est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

,

Government Between a Rock and a Hard Place With General Elections Looming

Submitted by Inkwell 1. Consider this argument. The Central Bank (CB) Governor has refused to print any more money for the Minister of Finance (MOF). The MOF needs printing to continue to pay civil servants and keep Government running. If the Government can’t pay the civil servants this month, all hell will break loose. Therefore…

, , ,
Submitted by Inkwell
barbados-election-map-2013
2013 Final Electoral Map, the government won by a 2 seat margin

1. Consider this argument. The Central Bank (CB) Governor has refused to print any more money for the Minister of Finance (MOF). The MOF needs printing to continue to pay civil servants and keep Government running. If the Government can’t pay the civil servants this month, all hell will break loose. Therefore the CB Governor has to be fired so that somebody who will agree to print the money can be appointed. These delays being granted by the High Court are making the MOF nervous. Time is of the essence. But Jeez, if the printing continues, the economy will only get sicker.

2. Foreign reserves are at an all-time low and heading further south, and with the poor tourist season we are now having, not much hope for recovery. The Government can’t even put its hands on the US$100 million from Kyffin for BNTCL in a hurry as that has to go through FTC regulatory process. Let us see if the Government is going to try to railroad the FTC and also what stuff the Chairman is made of.

3. Government can’t borrow externally because of low credit rating and the existing high debt service requirements are continuing to hurt the foreign reserves.

3. Every economist who has said anything (Frank Alleyne has been predictably silent) has told the Government it must act NOW to avoid a disaster, latest being the CDB which has issued a dire warning: “CDB President Dr. Warren Smith is warning there is “no painless way” to rein in the fiscal deficit and ballooning debt.” “But I think it is also important to appreciate that we need action now. The Government of Barbados knows what to do.” “Let me just repeat that we are ready to help but there are certain things that need to be done before the assistance of the multi-lateral institutions like ourselves can become available in a fulsome way. I think that the debt situation is one that needs to be addressed urgently.”

4. The Government’s hand is being forced every way it turns. It must act.

5. BIG Problem. Elections are imminent and the harsh measures required will doom the DLP’s chances of re-election. What would you do? Think like Stuart (and hope not to get a brain freeze). You have to call elections NOW. If you wait any longer, you will be forced to inflict much pain, especially on the civil service and statutory corporations, send home another eight to ten thousand people; you will have to further cut financial support to the QEH and UWI, BWA and SSA; you will have to increase bus fares; you will have to dismantle the community councils and cancel the football tournament and condemn the DLP to the annals of Barbadian political notoriety. A few of the painful pills.

The only hope of survival is to go to the polls BEFORE you are forced to inflict the pain. Tempus is fugiting and the hour must come. Truly between a rock and a hard place.

119 responses to “Government Between a Rock and a Hard Place With General Elections Looming”

  1. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    @Gabriel. Only ONE hotel in Bahamas right now could employ such huge number of people and it is the Atlantis Resort. However, the newly built Bahamar is being touted as the next big absorber of abundant labour. Barbados mindset is not attune to thinking BIG and every investment annoucement is greeted with all kind of opposition.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    @fortyacresandamule

    Is it that investments ‘are greeted with all kind of opposition‘ per se or more the lack of transparency and good governance.

  3. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    @David. While it is true that some of the oppositions are reasonable and warranted I dare say a majority of them are political and idealogical point scoring disguising under the BUZZWORDs of Governance and Transparency.

  4. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    Only the Fatted Calf Brigade and the capitalists albinos party of 5 will support blindly anything this current administration puts on the table.Its a total lack of confidence in the whole sorry bunch.I wish they would just exit and let the country settle down to growth again.

  5. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    Miller;
    “…living high on the imported credit hog to grow far too long like a bad hair day in need of a serious and permanent across-the-board cut instead of any 8%.:
    Are you suggesting that Sandi should have imposed a higher than 8% cut? What should it have been instead? Why then didn’t you, among others, prevent OSA from introducing the legislation that prevented Civil Servants: and politicians wages, because they are also tied by legislation, from being reduced ever again without a Constitutional change.?What is your suggested benchmark?What is your suggestion, apart from a general election? Will you promise that if you won the next election you would introduce the steps you suggest? Or would you do, like Frustrated suggests, and introduce a 20% cut, and fire all the Civil Servants, because you are getting on like there is no need for a Civil Service or
    Civil Servants. Many you are wishing to see the ship of state ground4d, because you don’t like the captain or crew; not realizing or accepting that all of you cannot swim.
    Why not all of you pull your weight to steady the ship, and putting aside your biases and dislike, persuade those willing to help, to join in fighting against the elements and reaching a safe harbour.
    All you are capable of doing is being negative.

  6. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    Gabriel,
    How much do you accept would be an acceptable rate of growth? There is growth occurring, but obviously not enough for you and Frustrated. Give me specifics and figures. Barbados is 166square miles, with a small po;elation (270,000) and a 2Billion dollar GDP. Don’t you think this is an achievement?

  7. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Alvin Cummins February 20, 2017 at 9:03 PM

    Hello A C,

    You seem to be rather scarce (or should that be scared) these days.
    The scenario under Sandie would soon look like child’s play in a picture story book to what is on the horizon.

    At least Sandie had a number of cylinders “firing” in the economy.

    How many does the current administration have going for it even to resuscitate the economy far less grow it?

    Compare the output of sugar in 1992 to what prevails today and you would see the kind of wicket Sandie had to bat on.

    In Sandie’s time Barbados was the No.1 developing country in the World placing at No. 20 on the UN Human Development Index with Israel at No. 19. Where is Barbados now on that index?

    Didn’t the current DLP administration have a two thirds majority including the political grasshopper Hammie La in the 2008-2013 session of Parliament to right any
    Constitutionally encrusted wrong OSA and his gang might have committed?

    It’s really amazingly hypocritical how your current administration could talk about turning Barbados into a banana republic which would require the same two-thirds majority ruling in Parliament but could not see it fit to bring a more crucially important amendment to the Cutting of Public Servant Salaries Act to save the economic ship of state since 2014 or even at this drowning hour of final repeal.

    Wouldn’t that have put the Opposition on the spot and exposed their unpatriotic red colour for a flag to save Bim from the economic collapse that is being played out right here today?

    But look what you guys have gone and done. Bury the pitchfork in a nationalistic show of evil patriotism to the Devil on the Garrison.

    Let us not dwell in the past as is your wont but deal with the present scenario where there is a total loss of confidence in your administration’s ability to steer the economic ship of state to a port of financial safety.

    Let us put you on the spot and ask for your views on the disgusting imbroglio which is taking place between your administration and its former loyal enforcer of dlp damn lies and propaganda, the turncoat Guv of the CB.

    We can bet that not even a pinch of snuff would enter your verbal rear end to make you sneeze a nanosecond of verbal diarrhea of a comment on this most inopportune politically embarrassing fecal matter.

    The frustrated businessman assessment of a 20% adjustment in public sector wages and salaries bill is not too far off of what the IMF would be demanding in its pound of flesh in lieu of a devaluation across the board.

  8. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    “Why not all of you pull your weight to steady the ship, and putting aside your biases and dislike, persuade those willing to help, to join in fighting against the elements and reaching a safe harbour.”

    In your patriotic grandeur, you seem to conveniently forget that MANY people, warned the MoF, the PM, and other Ministers, their financial path was unsustainable. You know the reply? “Rubbish”. We were all idiots.
    When on one thread I mentioned Barbados did not have the “financial capacity”, you came unglued. YOU supported the path, hook, line and sinker.

    So maybe what you should be doing is using YOUR influence to get the powers to change course, because none of us have had any success.

  9. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger

    https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/02/20/its-unfair-2/

    The vicious, ungrateful Cow is getting pensioners NIS money, black people’s money, given him by 3 governments to expand his business and build Apes Hill. ..and he is still complaining he wants more tax concessions. ..when will these 2 stupid governments stop taking up black people’s money by the millions and give it away to greedy, ungrateful minorities.

    It’s unfair!

    COW cries out against duty-free system

    Added by George Alleyne on February 20, 2017.
    Saved under Business
    0
    Give us duty-free concessions too!

    This was the cry of prominent businessman Sir Charles Williams as he addressed the launch of his multi-million dollar Apes Hill Country Club over the weekend.

    Before a gathering that included Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and Minister of Industry and Commerce Donville Inniss, the local developer accused Government of discriminating against investors like him, in favour of non-nationals.

    “Can any Bajan in here tell me how they would feel when you get a condition that [is for] a non-national in our country?” asked Sir Charles, who related two personal experiences.

    Sir Charles Williams
    He said some years ago he had received permission to import a duty-free vehicle in the name of the Country Club, on condition that “it must be driven only by a non-national”.

    More recently, the construction magnate said he had also applied for permission to bring in another pickup to be driven by his son and another Barbadian to take around prospective buyers of the Club’s luxury villas and houses.

    “You’re taking people around that are buying a million dollar lot, $2 million lot, a $500,000 lot. You’re asking to drive them in a pickup, and I was told in the last year that I seem to have missed what the condition was. It must be driven by a non-national,” Sir Charles lamented.

    In response, Sealy, whose Government has been criticized for offering millions in concessions to the hotel chain Sandals, offered little satisfaction to the affluent businessman, opting instead to make light of the situation by saying: “I can relate to your issue with the duty-free concession on the vehicles.”

  10. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger

    Alvin….you really got a nerve, the incompetent government neglected and destroyed anything that should benefit the majority and then the people should clean up the mess they leave, while the same government ministers restore their 10% salaries and leave the people to suffer….don’t you ever stop being a yardfowl.

    And instead of talking to the people who will definitely vote him and them out, Stuart is in NY vomiting his guts thinking he is impressing someone, do you know how much information is being filtered to millions of people about Fruendel and his Fiends’ lies and deceit to the people, just wait until Worrel talks.

    I am not the only one observing.

  11. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger

    https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/02/21/81000-owed/

    Why is this being allowed to happen in that banana republic island, children should also be supported by their fathers, where is Adriel Nitwit Dimwit, the attorney general to talk about this travesty, the dullard will probably say it’s the fault of the mothers and grandmothers.

    These 2 lowlife deadbeat snakes are obviously bribing the island constables not to serve the summones so they appear in court, the island constables should be charged for this dereliction of duty, locked up and or forced to pay the child support themselves, since they do not want to see these children supported, what vicious animals.

    “$81,000 owed
    Lawyer appeals for relief for mother of two

    Added by George Alleyne on February 21, 2017.
    Saved under Local News, Politics
    Pin It
    A mother of two young children is now owed $81,000 in unpaid child maintenance over the past eight years, her attorney claims.

    While complaining bitterly that the woman was yet to receive “one blind cent” of the outstanding amount, attorney-at-law Arthur Holder Sunday night suggested that the two delinquent dads –– who both reside in St John –– were not the only ones to blame, since neither had yet been summoned to appear in court.”

  12. Andrew Simpson Avatar
    Andrew Simpson

    Exo 18:21
    Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

  13. Spanky Avatar
    Spanky

    People God is in control like it or lump it
    Rich will get richer…..
    Seek Gods face let Him in Barbadians you all seem to forget God

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @Spanky

    You are saying we give up the fight?

  15. Joycelyn Maynard Avatar
    Joycelyn Maynard

    I thought this government was elected to save Barbados from the last. However to me it seem to have brought Barbados further in dire straights. The refusal of the mute master to keep the citizens abreast of what is happening is shameful. No man is an island, and sooner or later the buck stops with him.

  16. David Avatar
    David

    It’s unfair!

    Comments

    Charles Skeete

    Charles Skeete When a currency is overvalued an alternative to devaluation is subsidies and concessions in order to remain competitive. The trouble is you eventually run out of money. Choices, choices.

     

  17. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Lets hope and pray that Stuart does not usurp Camera-on Lashley, like he did for the 50th Independence celebration, over the coming months with Barbados hosting Carifesta in August. We are still awaiting the final bill on the independence celebrations,and especially the price of the Garrison Monkey.

  18. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger

    https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/02/21/weve-failed/

    The government has failed, they all know they have failed, but Fruendel is up in NYC trying to deceive bajans in Barbados…. from NY….let’s hope his “do whatever it takes to win the election” comment does not translate to vote buying.., again.

    Why are government ministers and politicians in Barbados so disconnected from the majority black voters in Barbados. ..whose votes they need to win each and every election. …it will never be any different.

    And as for this two faced, forked tongue, self-serving fraud, he does know that no one trusts him right….they all know they failed…, all of them, particularly Fruendel, they should know they have to go…..but are all pretending otherwise.

    ……printing money from 2010 means they lied and deceived the people to win the 2013 election, they never had a viable plan for the economy, they were making it up as they go along and praying for the best until it backfired with Worrell v. Sinckler…..they will lie and deceive the electorate again because they have made the economy even worse than in 2010…and still dont have a viable fir it’s recovery.

    “We’ve failed!
    alternative economic plan needed – Estwick

    Added by Emmanuel Joseph on February 21, 2017.
    Saved under Local News, Politics
    0
    In an apparent slight of Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, outspoken Cabinet Minister Dr David Estwick said Government’s economic policies had failed and the Freundel Stuart administration was facing an uphill task in seeking to correct its errors.

    And in what can be seen as an “I told you so” moment, the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management today reiterated that an alternative economic plan which he had presented to Cabinet just over three years ago, should have been accepted instead of the policies pursued under Sinckler’s supervision.

    Estwick never mentioned Sinckler by name during his interview with Barbados TODAY, but it was evident that he was no fan of the policies pursued by his own Government over the past seven years or so.

    The controversial minister reminded the country that as far back as 2010 the Stuart administration had been printing money – something Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados Dr Delisle Worrell recently warned must stop immediately and which Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss contended was only meant to be a short-term measure.”

  19. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger

    https://imgur.com/CzhrEyZ

Older Comments
1 2 3

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading