AROUND 100 UPSET people wielding placards marched through the streets of Bridgetown yesterday protesting what they said was mismanagement by governments of both parties.
Political activist Robert “Bobby” Clarke, who organised the march, told the media that for the past ten years the Barbados economy had been going in the wrong direction.
“For the past eight to ten years Barbados’ economy has been going in the wrong direction due to the lack of any policy by both the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party. In the last six years it has become worse,” he said.
Clarke also spoke out against the VAT and other taxes such as the Municipal Tax and said the lower class should not be expected to pay the same as the upper class.
“The Westminster system had failed us; we need each constituency to pick the best person who has integrity and are not beholden to anyone.
“The people of Barbados want a better standard of living. We are willing to discuss the issues with anyone in Government on a one to one basis and we are hoping the people themselves will be able to do the same,” he said.
Clarke was joined by fellow political activists David Comissiong and Mark Adamson, who said he was representing the People’s Democratic Congress, and Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt, director general of the Barbados Consumers Research Organisation.
Ordinary Barbadians also joined the march, including Erica Brooker-Scott, a former public employee.
“I used to work for Beautify Barbados but they shut that down and made it private and now I home without a job.
“I had to come here and support this march for myself and my children because it is a good effort; they should have done this ever since,” she said.
Ayo Ololara said silence gave consent, so she did not intend to be silent any longer.
“If you remain silent, you give consent to those who are inactive or do not communicate to continue. We need different policies aimed towards the betterment of the people. What is happening is the sign of a weak Government; we elected them, so they should run the country,” she said.
The march began in Independence Square and travelled across the Charles Duncan O’Neal Bridge; Wharf Road; Hincks Street; Jubilee Gardens; Chapel Street; Broad Street; Bridge Street, and back.
The protesters chanted slogans such as “no taxation without representation!” and “how long have we been silent? Too long!”
They also sang part of Bob Marley’s song Get Up, Stand Up while holding placards with words such as “starvation will kill much quicker than cancer”; “tax, tax and more tax”; “integrity now” and “cost of living too high”.
Clarke said the march was just the beginning as he had plans of organising weekly protest activities.
