VETERAN TRADE UNIONIST and Independent Senator Sir Roy Trotman has lashed out at the “tribalism” at play in Barbados, saying it was at the root of why Government did not accept better options to increasing the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL).
This, he told the Senate yesterday, was why he could not even support the proposed amendments debated yesterday.
Speaking on the National Social Responsibility Levy (Amendment) Bill 2017, Sir Roy said there were several “good people” who had sought to put forward suggestions and advice regarding remedies other than increasing the NSRL from two to ten per cent.
However, unlike the early 1990s recessionary period when such persons were engaged and allowed to be among a collective of minds instrumental in aiding the country to overcome its financial challenges, the same was not being done today, he lamented.
“The problem, the major setback, lies in the fact that approaches to nation-building are often prevented, stymied or frustrated because if one does not agree lock, stock and barrel with the other side, then one is labelled sometimes in the most derogatory fashion and people’s motives are put to the sword.
“The impression is given that if you disagree with the Government or the minister of the Crown, that then you are not only unwise and stupid, but you are wicked, pernicious, and that everything that you do should somehow be smothered in Hell’s flame. Barbados is too small a country to go forward with that kind of tribalism,” Sir Roy said, while not calling any names.
Sir Roy said he spoke from a perspective of principle when he complimented technocrats in the public service for the work they were doing to seek to submit remedies and solutions. Nevertheless, he believed there were others of “goodwill and good faith” who would do likewise, except that tribalism very often caused those who had a different persuasion “from the main religion of the day, from contributing to the church service or even putting any money in the offering plate”.
The former general sectetary of the Barbados Workers’ Union pointed out that the labour movement was one of those entities which tried to recommend alternatives but its submission has fallen on deaf ears.
“[W]e put forward suggestions regarding how we could upgrade some of the efforts of recovery, but sometimes those who would come forward to help are asked to work with very limited information and are given very limited opportunity to contribute . . . .
“If we are really going to do what is required, we got to do better than this. And in many instances persons are afraid because they feel that if you challenge, if you disagree, it means that you are rejecting the political directorate or that you are scheming and trying to sabotage the country’s development efforts,” he stressed. (SDB Media)
