by WENDY BURKE

THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS have been useful to several different sectors.

This is the seventh year, but the eighth consultation, and stakeholders believe it not only affords a good networking opportunity but also a chance to place issues of national concern on the agenda.

However, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) believes that the union is being "reduced to junior partnership status" within the tripartite relationship, and Government feels the protocol should be rejuvenated to come more in line with a globalised and liberalised economy

The private sector association has also called for a rejuvenation of the social partnership.

A number of those involved discussed their views about the purpose of the consultation and what they would like to see in Protocol 6.

Walter Maloney – president of the National Union of Public Workers.

"Our position is that we must be treated as partners. Within the last couple years one would have seen that the issues of labour have not been placed on the national agenda.

"It is more than lip-service and when we sit around the table to discuss issues of national importance it should be seen as equal players and not someone merely there to listen to what the private sector or Government has to say."

Maloney stressed that when the tripartite agreement was looked at again, the ability to maintain employment levels had to be on the agenda.

Dennis Depeiza – general secretary of CTUSAB.

"The unions should be included in a timely manner. Before the formulation of the document we should be in the decision-making process at the forefront of the dialogue, not after it has happened."

Dick Stoute – president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"It is working, but it is one of these things that is taking long to have an effect. The development of relationships between the social partners is key, making decisions to move forward. We have some difficult decisions to make, but we have to be able to trust each other enough to come together to make those decisions. That is the role of the social partnership and of this dialogue, and in that respect it is working.

Cally Boyea – member of the private sector.

"This is my first meeting but I would want to see a better relationship between the social partners.

"There is some concern that we need to revitalise the social partnership. I think coming out of this I would like to see a strengthening of the social partnership.

"From a private sector perspective, we need to be treated as equals."

Darcy Boyce – CEO of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.

"We have had some useful results out of the consultations over the years like tax reforms, the NIS reforms, and a number of other things.

"It is the links after the consultation that help to get the problems solved.

"Any protocols we have must continue to focus on competitiveness. They must not only speak to mechanical issues, but also to the social fabric, as that is important for our productivity and competitiveness and it speaks to the way we see each other and the way we do things."

Deighton Babb – member of the Small Business Association.

"It helps us to understand what is happening across all the sectors.

"Government, the private sector and unions are recognising that it is evolving and that we all need to contribute at a national level.

"I would like to see the sector [small business] being recognised as a special sector and that special incentives are given in relation to growing that sector.

"I would also like to see the sector's contribution to the national economy be quantified."

Stephen Cozier – managing director of Scotia Bank.

"Any information we have with regard to the strategic direction of the Government is always helpful in helping us to determine what policies and practices we can put in place for our clients. What products we can develop to help the strategic direction of the country.

"There must be some focus on getting mutually focused productivity agreements and getting productivity improvements."