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Make it make sense PM Mottley

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Barbadians have become numb to many things in recent years. There is the rising crime, and another is the obzocky planing being engaged by the Planning and Development Department (PDD). One does not have to be intelligent to know that the construction of buildings should be done in harmony with our small country, while respecting the environment.

New Chefette outlet to create 50 jobs

Today Chefette management announced that it will be opening its umpteenth FAST FOOD restaurant on the ABC Highway a few metres from the busy Newton roundabout. Although there is the usual noises coming from a few residents to protest the location, we know that it will come to nought. Clearly the Prime Minister has given her blessings #bigworks. Given the location of the restuarant, it is a no-brainer it will create traffic congestion caused by pedestrians and vehicles.

An easy conclusion can be drawn that the decision to approve the latest Chefette restaurant was not done by qualified planners. The Haloutes always seem to get what is requested from government. It does not matter if it is B or D. If we had full transparency of election campaign financing, it would probably explained the madness of the decision making.

There is a trend that has emerged – think Six Roads, Lancaster, Warrens, Rockley, Oistins, to name five Chefette branches. All of them are contributing to road rage type traffic congestion on a given day. Our planners AND politicians obviously do not see what has developed as a problem because there is no effort to stop dishing out approvals.

Is there a method to the madness? By adding to the congestion, is it building and open and shut case to support the construction of the contentious ‘flyovers’? Those responsible create the problem, and like the proverbial knight, ride in to save the people by spending $300 million to construct flyovers. Piss in the blogmaster’s pocket do.

Prime Minister Mottley must believe all of her subjects and dumb as rocks.

  • Rising crime we cannot solve. Let us remove dark tint from the vehicles.
  • Rising NCDs we cannot solve. Let us continue to approve fast food joints.
  • Grid lock on our roads. Let us construct flyovers.
  • Successive Ministers of Agriculture promised to food security. Let continue to construct houses in the St. George valley.

Chefette promises to create 50 jobs that will boost its staff complement to 1100 with the latest launch. How much will it cost tax payers in increase national health care cost and national productivity?

Successive governments have perfected the art of engineering dysfunction and then pretending to rescue the public. Barbados is a textbook case. Once we allow this wanton planting of concrete, there is no going back to our quaint island view. The insensitivity and incompetence by those responsible makes sensible Bajans ‘sick’. We are seeing the well oiled machinery of the political class at work. The only stakeholder to benefit at TAXPAYERS expense is the private interests. The Haloutes, Maloney’s, Bjerkhams, Harriss and a few others.

What we are witnessing is not development; it is a racket dressed up as progress.

Are we there yet?

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33 responses to “Make it make sense PM Mottley”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcwi1mZJGml/

  2. copyn that Avatar
    copyn that

    “Piss in the blogmaster’s pocket do.”

    OK Boss.. will do

  3. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Starting this Friday.

  4. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    There are certain points in this thread that I agree with wholeheartedly.

    For example, the lack of common sense by government in approving the construction of buildings in some very odd places.
    In all fairness, we cannot reasonably blame the planners simply because, as public sector employees, their ‘hands are tied.’

    Those Chefette Restaurants located in Warrens, Black Rock, Wildey, and Oistins especially, definitely contribute to ‘traffic congestion on any given day.’
    Oistins is a ‘bit more special’ since there is a KFC that’s located a few metres from Chefette, which adds to the traffic problem as well.

    You asked, “how much will it cost taxpayers in increase national health care cost and national productivity,” as it relates to Chefette promising 50 new jobs at its new Newton location.

    We CANNOT, in ALL FAIRNESS, attempt to attribute the increase in NCDs to CERTAIN or SPECIFIC fast-food restaurants……

    …… without GIVING an EQUAL CONSIDERATION to LEVELING SIMILAR CRITICISMS at the THOUSANDS of small and large restaurants, bars, village shops, road-side stalls, canteens, food vendors and homes located across every village in every ‘nook and cranny around Barbados that are selling fast foods as well❓

    How about those individuals who are selling pudding & souse, ‘soft drinks’ and alcoholic beverages from their homes on a daily basis❓

    That some of those persons are selling food and beverages WITHOUT the required licenses and health certificates should also be a matter of concern relating to HEALTH, but is a topic for another discussion.

    And, most importantly, how about the supermarkets, mini-marts, village shops, Cost-U-Less, PriceSmart or ShopSmart that are SELLING the raw foods, condiments and all other ingredients necessary for the consumer to PREPARE those foods at HOME and at PRICES CHEAPER than what both the established and unestablished fast foods outlets offer for sale❓

    Are we suggesting, for example, the government and Planning and Development Department should not approve Andrew Bynoe’s application to build another A1 Supermarket, simply because he will offer salted pigtails, salted beef, flour, cooking oil, flour, pork, chicken, fish etc, which the consumer would use to make fried foods, thereby contributing to an increase in NCDs❓

    WE are ADULTS who should exercise the RESPONSIBILITY to MAKE CONSTRUCTIVE and SAFE CHOICES/DECISIONS that have POSITIVE OUTCOMES for OURSELVES.

    You also mentioned “government cannot solve rising crime or NCDs.”

    Are those issues that should be left for government ALONE to SOLVE, or do WE, as Barbadians, have a COLLECTIVE, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY to assist?

  5. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    I believe Barbadians should be continuously educated about conditions such as chronic respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, through structured, community-driven public health initiatives, designed to build health literacy, thereby empowering them to make lifestyle modifications and actively participate in disease prevention.

    This could be achieved collaboratively by BAMP, BARP, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and the Health & Wellness Ministry, for example.

    These programmes should begin in schools and subsequently throughout the society.

    However, what MESSAGE is government SENDING when, on one hand, the Ministries of Education and Health are actively collaborating to ENCOURAGE both school canteen operators and vendors towards SELLING healthier, LOWER sugar and sodium food options, while enforcing compliance with the Barbados School Nutrition Policy……

    …… but, on the other, allowing Chefette to contact schools under the guise of assisting “them through its strong community outreach focus?”

    Does this ‘assistance’ include Haloute providing schools’ PTA meetings, sporting and other events with foods from Chefette’s menu?

  6. David Avatar
    David

    The very expensive roundabout is coming.
    Roundabout coming soon at Brighton/Windsor junction

    THE MUCH-TOUTED ROUNDABOUT at the Brighton/Windsor junction in St George is around the corner.

    This was confirmed on Monday by Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey, coming after a three-vehicle collision at the junction last Friday once again raised concerns about the dangers faced by motorists navigating an area that has seen a number of fatal crashes.

    During campaigning in the last General Election in February, then Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw, speaking at a Barbados Labour Party meeting in The Glebe, St George, announced that longstanding plans for the Windsor/Brighton roundabout would finally move forward.

    “You have also said that junctions in St George, the Windsor/ Brighton roundabout – that many people have lost their lives along that road. We have taken a position that we have [to] dust off the files that have been . . . sitting on people’s desks for decades to make sure that in this financial year, works will also start on the Windsor/Brighton roundabout,” she said then.

    Humphrey told the MIDWEEK NATION

    that construction is about to begin.

    “Work on a roundabout is slated to begin there in September. The designs are completed and the contract has been awarded to a contractor,” he said.

    Veteran road safety advocate Junior Jordan, when asked whether a roundabout or even stop lights could help reduce collisions there, was cautiously supportive, but stressed that infrastructure alone would not solve the problem.

    He said the junction’s layout had created a false sense of security among motorists. While the east-west road is the main thoroughfare, drivers approaching from the north and south are required to stop.

    “Far too many people do not come to a complete stop at neither the north nor the south side,” he said, adding that clear visibility at the site, rather than reducing risk, might be encouraging drivers to speed through.

    “People tend to decide that once they can see, they’re going to go, but that is the challenge. Far too many people drive with the attitude of, let me try to get out of the junction before the next persons get there, totally misjudging the speed of the person on the main road.”

    Back in April, president of the Barbados Road Safety Association, Roland Lowe, urged motorists to exercise caution when approaching the junction.

    “Persons always speak about how dangerous that area is and I would advise that they take the relevant caution. If you know that the junction is difficult to manoeuvre, then you should exercise a greater level of caution. Check once, check twice before you actually make that manoeuvre, and you move only when it is safe to do so,” he said. (DDS)

    Source: Nation

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    The government is charged with spending tax dollars and is in a prime position to be a change agent.

  8. study of meaning in language Avatar
    study of meaning in language

    Semantics is the scientific and philosophical study of meaning in language. It looks at how people understand words, phrases, and complete sentences.

    Cooking meals with raw ingredients is time consuming and nowadays people don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare a meal the old fashioned way.

    Supermarkets sell ready cooked meals and some firms provide a recipe box services that deliver healthy, fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes to your door, but these may not always be as healthy and luxurious as the advertising says and more expensive than cooking from basics but is a good way to learn how to cook.

    There is fast food and junk food. Fast food is not necessarily bad for you in moderation on occasion, but daily or regular use has proven to be unhealthy.

    A common idiom used by the blogmaster is to piss in someone’s pocket, which could be a sub-heading for most BU blogs.

    Some peoples minds may boggle about what this actually means
    to avoid disambiguation the following internet definition may help

    Australian slang. Pissing in a person’s pocket means to insincerely attempt to convince a person that you’re doing them a favour, when you actually have only your own interests (generally either making a profit or ingratiating oneself) at heart. i.e. You are pissing in a person’s pocket, and trying to convince them that you’re doing them a favour by warming their pocket. But realistically all you’re doing is soaking their pants in urine.

  9. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @DAvid
    We are in a cycle where everything that “certain” people said is golden and taken as gospel.

    God help us

    @Artax
    Sound, well reasoned and makes sense. But then again…”ya know how we peoples is”

  10. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Buy fish.

    https://www.cbc.bb/news/local-news/bridgetown-fish-vendors-urge-barbadians-to-buy-fish/

  11. David Avatar
    David

    At a time many issues are impacting the country and VOB Brasstacks has allowed a character to hijack the show by his call to pardon Alan Stanford. Really!

    This is a man who rushed people to their graves and the nearest asylums by swindling them out of millions.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    It would be useful to pass laws- the Mottley government is famous for doing- and mandate the calories content and related information of menus offered by fast food outlets. Currently in a country known as the NCD capital of the world, we are eating blindly.

  13. A Great Time Avatar
    A Great Time

    “Barbadians have become numb to many things in recent years.”

    In the context of Barbadian History..

    It’s A Great Time

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Deal with clowns on the roads

    THE CIRCUS is in town.

    There comes a time when what we politely call bad driving must be recognised for what it really is – a threat to public safety.

    In Barbados, some days on our roads resemble an unscheduled audition for Fast & Furious, except nobody bought a ticket, and the other motorists certainly did not volunteer as extras.

    Recently, I was overtaken by a minibus being driven erratically which, regrettably, has become sufficiently commonplace that one almost feels surprised when a minibus stays patiently behind you. After he stopped, I was taken aback to see an unkept-looking person driving passengers.

    Travelling along the highway at 80 kilometres per hour and being passed by a ten-wheeler is another character-building experience.

    Anyone interested in human behaviour need not purchase an expensive psychology textbook. Pull up a chair near a busy Barbadian roundabout. There, you will witness hesitation, aggression, selfishness, indecision, bravado and the occasional motorist apparently receiving divine instructions unavailable to everyone else.

    Indicators, meanwhile, seem to have become optional equipment. Perhaps some drivers are conserving the bulbs for Christmas.

    Truth be told, I admit to having a bias against the ZR and minibus drivers and conductors operating privately-owned public transport. I have seen enough over the years to develop one.

    There are operators who are courteous, responsible and professional and they deserve to be distinguished from those who look untidy.

    I have sometimes wondered about the connection between presentation and professional conduct. Some operators appear decidedly musty.

    Appearances alone cannot tell us whether someone is a responsible driver. A freshly ironed shirt cannot prevent reckless driving, and polished shoes do not improve judgement, it only tells part of the story of predictable behaviour.

    Have you ever seen a pilot arrive for duty looking as though he spent the night wrestling luggage in the cargo hold? Would Bajans accept a police officer, soldier, doctor, nurse or other professional consistently reporting for duty looking dishevelled and behaving boisterously?

    The authorities must see public transportation as a profession with high operational standards irrespective of ownership. Let’s not continue in 2026 to ignore the influence of the ZR and minibus culture on the schoolchildren. Authorities should, therefore, act before tragedy provides the motivation.

    Mass casualty accidents create press conferences, solemn faces, committees, consultations and promises of robust measures. Perhaps we will employ a well-lettered, highly-paid foreign expert who will fly into Barbados, stay at an expensive West Coast hotel and produce a beautifully-bound report informing us that speeding vehicles are dangerous.

    A driving licence is not a licence to intimidate or be used as authority for road mayhem. A minibus is not a rally car. A tenwheeler is not a Formula One machine. Barbados is too small for preventable road deaths to become another statistic discussed for three days and forgotten by Friday.

    The circus may indeed be in town. But even clowns are responsible and well dressed.

    – KAMMIE HOLDER

    Source: Nation

  15. Give Way Avatar
    Give Way

    The War of the Roads
    There are a hell lot of expensive cars on the roads…
    The question is who owns the roads bus drivers or cars.
    The highway code states cars must give way to buses.

  16. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    BAJAN LEADERSHIP IS AN INERT, VISIONLESS, CORRUPT ENTITY WITH NO MOTIVATION TO DRIVE CHANGE & MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION! THE ANTIDOTE TO THE ILLS THAT PLAGUE BUBAYDUS IS FOR THE MOTTLEY-CREW GOV* TO TREAT ITS CITIZENS AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS INSTEAD OF PAINTING A PICTURE OF A FUTURE WHERE THE YOUNG HAVE A STAKE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND UPON WHICH THEY LIVE

    Bajans need to begin an “MASS EXODUS” to ~Guyana – for at least they seem to have some kinda’ “GRASP” of where they want their country to go…

    LEADERS LEAD – BULL-SHTE ARTISTS TALK A LOTTA’ SHYTE

    #TalkIsCheap

    #PeopleNeed2Eat

    #SMDHID

  17. Eddie Avatar
    Eddie

    The writer’s commentary on the proposed Chefette restaurant reveals a strongly systemic and provocative approach to public issues. Rather than treating the development as an isolated planning decision, he connects it to wider concerns about traffic congestion, political decision-making, election financing, public health, food security and taxpayer expenditure. His central argument is that governments may allow dysfunction to develop and subsequently present costly interventions as solutions.

    A notable feature of his writing is his use of pattern recognition. By referencing several Chefette locations, he constructs the impression of a recurring planning failure. He then escalates from observation to suspicion, particularly when questioning whether increased congestion could help justify expensive flyovers. However, the article provides limited evidence establishing these causal relationships, making some conclusions more speculative than demonstrative.

    His rhetoric is deliberately confrontational. Expressions such as “dumb as rocks,” “engineering dysfunction,” and “a racket dressed up as progress” are designed to provoke emotion and create a sense of solidarity between the writer and “sensible Bajans” against the political class and private interests. The article therefore demonstrates sophisticated use of framing, emotional activation, selective examples and strategic questioning. Overall, the piece portrays the writer as a highly engaged civic commentator who uses provocative communication to challenge institutions, expose perceived contradictions and stimulate public debate.

  18. Eddie Avatar
    Eddie

    @David your criticism highlights what you see as a fundamental hypocrisy between promises made by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) while in Opposition and decisions made after assuming government. The BLP did present itself as a champion of transparency, good governance, environmental protection, sensible planning and policies that would improve the lives of ordinary Barbadians. However, you show that some government decisions appear to contradict those commitments.

    The continued approval of major commercial developments, despite concerns about traffic congestion, is presented as inconsistent with promises of better planning and infrastructure management. Similarly, approving more fast-food outlets while expressing concern about non-communicable diseases appears contradictory to public-health objectives. Continued unrealistic housing development places pressure on agricultural land also conflicts with longstanding political promises concerning food security.

    The promises of change have collided with the realities of political power, development interests and governance.

  19. David Avatar
    David

    @eddie

    The blogmaster has been at this too long and isn’t baffled by bs.

  20. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    de PM say wear bajan colours every Friday.

  21. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ok maybe next Fiday I will wear a black pants.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2026/09/05/low-participation-in-the-first-barbados-day/

  22. Teacher Avatar
    Teacher

    Dear Chefette,

    ‘Ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major human organ , global experts have warned.

    UPFs, such as ready meals, crisps, sugary snacks and breakfast cereals, have been linked to poor health, including an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death.

    These foods are rapidly replacing fresh food in the diet of children and adults across the globe – with large food corporations using a range of aggressive tactics to drive consumption, skewer scientific debate and prevent regulation, a review published in The Lancet medical journal suggests.

    In the study 43 scientists and researchers stated that food firms prioritise profit, leading UPFs to displace fresh options, worsen diet quality, and contribute to multiple chronic diseases.

    Study authors said: “The key driver of the global rise in UPFs is the growing economic and political power of the UPF industry, and its restructuring of food systems for profitability above all else.”

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/food-and-drink/healthy-cooking-and-eating/ultra-processed-food-found-to-harm-every-major-organ/ar-AA1QHfXO?ocid=edgdhpruby&pc=HCTS&cvid=6a9d014bc3f74baf9ba00d6c06f171fb&uxmode=ruby&ei=44

  23. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Teacher
    Boss, no large scale study was necessary.
    BASIC COMMON SENSE!

    Only a brass bowl would put their trust in a money-making business place to nourish the TEMPLE that is their physical body.
    Once upon a time when people had sense, families placed such trust primarily in wives, mothers, and such highly trusted providers. But a jackass will eat from any and every easy source…
    …besides the lotta so-called ‘women’ nowadays trying their best to be men anyhow – most of them can’t cook a shiite themselves – without help from Cheffette or at least PriceMart.

    No wonder the damn temples falling apart and the QEH cannot keep up…

    Conclusion (based on the data) therefore, is that “The key driver of the global rise in UPFs is the increasing absence of common sense in the population”

    It is not only the global weather that has gone amuck….!

  24. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    All we need is a quick chat with the lotta middle-aged Bajans – living in their highly mortgaged houses, and driving bout in the Credit Union’s cars, … having sacrificed health, peace of mind, conscience, and often personal ethics – in pursuit of ‘success’…

    …only to find out too late, that true wealth BEGINS (and ends) with good health. Something that parents seemed to have picked up, and preached, without access to any fancy eddykashun.

    BTW @ David
    With all the lotta COVID19 bout the place again…
    What happened to the lotta public announcements from the gurus? Dey very quiet…
    How come death announcements no longer emphasize whether the deceased was ‘vacinated’?
    What happened to the curfews, lockdowns, and to the St Lucy facility?

    …or perhaps this version is the domesticated version COVID 19-D
    LOL
    Even green lizard quiet…

    What a place!!!

  25. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Last news was that Covid vaccines are not available at this time. You have to admit the strain prevalent appears to be less virulent?

  26. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    @Bush tea the body have a secondary brain i heard which is the stomach which helps to determine your mood according to what you eat and maybe government and chefette are conspiring to reduce the population by allowing persons access to a chefette every mile in Barbados to allow slow death by ncds to reduce population

  27. David Avatar
    David

    Since COVID 19 one would have sensibly thought that analysing and optimising global supply chains would have been priority #1.

    Supply chain new order

    Govt looks to more reliable sources

    by SHAWN CUMBERBATCH shawncumberbatch@nationnews.com

    GOVERNMENT IS WORKING with the local private sector and regional partners in a major effort to secure a more reliable supply of goods for Barbados.

    Minister of Energy, Business Development and Commerce Kerrie Symmonds says the objective is identifying critical produce and maintaining a larger inventory of that produce, adding discussions were ongoing with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    However, the Senior Minister told the DAILY NATION that “our ideal course of action really requires that we be a lot more self-reliant in terms of expanding local and regional production of food, and doing more agro-processing here in Barbados”.

    “We need to source more of our building materials and basic manufactured goods from regional neighbours, wherever it is possible,” he noted.

    Delays a problem

    Symmonds said Barbados faced a problem of supply delays, “which means that our consumers are confronted

    with longer delivery times, shortages in the inventory in our stores and the inconvenience of delays in restocking shelves.

    “All of these things have implications for the efficiency of our economy. As a consequence, we have been engaged with the private sector on a number of things, both domestically and with regional partners,” he shared.

    “We recognise that beyond this situation with the [Panama] Canal, we also have the reality that we are sitting in a hurricane belt, and so for both of those reasons precautionary measures with respect to identifying critical produce and maintaining a larger inventory of that produce are being discussed with the Chamber of Commerce here.

    “We are also discussing the need to diversify our supply chain so us to reduce our reliance on one particular corridor of supply.”

    The minister said he sensed “tremendous willingness to cooperate with the Government in this. However, many suppliers already have been locked into multi-year

    Continued on Page 3.
    contracts, and that poses a challenge”.

    “Equally, there are other suppliers who are accepting the need to explore opportunities being created in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname and the wider Caribbean area,” he stated.

    “In this regard, we seek to get similar quality and types of traditional products, but under different brands, being imported into Barbados. We have already started to meet with some success with regard to regional and European imports as well.”

    Symmonds also said the possibility of pursuing joint procurement “has been raised with our CARICOM partners”.

    “This is a matter that would enable us to coordinate the purchase of key supplies, and hopefully, use our collective bargaining power to shave down freight costs, and purchasing costs, and improve basic efficiencies,” he explained.

    “We have to agree on the mechanics of a maritime transport system, and its related supportive operational and infrastructural issues. Those are the only ways that we can finally emancipate ourselves from the syndrome of dependency that we have been locked

    into since we knew ourselves.”

    Former president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry Eddy Abed said importers were feeling the effects of shipping challenges, including those at the Panama Canal and Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.

    “We are seeing major increases [in shipping costs] and, of course, we still have problems with bottlenecks where there’s just not enough ships servicing the cargo coming out of the Orient, not necessarily only into the Caribbean, but feeding both North and South America,” said the managing director of S. Abed and Company Limited.

    “And the hubs that they use in the Caribbean, which are primarily Kingston (Jamaica) and Caucedo (Dominican Republic) are choked. The large vessels coming out of the Orient drop the containers off in those ports, and then the feeder vessels come out of those ports and service places like Barbados.”

    Source: Nation

  28. David Avatar
    David

    The politics behind price tag

    THE DEBATE OVER a new price compact should be understood as how the costs of living in a small, import-dependent economy are divided among consumers, businesses and the state.

    A compact is attractive partly because it fits Barbados’ tradition of governing through consultation. Faced with externally generated increases in the cost of food, fuel and freight, the instinct is to bring the principal interests together and negotiate temporary relief.

    There is also economic merit in doing so.

    The international price of a product is only the beginning of its journey to a Barbadian consumer.

    Freight, insurance, port charges and other expenses create its landed cost. Import duties and levies, wholesale and retail margins, and VAT at each stage of the domestic supply chain are then added.

    Because several of these charges are calculated as percentages, any increase in the original cost becomes magnified by the time the product reaches the shelf.

    A compact that reduces selected margins or taxes can interrupt that compounding process. But it cannot make the original increase disappear.

    Importers must still pay suppliers. Retailers must still meet the costs of wages, electricity, rent, refrigeration, interest and spoilage. If the final price is restrained without reducing these costs, the burden is merely shifted elsewhere.

    This is where the political economy becomes difficult. Government wants to be seen protecting consumers, but depends heavily on taxes collected from consumption and imports. With public debt still close to the value of annual national output, it cannot permanently replace lost revenue with borrowing.

    The private sector faces its own contradictions.

    It understandably resists being portrayed as the sole cause of high prices. Yet importation, distribution and retailing in Barbados is concentrated among a relatively small number of firms. Limited scale raises legitimate costs, but limited competition weakens the pressure to reduce margins and pass efficiency gains to consumers.

    Genuine concessions

    A price compact must therefore be more than a public-relations exercise built around a few discounted products. It should cover a carefully selected basket of essentials, distinguish between controlling a percentage mark-up and fixing a final price, and operate for a defined period. Government should disclose the tax concessions it is making, while participating businesses should demonstrate that their concessions are genuine. Otherwise, consumers will be unable to determine who is contributing and who is merely receiving favourable publicity.

    There is another weakness in the traditional compact model. Government, organised business and organised labour sit at the table, but consumers are represented only indirectly. Small retailers, informal businesses and farmers also have limited influence. A compact negotiated by the most powerful institutions can overlook those with the least power to absorb higher prices.

    The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry is right that productivity offers a more durable route to a lower cost of living. But productivity must not become a polite way of blaming workers. Employees cannot overcome a delayed customs process, an unreliable digital platform, congested roads, slow regulatory approvals or poor management simply by working harder.

    Competition matters as much as efficiency.

    Productivity creates the possibility of lower prices, but it does not guarantee them. In a concentrated market like ours, the savings frequently remain with producers and distributors. Better price information, easier entry for new suppliers and effective competition policy are needed to ensure that efficiency gains reach households.

    Energy also belongs in this discussion. Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne’s recent intervention in the press is a warning that the transition must be properly planned. Renewable energy targets alone will not produce cheaper electricity. New generation, storage and grid improvements must be introduced in the right order and at the lowest overall cost. Otherwise, a policy intended to strengthen national resilience could add another layer to consumers’ bills.

    A price compact can buy time, but its value depends on what is done with that time.

    Government must reduce the costs created by taxation, bureaucracy and inefficient infrastructure. Businesses must improve efficiency and accept meaningful competition. Labour must be equipped to participate in reform without carrying a disproportionate share of the adjustment. Energy policy must reduce vulnerability without imposing avoidable costs.

    That is the political bargain Barbados needs.

    The objective is not merely to hold down the advertised price of a few goods for a few months.

    It is to distribute the burden of adjustment fairly while changing the systems that make those goods expensive in the first place.

    Professor Troy Lorde is an economist and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Email troy. lorde@cavehill.uwi.edu

    Source: Nation

  29. David Avatar
    David

    Yikes!

    Biggest spenders

    Bees spent nearly three times as much as Dems in 2026 poll

    THE RULING BARBADOS LABOUR PARTY (BLP) spent almost three times more than its main rival, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), in its bid to recapture the Government – for a third straight 30-0 “redwash” – in February’s General Election.

    According to the ‘Return Of Election Expenses’ released by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) and published in yesterday’s SUNDAY SUN, the Bees were recorded as spending $1 555 108.07 compared to the Dems’ $565 929.97.

    In all, election submissions to the EBC totalled $2 190 152.33, with third parties and independents contributing only $69 114.29 to the election pot.

    Last election in 2022, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, just over $2 million was spent based on submissions to the EBC. In the 2018 poll, it was a little over $2.35 million.

    The biggest spender in February was Christ Church East Central Member of Parliament (MP) Ryan Straughn, who is now minister of finance. He was the only one passing the $100 000-mark, coming in at $103 317.12. His main opponent, Quincy Jones of the DLP, submitted $37 106 in expenses.

    In the 2022 poll, the biggest spender was Christ Church West Central’s Adrian Forde, who incurred $89 120 in expenses to retain the seat. This time around his expenses were in at $61 824.56.

    As for the DLP, its biggest spenders were then Opposition Leader and King’s Counsel Ralph Thorne in St John ($52 300) – who spent more than his conqueror Charles Griffith’s $50 835.69, according to the EBC figures; funeral director Ian Griffith whose undertaking in St Lucy cost him $48 048.50; and Ryan Walters (currently one of two Opposition senators) whose failed bid in St Michael North West was recorded as costing him $47 808.96.

    In St Joseph, many-time candidate Randall Rouse of the DLP was recorded as having spent more than political first-timer Ryan Brathwaite of the BLP – $41 937.74 as compared to $32 731.33 – though ending up on the losing side.

    After Straughn, the next two highest spenders were Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams in Christ Church East ($85 091.66) and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who spent, according to the EBC, $78 326.21 to retain the St Michael North East constituency.

    Mottley recorded expenses of $71 836.40 in 2022, almost the same as the EBC stated she spent in 2018 ($71 864).

    No election expenses were recorded for the DLP candidates in St Michael Central, St Thomas and St James North.

    The MP who spent the least to retain her seat was St Philip North’s Dr Sonia Browne, who only posted $19 481.33 as her election expenses. Interestingly in that eastern riding, Anya Lorde of the Friends of Democracy was not only the biggest spender, with expenses totalling $32 965.50, but had the highest expenses among all the non-BLP/DLP candidates.

    In the February poll, three DLP candidates – Dale Rowe in The City of Bridgetown, St James North’s Charles Worrell and St Michael North East’s Jamal Sandiford – lost their $250 election deposits, along with all of the fringe party members or Independent candidates, as they failed to capture the required one-sixth of the valid votes cast in the respective constituencies. (BW)

    Source: Nation

  30. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Those are just the ‘official’ figures submitted…
    …also the amounts spent internally to sabotage the opposition does not have to be declared…

    Clearly those with eyes to see can work out the maths.
    “Yuh can hide and buy traitors, but you can’t hide and reward them”.

    Now perhaps we are beginning to see how many pieces of silver the Malmoney and Mafia gangs have been spending to buy the three 30-0 election results.
    It should not be difficult for Bajans to work out that this money has to be paid back from the treasury… and so, it is no wonder that we have things like HOPE, STEAL, and Carifesta – with $millions unaccounted for…

    It seems that it is much easier to take candy from this eddykated generation of 21st Century brass bowls, than it was from our uneducated grand parents back in 1970s and 80.

    What a place – going BACKWARDS!!!

  31. David Avatar
    David

    The biggest injustice is that it appears the BLP continues to receive the full $300,000 subvention allocated to political parties.

    The crisis that has seen three consecutive 30-0 wins for the BLP should have seen a caring prime minister address this lacuna in our governance system. The objective, to strengthen our system of governance. Instead we are happy with a former BLP minister, appointed as President, allocating opposition senate seats:

    Piss in the blogmaster’s pocket do.

  32. Chokin' Kind Avatar
    Chokin’ Kind

    “Piss in the blogmaster’s pocket do.”

    Sarcasm on the net does not work as people interpret text with a literal meaning,

    So you should change your favourite moan to something like..

    “Stop pissing in the blogmaster’s pocket”

    I made a suggestion (which was not adopted or adapted) that a change of law could and should be made to make the opposition seat for the leader of the opposition mandatory, which would provide an extra (31st) seat in Parliament for the leader of the 2nd best party in the event of another landslide, which can statistically reoccur (as witnessed) when there are just 30 seats available.
    This is on the basis that opposition with zero seats is a bug in the system that needs a fix.

  33. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Back to my keyboard in BB!

    Our opposition commentators should finally admit that they are banging their heads against a wall of steel. Our government stands firm. The people have rejected democracy and opted for a new form of government, which I call “democtatorship”.

    Tron, year 8 SL

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