The recent address to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) by Leader of the Opposition Owen Arthur was consistent with views expressed in earlier press conferences and public meetings.
The “We Must” presentation gives the impression of someone who has been the subject of political amnesia. Arthur speaks as if he is asking for the opportunity to demonstrate his skills as a first-time Prime Minister. Three terms to initiate the “We Must” model, and instead he spent time embracing a policy agenda that did little to restructure our economy.
In his attempt to woo voters, he has opted to fully endorse the agenda of austerity policies as a means to chart our way out of the financial crisis.
The Stuart-led Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has accepted the responsibility for finding creative ways to stimulate growth and spur investment. What we did not anticipate coming into the Government was the recurring debt left on the backs of our taxpayers that have become part of the state’s haemorrhaging. Barbadians must not forget every January for the next 25 years our foreign reserves are asked to surrender US$15 million. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has sought to take the bad taste out of unemployment by referring to as privatization and partnerships.
Arthur now seeks to appeal to the private sector by wrapping his fortunes around the new found love affair with the phrase “private sector-led growth”.
The private sector has always led the growth areas in the economy. Barbados’ leading revenue earners in rum and tourism receipts are all private sector-led. The Opposition speaks in tongues as if the state has a monopoly on commerce and that it must get out of the sector. Oh, please Arthur!
The Opposition Leader knows very well that the privatization of any state entity will lead to dislocation as new management will bring with it new ethos. He also knows quite well that the state will have no say in how a private enterprise seeks to streamline its operations or reduce cost. The BLP must tell the truth about their intentions, if ever re-elected. The reduction in public spending will start with a reduction in the public sector sector.
The irony of “We Must” policy of the BLP is the revenue earned from the sale of state entities will never benefit the newly unemployed person. Barbadians must not trust the Bees. The BLP reminded this country that land must reach its highest economic value and Barbados was open for sale. Arthur’s obsession with selling and cutting is his definition of a new age economic policy.
All over the world, economic planners have turned to the state as agent of change. The state in United States, Britain and throughout Eurozone have all taken centre stage in an effort to redress the fiscal imbalances brought on by financial crises. Arthur’s reading of the situation smacks of short sightedness.
Barbados has not reached the stage where the level of individual wealth creation can sustain a free enterprise across the board.
In times of crises, our state must come to the front to protect the poor and vulnerable. The policy agenda of sell, sell, sell must be resisted. Barbadians, we ask you to continue safeguarding your future. Let’s keep the BLP in Opposition.
• Douglas Leopold Phillips is a pseudonym for the Democratic Labour Party.
