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Barbados Reform Agenda Threatened by Anaemic Growth

Detailed in the recent IDB Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin – Volume 8, Issue 4| December 2019 is a cautionary tale.  Barbados continues to meet all targets as part of the IMF Extended Fund Facility and Barbados  Economic Recovery and Transformation plan  – the objective to achieve fiscal consolidation. HOWEVER the other story to be received from the IDB report is the fact the economy is contracting although all targets set under the IMF programs have been met.

The big challenge for the government as it was for the last government is the ability to mobilize projects to spur economic activity. In order for the fiscal consolidation activity Barbadians have had to suffer not being a vain effort, 2020 must be the year of implementation of projects currently wedged in the investment pipeline. We do not have the luxury of time fed by our procrastination paralysis malady.

There is a legitimate concern the majority of the shovel ready projects AND prospects are in the main tourism related. The expectation is after a successful implementation of the projects – detailed by the prime minister in a recent address to the nation – to float the Barbados economic boat from the rock of austerity, talk of transforming the Barbados economy shifts to building a new economy – a new economy modelled to be sustainable in a global economy Barbados has become disconnected in the last decades.

Unfortunately after years of economic and social inertia Barbadians appear to be walking the predictable path which includes being mired in unproductive partisan political discourse and a reluctance to let go of irrelevant economic and social models.

Relevant Link – IDB Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin – A Look at 2019 and Beyond (Volume 8, Issue 4|

 

156 responses to “Barbados Reform Agenda Threatened by Anaemic Growth”

  1. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Piece aka TinFoil
    I don’t spew naffin from “Mugabe”. This is what I work and do and am surrounded by daily. I don’t come and write about rabbits and seeds because I read about it. Things I write about I do and know about! That’s the difference between you and me, I do; you imagine. Up to today, I was looking at the co-location of housing with a music recording studio, dance studio and a multi-purpose sports hall. Now sit to RH down and continue to fantasise and concoct conspiracy theories.

  2. Piece the Legend Avatar
    Piece the Legend

    Heheheheh

    But you are still a Rented Jackass who will be beaten because you are Rented.

    I shame of you with your nano, micro and small business expertise

    I home the housing that you co-locating not going be for nano, micro and small people!

    You see how de ole man does mek wunna expose wunnaselves as buffoon ALL DE RH TIME?

    Goad you enough and pretty soon you show what you are made of – RH JOBBY!

    i will share with you one thing as a prophecy Hee Hee.

    One of my several fantasies IS GOING TO KICK MANY OF WUNNA ASSES VERY SOON!

    Heheheheh

    And as de ole man told ManyPussy in 2015 I WOLL SHOW YOU WHAT GENIUS IS AND WHAT IT WILL DO!

    heheheheh

  3. Ewart Archer Avatar
    Ewart Archer

    “Successful economic growth has ALWAYS surfed the wave of emerging technologies.”

    Really?

    The most dynamic source of tourism growth in the English-speaking Caribbean is an organization called Sandals that is apparently using a 1970s business model inspired by Club Med to build inclusive resorts that have consistently high occupancy rates — the envy of other hotel brands.

    And Guyana is about to become the richest country in the Caribbean because of recent oil discoveries by a “legacy” oil company, Exxon, in the “dying” petroleum industry.

    Go figure.

  4. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Piece aka TinFoil
    See what I say–fantasy! Wuh I don’t care if you expose me. Yuh duz only want to know who someone is if they are a threat. The ting is I have no interest in knowing who you are because that’s not the purpose of the blog and more importantly you’re irrelevant–a talker. All you do is accuse the blogmaster and others that don’t believe your conspiracies of being “Mugabe’s” henchmen. I looked at the government’s policies, assesed and laid out on BU, from my experience, how growth is intertwined. You can’t refute, so resort to talking your usual pissery, which is always personal. I made no comment on your groundbreaking plan for ruminants. So grow your rabbits and seeds and rest muh. Meanwhile the government talking about easing the overcrowding in those communities by providing housing on lands that it reportedly got through its revamped planning system. What are the social and economic impacts of household overcrowding? Man go repair the wiring in yuh hat, da fuq you know bout me?

  5. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    @Ewart Archer January 9, 2020 8:49 PM
    The success of Sandals is based on intercontinental jet travel just s the success of Club Med was based on the same thing. Their business model is exactly as sustainable as Club Med’s was. Club Med switched it’s strategy almost 20 years ago to cater mostly to rich people. Sandals does not do an iota to contribute to tourism growth, they just cannibalize the tourism pie by being more cut throat in their business practices than their competitors. Do your research.

    Tell me how rich Guyana is in twenty years. You might want to ask people in the Lagos slums how winning the petrochemical lottery has worked out for them. Better yet get a ouija board and consult the Biafran ghosts of the war dead.

  6. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    @Ewart Archer January 9, 2020 8:49 PM
    You need to learn to tell the difference between economic growth for a community and business competition success of one rapacious capitalist or another. They are not the same thing.

  7. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    Ewart Archer January 9, 2020 8:49 PM
    PS the Guyana oil boom is entirely due to new technology in advanced deep water exploration and drilling.

  8. Bajeabroad Avatar
    Bajeabroad

    @PLT

    Agree with your assertions and point of view. However, as correct as your are, there are too few persons in positions of influence and financing capacities in Barbados who hold a similar view and are thus able to effect some of what you are referring to.

    Colonial educated thinking has got such a grip on our approach to problems in Bim that unless our still-in-existence colonial masters drag us kicking and screaming to the solutions for our problems, they will remain because we don’t seem to have that innovative, creative, free-thinking “gene”….an unfortunate legacy of slavery that is still propagated by a dated educational system

    The basic problem of innovating our way out of problems is just not instilled via our educational system or societal role models thus transferred to kids who can be grow to be entrepreneurs. The vast majority are still on the treadmill of Common Entrance to try and get into Harsun Kolij…8 CXCs….A Levels..Univ…then WORK for massa. Urged on via slogans of a “University graduate in every household” with most of these so called graduates doing very limited social science or nat. science disciplines designed for world that is now 30 years passed.

    We won’t kick-start economic growth until we kick-start economic growth minded thinking on a larger scale.

    Sad but true

  9. Ewart Archer Avatar
    Ewart Archer

    PLT

    You must know your arguments are bogus.

    Sandals is not cannibalizing Caribbean tourism revenues, it is growing them: and intercontinental travel has been around for more than 50 years.

    The Soviet Union drilled much deeper offshore oil wells than the Guyana wells — before 1990. So I don’t know offhand how “new” the Exxon drilling technology is, but it is probably at least 30 years old.

  10. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “Colonial educated thinking has got such a grip on our approach to problems in Bim that unless our still-in-existence colonial masters drag us kicking and screaming to the solutions for our problems, they will remain because we don’t seem to have that innovative, creative, free-thinking “gene”….an unfortunate legacy of slavery that is still propagated by a dated educational system”

    that is how both musty governements wanted to keep the populi, intellectually stagnated for their own self-enrichment and other vicious crimes against people and country…now it is a national embarrassment on facebook…so damn dumb, they use the same people they miseducate as yardfowls and mindless supporters.

    If you are a free thinker, you are targeted for destruction.

  11. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    And this is why Mark Maloney beleives he OWNS BARBADOS…he controls all the little sell out negros from the parliament to bar association, to supreme court to land registry..😊😊

    They all need to BE IN PRISON WITH HIM..thief, crook and fraud…all of them

    https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/82478837_2511005505824362_4365582790343786496_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=t0ZJdWrWGJAAQnErxVycywoAFBaro1e5D6H-pxe_K_pXT79lgMdLpv-Mw&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=19c112e79dba08d05a1fdbb75c96c125&oe=5EA4F913

  12. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    That is why he believes hei s untouchable and cannot be removed..but you are a CRIMINAL…and ya are NOT invincible.

  13. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    The island CANNOT achieve any growth, as long as the people remain the HOSTAGES…of sell out negros and minority THIEVES..

    https://www.facebook.com/jackie.stewart.965/videos/1220966591446211/?t=0

  14. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    And the biggest insult to the Black population particularly…THEY ALL SUCK ON TAXPAYERS every month when they collect their salaries…they have no shame.

  15. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ PLT
    I don’t know why we constantly berate Sandals. At this time would you say that Sandals is a bad corporate citizen?

  16. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ John A
    Just read in the Nation that the Architects have said that there is no need to demolish the National insurance building.
    They submitted a thirteen page document to government sometime ago showing how the entire area can be uplifted without that demolition .
    They also said that they found the building to be structurally strong and can be put to good use.
    The article is accompanied by an artist impression of the area as envisioned by the professional architects.
    Will this professional view be a game changer?
    Like you asked twenty four hours asked twenty four hours ago: Who makes the final decision on these things? Was the public really informed about this decision ? Were the professional people that the taxpayers educated free consulted?
    Would all the “ experts” on BU read the article or would they continue to swallow every word from their political masters?

  17. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Think any of these crooks are going to listen to seasoned architects, particularly if they got a couple BILLION DOLLARS OF YOUR MONEY TO TIEF.

  18. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ William

    Well it will be interesting to see what the next move will be. Will the government push down a good building to plant grass, or will they clean it up and try to bring badly needed traffic back to the city?

    My concern is are we in the future to condemn buildings because a few people say they are “sick”, or is there a professional independent body that will have the final say? To me this whole thing is a joke and we the tax payers will be the jokers in the end once more.

    If private professional cleaners and environmental specialist went into all these so called sick buildings, how much would it cost to simply clean them up and upgrade them as opposed to abandoning them and building new ones?

    After all when we build the new ones and don’t maintain them will they not too be sick in 20 years as well?

    For a brek ass island we really need our heads examining that’s the truth.

  19. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ William Skinner January 10, 2020 8:26 AM

    William, you already know the party financing payback die has been cast. T

    The ‘winning’ people who ‘sponsored’ the last duopoly horse race are expecting the money-denominated ROI from the last electoral campaign.

    What we should be trying to find out is who (or which corporate vehicle) has been ‘tasked’ with the responsibility of demolition and how much has been contracted to complete the demolition job.

    Were there public tenders invited for a job whose cost of execution must be definitely over the discretionary limit of politicians and their bureaucratic lackeys either in the Central Government or those strategically placed on the Statutory Board assigned with the responsibility of executing this obvious form of election financing payback.

    Why not do a similar demolition, or even rehabilitation, job on the old General Hospital site and use it to house the ‘rebuilt’ Fire Service station for Bridgetown and its environs and / or for a much needed extension to the overburdened QEH?

    What the current administration (another incarnation of the Duopoly) has to deal with as matter of urgency is whether it is prepared to take the blame for the highly probable event of losing the UNESCO-awarded designation of World Heritage Site for Bridgetown or satisfy the demands of a cement mogul overly keen to turn Bridgetown into a concrete jungle of environmental ugliness.

  20. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ William Skinner at 8 :26 AM

    Thanks for bringing that good news to BU.
    I have been asking on several blogs and on BU what is a sick building and if there was no cure. Obviously it elicited a response from the architects. Where are the responses from the structural engineers ,and the Microbiologists?

  21. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Good point, the architect will share a view regarding design, structural integrity etc. We need to hear from the evironmental professionals. Better still the reports should be made public.

  22. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ miller.

    I have asked several times why we can’t rehabilitate the solid soft stone buildings at the old hospital site with no response. Structurally they have sound outer walls and need only internal floors and roofes. That is a large parcel of state land in a prime location just sitting there.

    All we seem to focus on is hotels on beach front land while Four Seasons sits there idle. Added to that we now want to push down buildings that can be reused to plant grass. Talk about a myopic development plan well here is one.

  23. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    I find that in this country we go out of our way to create economic and social problems and then saddle the taxpayers with the costs. This is share incompetence.

  24. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ John A
    @ Miller
    There are answers to all these questions. This is one of the reasons that highly trained local professionals stay away from the political class or seek employment overseas. In many cases they believe and know their potential will be hampered or destroyed by the Duopoly.
    It’s inconceivable that the suggestions of a professional body of architects will be ignored and a thirteen page document showing how the area can be developed is simply tossed aside. This is the type of governance that the apologists on BU revel in.

    The Duopoly Rules

  25. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David.

    Once The engineers have deemed the building structurally sound then all that is needed is for a competent indpendant environmental cleaning company to go in and do what needs to be done. Prior to that the engineers can recommend and address any improvements to the ventilation etc.

    Once the building has been “healed” then a maintenance contract should be given to the private sector for its upkeep.

    It ain t brain surgery here. I got to ask though why the sudden interest by a brek ass government in demolition and construction? I thought that was the last government’s speciality, with buildings like the new garbage offices at St Thomas still empty.

    What really going on hey?

  26. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    @William Skinner January 10, 2020 8:16 AM
    Butch whines and bribes and extorts island governments to extract corporate welfare for his companies in terms of concessions. This makes Sandals a bad corporate citizen.

    Furthermore their business model is not optimal for delivering the benefits of the tourism industry to the Barbadian economy. We should discourage vertical integration of tourism providers (all inclusive accommodation, coach transport companies that own attractions, etc.) because that encourages the growth of sector monopolies that harms both new entrants to the sector as well as innovation.

  27. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Vincent Codrington

    Already you note the predicted response of at least one apologist.Throughout the world major environmental problems are professional cleaned up.
    We are expected to believe that a building that is declared “ sick” cannot be cleaned up.
    People are living in countries that were and are devastated by all kinds of chemical weapons and over time such destruction to the environment has been treated.
    Yet one building must be demolished because apparently it’s beyond redemption.

  28. John A Avatar
    John A

    You see if we had an opposition worth anything they would be taking that 13 page report and asking government to explain why they want to push down a good building.

  29. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    “Butch whines and bribes and extorts island governments to extract corporate welfare for his companies in terms of concessions. This makes Sandals a bad corporate citizen.”

    i remember when i had to put that red negro in his place..he decided that bajans who have been suffering for decades under two vile governments get too much welfare…apparently he wanted all the welfare for himself…well we have not seen him since.

  30. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    We need to know what the professionals who conducted the environmental assessment submitted. The building being declared structurally sound had nothing to do with what are the factors that led to the building being sick. Will ignore Williams response. We are always quick to apply labels. We all have different views which should be respected.

  31. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ PLT

    Well , if aggressive bargaining to protect ones investment is a new business model , I beg your pardon.
    I simply asked if Sandals operation here is a bad corporate citizen. Watching cricket yesterday , I saw Sandals on the Wet Indies uniforms/ gear.
    How much foreign exchange did Sandals bring into the economy?
    How many jobs ?
    Is the same Sandals now adding 67 new rooms?
    Do we benefit each time “ Barbados “ is mentioned in a Sandals advertisement?
    Do we not have unions and government regulations to get rid of Sandals if it is found to be doing unscrupulous things?
    Did we get “optimum “ returns from BS and T?
    Do we get optimum returns from the Williams Group of companies?
    Do we get optimum returns from Cheffette?
    Do we get optimum returns from the Banks?
    Do we get optimum returns from the insurance companies?
    Do we get optimum returns from all those businesses that were allowed to write off VAT and other taxes?
    Did we get optimum returns from all the estates and plantations holdings that allowed agriculture to basically die?
    Just asking, my Brother,

  32. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    January 10, 2020 11:09 AM

    @ John
    @ Vincent Codrington

    2

    In the same paper(Nation) the National Trust has informed that the Liquidation Building due for demolition is a heritage building , one of the oldest if not the oldest buildings in Bridgetown with a roof that is of historical and architectural importance.
    We learned after it was compulsorily acquired that it was a “sick “ building as well.

  33. peterlawrencethompson Avatar
    peterlawrencethompson

    @ William Skinner
    None of what Sandals does is a new business model.

    You ha given me a long list of bad corporate citizens, but the number of bad corporate citizens does not excuse Sandals’ antisocial behaviors. Don’t be fooled by ‘corporate social responsibility’ tricks like equipment for sports teams. That is simply corporate promotion which gives them far more value in publicity than they expend in money. It’s just lipstick on a pig.

  34. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ William

    So if all this information is now in the public arena pray tell how come the opposition that we paying a big set of money too ain’ t looking after my business and asking questions?

    Then again I always said they inherited that title anyhow. They have failed us so many times I can’t count, so why should this time be any different.

  35. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    As I said above the engineers need to have their say and share with us their findings. This must then be followed by the suggestions they want made for improved ventilation etc being undertaken, then we need to hear from independent environmental cleaners what needs to be done.

    In other words keep the government spin doctors far from any of the above.

  36. David Avatar
    David

    Why are the architects now coming public when the building is about to be demolished? Did they make a statement at any time when the building was closed for more than a year?

  37. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @PLT
    “We should discourage vertical integration of tourism providers (all inclusive accommodation, coach transport companies that own attractions, etc.) because that encourages the growth of sector monopolies that harms both new entrants to the sector as well as innovation”

    WOW.
    No wonder sane investors avoid Barbados.

  38. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    With the appointment of OSA as LIAT boss, our Most Honourable Prime Minister has once again demonstrated her strategic skills. Either OSA will successfully restructure LIAT or he will fail (like all others before him). In both cases our Prime Minister will win: If OSA is successful, his success is her success. If OSA fails, he fails alone.

  39. Piece the Legend Avatar
    Piece the Legend

    @ the Patriot Innovator PLT.,

    Please check your mail, it will only come from a name that resembles ***

    Awaiting your response

    @ Tron

    You too naughty!!!

  40. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    Piece…ya rented friends are behaving, i wonder why.

  41. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @David 20200110.1201: “Why are the architects now coming public when the building is about to be demolished?

    Perhaps because they weren’t consulted beforehand, and were a bit surprised?

    Is this document from the Architects’ public (read: available for download)?

    Please forgive me if I missed it, but I (and a few friends) would be interested in reading the report.

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    There is a report in today’s Nation.

    Also the Sunday VOB790 will have a member of the Architect Society to discuss‘buildings’ in Barbados.

    The Architects were aware the building was labeled a sick build for years AND that it was closed for many months.

  43. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David who wrote ” There is a report in today’s Nation.”

    Can’t find it online…..yet.

  44. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @David: “There is a report in today’s Nation.

    Much like a “light cone”, if the knowledge isn’t available it is worthless to me.

    URLs to the language, please. Thanks.

  45. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    You have to buy the dead tree edition.

  46. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @David: “You have to buy the dead tree edition.

    I don’t bother. I can read a local Bajan “atom-based” newspaper end-to-end in three minutes. And I don’t have chickens to keep.

    I was actually asking about the report the Architects submitted. Is that language available?

    It should be; if they were serious.

  47. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    Not online, will have to explore other options.

  48. Chris Halsall Avatar
    Chris Halsall

    @David: “Not online, will have to explore other options.

    Please forgive me for this. I know I am hated because of my skin color and education.

    It would be really good if those who have a position are prepared to put their names behind the position.

    Otherwise, it’s simply noise.

  49. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    David
    It is good to see that the BIA has stepped up to the plate and put together an alternative masterplan for the NIS Building/Fire Station/Golden Square site. We must accept that exercises such as these are subjective and open to different perspectives. However, proposals must still exhibit certain traits. Urban regeneration is not just about buildings, but more importantly about enhancing how one experiences the city. Improved wayfinding, pedestrian, cyclists and wheelchair accessibility, streetscapes
    views/sightlines, lighting, greening, recreational spaces etc. The BIA proposals clearly miss the government’s brief/vision for the site, which is to create a park dedicated to the heroics of 1937. The BIA’s proposals do not achieve this, in fact the importance of Golden Square seems subordinate to the NIS and fire station. Is the BIA contending that these two buildings are of greater historic significance? The park element of the proposals reads as a car park with some greening. There seems to be no consideration of the wider context and certainly do not capture basic urban design principles. In my opinion, the type of retail and other commercial activities being proposed by the BIA should, and more than likely, will be concentrated along Bay Street, Pierhead, Hincks Street, Nelson Street and Baxters Road. As such, I don’t see that site as viable or suitable for such activities if we are taking a comprehensive view because it does not offer the charm or intimacy of the Nelson Street area or the obvious ambience of Bay Street, Pierhead etc given the proximity of the sea/water. If this is the best the BIA can come up with, the association is not serious.

  50. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Tron January 10, 2020 1:42 PM
    “If OSA is successful, his success is her success. If OSA fails, he fails alone.”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    OSA was fortunate enough to ‘manage’ the financial health of Barbados on forex borrowings and expansionary consumerism until his luck ran out in 2007.

    No such Midas touch can be transferred to an airline which has been mismanaged and ‘corrupted’ through too much political interference over the years of its many incarnations.

    No real foreign investor would touch LIAT with an aeronautical barge pole unless Gaston, OSA and friends take their peanuts and stuff it up their political backsides.

    These incompetent political mother Fs can’t even get the CCJ to become a genuine regional institution of fair play.

    How, then, in God’s Caribbean sky can they expect to succeed with a commercial enterprise in need of continuous injections of working capital to keep it in the air on a breakeven flight path?

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