DECEMBER IS NOT only ham season. It is also the time the stark difference between winners and losers for political office becomes even more apparent. This is seen most in the spending on food hampers parliamentary representatives give to constituents for Christmas.
The winners, those in government, tend to provide their constituents with hams – either half or whole – along with an assortment of basic food items like rice, flour, sugar, oil, tuna and/or sardines. But those in Opposition usually only give the basic food items as the price of ham is often too high for their pockets.
This year was no exception and it led to one family in a government-held St Michael constituency laughing at what their relatives, who live in two opposition-held St Michael seats, received.
While the family in the government-held seat boasted of receiving a ham along with basic food items and a flask of rum for the man in the house, their relatives in the opposition-held seats only got the basic food items with some toilet paper and bath soap thrown in for good measure.
The difference in opposition MPs versus what Government ministers can afford is also seen in the size of the constituency Christmas parties held and the types of gifts given to the children.
The opposition MPs tend to just hold children’s parties at their cramped constituency offices giving books, board games and simple toys as gifts, while the fare is simple like sandwiches, cake and soft drinks.
The food, often rice and stew, macaroni pie, coleslaw, green salad and one piece of chicken, is usually reserved for the adult accompanying the child. If there is ham and great cake that is very limited and tends to go fast.
But parties in Government-held constituencies have become lavish affairs under humongous tents on a hardcourt or a playing field. The children get presents like electronic games, racing car and train sets, doll sets and a variety of other play sets.
What Cou Cou finds astonishing is that though Barbados has experienced no growth to insignificant growth in the last eight years, and the average person has been finding it harder to cope day-to-day, the annual hampers for constituents and parties held by Government MPs seem to be getting more extravagant.
It’s as if hard times have not hit their pockets at all. No wonder some people contend there are two Barbadoses.
Garage plate crisis
WHY IS IT that those needing to pay for garage licences for the last month or so have been unable to?
Garage licences are the numbers placed on vehicles from the respective garages, and used to drive vehicles on the road from the port to a garage or for road tests.
Is it true this situation has occurred since the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) returned to their Pine, St Michael offices?
Is it also true the reason for this hiccup is that the two persons who would normally handle this process are both on leave?
Has any calculation been made on how much revenue has been lost for the period these licences could not be paid for? Will anyone be held accountable for this, or will it be business as usual?
Cou Cou suspects the latter.