One of the promises advocated by the then opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) during the last election was their intention to break the stranglehold of the monopolies in Barbados. One of the monopolies which has been high on the agenda is that which controls the food sector. So far if the PEOPLE were to judge the effort of the government after 14 months most would probably feedback that the rhetoric of the campaign has not yet translated to any discernible improvement in this area. In the defense of Minister David Estwick who has been recently given responsibility for the matter, he needs more time to tackle what is a very deep-rooted problem.
To break-up monopolies in Barbados will have an economic and social cost for Barbados.
Over one year and the PEOPLE of Barbados continue to be sold-up the river by the merchant class and a government continuing to struggle to fulfill a campaign pledge to break-up monopolistic practices. The naiveté of the government when in opposition to think that this is a task which can be solved using tried methods has been disappointing i.e. suasion, threat of competition, price-controls etc.
Let us pick on the chicken industry in Barbados. We have heard the fact that Barbados is a chicken loving country. There has even been the trivia which has circulated for some time that the KFC restaurant in Barbados consumes more chicken per capita when compared to outlets in their global network. What is a definite fact is that there is a heavy DEMAND for chicken in Barbados.
BU received the following submission from a new family member which places the issue of the monopoly on the chicken sector in perspective:
