Last week, Prime Minister Mottley reshuffled Cabinet, against a backdrop of a calamitous convergence of events in 2020, not as a reflection of past performance, but of future need.
Only the dishonest can deny that two years in, Barbados has seen stunning progress from an Administration which promised so much and has thus far appropriately delivered, in three key ways.
Firstly, government set about repairing the previous disastrous decade. Economically, the inclusion of three ministers in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the high-profile advisors has borne immeasurable fruit in the remarkable turnaround from the precipice of economic collapse to a 6% surplus. William Duguid and Peter Phillips oversaw a significant road repair programme, as well as the purchase of new buses, and Trevor Prescod similarly saw the purchase of garbage trucks, all of which had been long neglected. None can forget the phenomenal speed with which Wilfred Abrahams’ Water Resources Ministry removed sewage from the streets of the South Coast.
Secondly, government responded to present challenges. Edmund Hinkson and subsequently Dale Marshall have overseen a steady and significant decline in most major crime, such as rape, robbery and burglary, though murder remains regrettably stubborn. Under Minister Caddle and Prof. Persuad, there has been an infusion of investment and Dr Greenidge masterminded the balanced, fair and cogent BOSS to respond to our nation’s most pressing challenge. Under John King, government committed $1 million for creatives and sportspersons for digital projects during the challenging COVID period. Abrahams has aggressively sought a resolution to the northern water woes, on which significant work has been done. Neil Rowe supported his minister, Cynthia Forde, who both oversaw increased funding for Welfare over the last two years, and who both played a crucial role in the human response to the social and economic calamity wrought by COVID.
Finally, government has been consistently visionary in charting the future. Abrahams was tasked with implementing Government’s policy to achieve either fossil free or carbon neutrality by 2030, significantly helped by Duguid and Phillips’ purchase of electric buses. Kerrie Symmonds has not only made substantial steps toward rejigging tourism even before the pandemic, but he has also continuously expressed a commitment to the small players in the industry from the taxi operators to the smaller hotels. Dwight Sutherland leaves Small Business with his signature legacy being the implementation of the Trust Loan programme, by which nearly 3,000 small businesses have been given a much-needed boost on the path to wealth creation for ordinary Barbadians, and thus in a real sense, Sutherland, more than any other minister, has overseen a tangible programme to make “black lives matter” in the economic sphere.
Clearly then, much has been done. However, government is not about reminiscing about past success, and Ms Mottley has demonstrated that she is not going to do that. Rather, she has taken the new set of facts which we face, and has made necessary adjustments to position the country to be best able to stave off the effects of the pandemic, as well as build back stronger, as any sensible household or company would.
Therefore, she has wisely introduced Sen. Lisa Cummins to the all-important tourism ministry at this critical time. Sen Cummins has not only been the most successful chairman of the Port, but also accumulated impressive experience in diplomacy, international trade policy, industry building and development policy, all of which are crucial skills for the person at the helm of tourism at this time. Ian Gooding-Edghill also brings with him significant experience after two stints chairing the Transport Board.
Barbadians, all of us, must now join with the PM and also commit to making our own personal adjustments as we go forward. These adjustments can include continued adherence to the COVID protocols, increased economic ingenuity in the potentially rough period ahead, commitment to the maintenance of social order by rejecting the influence of organized crime, so that we do not destroy the precious gains made, increasing your on-the-job economic productivity, caring for our environment and personally committing to reduced carbon footprints, as well as eating well and other measures to maintain health so that we do not become state burdens by continuing the worrying rise of NCDs. Those are but a few of the individual commitments which can be made, so that like the Prime Minister, we can better position ourselves and our country for the future.
partisan superficial tripe penned by someone whose lips looked like they drank the koolaid. doesnt even attract rebuttal
A balanced and neutral article. Very nice.
As a neutral observer, may I add that our government has also been very successful in imprisoning former ministers, respecting same-sex partnerships and getting foreign top-performers on board to replace local lazybones. As a cherry on top of the big cake, so to speak.
No other government has made so much progress in the liberalisation and modernisation of Barbados. In 10 years Barbados will have completed the journey from the mental backwardness of the plantation to the modern society of the 21st century.
However, our government must not rest on its laurels in combating the opposition’s racism and fascism, which is directed against minorities in order to divert attention from the opposition’s misdeeds.
@ David
Someone just told me there’s a message circulating on social media that Owen Arthur died.
Have you heard anything?
@Artax
It seems the news is true after all. It is being reported he died just after midnight.
Owen Arthur, may he Rest In Peace.
Has a flippant remark been removed to be replaced with an acknowledgement of the sad and unfortunate death of the former prime minister?
Condolences to his relatives and friends.
Prime Minister Arthur is reported to have died at 12.26AM. You couldn’t post a condolence without snaring? You are a piece of work. Any more comments to detract from the moment will be deleted.
Who are the principals behind Tarico?
@ David
Sometimes you have to “IGNORE” background noises from the ‘keyboard bullies.’
I offer condolences to Prof. Owen Arthur’s widow, daughters, relatives and friends.
May his soul RIP
The man has no class, is it the “Barbadian living in the UK condition”? Condolences to Mr.Arthur’s widow Julie, his daughters and entire family.
@David,
why dont you open a separate blog so that we can properly mourned Mr Arthur? May he rest in peace.
also one for the Wood / Weir bassa bassa
@Geene
Good suggestion, let us work on that now.
Trouble maker or honest politician ?
“Former government minister Anthony Wood has demanded that a criminal investigation be opened into the award of a contract to a local company to repair the roof at Portvale Sugar Factory.”
A clear case of defamation. DPP to the rescue!
Why is government involved in attaching solar panels to Coverley? How much is the contract worth?
It is perfectly normal that contracts for such tiny sums are awarded in a fast procedure. In emergencies, public authorities are even allowed to award contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars in a fast-track procedure. The former BLP-person has totally lost his way here. Either he revokes his unproven assertions or he will have to pay for it on the Heroes’ Square at the pillory under the blazing sun.
Our Most Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable Lord Dale must not show any weakness here as they did with the insolent, outspoken Senator. Punishment must be swift to discourage imitation!
Feuding ex-MP claims threats
Former agriculture minister Anthony Wood says he and his family are receiving, what he considers, threats because of his decision to withdraw his support for the current Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir, and resign from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
The former St Philip South parliamentarian shocked many of his BLP colleagues and the party faithful when in May, by way of a paid newspaper disclaimer, he apologised to constituents for endorsing his successor during the 2018 General Election.
During a discussion dubbed: Delivering on a promise: the story behind the disclaimer notice, Wood told those gathered at Clara’s Hide-a-way in Four Roads, St Philip on Sunday night that persons were employing “strong-armed, not so strong-armed and weak tactics” to keep him quiet.
This he said included threats via anonymous notes posted at the Six Roads post office to himself, his wife and other close relatives which he planned to share with the Royal Barbados Police Force. In addition to one commentator going as far as to scandalise his name on social media.
“Of course, when you do something like that you only encourage me to tell more of the truth because believe you me, I am fearless,” Wood maintained.
Stressing that he will not be silenced, Wood revealed that he resigned from the post of chairman of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Company (BADMC) because he witnessed incidents of corruption that ranged from nepotism in the hiring practices in the ministry, money intended for the ministry’s feeding programme being diverted to pay the salary of a public relations consultant, to the illegal awarding of contracts.
He said it was especially important for him to speak out to maintain his reputation because these infractions go against the message of stamping out corruption in public office.
“You could imagine we talking about serious business and we got some lackeys ‘bout here in this constituency all that they are concerned about is keeping a man entrenched so that he can get a second term like me. You imagine that? That is what representation is reduced to? That once you get involved you ought to be assured of two terms to get pension, oblivious to what else is going on in the country, what is happening in the constituency? All they are concerned about is that I am trying to stop Mr Weir from getting a second term. Well if that is what you all feel then I don’t want to disappoint you then. . . . I do not want to disappoint the lackeys in the constituency, in the branch who feel that that is my motivation, “ he said.
Wood, who was a member of the BLP for 35 years before his resignation, said that he had no sinister intent to undermine the party. Rather, he declared to those present including Opposition leader Bishop Joseph Atherley and former Democratic Labour Party Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite that his intention was for the BLP to get rid of people who by their actions are lack thereof, undermine the same party.
“I’m not undermining them by my statements because my statements are all truthful,” Wood contended while calling on Prime Minister Mia Mottley to sack Weir.
https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/07/28/feuding-ex-mp-claims-threats/
A ‘piffy’ tribute.
@ Baje
It is all well and good talking about integrity legislation, but unless we are committed in the principle in spirit it is not worth a jot. What is the relationship between this government and Maloney? What is the relationship between the government and the so-called Social Partnership?
Plse do an audit of government asserts sold since May 25, 2018, the purchasers and the expressed purposes for the sales. @Baje, I have said that come 2023 there will not be a Barbados worth fighting for. We are on the way.
@David,
if ‘piffy’ means means brief and to the point i agree.
@Hal,
ITAL will come but they are giving the girls and guys some time to do their thing before they cant. see Wood’s statement above, to wit –
“Stressing that he will not be silenced, Wood revealed that he resigned from the post of chairman of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Company (BADMC) because he witnessed incidents of corruption that ranged from nepotism in the hiring practices in the ministry, money intended for the ministry’s feeding programme being diverted to pay the salary of a public relations consultant, to the illegal awarding of contracts.”
@BAJE “money intended for the ministry’s feeding programme being diverted to pay the salary of a public relations consultant”
What???
The Ministry has or had a feeding program?
Who was being fed? How does one get on to the feeding program?
Stupssseee!!!
Haven’t hear from my MP nor my priest since COVID19. I know that my name and address are available to both, and my phone numbers and email address to my priest as well.
But I have a sister who often remarks that “apolitical old working class black women like we are the last class, the lowest class, nabody cares ’bout we.
But we try to outlive people who hold such views and engage in such practices.
And you know what?
WE MOSTLY SUCCEED.
Lol!
@ Greene
The background noise is deafening. After two years, a government without any vision, and a one-dimensional economic policy based on the contradictions and confusion of Fiscal Space, BERT, BEST and BOSS, there is still no attempt to look in detail below the bonnet to see what people are buying.
It is economic snake oil, hocus pocus nonsense. It is easier to be abusive and distractive then to contest the details. We have a government in which a consultant to the minister of finance can publicly correct a minister without a single word of reprimand from the press or public.
We have a political culture in which a businessman with his fair share of public contracts opens a middle of the road restaurant and all top politicians from the prime minister to a former prime minister to senior civil servants were in attendance.
We have a situation in which prime Crown land is sold to private business people (a repeat of the unfair purchase of Ms Ram’s property to pass on to a private development) without a full debate in parliament. When I describe this form of government as an autocracy, at best a presidency, the dense are highly critical.
Our democracy is in serious trouble.
@ Cuhdear Bajan,
The FEED programme is to be managed by the Barbados Agricultural and Development Marketing Corporation (BADMC), and according to Minister Weir, not only is it expected to heighten agricultural production in Barbados, but also provide increased market access for local farmers.Mar 13, 2019
https://barbadosunderground.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/lowe.png