VERBAL LICKS WERE reportedly shared this week when an important man called a big-up to ask a question.
From what Cou Cou was told, it was one of those questions that when asked can change the mood of the person who must provide the answer.
And that was supposedly just what happened when the important man wanted to get an explanation on what was said by a certain diminutive big shot.
The important man questioned how the big shot could say that an important commodity will be restricted soon. He allegedly told the big-up that now this has been said, people who use the commodity a lot would begin hoarding it to ensure they have it when they need it.
Then, says our source, the important man crossed the line and questioned when the big man and his colleagues are going to do something about their excesses as that was the crux of the problems being faced.
That was when the big man reportedly tore into the important man using muscular language to get across his point.
During his tirade the big man let it slip that they had to keep things going because of a major event just over a year from now. So they were going to tackle their excesses in a manner that would not affect their interest.
The important man was left in shock at the response to his request. He is now pondering, like so many others, about the future.
What’s really happening?
IS BARBADOS’ ECONOMY really improving, as Government says? And if it is, why are non-partisan economists, business people and some average citizens questioning Government’s position?
We don’t know why, but Cou Cou, like many Bajans, wants the facts.
Though some people “on the ground” are complaining about hardships, the Government’s statistics say unemployment is down, and ministers, paraphrasing the International Monetary Fund, are saying the economy has turned the corner.
This week too, the Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell reported that the economy grew by 1.3 per cent for the first six months of this year.
So things have to be looking up, right?
Well, not quite. Worrell also indicated that Government had to depend heavily on his bank for financing for the first six months of this year. He also stated that between April and June the fiscal deficit widened by $28 million, the primary surplus fell by $14 million, value added tax dropped by $13 million, and personal income taxes fell by $17 million.
Jeremy Stephen, the independent president of the Barbados Economic Society, said the fall in income tax revenues doesn’t square with an economy that had recorded growth. What’s more, evidence of growth in the economy isn’t shown in terms of Government revenues just as yet.
Another independent individual, Eddie Abed, president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry, questioned the numbers, saying he was surprised that while there was an increase in tourist arrivals and tourist spend, there was a decline in revenues.
And before them, outgoing Barbados Private Sector Association chair, Alex McDonald – another non-partisan voice – suggested the low unemployment statistics of 9.3 per cent seemed inconsistent with what was happening in his grouping.
Cou Cou suggests that this numbers puzzle be straightened out before the population becomes totally disillusioned.
