Barbadians vented their frustration and concerns over Barbados’ spiralling cost of living in an emotionally-charged town hall style meeting at St. George Secondary School last night, with Minister of Trade Senator Haynesley Benn finding himself being pressed for answers.
It was the first of a series of public forums being organised by the Nation Publishing Company to foster debate on burning national issues, of which Nation Editor in Chief Kaymar Jordan said the cost of living was “issue number one”.
“The agenda tonight is a people’s agenda. As a nation we must not be afraid to speak out” Jordan said in her opening remarks.
Representatives of government, the retail sector, the trade unions, the small business sector and consumer advocates were given by a panel comprising Senator Benn, president of the Small Business Association Celeste Foster, David Neilands, chairman of the Food Group of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce, president of the National Union of Public Workers Walter Maloney and Jai Jebodsingh, chairman of the Consumer Protection Commitee of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons.
In the audience were several businessmen and women as well as many working-class Barbadians eager to make an input in the discussion.
Benn said his Ministry was engaged in dialogue with “all the stakeholders”, which he felt was the best way to address the problem, and he made a strong appeal for Barbadians to support local manufacturing and agriculture to reduce Barbados’ food import bill, while questioning whether retail sector was offering the best prices.
But Neilands in turn refuted any accusations of price-gouging levelled at the retail sector. He insisted the consumer had choices and suggested shopping around for the best prices. He also called for price and product ranges to be publicised on a regular basis to inform the choices consumers made. However, underlining this businessman’s presentation was the call for more dialogue and “a little more constructive discussion about the way things are”, though he cautioned it was “the end of cheap food as we know it”.
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