Chris Sinckler, Minister of Finance
The eagerly awaited budget will be delivered by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler on Monday (22.11.2010). The debate making the rounds – will the government increase the VAT? How much will transfers and subsidies to statutory agencies get slashed? Will the government interrupt its social programs (building a society) to focus mainly on the ‘economy’?
The protracted global economic slowdown has severely impacted Barbados as it has most countries in the world. Although leader of the opposition Owen Arthur has taken to making the asinine comparison of Barbados to a growing Guyana economy, most reasonable people understand that any economy which is dependant on tourism, international business, remittances and foreign direct investment will struggle in the prevailing climate.
A simple observation of how many Barbadians have adjusted to the economic hardships does not convince BU the gravity of the situation is fully understood. The most modest home still has a minimum of one car parked outside, the ubiquitous cable dish/antennae, and of course the mobile phone/s. The latest fad is for our teenagers to upgrade to a Blackberry to feed a growing addiction to Facebook and Twitter.
What we continue to see is Barbadians refusing to make adjustments to a lifestyle mired in materialism, supported by a government whose social agenda policies might be argued to be promoting a culture of mendicancy. How will the government craft strategies to reduce the deficit while at the same time preparing the economy for growth. If we listen to the arm chair politicos the government’s job may not be that difficult after all.
If BU had the ear of Minister Chris Sinckler we would advise him that there is significant opportunity for cost savings within government. Let us begin at the ports of entry by improving tax collection. It is no secret some* custom officers are the most bent in the world. How do the suitcase traders waltz through customs on a frequent basis without having to pay duties? He should check the per diem claimed by many travelling officers in government. Better manage how government tenders are awarded. Have a read of the Auditor General Reports over the years. Let us ignore Transparency International perception index which rates us highly and deal with what we know happens on the ground. There is rampant soft corruption in Barbados. We need to stomp it out Minister Sinckler. We need to begin to foster a culture of public suspicion where a custom officer, immigration officer, politician et al who appear to be living above their means would think twice about doing so. What the simple examples demonstrate is the need for Barbadians acting through the many oversight and regulatory agencies to get serious.
Who can envy Minister of Finance Sinckler as he prepares to deliver a recession budget.
Some points for Mr. Sinckler to reduce the deficit.
(1) End the Free Bus Fares to all school children. Issue free school bus tickets to the needy as determine by the guidance councillor. Who can afford to pay should be made to pay.
(2) Increase vat on a basket of the luxury item at 20% Keep vat at 15% on essential items and continue to zero rate the basket of food items.
(3) Make Health insurance premium tax deductible to encourage the working public to buy Health Insurance and charge the public for elective (non emergency) procedures at QEH.
(4) Freeze Public servants salaries for 2 year and encourage the private sector to do the same. The increases in public services wages can be deferred to 2013. Also consider a productivity bonus during the two year period to be paid at the end of each year based on the government department achieving its targets. Wage freeze better than job losses.
(5) Implement the cell phone tax by charging $0.05 per every $1.00 of cell phone charges.
(6) Increase the tax rate back to 40% for income above the $100,000 per year.
Just a few of my thoughts. Don’t know what it will cost or save but it is worth looking at.
I can’t see how we are going to avoid cutting some of the fat when brtter developed countries than ours are tightening their belt.Yes, we can be creative a save a few bucks hear and there by being more efficient and productive but what significant difference will this make.? Unless some miracle happen, some of our more generous welfare and transfer program will have to be tweaked or rationalized.Postponing the inevitable might win the directorate some political goodwill for now but at the end of the day reality and pragmatism wins.
FAIR AND BALANCE
The Government can do as you instruct them, if they want to loose the next General Elections.
To continue from above.
(7) Free tertiary education is a luxury. Issue scholarships to UWI based on a set criteria for A’ level (3 A levels grade A – C or 6 CXC Grades 1 and 2) in the secondary school system and a GPA of 3 or above for those students at BCC. Student not meeting the criteria will pay their way or obtain loans from the student revolving loan scheme
Delivering A Recession Budget
A JOB TOO BIG FOR CHRIS
SINCKLER
There has got to be some austerity measures taken to bring this country from the brink of economic disaster. Point made, the problem that politicians from both parties over the years, have encourage too many of their supporters to be mendicant and as such it is now hard to break them off. Sandi tried it in the early 90′s and it ending up haunting him, Sinckler has to find a way to convince the public that they have to tighten their belts. The problem that the Christmas season is upon us and this is when bajans find money from somewhere to spend and to cut at this time will not go down to well with a lot of bajans. We have to become a bit insular and look after the welfare of bajans first, no longer can we play fairy godfather to the whole of the caribbean, this will not go down well with the rest of the region. Along with stopping the free bus service for school children, ( only needy children be entertained), but those who can afford should pay a subsidised school fee and university fee, plus any student who fails his subject more than twice should have to pay full fees if he/she wants to continue. There should be a ban on luxury vehicles including SUV’s or a very high tax on them, plus any vehicle over 1800cc’s, these vehicle use up too much fuel, hence foreign exchange. There should be a luxury tax on the rich, especially those fifthy rich who use Barbados as their playground. These are some of the serious but necessary austerity measures that Sinckler will have to take if this government is serious of taking Barbados out of the economic pit we’re in right now. Let me warn, it will not be popular but like Sandi said “this is not a popularity contest.
There has got to be some austerity measures taken to bring this country from the brink of economic disaster. Point made, the problem that politicians from both parties over the years, have encourage too many of their supporters to be mendicant and as such it is now hard to break them off. Sandi tried it in the early 90′s and it ending up haunting him, Sinckler has to find a way to convince the public that they have to tighten their belts. The problem that the Christmas season is upon us and this is when bajans find money from somewhere to spend and to cut at this time will not go down to well with a lot of bajans. We have to become a bit insular and look after the welfare of bajans first, no longer can we play fairy godfather to the whole of the caribbean, this will not go down well with the rest of the region. Along with stopping the free bus service for school children, ( only needy children be entertained), but those who can afford should pay a subsidised school fee and university fee, plus any student who fails his subject more than twice should have to pay full fees if he/she wants to continue. There should be a ban on luxury vehicles including SUV’s or a very high tax on them, plus any vehicle over 1800cc’s, these vehicle use up too much fuel, hence foreign exchange. There should be a luxury tax on the rich, especially those fifthy rich who use Barbados as their playground. These are some of the serious but necessary austerity measures that Sinckler will have to take if this government is serious of taking Barbados out of the economic pit we’re in right now. Let me warn, it will not be popular but like Sandi said “this is not a poplularity contest.
Fair and Balance
Your Ideas are hereby Dismissed and you have ben sentenced to
TEN YEARS IN JAIL
Report to Glendairy Tomorrow—Yes Glendairy!
You must understand what Solitary confinement really means.
Dont let us have to come for you.
Report to Glendairy by noon
@ Carson Codogan
What are the alternatives? Wait and hope for the best.
If the government is thinking about winning an election they should have call it before the budget and give themselves a fresh 5 years to implement some measures to rescue the economy..
@ Under-Disguise
since my proposal are dismissed what do you suggest? Continue as we have been for the last 10 years.
If we do then maybe jail will be the best place to be LOL.
Christmas Christmas in de air …
Somebody goose getin’ cook dis year …
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I think the DLP is committing political suicide by calling a austerity budget at this time of the year. The late David Thompson, himself, would have come in for some lashes for so doing but he might have been able to weather the storm, these MP’s without him are “green” and will be eaten raw by more seasoned politicians on the other side. I HOPE I’M WRONG. As I have stated earlier in another blog, it would have been better if P.M Stuart had call a general elections and given himself time to put these harsh measures in place and start to show that they are working by the end of his five year term, right now at the end of the remaining two years left in this term, these measures will now be hitting hard and the party can become very unpopular. Contrary to belief, it might only take a few weeks for the BLP to reunite if they taste blood, and go for the kill. As stated before the BLP is at the starting line just waiting for the DLP to false start and disqualify themselves.
FAIR AND BALANCE
“Free tertiary education is a luxury.”
You are joining a list of people who have benefited from free tertiary education along with members of your families and now you are trying to kick down the ladder once you have climbed up.
In your opinion Very few Bajans must benefit, let us return to the Colonial days. Errol Barrow’s good work must go in vain.
Typical Black people syndrome. I reap the sweets, no one else must do so.
Fair and Balance,
Dont worry with bloggers like Carson Cadogan and Under Disguise, they are living in La La Land and have their heads buried in the proverbial sand.
Read Sanka Price’s article in today’s Nation.
Government ran a current account deficit of $449 million in 2009 up $121.6 million in 2008. And between January and August this year according to the Central Bank the deficit is at $367.2 million compared to $303.5 million for 2009. By year end, the deficit may be more than one billion dollars. In others words, Government is borrowing money on a monthly basis to pay wages and salaries and running costs.
And where is this money coming from? Yours and my NIS funds. They are using NIS funds like a slush fund. No wonder their supporters keep saying things are not so bad here.
Wait and see.
Fair and Balance,
Add to the list of items to cut — the constituency councils. A total waste of time and money. Exactly what do they do? One is in my constituency and all I know they did was to have two get togethers fot the elderly and had free food. That’s how the money is being wasted.
C.C.C
I don’t know if you live her, but in case you don’t know, there are many students at UWI, Cave hill, who have been there for over ten years. They are registered for a particular course but very seldom attend classes, instead they can be found in the students’ guild gambling. Yet every year, my government is paying tuition fees for these individuals and after all this time they are no where near qualifying in anything except games of chance
BDS$8.5 million for a 321 space car park at LESC. At an interest rate of 6.5% that means that IF every space is used 365 days of the year that is a cost of $4.71 per single car parking space PER DAY in INTEREST alone.
Is this the best use of borrowed money for generating income and employment?
What would a 10,000 square feet new conference facility at Needhams Point (close to a hotel) cost?
SCOUT
“in case you don’t know, there are many students at UWI, Cave hill, who have been there for over ten years.”
I have asked people associated with UWI about your claim. They are all in the dark about it. Are you sure this is not just propaganda to fuel the assault aganist Free tertiary education by those who have benefited it from but are now trying their best to dismantle it?
I just had a relative of mine who graduated recently and he and other fellow students were discussing the same thingat the graduation. I’ve had to collect him on many occasions and it has becomeso bad that few serious minded students occupy that falcility. not only gambling but sexual activity and drug smoking. There are even some guys who are not students who use there to lime during the day. I dare anyone who can prove me wrong
Or better yet adrian build a hotel where the putting in the office block might not be big but i sure it would increase LESC buisness.
Scout you aren’t wrong but those are few and far in between vast majority of uwi students just want there degrees.
anthony
I agree but if they are ten, and that’s a conservative number and each of them is costing the government $ 50,000.00 per year, that is half million dollars that we’re losing. The point is that there is too much wastage at UWI with delinquent students.
@The Scout
Agreed!
The thrust of this blog is the bad attitude to wastage and soft corruption which is endemic.
The biggest joke in Barbadian politics in the last 100 years. Chris Sinckler is the Minister of Finance.
What are we coming to?
There are only two options available to who ever was the government of Barbados at this time (increase revenue or reduce expenditure) and since it is far easier to do the latter, then here are the options:
Government will have to carefully consider the recommendations in the last IMF Arthicle 1V Consultation and try to make its Medium Term Fiscal Strategy workable.
If I was the government, I would (1) never have brought a budget at this time – UNLESS!!!!! (2) Secondly, that $34 million for Tomas house repair, I would never have given it to UDC/RDC or NHC, I would have given at least $10,000 – $15,000 to everyone who house was damaged. Do you know what people could do with $15,000 at this time? (3) I would allow CBC every minute to show that 500,000 public servants went or are being sent home in Britain and I would also show what it happening in Europe to let Barbadian know what the world faces. (4) I would show what it happeing in Haiti/St. Lucia and those places where people are suffering and cannot get water. (5) I would put tremendous emphasis on Independence this year (highlight Barrow and the DLP) (6) I would reduce taxes such as on shops, petrolum prices, road tax and so on giving people more disposable income (7) I would give public servants a 3% increase, (8) I would assign some of those vancant houses built at Greens< Country Road and so on- to persons affected by Tomas (9) I would immediate establish the joint select committee of both houses on finance and the economy (of course inviting Arthur to serve on it and call the first meeting in three days); implement campaign finance reform, get the Prevention of Corruption Bill through both Houses of Parliament next week, THEN (10) call elections with nomination day on November 29th and polling day on December 14th.
IN CONTRAST – If the DLP is so mad as to let Barbadians go through Christmas without calling elections, there will be in serious trouble – split in the BLP or not. By Christmas most Barbadians will realise that they cannot buy a roll of toilet paper and it will be trouble.
Christopher my friend, (I kid you not my friend) this has to be an election budget – you inherited this mess, not created it. Remember that!
Study it!!!
The wastage at UWI is more to do with the type of Education being imparted …! Of course the promise is that qualified students will seek to do better for THEMSELVES … and not seek by their involvement to have the country do better …!
Barbados needs technology based operatives, not observational scientists and bureaucrats ..
Oh by the way, there is a danger in sending soldiers home, but why are they being employed in the first place ?
Bajan Panday
#6 basically reverses all david did in in 2008 budget.
Bajan Panday,
Stop misleading the public. The nearly 500,000 civil servants in th UK will be sent home over a three to four year time period.
Secondly, the Government has no money to place so much emphasis on Independence this year, you aint see they cant light up and today is November 18th. After all the big party jump up for the last two years depriving Bajans of seeing the Independence parade, you now hear an announcement from a permanent secretary quietly saying the concerts were never meant to be a permanent thing but before that in 2008, the deceitful Maxine McClean was the one who announced the jump up. Time for a change she said.
Another reason that the Government and the NHC is in so much trouble is because in an effort to score cheap political points that they are building houses, they went and build all these match boxes which to me is an insult to Bajans and now nobody is buying them beacuse they are too small, too expensive and things are so hard. Many cant qualify for the loans. After all the big party at Six Roads, not many of those are sold and the same goes for Greens.
The government cannot afford to give civil servants any raise, nor can they reduce any taxes on petroleum products, they need revenue. Dont you understand that the deficit will be over one BILLION dollars this year.
I thought Owen Arthur was a spent force and now you want him to serve on a board to help you all. I heard with my own ears Chris Sinkler, Donville Inniss and David Estwick from the floor of the house shouting and telling the BLP ” We dont want to hear anything from wunnah. Wunnah had 14 years, now is we time and we gine do things we way”
Oh how time reveal things!
Wait, Bajan Panday calling for an election in December.
Didn’t the Dems crucify Owen Arthur for announcing an election date in December 2007.
I can remember how the late “great” DT say how Owen Arthur desecrate Xmas and the political priest who QEH chairman, Guy Hewitt lambaste Owen Arthur.
You Dems are too much, though!
@Fair and Balance | November 17, 2010 at 10:35 PM | Some points for Mr. Sinckler to reduce the deficit.
(1) End the Free Bus Fares to all school children. Issue free school bus tickets to the needy as determine by the guidance councillor. Who can afford to pay should be made to pay.
————————————————
The main reason for school children riding free on the gov’t buses was to get them off the ZRs and minibuses. That was a good strategic move and should not change. I also disagree with your points 5 & 6.
Instead, I think citizens who are financially well off should be made to pay for their children’s education, and should be made to pay for healthcare at the QEH.
Free bus fares are not free, the allocation comes out of the Education budget, the first year it was $11 million. That means that somehow the ministry had to cut back on other things like text books and school supplies.
But dont you remember that the children were told to to ride the ZRs again from this September by Minister Jones?
Actually, I agree with Anonymous, give the needy bus passes (guidance counsellors at the various school would know the needy students) but those who can afford should pay and stop this socialism.
The DLP believe in fooling people that they are for the poor man and have them with this medicant mentality that Barbados owes them a living.
How could some of you idiots be calling for a general election in December when the St. John by-election has not yet taken place. Rather than worrying about retaining the government, the DLP needs to worry about nursing the economy back to good health…everything else would follow naturally. Quite frankly I doubt they have what it takes to get the job done anyway.
I am back and ready to Rumble
Welcome Back Kissmya
I Love you Kissmya———————
Kissmya ! good to ‘sees’ yuh !
———Me welcoming back me
I took a break for the following:
Out of respect for events which transpired on October 23, 2010 and subsequent events . I took leave. Reading back , I realised that some persons did not show that kind of respect. I wonder why people were still cussing each other during the period.
I was also humbled that what I had seen in a ‘vision’ over a year ago had actually transpired.
—————–
Stupse!!!!
SCOUT
“The point is that there is too much wastage at UWI with delinquent students”
That is a matter of opinion.
Bajan Panday; Written like a true political strategist.
I think that your strategy above is probably the best way for the DLP to deal with our serious economic problems in a political way that might be to the best benefit of the people in the uncertain times we are now seeing.
Unfortunately, having already set a timetable for the St John bye election and the Budget debate it seems unlikely that a December general election could be possible.
I am looking forward to seeing the details of the Budget proposals but I would be surprised if they would be mistaken for an election budget. But hope springs eternal.
@ Anonymous | November 18, 2010 at 11:17 AM |
“The main reason for school children riding free on the gov’t buses was to get them off the ZRs and minibuses. That was a good strategic move and should not change. I also disagree with your points 5 & 6.”
Has it worked? Is it still working? Who are these young people in uniforms I see and hear in these ZRs every week day just after 3 o’clock?
The DLP and Sinckler now have a golden opportunity again to be the best thing in Barbados since slice bread.
How often does a leader dies and a hurricance occurs which causes that party to spend $34 million? All the DLP has to do is in the Budget on Monday is to implement aspects of the new development model (to the top right of this page) which Mia Mottley explained to the BCCI.
The economy needs restructuring. Sinckler did not cause the problem but will get the credit for attempting to fix it in a serious way.
It will be something that Arthur never did and for sure the academic are already saying that it (the Mottley plan) makes sense. At least one half of the BLP will support it so to the brightest people in Barbados.
Here are the benefits to him and the DLP (1) Sinckler assumes the role as the man who finally restructures the Barbados economy (2) though not being an economist he immediately downgrades Arthur relevance even further (3) the DLP can then say that having to face the worst economic crisis ever known to manking, they restructured the economy and weathered the storm with no imput from Arthur (4) Arthur’s legacy is further crushed (5) the DLP is re-elected (6) democracy in Barbados is given a fresh start (7) Sinckler’s star rises as Arthur’s continues to fade, (8) Sinckler gains the experience he needs and becomes the leader the DLP wants (9) the DLP is no longer seen as being soft on the economy and would have bragging rights that they did in less than 3 years – what Arthur did not do in 14 (10) economic enfrashment will come to Barbadians who would now become a property owning class with the government finally realising that its role is more than to tax and spend.
Sinckler and the DLP can make history on Monday by implementing Mia Mottley’s vision. It is the national unity the late PM Thompson called for. I have to admit that I read it, listened to people like Dr. Marshall on the call-in-programme and others and they say it makes sense.
For me, it is not whose idea it is but who puts it into action. The plan would be good for Barbados and Barbadians.
Sinckler and the DLP must act now. Implement the plan in the national interest. This is too good an economic crisis to be wasted.
SPLIT THE BLP ON MONDAY AND SHOW THE DIVIDE – implement Mia’s Plan.
@Bajan Panday some questions for you to answer
What was Mia’s Plan? As I recall it talk about a different way but very short on details on how it will be achieve.
How will Sinckler restructure the economy?
What measures will he implement to restructure the economy?
Since these measures are likely to inflict some pain will they be accepted by the public?
@ Fair and Balance
How much do you feel the airport cost, how about the sea port? Does the government have to own those or should the people: credit unions, churches ordinary Barbadians who have a few coppers to invest?
Why can’t SSA workers own the trucks, why now structure the transportation system and let the people own it and work for themselves? why does the government have to own the bueses?
what are the essential jobs in Barbados going forward?
Do you need NCC workers on government pay roll or let them have responsibility for as stretch of road with a contract to keep it clean?
What should the government own and pay for as re-current expenditure: the police, healthcare, education, water, and what else????
This country needs to have serious discussions, Sinckler has been passed a golden opportunity he should not squander.
The DLP needs to be reminded of its pledge to put the govenment closer to the people. Talk. Engage the people. Show them the plan. Discuss. Agree on a shared vison.
It is either we will fix our problem of the IMF will. Level with the people!!!!
David Thompson legacy,David Thompson legacy
What Thompson really do?
Integrity legislation in 100 days
never done
Freedom of information act
never done
Remove vat from certain electriciy bills
never done
Better pay for Police
never done
Removal of VAT from building materials on houses valued up to $400 000
never done
Minimum wages legislation
never done
Put strict land use policy in place
never done
Vat to be reduced
never done
reduce the cost of food
never done
Help persons with purchasing their tenatry lots if they are having difficulty raising the funds
never done
David Tompson in do one fart he said that he would do, neither the DLP.
David Thompson was a waste of time.
@ Fair and Balance
TO FURTHER ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF YOU CLICK ON THE SPEECH TO THE RIGHT ABOVE YOU CAN READ AS I HAVE BEEN DOING.
HERE IS AN EXTRACT:
“The truth is that while we have made great strides in our physical and social development we have fallen behind the curve in the areas of government and governance and enterprise.
Strategic use of taxation and expenditure will continue to be part of the arsenal of government, but there are far more powers available to a government to unleash growth in the economy.
The power of a Government to legislate so as to influence behaviour, to regulate rather than to own, to facilitate and coordinate activities that would not otherwise happen, to empower our people through a myriad of ways are increasingly more effective and serve as beneficial tools in managing a modern economy.”
THIS IS WHAT SINCKLER AND THE DLP SHOULD IMPLEMENT BUT MUST ALSO START HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE.
WHETHER DLP OR BLP SERIOUS ACTION WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN EVENTHOUGH SOME CLAIM TO HAVE A MAGIC WAND AND QUICK FIX APPROACH.
That is also why the DLP needs to implement the Joing Select Committee now.
JoinT Select Committee of Both House of Parliament on Finance and the Economy, now.
BAJAN Panday
Are you telling me that the DLP didn’t have a clue until Mia made her address to the BCCI? Then what were you doing for all these months because the budget is almost a year overdue? Isn’t the Mia plan you talking about not also be a BLP plan? Is she not still a member and M.P of the BLP or has she crossed the floor? If she is planning to cross the floor, wouldn’t she have done the very same thing Clyde Mascoll did, that the DLP curse him so badly for? Wouldn’t it be just as disgraceful for a former leader of the BLP to cross the floor as a former leader of the DLP did? It seem you are catching at a feather in the middle of a turbulent ocean. I hope Mr Sinckler doesn’t listen to anything you say but come with a solid well thought out plan to rescue Barbados
@ The Scout | November 18, 2010 at 4:06 PM |
No need to get hot under the sleeve. I do not think there is a divide here. Here are the options: Cut expenditure or increase revenue, which is easier?
Secondly, how will you achieve the restructuring of the economy? What is it that government did that it no longer has to do?
My only concern is that there is something already on the table that academics say make sense. You know that you already have them on-board. That is all I am saying.
A budget was promised long before Sinckler became Minister of Finance. All I am saying is that he should consider all his options.
Mr. Thompson said that if there is a good plan, despite whoever it came from – he will use it in the national interest. That is all I am saying.
IN THE NATIONAL INTERST scout. BUT ARE YOU GOING TO FEED SINCKLER TO THE WOLVES FOR SOMETHING HE DID NOT CREATE.
DO YOU HAVE A BETTER PLAN? WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DISCUSS MY FIRST RESPONSE ABOVE TO FAIR AND BALANCE?
KISSMYA
Yah idiot . I miss yah … ja ja
Bajan Panday,
All you want is for Chris Sinkler to become PM so that your star can rise again. Poor soul!
I thought the BLP had no ideas and was dead for the count, how is it that Mia’s speech which was poo-pooed and couldn’t get even an extract on CBC TV for the people to hear is now such a master plan. She had to pay VOB to broadcast the speech for God’s sake.
I predict that Chris Sinckler will start out cool but once he gets rattled, the old thug that he is will come forth. He is no economist and knows nothing about restructuring an economy, he will do the same thing DT did, tax the life out of the economy. I see Ronald Jones promising more giveaways to schoolchildren yesterday.
You all wont learn, stop the giveaways and provide incentives that jobs can be created and let people take control of their destiny.
The Central Bank has predicted the deficit will be over one billion dollars by year end, he has to cut expenditure and find ways to tax, tax, tax and more tax.
Bajan panday
I’m not saying that Mia’s address was good or bad but for you to tell me that Mr Sinckler should usethe Mia Mottley Concept means what you had to offer was poor. You will be playing into the oppisition’s hand unless Mia is now one of you. If she is then you need to read my earlier comment and answer the questions.
KISSMYA
Ya traitor? How cum ya din ‘warn’ Mia befoe she get oust? Ya crystal-bawl din wukkin den? stupseeeeeeeee
@islandgal246 | November 18, 2010 at 1:05 PM | @ Anonymous | November 18, 2010 at 11:17 AM |
Has it worked? Is it still working? Who are these young people in uniforms I see and hear in these ZRs every week day just after 3 o’clock?
————————————
I am willing to bet that much less children travel to and from school on ZRs and minibuses. Did you expect that each and every school child who were taking those PSVs before would all stop? Why do you think the PSV operators were complaining so bitterly about their loss of revenue Miss Ting?
Tom’s Dick up in Harry ?
where you come from
are you three or one ?
or are you one up in two ?
why are you not attacking those who have the power now
The Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals 2010, to be presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, The Honourable Chris Sinckler on Monday, November 22, 2010, in the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Barbados, are among the most anticipated in recent memory.
As it stands now, the Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals are coming at a very crucial time in the historical development of Barbados, when the country totters on the brink of a social political economic precipice.
For, Barbados has already recorded about 2 3/4 years straight of political economic depression, massive debt profiles of persons and businesses in the personal and private sectors, and of the government in the public sector, and has already recorded a fall in the United Nations Human Development Index.
What are required right now are some serious far-reaching people centered measures to take the country forward deeper into the 21 st Century.
PDC
Looks like we need the P.D.C now more than ever. Not even the P.E.P can help at this stage.
POWER TO THE P.D.C
To say the lease, this is a very exciting period in our politics with all that has recently happen and soon to happen. Wunna political yardfowls got nuff scratch grain tuh feed pun.
Tom, Dick & Harry
‘David Thompson was a waste of time”
But he was a proper, intelligent, sophisticated, educated, brilliant, handsome,decent,affable, intelligent again, ‘waste of time’. Unlike you, ya waste-foop. you shoulda bin a ‘jerk-off’. Blindya.
One year ago the Jamaica government made the following announcement regarding the reduction of its government’s expenditure:
——
KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 9, 2009 – A special team will go into operation a week from now in Jamaica to lead the government effort to cut jobs and otherwise rationalise the public service.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that under the rationalisation plan, government jobs will be lost as the Golding administration seeks to cut costs, and the public sector will be modernised to improve efficiency.
The effort will see some of the existing 200 government departments merged and others closed.
“We are going to have to rein in this sprawling, expensive apparatus that we call Government,” the Prime Minister said.
“We will be driving that process out of the Cabinet Office and we’re going to start rolling that out in about April 2010,” he added. “It is going to take us about 18 months. That’s the target I’ve given them.”
He said the aim is to ease the burden on the country’s Budget so that borrowing is reduced.
———
I believe that the same is necessary for Barbados. The many departments and ministries overlap; waste is rampant; productivity is very low as operational costs keep rising. Added to this are the costs of the various semi-government corporations, boards etc which should be run as businesses but are not.
I see none of the political parties really talking about drastically REDUCING government expenditure and operations as this is political suicide – especially for a DLP govt… remember the 8% political football?
So the Barbados government, irrespective of party, and Barbadians will continue to ignore the reality that they are living beyond their means. Their lifestyle of ostentatious consumption and waste (BMW’s and SUV’ as govt vehicles); their management and work habits (amazingly inefficient) will have to change real fast or I see no sustainable future for our country.
The world is changing fast and competition is growing all around in a connected world… we are still asleep, but we talk the talk real well! ….. The King is naked, folks!
@ Ecoanalyst
Perfectly correct….. but..
This was all true ten years ago too.
After your ship ‘Titanic’ has struck its iceberg is too late to complain about the course you have taken.
…..time to find a lifeboat.
Ecoanalyst
A truly patriotic Prime Minister, is going to have to sacrifice or put his/her political future on the line and make some drastic decisions
to save this country. Bajans are living care free, not accepting the crisis that we are in and when someone is bold enough to talk about it, you’re called a prophet of doom and bloom. It is not me who caused the situation to be like this, it has happened because over the years bajans were made to believe that they are living in a Utopian country. Well one day the truth will catch up with us and i think that day has come. Brace yourself for an austery budget if this government is serious about getting this country out of the mess we’re in.
It is because of this situation that I thought it best for the DLP to call a snap elections and P.M Stuart deliver a face-saving budget, take his lashes but by the end of his five year term in office things would be looking up and bajans would have realised why it was necessary.
King Arthur, “The Economist” has got us in this mess. However, people still think he is their saviour… It was the deficit economics and borrowings and government expansion and waste during his long tenure that has us where we are now. He should be banished from the Kingdom…
Keynesian economics suggests deficit financing to boost economies in bad times… However, he used them all through his reign, with big borrowings and unbalanced budgets… so now we have to pay those bills.
In the USA, Obama is being blamed for the job losses and slow recovery after the economic crash caused by Bush and the Republicans and their cohorts on Wall Street. Bush spent Clinton’s $2 trillion treasury and added another 4 trillion in debt during his 8 years. People have short memories and now Bush is selling a book and has a 44% popularity rating… Imagine that!
here in Barbados we have a similar situation. They have short memories. King Arthur has destroyed the economy by running deficits rather than surpluses in the “good times”. As an economist he should know that economies run in cycles and the bad times would eventually be here… like they are now.
Now the DLP, like Obama’s Democrats, have to try and manage the chaos left by the previous administration with piles up debts to pay and falling income due to the world’s economic downturn.
Added to that they are burdened with a civil service that is not civil but overblown and moribund with red tape. That is the reality… those government guys think they have “security” and they do compared to many of us. But there will come a day when the country can no longer afford many of them, their travels big rides and waste.
Like in Jamaica, the U.K. and other countries, that day has arrived where government has to be drastically downsized …. but who will tell it as it is … for it could be political suicide.
Why does this 166 sq mile country need over 30,000 civil servants and related government employees???
@ Ecoanalyst
Another excellent analysis. You just described the iceberg to a ‘T’….. with just a minor error…. While king Arthur was the chief spokesman and navigator, Bajans were, by and large, willing passengers on the Titanic.
Our individual lifestyles closely mirrored the King’s concept and we endorsed him with our ballots.
Even now with the waves lapping at our upper decks, many are blindly calling for more of the same values….
You are SO right about our Public servants…. and many others of us also…but as the Bushman has always said, we all eventually get EXACTLY what we deserve…
Scout
I am now 100% certain that you do not know if to hop or jump.
Hear yourself “It is not me who caused the situation to be like this, it has happened because over the years bajans were made to believe that they are living in a Utopian country.”
You keep pushing Owen Arthur as the saviour but it was he as Ecoanlyst pointed out was the chief culprit who led Bajans to believe that they can have a car in every garage. He borrowed for us to live this lie of a lavish lifestyle. He allowed his friends to cause cost overruns on every aspect of Government projects.
When persons say that he presided over a time of growth and prosperity, no one mentions the massive debt that resulted from that period.
You may like him but you cannot have it both ways, you can praise him for the prosperous time but you must also blame him for the massive debt he left behind.
To me one of the most silly of statements that is constantly heard in Barbados is the following
“You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”
Is it really possible “to fool all of the people” at any time … at all at all ? Would that not mean if that were your intent, that you would be fooling yourself as well?
What the axiom should say is that “You can fool MOST of the people ALL of the time …” That is NOT short memories, that is Democracy …!
@Bush Tea
Is that your dog in caption. Is the dog a german shepherd. Very interesting to read the dog’s opinion on the economy. The dog gives true meaning to”A real political Animal”.
Ideas for cutting the cost of Government.
1. Disband the Military.
2. Send home every last person that works in Culture.
3. Close down the productivity department.
4. Cut the number of Permanent Secretaries and Dep PS, Cheif Technical Officers and Dep CTO’s, Senior Assistant Secretaries, Senior Administrative Officers, Chief Research Officers in half. They should have made enough money by now to be able to start up some kind of private venture.
5. Replace every man jack in the Barbados Investment and Development Corp., and the Min of Transport and Works, Environment and Drainage with productive results oriented people.
Now what could be done with CBC …? hmmm. I will never propose that it should there should be another television station, for that would be result in just another opportunity for some private entity to vent foreign exchange…
What could be done with the Fair Trading Commission ?
Why should there be a whole office dedicated to the Prime Minister?
Why do we need an Ambassador in China
ac
Man lef de puppy pic nah …
It is amazing the nonsense that is being spouted to raise revenue. For example, the Nation quotes an ‘economist’ Mr.Holder, as one of the methods ‘Holder proposed that to raise the $100 million in revenues, Government should impose a temporary stabilisation tax on incomes and profit, which could raise at least $60 million, and $15 million from permanent increases in non-tax revenue fees and charges.’
Stabilisation tax on incomes and profit????? Which itself is a recessionary act. Persons who have their incomes cut, will cut spending on eating out, on lawn services, fire help etc. To tax profits in a recession, when income is already cut is idiotic.
As for ‘fari and balance views above, a few are okay, but as mentioned, increasing direct tax on incomes is recessionary and will only serve to bring in a small am0unt, not solve the issue, it will be punitive rather than assist in addressing the fiscal deficit.
The ONLY effective method, as I have stated previously many times over the last year (which is when the Government should have acted, but they were too busy keeping people ‘happy’), is to increase the VAT rate.
Sorry, there is no other solution, do it now or next year, or the year after, but it will have to be done.
If the Government do not increase the VAT now, then they do not have the balls to run this country.
If they retain ‘piddle methods’ of tax collection, such as increasing this and that license feee, but ignore the big picture and most logical alternative, we can look forward to increased fiscal deficit, additional downgrade byh rating agencies (which means increased debt costs) and severe austerity measures in two /three years, if not sooner.
I said last year that they should increase VAT then, they did not, now we are looking at another train wreck.
If VAT is not increased, but direct tax is, it will clearly show incompetence and I for one will be on the Owen Arthur train for the next election. I am very serious.
I cannot stand ‘piddling about’ with the economy, such has happened over the last year. And I will not accept more of the same.
Loopk at it this way, now they are piddling with the drug service to save 2 million, when much more can be done by raising the VAT by tweo or three percent.
Instead pensioners and those who cannot afford treatment are
forking out. Do we need the amount of Ministries that we have?
Simple, increase VAT, cut specific Government costs and move on.
By March 2011 the result of the 2013 election will be on the table. The next three months will tell.
Is this why Hartley Henry jumped ship?
Hartley Henry deal wi’ image … Hartley Henry don’ deal wid sewage ….
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