CONSULTATION NEEDED

CONSULTATION is needed on the pathways to tackle the challenges which this island faces.
This from General Secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB), Dennis De Peiza, who pointed to the need for Government to come to the table to discuss the economic path which the country has take going forward.
During a media statement yesterday, the CTUSAB head
stressed that discussions were critical at this stage.
Making reference to the re- cent International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation and subsequent Report on Barbados, the point was made that several issues, including the recommendations made and the steps which might be taken, have to be discussed with all stakeholders.
“Taking into consideration, the recommendations coming out of the IMF Article IV
Consultation with Barbados... stating that Barbados should resume a fiscal adjustment pro- gramme, it is critical that the government commence discus- sions and consultations with the Social Partnership, related to its intentions to implement the recommendations. CTUSAB contends that it is important to discuss the implications which a new or Extended IMF Loan Agreement would have for the country.”
His comments came after
Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes made it clear that any hope of a quick reduc- tion in prices would be a chal- lenge. In his report on the per- formance of the economy in 2021, Haynes said that the Central Bank anticipated that prices would remain elevated. “Some prices will come down, others will go up, but on average prices will remain elevated,” he said while presenting the Bank’s outturn figures for the last year.
The retail price index, which
gives an indication on how prices behave in Barbados, in- creased 4.6 per cent at the end of November last year. However, the average price ratio was 3.20 per cent at the end of 2021 and that is expected to go up, he stated, while adding that the major drivers of increased prices last year were food, transporta- tion and oil.
“Soaring international freight costs arising from disruptions in the global supply chain added to the hikes in energy and food prices caused by the revival of global eco- nomic activity,” said the Governor.
He pointed out that the domestic rise in prices was acutely felt in the price of gasoline, diesel and electricity. However, he noted that continued discounting of clothing, footwear and furnishing and household equip- ment dampened the do- mestic inflationary pres- sures.
“Given the fall in prices in the second half of 2020, the impact of rising prices on the overall price index was not evident until the second half of the year, and the 12- month moving average measure of inflation rose to 3.2 per cent only from 2.9 per cent a year earlier,” he added.
“It is the expectation of CTUSAB that Govern- ment will get down to the business of address-
ing the burning issues that include the restora- tion of the economy, employment creation, development of a prices and income policy, and to commence and complete the process of constitutional reform,” he said.
CTUSAB satisfied with election process
De Peiza was also complimentary of how the elections campaign was conducted and with the people of the country for their conduct during the elections pe- riod.
“CTUSAB is satisfied that the electorate en- gaged in a peaceful elections process. The Congress congratulates Prime Minister, the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley on the unprece- dented victory which was accorded to the Barbados Labour Party in the re- cently concluded General Elections.
“CTUSAB commends the losing Democratic Labour Party, the Alliance Peoples Party and Solutions Barbados Party as well as those Independent candidates who contested the General Elections,” he added.
The CTUSAB General Secretary maintained that there was concern, given the results of the last elections, with no Opposition, that steps had to be made to ensure that all voices would be heard.
“In the absence of an elected opposition, CTUSAB is highly aware of the implications which this holds for the func- tioning of the Parliament of Barbados. The Con- gress therefore calls for a greater level of consulta- tion with individual stakeholders and at the level of the Social Partnership. It is impor- tant that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and her BLP Administration undertakes to so engage with the express purpose of achieving a socially just society which enjoys a greater level of inclu-
siveness. It is proposed that this can be achieved by the consolidation of the process of tripartite consultation.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley offered the DLP two Senate seats, during her address at the swearing in of Cabinet and Senators at State House on Wednesday.
“I now formally repeat the offer of the govern- ment of Barbados, having received the opinion this morning, to offer to the party receiving the second highest votes in the election preceding, in the absence of a leader of the opposition, the oppor- tunity to be able to appoint two opposition senators. This is who we are as Barbadians. And victory must never allow us to believe that it is a licence to obliterate those for whom others voted. This is who we were raised to be as Barbadians.
“And I trust and pray that on this occasion, the officers and members of the Democratic Labour Party will recognise that this is not a political trick, that this is a genuine desire to keep our multi-party democ-
racy alive in spite of the mandate given to the Barbados Labour Party government,” she stated on that occasion.
(DB)