Central Bank of Barbados Governor Cleviston Haynes delivers the Bank’s review of Barbados’ economic performance in the first nine months of 2020 and takes questions from the media and the live online audience.
Central Bank of Barbados
Central Bank Economic Review Jan-Sept 2020: High Fiscal Cost of Covid 19
131 responses to “Central Bank Economic Review Jan-Sept 2020: High Fiscal Cost of Covid 19”
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Barbados Today Editorial.
Senator Franklyn, labour leadership, and Thatcherism
In politics, there are none so blind as those who don’t want to see. Political allegiances can make the obvious obscure. Party enslavement can turn an enlightening conversation on economic policy into a personalized attack on the size of someone’s nose or the degree of the individual’s hue. Idol worship not only elevates vacuous politicians into creatures of substance, it can confuse political pauperism with self-acclaimed pedigree. We have seen it here a thousand times, and such is the nature of our politics, we are condemned to seeing it a thousand more.
In the midst of much social hurly-burly, Senator Caswell Franklyn has frequently provided pleasing, unvarnished truth guided by his conscience, experience, and more often than not, the laws of Barbados. His voice has taken on greater significance since the mid-2018 retreat of the Barbados Workers Union and the National Union of Public Workers. Their flight into the hills has been akin to the silencing of lambs.
Conversely, Mr Franklyn’s commitment to workers, and the law especially as it relates to labour rights and governance, is to be commended. If Barbadians have been paying close attention, they ought to have realised that he has been correct in every public utterance he has made, be it the state’s tampering with the social benefits of some of the most vulnerable in Barbados last year, the unlawful appointment of a second deputy commissioner of police, the issues related to severance payments, the near-posting of a Canadian citizen to be Barbados’ ambassador to Canada, the dubious involvement of the government in aspects of the conduct of the imminent by-election in St George North, and other interventions he has made from time to time. And this has been so not only since his elevation to the Upper Chamber, but for more than two decades. Many years ago Mr Franklyn publicly challenged a decision made by a High Court judge on grounds that were echoed months later when the Appeals Court overturned the judge’s decision.
His public pronouncements appear to be guided by clear thought and research rather than disregard for the intelligence of Barbadians or political affiliation. Long may his voice be heard in the corridors of power in the interest of working class Barbadians.
And at this juncture, his interventions resonate greatly because the labour movement in Barbados has become compromised, not by external attacks and intimidation, but through an internal condition that should not be allowed to metastasise.
Perhaps, Barbadian workers have now started to connect the dots that more than two years ago saw capital and labour join forces with political gatekeepers to march on the streets of Bridgetown. When workers took to the streets supportive of the two labour unions who sought unrealistic 23 and 15 per cent salary increases respectively, their purpose was pure even if unaware of other possible hidden agenda. Perhaps they never thought the outlandish request had at its core, political intrigue and the genesis of a greater plan that had little to do with them. The workers were responding to a woeful Democratic Labour Party administration that was floundering and had lost its way. But others seized the day.
Those that led them have concocted an arithmetic anomaly that has shown workers how a seven per cent salary increase offered by the administration of the day – and rejected – can be less than the 4.5 per cent their unions subsequently accepted from the new administration, and later topped up to five. Facetiousness can lead to fact.
When labour’s lambs marched with capital’s lions, the former perhaps did not truly appreciate that the much maligned National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), imposed an up-front duty on businesses to contribute in a more equitable manner to the state’s tax collection processes. Workers would not have known that fewer than three years after the tri-partite pied pipers led them ‘a-singing and a-chanting’, that the abandonment of the NSRL would be followed by the merchant class having their taxes significantly reduced, while the working class would have theirs widely increased. While the water bills, fuel bills and supermarket bills of the marching workers went up, corporation taxes paid by their affluent co-marchers went down from 30 per cent to five. Significant tax reduction for holders of capital did not equate to increased absorption of labour in the pre-COVID-19 period. The pandemic has now given an excuse for maintaining current employment levels and more than likely further employment reduction in the private sector. The sound and fury paid off for everyone other than the workers.
Margaret Hilda Thatcher was beloved by millions and arguably, eventually detested by similar numbers. She was Britain’s longest serving prime minister and the first woman to be the country’s political leader. She believed in the deregulation of financial sectors and the privatization of state-owned enterprises. But perhaps one trait of the “Iron Lady” that became a hallmark was her approach to labour unions. She dedicated her efforts to undermining and weakening labour unions since she saw them as harmful to parliamentary democracy and economic development. Labour unions provided nuisance value for the British leader and she was intent on crushing their influence. Others in and outside the Caribbean region, whether to be found in the private sector or the corridors of parliamentary power, view unions in similar light. They make the occasional concession to labour, but often with ulterior motive. However, there are some, unlike Margaret Hilda Thatcher, who see the strategic prudence of using a Trojan horse rather than a battering ram to breach the defences of workers’ solidarity movements. The ultimate goal of such leaders is the retention of political power at all costs.
The Franklyns of this world are therefore very much needed now because the problems workers face have grown to be more. -
That copy of the Barbados Today editorial is the most exciting and intelligent piece of journalism seen in any Barbadian publication for a very, very long time. It should be taught as a seminar and debated in public, especially on BU.
A proper analysis. Congratulations to the editor. -
@ Hal
You are absolutely correct. I just read it. You would note that less than twenty four hours ago, I told you in another thread on BU that Barbados Today, is the best of the three at this time. I have been telling people to read its editorials now for the last six months or so.
You would note also that I have always argued that the NSRL , was undermined because it forced businesses to pay taxes upfront. The then opposition argued that once the NSRL was removed, prices will drop. Far from that there has been price increases .And then the same business sector was given mammoth tax breaks. Furthermore millions in taxes were written off. Of course, the unions had refused a 7% increase and said that they “ crunched” the numbers and there was money enough to pay anywhere from 17% to 27%. increases. The same unions then accepted 5%. COVID came along; the spoilt private sector as usual refused to be creative and once more held the visionless BLPDLP to ransom by threatening not to pay hotel workers severance . The government was then forced to put $300 million into the economy on the pretense by that it will save jobs in the industry.
Like I said hocus pocus economics and fancy acronyms. The editorial has adequately exposed the bait and switch .Peace
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@ William
I try not to get angry, but I cannot understand how intelligent people, or people who claim to be intelligent, can tolerate these monstrous policies from politicians and business people. They seem not to realise their strength as consumers..
The Barbados Today editorial is sound, and lacks the pretentions of the previous editor, in that it speaks in plain language. Like most things, you can nit-pick, and I will try not to. But the references to Margaret Thatcher are straight Google stuff. However, that is minor. It is spot on and relevant at this time. How many read the editorials, or leaders as we call them?
Here we are, with a nonsensical proposed television debate around the St George North by-election, in which a senior member of staff at BT got caught up. The editor must now remind staff of their impartiality and not to be bag carriers for any political party.
@William, you and I hope and pray that the chairman will accept that BU is his toy, but nevertheless try and turn it into an effective educative tool and not just a vehicle for the angry, frustrated, bitter, twisted, envious, ego-maniacs, foulmouthed and aggrieved.
There should be a parental warning on BU. -
I have been reading the Barbados Today editorials for a long time. Well thought and well written.
Trojan horses and battering rams- good stuff. Effective word picture.
Making a list of Caswell’s Corrections is a great move. They should keep a running list because there are certain to be more.
The sudden enlightenment that allowed the acceptance of the five % was always suspect.
Is there none to stand with Caswell?
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@Donna
As you and other know the Senator has been prominently highlighted on BUâs pages. The problem is that we still have too many Barbadians- especially middle and upper class- who label Caswell an empty vessel who keeps the most noise.
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Agreed that the BT Editorial is well thought. On one aspect, I have previously agreed on these pages that the $300Million should not just be thrown into business, such funds should be strategically directed.
But the whole of the piece refers to the incidence of taxation and that point is taken. There is nothing wrong with a 5% tax at the bottom line, which lent to addressing the issue of tax convergence, such that all businesses are treated equally, for regulatory purposes.
However, indirect taxation and duties should be commensurately implemented, along with price controls on a basket of goods and services, such that the average worker is not disadvantaged.
One area that should have been significantly improved ages ago is the collection and distribution of taxes and levies.
How can businesses owe millions in VAT and NIS without recourse? It is shameful and it is actually outright theft. Such funds belong, respectively, to the government treasury and the national pension and health fund.
To that point, government also needs to then pay refunds in a timely manner and also, should have absolutely no reach to the national insurance coffers.
This area, of managing the treasury and cash flows, is as much to blame as the policies.
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@ Crusoe
We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. In an ideal world those highly paid academic economists at Cave Hill will be leading public education; instead they retreat behind their titles and status.
We cannot build our future on hope and this president is out of her league. She is a campaigner, likes campaigning and we must take her out of her comfort zone. She is not at home with policy, thus the boated number of so-called consultants, in reality all feeding on the taxpayers’ cow. -
(Quote)
That copy of the Barbados Today editorial is the most exciting and intelligent piece of journalism seen in any Barbadian publication for a very, very long time. It should be taught as a seminar and debated in public, especially on BU.
A proper analysis. Congratulations to the editor. (Unquote).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Agree with you 100(0)%.
I, too, was clearly taken aback by this excellent piece of journalism.
The language and ‘writing’ techniques of the author are simply superb, indeed.
It has to be written by a person who is widely read and well-informed on national and international affairs.
Clearly not written by a person with that “Bajan Condition” of incestuous subservience to the political directorate!
That objectively appealing editorial should ‘raise the hairs on the heads’ of ruling political cabal and that bevy of the ‘red-arse-licking’ apparatchiks (like “Enuff”) on BU.
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The United Nations regional commission’s thirty-eighth session concluded today with a ceremony led by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed; the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena; and Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Rodolfo Solano.
(October 28, 2020) The thirty-eighth session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) concluded this Wednesday, October 28, with countries’ recognition of the work carried out by the United Nations regional commission and their approval of the proposal presented in the document Building a New Future: Transformative Recovery with Equality and Sustainability, in which the Commission calls for forging a new, post-COVID-19 future in the region through a transformative development recovery, with greater equality and sustainability.
ECLAC’s most important biennial meeting – which was held virtually for the first time – wrapped up its debates today with a ceremony featuring the participation of Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN and Chair of the Group of 77 and China; Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary; and Rodolfo Solano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, which is the country that now holds ECLAC’s presidency for the next two years.
A total of 800 people participated in the three-day event, of whom 400 were government delegates; 55 were from UN agencies, funds and programs; seven were representatives of regional organizations; and 300 were from civil society. In addition, 24 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and 19 deputy ministers were present on the session’s panels. In all, the meeting’s transmissions drew more than 40,000 views via ECLAC’s various online platforms aimed at public dissemination.
As the session came to a close, the representatives of 43 Member States and 9 associate members of ECLAC attending the event approved 14 resolutions in which they urge the Commission to continue its work collaborating with Member States on a comprehensive analysis of development processes geared to the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies, and to keep providing operational services in the fields of specialized information, advisory services, training and support for regional and international cooperation and coordination.
In particular, they approved the “San José Resolution” – in honor of the capital of Costa Rica, the country that served as host of this session even though it was entirely carried out by virtual means – in which the countries of the region welcome the integrated approach to development that has marked the thinking of ECLAC since its inception, and the relevance of the issues examined, and express support for the general tenor of the conclusions set forth in the position document presented by the Commission. Furthermore, it instructs the organization to conduct studies and formulate public policy proposals in the countries, in close cooperation with their policymakers, with a view to supporting the building of national capacities for the achievement of sustainable development.
In her speech, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, thanked the Government of Costa Rica for chairing the meeting and congratulated ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, “for her incredible leadership and commitment to the Latin America and Caribbean region.”
“On Monday, the UN Secretary-General (António Guterres) rightly praised ECLAC’s pioneering role in pushing for a more inclusive understanding of sustainable development. This week has proven once again that ECLAC has truly established itself as the regional think tank of the UN Secretariat in the region and as a key regional forum for policy dialogue,” she highlighted.
Mohammed indicated that the negative effects of COVID-19 in the region’s countries have constrained government responses to the urgencies of the pandemic and, in the medium term, undermine their capacity to build back better. “In this sense, the United Nations, and ECLAC in particular, have put many bold and innovative proposals on the table, such as an emergency basic income for the most vulnerable, tax exemptions and grace periods for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a basic digital basket, a new political and fiscal compact to ensure universal social protection and a green energy transition in the region, among others,” she stated.
“Over the past three days, we have heard the bold efforts that many countries of this region are undertaking to face the immediate impact of COVID-19 and to maintain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the blueprint for their medium and long-term efforts. This gives us great hope,” Mohammed indicated. “Building back better means putting equality and environmental sustainability at the center of the recovery.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett congratulated Alicia Bárcena for the groundbreaking analyses that ECLAC continues to deliver, including the document presented at this session. “We must center our thinking on some critical actions as we chart the way forward, putting increasing emphasis on implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the importance of financing for development, which is one of the focuses of this meeting,” she stated.
Such actions include building policy coherence and institutional capacity, access to financing (which is critical to the global recovery and economic growth), the need for international financial institutions to adopt new approaches to risks and to reduce the pro-cyclical nature of financial flows to countries, and forging trusted development partnerships, with support from the UN Development System.
“The 2030 Agenda provides the framework to respond effectively to current challenges. To complement national actions, regional organizations like ECLAC play an important role in applying the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the regional context,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.
In her closing remarks, Alicia Bárcena thanked the Government of Costa Rica for its leadership during this session and its vision and commitment for the next two years at the helm of ECLAC. She also praised the Political declaration on a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery, which the Foreign Ministers of the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean signed in the framework of ECLAC’s thirty-eighth session.
“There is broad consensus that the pandemic has exposed the inequalities and fragilities of the region’s countries. In this context, the international community must take into account the specific problems faced by middle-income countries in the region and by small island states in the Caribbean. We must bear in mind the structural gaps and the situation of vulnerability that have been exposed by COVID-19,” Bárcena emphasized.
“We have submitted for your approval a bold proposal, with evidence, with scenarios for managing this complex time of enormous challenges. Perhaps the most profound element is the firm call to change the development model and redouble efforts aimed at a post-COVID-19 recovery guided by the principles of inclusive development, equality and sustainability,” ECLAC’s Executive Secretary told participants.
“The document that we presented is a realistic and necessary document for action, which responds to the urgent needs of Latin America and the Caribbean. We want to reiterate that emerging from this crisis will require transformative leaderships and a capacity for dialogue and for forging political and social compacts that amass broad coalitions to guarantee universal access to health care, to social protection, to employment with dignity. A change in production and consumption modes is needed in order to build Welfare States,” Bárcena added.
“Building back with equality and sustainability is the way forward. This will necessitate social and political compacts to ensure that these objectives become State policy, with the participation of communities, businesses, women and young people. At the same time, new forms of global governance are needed to provide global public goods, such as universal health care (a coronavirus vaccine for all), climate security and protection of the atmosphere, financial stability, peace and human rights protection,” Alicia Bárcena stressed.
Finally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, Rodolfo Solano, also thanked ECLAC and its Executive Secretary for the meeting’s success in the context of this new, virtual reality. He indicated that the session’s debates pointed to the need to restore axioms of the social compact: solidarity, cooperation, the fight against inequality, inclusion and innovation. “These are the guideposts along the way for our work over the next two years,” the Foreign Minister specified.
“Multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation are the only real way out of this unprecedented crisis, and they must become the center of our work. That is what the Secretary-General, António Guterres, indicated, and we share this view. The maxim of leaving no one behind must inspire the decisions that our countries take in the future, in fulfillment of development commitments and those of the 2030 Agenda,” Solano sustained.
“No transformation will be possible without the component of fresh resources from international financial institutions. But these resources cannot come with the same conditions that are required today; instead, it will be necessary to foster longer maturities, lower interest rates, and more extended grace periods. In this effort, ECLAC can support countries in building the narrative that explains their fiscal obligations in terms of the transformative commitment to arriving at well-being based on the criteria of the common good,” he stated.
More information:
- Resolutions adopted at the thirty-eighth session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Remarks by Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN.
- Closing speech by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary (in Spanish).
- Closing speech by Rodolfo Solano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica (in Spanish).
- Thirty-eighth session of ECLAC.
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The central bank report did not have any surprises in it as we expected a decline. My concern is with such a drop in activity what is goverment doing to cut its expenses in a major way? If we carry on as is we will have a massive deficit on our hands and of course the tax payers will have to dig deeper in their pockets due to more taxation.
Where are the measures to avoid this from happening?
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@JohnA
I am here reading about the harmonisation of European insurance law and reflecting on the absence of any cooperation across CARICOM post-CoVid. Here is an opportunity for cross-border procurement.
The quarterly statements from the governor are routine, they are not meant to reveal any real information. He is only performing like a circus monkey. You may not remember when we kept monkeys in Queen’s Park. The public used to feed them and they performed.
What is our economic recovery plan, apart from crap about tourism? -
@ John A October 29, 2020 8:45 AM
Maybe that’s reason behind the hiring of additional costly consultants to tell them what is already known and recommended in numerous reports.
Don’t be taken aback if the VAT is raised to a ’rounded’ 20% or a reincarnated NSRL finds a new lease of life under a red banner.
As the GUV of the CB reiterated, those much talked-about construction projects must be kick-started if the Bajan economy is to be rescued from its current comatose state and returned to some semblance of sustainability to ward off social dislocation.
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@ Hal
@ MillerSo the plan is while we wait on these projects to start we will continue spending based on the estimates then? So if the Projects don’t start what is plan B?
Somebody at sometime better wake up to the reality of the post covid economy.
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@ John A
What about the 40000-strong reserved army of labour?
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@ John A October 29, 2020 9:54 AM
Print money while blaming the OECD and EU for blacklisting Barbados because a former (now convicted) minister of the Crown let the corruption cat out of the ‘kickbacks’ bag.
Just look at what took place with the public funds at the BWA during the same period of skinning the taxpayers’ cat.
Don’t you think the OECD et al are aware of these reported cases of ‘alleged’ grand larceny?
Somebody has to pay locally for the ICBL heist before Barbados can expect any redemption from the ‘black’ listing.
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@John A
You appreciate that Barbados economy is in deep doodooo? Have you not been following events? The government cannot afford to send home workers. It cannot to allow the space to crash to destabilize the private sector at this time. Did the government not honestly opinion in his review that there are unknowns that make it impossible to be certain in planning? We can comment about agriculture and food security all we want but it will not move the macro needle in the short term given its insignificant GDP contribution.
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No amount of koolaid or smoke and mirrors would help.govt to move this leaking ship forward
Debt must be paid and the govt knees would be pressed in the workers neck
Even if govt go ahead with projects the movement would be slow and tedious to provide any breathing room.for the economy -
@ David Bu
@ John AThe Governor has carried out his duty and gave a clinical review / diagnosis of the economy in the third quarter. Obviously there is no growth because the economic environment has not changed.Economic strategy and fiscal policy is not his remit. His remit is to advise GoB when these policies/ strategies have potential to impact negatively the Financial System.
John A
Your advocacy for diversification of the economy ,and suggestions for savings of foreign currency and tax dollars are economically sound. One cannot build an economy like Barbados on construction. Construction is the infrastructure for manufactures and exportable services. These are dependent on markets. Where are these markets in the post COVID period?
@ David BU
I think by now we are aware that Barbados is not an island entire of itself. It is dependent and subject to external forces. No amount of grand standing and make belief can change that. -
@Vincent
The economy is small and open. Through the years we could have done better but we are here now and have to manage current state. Why William does not understand that increasing agriculture output cannot materially improve the macroeconomic state in the short term but does not mean it should not be encouraged at the micro level is incomprehensible. Why another would use the analogy of a monkey to describe the Governors review stretches the bounds of reasoning and common decency.It is wha it is one must assume.
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(Quote):
Economic strategy and fiscal policy is not his remit. His remit is to advise GoB when these policies/ strategies have potential to impact negatively the Financial System. (Unquote).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++So how does the below statement fit into the above assertion?
“Implementation of large private sector investments can serve to accelerate growth and create jobs, regenerate confidence so badly damaged by the crisis and enhance the island’s competitive position”.
Didn’t the same Guv (and his immediate predecessor) previously regurgitated a list of ‘construction’ projects which were always in the investment pipeline like the Hyatt and Four Seasons considered to be economic game-changers even under the previous political administration but can now be classified as ‘stillborn’ projects?
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@ Vincent.
Agreed the Gov has done his job and its left for the MOF and her advisors to now do theirs.
@ David.
The point is the size of government is unsustainable at this level of revenue with all it’s inefficiencies.
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@ David BU at 12:17 PM
Looking back we can always do better. Having to deal with what is before us and the intellectual and physical resources at hand, we do what we have to do. Unknown unknowns are always with us. We have not done too badly. The ship is still afloat. None of the naysayers would have done any better; and from their mouthings, much worse.
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@ John A at 1:06 PM
The size of GoB is always unsustainable depending on the ideological lens through which we look.GoB is engaging on a counter-cyclical strategy. Reducing the size at this time will worsen the situation.It is what governments are elected to do….. stabilizing the economy and society.
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There is nothing special about this editorial. It is being heralded by some who are happy to see the government portrayed in a negative light. There is nothing progressive about raising issues about supporters wearing a shirt with a candidates name or face on it during election, especially when your party’s supporters turn up with placards with your candidate’s name and likeness. The “unlawful” appointment of the second DCoP was not an act of malice. Maybe a more pertinent editorial would focus on examining the pros and cons of a 2nd DCoP and whether HR issues within the police force warrants such a post to focus on these matters. The editorial could also explore the efficacy of the laws the Senator often highlights in a post-Covid 2020 Barbados. Merely repeating and at times embellishing old stories without going beyond the surface is just window dressing and lazy.
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@ Vincent.
The approach now needs to be a tightening up on inefficiencies and tax collection. The ports of entry need to ensure that ALL who are importing are paying their fair share. We always see cutting back on staff being the solution. We never stop and say if we improve our revenue collection base than we could keep our staff count. It doesnt always have to be layoffs as the only answer. Goverment needs its revenue collection systems now to function more so than ever before.
As for those laid off in the hotel sector we have to realise many will not find employment there again in the short to medium term. If Sandy Lane is now saying they need to cut salaries significantly to avoid major layoffs and they have one of the highest return client bases on the island, what situation do you think many of the smaller players are in!
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Enuff
Your lecturing to us here on BU is not resonating with the social media Barbadians on Facebook and Instagram .Our Government is getting hammered on many issues.I would never believe as I follow the issues on social media that The PM would receive so many negative comments given her popularity two years ago.You never see anything wrong with unpopular decisions taken by the Government.It will be seen in the protest vote in SGN where you still win but it will be a wake up call for the party.Let me hear your justification for a $27000/month new consultants when people are under financial stress from the covid 19 pandemic.Just remember that a gas station attendant gets $250.00/week.Then again your writings tell me, you believe in pedigree -
@Lest we forget could be Mottley was covering off Persaud. Looks like CDB Governors have stalled that move.
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@ Enuff
You must give Caswell Franklyn credit for commenting on issues within the scope of his expertise.
I recall, a few weeks ago, Grenville Phillips II raised the issue of ‘party colours.’ Do you know whether or not Mr. Franklyn has explained if it was illegal for his People’s Party for Democracy and Development to choose green as its colour, even though Solutions Barbados had already chosen it?
Or do we treat the issue as a trivial, because Grenville raised it?
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@Artax
The PdP has ignored Grenville on the matter of party colours.
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@ John A
Some time ago we heard a lot about fiscal space. Is that now history?
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@ Hal
That 40,000 must know by now that the chance of full employment under the tourism banner is not likely. If you ask any hotelier how the bookings look for winter he will tell you they were only a few but many have been cancelled. Cancellations are heaviest apparently out of the UK and Europe. America never got a hold on the virus so their presence was never really a possibility anyhow.
The cruise ships plan to basically stay at anchor over the winter as well, so that will hurt our local service providers here too. Things are not looking good at all for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020.
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@Hal
You mean that famous term which no one could confirm by formula when asked. Lol?
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@ John A
Tourism, especially long-haul tourism, is a discretionary spend. Plse explain to me in simple terms (I am not familiar with economic policy) why this government is still investing its time and resources on the recovery of tourism to drive the Barbados economy? Am I missing something?
Why are we tolerating 40 per cent of mainly young people unemployed? In any other country that would lead to social unrest, thankfully not in Barbados. -
John A October 29, 2020 8:45 AM
In the current environment, [social, political, economic]; fiscal balance is political suicide. “we want more” is the anthem echoing everywhere. And if you haven’t noticed, ‘the guvment’ is to blame. Ipso facto, the same guvment must support ‘we’, for it is their policies and restrictions, and failure to deal with the pandemic, which have caused bedlum? Many opened the treasury floodgates. Now the second wave, as several predicted, could well be worse than the first, and the reserves to be tapped are less obvious or available. Keep your eyes on the French. -
@NorthernOberserver
You now understand why the prime minister is leading the regional voice to lobby for debt rescheduling for our small countries in a post COVID-19 world? This is a global pandemic that is affecting all countries. It should not be conflated with the ongoing issues with which successive governments have been battling over the years.
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@ Northern
Yes I fully agree with you. We have to understand that the cost to go on like if nothing has changed will be financial suicide. We may have reserves but the majority of it is borrowed money. So if we continue as is we will basically be paying back lenders with their owned borrowed money plus interest. I can’t recall if the Governor said what the deficit was at the end of September against budget but it has to be considerable. I just am not seeing the sense of urgency I would like to see in terms of restructuring the economy to exist on a post covid revenue base. I saw in Barbados Today some economist trying to get over the seriousness of our situation, but our leaders and opposition don’t seem to grasp our situation. They also seem afraid to have an open and Frank discussion with the populace as well.
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Austin are you seriously suggesting that there should be social unrest in Barbados at this time? You actually care any thing about bajans and Barbados? YOU SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT COVID 19 STRUCK BARBADOS ALIKE OTHER COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE LIKE THE UK WITH MANY STRUGGLIING WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AS WELL.What the hell wrong with you overseas bajan bellyachers you want the government to waive a magic wand and make all the problems disappear overnight? What are your solutions know all?As far as i am concerned there is nobody on here that can do better but could do far worst as talk is cheap any idiot could say anything.As for Lest we forget i think all bajans got a wake up call with covid 19 and i am personally happy we had a decisive leader in place in Ms Mottley and not your party, s last PM because by the time they realised we had a problem the country would have been in deep doo doo.Very few bajans want to see your dems in under 15 years as as proven in the lost decade few of you had a clue what you were doing hence the 23 downgrades to junk bond status.
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@Lorenzo
I always thought you had a problem with understanding English. Read what I have said again. Inciting unrest is a criminal offence. By the way, unemployment in the UK is about five per cent.
By the way, I would prefer if in future you talk to your mates who clearly find what you say of interest and leave me out. I am not one of your mates and nothing I post on BU is meant for you. -
@ Enuff October 29, 2020 2:14 PM
“The “unlawful” appointment of the second DCoP was not an act of malice. Maybe a more pertinent editorial would focus on examining the pros and cons of a 2nd DCoP and whether HR issues within the police force warrants such a post to focus on these matters.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Poor you!!!
You still don’t have “Enuff” decency to admit that you and your crew of red johnnies were wrong and therefore give Caswell his “lawyering” jacket.
The gravamen of the matter was not one of satisfying administrative requirements but whether the existing legislation permitted any implementation of such a proposal without the need to amend the same piece of legislation.
Now who turned out to be the legal luminary and the legislated jackass?
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Austin i think you believe you are the blogmaster.You cannot tell me not to respond to your nonsense.If you have a problem ask thr blogmaster to ban me.TRUST YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND NEITHER AM I YOURS.You4 friendd are Skinner, CCC and the idiotic Mariposa who you can control.I care nothing about you or them.However , when you post the garbage above as a bajan living here i take great offence and i will respond to you capiche you could like it or lump .I know you do not like Ms Mottley and would be wishing the worst for her and the government but we bajans do not need your good wishes WE WILL REBOUND.
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Another one for you, Enuff.
Although I think it’s unnecessary for me to come to this forum on a daily basis to call Mia Mottley ‘Mugabe’ sand she speaks with her ‘hands flaring and fists pumping,’ I agree with ‘Lest we forget’ that’s she isn’t as popular with Barbadians, as she was over two years ago.
I won’t use social media as the benchmark to measure her unpopularity, because you may discover the ‘host’ of the particular forums, have a bias against Mottley and would most likely attract people who share a similar bias. In the interest of balance, how about presenting social media platforms that are pro BLP?
However, if you analyse Mottley’s tenure so far and you’re honest, you’ll admit she is clearly out of her depth. It seems as though she has decided to dictate policies and procedures, make all important decisions without any meaningful participation from her Cabinet members, perhaps because she doesn’t truss them. For example, she makes all the important announcements as it relates to ministries irrespective of the substantive ministers. (I’ve noticed she has remained a bit silent on crime and the economy).
I found her ability to speak without prepared notes very impressive. But, now she does so on a regular, sustained basis, my thoughts are otherwise. How on earth could the BLP ask poor Barbadians to ‘hold strain’ in a depressed economy, yet, maintain a bloated Cabinet and a cadre of highly paid consultants? ‘Government’ has not articulated any clear post COVID-19 socioeconomic policies. We have RBPF, Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Office of the AG and a former CoP as a consultant on crime (whose engagement and salary are yet to be justified), yet ‘government’ has not revealed any plans to combat crime.
Ironically, we are in the midst of a by-election campaign, in which the general secretary of the BWU is the BLP’s candidate for St. George North. I’m yet to hear anyone on her platform, discuss issues relating to minimum wages or address the plight of employees, such as shop assistants, gas station attendants, maids, security guards, janitorial service providers and those categories of workers earning $250 per week or less.
We prefer to discuss bush; a community center that remained unfinished under both BLP & DLP administrations, how many buses and SSA trucks were bought and if they were paid for by cash or credit; how many roads were fixed, which are all things that should be done under the normal process of government.There are other concerns, which I will not raise at this time.
Mottley exhibits all the characteristics that are identified with the autocratic style of leadership. If she is not careful, she will be recorded in the annuls of Barbadian history as a ‘one term prime minister.’
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Stupse.
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@ David
It is that the PdP ignored Grenville….. or Caswell Franklyn chooses his fights carefully?
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Two points
1) if the graphs started at 0,the astronomical increase would appear lilliputian.
2) Baseline is important. Did yo see that 33%is like our 7%, but it never reached the old high. -
Artax
My stupse above was for Miller. Not you. Here’s my position, the electorate will decide next election if the money spent on consultants was worth it. I just read that the UK government spent over $100M on consultancy services related to Covid. Trudeau is engaging with BC. We all know where Bdos was in 2018 and we know where we are since Covid. Covid as a public health and economic threat is real. Taken together, I can’t see the work to be done being left alone to civil servants. We have to restructure a whole government–laws, processes, systems etc. You think all the digitisation that is happening isn’t relying on consultants? A Police Certificate of Character now takes a day, as well as a driver’s license renewal. Should we have hired Hal and Greene to do the restructure? I saw the $27,000/month story and laughed. Trawl the Parliament website and you’ll find the truth. I close by repeating my opening position–the voters will determine if White Oak’s actions are now allowing us to fare better during Covid or not. Tell me if you are hearing any policy prescriptions from any other party? I heard the Bishop asking whether housing in town would be same sex pads.🤣🤣🤣 -
@Artax
It is a matter of principle, did the PdP select a party colour that was already in use? If yes it is unethical behaviour.
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@ Enuff October 29, 2020 6:42 PM
“Taken together, I can’t see the work to be done being left alone to civil servants.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++That same argument to justify the wastage of taxpayers’ monies was used by the previous DLP administration.
you Rude boi, “Stupse”!
Didn’t your administration promise to cut out wastage and not compound it?
Remember the Transport Board fiasco?
What’s wrong with Jeremy Stephens or the tens of trained economists knocking about the place and going a dime a dozen?
Even Anthony Woody (like poor OSA) would take a consultancy pick as a way of getting back in MAM’s political good books.
BTW, what has happened to that ‘think tank’ of eminent persons (including Sinliar the architect of the economic destruction under the same bogeyman DLP) appointed to advise your administration on ways to manage the Covid crisis?
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.