MARCH ON!

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart says he has no intention of blocking today’s planned march spearheaded by the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) and four of the major Trade Unions.

He made this clear while addressing the Christ Church West Annual Luncheon, yesterday.

“A few people got onto me, begging me to meet quickly to head it off. I do not want to head it off. I want it to happen,” he stated.

“The People of Barbados have to see what is possible around here and how far people will go in the pursuit of their perverse objectives,” he stated to DLP supporters gathered at Almond Bay Caterers.

He went on to stress that it is not true that there has been no dialogue as stated by the BPSA and the Trade Unions; also, that it is not true that the Government is indifferent to the demands of public officers for increase in salaries, as Government accepted the recommendation of the National Union of Public Workers’ to revisit this issue at the end of September after reviewing the increased National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL).

However, the Prime Minister said it is true that he was told to meet or schedule a meeting, or else there will be social unrest.

“The phrase ‘social unrest’ can only mean one thing – creating a situation where the society is thrown into chaos. I have said that as Minister of Defence and Security, I can’t deal with that directly; it’s a matter for the Royal Barbados Police Force and any assistance they may need if we get to that stage,” he further stated.

As far as a march to force the government to reduce the tax is concerned, he stressed, “that is not on… If, the government comes to the conclusion that the tax is not achieving the objectives which the government intended it to achieve, the government will have to revisit it”.

“But, the idea of any business entity in Bridgetown deciding that when the government is going to impose taxation of any kind – you have to get their permission before you impose it – that is not on. And I don’t believe quite honestly that the Trade Unions believe that is the way it should be done either,” he added. (TL)