Mottley: No global recession

OPPOSITION LEADER Mia Mottley says the notion of a global economic recession is a “figment of Government’s imagination” which the Freundel Stuart administration is using as a scapegoat for the country’s economic problems.
Pointing out that Barbados’ main trading partners, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, have all registered growth, she insisted that there was no global recession.
“Their own document – the Barbados Economic and Social report 2012 -, presented to the legislature by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs in July 2013 … says global activity expanded by 3.2 per cent,” the Opposition Leader said in her reply to the 2013 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals outlined by Minister Chris Sinckler on Tuesday night.
“How many times have we heard that it is the international economy? How many times have we heard that we are helpless victims?
“This Government hides behind this as if we are now powerless and innocent victims and rob this country of its spirit to fight as others have fought before against greater challenges and have succeeded,” Mottley contended.
Adding that other Caribbean countries were also recording growth, she said the Government could therefore find “no company in the recession” with Barbados’ major trading partners regionally and internationally. (DP)