Govt gets low grade on cost of living

IT’S STILL COST OF LIVING, cost of living, cost of living!
The majority or 27 per cent of respondents to the latest CADRES survey say this remains issue No.1 for them.
With latest Central Bank figures pointing to a 3.3 per cent rate of inflation, Barbadians are simply not satisfied that the prices of goods and services are coming down fast enough and are looking to Government to get a handle on the situation.
The David Thompson administration, which came to power in January 2008 promising to deal with this matter as a top priority, has therefore been given a failing grade for its overall management of the economic situation. Asked to rate its performance on a scale of one to ten, respondents gave the Government 4.6 per cent for economic leadership.
Apart from its perceived shortcomings in addressing the cost of living, many are worried about the state of joblessness in the country, which rose to 10.6 per cent in the first half of this year, up from 10.1 per cent for the corresponding period last year. 
The survey, which was commissioned by the Nation in the immediate aftermath of the Campus Trendz tragedy, further shows that crime is another major source of worry for Barbadians.
Respondents also weighed in on the much talked about ban on smoking in public places that is set to take effect on October 1. (KJ)