EDITORIAL: Praise for PM’s openness and transparency
ONE of the good things being demonstrated so far with the new administration is the decision by the Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, to keep the country up-to-date on measures being taken to improve the local economy. Whether from the meetings held with the Social Partnership, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the post-Cabinet news conferences, Government has been mindful that it wants to keep people abreast with what is taking place.
The trend continued on Saturday when Ms. Mottley hosted a news conference to alert the media about the visit she and other Government officials made to Washington D.C. to meet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the news conference the Prime Minister gave details about the meetings held with IMF officials headed by Managing Director, Ms. Christine Lagarde and some of the things that transpired and told the public what Barbados can look forward to once an arrangement is worked out between that institution and this country. Indeed, the Prime Minister reported that her meeting with the IMF went so well that a negotiating team from the IMF will be coming to Barbados early next month to hold discussions on what will be the format for the proposed arrangement.
It is a good gesture on the part of the Prime Minister to involve the Barbadian public at every turn of the deliberations on the way forward for this country. Ms. Mottley has asked Barbadians for their support and it can safely be said that, being very nationalistic, they will want to back whatever proposals once they appear workable and on behalf of the country. Nobody in Barbados wants to see the country fail since all of us who reside here are aware of the dire consequences for our people, our institutions and those that will come after. As we have a stake in the island’s future success, there is a role for us to ensure failure does not come about.
Not all the news will be palatable. Having recognized that, we are in a world where the environment continues to be very hostile. There is a high degree of selfishness around us and others will look to see what they can get either from us or at our expense regardless of what happens afterwards. It is known that there are others across the region who have criticised Barbados and their wish is for our beloved country to fall, without even recognizing that were it to happen it would take along quite a few others.
In light of this, it is hoped that the Prime Minister and her Government continues to do the honourable thing of involving the public as she has done since assuming office following the May 24 general elections. She reiterated at the news conference on Saturday that her Government’s programme is aimed at saving the quality of life Barbadians currently enjoy in spite of the difficulties the country has been experiencing. According to her, the BLP is a serious Government, it knows what it is about and it is not putting people on the frontline of adjustment.
Barbados is still a beautiful place, its systems and institutions work, and although it has had some setbacks, it has not fallen apart. We must keep it that way.