‘Gov’t failed to demonstrate leadership’

At a time when the citizens of Barbados need them the most, the Government of Barbados has failed to demonstrate leadership.

These were some of the strong words that the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, gave as she delivered a fiery speech yesterday at Brownes’ Beach to mark May Day celebrations.

She stated that her union believes in giving everyone in this country equal opportunities to succeed, which is not only financially viable, but also morally important. However, there seems to be this practice going on where a privileged few are given a “leg up”, which is a scary thing to occur during an economically challenging period.

“So, what must workers stand for? We believe that giving everyone a fair opportunity to thrive and prosper is not only an economic necessity but it is a moral imperative. It is therefore scary when especially in challenging times, economic forces seem to be positive only in the direction of a privileged few.”

She further stated that the union is often pounced upon as being the enemies, but the real enemies are the enemies of democracy as evidenced in some sectors of Barbadian society. “Dare we speak out against the inequity even on the basis of verifying the environmental integrity of decisions; we are deemed ‘enemies of the state’. Brothers and sisters, the enemy that we must beware of is the enemy of our democracy, that which wishes to tell us that we can’t see wrong and speak about it for fear of recrimination. So, we must see backdoor methods being adopted in hotel construction, and for instance, in approvals to establish a new berth and to introduce an unfamiliar approach in the Port that seeks to deny port work for port workers and shhhh… we must not speak up and become enemies of the state. We must know that at the Transport Board there is a deliberate ploy to run down the fleet of buses to make way for a new system to be justified, but I can’t say that because I am a friend of the state.”

Therefore, Moore stated that she would not apologise for speaking out on what she believes are the injustices where public servants are being expected to make the sacrifices, but those in power are not making the same sacrifices.

“So, we will not apologise to the leaders or as Sir Frank would have said, ‘the creatures of Government’ when we challenge that the Government of Barbados has failed to demonstrate leadership.

“In fact, at a time when the financial suffering is greater than it was three years ago and at a time when at every turn, we are hearing about big and bitter pills to be swallowed; one must wonder how in the name of conscience could a fair and caring government decide to restore themselves and expect public servants to continue to restrain themselves?”