Submitted by Anthony Davis
“The Freundel Stuart administration says it is sticking to its guns to make Barbadian students at the University of the West Indies start pulling their pockets for tuition fees from next year even though welcoming a new private sector fund to bail out those who cannot afford to pay…The firm position was taken today by Minister of Commerce, and International Business, Donville Inniss, while launching a new charity known as Global Education Scholastic Trust…Inniss said the Government had done the right thing in the circumstances of the economic climate, and would carry through with it…It is not easy for me as a politician that would have taken in recent debates to reduce fees at UWI with effect from 2014, but it is one of those things we felt we had to do, and we stand by that decision.”
What else can one expect from an uncaring Government, whose scions – and probably their scions’ scions – have had a free education at the UWI Cave Hill Campus? The motto of this Government is now “after me the deluge”! Is this the same Government that Minister Blackett called people-centred? I guess he means centred around the 16 DLP Government MPs, but night runs till day catches it!
Minister Inniss can spare us his crocodile tears!
You do not have money for our students at UWI Cave Hill, nor for the QEH, but you have millions of dollars in waivers – including one for food and beverage which no hotel has had before – to throw at a multi-millionaire named “Butch” Stewart, although he took over a hotel here and promised to develop and refurbish it so that Barbadians could get work, but absconded leaving it to moulder and the iron in it to rust! This left those who had hopes of getting a job there up the creek without a paddle! “Is that “the right thing in the circumstances of the economic climate”, Minister Inniss?
Aaron Freedman, a senior analyst for Moody’s, and who monitors Barbados’ economy, cautioned against celebrating Sandals’ presence, because of the cost to Barbados which has not been tallied, and because “it’s too early to say”. It was NOT too early for Minister of Finance, Chris Sinckler, and Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, though! They were jumping up and down like children in a candy factory!
What is your reply now, ministers?
I take it that Mr. Freedman is wrong, as you are always right, and you operate on a stand your ground principle! You even cut the funds for the one and only hospital in Barbados by $35million, not caring how the poor, the needy, and the vulnerable will fare under the circumstances! CEO of the QEH, Dr. Dexter James, said: “that even though the institution’s finances had been reduced by $35million, patients could ” most definitely” expect the same high standards of care they had grown accustomed to over time.”
We do not need any platitudes from you, Dr. James! We know that you must toe the line! How can the service be the same as before? Something has got to give, and that will mean longer waiting hours, and running from clinic to clinic in the hope of finding the relative medication! Also, getting a doctor’s appointment will be worse than trying to get blood out of a stone! Is that “the right thing in the circumstances of the economic climate”, Minister Inniss?
Is it “the right thing” to rob the poor, the needy and the vulnerable to give the money to the rich? I guess you think it was “Robbing Hood” who roamed Sherwood Forest stealing from the poor and giving to the rich!
Wrong, Minister Inniss!
It was Robin Hood, and he robbed the rich and gave it to the poor! That’s why he is so famous all over the world! This Government will also go down as being famous, as it is the only Government in Barbados – and possibly anywhere else – that I know that robbed the poor to give their money to a multi-millionaire!
I must say WELL DONE to the Freundel Stuart Administration!
The reason that Germany will remain one of the top countries in the world is the emphasis it places on the education of its people! You had better save some money to pay other Jamaicans who will be filing lawsuits against Barbados as everybody has hailed the verdict of the CCJ as the best thing since sliced bread, and seem to think that Barbados is a milking cow! This Government often spoke of “our children”, but they did not mean the nation’s children!
They meant their OWN children! Sorry we misinterpreted you! You are way out of touch with the populace of this country! Your “no retreat, no surrender” – as long as it has to do with the poor, the needy, and the vulnerable – is despicable, and a blatant disregard of their human rights to food, clean drinking water, EDUCATION, housing, etc. By the way: Have no Barbadians been held/stopped illegally in Jamaica?
Is Barbados the punching bag of CARICOM?
Sorry, I forgot that you do not deal with such things as we are subservient to you! On the other hand, I must thank Global Education Scholastic Trust for stepping up to the plate to help some of those who cannot afford to pay the fees at the UWI Cave Hill Campus! I hope that more of the private sector will show more empathy/sympathy for the poor, the needy, and the vulnerable than this Government!
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