Blackett: We have done well

The Barbados Democratic Party (DLP) has done well with limited resources and by all accounts deserve another term.

This comment was made by Democratic Labour Party candidate for St. Michael Central, Honourable Steven Blackett during a Sunday luncheon at the Almond Bay Caterers in Hastings, Christ Church. During his address, the Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development highlighted the DLP’s achievements over the last two elected terms in government. He focused on areas of employment which he said is at about ten per cent and noted that the financing from Central Bank has been reduced.

“We are moving in the right direction and with the right trajectory in weaning ourselves off of the dependence on the Central Bank financing of the expenditure in Barbados. We are moving in that direction,”
said Minister Blackett.

Minister Blackett added this would be shown in the pending Central Bank of Barbados’ Economic Report. As Barbadians continue to express concern about the current level of foreign reserves, the MP for St. Michael Central said he believed that when the CBB report is done in a few days that Barbadians will see some positive surprises in the bank’s foreign reserves.

Monies Paid, Hundreds Appointed Another government commitment highlighted by Minister Blackett was payment of public officers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities. He said that although there was retrenchment of just about 2000 officers, the complement of officers have been maintained and hundreds of public officers have been appointed over the last couple of months.

Minister Blackett also spoke of the DLP’s implementation of social legislature, stating that the party has introduced and enacted more social legislature in the last ten years than any other previous government.
Increasing housing, housing and rental options, the construction of office accommodation for government departments were also mentioned as party achievements by the MP for St. Michael Central.

“We have a wonderful track record and a legacy which we have to ensure that we address in the next term as we enter between 2018 and 2023,” said Minister Blackett.

With just under one hundred party members in attendance for the luncheon, Minister Blackett was also supported by DLP Parliamentary and cabinet members, Honourable Ronald Jones, Honourable, Patrick Todd and Senator Reverend. Dr. David Durant.