irene Sandiford-Garner

    This is not related: I have not had the time nor inclination to come here recently, but while overseas I heard about posts regarding two ladies and I just read one. The anonymous (obviously) re Michelle Arthur. It is as ugly as you can get here David. Have not seen the ones about Esther or Joyanne but I shall be reading them today. Hope my stomach can take them. And I hope I can sharpen my skills enough to respond appropriately in the applicable fora.

  23. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    What happened in 2008/9 to cause expenditure to increase by over half a billion dollars? It is noted that revenues increased in 2008/9 from that of 2008/7. The world economic crisis is presumed to have been started with the closure of Lehman Bros Bank in 2008. Although revenue decreased after 2008/9 it was still higher than at any time before 2008 and actually increased in 2011/12 to the highest it has ever been. Does it bother anyone that revenue decreased by nearly $800 million thereafter in 2012/13 to a level of what was received in 2003/4!

    The Governments response has been to tax us more.

    So is the Government’s policies working?

  24. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    When a government can spend:
    In 2008/2009 $256 million more than it collects in revenue
    In 2009/2010 $557 million more than it collects in revenue
    In 2010/2011 $647 million more than it collects in revenue
    In 2011/2012 $284 million more than it collects in revenue
    In 2012/2013 $260 million more than it collects in revenue

    David, reading the above, you really think that this government had a clue to what it was doing? Darcy Boyce certainly is educated and DT relied on him but it does seem to the layman that the Dems are out of their depth.

    And don’t get me started on the obnoxious Chris Sinckler. He should NEVER EVER been made minister of finance. You do not play with the economy of a country with egocentric people. The man had no right to be MOF. I would have taken my chances with David Estwick, at least he talked a good game as if he KNEW what he was talking about, Sinckler does not.

    Well we are all paying for DT’s naievite!

  25. Irene Sandiford-Garner Avatar
    Irene Sandiford-Garner

    You mentioned “courage to post using real name” etc. I do not give a damn about what a nameless coward has to say to me. Politicians are the punching bag for the intellectual eunuchs and political pimps and clowns. Yep. But I am a citizen of this country who came into politics (cannot say public life because I was in public life long before politics)with a conscience and a sense of decency and fair play and when I step out or my government is put out (long time from now) I will be a private citizen with those same. I hate to see bullies hiding and destroying private citizens in a public forum. It is low and nasty. Seems as if once you have a grudge or dislike against someone, public or private citizen, you can come on a blog and “unmek” them. Politicians may be able to manage,but non politicos should not be subjected to this rotten development. And you David, quite frankly, are encouraging it.

  26. David Avatar
    David

    Have to agree with you Prodigal Son there is enough evidence to suggest that the DLP has lacked the capacity to mobilize a strategy which allows Barbados to leverage its capital gained over the last few decades. The problem is that the BLP has not positioned itself as an obvious alternative. We re in deep dodo.

  27. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    This administration enjoyed higher annual revenues in its first FOUR years (out of five) in office than at any time in Barbados’ history. This coincided with the much blamed world recession which started in 2008. It is only in 2012/13 that a precipitous drop in revenue occurred. The Government was warned that a strategic stimulus was needed not harsh austerity. It now appears to me that our economic problem has been self inflicted.

  28. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    Annual expenditure increased by about $1.1 billion ( from $900 million to $2.1 billion) over the period 1994 to 2008. Annual expenditure increased by almost the same amount ($ 900 million) (from $2.1 billion to $3 billion) by 2012! Did Government double the size of the Civil Service after 2008? Has inflation been at 11% per annum over the last 4 years?

  29. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    WTR the numbers…
    Everyone knows that, had the BLP brought the BOLT projects to book the deficit picture would have been quite different before 2007. The slide begun long ago…. Arthur HIMSELF gave a sobering speech at one of his “consultations” about the danger of the deficit…and then proceeded to do NOTHING about it….

    These politicians all just want to please their yard fowls and GIVE AWAY at the public expense…..the current DLP lot are particularly pathetic in that regard…..
    ….and since they never even operated a successful snow cone cart, they have NO IDEA about balancing income and expenses AND ABOUT MAKING HARD DECISIONS.

    @ Prodigal
    If you can’t occasionally be non partisan you could lead ac in HUSHING up too….
    So why you want free UNIVERSITY education (at great expense to a small elite segment of society) but no free bus fares or summer camps (at nominal costs to the masses?)
    Mek up yuh mind man!

    @ Irene
    Bushie has to admit that you does mek his heart flutter….one word from you and Islandgal gone through the eddoes …..
    BUT don’t get Bushie started with this talk ’bout abusing officials….

    ANYONE who wants to be in public life, and who is unprepared to engage themselves in open public discourse about sometimes personal unpleasant matters should STAY TO HELL OUT.

    The days of officials hiding behind “sub judice” while doing all kinds of shiite MUST COME TO AN END.
    What is to stop these ‘victims’ from going public and debunking the lies being told on them? …cat got their tongues?

    That is why Bushie like Caswell…( and love you)…
    …and this must be the approach of future public officials…. Don’t blame David….LOL
    …Wuh he does get more licks ’bout here that most…. LOL 🙂

  30. David Avatar
    David

    @Ping Pong

    The rise probably linked to rising interest payment on debt.

  31. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    So there was a sudden increase in the debt principal sufficient to account for $900 million per year increase in expenditure after 2008? Presumably this “debt” has been paid as annual expenditure has decreased in 2012/13 to what it was in 2007/8 !

  32. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    David
    Your terse response re PDC is on the money!I wish the Honourable Senator would devote her waking hours to encouraging some of her independent thinking colleagues to stage a palace coup and rid Barbados of Stuart and his LEGACY OF CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICITS.What an embarrassment to a man who boasts of three free degrees from UWI and still cannot balance the books of State.When the history of Barbados is written,the Thompson/Stuart era will be known as the era of profligate spending such as Barbados has never in its accounting of the management of its financial affairs post 1945 when the majority people started to guide our destiny,witnessed.Most politicians try to achieve fame and eminence and societal recognition such that the people look up to them as examples for our children to emulate,but what do we have!Impostors aka the Democratic Labour Party,resurrected post 2007 and as incompetent as ever they were.We need a Day of Prayer for the Deliverance of the Nation Barbados from the tyranny of the Dems.They have ears and hear not;eyes have they and see not but their pockets are as deep as wells and their stomachs are as full as Emmerton with the same effluent therein.Let us pray.

  33. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    Bush Tea writes that the BOLT projects were not previously accounted for before 2008. OK that could explain the increase in expenditure after 2008 but what accounts for a decrease in annual expenditure in 2012/13 back to what it was in 2008?

  34. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    Don’t blame David….LOL
    AFTER ALL IF YOU KILL DAVID WHO WILL PROTECT THE VAGINAS? MURDAH!

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Ping Pong

    Here is a another grath to support your question:

    http://bajan.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image2.jpg

  36. David Avatar
    David

    The Bees and the Dees can blame the other until the cows come home but one thing is sure, under either party as government the PAC has failed to execute as a key committee of parliament. Another that is sure is that the Auditor General’s reports have not been acted upon. What about the tardy preparation of the financial reports of government agencies? For year under both governments there has been a financial indiscipline which is now biting us in the ass.

  37. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    Thanks for the table. My previous “guesstimates” were as a result of trying to interpret the graphs. My figures are thus a bit off from the true values.

  38. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “…but what accounts for a decrease in annual expenditure in 2012/13”
    ********
    You mean revenue Pong?
    Perhaps after selling BNB, C&W, and BL&P they had nothing left to sell in 2012 beside nooksie…..
    That is one of the problem with prostitution… 🙂 uh mean tourism…

    But…
    No defences from here Ping Pong….
    This is a clear case of incompetents mishandling a potentially lucrative economy….of monkey handling money…

    Out problems go back to the time where we felt that any joker could be leader – and put fellows in charge because they could not get employment otherwise….and when talent like Henry Ford declined to take the responsibility for leadership…
    When GP got some licks and run off to amerka..
    When Hants get carry to Canada behind a woman….
    When folks like Hal move up to London…
    LOL…
    ..and when Bushie got a MUCH BETTER OFFER… 🙂

    …and now when Caswell and BAFBFP prefer to write shiite instead of running things bout here…. Steupssss…..

  39. Irene Sandiford-Garner Avatar
    Irene Sandiford-Garner

    One of the reasons I don’t bother with these blogs too often is that I get impatient with people who deliberately misquote you to built a rant platform. Its like they must curse you so let me construct a straw man out of what she says. Then get spme warped jollies licking him down. I never said anything about public figures being cursed except to say they are targets and can deal with it. I then said it is cowardly to attack private citizens behind false identities. Bush Tea that is what I said. And you know it. Or in your zeal to pompasette you misinterpreted my writings? “Gabriel” whoever you are, should recognise the meaning of the name you have assumed. You may probably wish to drop it.

  40. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    irene
    we didnt call you
    you cant deal wid george payne
    you think you can run on BU

  41. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Come on Irene…
    Who wants to curse or abuse a private citizen? Perhaps we need to define some terms here….
    Private citizens DO NOT have political appointments
    Private citizens DO NOT impact on other people’s livelihood by managing organizations – (even PRIVATE ones like COW and Bizzy)
    Private citizens do not push their noses into public business…
    Private citizens mind their own business…

    EVERYONE agrees that we are not here to abuse or embarrass such ‘private citizens’ (well …except for ac and Onions)…. But once you accept a position that puts you in a leadership position …YOU become open to scrutiny…..

    Take Caswell…Caswell has attacked and accused everyone who ever crossed his path. He pontificated on BU and the Nation weekly… Wuh he MUST expect to come under scrutiny…sometimes unfairly too…but he must find out how to respond by clearing the air, putting his side, and MOST IMPORTANTLY ….DOING THE RIGHT THINGS UP FRONT….. Else he should do like Carl “Ossie too” Moore and keep a low profile….

    Obviously you Irene, can afford to take a public profile like this because you are genuinely altruistic (and cute too) … But there are lots of CHARLITONS in sheep’s clothing who NEED to be exposed as such.
    …um is them fellows that you need to talk to and tell them to straighten up or else….
    …..bushie still can’t figure out how George can beat you….. Bajans are REAL brass bowls in truth yuh…

  42. LOOK Avatar
    LOOK

    OSA in 2008 you know lost his throne to the new king, David Thompson. Bajans did not deserve OSA and did not deserve David Thompson. Thompson though estopped the OSA regime and what he was doing. Someone further on had to stop Thompson doing what he was doing; that was DEATH. OSA was convinced that Barbados needed him and him only. He, King Kong Arthur heard through the grapevine that Thompson was ill, opened his mouth and started a fire at the BLP house. Aftermath, extinguishing the fire, Mottley was no longer opposition leader. King Kong Arthur started the fire to oust Mottley and did just that. Similar fires blazed at the DLP house. Kerrie Symmonds, Clyde Mascoll and Henderson Bovell in it ran to the BLP house.

    Except for Violet Beckles, Contractor Al Barack and Raul Garcia, the raging sea water had calmed down a bit. Stewart though didn’t and wouldn’t look at the Violet Beckles case, Contractor Al Barack or even Raul Garcia because he didn’t know what to do. He just didn’t know what to do. He did open the Raul Garcia bird cage and set him free. He just recently opened the Al Barack bird cage and now ready to set him free. Violet Beckles, however, isn’t in a bird cage but a coffin. The old lady died. Her estate yet exists and is awaiting compensation for Kensington Oval, Six Men, Sandy Lane, ABC Highway, etc. Must say this is rather complexing but involves some of Barbados elite citizens. The two main ones are Sir Richard Cheltenham and Charles O. Williams. Others are: Mia Mottley, Ralph Thorne, Mark Cummings, Samantha Cummings and more. Stuart doesn’t know what to do, he just doesn’t know what to do, but now Plantation Deeds is proving himself intrepid and making a lot of damn noise. Plantation Deeds in the mirror looks good not Stewart.

    Those deaths at Arch Cot Britton Hill were pre-meditated murder. Dale Marshall, then Attorney General closed his eyes and looked the other way because Mia Mottley stood at the forefront of it. Leroy Parris gifted himself a leading role in the CLICO drama. Government authorities closes its eyes and or look the other way because David Thompson stands at the fore front of it, CLICO. The Pot (BLP) can’t call the kettle (DLP) black. It can’t. David Thompson shined light on the $75,000 cheque that Owen Arthur invited into his personal banking account. That in 2008 was a big deal, Bajans didn’t like it. The BLP shined light on the CLICO cheque linked to David Thompson. That was a big deal. The DLP still won in the 2013 general election. Bajans on 02/22/2013 said they could do better than Stewart but without Arthur. The DLP seemingly don’t know what in the hell they are doing. The BLP before 2008 no doubt didn’t know what in the hell they were doing. The BLP awarded Contractor Al Barack a government contract WITHOUT TENDER. Barack built the complex at Warrens in St. Michael. Barack, incidentally has no record of building a project that size. This is embarrassing. Really it is. This too, the BLP awarded VECO a government contract, WITHOUT TENDER. VECO built the Dodd prison in St. Philips but had no record of building prisons. Here is yet another one, the best of all. Owen Arthur invested 2.4 million dollars in a Nigerian Water heater project. No water heaters were produced and the 2.4 million was lost and or unaccounted for. The BLP is accountable for most all problems the DLP has faced, since 2008. The BLP before leaving office in 2008 broke things and left them broke. The DLP has made effort to fix a lot of things it could. Some it couldn’t. The United States entered recession in 2007 and exited it in 2009. North Dakota is suddently swimming in oil. Housing and the automotive industry is again vibrant and strong. Unemployment has fallen and continuously falling. Retail though is weak, too weak to walk. Obama yet has work to do. Obama bailed out the automotive industry and tamed the wall street beast. He, additionally called an end to two wars that were commenced by the Bush Administration and now getting things under control in Syria. He yet has three years ahead of him and a lot of work to do. George Bush has been long gone, Obama is on his own.

    Assad in Syria on 08/21/2013 entered into violation of international law, mass murdering people through the use of chemical weapons. The United States, only the United States was/is determined not to close its eyes or look the other way. Plantation Deeds, likewise will not close his eyes or look the other way. The land owned by Beatrice Henry rightfully belonged to Violet Beckles. The estate of Violet Beckles has possession of authentic legal documentation. Barbados must acknowledge and honor the validity of such documents, has to, eventually.

    The DLP on 02/22/2013 was awarded another five year contract, stays on the football field but continuously fumbling. The opposing party barks and wags its tail but nowhere near the enzome, can’t get beyond the fifty yard line. The Baltimore Ravens (US football team) enjoyed winning the 2013 Superbowl title. Bajan man, Ramon Harwood and other members of the Baltimore Ravens in April initiated a training camp for individual 12-18 years of age at Kensington Oval. Harwood and the other Raven members in Barbados really should have been training both parties, the BLP and DLP.

    Cruise ship vacationing in the Caribbean is now a thing of the past, that and timeshares. We recently saw and experienced a global recession, a brutal one, one that has left foist remnants. People now are careful to spend. Some incidentally have little or no extra to spend for vacationing any where. So, Caribbean islands that have been heavily dependent on tourism must now secure another or other products to sustain. The BLP has been long gone, the DLP is now on its own. Do it. Do something.

    Barbados is financially broken. Tourism and the low impact of sugar and rum there will not save it. Barbados during its years of plenty, under BLP reign wasted and tasted things of non-necessity. Government under the DLP rein must now do something. Do it. Do something. Move your ass or lose it. A large part of the American Automotive industry is now owned by the government due to bail out (2008). The American Auto Industry, during its years of plenty, mainly the General Motors Corp. wasted and tasted things of non-necessity. Obama, immediately after taking office had to do something about the American Auto Industry – move his ass or lose it.

  43. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    Two things I remember about the Hon Senator.She went to a hotel and called for the wine list and after perusing it asked the waiter to bring a glass of port for openers.
    The second thing besides being beaten by the short knee crotch fella from Ornge Hill is that she asked the President of the senate for a step out and claim she was going to her car and was accosted by a BLP fella and later admitted that she went out to laugh at the BLP flatform getting tek dung because the sennit and the seniles did in session.I admit I am not a fan of this silly woman who is a member of a silly party peopled with silly wannabe politicos.

  44. Irene Sandiford-Garner Avatar
    Irene Sandiford-Garner

    Pls excuse typos in earlier post. Michelle and Joyanne are private citizens Bush Tea. Michelle has been working at CBC ever since she left the Advocate in the early 1990s or late 80s. I went to CBC in 90s and she was there. The post is obviously written by someone who wants the job or a slacker mortally afraid of her getting it. As someone else sensibly analysed the situation: She may be the one to appoint since those who are a part of the much maligned status quo do not want her.
    See what I mean? The Gabriel has to resort to pure fabrications and lies as a response to me advising he or she drop the false name. You have to be blessed with lots of down time to keep this up. Fortunately for me I do not often have much of that .

  45. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE DESK OF JUST ASKING TO ALL AND SUNDRY
    Saturday September 14, 2013
    Bridgetown Barbados
    —————————————————-
    For the Records and for those who came in late:
    I am no BLP operative
    People on this blog keeping categorizing me as a BLP operative. I am not !
    Can’t I have an opinion without being label???

    JUST ASKING

    People label other people because it is convenient for them to do so.
    Let me say that I operate independently and that I have an opinion.
    If I express that opinion in favour of justice and what is right and what is just and right is diametrically opposed to the what the DLP represents or stand for, am I a BLP operative because of that ?

    JUST ASKING

    I think not !

    I do not believe in worshiping any political party or politician and I hate this idea of voting for a party because it is your party despite the severe consequences that would result if your party forms the Government. If the party cannot do the job, vote against them regardless. This is the problem of the last BUY-ELECTION.

    I know persons who said that they were DLP supporters who criticized Fumble FakeSpeare and who said that they aint voting but when the polls came out showing that their party would indeed lose, they allowed themselves and influenced their offspring and siblings to go out and support the party.-Ignorance !!!—and then the BUY votes situation.

    I know for a fact that VOTES WERE BOUGHT AND SOLD IN ST.PHILIP AND ST. MICHAEL AND THAT -BOUGHT VOTES INFLUENCED THE OUTCOME OF THE LAST BUY ELECTION

    Having said that I am no BLP operative, let me say that the the DLP is the worst political party in the history of political parties forming the worst Government in the history of Governments. (Do you challenge me on that ?) Well name a political party or Government that is worst than —

    I don’t have to be a BLP operative to make those statements.
    It is a sad day when you cant make a statement of fact or opinion without having a label tagged on you or wear a colour without being branded.
    What is Barbados coming to ?

    JUST ASKING

  46. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Irene Sandiford-Garner | September 14, 2013 at 2:58 PM |

    Mrs Sandiford-Garner, MA’AM, may I please ask a simple question without the name calling, etc?
    Would you say that the numerical facts (you refer to them as Ryan’s Straughn’s weapons using the same language of violence like your colleague Mr. Jones) reproduced above present a true and fair view of the fiscal stewardship of the country over the years?
    Or do you believe that accounting data tell lies like words from people’s mouth?

    Would you also agree that if a politically independent rational person were to reach a conclusion about what has taken place in the last 5 years it would have to be one of total fiscal indiscipline and “squandermania” and disgusting financial incompetence especially by a minister of Finance who up to this day cannot give account of the $300 million of vital foreign reserves that just disappeared in thin air?

    Would you recommend that kind of financial management to the average householder or corporate manager?

    Would you also agree that as a result of this fiscal prostitution the country’s economic problems have been made worst despite the international recession?

    Now please Mrs Sandiford-Garner, ma’am I am asking a question not attacking you hiding behind a moniker since my name is Jethro Miller. However, I don’t move in your social circles so you would not know my kind ‘low-class’ type whom Negroman from St. John is at ease with.

  47. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    LOOK–
    Your last post was a rather long one and I dont really read long posts but I read this one.
    I agree with most of what you say.
    Let me add that I thought that Plantation Deeds was just making joke and I did not take Plantation Deeds seriously. Your post convinced me that the matter is serious. I am about Justice and I hope that Justice is done in this matter.I wish Plantation Deeds et al much luck.

    I have no confidence in the DLP, however. The DLP’s record since 1974 does not excite me. I will go with the BLP because of its record. I think that the BLP is better equipped to do the job that is needed. I do not have to be a BLP operative to say that. Maybe I should become a BLP operative. I must think about that, however, I do not know anyone in the BLP nor they do not know me–ditto for the DLP

    What is a BLP operative though ?
    What does an operative do ?

    JUST ASKING —
    -LOL

  48. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    .bushie still can’t figure out how George can beat you….. Bajans are REAL brass bowls in truth yuh
    —————
    I love Irene Sandiford -Garner (and I dont have to be a man to say that) but she is in the wrong party at the wrong time and that is why she lost to George Payne. She should get out. Inspite of the fact that she is in the wrong party , I would vote for Irene any day. I think that Irene should be the face (beautiful and sweet) of a new authentic third party in Barbados, maybe a woman’s party. Think about it Irene.
    BWP -Barbados Women’s Party (Nucleus)
    Irene
    Verla
    Lucille Baird
    Cynthia
    Mia (when the BLP kick her out again)
    Kerry-Ann Ifill
    ac ?
    Lynette
    Lynette Holder
    Maria
    Santia
    Mara
    Marilyn

    Come on girls –work on it
    On one condition though .

  49. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    BARBADOS LADIES PARTY
    BLP

    BLP Instead of BWP -?
    WPB instead of BWP ?
    Women’s Party of Barbados

  50. JUST ASKING Avatar
    JUST ASKING

    David | September 14, 2013 at 8:44 AM |

    @PDC

    Rubbish you have written!
    —————————
    I find the offering of PDC to be enlightening. PDC ‘s arguments are on point and much needed for Barbados : we need radical new approaches that are good for Barbados
    How can you describe PDC’s contribution as Rubbish ?
    And you have not refuted one point made by PDC with any argument. You just state

    @PDC

    Rubbish you have written!
    How unfair is that ?

    JUST ASKING
    You aint know that it is only out of respect for you as blog owner that PDC aint light in your ass and blister you in cuss. (lol)

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