EDITORIAL - Barbadians, Gov’t must work together

Co-operation between Government and the population is required for Barbados to thrive and become a success on a larger scale.

At present, there is an overwhelming reliance on Government to provide for the people. In fact, there is a consensus that Government’s duty is to provide for every individual who is in need. This belief has formed steadily over the years and today we regularly hear complaints via the media about the unavailability of jobs, housing and health care, the cost of food and utility expenses and the conditions of roads, buildings and working environments, amongst other concerns, to which the solution is invariably, “The Government needs to...”

However, this occurrence may be understandable when one considers the number of certified school-leavers and university graduates who have toiled with the goal of becoming a financially successful citizen in this country, only to be met with unemployment challenges or low incomes. These then become more reliant on the state for their survival because it is practically impossible to thrive on their own.

Admittedly, the people of Barbados employ officials in Government to take care of the running of the country – maintaining infrastructure and social services – and it is every citizen’s right to criticise Government and hold it to account for its performance, or lack thereof.

Yet, it would be unreasonable for persons to expect the state to cure all their ills. In a perfect world, the Government of Barbados would, without a doubt, gladly rectify all social problems and set about creating a utopian society for its citizens. However, this is not a perfect world. Faced with the present economic recession, the Government can only do so much with its available resources, so in particular cases there will be needs that cannot be met, especially without long-term repercussions on the economy.

Conversely, it is the state’s duty to listen to the people and address their concerns. It is not enough to ignore the public’s outcry while blaming the previous administration, the current Opposition and a host of other internal and external challenges, all the while introducing new taxes and increasing of some old ones as well. There is also an apparent lack of direction and conviction with regard to the economic woes facing Barbados at present, which is adversely affecting morale on the island. To this end, we await the upcoming Budget proposals which will be laid in Parliament soon.

It is therefore necessary that each side does all that they can to move forward. Barbadians should learn to be more self-sufficient in some instances and rely less on Government for a “quick fix”. While it is true that certain projects, because of their scale, cost and jurisdiction, will need to be handled by the Government directly, there are several steps that persons can take and options available, which would act to alleviate pressure at the individual level and on the system in general.

In addition, Government must act responsibly by paying its own dues to the Barbadian public, namely tax refunds, and ensuring roads, infrastructure, and social services are operating efficiently. It also has the responsibility to keep citizens informed by functioning in a transparent manner and offering avenues for recourse if necessary. Finally, government can do a lot more to encourage an entrepreneurial environment, especially amongst the youth. Work on moulding creative minds from early – pushing skills training as well instead of only the traditional academic, eradicating bureaucratic red tape, and pushing exports.

It is our hope that Barbadians and Government can work together to make the most of this country.