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Over the last three years, Marsha Caddle has cemented her place as a politician, not only in the constituency of St Michael South Central which she represents, but also as a Minister responsible for Economic Affairs and Investment.

But with the calling of another election, she will be forced to face a seasoned political opponent in Richard Sealy who is gunning for a “second innings” in Parliament, after almost four years of “reflection”

In an interview, the sitting Barbados Labour Party (BLP) representative was confident in her ability to meet the needs of constituents at the grassroots level, but even more so through the implementation of progressive policies.

However, in communities across the constituency, there appeared to be a disconnect between the work being done by the parliamentarian and constituents’ relatively parochial expectations.

In many cases, there were pockets of poverty where residents felt neglected and in other areas, it was clear that people were craving the attention of a representative whose physical presence could be felt.

“To be honest with you, I voted for Caddle last election, but I went to her on different occasions and never saw her,” said Philip Jones, a fisherman from Halls Road.

“There are other people who told me that they got through with her, but when I went back to ask for her, I never saw her again.

“Mr Sealy, to me, is a very good candidate because he comes around, he looks, he asks and he helps everybody. No matter what, you see Mr Sealy all through the year,” he added.

Jeremiah Lestrade, also a resident of Halls Road, said he and many others who live in the Marl Hole area have spent months struggling to make ends meet.

He said efforts to get assistance from Caddle with employment opportunities were futile.

“Richard Sealy is the better man because he came out here, he saw me out here doing my garden,I told him I’m just forking up and there’s no money to get anything and he gave me a little $50 to get some seeds and trays,”
Lestrade told Barbados TODAY.

“I went and bought them and now I have them there soaking to hatch. So Richard Sealy seems to be the better man. Most of the time when he was around, he was helping people.

“We are hungry out here and when I say hungry, I mean it.
This is more than four, five years that I haven’t worked,” the young man added.

Lestrade explained that residents would only vote for people who were able to display in a very tangible way that they “have our back”.

On Villa Road, Britton’s Hill, a man who gave his name only as David declared that he would not be voting for Sealy or the DLP due to their failure to make an impression since being ousted from Parliament in 2019. But he said his support for the BLP is only based on the work done by Kirk Humphrey in the borderline constituency of St Michael South.

“We don’t see Marsha in this constituency. The only politician that we see in this constituency is Kirk Humphrey. So I would tell anybody that Kirk Humphrey has got my back to the end and in order to give my support to him, I would vote for the BLP again,” said David.

“I haven’t seen anybody from the DLP since last election, so I don’t expect that they can come back now and just jump in the race and expect that everything is going to be dandy, because even if you lose, you should still be able to come out and support the constituency.” Closer to the Valerie community, Stephen Greenidge, a self-proclaimed ‘Sealy man’ said he was glad to see the former parliamentarian back on the campaign trail.

“For the last 15 years, Sealy has brought a lot of positiveness to the constituency as far as getting things happen sports wise, culture wise and with a lot of different things. But since the Dems got voted out, nothing positive was happening in this constituency,” he said.

“You know with COVID you couldn’t do much, so I would give [Marsha Caddle] a little ‘bligh’ as far as the COVID situation is concerned. But there is a lot to be done in this constituency in terms of jobs, infrastructure and a lot of other things that I haven’t seen done yet. I believe that Richard Sealy is the best man for the job,” Greenidge added.

Sealy was convincingly beaten in the last general election, getting just 1,101 votes to Caddle’s 2,881.

When Barbados TODAY visited Caddle’s Carrington Village constituency office, there was a clear sense of familiarity with some of the constituents.

Caddle said her strategy was heavily focused on creating policies at the national level that would allow communities, like the ones in her community, to thrive.

“A lot of what we were able to do to support households during COVID at the community level we were able to do because we also had national policies – policies to support small businesses, for example, policies to support those in the tourism and hospitality sector, that could then be matched by the things that we did on the ground,” she explained.

The MP noted that more traditional projects like road rehabilitation at Flagstaff Road, the completion of six other roads, and the inclusion of small contractors in key projects like the Hurricane Elsa recovery efforts were instrumental.

But perhaps the most visible form of work in the constituency is the Constitution River Rehabilitation Project, which, along with the Building Blocks project, will create a commercial village for residents that is expected to finish in March.

“People have seen the support, the help through COVID, the projects that we’ve gotten going, support with access to employment. They’ve seen that. But only they can tell you whether that is the kind of representation they want,” said Caddle.

On the other hand, Sealy, who pundits have identified as a strong opponent, revealed that whilst much of his work in the constituency may not have attracted media attention, his commitment to public life is “as strong as ever”.

But he lamented that many of the projects implemented under his stewardship, from sports to infrastructure, had all come to a halt.

In fact, he added that even the rehabilitation project to which Caddle referred was modified to a large extent during his time as Tourism Minister.

He recalled that under his stewardship, since 2003, more than 100 public housing solutions were completed, natural gas provided to some communities and other “humanistic endeavours” like finding employment and helping small businesses were fundamental.

“The question of representation, I think that there’s a need for it to be taken back to the levels that people have grown accustomed to.

And I think, having had the three and a half years to do some reflection, I can come back as an improved product. I am actually looking forward to the second innings, if you want me to use a cricket analogy, and do what I have to do for the people of these communities,” Sealy told Barbados TODAY.

kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

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As part of its Electronic Vehicle Registration Project, the Ministry of Transport Works and Water Resources (MTWW), in conjunction with contractor Arthur Construction, will be erecting gantries tonight, Monday, January 10, from approximately midnight, in Six Cross Roads, St. Philip, and the Garrison, St. Michael. 

Works will also be carried out on Tuesday, January 11, in Sunset Crest, St. James, also at midnight. 

Motorists and pedestrians are urged to proceed with extreme caution and to adhere to all directions given by the traffic wardens and to the signage posted. 

The process has started already, therefore the impact on traffic is expected to be minimal. 

The Ministry apologises for the inconvenience and thanks the public for its patience. (MTWW) 

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The Ministry of Health and Wellness advises members of the public that some of its polyclinics will serve as polling stations on election day, Wednesday, January 19. 

They are the Glebe Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George; Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael; Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, Wildey, St. Michael, and Randal Phillips Polyclinic, Oistins, Christ Church. 

As a result, these polyclinics will close half-day on Tuesday, January 18, and will be closed on election day. Persons who need to attend a polyclinic with urgent matters may go to any of the other polyclinics which are open on those days. (MR/BGIS) 

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The Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWW) advises the public that Ridge Road, St. Joseph, is temporarily closed.

Traffic coming from Parks Road to Ridge Road, must divert through Bissex, the Crescent and Springfield, on to Ridge Road.

Motorists travelling from Springfield to Ridge Road, should make a diversion through the Crescent, Bissex, and on to Parks Road. There will be local access only. Temporary road closure and diversion signage are in place.

The MTWW thanks motorists for their cooperation in this matter.

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The release of a comprehensive manifesto by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has placed the incumbent organisation ahead of its opponents, who, thus far have only delivered scattered promises on the political platform.

This is the assessment from political science lecturer Dr Kristina Hinds, who has cautioned candidates from the Democratic Labour Party (DLP)’s old guard against referring to their political records under the Freundel Stuart administration in the ongoing campaign.

Economics Professor Michael Howard, however, slammed BLP promises to abolish land tax as “foolish talk” given its “essential” contribution to Government’s revenue generation and by extension, its national development.

They were responding to a weekend of developments on the campaign trail, most notably, the BLP’s ambitious manifesto. They include promises of eliminating land tax on the first $400,000 of property value, the construction of 10,000 houses in five years, and plans to transform 50,000 homes into drivers of revenue generation through renewable energy.

According to Dr Hinds, the document is “very aspirational”, but she wondered whether some of the promises might confuse the average Barbadian, though appearing to be quite forward looking.

“I would definitely say that the BLP is slightly ahead of the Democratic Labour Party because it has released a manifesto that people can look to and decide whether the plan that the Barbados Labour Party has for the country is adequate, if it makes sense, if the things that can be implemented and are good for the country,” Dr Hinds told Barbados TODAY.

“So that’s quite useful, especially since sometimes it can be difficult when listening to platform presentations to decipher the exact policy from what is campaigning and trying to rouse the crowd and get the vote,” she added.

While lauding the document’s ‘people-centredness’, she cautioned against placing too much trust in manifesto promises that are often undelivered.

“I think the ease in land tax would be very useful for many people. I also think that as small as this $3,000 may be that they’re offering first-time homeowners 35 years and younger, it’s something that is helpful,” said the UWI lecturer.

“My question about the land tax has to do with what will replace it. When we give this tax revenue loss, it needs to be recouped somewhere else,” she added.

But Professor Howard contended that land tax was one of the most equitable taxes, when compared with value added tax (VAT), or taxes on garbage or fuel, which are regressive on the poor.

“The abolition of the land or property tax in Barbados would benefit the rich, commercial and propertied classes, more than proportionally and these classes have also benefited from the reduction of corporation and income tax, as well as VAT pardons,” Howard contended via Facebook.

“Further, and importantly, the value of land rises like those of stocks and shares, and therefore land and property, both commercial and personal, should be taxed like any other asset. Land used for business or rental property should be taxed on grounds of economic efficiency in contributing to economic growth. Rental housing should also be taxed as a consumption good.

“The opportunity cost of idle land, in terms of its negative contribution to economic growth, is very high, and therefore idle land should be taxed at a higher rate than improved land.

“The tax on land values in new developments can also be viewed as betterment levies used to accelerate economic development. The politicians are clearly struggling blindly in deep waters,” the retired professor concluded.

In the meantime, Dr Hinds warned the DLP against attempting to romanticise its time in Government from 2008 to 2018, particularly candidates who served during the now infamous term.

“I don’t think this is a really good thing to do because people were not pleased with the previous administration. I also do think that there is a level of apology and contrition that has not come from the Democratic Labour Party that may be useful, especially for the returning candidates that were in the previous administration,” Dr Hinds explained.

The university lecturer noted that it would be useful for the DLP to focus its efforts on galvanising support at the constituency level, whilst balancing a case for why they should form the next government.

“People are considering the type of government that they want, people are also considering whether we need an opposition and then a third thing that people are considering is the needs in their constituencies and the political parties have to strike a balance,” said Dr Hinds.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

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Strike action by taxi operators in the City was averted on Monday after a speedily called meeting resulted in a quick settlement.

Over the weekend taxi drivers in Bridgetown threatened to withdraw their services after a breakdown in talks to find a suitable space in Fairchild Street where they could conduct their business.

Glendon Gordan, Treasurer of the Barbados Taxi Alliance, told Barbados TODAY the situation developed after work at the Fairchild Street Vendors’ market began last year.

He said they had reached their wit’s end having to battle to find spaces to park and persistently being reported by the police.

“We have been trying now for a little while to get parking spaces for taxis… We carried our plight to the Ministry of Transport when William Duguid was the Minister of Transport but now it seems like we are getting a little bit of headway. We hope that the discussions will be able to assist us and allow us to feed our families and pay our bills.”

Describing the situation as chaotic, Gordan said, “Fairchild Street is a very hectic area in the morning and in the evenings, and the difficulty for the guy is trying to get parking space. We were constantly being pushed around and then police officers are constantly on our case especially if we stop to pick up people or load groceries.”

CEO of Haigh Communications, Joyann Haigh held a meeting with the taxi men and members of the Barbados Police Service and Barbados Fire Service to reach an agreement on the matter.

Haigh told Barbados TODAY, “They are concerned about the taxis not being returned here [Vendors’ Market]. There seems to be some miscommunication so we just have to correct it. They are supposed to be by Probyn Street by the side of the Empire.”

She said that in an effort not to disadvantage the 50- 60 taxi men who operate in that area they came together to find a solution.

“We decided that when we are constructing the kiosks for the 39 vendors, we are going to construct at least 39 car spaces. About 12 of them [car spaces] we have committed to giving to the taxis. The other spaces are for the vendors and customers.”

Haigh also disclosed that they would be seeking to allocate some dedicated space, opposite The Golden Square Freedom park.

In the meantime, she also issued an appeal to the public not to park in spaces designated for taxis.

“We’ve got to remind the public that by Probyn Street right outside the old Empire those spaces were there for many years and we want to put them back there [for taxi operators].

Haigh added they will use the assistance of the police and the Government Information Service to get the word out about not parking in the designated areas.

Meanwhile, Communications, Information and Marketing Officer with the Alliance Owners of Public Transport, Mark Haynes said that they were happy the strike action was averted.

“I am glad that we met here this morning to bring resolve to this untenable situation. We are cognizant that what now stands cannot continue and we have to look at this in a very organized and structured way. I am in concurrence with Joy Ann’s perspective in terms of bringing redress to this situation so everybody gets a chance.”

kobiebroomes@barbadostoday.bb

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Declaring there will be no loose promises from the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) platform, an energised Verla De Peiza on Sunday night laid bare her party’s agenda within the first 90 days of office if elected to office on January 19.

Ahead of the planned release of the party’s manifesto on Thursday at the Wayne Daniel Pavilion and Playing Field, Brereton, St Philip, De Peiza zeroed in on ensuring accountability and fixing the island’s fiscal space, touting plans to introduce fiscal responsibility laws, integrity in public life legislation, the removal of the foreign exchange fee imposed by the previous DLP administration, and new provisions for credit unions, among other things.

On the party’s platform, mounted at Haggatt Hall for the candidates’ showcase which was preceded by performances by some of the island’s top artistes, De Peiza told the attentive crowd that the first order of business would be the introduction of fiscal responsibility laws that ensure Barbados operates within its means and is able to pay its debts going forward.

“We have to have a manageable debt ceiling so that we keep within manageable targets and we have right now to be able to give ourselves a little room. So that the debt-to-GDP target will be 60 per cent of GDP because you do need to have little wiggle room,” she said,  while accusing the Mia Mottley administration of “wild” spending.

She insisted that financial prudence could only work if there are checks and balances in place, and promised that government ministers and not senior public servants would have to respond to issues raised in the annual Auditor-General’s report, under a new DLP administration.

De Peiza, who also declared that Barbadians were tired of political leaders playing football with long-awaited integrity in public life legislation, assured the DLP would get the job done saying, “we now have several templates that were passed but never made it to the statute books” and this would help the party to deliver on the promise.

She underscored that the DLP, which was ousted in a record election defeat in 2018 after two terms in office, would offer measured relief.

In this regard, she cited the removal of the foreign exchange fee which she said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had called for its removal. The two per cent charge on credit card transactions and other foreign exchange transactions went into effect in 2017 under the Freundel Stuart-led government.

“A new DLP administration will bring that to an end. That will allow our people who access goods from overseas to let their money go a little further and there will be other economies of scale that will write that balance,” De Peiza said.

She further outlined intentions to make provisions for a $100,000 foreign exchange allowance to individuals who are trading financial assets regionally and internationally, “because there is only so much that you can invest in Barbados and we need now to teach our people to invest”.

“That sets us up for the future,” she said.

If her party is elected, De Peiza also pledged that the credit union movement will be enabled to expand to provide a wider range of financial products and services to its members.

The political hopeful, who is hoping for success in the St Lucy riding after consecutive defeats in Christ Church West in the 2013 and 2018 general elections, made clear that she was not “playing for second place” in the pending poll.

Charging that the ruling Barbados Labour Party wants “a low turnout”, as she again knocked the calling of an election at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, De Peiza urged party supporters to stand up for what is right and “come back home and come out to vote because this country is depending on you”.
sandydeane@barbadostoday.bb

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Democratic Labour President (DLP) Verla De Peiza on Sunday expressed her confidence in young, first-time political candidate Dawn-Marie Armstrong who issued a public apology last week after being blasted on social media for controversial comments at the launch of the party’s election campaign.

Armstrong spoke about being a mother and compared De Peiza, who is also a mother, to Prime Minister Mia Mottley who is childless.

She said at the meeting in St Checker Hall, St Lucy: “Checker Hall… in your representative Verla De Peiza and in me, Dawn-Marie Armstrong, you have two women with families, with children, that truly understand what it is to sacrifice, that truly understand what it is to care, and you have our Prime Minister stealing our hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that we have put into bearing children and raising them in this country, coming again three and a half years later to say she still cares. But how, Ma’am? But how do you care? How have you shown it? What have you done?”

“And you all compare my president to this Prime Minister, and I say this without apology: You cannot compare a bulldog to a Great Dane; same animal but a different breed. And everything that you have said about my president is because she is a woman. She speaks like a woman, she talks like a woman, she carries herself like a woman. And I as a woman cannot stand here and allow her to be victimized for being who she is because the same fate will fall on me.”

During Sunday’s political meeting, De Peiza pointed out that Armstrong was the first politician to apologise, citing instances on other political platforms where people were referred to as nanny goats and other disparaging names.

“Comrade Dawn-Marie Williams let me tell you, I speak on behalf of the whole of the Democratic Labour Party and the whole of Barbados to tell you that when you make a mistake and you apologise, you are a big person. That is what is important. She has a long political future and that has them worried, that is what the problem is for them,” she said.

In her brief address to supporters at Sunday’s meeting, Armstong said amid the events of the past few days, “she was even more committed to representing because of women, single mothers, single parents, children and the elderly in our country”.

On the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) platform, Prime Minister Mia Mottley made clear she had enough of the disparaging comments made against the women of her party.

While making no reference to Armstrong’s comments, the BLP leader said: “How much more of this misogyny? How much more of this woman-hating? Do you understand that they are doing it to your daughters, your mothers, your grandmothers, your granddaughters?

“I have borne every insult, every slap because it is not about me, but as leader of this party, I am not going to let you insult the women in the Barbados Labour Party anymore. This country deserves better and can do better.” (BT)

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With just over a week before general elections, Prime Minister Mia Mottley believes the choice is clear for Barbadians when they go to cast ballots – to re-elect a government with a proven track record of progress and sound leadership.

Speaking at the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mega Manifesto Meeting on Sunday where she identified several improvements made by her administration since taking office in 2018 – namely, resolving the south coast sewage crisis, improving road infrastructure, and boosting foreign reserves – Mottley said Barbadians must not be reckless with the island’s future and hand the reins of government to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which, in her view, is making a mockery of the elections.

“It worries me that what we have parading as a party asking you for the vote, is nothing but a collection of people otherwise known as a political pelau…. a little bit of this and a little bit of that, a political one two three, at the very time your country is facing its greatest peril.

“What manner of madness is this?” she said.

Mottley charged that there was infighting and no solidified support for DLP president Verla De Peiza ahead of the January 19 polls, further alleging that candidates Richard Sealy, Dr David Estwick, Michael Lashley and Dr Denis Lowe, who have returned to try to win the seats they lost at the last general elections, were battling for party leadership.

“The only thing that those men Richard, Estwick and Lashley are united on – and Lowe, who is too low – is to get rid of the woman. Once they get rid of the woman, then they will fight among themselves on the 20th.”

Mottley strongly defended her government’s track record, pointing to several policy achievements outlined within the party’s manifesto that was released on Saturday.

“It speaks to core values of transformation, it speaks to drivers of national transformation, it speaks to changing a Victorian approach that it is about lock up and lock up,” the Prime Minister said of the BLP manifesto.

“It speaks about changing the disproportionate relationship between who got medical insurance and who don’t got, and why you should be able to get it in this country and why you should have fairness when you get it. It speaks about giving you a chance to own a piece of the rock. It speaks about easing your cost of living by taking personal care items and taking the VAT off of them,” she added. (SB)

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A young, aspiring politician is attempting to break down decades of loyalty to the country’s two main political parties as he makes his bid for the Christ Church South constituency.

However, Don Leacock is simultaneously attempting to overcome negative publicity for disparaging social media comments about Prime Minister Mia Mottley more than three and a half years ago.

Leacock, 25, on Monday, said he was not convinced that the Barbados Labour Party’s 29-1 parliamentary majority is healthy for the existence of free and fair democracy.

The former Harrison College student explained that he opted to run as an independent candidate to challenge traditional mindsets around politics which, in his opinion, have been failing the masses.

“This two-party system is extremely corrupt and it needs to be dismantled and that’s the main reason why I’m running as an independent,” Leacock told Barbados TODAY.

“I want all young people to see this as a call to action and I want all mature people to see this as a wake-up call, that the ideals and societal norms that have governed this country for so long are simply inefficient and are frankly failing the country.

“Why am I voting for the BLP because my mother voted for the BLP 20 years ago? Those people have already passed away and the new people may have different ideals,” the young man added.

Another reason for running as an independent, he explained, is his opposition to large campaign contributions from big businesses, which leave governments beholden when they take office.

Leacock is the son of former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Charles Leacock.

Granted a partial scholarship after graduating sixth form, he pursued degrees in Accounting and International Business and Finance and Economics at the University of South Florida. Leacock, who works remotely with Ernst and Young is also a Certified Public Accountant with a licence to practice in Barbados, Bermuda and the United States of America.

If elected, he promised to quit his job to serve the constituency as he questioned incumbent MP Ralph Thorne’s commitment to the task.

“His priorities are elsewhere. He is trying to make big lawyer money like all big lawyers do and there’s nothing wrong with that. But don’t do it as the Member of Parliament for Christ Church South,” said the young professional.

Leacock’s bid, however, is not without controversy. In May 2018, days before PM Mottley took office, he questioned her morality in a highly offensive manner.

The comments, made on Twitter came back to haunt him, when one user posted his tweet and asked: “Is this still your view on PM Mottley?”

When asked in the interview about the statements, Leacock explained that it was made in his “youthful exuberance”, but that he deeply regretted it and has since changed his outlook.

“My world view since then has been opened, I’ve been able to live in two different countries. Since the time I would have authored that tweet I would’ve been able to interact with so many more people from all different beliefs, races, ethnicities and sexual preferences,” he said

“There’s never any excuse for making a comment on someone based strictly on their sexual preference and I believe in equality for all people,” he added.

In the meantime, Leacock is focusing on his community work, which included a debushing initiative in St Christopher that was followed by a “children’s mental health day” with jumping tents and other fun activities.

During the interview, he endorsed fellow independent candidate Brian Talma for his work with young people and his attempts to move them from street culture to ‘beach culture’.

But even more so, he noted that much of his inspiration comes from his father, who rose from humble beginnings in rural Guyana, to become the youngest attorney to serve as DPP in Barbados.

“He has been an extreme inspiration for me in my life. He has taught me stuff through stories and parables and through his actions. He didn’t need to teach me anything, because I saw him living a pure and conscious life every day. I’m just trying to make him proud.”
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

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Former Minister of Housing Michael Lashley Q.C. is adamant that something is fundamentally wrong in Barbados when squatters have more rights to land ownership than law-abiding citizens.

At the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) official presentation of candidates at Haggatt Hall, St. Michael on Sunday night, he gave all three Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Members of Parliament, who served as ministers in that ministry over the past three years, George Payne, DrWilliam Duguid and Peter Phillips failing grades. Defending his record as the former housing minister under the previous DLP administration, Lashley spoke about the revolution that took place under his leadership, with hundreds of houses being built and supplied to lower to middle-income Barbadians across the island.

In stark contrast, Lashley criticized the BLP’s performance and claimed that the party’s tenure consisted of “six houses in St. George” with additional properties being constructed at Parish Land, St. Philip for squatters.

“I went to Parish Land and realise that they are building houses for squatters. So, you are not the priority anymore. The maids, the gas station workers, public servants, police officers, teachers, they are not relevant to this administration in terms of housing. Imagine that, I have so many people who come to my office asking for housing units, asking for land but you can take up the land up there in Parish Land and give to squatters. Now I understand that you are seeking to solve a social problem, I don’t have a problem with that, but there are other persons who live in Barbados, legal, lawful, law-abiding citizens who have a right to own a piece of this rock and we are giving land up there to squatters.

“I am saying to you tonight, look at our housing programme, look at the performance and you can say to yourself, you are safe with the Democratic Labour Party and you are not safe with the Barbados Labour Party,” said Lashley,

The St. Philip North candidate pledged that as part of his party’s goal to preserve democracy, it was their intent to repeal the Mia Mottley government’s Debt Settlement (Arrears) Bill which outlined that individuals and businesses whose lands were compulsory acquired by Government would be compensated in a new series of Government bonds. Lashley deemed this as unconstitutional.

“The Constitution of this country says that if you acquire land that you must compensate them fairly and within a reasonable time but now persons are about to be dispossessed of their property because you are being paid in bonds. And not only that, there is a time period for you to get payment. They [the bonds] mature over 42 months and then there are 42 equal payments and you are out of your land, out of your property that is protected by the Constitution. You have fundamental rights and I am saying to you that this must stop. A Democratic Labour Party’s first order of business should repeal that legislation because it is contrary to your fundamental rights.

“I want you to examine the performance of the Barbados Labour Party. I want you to critically analyze what is happening in this country because when a prime minister can say that be careful voting for an opposition, to my mind respectfully, that is really an insult to ordinary Barbadians. You have a right under the Constitution to support any political party . . . and you have a duty to protect democracy and the rule of law in this country. . . .  We have to save this country from dictatorship. This is an important election and indeed we have to ensure that democracy is protected,” he added. (KC)

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Barbadians will soon have the chance to own shares and invest in a major tourism project as well as other opportunities.

Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, speaking at the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mega Manifesto Meeting on Sunday, disclosed that if returned to office, a Mia Mottley-led administration will expand investment opportunities available to all Barbadians, including the Wyndham Grand Hotel at Sam Lord’s Castle.

“One of the critical things we are going to do is we will divest ourselves of the ownership and the interest in Sam Lord’s Hotel and its surrounding lands. We plan to give that as an investment opportunity to ordinary Barbadians and to the credit union movement,” Abrahams said.

He pointed to the need to encourage average Barbadians to invest more in local projects and job-creating initiatives, rather than keep their savings in banking institutions.

“We need to give the ordinary Bajan a chance to own something substantial, not to collect a pittance of interest from the bank. The banks do not give you interest now; you actually pay to keep your money on the bank,” Abrahams said.

“By doing this [investment opportunity], we will allow you to have a stake in perhaps one of the biggest tourism opportunities in the entire of Barbados. This is what your government will do for you. We do not want it all for ourselves.”

The BLP’s Christ Church East candidate added that the Barbadian Wealth Fund will also be completed soon, providing another option for locals looking to invest in unoccupied Crown lands and assets.

“We want to make Barbadians owners of public assets,” he said.

“We will complete the development of the Barbadian Wealth Fund, and this fund will put used government lands and assets to work, using them as stakes for equity and more significant developments. The fund will be legally owned by anybody over the age of 18,” Abrahams explained. (SB)

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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Monday said closing the digital access gap between the Caribbean and the more advanced economies could increase the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as 12 per cent over the medium term.

In a new report, the IDB said that the situation could provide a strong boost to a post-coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery.

The report titled The Regional Overview: Digital Infrastructure and Development in the Caribbean is part of the IDB’s Quarterly Bulletin economic series. In addition, it has economic sections for Suriname, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and Barbados.

The report looked at economic growth in the region with a focus on productivity, a key driver of long-term economic growth and an opportunity for the Caribbean to get to the level of similar economies across the world.

“Access to faster internet is more than just streaming Netflix and Zoom calls,” said David Rosenblatt, the regional economic advisor for the IDB’s Caribbean Department.

“For the Caribbean, a modern and robust digital and telecommunications infrastructure is a connection with powerful global trends that are driving growth. It is the key to unlock faster productivity growth for decades to come,” he added.

The payoffs of investing in digital infrastructure are large, the report notes, with potential GDP gains that range between two times and nearly 50 times the estimated costs.

Digitalization is one of the critical areas that would allow the region to close development performance with comparable economies. Caribbean economies have experienced volatile growth rates over the past five decades, averaging under one per cent or negative growth for long stretches, are vulnerable to global economic shocks and, have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report includes estimated fixed and mobile broadband gaps between countries and advanced economies grouped in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

For instance, Trinidad and Tobago has a fixed broadband gap of 9.2 percentage points against the OECD, The Bahamas’ gap is 11.2 percentage points, and Jamaica’s 24 percentage points. Except for Uruguay, all Latin American and Caribbean countries have positive gaps relative to the OECD.

The authors used an econometric model to estimate the benefits of closing the digital infrastructure gap. A 10 per cent point change in digital infrastructure is associated with a 3.2 per cent higher GDP and 2.6 per cent higher productivity over a six-year period.

For nearly half of Caribbean economies, digital investments could yield cumulative GDP increases in double digits, which the report calls “transformative improvements”.

When looking at cost-benefit ratio, the so-called “multiplier effects” of infrastructure investments, the report found that for The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados the potential benefit in terms of the cumulative positive impact on growth could be between 23 and 58 times the associated costs.

The IDB says governments can play a big role in facilitating more digital investments, including updating regulatory frameworks for issues such as “right of ways”, spectrum allocation and universal service funds. The report calls for governments to establish a close relationship between digital agendas and national connectivity plans.

The IDB publishes a Broadband Index Report annually for 65 countries, looking at public policies, regulations, infrastructure, and application and training.

While some Caribbean economies rank high when compared to Latin American countries, the report notes, the region lags with lead countries such as Sweden, the United States, India, Iceland, and Australia.

“If this recent crisis has taught us anything, it is that the ability to communicate, transact, and reach clients and markets virtually has never before been more critical. The future will reward economies that can do so most effectively,” the report noted.
(BT/CMC)

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Three years after the people of Christ Church East overwhelmingly turned their backs on the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) Dr Denis Lowe in a massive show of support for his Barbados Labour Party (BLP) opponent Wilfred Abrahams,  it now appears the incumbent may have to do some convincing to hang on to as many of the 4,432 votes he received in that 2018 poll to retain his seat

A visit to the constituency by a Barbados TODAY team on Monday to try to gauge the mood of the people leading up to the January 19 general election, found that several residents, some of whom are believed to have voted for Abrahams, now appear to be questioning the quality of his representation and the leadership of his party since taking office.

A retired civil servant who confessed to being a die-hard supporter of the BLP, has now made it clear, he would not be voting this time, far less for the incumbent MP.

“I am 78 years old. From the time I could have voted, I never voted for any other party by the BLP. The very last election that they had, I was in Bay Street hollering fuh murder. When the results were coming over, I kept hollering out, ‘yuh gine kill dem, yuh gine kill dem?’ But I am saying to you, regardless of how good the Barbados Labour Party is, I think that the leader of the Barbados Labour Party is too pompous and too bossy,” said the Parish Land resident who gave his name only as Grantley.

He added: “That is one of the reasons that I am saying this time around these fingers of mine…I am not voting. I am disappointed with the leadership. What is my representation? Nothing. No politician has not done anything good for me. I am saying to you, that the reaction that I am hearing is mixed. I belong to a club and the reaction is mixed because the representation is too pushy, too bossy.”

Also in Parish Land, an 87-year-old constituent, who preferred to remain anonymous insisted that while he supports Prime Minister Mia Mottley, “there is no way Abrahams can get my vote”.

The retired artisan complained that he only sees the incumbent on TV contending that he would not have a problem if he even passed once a month and “shout for we.”

“If I could get 75 people to say ‘no’ to Abrahams, I would be happy. He does not come up in here,” declared the Parish Land resident.

Another man who was walking past during the Barbados TODAY interview with the elderly constituent, paused long enough to loudly praise Lowe as an excellent representative who happened to be associated with the wrong party.

However, the man who asked to be named “Anyhow” declared his full backing for the BLP.

Over in Lower Wilcox, Esther expressed her doubts as to who would be victorious and refused to be drawn into giving Abrahams the nod.

In Upper Wilcox, a retired public officer whose house is located near the runaway of Grantley Adams International Airport, is also questioning the representation of the BLP candidate.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said the only politician who had said anything to her about relocating to make way for the airport redevelopment was Lowe.

She said the government has told the people in that area not to repair their houses because they were allocated to move.

She complained that it is years now and nobody, including Abrahams has updated them regarding the state of their houses and relocation, even though he had observed a new house being built nearby.

“That house that they are building there since it was damaged by the last hurricane…nobody has come to us and told us why a house was being built there and why we can’t also build or repair ours,” the disgruntled constituent told Barbados TODAY.

She said while she did not have a problem with the incumbent Mia Mottley administration, Abrahams or some other official needed to tell her what was going on with the existing spots.

Lisa, is an employee of the National Housing Corporation while sitting in her verandah at Hopewell Development, delivered some brickbats on Abrahams stating that the incumbent MP “hasn’t done anything” for the three years he was in power.

“Abrahams came to us in 2018 and told us you want the vote. The people trusted you and gave you the vote. But you did not do anything. On the other hand, Mr Denis Lowe, I feel he should be the next representative for Christ Church East.  He did a very good job in this constituency by helping many people to get jobs. He tried to help everybody in every household. Right now I have a job at NCC because of Dr Denis Lowe.

Another constituent who was waiting to catch a ZR in Silver Sands, complained that she has been living in the area for 26 years and a road which had never been fixed, had now gotten repaired on the eve of a general election.

The young woman, who preferred to remain anonymous was adamant she sees no reason why she should vote in this election noting she has not received the kind of assistance expected.

Renacco Yarde, a 15-year-old student who was walking along Silver Sands Road with his 15-year-old friend Sheldon Lorde also observed that roads were only now being repaired because an election is in the air.

“I don’t think this is a good sign. It means he [Abrahams] only care about the vote,” Renacco declared. He is supporting Lowe to retain his seat.

However, Stanley Greaves, a wheelchair-bound resident is throwing his support behind Abrahams, along with his neighbour who asked not to be identified.

The Barbados TODAY team while moving around in the constituency,  saw a freshly-paved road along Ealing Grove and workmen from COW Williams Construction busy fixing a nearby one at the corner of Harringay Drive.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Democratic Labour Party (DLP) hopeful Dr. Ronnie Yearwood is pegging the kick start of the Barbados economy on special economic service zones.

He believes these zones, as they have done in other parts of the world, will generate export activity and attract foreign direct investment which will ultimately boost employment and development in Barbados. This was one of the economic strategies aimed at taking Barbados forward which the party unveiled during a candidates showcase at Haggatt Hall, St. Michael on Sunday night.

Yearwood explained that these new zones, which he distanced from the typical 1980’s exploitative free trade zones, would focus on high value-added industries, utilizing and recognising Barbados’ stellar educational system. According to the St. James South candidate, these special zones will be aimed at attracting domestic and foreign investment from the diaspora and may include areas such as high technology, manufacturing, medicinal cannabis, creative industry, renewable industry, financial technology, software design, law and arbitration services.

He maintained that the most important role of any economic plan should be to empower and provide opportunities for all Barbadians.

“What is important about this new economy and these new service zones is that any project in development for Barbados must empower Barbadians and it must provide opportunities for all Barbadians. At the moment, the Barbados Labour Party seems to be throwing ideas out there, hoping something sticks and nothing is sticking. The point is, these service zones can provide economic empowerment for you and your family and provide a basis for a new economy. It is also not just about providing because you must have opportunities to create your own jobs, your own businesses and sustain your family to pass wealth down from one generation to the next generation to the next generation,” Yearwood said.

The first-time candidate said that the University of the West Indies has a major role to play in the creation of these zones and he envisioned that St. James South could be a hub for talent, housing, green spaces, employment not only for constituents but for new graduates and for all Barbadians.

On the other hand, the political hopeful noted the need for governance, economy and welfare reforms, the latter through the introduction of what he characterised as a universal basic income. He explained that unlike a reverse tax credit, a universal basic income is a set amount of money that every citizen receives and it can replace various forms of welfare, food vouchers, hampers, bus fare grants, uniform grants, benevolent fund, part rent payments. Yearwood believed that government could afford to implement this programme by amalgamating existing welfare programmes to the tune of $3 million but the bottom-line is, it has to be a priority.

He said the DLP’s aim is to change the state of politics by empowering people so they have control over their own lives.

“At its core, what universal basic income does is it empowers the individual. You have a choice over your life and the ability to change your family’s situation.  . . . Too much of our politics gives members of Parliament power over your lives, literally deciding if you can eat, if you have bus fare, if you can send your kids to school, if you can pay your rent.

“That is not right. You should not be a member of Parliament for 20 or 30 years bragging about how you still support a people. That is not empowerment. We have to empower people so they have control over their lives because people will not be dependent when you have a universal basic income and they are not tied to a politician to meet their basic needs. If people want or need their basic needs met it should be that they make the decisions about it. So that if we are serious about empowering people, then we must get serious and do the things necessary. I’ve heard too many horror stories in my constituency about people not getting help because of who they voted for. The universal basic income is a way to change this relationship. Why should anyone in 2022 be begging a politician for anything in Barbados?” Yearwood asked. (KC)

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Jomario Joe Cloudy Goddard is the owner of Dreaming Cloud Films a company that specialises in professional videography services. The company which has been operating for the past seven years has been growing from strength to strength since his introduction to film back when he was a dancer with popular dance group ADL Adrenaline Dancers.

“I was involved in film through making dance videos with ADL when we started the group. I was the person that recorded and edited the videos. The feedback I got was that the videos were to the standard that they could be disseminated on lone TV station CBC.

“I used the initial feedback to do a lot more research and became a professional videographer,” he said.

The former student of Alleyne School said that his company which is located in St Thomas is seeking to expand and he has already started the process of training interested persons in the art of videography and video editing.

“Dreaming Cloud Films is located both in Barbados and internationally as I travel abroad to many countries. It is a moving entity at this time. Work is getting beyond one person as I started the business with myself as the lone videographer and now it has expanded to our company providing a range of services for our clients. We are slowly evolving the company into both music and video production as well,” he said.
Outside of being a businessman Goddard is also a recording artiste and released his single Such A Vibe on Hott 95.3 FM over the weekend.

He said the song sought to inspire persons that no matter what they are going through that they could have a vibe regardless of their circumstances.

“I want persons to listen to this song and know that no matter what happens in their day it can be a positive vibe as they can start on a fresh page feeling happy, motivated, and stronger than before. I want them to be in such a vibe that nothing could break them,” he said.

Goddard said his latest single Such A Vibe was written, recorded, mixed and mastered by his company. Thus, he is seeking to incorporate music into his business moving forward and has already found upcoming recording artistes who are ready to take their music to the next level.

“I am on a mission to build my company in the community. I want to create video and music packages and export them at the highest quality. I am also working with L.O. Gabz and two other upcoming dancehall artistes from my community.

“Being a recording artiste there are a lot of experiences that I learnt the hard way my goal with this company is to help artistes grow as recording artistes by sharing some of the knowledge that I have learned over the years,” he said. (Write Right PR Services)

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Red Advertising & Marketing has appointed Sophie Charles-Barber, a London-born advertising and branding specialist, as its new Creative Director effective January 3, 2022. Charles-Barber, was most recently based in Trinidad and Tobago at Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, where she spent more than a decade in a similar role.

Managing Director of Red Advertising, Jevan Jutagir, welcomed Charles-Barber to the position, noting that the company would be prompt in placing her vast experience at the disposal of clients.

“I am pleased that we have been able to attract a talent of the magnitude of Sophie to Red and, this bodes well in our ability to continue to be the most creatively awarded agency in the Caribbean, despite some recent changes in management.

“Sophie has both a Caribbean and a world view and that will add a lot of new thinking to Red’s offering. mHer previous agency is one that I hold in high regard, so combining the thinking of the largest agency in the Caribbean with that of the most creative agency in the Caribbean is sure to be a winning formula! I am looking forward to great results going forward.
Welcome aboard Sophie!”

Charles-Barber has over 15 years of experience developing strategy and campaigns for leading brands within the Caribbean, Latin America, the UK, and Europe.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a designer and brand strategy consultant providing research-based consultancy for leading brands, including Coca-Cola, Philips Electronics, Nokia, and the British Museum.

She has produced creative and overseen brand management on campaigns and projects for Toyota, Flow, VISA, Pepsi, Diageo, and Hilton among many others. Among the core skills which she brings to her new role, are brand strategy; multi-channel marketing; campaign results monitoring and reporting; social campaigns; team leadership; research and trend analysis; corporate communications; trade strategy; and content development and production.

Her creative campaigns have previously achieved multiple Addy Award wins for local, regional and district, including the prestigious ‘Best in Show, Overall Campaign’ and ‘Best in Show, Digital’.
Charles-Barber holds a Master of Arts (M.A.), Narrative Environments from the Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London; and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) | Architecture from The University of Liverpool, School of Architecture. (PR)

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Police are at the scene of an accident involving a truck and an ambulance at the Eagle Hall traffic light junction.

Police spokesman Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss confirmed there are injuries but said there are not life-threatening at this stage.

The road at the Eagle Hall traffic light junction has been temporality closed and Inniss is appealing to motorists to avoid the area as police conduct their investigations.

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The Supervisor of Elections advises the public that the poll of election officers, including members of the Barbados Police Service, for the General Election to be held on January 19, will be taken on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

For a full list of the polling stations, you may visit https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/download/public-notice-special-polling-day/ (BGIS)

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