The?Barbados Investors Policyholders Association (BIPA) is not political by any stretch.
Chairman June Fowler made it clear on Wednesday night that BIPA was a non-partisan advocacy group.
“I?have told [Leader of the Opposition Owen] Arthur in no uncertain terms that if the Government changes tomorrow, the pressure will not stop. The Press releases will continue, the noises will continue until we all get our monies back, and our policies are transferred to a preferred purchaser.
“So, it does not end with this administration,” said Fowler at a BIPA?meeting held at the St Gabriel’s School in Collymore Rock.
Committee member Michael Goodman endorsed Fowler’s comments in the question and answer segment.
“For those who are feeling concern that we are attacking the [ruling Democratic Labour Party], in a few months time, we may well be attacking the BLP. It is not a partisan issue, it is a people’s and policyholders’ issue, and whoever holds the purse strings is the one we will bring pressure on to make decisions in a favourable and timely manner.”
Fowler said BIPA had regained its impetus.
“What we allowed to keep us back was a lack of money and a fear of offending the Government or anyone else. We became derailed and off-track but, thank God, the derailment did not cause any damage, only a delay in moving forward.
“I want to say to you, fellow policyholders, that we have regained our strength and we are moving again with alacrity to bring more pressure on the Government for a successful and acceptable resolution for all policyholders, who make up 12 per cent of the population, whether you are B, D or NDP or no P.
“We have all been affected and the sooner we realize that, the better it would be for us to unite and support the work of the leadership team,” Fowler said.
In order to further increase its strength, BIPA members voted to create an “Associate Membership” level to enable anyone with an interest in a satisfactory resolution to the problem to join forces with the body for a small nominal fee, whether or not they are investors or policyholders. (MK)
