KERRIE?SYMMONDS is back for a third stint as senator, Santia Bradshaw is heading to Parliament for the first time, but more significantly Clyde Mascoll has been chosen to spearhead the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) new economic team.
At a Press briefing yesterday, former Prime Minister and new Leader of the Opposition Owen Arthur announced that Mascoll, one of the island’s most respected economists, would take over the role as chief national spokesman on economic affairs.
Stressing that the appointments were being made at a time when Barbados was facing its most “severe economic crisis in living memory”, Arthur said Mascoll had the skill and capacity to lead the BLP’s economic team, which was already in place and backed up by a group of advisors.
Arthur said he would shadow the Ministry of Finance, and Mascoll, 50, a former Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance whom he described as “an economist with great experience”, would play a major role.
“I?have prioritised the economy because I think that Barbados needs to focus on the economic recovery. We must get to that point quickly.
“Believe you me, this crisis that confronts the country is the most urgent business that the BLP?has to focus its attention on and more especially focus the country’s attention on as well,” Arthur said.
He added that the country faced a big crisis in its public finances, central to which was a current account crisis of half a billion dollars, “reflecting an inability of the Government to pay its way”.
Arthur, who will name his full shadow Cabinet shortly, said Barbados had to be put back on a path of development and although it would not be easy, it was not impossible to chart a way forward.
“[Central Bank Governor Dr]DeLisle Worrell was not at his best but was candid when he said there was no magic bullet, he didn’t have one, I don’t have one, and [new Minister of Finance Chris] Sinckler didn’t have one.
“I have never thought of having a magic bullet, but I do believe that sustained sound policies that lead us back to a path of growth are the only sensible way by which Barbados is going to get out of this crisis.”
Symmonds and Bradshaw, both of whom are attorneys, said they were delighted to serve and were looking forward to making their mark.
Bradshaw, 34, who has already been named as the BLP candidate for the St Michael South East constituency, has a strong background in entertainment management and promotions, and will shadow culture.
Symmonds, who entered the Senate in 2001 and once more in 2008 before resigning abruptly for personal reasons, will shadow international trade and foreign affairs.
“I believe they have a tremendous contribution to make,” Arthur said.
