Over the last two years, there seems to have been mixed feelings amongst the electorate as to how productive, efficient and responsible the current administration has been. In all fairness, we as a people can’t expect to have a perfect Government with imperfect people.
Nonetheless, we can and should expect delivery of promises made, wise decision-making, continuous communication with the public, and adequate representation of our concerns.
On December 29, I visited a forum on Facebook, being facilitated by a friend Lorenzo Harewood. In this forum he was encouraging participants to complete the statement below:
To the Minister of/MP for Department of/Ministry of . . . . For the new year you should . . . . . Below, I have shared with you a few (mine included) of the almost 200 suggestions given.
1. To the Minister of Drainage: For the New Year you should change the name of your portfolio to the Minister of Flooding.
2. To the Minister of Education: for 2011 I would like you to publish the number of passes and of failures in the CXC exams over the past two years, as well as the number of secondary school students promoted with less than 40 per cent.
3. To the Minister of Transport: for 2011 will commuters be compensated for damaged shocks, damaged tyres and cracked rims caused by the many potholes on the roads of Barbados and the many manhole covers that are higher than the paved roads.
4. To the Prime Minister: You should be aware that, maybe out of ignorance of your schedule since the last reshuffle, many across the country are asking, “Apart from spearheading the defence portfolio of our country, what does the Prime Minister do?”
5. To all the MPs who come and smile up in the patients at the district hospitals making promises, and almost two years down the road not one thing has happened but a decrease in resources.
6. To the Minister of Housing and Land: for 2011 Iwould like you to explain to the people of Barbados, how a “low income” and “starter” house can cost $250 000 to $300 000.
7. To the Minister of Finance: For the New Year I would like you to talk to the people at Fund Access and let them know you have given them money to help entrepreneurs and not to save on a bank.
8. To the Minister of Foreign Affairs: For 2011 I would like you to tell the public what are the roles and responsibilities of our current ambassadors Oba, Rihanna and Ryan, and who exactly do they represent and speak on behalf of.
9. To the Statistical Department: For the New Year wunna should pay de people that work with the census and make sure too it is calculated correctly!!!
10. To the Minister of Finance: Too many temporary Government workers are not being paid on time or monthly. For the New Year when this happens, the minister in charge of the ministry should not be paid for that month either till it is rectified, so they will see how it feels.
11. To the Minister of Education: For the New Year, the Student Revolving Loan amount should be increased and the interest rate dropped. Also, the interest rate should not begin until the person gets a job.
12. To the Minister of Transport: For 2011 I would like you to explain why we’re spending $43.5 million on Warrens when so many other roads in Barbados want fixing.
13. To the Minister of Transport: For 2011 I would like you to explain how you spent millions of dollars to build a new roundabout on Highway 2A by Orange Hill, yet you can’t find money to install needed lights north or south of the roundabout on the said highway. Dis nuh mek nuh sense.
14. To the Minister of Transport: Why can’t we replace the current disc issued by the Licensing Authority, which has to be read at close range, with something similar to what the entire OECS has, which is colour-coded and has different shapes by year. The police would be able to spot people who have not paid road tax or are driving illegally.
15. To the Minister of Transport: For 2011 I want you to recognize that there is little to no traffic when the traffic lights are blinking on red. Check Redman Village and Collymore Rock.
16. To the Minister of Family: For 2011 I would like your ministry to give greater financial support and other resources to DECS – Drug Education And Counselling Services, Teen Challenge and Family Heartbeat Ministries, which are actually trying to heal and strengthen families.
• Corey Collymore is a former Commonwealth youth ambassador.
