The National Social Responsibility Levy will be a thing of the past; an integrity commission rooting out corruption is in; children will learn to swim and speak a second language and education at the University of the West Indies will be free again.
And above all else, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) will be bringing an economic stabilisation package to the country six weeks after winning the next general election.
With hundreds hanging onto her every word, the leader of the Barbados Labour Party, Mia Mottley, laid her party’s plans bare as she delivered the feature address at the BLP’s 79th annual conference last night.
It was a party-like celebration that engulfed the specially erected tents at the historic Queen’s Park.
Mottley’s long-time friend and former fellow Cabinet Minister Liz Thompson had introduced her in glowing terms and gave way to her as the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and roared their approval as the Opposition Leader was ushered by an honour guard waving red flags and to the chorus of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.
“This country has lost the confidence of the people of Barbados and the confidence of the business sector. The only way we can restore that confidence is to get things done in a way that is transparent, predictable and fair, and I say to you that you need to get rid of this Government,” she said.
As she rallied her 29 candidates behind her, Mottley left no doubt that the BLP was ready to take the reins of power and immediately get about the business of running the country.
In fact, she said, the party already had its first day of government business already planned.
“I stand here tonight to commit to you that the Barbados Labour Party Economic Team, which has been working for the last 12 months on the condition which we face, will be in a position to present to the country the first economic stabilisation and growth plan for the people of Barbados within six weeks of being elected as the Parliament of this country,” she promised.
Mottley also declared that on the first day of Parliament a bill will be brought to decriminalise illegal vending; there will be the first reading of the Integrity Commission Bill of Barbados as well as legislation repealing the National Social Responsibility Levy and the solid waste tax on the first working day.
“We shall also be repealing the legislation requiring tax certificates for property transactions in this country – an iniquitous and vicious act that affects more poor people with savings than it affects large people who have cash in this country,” Mottley said.
“And whosoever shall have the pleasure of being the Minister of Education shall be rising to give their first ministerial statement and . . . they shall commit the government of Barbados to paying fees for students of Barbados at the University of the West Indies from academic year 2018 to 2019.
“I make this solemn commitment to you, the people of Barbados standing here at Queen’s Park that should it be the will of the people, you do not have to ask what the government will be doing on the first working day of its Parliament,” she said. (HLE)