Prime Minister of St. Lucia Kenny Anthony
A couple couple news items today has given the BU household reason for pause. President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) stated that his union will hold the government to its promise not to engage in privatization that will result in public workers going home. One wonders how any government can guarantee anything in a global market which is challenging for service-based economies. Again, one wonders how the NUPW can be so simplistic in their expectations, we shall see. BU’s disclosure is that we wish no public servant to be sent home to suffer the same fate of thousands in the private sector.
The second news item was that the government of St. Lucia has agreed to pay a 4% wage hike to public servants instead of 6% which dropped from 16%. The punch line came from Prime Minister Kenny Anthony when he explained, “As I have explained before, the returns from VAT are below expectations and will not cover the increase in expenditure. We have no option but to borrow this money”.
What are missing here? At a time governments are borrowing monthly to pay wages yet our governments agree to wage increases and guarantee public sector jobs? Is this an ironclad promise that government will protect public workers until NIS funds run dry. If these economies do not improve what are the options?
BU has deliberately not mentioned the IMF restructure of USD750.00 agreed with Jamaica this month. Why do Barbadians believe that our rampant consumption lifestyle is not threatened by the current state of play? What must be clear is that to maintain government’s Medium Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) program it has to also find a way to grow the economy.
John Boyce as Health Minister????? What a black day for the hospital!
millertheanunnaki, I agree with you. The business community must stand up to the bad wolf Sinkliar. Do not let him bully you all for any taxes, Having his hands on the government’s money will entice him to “tief” more to give away in the mendicant areas of St. Michael North West such as areas of Black Rock, and the Farm. This is a Tivoli Gardens in the making.
millwr
continue to dream, Thats all i can sau to u. Just wish the govt well, or u dont have that in u.
The BLP yardfowls crowing in unison with the expected partisan responses – so predictable. Next!
Brilliant cabinet pics by the Hon. Freundel Jerome Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados and the best Prime Minister in the Caribbean. Go forward and represent this great country like the true patriot that you are, Prime Minister.
@Look…
I think you meant Chaotic not Chiaotic.. sorry to nitpick but it is confusing to a person….
@!
dont u see the trend? After election when the dlp suppoertes were gloating zbout their victory, the blogmaster were up in arms against them, and naturally so, because all those who had wished the fall of the DLP had been proven wrong.
These said detractors have been calling for the announement of the Cabinet, it has been accounced, They are not satisfied with the allocations and again theat was expected. What do u expect from the doomers and gloomers that masquerade as barbadians, and pretending to have an interest in this country’s survival. What has become of the pledge of allegaince to ur country> That seem to have gone through the window,
I continue to marvel how these persons who have been preaching the demise of the DLP, since the death of the lat DT, have not recognized that no one man is a party. Paties will have internal conflict, because no one personality is the same, and each perso’s expection is different, to this end, the mettle of the leader is tested in holding a party together. This is where the PM leadership qualities became evident, in both managing conflict and ensuring that his charges kept focused to ensure that we sail through choppy waters,
I am looking forward to the pathway to progress over the next five years. By that time the four seasons project, among others would have completed.
I wish the govt aall the best, and wish its detractors a miserable five years in trying to pull it down,
Well done Me. P M
No Benn, No Hudson
@undertaker
so, every body dont have to have local posting
@can’t wait
The business community and government must work together, simple.There is no wriggle room for the partisan nonsense which has framed the conversations between the BCCI, BHTA etc. Let us go back to the thrust of this blog, how can we pay increases and continue to borrow to pay public sector wages?
Seems like each and everyone of them now, including the opposition, will have to work as though they are conjoined twins to see the island over this hump. What will be refreshing is not hearing the blame game of which party did or did not do what over the last five years, it has been played out. Anything at all goes wrong, we would know that they all decided to selfishly not work together.
@! not to mention the level of hatred level at DT. who has been proven right even as he sleeps in enternity. the DT legay lives on . The man PM STUART who he put to lead this country performed admirably, DT must be smiling heavenly.
All the wheels have fallen off the BLP bicycle and they are on the backfoot looking to see what way they can make inroads and win the confidence of the public. lot of noise ! rumour ! and propaganda would be coming from the BEES as they continue in campaign mode. PM STUART once again have spoken and miller is disappointed !
@ ac | March 1, 2013 at 6:40 AM |
“PM STUART once again have spoken and miller is disappointed!”
Are you sure you have the right person or state of mind here, ac?
Disappointed? MAM is where the miller wants her. Stuart can do as he likes with his ‘wooden’ Cabinet. The termites will soon go to work.
The person who should be most disappointed is Dr. David. It seems that time is indeed longer than twine. He has choked himself with the same piece of twine putting to rest his ambitious dream of MoF. The doctor from now on will be suffering from a permanent case of severe chronic vocal paralysis where matters of the economy and public finance are concerned.
Should we conclude then that Estwick is really no heavyweight on economic matters but just another bigmouth fella that should be kept where he really belongs in the empty cane fields?
He can use his miserably frustrating stint in the third gang to shoot at monkeys destroying the fruit and vegs grown by locals. But why bother about crop destruction or depleting sugar production?
We can always use “Cost-U-The–Same and-Soon-More” to supply our imported needs including sugar.
I am starting to feel like we are just beating dead horse.
I cannot believe that self confessed BLP supporter Patrick Hoyos who spent the last 5 years doing everything in his power to bring down the DLP government can be invited to sit in a chair by David Ellis and Stetson Babb and “moderate” a radio programme.
This man is not only a poor moderator but extremely biased. How will he be able to defend a government he opposes when the opposition operatives like Senator Linton and “Mr. Agriculture” bombard the programme. He will have to say exactly what he said this week- “I agree with you”. Starcom management must hang its head in shame.
The same Starcom and Nation newspaper management will lambaste the DLP for not coming in the studio or attending their public relations “talkback sessions” but Owen Arthur refuses to attend anything with CBC and that is ok.
Starcom and the Nation newspaper must realise that we now have a nearly evenly split parliament. How can they justify still having Pat Hoyos, Clyde Mascoll, Albert Brandford, Peter Symmonds, Ezra Alleyne, Harry Russell and Sanka Price as their major columnists? Where is the balance?
The official campaign is over but the biased Pro BLP campaign by the Nation newspaper continues shamelessly.
Miller then it behooves me as to why your rantings and ravings about this govt when in reality you should be spending all that time praising your party for having the guts to choose a leader who is highly ranked in popularity with the populace . Even though not so much among her peers
@Redman Feb 28 11.18p
I thought I was the only one confused by the grammar and the excessive use of parenthesis of Look.
@ ac | March 1, 2013 at 10:12 AM |
Ac, I owe allegiance to no party. My support for Ms Mottley is borne out of a deep admiration of her intellect and respect for her political skills and commitment to her constituents. As long as this loyal relationship exists and she is charge of the BLP then the miller will continue to vent against the lying deceitful DLP.
The Privatization ghost is about to leave the closet and haunt you, ac. Two years at the most of ghostly torment and torture from the ‘privatized and layoffs’ ghost of Banquo.
The IADB has opened the closet to expose the skeleton hiding in the government’s closet.
Let the CRA femur to be the first to fall out.
Component II. Strengthening of tax revenues. The objective of this component
is to strengthen the tax policy and administration system, ensuring more effective
tax revenue collection. The programme will support the: (i) review of the
efficiency of the tax system, including tax policy, tax rates and tax administration;
(ii) establishment of a Central Revenue Authority (CRA) to consolidate revenue
collection agencies under one umbrella.
Component III. Improving control and quality of expenditure. The objective
of this component is to support the GoB efforts to improve the quality and control
of the allocation of resources to entities of the general government. The
programme will support measures to control the growth of expenditure, which
include: (i) containing transfers by rationalising the cost of personal emoluments;
(ii) increasing the efficiency of the procurement system by strengthening the
procurement framework and; (iii) reducing levels of spending on goods and services.
The size and make up of the current Cabinet should make for interesting analysis for students of Political Science.
It seems that this is the first case in Westminster Ministerial form of government where the Cabinet comprises more people than those elected in the House of Assembly for the ruling party. There are 17 ministers of government and if we include the Parliamentary Secs of three we have 20 people overseeing a government that has 16 members sitting in the people’s court of Parliament.
Can any one here on BU recall such a situation in the English-speaking Commonwealth where the Westminster form of government is practised?
Interesting to listen to PM Stuart last night when he stated that for the MOST part we have come out of the 2013 general election with our democracy intact (words to this effect)
Will Owen Arthur be allowed to attend parliament for the coming five year session less than 24 hours as he did for the past five year session?
@ David
What kind of development have we achieved within the political system? We don’t even have the ability to form a bi-partisan government in an election where it could be considered that the people saw no difference between the Bees and the Dees although the unvoted won the largest percentage.
News flash.
THE BLP LOST.
News Flash
The DLP used drug lords, paid them huge sums of money to hire their goons to go to the polls and vote for love of money.
This so called victory will haunt you for the rest of your lives. You stole an election and is this what you call a victory????
I would suggest to my fellow BLP bloggers to give this government a six months honeymoon period. Let us see how things go by August. I am prepared to give the DLP that! For you know, ill gotten gains dont last too long.
i saw PM STUART today and he looked fit as a fiddle. maybe Caswell need to go get his eyes check too many cataracts growing on them.
Prodigal Son
“News Flash
“The DLP used drug lords, paid them huge sums of money to hire their goons to go to the polls and vote for love of money.”
Stop being so childish.
You are reminding me of a little child who didnt get the toy that he wanted.
Dont pay caswell any mind. He is not going to get what the BLP promised him now.
Poor Caswell, back the wrong side. Sang for his supper so often, all to no avail.!
Every chance I get I am going to throw this so called victory in your face!
hi miller yuh say yuh wid yuh girl MIA fuh de long haul or is until the Rt Hon change he mind, BTW u going to the races tommorow what yuh pucks fuh de sandy lane gold cup and can yuh give yuh friend ac a few tips . some body tell me that a horse by the name of ” Call ME OWEN” was scratched from the line up,cause he had a tedency to bolt out the starting gate during practice befre the bell ring. Any how please don’t fuh get them tips. help an ole friend out ,any winings i split de purse wid yuh. cause dat middle foot of yours don’t work.Ask me how i know.
@ ac | March 1, 2013 at 7:26 PM |
“i saw PM STUART today and he looked fit as a fiddle. maybe Caswell need to go get his eyes check too many cataracts growing on them.”
We also saw David Estwick this afternoon and he looked and sounded just as fit as a fiddle. Just ask his wife.
Can we rely on such a second opinion from Freundel?
BTW, we don’t have cataracts or suffer from blurred or double vision.
prodigal behave yuhself do. yuh might have a heart attack trying to reverse the outcome of the election. boy wunna can’t outsmart BOSSMAN STUART. look wuh he did Give donville Innis a promotion after the BEES tried to destry his reputation. Stuart not easy! CHECkMAte,
@ac
“hi miller yuh say yuh wid yuh girl MIA fuh de long haul or is until the Rt Hon change he mind, BTW u going to the races tommorow what yuh pucks fuh de sandy lane gold cup and can yuh give yuh friend ac a few tips . some body tell me that a horse by the name of ” Call ME OWEN” was scratched from the line up,cause he had a tedency to bolt out the starting gate during practice befre the bell ring. Any how please don’t fuh get them tips. help an ole friend out ,any winings i split de purse wid yuh. cause dat middle foot of yours don’t work.Ask me how i know”
You are a typical Dem. A nasty piece of work. Cant you let up on Owen Arthur? My God, you have gone past overbearing. No one can say a word about Freundel, right now you and CCC are on Caswell’s back for stating what everybody saw with their two eyes. But you can come on BU for the last two years, morning, noon and night saying the nastiest things about Owen Arthur and you feel good pulling down a man of whom you know nothing.
He is out of your sight now, continue with your bashing.
@ ac | March 1, 2013 at 8:07 PM |
Both the miller’s middle foot and OSA’s tongue are peacefully resting in the same mortuary. But it seems both have left a legacy of lifelong impact on you.
Which one stimulated you more?
OSA’s hand in your craw or the miller’s foot up yours?
That is a one-pony race you can bet on ac to keep all the winnings where the monkey stuff the nuts. (LOL!!)
@ac
“prodigal behave yuhself do. yuh might have a heart attack trying to reverse the outcome of the election. boy wunna can’t outsmart BOSSMAN STUART. look wuh he did Give donville Innis a promotion after the BEES tried to destry his reputation. Stuart not easy! CHECkMAte”
No,no I am stating facts. The DLP bought this election and we have to live with the consequences, we know that. How can you Dems look yourself in the mirror? Donville promoted??? You think Donville happy? What a hollow victory! Why dont you enjoy it and stop bashing the BLP.
Carson
I am offended by your partisan stupidity. Sing for what supper? Unlike you, I do not depend on any politician for my living by my own deliberate acts. That is why I have resisted numerous invitations from the DLP. Your people see me as a disaffected Bee, well I have news for you: I am neither B nor D even though I would have cast my vote for Dr. Hinds in St. Thomas.
Pray tell me what in any of my comments would suggest to you that I support any political party. I am critical of both parties and I am fully aware that recently the DLP received the brunt simply because it appeared that they were hurtling from one foolhardy decision to the next. The Bees were spared because they were literally doing nothing because they somehow believed that the Government would have fallen in their laps because of the Dems incompetence. They did not figure in the massive vote buying into their calculations.
Sent from my iPad
Fruendal Stuart is a TRUE reflection of the majority of the VOTING public. Shun him and you shun a process that is designed to represent the likes of you …. My Gad ….!
I am not Christian … I have NO allegiance to a White Queen… why should Fruendal Stuart believe that he has the right to speak for the like of me …
Jeez, glad no one here knows my personal business………………all this for the corruption that is called politics??
hey since politics is like horse racing. i dare to give my picks here . Unlike David BU a good name for one of Sandy Horses, BTW if i owned horse i would consider David BU for such a name . can’t help but remember his FAMOUS BU ELECTION PICKS.
Anyhow not to stretch the issue into a furlong. I would give my Picks for the Sandy Gold Cup.
Astrodemus
Daga
Discreet
@can’t wait.
How does a Minister of Finance “tief” people money?
Alvin Cunmins, ask Christopher “Dudus “Sinkliar. he has perfected the art of such.