Article Image Alt Text

Outgoing Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), Edward Clarke, addressing Friday’s BPSA function

Do the right thing, Clarke urges

Calling on Barbadians to “do what is right”, outgoing Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), Edward Clarke has again urged members of the public to get vaccinated.

He did so while delivering his final address on Friday as head of the Board of Directors of the BPSA. Clarke held this position from August 2018 until September 2021. The new BPSA Chairman is Trisha Tannis.

“Get vaccinated! This country needs every single Barbadian possible to get vaccinated and soon as possible,” he urged.

“We got to do what is right to fix this country’s health crisis. The only way we are going to seriously address this issue is to fully vaccinate those on the frontline, those in healthcare and all frontline workers in Barbados especially those in the hotel and tourism industry… This country cannot escape it and it needs to happen.”

Clarke further stated that Barbados “cannot afford to fall out both economically and health wise at the same time. If we don’t get our people vaccinated much faster than we are doing today that will happen. Let us start with those who are at greater risks at this time.” 

He encouraged “the government and all of the leadership of this country- the NGOs, the labour leadership, churches, whoever, continue to push for your members to get vaccinated. It needs to happen.”

In his address, Clarke also spoke about the need for the private sector to lead Barbados’ growth. He additionally said BPSA “must work with members of the social partnership to bring about the much-needed change in transforming the way we do business in Barbados.”

“Do not be fooled by what you read in the press that the World Bank rating of the ease is the issue, that is not the issue. The issue is we need to fix the problem we have in this country, the bureaucracy, the delays, the pushing paper around. We got to stop it. We have to make sure as a country that we can do things faster and better and smarter every time, that is how we need to do business in Barbados.”

Clarke encouraged members of the BPSA to continue to work together as a team, not to be afraid to challenge the status quo and not accept mediocrity. He urged the new Chairman to continue to work on educating the public on the role played by the private sector in this country.

“Let us continue to educate our fellow Barbadians about the value of the private sector, that is where the advocacy and so on comes in. Show the value of the private sector in the development of this nation, the generation of employment, the expansion of our economy, the redistribution of wealth across the island and through honest hard work, innovation and productivity. We need to work to develop others and transform our country if we are going to earn the respect of the many who devalue our role.” (MG)

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000