GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK, Dr Delisle Worrell, in his review of the economy recently, for the first six months of the year, in some cases, gave a better reading than most of us had expected in the current global economic circumstances, except of course, the Leader of the Opposition, Mia Mottley.
The Governor stated: “Despite the setbacks, the Barbados economy remains stable.
Our foreign exchange reserves are more than adequate; our peg is not under any question.
”He continued, “We would like to see things get moving again but unfortunately the international situation has become very uncertain and as a result we need to exercise patience…
”Mia Mottley wasted no time in responding or, maybe I should say, regurgitate just what the Governor conveyed to us except that, there was some stability in the economy.
That point certainly would not have registered with the Opposition Leader simply because she (not we, as she stated) “was in the middle of the road with an 18-wheeler truck bearing down…”.
And when it is not an 18-wheeler, it’s an 18-foot hole, according to the learned Opposition Leader.This over-worked cliché that the Opposition party personnel used that, “the country is crying out for leadership” is in my view, dustbin politics wrapped in archival mentality and means absolutely nothing in Barbados’ political environment, certainly not at this time, if ever.
I heard no alternatives except that “wages and salaries should not reduced”.Who ever said that they will be?
Mottley seemed to have forgotten that the Owen Arthur Administration inserted in the Barbados Constitution (112A) that they may be no alteration of salaries or wages to anyone’s disadvantage.
It does not matter, it would seem to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) whether Government has the funds or not.
Increase salaries and wages and Government will pay regardless of the circumstances.
No wonder that successive governments have not been able to change the mentality of the average Barbadian that once the Government is involved “it can be wasted, taken without permission, the money bucket is bottomless or even, bring drinks, Government gine’ pay”.
If this period in our history doesn’t change our outlook on life, nothing ever will, maybe I am wrong, but that’s my opinion.
Mottley was reported as saying that all down through the years successive governments had been borrowing to finance capital projects, but now this Government (Democratic Labour Party) is borrowing to pay its bills, including wages and salaries.
Where did the Leader of the Opposition got that information from and can she prove it?
Mottley is a former government minister in the Owen Arthur Administration.
I have never served at that level yet, I dare anyone to underestimate my knowledge of the political operations of this country over the years.
It is against this background that I challenge Mia Mottley to prove that her former administration paid all of Government’s bills, including salaries and wages, out of the Consolidated Fund and the Consolidated Fund alone.
I rest my case until!
REGGIE HUNTE, JR
