The Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) believes that the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) statement on the declining state of Barbados’ economy is the clearest indication of why the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government can no longer be trusted with the task of leading this country.
This was how Ryan Straughn, a member of the BLP’s economic team, responded to the IMF’s assessment during a press conference held at the office of the Opposition in the Parliament Buildings on Thursday.
The briefing was also attended by economist and economic advisor to the BLP, Dr Clyde Mascoll, and economist and BLP candidate for St Michael South Central, Marsha Caddle.
Straughn blasted Government for its continued unnecessary burden on citizens through a suite of programmes, including the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) that, according to him, had all failed to achieve their intended objectives.
“. . . Since July this year every single Barbadian would have seen a substantial increase in their cost of living and this is after nine and a half years of burdensome taxation, indifferent Government to the extent that the quality of public services being ‘provided’. . . given the level of taxation, is scandalous,” he said.
Straughn, the candidate for Christ Church East Central, lamented that Barbadians had already made enough sacrifices without seeing any improvements and he maintained that the country was doomed on its current trajectory.
Reiterating Opposition Leader Mia Mottley’s promise to repeal the NSRL if the BLP wins the upcoming election, Caddle contended that this as well as other DLP policies had created a trinity of failures. She listed them as not boosting reserves, addressing the fiscal deficit and not creating any real growth.
She charged that while the new Barbados Sustainable Recovery Plan, which was created through the Social Partnership, and touted as an A-class programme to take the country forward, could potentially be rewarding, it was not a good idea to entrust the execution to the DLP administration.
“. . . The Barbados economy continues to be in trouble. The management of it does not have much credibility and it is time for us as a country to be as concerned as all national, regional and international institutions and experts themselves seem to be,” Caddle added. (SDB Media)