Most times when reference is made to Singapore, it is about the system of government and how it has been able to transform itself into a model economy. Here is one of many examples why Barbados will never be able to compare to Singapore. We do not have the will, the mindset, or the discipline required to close the widening gap.
In Barbados, the Ministry of Agriculture is routinely treated as a low status portfolio, like Sports – assigned to junior members of Parliament (MP) or to individuals who prefer not to be overly burdened. The current minister, Shantal Munro‑Knight, is a first‑time MP. This is not a critique of her; it is a critique of the prevailing political culture that treats agriculture – a sector central to food security, land use, climate resilience, and national development – as a tick the box item. Singapore would never assign such a critical ministry to a newcomer. In fact, Singapore does not have a dedicated Ministry of Agriculture. Instead, agricultural policies, food security, and environmental sustainability functions are assigned to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment(MSE) and overseen operationally by its statutory board, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
This is the difference: Singapore efficiently drives to achieve national goals; Barbados distributes portfolios to satisfy political expediency.
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