The Barbadian economy grew by an estimated 1.4% over the first nine months of 2017, as economic growth moderated in the third quarter of the year. Tourism output, which fueled the stronger growth performance over the first half of the year, fell during the third quarter, due to a reduction in the average length-of-stay of…
The Barbadian economy grew by an estimated 1.4% over the first nine months of 2017, as economic growth moderated in the third quarter of the year. Tourism output, which fueled the stronger growth performance over the first half of the year, fell during the third quarter, due to a reduction in the average length-of-stay of visitors and hurricane-related disruptions to tourist arrivals in September.
David November 2, 2017 at 11:29 AM #
@Frustrated Businessman
How does one define what is a public good?
………………………………………………
That is the wrong question David.
This island needs low-income housing for purchase and rental.
The private sector provides both cheaper than gov’t can, while competing against each other and paying taxes on every stage of the development, the finished products and profits.
If gov’t sees fit to provide free housing for the vulnerable in our society, all they have to do is either buy it on the free market or rent it on the free market from the people who know best how to provide it at competitive prices.
When you want a pork chop for dinner you would probably not buy a pig farm and operate it at a loss for decades while hiring your lazy-ass family to work there and give away free pork to everyone else in the neighbourhood including the vast majority who can afford to buy it.
The purpose of gov’t is to LEGISLATE, REGULATE AND FACILITATE, NOT OPERATE.
All the social services this country needs can be paid for by taxing a vibrant economy. No social services can be paid for by stifling an economy while throwing away cash on bad business ventures.
Miller
No one is interested in agriculture in Bim today,dont mind the China 40M(which will be in kind,presumably according to Dr Robinson) to UWI’s ag. project as the farming community was not involved according to Sen. Chandler in wednesday’s nation.
OSA’s words about land being allowed to fetch its own price, has resonated with every one,which is why the mandatory minimum of 40,000 acres to be kept in ag. has dwidled to just over 20,000 acres.
Historically it was the merchant vs the planter with the planter on top for centuries……well the tables have turned and this is where we are at today.
@ Vincent Haynes November 2, 2017 at 4:27 PM
“Historically it was the merchant vs the planter with the planter on top for centuries……well the tables have turned and this is where we are at today.”
The inherent weakness of such a ‘modern’ model is that it depends totally on the country earning sufficient forex to finance such a large food import dependency bill; far less lacking any serious consideration of the concept of food security in case of externalities beyond the Bajan control like natural disasters, global food shortages or even war and other geopolitical gamesmanship.
What happens when the country’s main forex earner cannot generate the kind of foreign cash to pay for the imported processed food?
As the Mighty Chalkdust opined in that riveting calypso:
All ‘Buybadus’ got is sea water and sand and the day the tourists don’t come to the land of the migrated flying, crapaud will smoke the Bajan pipe in the land of starvation since you guys are too ‘poor-great’ to eat sand and drink sea water bought with Mickey mouse Bajan dollars.
BTW, without agriculture rural Barbados would look like a veritable bush land overgrown with unattractive weeds (not the mary jane high end) and a total turnoff to tourists looking for a relaxing idyllic tropical garden and not a dump full of plastic and discarded remnants of a dirty irresponsible importing consumption-driven population totally out of kilter with modern environmental sensitivities and responsibilities for future sustainable development.
FB at 1: 30 PM
Where in Barbados are these cheap low income houses ,built by the private sector, are?
millertheanunnaki November 2, 2017 at 8:09 PM
All ‘Buybadus’ got is sea water and sand and the day the tourists don’t come to the land of the migrated flying’ fish’.
@ Bernard
Where in Barbados are these cheap low income houses ,built by the private sector, are?
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All over.
They are called ‘Chattel Houses’ and are ideal, unique, affordable, ‘do-it-yourself’ – for most, easy-to-maintain, cool, and attractive. But that was back when our SENSIBLE grandparents were alive and thinking….
But we now have ‘educated’ champagne taste with our mauby pockets, so we borrow OTHER people’s money to live THEIR dreams …and to keep ourselves in debt.
Best part was when old communities came together to repair / relocate/ upgrade each other’s houses as needed.
Now we have to buy all we want …because we insist on selling all that we have…..
Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur has called for the Warrens to UWI corridor to be developed as the island’s first smart community, laying the foundation to transform the stagnant economy on pillars of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/101801/owen-solution-lies-smart-communities
@ Bush Tea at 10:20 pm
You do jest. Have you in recent times repaired or built a chattel house? At today’s price we are talking of $ 80K BB$. You really making sport at poor black people. Repairs can cost the owner BB$ 10 k every 7th year.
@ Hants
Arthur reminds us of a batsman seeing the ball after he is back in the pavilion.
Bernard Codrington. November 2, 2017 at 8:34 PM #
FB at 1: 30 PM
Where in Barbados are these cheap low income houses ,built by the private sector, are?
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Read my post again B.
I did not say cheap, I said ‘cheaper than gov’t can (provide)’.
Like mini busses are cheaper to run than BTB busses. Like VOB is cheaper to run than CBC etc. etc. etc.
Nothing in Barbados is cheap with the taxes we are forced to pay to feed lazy-ass snivel servants and statutory corporation teefin’ dens.
@ Bernard
Bds $80K for a decent, safe place to live is quite reasonable. That translates into a repayment of about $600 per month for a 100% 15-year mortgage.
Besides, housing does not need to be ‘cheap’, it is an excellent long term investment in a vital asset.
The substantive point though, is that whenever government gets into ‘business’, it results in wastage, graft, bribery and inefficiency. It should therefore be OUTLAWED as a matter of common sense.
The FUNDAMENTAL problem is in any situation where large amounts of money are placed at the disposal of select persons, and where there is little oversight, no transparency, no accountability and most critically, no CONSEQUENCES for doing shiite.
The most recent non-government example in the news is with the Olympic Association – where millions of dollars of lottery funds are handed over to a closed set of people each year, to spend as they wish. After decades of piss poor results, complete secrecy, falling behind in sport, no facilities, and with very little to show, it seems that we are now in for more of the same.
A very simple solution would be for an AUTOMATIC, annual, mandatory, audit of ALL such institutions – by a body such as the Auditor General – paid for by that institution itself, and for full public publication of all relevant records and transactions.
With names like Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb and most recently the president of the Brazil Olympic Association, who enjoyed many years of ‘success’, only now to be found out to be scamps and criminals,
Bushie would have thought that automatic audits would be a no-brainer if we wanted to take preventative actions to ensure that others stay on the straight and narrow.
The problem of course is that, (brass bowls that we are,) even though the Auditor General annually names and details the criminality being perpetrated in the local Public Service, we continue to trust in the very same politicians to look after our future without any strict accountability and consequences.
Brass bowls are beyond redemption…. but not stinking Bushie…
Bushie leans towards the guillotine as an effective ‘consequence’.
Cheap affordable housing solutions with community assistance done the old time Bim way………
millertheanunnaki November 2, 2017 at 8:09 PM #
Read OSAs words of yesterday…..we are in a speeding vehicle in a cul de sac…….we no longer have individuals with vision that can change the world.
@ Vincent
we no longer have individuals with vision that can change the world.
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Like his CSME nightmare, this OSA suggestion is a bunch of crap….
We have all the people needed to change the world – many of them right here with us on BU.
BUT…
What people like OSA have done, is seek out the parasites and low-life swamp dwellers among us – whose integrity could be cheaply purchased, and appointed them to positions of influence in the damn country.
…Chicken feed farmers to become Supervisor of Insurance
…Low self-esteem jokers to high rank
…Personal friends and outside women on influential Boards where they were CLULESS, but ‘malleable’..
Had Arthur instituted a system of MERIT …. where those individuals who DEMONSTRATED that they could change their neighbourhoods; their communities; their churches; their workplaces …. were then SELECTED – based on performance – to run national entities, ….THEN such persons would now have been highlighted, instead of the demonic brass bowls that now dominate our landscape…
He mash up the damn place with his ‘politics of inclusion’ and now talking shiite…
He could REALLY do us all a favour and hush his mouth….. He and enuff!!! 🙂
LOL
ha ha ha
Puppeteers will only ever want puppets below them Bushy.
It has always been that way, always will be.
The only way to rebuild this country is to collapse the civil services and statutory corporations, thereby marginalising the hold they have over all of us that is stifling commerce, creativity and progress.
We can get no further as a people with this tremendous burden on our backs, time to shed the dead weight.
Bushie
On point…..
@Owen Arthur
Is this why you approved the sale of the BNB?
Barbados’ financial system is very liquid but functions in a highly risk-averse manner largely devoted to underwriting consumption,” the former Minister of Finance pointed out.
“There is need for financial innovation to enable more resources to go towards the underwriting of reasonable risk to finance the start-up operations and other legitimate activities by entrepreneurs and other technological agents.”
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/101823/banks-support-innovation
Well this article headline should be news to MAM
For a potential PM in Barbados to promise a shopping basket of tax relief……is incredulous on her part !!!
In light of the fact , that :
• MAM on the floor of Parliament admitted that the law firm to which she is attached does NOT pay it’s taxes to government !!!
• MAM was vehemently opposed to the Solid Waste Tax – and march and encouraged Bajans NOT to pay !!!!!!
With such an abhorrence to tax payment …….how can MAM be able to finance her tax free fiscal programme is she ever becomes PM ???
Fractured BLP
Do you also mean similar to how Michael Carrington is VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED NOT to pay his clients their money?????
“His Dis-Hon. Michael Carrington is a GRATEFUL BENEFICIARY of UNIVERSAL FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION, one of the most enlightened policies of the Democratic Labour Party….. [DLP web-site]……”
…………… but is now vehemently opposed to the reintroduction of free tertiary education?
“Though challenged in recent times by members of Her Majesty’s Opposition who have not come to terms with the wishes of the electorate, he has been able to MAINTAIN the DIGNITY and DECORUM of the House of Assembly.” [DLP web-site]
I’m sure John Griffiths and some other clients have a different perspective on Carrington’s “dignity” and “decorum.”
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Or do you mean similar to how the bombastic Sinckler VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED the EPA while serving as Executive Coordinator of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), and subsequently signed and heaped praises on the agreement in 2008 when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade?
“When the DLP took office in 2008 Mr. Sinckler first became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Among other things, he SUCCEEDED in signing the Economic Partnership Agreement and creating the Barbados Networkers Programme that gives members of the Barbadian Diaspora the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the sustainable development of Barbados.” [DLP web-site]
@ David
Perhaps the revelations in the recent Central Bank report is one of the reasons why there is an apparent delay in the recovery plan.
@Artax
It is not the first time the government has sat on the IMF report to massage public opinion. It is fair to conclude the reason must be based on the fact the message is negative.
@ David
I don’t believe it’s about a delay in publicizing an IMF report, because the delegation has not arrived as yet……. hence, no report.
An IMF delegation is supposed to visit Barbados this week to conduct the annual Article IV consultation, during which time this DLP administration was to present “a new version of the Barbados Sustainable Recovery Plan,” perhaps in an effort to convince the IMF the economy is on the “correct path to recovery.”
Unfortunately, it seems as though the plan is not ready for perusal by the IMF.
@Artax
Take what you have written to a logical place. What happens if the process is delayed?
@ David
Ohhhhh…….. I understand your reasoning……….
Everything government does is in preparation for the next elections.
Tis the season.
@ Artax November 5, 2017 at 10:43 AM
“An IMF delegation is supposed to visit Barbados this week to conduct the annual Article IV consultation, during which time this DLP administration was to present “a new version of the Barbados Sustainable Recovery Plan,” perhaps in an effort to convince the IMF the economy is on the “correct path to recovery.”
It seems the IMF cat will be visiting on this ‘special’ occasion to eyeball the pigeons in the coop to see how many of the clowder will be needed to supervise a new administration in the cleaning up of the decade of financial mess left by the current incompetent administration of pure pigeon poo.
They will also be looking around for suitable accommodation preferably near to the beach but not too far from the towers in Warrens; all at the expense of the already ‘overtaxed’ owners of the coop about to collapse in the DLP junkyard.
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