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Opposition Leader: Eight gone from BTA board
3/18/2009
By Sherlock Small
The ruling Democratic Labour Party is being accused of playing politics with the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) at the peril of the economy; and Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley adds that only last week, at least eight members of the BTA Board were removed and replaced with two.
Speaking to a large audience attending a BLP zonal meeting at the Princess Margaret School on Sunday night, the Opposition Leader said that of all that was going on politically in Barbados today, what was happening at the BTA was of gravest concern to her.
The opposition leader accused the Government of attempting to stifle criticism and keep “yes people” on its boards.
“Persons who have spent decades in the tourism industry were taken off; and in substitute for them, they put on their senator Peter Gilkes and one other person,” said Mottley.
The Opposition Leader said the changes affected even the representative of the Barbados Port Authority, and the vendors’ representative on the BTA board.
“Now something must be fundamentally wrong with a government that believes that anytime somebody makes a little noise and questions you, that you have to get rid of them. Something must be fundamentally wrong with a government that believes that they only want ‘yes people’ on a board that they have.
“And I say to you, ladies and gentlemen, the last time the Democratic Labour Party was in government they played politics with the Barbados Tourism Authority, and you know what happened to you. And what was of concern then, was that they were playing politics at the BTA, when people in this country were losing their jobs and suffering, and instead of protecting you, they were playing politics at the BTA,” she said.
Mottley noted that now was not a time for playing politics. The Opposition Leader said she understood there was a plan afoot to establish two boards, but noted she could not see how this kind of “two-headed monster” would be in the best interests of the people.
“At the end of the day only one entity can be in charge of writing the cheques and be financially responsible. If you want committees, put committees, but you can’t now come and put the BTA at the centre of Barbados’ economic development, in peril, because you believe that you don’t like how some people does be asking you questions on a board, or challenging you on a board. That is what we have come to, too much uncertainty in this country,” she added.
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