by Harry Mayers

VICTOR CAME OUT of seclusion last week and announced that he had taken a break to write a book.

Knowing his constant quest for big profits, I warned him that there was not much money in books in these high tech days with audio and video everywhere.

"This is not to make money," Victor shot back, "this is to save the country from shame and chaos. The title is How NOT To Sack a Worker."

Nobody wanted to talk about the goings on at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Sanitation Service Authority, so the exchanges amongst the café's patrons meandered to last week's well-organised test of the brand new Bridgetown Emergency Traffic Management Plan.

"What a disaster!" said Victor. "Can't understand what really happened. It was a very kind disaster because it left all routes out of Bridgetown intact."

Eventually somebody asked Victor to comment on the Budget.

"I was wondering when \you would get to that. I don't know what's in it but I know what should be in it."

That comment sprouted calls for reduced taxes; something to be done about the cost of living, though there was tacit agreement that not much could be done; even more emphasis on agriculture and food security; more help for small business, and all that very general pre-budget stuff.

"As I said," Victor almost shouted, "I know what should be in Mr Thompson's budget."

Having gotten the silence he sought, Victor said: "Look, I'm not into economic theory and that sort of thing; but when you put our political rhetoric aside, there is one thing that holds us together economically. That thing is confidence – in your policies, your ability to execute and your ability to achieve. Confidence."