Mottley to Prime Minister: Ring the Bell

OPPOSITION Leader Mia Mottley has expressed horror about the economic review for the first nine months of the year and with it made a call for elections to be called by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, Mottley referred to Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes’ review of January to September 2017, that indicated that foreign Reserves have dropped $354 million since last September, 2016, which she says represents a 40 per cent decline. She also lamented that debt has increased and “all main indices are getting worse”.

According to Mottley, “This Governor of the Central Bank needs to use his professional judgment and expertise or step aside. He has made no difference to the slide in the critical indices. The Governor has obligations imposed on him under the Central Bank Act that compel him to act in the best interest of our country. At this critical juncture, he owes his loyalty to Barbados and not to the Minister of Finance.”

“Furthermore, there are those in the Private sector and some armed chair professionals, who must put personal agendas and vendettas aside. They need to call a spade a spade and put Barbados first. Report after report, outlook after outlook, downgrade after downgrade, all make it clear that the current Minister of Finance has not a clue as to how to get Barbados out of this mess.”

Mottley opined that Prime Minister Stuart is “either uncaring or indifferent” since he expressed full confidence in the Minister of Finance, Chris Sinckler, during a political meeting held over the weekend.

“This tells us that he too is ignoring the reality of this worsening situation. In the context of all that is happening, the people of Barbados must sooner or later come to terms with the reality that these collective drivers cannot drive,” she stated.

“I am calling on the Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart to put aside false pride; acknowledge that the vehicle is spiralling away out of control. The Prime Minister needs to do what is right by Barbados. Call the elections,” Mottley said.