Government’s Proficiency Test

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David | 17 Comments

This entry was posted in Barbados, Barbados Government, Democratic Labour Party, Fruendel Stuart, leadership and tagged DLP. Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to Government’s Proficiency Test

John | July 14, 2011 at 10:37 PM |

It isn’t theirs to manage!!

It belongs to 270,000 other Bajans many of whom are vex over the continued excesses and waste of the Government.
Ryan | July 15, 2011 at 12:15 AM |

The DLP administration did not create the economic situation. This is a global economic crisis. Persons all over the world are experience the most difficult time that they have experienced over the last 20 years. Regardless of which administration was in office at this time the outcome would be the same.

What I can say on behalf of the DLP administration they have made some tough decisions which in the long run would benefit all Barbadians. They have managed to keep the unemployment rate low at 10% as stated in the recent economic review. This is far better than other countries whose unemployment rate are in excess of 20%.

The high fiscal deficit of countries is one of the major reasons why the recession is prolonged. To show that the DLP administration is handling the recession well they have made efforts to reduce the countries fiscal deficit. The deficit has started to come down.

I would say that even though all of the methods are not sweet they are working improve the economy. Which would eventually make things better for all Barbadians.
anthony | July 15, 2011 at 1:00 AM |

this will just end in tit for tat. the fiscal deficit has risen for past three years. the figures given in march have been revised up for release in june. growth figure for last year have been revised slightly down. will the growth for the first few months of the year carry thru to the end of the year? how has tourism grown at constant price if foreign earnings are down and room prices haven’t dropped. lots of question to be asked. hopefully they all have good answers
The People's Democratic Congress | July 15, 2011 at 2:56 AM |

Both the DLP and BLP must be permanently kicked out of the parliament of this country in the next six years.

These two old ramshackled intellectually and politically bankrupt factions have long outlived their time.

Indeed, it is time the vast majority of voters rid these two decrepit nuisances totally from the political landscape of this country.

For, it will be entirely senseless and insensate to wait until – God knows when how many more years – to do what should have been done in the 1980s, but what must really be done inevitably in the coming six years – ONE HARD KICK out of the parliament of this country.

Clearly, the majority of citizens of this country must NOT do like the majority of Egytians, Moroccans, Tunisians, Libyans, Yeminis, etc. in eventually forcing out some old autocratic backward regimes – after waiting so late – albeit not too late – to come to the realizations that those particular despots and their regimes were to be sent packing.

The same thing must therefore not apply to the majority of Barbadian citizens, esp. the younger people, who – like a lot of those younger people in those Arab countries must lead the way NOW in forcing the DLP/BLP out from this political landscape of this country, for all the repugnant wrongs and injustices that they both have been doing to the broad masses and middle classes of people of this country.

PDC
The Viper | July 15, 2011 at 9:07 AM |

@ David

This is certainly not good news thus far but the DLP could use it as a very rough guide. All indications are that this is a one term administration, the fatal blow which ensured this certainty was the unfortunate death of the late, David Thompson.
The Viper | July 15, 2011 at 9:08 AM |

@ David

What the total number of people polled?
David | July 15, 2011 at 4:32 PM |

There was a CADRES poll done for the DLP before the last general election. The late PM Thompson had taken the opportunity to poll the performance of his ministers. BU believes that poll would be of tremendous interest to political pundits. One wonders if the results of that poll is what helps to guide Wickhams mouthingsl the performance of his ministers. BU believes that poll would be of tremendous interest to political pundits. One wonders if the results of that poll is what helps to guide Wickhams mouthings
checkit-out | July 15, 2011 at 6:20 PM |

David;

Your posts seems to have a built in problem where some phrases are repeated in each post. I have’nt noticed it with any other posts so it might be a fault of your software. check it out.
David | July 15, 2011 at 6:39 PM |

@checkit-out

Thanks!
Clone | July 15, 2011 at 8:45 PM |

David
Now that you have put up a poll as suggested by BLP supporters. Can you please put up this poll for an independent voter?
The question is- Who is more creditable, the Governor of the Central Bank or Owen Arthur?
balance | July 16, 2011 at 6:40 PM |

the governor of the central is keeps doing a similar thing to what mr arthur did during the last election campaign i.e ‘putting his foot in his mouth’. if he is not careful, he will slowly undermine his credibility and the non-partisan public will los confidence in his comments. he needs to go back to the drawing board of public relations . the public could afford to consign mr arthurs’ comments to the dustbin of political gamesmanship since what he says or does have no bearing on the management of our country but not so with the comments of the learned governor of the central bank- his comments can impact on the efficient running of the country. so mr arthurs’ credibility is not really under scrutiny.
Clone | July 16, 2011 at 9:27 PM |

Balanced
I am on your case.
Mr. Arthur is the Opposition leader in the Parliament of Barbados and can be the next Prime Minister of Barbados. His creditability is very relevant at this stage. Do not try that line
The Governor of the Central bank is under attack by every BLP supporter because he is not saying what you want him to say. The IMF said that Caribbean economies will grow by 2% this year and that is what the Governor said.
He disputed what Owen Arthur said about the data he is using and I believe him because those are is the same sources that Owen Arthur used when he was PM.
Why would Governor lie to all the world’s rating agencies?
The Barbadian public is trusting him unlike Owen Arthur whose creditability was shattered when he accepted a cheque for his party in his name and put it on his account. That is a creditability problem that Owen Arthur will never get away from. He was caught napping.
balance | July 16, 2011 at 10:00 PM |

well, at least the non-partisan voters who determine the outcome of the elections were not napping and made him pay for it at the polls. perhaps, if you discard your political blinkers and join the non-partisdan group, barbados would be a better place bevcause there would be no calf fatted or otherwise to divide between party supporters to the detriment of the country.yes, mr arthur has a credibility problem as evidenced from his elevation in praise of miss mottley in one breath and his cutting her down in another but placed under scrutiny, all the politicians in parliament have a credibility deficiency for which the press do not hold them accountable.
checkit-out | July 18, 2011 at 8:28 AM |

The results of this non-scientific poll are illuminating. Assuming that there is no multple voting from the same computer, and recognizing that more BU contributors have shown themselves to be pro DLP than BLP, there is a strong suggestion that Barbadians who contribute to or monitor this blog are convinced that the current administration is doing a bad job with the economy despite the efforts to spin a tale that Barbados can do no better because of the external circumstances.

If that is indeed so, what should it tell the Freundel Stuart government? To carry on in the same way or make some serious changes in approach? To call an election soon or wait for improvements in the external and internal economies? Stuart has some unenviable and very difficult strategic decisions to make and he has not shown himself so far to be capable of making such in a timely manner. Hope he puts Barbados first and make some of those decisions soon.
David | July 18, 2011 at 9:04 AM |

@checkit-out

Even if you factored an error rate of 5-10% you are correct that thoughts about how the economy is impacting the electorate seem to be taking root. The tough medicine talk from Minister Sinckler on the eve of a Budget will not help.

A question to be legitimately asked is to what extent is Stuart fully in charge of the largest cabinet in our history. Such a question takes on bigger importance if we acknowledge that we are still in a slow economic period.e talk from Minister Sinckler on the eve of a Budget will not help.

A question to be legitimately asked is to what extent is Stuart fully in charge of the largest cabinet in our history. Such a question takes on bigger importance if we acknowledge that we are still in a slow economic period.
Observing | July 18, 2011 at 9:34 AM |

Perception guides outcomes. The government has lost its golden opportunity for an almost guaranteed second term and now seem to have a fight on their hands with a) a weak(ening) economy b) no more blame to cast at the BLP’s feet c) an “apparently” unified opposition d) very few “tangible and visible” achievements to boast about e) a less than stellar and inspiring election campaign team with no motivational and convincing person at the head of the platform (given the current circumstances), f) a financially pressured and wary electorate and g) the closing of the sympathy window for the loss of our former PM.

To be honest if I thought a little more I might be able to get to reasons m),n) o) and p).

I’m no strategist but alarms should be going off, strategy should be developing and some serious plans, programmes, policies and messages should get rolling if these guys are going to stand any chance of convincing the general electorate and independent voters to give them another chance.

Failure to implement, practice or show perceived “good governance” is enough reason alone to give them the boot. We’re in for probably the most interesting 18 months in our country’s history.
Charles Knighton | July 18, 2011 at 9:47 AM |

What alarms me is the building of houses in a recession when people do not have the money to buy. What is the government going to do with these houses? Why spend all this money when they do not know when they will sell these houses. This is a crazy policy in times like these.