Jones supports Blackett’s assertion

MEMBER OF Parliament for Christ Church East Central, Ronald Jones, yesterday supported his colleague’s submission that putting a 13-year-old on stage during a rally held after the BLP led March of Disgust over the weekend could be seen as ‘exploitative’.

Jones, the Minister of Education, referred to comments made by Member of Parliament for St. Michael Central, Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett who has responsibility over the Child Care Board of Barbados.

According to Jones, Blackett “drew to this House’s attention that what he considered from his vantage point and being aware of the laws of Barbados and the conventions and other engagements that we have signed, thought that the use of a 13-year-old youngster on a political platform was a bit unusual, particularly surrounded by his parents”.

“Under the laws of Barbados your parent has a responsibility for you. Within the context of Barbados nevertheless it would seem strange because of the exploitative nature of politics, that you would expose a 13-year-old youngster to that public glare. In a democracy 10, 12, 13,18, 95, white, brown, at risk youth, a person with challenges, they can have a right to express themselves in a democracy. And therefore I am not here to condemn the 13-year-old youngster or the parents. My only point within the politics of Barbados, that would appear to be exploitative,” he opined.

Jones said he is seeing “politics of desperation”, where persons have resorted to comparing Barbados to other countries in turmoil.

Acknowledging that there are economic challenges on the doorsteps of Barbados, he pointed to the projects led by the BLP administration during a development phase, the loans will have to be repaid for years to come.

This he said includes the needed new prison, work at Eric Holder complex, the Supreme Court, the ABC Highway and the Warrens office complex, all of which came with a heavy price tag.

Jones stressed the importance of agriculture, which he said is where the redevelopment of the country will be found. “Every great civilisation has had at its base its agriculture. You can go as far as Egypt, Ghana. Agriculture was the base and out of that agricultural revolution and diversification grew. Mechanisation and industrial complexes, that we in Barbados allowed others to tell us abandon agriculture. We have suffered as a result of following that advice,” he lamented.

Instead, he said Barbados turned to the International Financial Services Sector, then bringing in $500- $600 million in corporation taxes. However after crisis hit, that haul dropped to $200 million. He charged that Barbados and other countries in the region are up against international entities that are trying to bring these countries down a notch, when they are performing too well.
(JH)