Today Prime Minister Mia Mottley will deliver the Budget for 2022 at 3PM. It will be of interest to pundits for several reasons. It comes against rising oil price caused by the Russia Ukraine conflict which threatens to deplete the foreign reserves government has been boasting, and a cashflow pressured by having reallocate funds to…
Today Prime Minister Mia Mottley will deliver the Budget for 2022 at 3PM. It will be of interest to pundits for several reasons. It comes against rising oil price caused by the Russia Ukraine conflict which threatens to deplete the foreign reserves government has been boasting, and a cashflow pressured by having reallocate funds to cover pandemic expenses.
Of concern to others – including the blogmaster – will be government’s developmental programs to improve quality of life for Barbadians.
Clearly, the sweet life of our locals is over at the expense of hard-working businessmen and foreign investors. I recommend to our Supreme Leader to raise the retirement age to 75. Our locals sleep half the day at work anyway, so they might as well sleep 8 years longer there.
[…] Critical Analyzer […]
A good contribution was made by Crystal Drake yesterday as she outlined her reasonings on the issue of amendment to change the age to 18 for a Senate seat
Her response was worth the while
The illogic in the senator’s argument is that she paints all 18yr olds with the same shade of emotional intelligence and intellect. The young man Kothdiwala was taking licks from the likes of Steve Blackett, Ronald Jones, Mara Thompson and others (including some on BU) since his debut on the political platform in 2017 at the age of 13. Five years later Kothdiwala is standing taller and frequently mounted the podium during the last election campaign. In contrast, the same senator was happy to be an opposition and now independent senator, but not a candidate. Worse, a grown man pulled a gun on an opposition member in Parliament. Is it really just age?
Enuff your comment is a typical speech which would come out of the blp camp in an all out effort to support the age change
Crystal Drakes did not go out on an any attack on the person of Khaleel
However brought to the attention and focus of the many pitfalls and responsibilities in holding such a position
A position which comes with demands and challenges from the people with whom they serve
As she pointed out it is not only being able to deliver campaign speeches every five years but taking on the many task and burdens of a country and a society who are quickened to ask questions and seek quick resolutions from the Senator
The argument against Khaleel serving in upper house is political. There is no doubt he operates beyond his years to compare with older incumbents.
The Prime Minister has withdrawn Khaleel as a Senator in waiting.
This is a first with which I have to agree with the PM
The rationale of having a young person whose life interest goes beyond politics is not only unreasonable but selfish
No one can take away his intelligence at whatever age
However his zest and youthfulness for having a fulfilling life should not be tampered or hinder at the altar of political expediency
In a way the end result coming from the would be changed ammendment serves purpose to say that Justice Chase did not have the last word and for that I am estactic
@ David March 19, 2022 5:11 PM
“The Prime Minister has withdrawn Khaleel as a Senator in waiting.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And quite ‘forcibly’ right!
Otherwise he would have been there to represent the partisan interest of his party and its leader and NOT the interest(s) of the YOUTH of Barbados.
Let such a Senator be ‘chosen’ by the President and not by the PM nor the LoO, if there was one!
We are confident that there many other young people aligned to the BLP who are at the age of 21 (or just over that threshold) who can hold the fort and act in KK’s promised seat until the New Constitution for the young Republic of Barbados is fully discussed and agreed upon.
Why should this urgent need to facilitate the voice of any 18 year-old and to take ‘burning’ Constitutional precedence over the rights of other minority groups who are currently discriminated against and obviously put at a continuing disadvantage in the Bajan society?
Khaleel’s name was obviously withdrawn because independent Senators have signaled they will not support the vote.
@Miller
It is the right of any PM to select whoever to represent BLP interest. The issue here is the amendment required to lower the qualifying age.
@Enuff March 19, 2022 12:59 PM “Worse, a grown man pulled a gun on an opposition member in Parliament. Is it really just age?”
No. Not at all. It may actually be gender and testosterone.
Now that I have thought about it the whole Senate should be composed of women older that 60. Because if we are good enough and smart enough to have raised all current members of Parliament, the business of being a Senator is no more than a piece of cake. And perchance we get stuck and don’t know what to do we can always ask our very smart sons and daughters. I am sure that we can find a few dozen old women to do the job for nothing, after all women already do a whole lotta work for nothing. and we would pack and bring our own lunches/suppers from home. Put some politically partisan caterer entirely out of business.
If I good enough to raise you, I am certainly good enough to be a Senator.
The issue here was to.lower the age
Correct
The issue also drew within itself political posturing one that was hard to ignore
One that plainly shouted the young man is being used as a political pawn by which PM can pave a political way to hold on to any opportunity tack away for his leadership
Mia got the cart before the horse again. Why announce the young man’s name and make the amendment about him?
Ah well, Koochie Koo should be strong enough to bear the disappointment and embarrassment.
@ David March 19, 2022 7:22 PM
(Quote):
It is the right of any PM to select whoever to represent BLP interest. The issue here is the amendment required to lower the qualifying age.
(Unquote).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How about an amendment, also, to the same Constitution to ensure that there is provision for someone to represent the interests of those who voted against the same BLP in the HoA?
After all, there are more voters who voted against the BLP than there are people under the voting age of 18.
It is blindingly obvious that it is the right of the PM to nominate whomsoever she pleases to represent the Government’s interest in the Senate as long as it is part of the 12 as ordained by the supreme Law of the Land.
But to represent the specific interest(s) of the Youth of Barbados (and not of the prevailing administration) is another matter which should be part of the promised Constitutional Review agenda and which you, Blogmaster, are always recommending bloggers to wait on in order to make their contribution to the process with the expectation for a widely acceptable and satisfactory outcome.
Why not let the same Bajan youth make some input into the quality of person whom they would prefer to represent them and their interests in Parliament?
Why not take heed of that Bajan saying:
‘If greedy wait, hot will cool.’
@Miller
We will see how the independents treat with it. The blogmaster is not in favour of recognizing political parties. It is contrary to a member of parliament having the freedom to vote conscience although we are not there yet.
Talk about sophistry. A whole lotta hogwash from the verbosed one.🤣
“After all, there are more voters who voted against the BLP than there are people under the voting age of 18.”
Mr Miller, a moment of sheer brilliance.
You have reduced the reason for the inclusion of KK to nothing more than a pig painted with a deep red lipstick and sent out as a lady.
It should be pointed out that these youths are the sons and daughters of others. Whilst it may sound good to ‘have a voice’ for the youth, their parents would also have their welfare at heart. Tell the politicians to first listen to their own children.
Here are a few useful cuts that may need senatorial representation
Senator to speak for the disable
Senator to speak for the chubby ones
Senator for the homeless
Those receiving J-bonds
Those with vacant lots
Vaccine recruitment
Senator for us on BU
The longest serving member of parliament; has held every major portfolio other than minister of tourism; has been a deputy prime minister; has won two elections and politically destroyed the major opposition party ; is now on her second term as Prime Minister.
And I am supposed to be convinced that she did not know that any offer, such as the one , she made to Mr. Kothdiwala, should not have been made and publicly announced before the it had met all constitutional requirements.
Every time the PM screws up anything; we are finding a way to excuse her obvious arrogance because nobody can possibly say that she did not know what the hell she was doing.
Same thing with offering two senate seats to the DLP.
We need to remind Mottley that all “ big works” regarding the Constitution must “ go through” both Houses of Parliament and not her.
@Donna March 19, 2022 8:17 PM “Ah well, Koochie Koo should be strong enough to bear the disappointment and embarrassment.”
The young man has not done anything wrong so there is no need for him to be embarrassed.
This is something which I taught my children, never be sorry/embarrassed/sshamed unless you have done something wrong.
Perhaps the PM may be embarrassed, but she is a pragmatic woman so I doubt that she is embarrassed. She should move right on doing the WORK that the people of Barbados have elected her to do.
@ Cuhdear Bajan
“ Perhaps the PM may be embarrassed, but she is a pragmatic woman so I doubt that she is embarrassed. She should move right on doing the WORK that the people of Barbados have elected her to do.“
I hope that this new standard being set for Mottley is applied to and accepted whenever any body else becomes Prime Minister of our country.
Here we are cussing public servants; we have cussed teachers; judges; and everybody else. Even here on BU we cuss each other!
But we want to come here now talking about pragmatism, and who should or should not be embarrassed.
It’s a terrible double standard. Mottley is not to be excused for consistently putting the cart before the horse. She must be held accountable like all other Prime Ministers before her .
They were all pragmatic and they were all elected to do a job. Mottley at the end of the day is just another Duopoly politician like all the rest .
The real irony is that she understands that, but her supporters have apparently elevated her beyond what she actually thinks of herself.
And that to her must be a major embarrassment.
Budget for ‘fiscal stability’
By Tony Best Last week’s Budget was described as wideranging and extensive while containing several essential policy steps needed to ensure fiscal stability.
That summarised the reaction of Winston Cox, a former Governor of Barbados’ Central Bank, to Monday’s presentation of the 2022 budgetary proposals by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mia Amor Mottley.
He told the Sunday Sun that global issues which included Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine; escalating inflation in many of Barbados’ trading partners in North America and Europe; the troubles confronting the international supply chain and the continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic were outside of Barbados’ control, although they were important to its economic success.
“We don’t have the military or financial capability to address those issues. There is very little that Barbados can do in the face of the global spike in [commodity prices] and in a situation that was exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine,” Cox said.
Little Barbados can do
“I think the Budget alludes to that when the (Government) spoke of the importance of Russia and the Ukraine to the supply of wheat and grains to Europe and lots of African countries. We know that the situation is important to the supply of oil and gas to Western Europe and there is little Barbados can do to solve it. Capping the value added tax on petroleum products, capping the freight costs to calculate customs duties and the computation of CIF (cost, insurance and freight) are small things and therefore are not going to make a big impact on the rate of inflation in Barbados.
“But at least the Government can say: ‘We are doing something” to make life easier and more manageable for Barbadians’, added Cox.
“I think the commitment to the reform of state enterprises is something that should be applauded and I certainly hope that the administration carries through with this and tries to improve the governance model and the financial management practices of many of the state enterprises. Some of them are always going to be dependent on direct contributions from the Government and they are not profit-maximising institutions. In such cases, they should be loss-minimising institutions.”
Cox said he had hoped that the governance of statutory corporations “would have been addressed” long ago. Now, “it was an important component of reform”.
He supports training programmes for board members of statutory corporations to help them carry out their duties effectively. Their roles change regularly and Barbadians shouldn’t assume that people know what their functions were.
“You have to make room for that kind of evolution.”
Cox said the presentation of the Budget to Parliament was an important move because of the necessity for Government to outline “once a year, what its policies and programmes were going to be. It is always helpful that an informed citizenry knows what the plans are” and what to expect.
“It is a good bit of discipline that you have a budget presentation annually. It is not simply enough to present it to Parliament but to the country,” he said.
Turning to the essential National Insurance Scheme and Government’s plans to reform it, Cox labeled reforms an “important
part of the Budget.” The plan, he insisted was a “commitment” to change the “nature of the NIS, bringing it up from being a part of the core public service into making it into an independent body with a very important function, namely pension administration.
Could limit potential
“The way in which it is to be carried out would have a substantial impact on our financial and financial system,” Cox said. “That’s crucial. I hope that it is a successful intervention.”
The former bank governor also focused on a “demographic problem,” specifically, a “shrinking of the nation’s population”, which he said could limit potential for economic growth.
He highlighted some “dark forces” which he said were either on the horizon or were already facts of economic life. One, was the impact of the war in Eastern Europe which was being felt through high inflation.
Another was the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cox struck a note of caution on the issue of retroactive taxation that could help bring in more than $100 million in taxes to the Government. He warned that “retroactive taxation” was often “frowned upon”.
There were other issues in the Budget that held his attention.
One involved the constitutional commission to be headed by former High Court Judge Christopher Blackman and the other dealt with parliamentary reform. The latter is to be chaired by Sir Richard Cheltenham, a former President of the Senate.
“The announcement about the commissions suggest that in the transition from a monarchy to a republic we may have put the cart before the horse,” he said. “They are things that should have been done before the transition occurred. They could have been outlined in the lead-up to becoming a republic.”
Considering the current global and regional picture, Cox credited the Government with making a “heroic” effort to manage the economy effectively.
Source: Nation
BAS WORRY
Paul: Solar farms taking up prime agricultural land
By Maria Bradshaw mariabradsaw@nationnews.com
Local agricultural expert James Paul has expressed concern about prime agricultural lands being transformed into solar farms.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) prefers a system of agrivoltaics where panels can be placed off the ground or on roof tops.
With Barbados pushing for the transition of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels by 2030, Paul wants a strategy implemented that would preserve the land.
“We have already expressed concern over the way that sometimes the approvals are happening. First of all, we need to have some type of strategy in terms of moving ahead with this solar energy. One of the things that countries acknowledge is that the panels need to go on roof tops wherever there is available space. There is no sense putting them on good farmland that basically should be used for the production of crops.”
He pointed out that there were several buildings available where rooftop panels could be placed.
“For instance, you have places such as BIDC that have buildings there sitting down that have a lot of roof space that could be utilised to put photovoltaic cells on and there are other buildings that are going up that could be used. So why then are we compromising our good agricultural land to put panels on when you have roof space that is not being utilised for the purpose of generating electricity?
“The other point is that in other cases when you have agricultural property only a certain amount of land you can put panels on. If you have ten acres you can’t take the whole ten acres and sheet it with panels. In England they have difficulties with these things because you are alienating good agricultural land which you can use to grow crops on.”
He noted that in several countries the strategy was to marry solar energy and agriculture.
“In other words, providing [an] additional income stream for farmers. Certainly, we have to be careful of those persons who are rushing in, buying agricultural land and they have absolutely no interest in agriculture and they are bringing these proposals to the Town & Country Planning [Department] to put solar farms on and that would compromise our agriculture.
However, the executives of two companies which have applied to Government for permission to operate solar photovoltaic farms said they were only utilising small acres for the projects leaving the majority of agricultural land intact for that use.
Last week Sagicor Life & Barbados Farms Ltd advised the public through a number of newspaper advertisements that it had applied for permission to build solar photovoltaic projects on eight of its farms, namely Applewhaites Plantation, Bulkeley, Jordans Plantation, Stephney Plantation and Windsor Plantation, St George; Orange Hill Plantation St Peter; Plum Tree Plantation, St James; and Strong Hope Plantation, St Thomas.
However, Paul stated that “Sagicor needs to ensure they exercise some corporate responsibility even when it come to that. We should not profit on our legacy in the way
in which it is being suggested. We forget that these same lands that we are talking about compromising we need them for our food production,” he charged.
But Edward Clarke, Director of Barbados Farms, said the acres which they would be seeking to utilise for solar farms were minimal to their agricultural usage.
“There would be some land taken out of agriculture, not all. It would be a minimal amount compared to what we own. Out of about 4 000 acres of land and we have about 2 000 acres in agricultural production right now, these [solar projects] add up to a couple hundred acres – it is insignificant to the overall agricultural production. It is about five per cent of [our] lands.”
Pointing out that Barbados Farms had been a “significant contributor to the agricultural sector in Barbados for many years at significant cost to Sagicor and the shareholders of Barbados Farms”, Clarke said they were hoping that the solar project adds more sustainability.
“We are extremely hopeful and optimistic that the Government would allow the agriculture sector to start to reap some of the benefits from the energy sector. We are hopeful that this would allow us to stay in operation and to improve the food security while keeping sugar in operation and allow Barbados Farms to sustain itself because otherwise, it would not be sustainable if we don’t do something in the very near future.”
He revealed that the multimilliondollar project would be majority owned by a Barbadian entity.
Source: Nation
Money talks bull sh..it walks
Govt is strapped for cash so govt would become a prostitute for alland sundry who rush forward with cash which generates fast revenue rather than secure most remaining land space for Food
Lest we forget this govt while in opposition said they had all and every plan to do what is best for people and country
The present evidence now suggest that govt plays economic gimmicks with the minds of the people undergirded with smoke and mirror plans
One would have thought that COVID would be a long lesson learned provoking govt to do what is right and proper on behalf of country and not big time pocket book spenders looking out for themselves
Where would govt find the land to build ten thousand houses in five years at a total of.two thousand houses per year
Where would govt find the land for the Agriculture of Cannabis sufficient and enough to give a return of financial.cost
Where would govt find land to improve and expand road for transportation mobility
Where would govt find land for all these problems which would worsen as upward mobility and improvement for a better society becomes due and which are long overdue
Furthering and of uttermost importance
Where would govt find land for the protection of the environment land which serves purpose as a safe and secure sight for land fills within the proper use for the collection of items which cannot be dispose of in a,manner which cannot negatively affect the environment
Within all the long talk in the Budget no mention was made about govt appropriating measures that would impact the environment in positive manner
Barbados is still using long outdated landfills which have all but outlived their usefulness
Along with having manufacturing plants that bellows dust and toxins in the air that are affecting people’s health
Nothing of that kind seems to matter or is giving first preference.
However we have a PM taking bold stands in Parliament on measures that can wait within time while placing cart before the horse 🐎
William,
The cart before the horse trend is indeed concerning.
But isn’t that transparency? The PM said who she intended to appoint. No one needed to guess. Just like we all knew Marston Gibson was the one to benefit from Adriel Brathwaite’s constitutional amendment. At least the amendment also would have allowed the President or Opposition to appoint an 18, 19 or 20yr old. It seems like Khaleel is the issue not his age. I laughed at Senator Boyce using his 18yr old self to justify why 18 is too young. But an 18yr old Khaleel and Boyce at 18 is like chalk and cheese. No one would have considered Boyce for a senate pick when he was 18! Mind you Canada elected Pierre-Luc Dusseault to the House of Commons at 19.
Nope. It made the issue cloudy. Was the amendment to provide a voice for the youth or a voice for Koochie Koo and the future of the BLP? The tale she told was a problem.
An amendment to serve the youth is one thing. An amendment to serve Koochie and the BLP is another.
Once the amendment is accepted by both houses on principle, then the PM could appoint whomsever she liked.
If Mia cannot see these things, is there NO-ONE in her inner circle who can see them and speak up?
Or does she not listen to anyone?
Too many of these obvious blunders, man!
Correction: WHOMSOEVER.
Did not OSA say the blp under Mia had lost its way
Well the proof is in the eating as the chickens one by one come home to roost
Just wait all would see the final result from the off shooting of policies that are bent towards the weight of those who holds the public purse hostage
@ Enuff
I honestly don’t think that 28 years old is too young for either chamber. The real revolutionary action would have been to seek to have the requirement reduced to sixteen.
I read in yesterday’s paper where a six year old has sold her first paintings as an artist.
We need to start looking at ability and not age. Any sixteen year old could be and should be able to run for the house or to be put in the Senate.
I meant : I honestly don’t think that 18 is too young; not 28.
@ Donna
You are one of the very few who have expressed concerns about Mia’s rushing to do things and then having to blame others back pedal. Quite frankly you were perhaps the first one on BU.
Even with this self inflected wound she can’t say : I should have waited before throwing the gentleman into this predicament. She is saying that unfortunately we as a country are not prepared to give youth a chance. That’s a bold face lie. How old is Mia ; and how long has she been in Parliament.
We have been producing extremely young and gifted citizens for years. We have had company presidents of major companies before they were near forty years old; check the ages of several Head teachers.
Mia is claiming that appointing young people is “ beyond our imagination”. She is attempting to be blameless. Her failed AG should have told her: Madam Prime Minister, let us get through the constitutional requirement before we go public with this………,,,..but he perhaps didn’t know any better.
She could never pull such a stunt with Henry Forde or David Simmons ( Sirs).
Donna
Both! Isn’t Khaleel 18yrs old with views? There isn’t one youth view. All yuh forgetting it is a political party appointing him to represent their agenda from his perspective? It is not a 4-H club. Furthermore, I repeat the change would not have precluded the President and or Opposition from appointing someone 18yrs or older. So alternative perspectives from other youths could be ventilated too. Anyhow I am not gonna waste time arguing about this. If we are going to zero in on Khaleel being identified and made known, then it appears we have a problem with the individual.
The opposition and many commentators on BU are simply racists. They hate KK because he does not conform to black racial ideals. Full stop.
Not naming KK could be the prelude to a race war in Barbados. It has now become obvious to all foreign investors, expats and tourists that Barbados is unfortunately a racist apartheid state where the black majority discriminates against the hard working minorities.
Those black senators who speak out against KK in their racial hatred are the same loafers who have lived at the expense of businessmen since 1966. They howl about racism in the USA, but claim for themselves the privilege of being fanatical racists.
Minorities in Barbados like KK are apparently discriminated against almost as much as the Jews were in the Third Reich.
@Tron
I have enjoyed your many comments even though I find most of them shocking.
First there is the gut punch and I find the ‘humor’ in your post.
However, I disagree with the introduction of race.
Perhaps, it is because on male blogger get kis kinky knickers Knotted whenever I mention KK.
reality check
Price cuts ‘unlikely’
BCCI president: Freight cost cap will have little impact
by COLVILLE MOUNSEY
colvillemounsey@nationnews.com
BARBADIANS ARE BEING CAUTIONED to temper expectations for a cut in the price of goods, following Government’s cap on the cost of freight used for calculating customs duties.
President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), Anthony Branker, told the MIDWEEK NATION that most of the business sector was unlikely to benefit from the 12-month measure, and therefore there will be no savings to pass on to consumers.
In fact, he warned that the cap will do little to stem the anticipated increase in the cost of goods resulting from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Branker explained that most importers procure their goods from North America, Central America or within CARICOM and they do not meet the threshold of US$7 350 per 20-foot container and US$8 000 per 40-foot container. He added that due to the global rise in oil prices, the first cost of goods is expected to increase, cancelling out any saving that could be achieved by the cap on freight outlined in last week’s Budget.
“The reasons why prices will not drop considerably, if at all, is because the first cost of many items across varying sectors are increasing as a result of increases in oil prices. Any savings that could have resulted from the reduction of freight cost are now eroded by the increased first cost of the goods,” he said.
“Secondly, the majority of source points from which we import products into Barbados, being CARICOM, being US, being Canada, Central America and some parts of the UK (United Kingdom), importers in Barbados generally don’t pay over US$8 000 for a container. So therefore, the capping of the freight at those levels will not redound to any change in the pricing.
“Thirdly, the products imported from US ports and even in the Caribbean, we have already been seeing increases in bunker fuel
cost and freight increases for these containers. Despite these increases, we are still not getting to the US$8 000 cap, so more than likely those increases will result in some increase in price.”
Branker said only goods coming from Asia met the freight cost threshold for the cap, which could see benefits to customers, but the likelihood of Barbadians paying less for their groceries was wishful thinking.
“The average Barbadian will not see any decrease in prices for basic groceries. The products coming out of Asia and those Far Eastern areas are the containers that cost over US$8 000 in freight. So things like household items, tuna and some basic items may benefit. However, the vast majority of our products come from CARICOM, US, Canada and Central America, and therefore there would be no change in prices. There is likely to be an increase rather than a decrease . . . ,” he said.
The BCCI president said one measure which could bring the cost of goods down was to temporarily remove the cost of freight from the calculations of import duty. He also suggested importers resort to buying generic brands so the first cost of products can be cheaper.
“I can understand that Government may not want to lose monies on duties, but at the same time if there is a need to bring pricing down with the escalating oil prices, something as drastic as that may have to happen. In the meantime, Barbadians have to manage their expectation as to what the capping of the freight will mean for the average consumers.”
Source: Nation
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.