Eddie Abed, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

Eddie Abed, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

BUSINESS MONDAY - Take charge!

Leaders urged to make bold decisions

 

A top private sector official is telling business and public sector leaders in Barbados that they must make bold decisions to tackle the issues confronting their organisations.
 
This from Eddie Abed, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), who has also stated bluntly that business leaders are accountable to their employees and their shareholders, come rain or shine. 
 
Speaking against the background of falling productivity and rising absenteeism, the president said that the BCCI has advocated that leaders in Government, labour, commerce, church and civil society need to engage their members and constituents in a meaningful and mature manner, to discuss the depth and breadth of national problems.
 
“We must be bold and implement the necessary decisions now for the greater good, so as to ensure future generations are guaranteed a lifestyle equal to, or better than that which we currently enjoy,” he suggested.
 
“We no longer have the luxury of time to keep kicking the proverbial can down the road. We must act decisively now,” he said in comments made available to Business Monday.
 
Abed noted that the approach has to be part of “our corporate DNA, but is not the only driving force.
 
“Perhaps, more selfishly, since we live, work, play and reside here, we wish to ensure Barbados remains desirable now and for our future generations.” 
 
The BCCI President added that he has found more and more people are embracing the belief that if you are not part of the solution, then you must be part of the problem. 
 
“Thereby, we all have a responsibility to participate in the problem-solving exercise without delay,” he reasoned.
 
Abed pointed out that Barbados has the highest rate of employee absenteeism in the Caribbean; one of the lowest rankings for the ease of doing business; and our quantum of Foreign Direct Investment is woefully low as compared to historical rates. 
 
These facts, he maintained, seem not to resonate with so many of our citizens.  
 
“Either they choose not to comprehend them or sadly it may be a belief that the solutions lie in the hands of others in authority,” he lamented.
 
The President said he believes it to be a universal truth that Barbados’ shine and lustre have diminished during the last decade. 
 
“That is not to say it is short of positives to our nation, but when one considers we were once referred to as ‘punching above our weight’, one cannot help but be distraught at the prevalence of malaise, low productivity and a sense of entitlement that has a stranglehold on our citizens. 
 
“We have replaced the old adage of ‘hard work is the key to success’ with the belief that the State must provide all of our social needs, ad infinitum, without any regard to how it is paid for,” he 
bemoaned.
 
“Far more worrying is the social sense that one need not take responsibility for oneself or one’s actions,” Abed added. (JB)

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