What’s Trending: No-confidence motion defeated

The Nation’s Online Editor Sherrylyn Toppin looks at What’s Trending today in Barbados. Earlier today, the motion of no-confidence which was brought against Minister of Finance and Economic affairs, Chris Sinckler, was defeated 15-14 in the House of Assembly. The private members’ motion was brought by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley and laid an extensive list of charges against Sinckler. Among them were that his Medium term Fiscal Strategy had failed after describing it as “on track” up to March this year; his announcement of the imposition of a temporary consolidation tax on gross income without legal authority being vested in the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to collect that tax; creating a climate of uncertainty, confusion and despondency among property owners and taxpayers as a result of the municipal solid waste tax and temporary consolidation tax on gross incomes; and not informing the House that the $500 million bond issues withdrawn recently on the international market were under-subscribed at the original closing date of September 30. Online readers weighed in on the issue. Andre Barrow: Given the model of Government, was this not to be expected? The success of the motion cannot be judged by its outcome in parliament and DLP (Democratic Labour Party) supporters who think that are blind and don’t understand politics. The success of the motion is gauged by the public agitation and mobilization of the public to demonstrate their frustration directly at the Government. Gregston Griffith: Mia, instead of wasting the people’s time, should be thinking how to save Barbados. Michael Browne: Mia needs to settle and let the Government get on with their business, but I am sure she will be calling a Press conference now with her next desperation move. Kudos to Chris on a good defense job. Neysa Huey: Sorry but there was nothing “good” about his defence. He only won because the Dems aren’t going to vote against one of their own; at least not this early in their term of office. Damian Mascoll: Interesting how there was not full participation from the Opposition members. Julia Whitehall: Nobody wins in this, especially not the people of Barbados. So [there is] nothing really to rejoice about. Anybody with common sense would know that you don’t normally go against your own people and neither the Opposition nor the Government did. The motion went true to form. I would have been surprised if it didn’t. Oswyn James: It is evident that this represents some serious hoopla. But Bajans being Bajans they will stick with the same old until the next time elections roll around. Can anyone say that the present Government is handling the economy as it should? Does the Opposition have a better alternative? Do you think all this wrangling only serves to show the international community things are not safe in Bim? Dave Boyce: Back to the old drawing board.