Submitted by Tee White
The decision of the new BLP government to seek the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the implementation of its comprehensive economic reform programme has provoked reactions from all sides.
Those who support the decision have argued that the country had no alternative, given its poor credit rating and high level of indebtedness. Prime Minister Mia Mottley put this at over 170% of GDP and stated that, measured against GDP, Barbados is the third most indebted country in the world, placing it after only Japan and Greece. The supporters of the move further argue that with an effective negotiating team and negotiating strategy, there is no reason why Barbados might not benefit from engaging with the IMF. Finally, they argue that the IMF of today is no longer the big bad wolf of previous years.
Those, who oppose the decision, point to the country’s previous engagement with the IMF, in the early 1990s, when job losses and cuts in public sector wages led to protests and the downfall of the Sandiford DLP government. They also point to the experience of Jamaica which has been entangled with the IMF for the last 40 years and is still considered to be in need of IMF support.
The key aspect of the current situation, as it is presented to the people of Barbados, is the government’s fiscal deficit. While the government collects BD$2.7 billion in taxes, it spends BD$4.4 billion, of which some BD$1.5 billion is used to service the existing debt of BD$15 billion. In order to cope with this situation, the previous government are accused of running down the foreign currency reserves. According to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, on 31 May, these stood at BD$440 million, or the equivalent of seven weeks’ worth of import cover. This is the main problem that the government’s comprehensive economic reform programme with IMF support is intended to address.
However, it is clear that there are numerous ways to solve a problem of a government’s budget deficit and the choice of option will indicate the political preferences of those making the choice. For example, the people of Barbados remain in the dark about the origin of this BD$15 billion of public debt. For each individual loan within the portfolio of debt, Bajans need to know, who borrowed it, how much was borrowed, what the interest rate was, what it was used for, how much has been repaid and how much is still outstanding. Bajans need to demand that the government make this information public so that we can judge for ourselves our responsibility for the repayments. Obviously, if money has been borrowed and used for purposes other than those stated in the terms of the original loan, then we are looking at the issue of odious debt for which Bajans should not be held responsible. Furthermore, if money has been borrowed and used to enrich politicians and private interests, then those who benefited from the loans are the ones who should take the responsibility for the repayments.
Another important point to bear in mind is that looking at the government’s finances alone does not give us a clear and all round picture of the state of the economy, since government revenue accounts for only some 30% of Barbados’s GDP. We also need to know what is happening to the other 70% of the country’s GDP in order to be able to make informed decisions going forward. Recently reported statements from Mr Eddy Abed, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), that there is some BD$8 billion sitting in the banking system in Barbados also needs to be factored into any solution. Bajans may well ask how it is that in ‘dire economic times’ the ‘private sector’ aka the local elite have the equivalent of 80% of the country’s GDP sitting in the banking system. If this is the case with the local elite, what is the situation with the foreign elites? We need information on all of this to be in a position to make informed judgments about how best to address the budget deficit.
With regard to the IMF, a careful reading of its Article IV report which was recently released by the government indicates that it is focusing its attention on attacking those streams of government spending which benefit ordinary people, such as public sector pensions. Bajans need to be aware that other options exist. A budget deficit can be reduced by increasing government revenue as well as by cutting government expenditure. For example, the government could increase its revenue by charging corporation tax on companies’ income rather than on their declared profits. It could also place a temporary moratorium on all tax concessions which are currently in operation. The important thing is that various options exist and the ones that are chosen reflect a political choice about whose lives and interests are important. The question is should decisions favour the working people of Barbados or those of the local and foreign elites.
In the new situation, it is essential that ordinary Bajans demand that their views and interests be fundamental in shaping any agreement with the IMF. This means being given access to information which allows us to make informed choices and demanding that any agreement reached with the IMF be put to a binding referendum in which the people of Barbados have the opportunity to make a decision on this crucial issue for the well-being of the country.
@Tee White
Are you advocating an egalitarian state?
Did the BLP not receive a mandate at the polls just over a week ago after Mottley indicated an IMF would be an option if she were to win government?
Did the DLP not enjoy high and sustained levels of revenue in their years at the helm?
Is our public wise in the ways of public finance to appreciate policy prescription options? Isn’t it up to the Prime Minister after being advised to sell the way forward in a believable manner to the people?
#askingforafreind
Tee White
As always thank you for a very balanced and insightful article.
We the taxpaying public have to rely only on the ‘say so’ of respective governments – Bee and Dee ,and given broad,general positions.However like you I think it is time we be given the respect we deserve as intelligent people – and be told in minute detail how that Bds $ 15 billion was incurred
For example:
$8 billion from the former BLP administration – what were the loans for and the various amounts and were the loans used for that purpose;
$7 billion for the last DLP admin – the same break down – amount of loans,purpose etc
Also we need to ask if the DLP argument of cash versus accrual accounting methods really was a factor resulting in high debt showing up on their side.
Good start enough of the fudging by politicians.
he administration does not have the luxury of time to forage government books to detail how monies were disbursed at a granular level. Yes this must be done to satisfy standard audit practice but there are time sensitive matters to attend. Foreign loans to pay, public workers to be paid, huge current account deficit to manage, maturing government securities to service etc.
David
What are you talking about the DLP ‘enjoyed high and sustained levels of revenue in their term at the helm?’
Didn’t you hear the then Min of Finance and even P.M. stuart speaking in mid 2013 about the sudden flight of over two hundred million in earnings in one go as a result of the Canadian new Tax Law?
How corporate tax and income tax showed a sudden massive drop around the same time?
The DLP never enjoyed the high earnings the Arthur administration earned at a time when there was no world wide recession,a fall off from tourism in the early years after 2008 and the increase in debt to the UWI Cave Hill because of Beckles policy of letting students who couldn’t get in at Community college – now be accepted with CXCs and make up the year at Cave Hill – which of course would be at a much higher cost than Secondary school .
The dems were always fighting a rear end attack – paying off for the New Dodds prison,Kensington Oval,Highway,Supreme Court Bldg,UWI, etc
@T.Inniss
You need to check your facts. Sinckler enjoyed high revenues comparable to earlier years. The problem the DLP had is not controlling expenditure. It is there in the records, go an check, we have discussed exhaustively in this forum over the years.
David there are 3 ministers in the ministry of Finance now,Mia,Caddle and Straughn.Then their is an Ambassador in Finance – Clyde Mascoll – then there is another financial Consultant- Avinash Persaud;
And you tell me one of them cannot detail the National debt but they can detail waivers for a car and who contract get extended,and a contract at the port etc?
I think priorities must be in order here.
Included is the 1million waiver for Mia father how did this all happen and with whose authority
After all it was taxpayers money being floated to Mia family member namely her dad
Comrade Tee White,
Did you study economics in Venezuela?
There is still a small offshore financial industry in Barbados. If Barbados tries to fight Credit Suisse Cayman Islands and Deutsche Cayman Islands, the last forex earner beside tourism will leave the island next week.
The effects of the default are already felt in the Barbadian financial industry. Many people had to work day and night the last few days …
It does not matter anymore who spent which money in the past. What matters that the forex reserves are ALREADY depleted. Bajans have the strange habit to add foreign loans to the forex reserves – which is against all accountant standards. If you subtract all loans in forex reserves (capital + interest), Barbados has now negative reserves.
” Furthermore, if money has been borrowed and used to enrich politicians and private interests, then those who benefited from the loans are the ones who should take the responsibility for the repayments.”
Totally agree…
In addition, the constitution provides for freedom of information, the people should at lest know the terms and conditions of engagement with IMF and how negatively or positively or for how long their lives will be impacted…by that engagement.
David BU
Where this T. Inniss came from…..all of a sudden……. after the election….to push a DLP narrative, while shamelessly trying to appear “balanced.”
I have often mentioned in this forum that the political party apologists do not conduct relevant research, but come to BU spew party political propaganda or what they “feel” is correct…….and not based on research or facts.
T. Inniss “is no different.”
The following information gives a detailed analysis of Barbados’ tax revenues from 1990 t0 2016.
If you peruse the years 1994 to 2007, during the BLP’s tenure…….and compare with the DLP’s tenure from 2008 to 2016……..
………you would recognize that your question re: “Did the DLP not enjoy high and sustained levels of revenue in their years at the helm?” is not only VALID…….but CORRECT as well.
https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=REVBAR
David BU, could you please suggest to the DLP that they should recruit more informed “apologists” to represent them in this forum?
Clearly, Mariposa and T. Inniss are performing poorly.
@Artax
We have to hope the DEMS learn from mistakes, so far it is more of the same. Was surprised to hear Bobby Morris admit the DLP now has to examine the use of social media. The party has to updting as far as exploiting social media platforms is concerned.
Also the same can be applied to the blp where audits showed unaccountabilty over spending on projects that never seen the light of day. andpresent govt having to overcome unforseeable challenges not to mention the lawsuits of million dollars plus which had to be paid to barrack
Plus legal challenges mounted to stop projects
Plus fixing the delapidated water system
Plus the Alexander saga and the 3.5million to resolve the sewer problems
All which required monies on a limited budget
This emerging saga is surely
It’s
Mia’s
Fault
I M F !!
Just take the few comments by DLPites on this particular blog for example, piffle. We are all hunting for good debate, instead rubbish!
Unlike David Ellis, David BU can call it what it it. Empty head nonsense. Hard ears wanna wun learn.
Well Well, @ Freedom of Information would Expose the Land Fraud PONZI, And all would be over and a start to corrections,
Good article, Tee, I am glad you mentioned the pressing issue of odious debt…I would add the issue of interest rate analysis in which one compares the actual debt instrument with the prevailing terms so as to gain an appreciation for how the borrower has fared as against the average…it can be fascinating, believe me…
“it is essential that ordinary Bajans demand that their views and interests be fundamental in shaping any agreement with the IMF. This means being given access to information which allows us to make informed choices and demanding that any agreement reached with the IMF be put to a binding referendum in which the people of Barbados have the opportunity to make a decision on this crucial issue for the well-being of the country.”
Pure shite!!!
The decision of the new BLP government to seek the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the implementation of its comprehensive economic reform programme has provoked reactions from all sides.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is the flaw in your article.
There is no Parliament.
Until we get a senate, there is no Parliament.
At the moment, Cabinet is winging it!!
Artax Steupse really! because the blp win an election after ten years dont become arrogant with your self serving score card
Mia has already started out wrong with promises which she cannot deliver. The most likelihood sceanario would be one of punishment if she does not deliver
Far from delivery she has resorted to taking all of the barbados population looking like beggars at the door steps of our debtors .
###::#:mia the big Liar
Final word on departments that should be closed
1. https://www.nisebarbados.org/our-structure
@ Inniss June 3, 2018 11:29 PM
“……$8 billion from the former BLP administration – what were the loans for and the various amounts and were the loans used for that purpose;
$7 billion for the last DLP admin – the same break down – amount of loans,purpose etc
Also we need to ask if the DLP argument of cash versus accrual accounting methods really was a factor resulting in high debt showing up on their side.”
Haven’t you been warned previously that you must stop printing untruths?
Have you taken over the liar’s baton from Stinkliar whose Pinocchio nose was completely broken off by the people of SNW?
Why can’t you let the BU forum know the source of your “$8 billion from the former BLP administration” since the Central Bank does not support your big lie?
The statistics from the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) show that the Gross General Government Debt for the years 2008 and 2009 was approx. $ 4.9 billion and $ 5.8 billion respectively.
Like ac, your colleague in DLP yard-fowlism, you have been spinning the arithmetically unsound explanation for your DLP administration moving the debt to $15 billion is mainly as a result of paying off the debts incurred by the previous BLP administration during the period 1995 to 2007.
How can $ 8 billion plus $7 billion minus $8 billion equal $15 billion?
As for your foray into realm of Cash versus Accrual accounting we would strongly suggest you stay away from that subject you know clearly rather little about and ought to remain in the class taught by the accounting ignoramus called Teacher Duncy Denis from the School of Kellmanomics & Tacky Book-keeping.
The changeover from the Cash accounting method to the Accrual accounting method would have had its impact in the year of the changeover or possibly in the following financial year; but certainly not in 2010 and going forward.
So wield and come again!
Mariposa…….don’t burst a blood vessel!!!
You realize that it is because of the failed economic policies of an abysmal minister of finance, the liar Chris Sinckler, Jester Ince and Darcy Boyce loitering in the finance ministry…….Central Bank Governor Delisle Worrell “towing the line”…….. and an equally abysmal, iept PM Stuart…….that “eff up” the economy………..
……..is the reason why Mottley, according to you, cannot deliver her promises.
Ohhhhh………….I hope you read what David Thompson and Hartley Henry thought of Freundel Stuart. They agreed the man was unfit to lead Barbados.
However, it’s a good thing the efforts of the “Eagar 11” failed……..based on his abysmal performance as Finance Minister………….Lord help us if Sinckler was Prime Minister of Barbados.
Really, was David Thompson fit to lead Barbados?
THERE IS NO ONE, AND I REPEAT NO ONE, WHO IS AS CRITICAL OF BU AS I HAVE BEEN,
HOWEVER, AS AN OVERSEAS BAJAN, ONLY BU (THOUGH NOT A DAILY NEWSPAPER) HAS COME EVEN CLOSE TO BRINGING PROPER COVERAGE OF THE RECENT ELECTIONS IN BARBADOS AND THE AFTERMATCH, AS THE BU ARTICLES HAVE.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS PRINTED IN THE LOCAL PRINT MEDIA IN BIM, BUT THE ONLINE OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN SPARSE AND PARTICULARLY POOR!
THE ONE AND ONLY AND AUTHENTIC GP
The bank of Jamaica pleased but what about the population that has to bear the brunt of the draconian policies
Yuh guys are already forgetting the 70% who put the blp in office for better and not bitter
BFP…it’s. not like they got a choice…FOIA..must be legislated, there is a provision for it very clearly written in the constitution..
Guest in my view none of the two neither mr Thompson nor Mr Stuart were fit to lead Barbados .Mr Thompson was full of style and little substance,while being very good at spreading half truths and Mr Stuart just seem to want to be PM,but showed zero leadership skills in controlling his Ministers in terms of shuffling or firing them based on performance.His was a laid back don.t carish type of leadership,which some people praised as his style,but it clearly did not work for the betterment of Barbados,in my opinion.
@David
“The administration does not have the luxury of time to forage government books”
Your wrong, it’s JOB #1 at the present time. You have to determine with a degree of certainty of what the present financial situation is. Jumping with some knee jerk reactions without a sound understanding of what’s what could easily make the situation worse. Barbados is famous for making these knee jerk reactions without full evaluation and thought. Greenland, Private business concessions, printing money, Prisons contracts, highway contracts etc are but a few that immediately come to mind.
Time to STOP, evaluate, listen to outside expert advise, in depth evaluation, long term consequece evaluation and only then decide on the route for the future.
@Wily
Reread BU’s point, we have foreign loans falling due in days, we have to take some top level decisions NOW. It does not mean a full investigation will not be carried out, however, we will have to run with provisional numbers in the short term until detailed audits are completed, isn’t it obvious?
Once again Wily Coyote I want to thank you for your excellent common sense response.
Strange how persons who were seeking truth and transparency when the Dems were in suddenly don’t find it necessary to expose EVERYTHING bare.
I wonder what some are afraid that we might find when we dig deep into :
1) What moneys were borrowed
2) What was the purpose of the loan
3)What was the money borrowed actually used for
4) Which administration borrowed for which individual loan etc
The provisional numbers provided to the new government last week by the SOE heads and Accountant General (apparently not including suplementaries, additional cost to fix the Bridgetown sewage plant and south cost and other items) may push the deficit to 1.5 to 2 billion we are hearing?
Thompson dead idiot !and no where in History would it be told or can be proven how good or bad was his leadership.
However what will be said Thompson delivered a devastating election win against a blp govt whose economic performance was stellar in its 14 year reign. Yet was unable to stem the flow of tide and resist the telling allegations against that govt.
Stuart yes his devastating loss after a ten year reign history would conclude that the population got tired and weary of helping to pull the economic basket at a time when Barbados was unprepared for globalisation and its effect on small nations
Yuh know the blp has already spelled out an agenda in its manifesto that cannot bear fruit and for what it is worth or worth while the fruit so far that it has produced is an election win wborne on lies deceit and unrealties as Mia herself all but admitted when she asked barbadians to help bear the pain while she take them down the driven path of draconian policies
Amazing, here we are as a country, once a model for others in the WORLD, NOW the laughing stock after 10 years of economic and social decline – and what are some debating?
#hardearswunnawunlearn
@David
Re-reading does not change anything, loans coming due are not going to be repaid on time in any case, default is guaranteed.
LISTENING TO SOE heads, civil service, BCC etc. are bound to be full of inaccuracies if not outright lies. ACCURATE Accounting in Barnados (spelling correct) is non existant.
Time to step back, take a deep breath, do the evaluations and hopefully make informed decisions rather than the typical knee jerk disastrous decisions. Barbados is in Sovergien Default and a few more weeks to make an informed decision will not significantly make a bad situation worse.
David
June 3, 2018 6:26 PM
Amazing, here we are as a country, once a model for others in the WORLD, NOW the laughing stock after 10 years of economic and social decline – and what are some debating?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is how ridiculous we are.
We haven’t formed a government of coalition parties, we have formed an opposition of coalition parties, the BLP and the BZeeP, the Barbados Zero Party!!
After long deliberations between members of the BLP and the BZeeP, it was decided that a Government minister/front Bencher, should cross the floor to the benches of the BZeeP.
There has been no notification to the contrary so it seems as though the leader of the BLP/BZeeP coalition opposition will in the interim continue to attend Cabinet Meetings in his capacity as Minister of I don’t know what.
He will continue to collect two salaries, one as a Government Minister in the ruling BLP discharging his duties as a Minister and the other as leader of the BLP/BZeeP coalition opposition.
That’s how ridiculous we are!!
And we are to believe a BLP Government will be able to negotiate with a wolf like the IMF when it is forming coalitions with imaginary parties!!
The DLP Government was a gang of thieves but the BLP Government in waiting is quickly turning into a gang of clowns!!
@ T.Inniss June 3, 2018 6:20 PM
You still don’t get it through your thick skull, do you now?
We already know from your detailed analyses what was borrowed under the previous BLP (OSA, by the way) administration.
You have already provided a litany of bad spending decisions made under OSA; from Greenland to Dodds and from Crab Hill to Kensington Oval to the hole in Crab Hill and even the Al Barrack cave.
What you ought to be demanding is the list of spending decisions that added to the $ 6 billion left by the OSA administration to end up at $15 billion and rising; unless you are prepared to call the Accountant General an incompetent fraud.
Why don’t you ask how much money the Central Bank printed under the OSA administration and compare it to the amount printed under Stinkliar and his chimpanzee-looking mate Deliar Worrell?
The chart is credited to Marla Dukharan, one she used in a presentation to ICAB in 2017. It shows even to the rabidly partisan the debt accumulation.
@ John June 3, 2018 7:11 PM
“We haven’t formed a government of coalition parties, we have formed an opposition of coalition parties, the BLP and the BZeeP, the Barbados Zero Party!!
After long deliberations between members of the BLP and the BZeeP, it was decided that a Government minister/front Bencher, should cross the floor to the benches of the BZeeP.”
Wrong, wrong! Just plain wrong!
The appointed Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Joseph Atherley as designated by the GG, was never appointed by the same GG to serve in any ministerial capacity.
He never swore an oath to that effect.
Neither was he ever a front bencher under the current government since Parliament has not yet been convened for such an act to take place and for your blindingly ignorant eyes to witness.
Get your facts straight and stop pushing a donkey-cart load of bullshit; hypothetically or otherwise!
The GG is the only one with the authority to sanction or resolve what has been transpiring since May 25th.
All you are doing is casting aspirations on the integrity and competence of the Queen’s Representative as provided in the Consitution.
What kind of Quaker are you, Sir John?
It’s time you swear allegiance to the God called “Truth”.
@ Millertheanunnaki June 3, 2018 8:20 PM
“All you are doing is casting aspirations on the integrity and competence …”
Just aping, unwittingly of course, the ‘Best’ from the vocabulary of a past deputy Speaker of the said Parliament. A man who was rather fond of casting ‘Aspirations’ but not, as it should be, “Aspersions” at people’s good characters.
Actually let me use the exact words…..
It’s no fun when the rabbit got the gun…lol
You all still talking foolishness.
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Barbados is truly in the “underground” dead, buried and soon to be forgotten because we have a Barbados for foreign elites, a Barbados for foreigners (tourists) a Barbados for local elites (some of them black as the ace of spades lest we start playing that oh so famous “race card”) and then the rest of imbeciles who don’t want to see the TRUTH.
Oh No Don’t Stop De Carnival.
There are other countries who had a national image and unity and were able to endure hardships.
Do we have a national image and the unity to endure what is ahead and stop bitching about the job that has to be done?
The only thing missing is no one dare stand up and specify what the end result MUST be.
Without a vision people PERISH.
GP
The Sunday Sun has a supplement today providing box by box results of the elections in the 30 constituencies.Arrange to have your Barbadian connections send you a copy.
GABRIEL
CBC had a page with that info online soon after the election (within 1-2 days)
Wrong, wrong! Just plain wrong!
The appointed Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Joseph Atherley as designated by the GG, was never appointed by the same GG to serve in any ministerial capacity.
He never swore an oath to that effect.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Only half wrong, he is a member of the cabinet and like all 30 members has sworn an oath of secrecy!!
It is good that we are engaged in a vibrant discussion on how to find ourselves out of this fix. Part of our analysis must be an understanding of how we got here.
It does not make sense enduring the pain of fixation and finding ourselves in the same boat 10, 15, or 20 years from now. Part of the solution must be be to also fix our society and education system.
We need to find ways to differentiate between those who want to serve the country and those who just want to enrich themselves. A “deposit” must be a commitment to put the nation’s interest first and is not seen as a lottery ticket.
We need to go into the schools and teach pride, patriotism, nationalism, industry and serving the people. Anything else is applying plaster to a wound.
@ John June 4, 2018 6:32 AM
“Only half wrong, he is a member of the cabinet and like all 30 members has sworn an oath of secrecy!!”
There you go completing the full circle of downright ignorance!
Who is this “he [who] is a member of the cabinet” made of 26 men and women elected to the Lower House (HoA) and appointed to the Upper House (Senate)?
Are you referring to the same Bishop Atherley or some other bloke who could be appointed a senator to replace one of the two who do not yet fully qualify to sit in the Upper House?
Which ‘’Cabinet’ are you talking about? Certainly not the one mentioned in the Constitution to ‘house’ the executive arm of the State of Barbados?
You must be referring to some cabinet in your grandmother’s house which was used to store the ‘china’.
Bishop Atherley is a duly elected member and has not been appointed to serve in any executive capacity in PM Mottley’s Cabinet unless you have appointed him as the Minister of Religious Affairs with special responsibility of getting rid of professional quacks and lying Quakers like you.
lol..wait, John the quaker is still going on and on with lies and misdirection and attempts to divide and conquer…he better ask back SB for his money if he made the mistake of funding that campaign which will never see the light of day in that parliament, not with its current candidate line up, unless someone feels sorry for Grenville and gives him a senate seat… ..we shall see in a day or two…
……they are all too desperate and chomping at the bit to make it into a parliament which will see them become immediate properties property of the crown…but they all know their agendas and so far I see nothing good coming out of that arrangement for the population as a whole..
the aggrieved with their sour grapes will be crying for a very long time to come.
Which part of perfectly legal the Opposition leader appointment…don’t they understand this time.
Definitely time to set up boundaries and put legal requirements, laws and powers of arrest, recall and removal in place for all individual politicians, ministers etc who see their entry into parliament as a get rich quick scheme.
Why has Mottley not asking the private Sector to pay their govt owed back taxes of over 650miilion dollars
But rather use a policy of defaulting
on debt
Doesnt she realized that the principle on that debt would incuured late payments plus refinancing charges when again reopened for new renegotiations
The new path she has embarked would have barbados drowning in a sea of debt for years to come and always being beggars at the masters door.
As expected the DLP defenders will come with all types of rationalization to defend poor management. Fact is the DLP administration left this country in a TOTAL MESS!!!
The dlp govt left bajans working social services in tact offered the NUPW a wage increased
Now what Mia has put on the table is a huge bowl of crow for bajans to eat . Go figuren
Tommorow is the big day when the IMF tells Mottley what must be done and Mia BIG LIE WOULD FINALLY BE sealed in history
Nonsense! Eight paragraphs of intense fantasy, in particular the final one,
“…it is essential that ordinary Bajans demand that their views and interests be fundamental in shaping any agreement with the IMF. This means being given access to information which allows us to make informed choices and demanding that any agreement reached with the IMF be put to a binding referendum in which the people of Barbados have the opportunity to make a decision…”
A. Dullard
The Financial Forensics IF THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED will do one of two things SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO DISCOVER THE TRUE TEIFS
They will either determine the amount of the theft and who the teifs are and lock them up
OR
Do some fancy footwork incredulously not find who the teifs are AND AFTER THE CUSTOMARY BAJANS ATTENTION SPAN FOR SENSATIONAL NEWS (9 days), ALLOW DE teifs to slink away in the darkness FREE
CAUSING WE DE NEW GUYS GOTS TO TEIF OURS TOO
But de ole man is not too concerned about that cause I dun know the outcome NOTHING
Here is what I would say bout dem tings.
“It doan mek much sense to be pulling wunna private parts over imaginary nooksie”
BAJANS CANNOT “demand” a ting from nobody but it will be interezting to see how far (and how long) this transparency going last
But now to more substantive things LIKE SERIOUS SUGGESTIONS TO RUN A GOVERNMENT
You T.Inniss said and I quote
“… . A budget deficit can be reduced by increasing government revenue as well as by cutting government expenditure…”
Some time in 2006 going into 2007 UNDER THE BLP ADMINISTRATION and again in 2008 going into 2009 de ole man is led to understand the Faculty of Social Sciences UNDER THE THEN DEAN DR GEORGE BELLE, proposed a UWI led project for Electronic Vehicle Registration which would have generated between $60-100 M per annum
Two administrations sought to thwart the FSS project and in fact one *** quit the job or is that retired and then bid for said project on *** under the name of ***
Now de ole man ent want to get sidetracked by giving out de details in full but one would genuinely wish to axe you this question
How do you see this type of decreasing of Budget Defecit programme being implemented when state agencies become competitors against pribate individuals and academic entities that seek viable revenue generating partnerships with said facilitator governments?
Do you not think that a duplicate portal A SORT OF VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS PORTAL, listing these types of DO NOT COMPETE initiatives to safeguard the University would be useful?
Suppose one could create said virtual transparency, residing here at Barbados Underground might that now be a step in the right direction?
But den again de ole man ent too bright like Rawdon Adams nor Kay McConney nor does de ole man gits any unnerstanding of your big up topics bout iincreasing government revenue…
By de way who you willing for?…I going gots to do a likkle Miami Vice or NCIS profile pun you to find out who you representing here
@the Honourable Blogmaster your assistance please…
@Mariposa
Your party had it’s chance the past 10 years, While you can continue to comment, it falls on deaf ears. The citizens of Barbados have soundly dismissed your ideas, and want a new path, no matter what you, and your other DLP yard fowls may think. At east doing something has given the country hope, something FS didnt because he was never a leader. So lend your support for recovery, and in 5 years your voice maybe be heard in opposition if things have gone south. “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it a remove all doubt!”
Yes ten years of free social services which would soon be dismantle and leavebbajans fending for themselves
How is that for A Covenant of Hope
@ Maripussy….Barbados is already drowning in a sea of debt according to that graph posted..complements to the DLP..or are you too much of a yardfowl to even comprehend that…..@Theo you are right to dimiss John…which cabinet Mr Atherley is in… i would like to know….The Leader of the Opposition and opposition members do not become members of Cabinet…In fact, the whole point of an “Opposition” is to oppose the govt side….usually opposition members form a “shadow cabinet”.
As an aside Ralph Thorne made a pertinent point that MOST MPs run FIRST to represent their constituency…there is no guarantee they will become ministers..so the belief that MPs sulk when not selected is MOSTLY a fallacy…..i guess most will be disappointed but in a now 29 seat govt..it would be unreasonable for all to be in cabinet…the current cabinet is too large as it is.
The GG is showing her true colours of yellow and blue,confirmed by GP’s recall of an encounter outside a gym a few years ago.So far some well known Dems have been clothed in similar apparel and cast in the ‘Independence roll’.Somebody or bodies have been working the phones feverishly over the past few days and have succeeded in exposing the Emperor’s clothes for all the public to see.A wardrobe malfunction indeed.Have no fear, sooner or later we will see their true colours coming out in the debates.
President Mason has spoken and she has appointed the sons and daughters of the Bajan aristocracy to the senate. Bees and Dees, six of one, half a dozen of the other.
@ the Honourable Blogmaster your assistance please with an item submitted this morning around 10.30 a.m
Don’t think you caught it yet
Sorry PUDR, that one must have disappeared in the clutter.
This blog by AfraRaymond is to be noted for 2 reasons
One.
It shows the currency that BU has with its Trinidadian counterpart blog to merit his attendance
Two.
The nature of his contribution
“…I would add the issue of interest rate analysis in which one compares the actual debt instrument with the prevailing terms so as to gain an appreciation for how the borrower has fared as against the average…”
A $10 loan at 5% per annum and a $5 loan 15% per annum presents an interesting comparison ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AGENT OF THE BORROWER IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE FLEECING THROUGH THIS INTEREST HIKE IN A US ACCOUNT
Disgusting lies
And by the time Mia and the IMF get their way it would be drowning in a red sea of joblessness and poverty
What Bushie what ? Shirt murdahan ah lie?
Definitely time to set up boundaries and put legal requirements, laws and powers of arrest, recall and removal in place for all individual politicians, ministers etc who see their entry into parliament as a get rich quick scheme.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Suppose Reverend Joe to be recalled by the constituents who voted him in, the Bees!!
Than the mock leader of the opposition or the leader of the mock opposition would cease to exist!!
But it would not matter at that point if there is a mock senate and mock parliament and mock cabinet, a by election would be called.
The BLP would not run a candidate and an opposition party or independent would waltz in!!
The real government arrives tomorrow …. that party is called the IMF and it has been waiting quietly until it has a mock government to give it its legitimacy.
@ Gabriel June 4, 2018 1:17 PM
As Tron told on BU: The GG is working on behalf of Big Sinck, the destroyer of Barbados.
The GG was not good enough for the CJJ. THAT IS A FACT. And also the other judges at the Court of Appeal were not good enough for the CJJ. That is a FACT too.
The GG: Mediocrity at its best!
@ Gabriel June 4, 2018 1:17 PM
Didn´t I tell before the GG is simply a DLP mole? She is more concerned about shopping in London that the fate of Barbadians.
She was not good enough for the CCJ. As ALL OTHER judges at the Court of Appeal. That is a FACT.
Barbadian mediocrity at its best. As usual.
It does not make sense to shut yourself out of the credit market by defaulting on a loan.Then to rely on the debtor to refinance the debt with draconian demands
The better choice in such a scenario would be that off selling some assests to pay down the debt while securing the chances of establishing the creditworthiness
Mia emotional rants and raves by way of phto op have placed this countries creditworthiness out of reach for years to come while holding on to a few assests that luck would have giving a financial breakthrough which would have necessary for barbados to start an upward trend in decrease its debit
Now Mia has shoot barbados in both legs and have called in the IMF to construct false hope for the people
Mottley sold the country to the IMF and tommorow they will be in barbados to get their pound of flesh
The senate is a done deal?
@Mariposa
@John
May 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28 , 29 30, 31, June 1, 2 , 3 4
Election dun
We in June
Nation building is the new password
The election dun
But Mottley aint but just started and look wuh she dun do sold barbados out to the financial one arm bandits that gonna mek barbados pay till kingdom come
Wunna tek did fuh joke
At Mariposer…you and the DEMS always thinking in an alternative reality. If the DEMS has Barbados to heart they would have implemented corrective measures ever since…but no….they operated and governed by stealth….trying to win an election and it horribly backfired. What the Rt Hon Mia Mottley has done is for the good of Barbados in the long term. To draw an analogy the DLP was fighting an economic war, has constantly lost and caused us to retreat into a corner. We are now boxed in and all we can do is surrender or die trying to fight. What Mia is doing is a negotiated surrender…so that we can all have a semblance of life in the long run. Ms Mottley has done it even if it causes her to lose the next election….but with a 30-0 victory it will hardly be likely. What Ms Mottley has done is smart thinking….within 10 days of wining an election she made a decisive move…something horribly lacking in the Freundel Stuart administration over 10 years. The BLP now has at least 5 years to allow this decision to work. Once she can get buses back on the roads, garbage being picked up….roads being repaired, the economy to start on a growth path..then the dog will already be dead for the DLP in the next election. The DEMS must understand it is not always about winning an election…it is to govern for the good of Barbados no matter how much yuh get criticize for it
@ Disgusting Lies and propaganda TV (you name too long for de ole man to type pun de iPad heheheheh)
You are correct insofar as she has asked for “berating SPACE” AND WILL RECEIVE SUCH FROM THE IMF
I wonder ef de ole man should elaborate for you
[[SQUARE BRACKETS TIME – WHY DE OLE MAN TYPE BETWEEN HERE AND DE NEXT SQUARE BRACKETS ONLY YOU AND I GINE SEE
The Pause that Refresheth
De ole man was wondering about Madamoiselle Prime Minister Mottley’s use of the words “suspending All Payments” on debt
This is of critical import when you consider that there is a grace period associated with these loans that unless the country is already in that grace period then we are definitively in default ….AND THAT IS NOT A SECRET THAT THE DLP COULD HAVE KEPT TO ITSELF
So de ole man said to meself “meself what is Madamoiselle Prime Minister Mottley doing?”
And the answer came back “she is buying time”
Stay with de ole man a while
What payments are due? In what currency? Going (ostensibly) to whom?
You did de ole man yet?
I was did ask Mr. Bernard Codrington about if it was possible to not pay these contracts and kickbacks to contracted parties AND HE HAD TOLD ME NO BUT WHAPLAX…
You did de ole man?
Now why dis means in practice?
IT means dat under the watchful eye of the IMF de incoming administration is going to be able to examine ALL DE SOVEREIGN DEBT OF BULBADOS and see all the arrangements OFFUCIAL AND UNOFFICIAL of Credit Suisse officials and Darcy Big headboy and Chris Stinkliar
You did de ole man yet?
Now unlessing Credit Suisse and others of the funding agencies wish to compromise their reputation on the international markets hey all need to come clean on the details of their diabolical financial arrangement with the former GoB
As should all of the red of funders who want to have untarnished financing reputations (an oxymoron to be sure – a bank with a reputation dat be like saying David Come Sing Along is a lawyer with integrity and scrupples)
But de ole man only sharing this with you Disgusting Lies and Propaganda don’t let de rest of the BU population know what we talking bout ok ?
Man you ent even tell me dat I forgot the SQUARE BRACKETS]]
@ the Honourable Blogmaster your assistance please…
Some DLP supporters suffering from PTSD.
Mariposa shiite!!!
Both ac and DeLiar Worrell are adding insult to injury by their continued shiite talk into the affairs of Barbados.
Here we have two shiitehounds who supported and encouraged the rampage of Froon and Stinkliar for ten long years …. facilitating and encouraging the most idiotic policies conceivable…. and now that the shit has hit the streets, and now that MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT people are trying to clean up the mess, …we have to endure these two ass lickers bitching about every little thing….
The POLITE thing for these two vermin to do would be to go home QUIETLY and commit suicide.
DeLiar had the GALL to suspend press conferences; to print money like some kinda parro; and to talk economic shiite about “international currency exchange protocols” that would be worthy of Dompey ….
Now he come talking shiite about firing 15000 people so that he can keep his toy cars and big gratuity.
As Bushie has suggested LONGGGGG ago, It makes much more sense to change the STUPID law that Arthur passed about not cutting salaries – and to reduce salary levels across the board to a nationally affordable level – than to dump 15000 brass bowl passengers into the sea….
The press (and BU especially) should boycott De-Liar…just like he did to us when his short ass was in power….
BB, ‘short-me-crutch’, moron…..
Government debt becomes more of a problem if most of your debt is owned by foreigners coupled with a weak floating currency ( Jamaica is a prime example). Luckily for Barbados, most of our debt, around 70%, is owned by the domestic financial sector and the NIS. Also, we have a fix currency regime that serves us well for over forty years, so the risk of currency depreciation is very low.
The debt is high for sure, but the sky is not falling down as some would like you to believe. Jamaica is still in a more precarious situation than Barbados even with all their fiscal consolidation.
Go read barbados today editorial idiots
In one week this woman has placed barbados in a serious economic manhole driven by political hamstring and self interest
Bushman…don’t worry, I got a remedy for all their vicious, criminal asses, as outlined in the Blogmaster’s article above…
Ah got mysef a brand new broom and lots of sugar to make lemonade…lol
the tail dont wag the dog
“The debt is high for sure, but the sky is not falling down as some would like you to believe. Jamaica is still in a more precarious situation than Barbados even with all their fiscal consolidation.”
Such an attitude caused the insolvency of Barbados.
Forty also told us that everything is OK with the Barbadian offshore financial sector.
It is not.
Fortyacres,
But our monetary policy is decided in Washington by the Fed, not in Bay Street or Church Village.
Hal,
Most educated people in Barbados do not understand that a peg of 1:2 demands a productivity of 50% of the United States. The productivity in Barbados is next to 1:4.
The excessive import taxes and duties are a tool of deceit to keep up the grand illusion of a stable and valuable Barbados Dollar.
Government also announced that it had appointed White Oak Advisory Ltd. to act as its financial advisor in the context of the debt restructuring process announced on 1 June, 2018.
http://www.whiteoakadvisory.com/
Look at Argentina: The country is approaching the IMF again after it defaulted in the early 2000s. So this might not be the last IMF programme for Barbados as well. A fourth and fifth might follow. Barbados is simply to small to survive as an independent nation without constant help of foreign lenders.
It will be interesting to see what happens if the government raises the pensions and wages of public servants and defaults on various international loans and bonds at the same time. They are already fuming on the Cayman Islands …
Is this the kind of – quote – “stimulating investor confidence” the GG outlined in her speech?
I don´t think so.
@Tron.You are too sophisticated not to know that the overall premise of my argument is correct. Most developed countries in this world as we speak, are up to their neck in debt. They are not that worried because most of their debt is issued in the domestic currency and they tend to have a stable currency. Japan is a good example.
I agree with you about our level of productivity. For sure, the fixed exchange regime has created massive distortion in the system and a false sense of economic success.
@Hal. Yes, Washington partially dictate our monetary policy. I used the word partially, because we still have some amount of capital control in place.
@ fortyacresandamule June 6, 2018 2:19 AM
Dear Forty,
Apologize for my huff and puff! I agree that most of the debts are local debts and this is good news, indeed.
However, given this fortunate position, I do not understand why gov defaulted on the international loans as well.
@ Tron
Government has defaulted on its international loans as well so it can bring in its international paymaster White Oaks to oversee who gets paid what when.
This is going to put all external sovereign debt ON HOLD so that all debtors INCLUDING THOSE DEBTS THST ARE DESIGNED TO BLEED THE ECONOMY TO FEED STINKLIAR & HEADBOY QUISLING will now be on hold
This entity is now the de facto gatekeeper de ole man spoke to you about last week during Sunday C
School classes.
IT was at thst time de ole man was asking Mr Bernard Codrington about not paying loans.
I do hope that you try to pay attention while you are in the RumShop else you will end up drinking piss from the new proprietor euphemism for the BLP under the guise of beer
Tron,
With White Oak now giving external advice, and Caddle and Straughn being pictured meeting with the IMF, does this mean that Mascoll and Persaud have been sidelined? That their advice needs a bit more ‘external’ expertise?
More important, what are White Oak’s fees for advising on restructuring our sovereign debt and what advice have they given. What expertise are they bringing to the table that Professor Persaud, Dr Mascoll, central bank technocrats or the taxpayer-funded academics at Cave Hill could not bring at a fraction of the cost?
By the way, when I warned, that buying government bonds was putting ‘investors’ at risk, as usual, I was ridiculed. I mentioned the bankruptcy of the government and received an email from the late David Thompson chiding me for my view. Time is longer than twine.
Government has now been in power for 13 days and apart from a respectable Queen’s Speech, filled with lots of flawed proposals and one or two good ones, has done no more than lots of PR stunts.
I say again, and have been saying this since the scandal with Barrack, that the Bds$1.7bn domestic debt poses a totally different problem to that of foreign debt.
With domestic debt we could just print money then manage the threat of asset price inflation. In the over-long speech, there was no mention of re-forming a Barbados-domiciled bank, another efficient way of managing domestic debt – with a balance sheet bank, creditors could be given current accounts limiting the amount of single withdrawals.
Such a bank would also incentivise savers and retail investors, thereby a dynamic domestic operation. As to the foreign debt, currency derivatives could mitigate the hefty burden of that cost.
Apologies. I have now seen the Nation picture of the meeting with the IMF and both Mascoll and Persuad were there.
@ Hal Austin
In sync as you forever seem to be with the statement “even a broken clock is right twice a day” you deliver some worthwhile material even amidst the rambling
WHITE OAKS
“…Opting for independence instead of a more bureaucratic structure has enabled White Oaks to thrive as a boutique firm with selective staffing, focusing on a high-touch experience for clients with more assets…”
There is something to be understood here about a firm that is a derivative of IDS American Express.
First you need to understand that IT IS NOT IDS and secondly this is a personal reference to a “boutique firm”
The things to be examined here are numerous but the ole man will focus on a few that need to be mentionned
1.Why the derivative and not the more stolid and solid parent?
Because IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS Barbados is small potatoes with IDS the parent AND IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY CURRENCY WITHIN THAT ENTITY since we would not have passed their due diligence standards
2.Cross Pollination Promises.
Because of the relative miniscule size of the firm White Oaks vis a vis IDS there is a personal leverage being applied here that time alone will disclose. This boutique was chosen because of someone that they knew in the current administration.
Certainly IF THE TRANSPARENCY POLICY THAT HAS BEEN ESPOUSED & COVENANTED TO DATE with the Bajan People, is going to be applied across the board, then we can expect to see the terms and conditions of the White Oaks Agreements.
Any financial planner registered with the Securities Exchange Commission of the USA (and by extension a financial planning institution) would tell you that they work on a fees based structure which according to regulations CANNOT DISCOMMODE THE CLIENT so White Oaks at least will be on its P&Qs with respect to its GoB client.
Notwithstanding any “promises” for unlike we jokers here in Barbados, de ole man ent say de FSC nor the FTC in green Hill, the SEC ent an entity to ef with
But we can only hope that the current administration WILL BE FORTHCOMING WITH THE DETAILS OF THE White Oaks engagement contract as IT HAS PROMISED TO BE WITH THE DECLARATION OF THE ASSETS OF THE NEW MINISTERS heheheheheh.
The second aspect of these “promises” can be imputed based on the relative anonymity of this firm in the spectrum that is the Movers & Shakers domain.
It is what White Oaks’ “high touch experience with clients…” portfolio has already delivered to the current administration specifically what it had brought to the cross polination table that has resulted in their being awarded this “pick”
You jes doan hire a Financial Planning firm pun a willy nilly feeling like how DownLowe was did doing wid dat white woman of (he-nevah-had-a-white-meat-yet fame)
Speaking of “picks” de ole man want to know effing any uh wunna cud put in a word with these people so dat i cud get a “pick” too but I guess dat dem Stoopid Cartoons dem presented “a bridge too far” heheheheheh
I shall lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh mine help, my help cometh from the Lord who hath made the Heavens and the earth, He Shall not suffer mine foot to be moved, yea He that keepeth Israel, SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP
The Honourable Prine Minister is now having to deal with the economic mess brought about by the Doolittle administration.It is worthy of note that Courtney Blackman referred to himself in his role of Governor of the Central Bank,as a ‘creature of the Minister’.That was a clear indication that the Minister was in control.Fast forward to post ’08 and the roles have been reversed.The Governor now has two superior unknowing officers to deal with and in recognition of that situation took it upon himself to assume control of both the fiscal and monetary policies of the doolittle government.A classic case of the tail wagging the dog,doing the dog,publishing his own labour statistics,denying the press a presence at the table,expending scarce funding to certain unproductive and free spending State Enterprises and when the economy refused to respond positively threatened to pull the printing machine plug on the clueless duo.The garsun boy had the last laugh on the harsun boy.
It appears,given the earth shattering rebuke of their combined folly which some called called voodoo economics,the harsun boy has withdrawn until further notice.The current Ministry of Finance is now properly staffed with serious professionals.
The Madam PM administration has created another first !
Now 10 days into the life of her administration Madam PM has witnessed 2 downgrades from the rating agencies !
At this rate – Barbadians can reasonably expect that by General Elections in 2023 …….the country can be expected to record 20,000 downgrades !!
Which is not too bad ……when one considers :
A 30 member Cabinet !
5 Finance Ministers in Mottley, Straughn, Caddle , Mascoll & Persaud !
Well ….
It’s
Mia ‘s
Fault
IMF !!!
Madness Dat default on govt debt. No Mia you can not con the international financial institutions like you fooled the barbadian people
What is happening is just the beginning of the hurt and pain coming down the pipe.
Wuhloss my belly hurt my bonds have become junk in one week
Thanks Mia you sure know how to make bitter
mariposa you may be right but give them a chance to see if they can right the ship. look at the US things are being done very unconventionally , the media bobble heads said the sky will fall but it has not and the economy is doing well. there will be lots of time to gloat if thats what makes you happy but hoping your new prime minister will fail is absurd if your money is really invested on the island.