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Public sector jobs safe, says PM
Published on: 2/8/2010.
by TONY BEST
NO JOB LOSSES in the public sector.
That's what David Thompson, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has promised as he moves to reduce spending and cut the deficit.
With Dr DeLisle Worrell, Governor of the Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Wall Street credit rating agencies of Standard & Poor's and Moody's pointing to the widening deficit and the need to narrow the gap between revenue and expenditure, Thompson outlined a specific strategy to manage it.
"We have sought to ensure, one, that no jobs will be lost in the public sector. Other than increments we would look not to increase expenditure in relation to wages and salaries, if possible," he explained in New York.
Next, the Government planned to maintain its "critical programmes" while at the same time trimming expenditure through increased "efficiencies" that would "ensure we are much more pro-active in spotting challenges in relation to expenditure during the course of the year", he said.
Just as important and essential to the deficit cutting exercise was avoiding so many "supplementaries" to the estimates of expenditure approved by Parliament, Thompson added.
"From my experience back in 1994, one of the critical challenges is how do you manage expenditure more effectively, what systems can you put in place because there have been some terrible experiences for Barbados where ministries have overspent or expenditures have not been authorised by Parliament," the Prime Minister said.
"The Auditor General's report is replete with examples of that."
His reference to 1994 focused on the period when he was Minister of Finance in the Sandiford Government.
Clearly, Thompson asserted, effective management of the fiscal deficit called for the Government to scrupulously follow the rules governing expenditure as laid down by Parliament and the law, Thompson insisted.
"We are going to do that during the course of this fiscal year," he said.
The question of the fiscal deficit and the need to reduce it has assumed increasing importance as the economy falters because of the deep global recession.
"We have some leeway" in reducing it, the Prime Minister added.
6 comment found!
NO JOB LOSSES in the public sector. : 2/8/2010
If a politician tells you to jump, run like hell. Politicians speak with fork tongue.
: 2/8/2010
This is a time where politricks, politicks, politics, backbiting, back stabbing what ever you want to call it, must be put aside and the credentials, qualifications and training be brought out to stave this economic storm that threathens our way of life and our living. I say to Mia Amor Mottley, use your talents to assist the present government and put aside your power quest. Your tail is wagging relative to where your principles are and what you are all about. To you, Clyde Mascoll, is not country more important than your personal attacks on the present administration? Are you that bitter that you cannot work with your former DLP colleague? What would you have done better that would help in this crisis. You need now to bring your solution instead of walloping in the joy of seeing the Thompson DLP ship sink and all of us in it too. Put aside the crap and work together for the betterment of the Barbados economy and its people. All this bipartisan crap is not needed at this time. A all hands on deck approach is the call to the crisis
The Economy : 2/8/2010
Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I am advisisng you not to spend anymore government money on private businesses as you did on hotels. Government money is for taking care of the goverment sector such as schools, roads, hospitals, police. etc. Spend the taxes wisely.
Tipical David Thompson - he intends to stabilize the economy by increasing taxes. : 2/8/2010
How can government increase efficiency by either cutting wages of freezing them, especially in an environment where fees, rates and taxes are increasing daily? It would seem to me that in a scenario where all persons who now work in the public service are appointed or should be by virtue of the public service act, and where a man has to buy lunch, buy gas at increase prices at the pump - he will be under even more pressure to leave home. This is trademark Thompson flawed economic policy - stabilize the economy by increasing taxes.
Cut the fat not freeze the wages : 2/8/2010
Get rid of the fat first. That is to say camps, constituency councils and free bus rides. Then consultancies. Frankly, if the DLP cannot point to anything that it is doing, it is a mystery why concultants and DLP Ministers are being paid.
Wow Mr. Thompson, Wow! : 2/8/2010
Mr. Thompson would you please stop generalising and give some specific plans as to how your Government will reduce the deficit? More efficiency. Good. Now give us the specific plan. No increase of salaries and wages. Is this a given? When was this discussed and agreed to with the unions? Oh I'm sorry, you said if possible. Well if it's not possible, what's the plan?
Mr. Thompson, you're now the Prime Minister, stop the nonsense and lead. This is not a popularity contest, this is the future of Barbados and you have to put up or shut up and let someone else like Dr. Estwick take the lead on these matters. Say what you want about Dr. Estwick, he's not afraid to speak about what needs to be done. You need to stop looking at the politics and concentrate on performing. A good place to start is to get rid of the Political Adviser in your office. This would enable you to stop looking at the politics of everything you do just because you're thinking about your re-election. You'll be able to concentrate on the right policies for Barbados and not the policies that would get you and your party re-elected. You are the Prime Minister first and the Party Leader second. A word to all of you who will cuss me out. If this was a BLP Prime Minister or government I would've said the same thing. This is not about BLP or DLP this is about Barbados and unless Barbadians wake up and put both parties on notice that it cannot be business and politics as usual, we will go nowhere and we'll be left behind. The thinking should not only be what mirror image we have of ourselves, but what legacy or image we're leaving for our children.
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