One Shock Away

The Barbados economy is so perilously placed at the moment that it is only one shock away from disaster. The indices like GDP and foreign reserves that should be up are down and those like inflation, unemployment and both the fiscal and current account deficits that should be down are up. The government’s unimaginative fiscal measures have done little to stop the hemorrhaging or stimulate the economy.

Thompson’s initial efforts were as amateurish as they were confused with the result that he created a bigger problem than needed to have existed. Time and again Mia Mottley and Owen Arthur warned him that he was going down the wrong path, but he seemed to take some perverse comfort from the fact that there was an international recession out there on which he could blame his troubles.

The chickens have now come home to roost and we have the sorry spectacle of a Minister of Finance crowing over a 0.1 percentage drop in the unemployment rate as evidence of the sterling job he has done in managing the economy. We wonder if he realizes that if Chris Sinckler has his way the threatened firings at UDC will cause a spike in the unemployment rate. Employment Strategy 101 according to Thompson – from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thompson says he is preparing Barbados for the post-recession period.

 Ahem! Will somebody please tell him that he needs to get us out of the recession first? The International Monetary Fund has predicted that unemployment will likely increase, that foreign reserves are likely to decline to two months of imports putting pressure on the exchange rate, public finances will be under threat, the outlook for the offshore financial sector may be uncertain and the failure to resolve the problems of CLICO Barbados will result in massive losses from the public purse with negative impacts on the already high public debt, on the soundness of the financial sector and already frayed investor confidence. In the face of this gloomy report, Thompson steadfastly refuses to take Barbadians into his confidence. The IMF knows that he will likely increase natural gas rates, as he did water. They know that he plans to reduce the fiscal deficit by cutting spending.

They know that he plans a comprehensive overhaul of the tax system. They know that he has no contingency plan should the disposal of CLICO Barbados be unsuccessful. They know that life in Barbados is going to get a lot harder. Do you? We are swaying in the breeze on the very tenuous thread of global recovery, while our Minister of Finance joins the hordes jetting off to Beijing (again) in search of Chinese yuans, leaving us to wonder what his plan for recovery really is. One single economic shock, whether natural or man-made, could send us crashing to the rocks below. Whether it is a hike in oil prices, or a hurricane, some new pandemic disease or tougher international tax regulations Barbados and Barbadians are seriously exposed to ruin.

Yet the Prime Minister has no words of comfort or confidence. There is no self-belief and it is seeping into the national consciousness. As more Bajans lose their jobs, more are beginning to fear for their own. As church members try to help their fellow congregants from losing their houses they too are fearful of their own prospects. Confidence in the government and Thompson’s ability to turn things around is being eaten away by his silence on matters of substance. The aura of gloom is in danger of becoming a volatile and destructive force. Fear not friends, in a democracy you always have other options.

The Time is Now

I wish to start from the simple premise that Barbados’ future is up to Barbadians. However, the life of most Barbadians has taken a turn for the worse within the last two years and David Thompson and his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government are responsible for the plunge. 
 
I say this knowing full well the disastrous position in which the Democratic Labour Party placed this country, between 1991 and 1994. This time around, the DLP’s “change” is life threatening.  Barbadians have to choose whether to buy food and be evicted or pay their rent or mortgage and starve.
 
It is unfortunate that Barbadians are again being subjected to such severe DLP pain with a lost worst to come.  Thousands have again lost their jobs; a lot more have lost confidence in the ruling party (with just cause) and even die-hard dems are losing hope – as they too struggle to survive and make ends meet – many now having to do so for the first time in fourteen years. 
 
There is no doubt that the dreadful decisions being made by the ruling party are again making life extremely hard for Barbadians.  But it is never a wise idea to gamble with your future.  The truth is – the people of this country were promised a ‘pathway to progress’ but – as was the case between 1991 and 1994 – this country is again on the road to poverty.  That long line outside the Welfare Department recently – bears the proof.
 
My Fellow Barbadian now is the time to repair our economy and make it stronger.  This is clearly not a job for the ruling Party, which does not know what to do or what it is doing. 
 
The fundamental difference between the Barbados Labour Party and the DLP is our unmatched ability to manage the Barbados economy and provide the progressive leadership that is badly needed now.  Be advised that the BLP has the skills, experience and competence to fix what the DLP continues to break and with your support, the BLP will fix the Barbados economy again and restore good order to the social and economic disorder, the Dems are creating daily.
 
Were the BLP in office – Barbados would never have been in such humiliating circumstances, but given these same conditions, we would be preparing a feast for Barbadians – not making you suffer, as you now are under this DLP rule.
 
You are now paying more for rum, because of the Dems.  You cannot find a job because of the DLP.  Road tax is today higher because of the Dems.  You have less money in your pocket and none to save because of the Dems.  Water today costs 60% more because of the Dems and the IMF.  Your light bill is higher today because of the IMF and the Dems.  The cost of living and the price of food is as high as it is and climbing because of the Dems. 
 
You are being placed on the breadline because of the Dems.  Businesses are closing because of the Dems.  Crime is increasing and families are being broken because of the Dems.  And, this country is running out of foreign exchange because of the Dems. 
 
No business wants to invest in a place where the government does not know what it is doing, hence – investor confidence in this country has been shattered because of the Dems.  It is why Barbados is now on a free fall from prosperity to crisis.  We Can Do Better!
 
It was the Barbados Labour Party that grew the economy and created jobs.  We reduced taxes, promoted investor confidence and improved the quality of life and standard of living of ALL Barbadians because of our unmatched ability to manage the local economy and our unmatched knowledge how to create a regional economy.  We can make you safe again. “Protect your future with the BLP.”
 
No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of arrogance, bribery and threats to: “DO OR ELSE.”   That is not democracy or good governance — that is tyranny and now is the time for it to end. 
 
First, the target was those who were rounded up in the dead of the night and deported, despite the announcement of an amnesty until December 31st 2009.  Then it was public servants; those who have an alternative and superior view, as well as those deemed not worthy to benefit from the fatted calf.  Will you be next?  Do you want to be next! Then: The Time Is Now!

Ministry of Social Confusion

When the Prime Minister re-shuffled his Cabinet last November, just ten months after assuming office, there was considerable hoopla over the removal of Chris Sinckler from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The spin of the day turned what in most administrations would be considered a demotion, into a leadership role in rolling out the government’s faltering social programme. 

In the interim, there has been precious little to show for Sinckler’s pay cheques besides bravado, wild goose chases and a contemptuous disregard for accepted industrial practices. In his most recent public debacle, NUPW General Secretary, Dennis Clarke has accused Sinckler of union busting tactics and threatened to report the matter to the Freedom of Association Committee of the ILO.  

For a Minister of Government to be accused of union busting tactics is a grave offence that warrants censure. Can you imagine the howls that would have emanated from George Street if such an accusation had been made of the Barbados Labour Party? The normally garrulous Minister is on mute. Not even a murmur denying the charge.  

For the second time in a week the actions of this government and its agents have been an embarrassment to the country. First it was freedom of the press, now freedom of association. There is a free-for-all going on at the highest levels of government that must be of concern to all Barbadians. Poor judgment is compounded by a wrong and strong attitude that defies any semblance of good governance.  

Amidst all of this, the record of the social care star boy has gone from bad to worse. He landed in his new assignment and promptly scolded his predecessor Dennis Lowe for his poor performance.  This faux pas was followed by his announcement that houses were missing from the UDC – a charge still to be proven.  

Then there was talk of merging the Rural and Urban Commissions – no movement on this either. He then purged the list of contractors at the UDC, but since no construction is going on there, this is of little immediate consequence.

Most recently came the big announcement that the UDC was to be ‘restructured’ – a Democratic Labour Party euphemism for victimization.  

The raising of the alarm by our Political Leader, Mia Mottley and prompt action by the NUPW has in large measure scuttled this plot, but there are still eight UDC employees who, at the time of writing, remain in limbo, with negotiations reaching a stalemate. 

Over at the Welfare Department things are no better. Workers there are out, protesting the government’s failure to relocate them from a building the Environmental Protection Agency has deemed unfit for human habitation. Star boy Sinckler got another dressing down from Dennis Clarke who this time accused him of “playing politics with the workers’ health and with the emotions of the poor.” And then there are also the dismissals at the National Assistance Board! 

Long time DLP member Nigel Harper, himself a former union man, made a surprise return to the national spotlight to criticize his party’s lack of vision in general and the star boy’s constituency councils in particular, echoing the public’s opinion that they ought to have been set up differently. Harper was very clear that no single minister should have the power to appoint the councils and approve their every project.  

Chris Sinckler has lurched from one controversy to the next since his appointment to the Ministry of Social Care. It is time that he meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged instead of focusing on those things which he thinks will ensure his own success (even if at the expense of his Prime Minister) and his party’s reelection.  

Maybe it is just as well that he was removed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for, yet again, he has flattered to deceive.