Is The Government Of Barbados Ready To Deliver?

It is no secret that BU disagrees with our friends over at Barbados Free Press concerning whether enough time has elapsed for the new David Thompson government to fulfill many of the promises made in the last election campaign. The challenge of managing a small open economy today in the prevailing global economic conditions must make being in government a stretch. When we factor the usual political rhetoric of making pie in the sky promises in a campaign, a heavy dose of realism for Barbadians must now take root.

An example of the challenge the government will encounter to deliver on one election promise to expose corruption manifested itself in the Stanton Alleyne Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) Affair. The government brought a case against Stanton Alleyne, General Manager of the SSA which has been stymied because the lawyers and legalese was able to trump the Human Resource  practitioners in Barbados any day of the week. As a result Stanton Alleyne remains on the job when there was an obvious breach in code of ethics.

Almost on a daily basis Barbadians hear about forensic audits being initiated to investigate alleged financial mis-management on the part of the former administration. Last week it was Minister Michael Lashley’s turn. BU looks forward to the outcome to the investigation into the sale of 20 acres of land located at Kent. It appears that the land which has a market value of 25 millions dollars was sold for 4 million dollars to Pinder and Cadogan for 4 million dollars.

Additionally we are hearing rumblings about a land scam where $280,000.00 was requested by a middle man on behalf of a former Minister from a Mr. P. This is some sensitive information and we will place a full stop on this sentence for the MOMENT!

Today we listened with some concern to the General Secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) telling Barbadians that because of financial mismanagement of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), the treasury was in shambles. He went on to say that the DLP will now have to prioritize how they utilize government resources. Let the PR begin!

We end this blog on a positive note. We have learned that the government of Barbados inked a deal this week which will see the start of a mega-million project later in 2008. The investment will bring much need hard currency and create jobs. Unfortunately the deal was delayed because of a misplaced file which was fortunately recovered in time to save the deal. We refuse to believe that a Permanent Secretary in our government would harbour thoughts to sabotage a deal being pursued by the Crown.