Abed: Overhaul needed; old systems need to replaced
Sun, 07/31/2016 - 12:00am
We as a nation want to reach for the stars yet want to keep our feet planted firmly on the ground. We want our school leavers to be entrepreneurs and self-employed – yet the way in which we empower them with both knowledge and self confidence to achieve this – is largely stuck in a by-gone era
A country of contradictions. That’s how President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Eddie Abed, describes Barbados as it strives to make its mark on the global market.
Speaking at the BCCI’s monthly luncheon at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Tuesday, Abed pointed to the dip in the competitive world ranking for the Ease of Doing Business Index over the last year.
“I have come to the conclusion that ours is a country of contradiction.
“We as a nation want to reach for the stars yet want to keep our feet planted firmly on the ground. We want our school leavers to be entrepreneurs and self-employed – yet the way in which we empower them with both knowledge and self confidence to achieve this – is largely stuck in a by-gone era.
“If Barbados is to make its own mark in this world it must be by delivering excellence, quality, consistency and competitiveness in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship, tourism, international business and other foreign exchange earning businesses.”
“We require our school-leavers to be able to comprehend and problem-solve – yet we still examine in a way that rewards them for being able to regurgitate information – and not necessarily to understand or apply it.”
The BCCI President noted that it was the State’s intention of making its citizens more independent through education and knowledge, yet, according to him, more Barbadians are dependent on entitlements and political largesse than ever before.
“The State enterprises are being asked to do more with less resources. This is an impossible task that leads to mediocrity at best, and an elitist society where those who have the personal resources can enjoy champagne, while those without must settle for mauby.”
Saying that Governments are a reflection of their constituents, he said, more energy is needed to find modern day solutions which will require overhauling a system designed to resolve issues of another era.
“We have long past the point of no-return. Either we will let our currently woeful state define us as a nation of contradiction; or one of reformation where the social partnership is collectively engaged in problem solving,” he exhorted. (JH)