PM Mottley talks diversification

With tourism teetering due to the covid-19 pandemic, there are
increasing questions about diversifying the economy, which Prime
Minister Mia Amor Mottley said is a matter that has long been engaging
the attention of her Government.

Her comments came during the We Gatherin’ 2020 – The Online Edition on
Saturday night, where she explained that while steps are being taken
to diversify the economy, tourism is here to stay.
“Tourism is not going to go anywhere – we will always have to be that
hub that is open to the world, for people visiting, for people wanting
to invest, for people wanting to transit to somewhere else,” she told
those locked on to the conversation.

With that in mind, the PM made it clear that the reopening of the
country to commercial air traffic will not be driven by any particular
date, but what Government believes, based on the advice of the health
authorities, to be the safe protocols.

“We have said we are going to use a brake and accelerator. We are
going to manage risks. We are going to look at those countries and see
how we can first start with the greatest chances of the risks being
low. There are some countries where the risk is clearly lower than
others and we are also trying to put the protocols in place – from
testing and screening and all the temperature checks – all the things
that would matter in order to be able to get people comfortable. And
when they come to Barbados, they are not only coming to a place that
is safe, but that they themselves would remain safe during their
period of stay here,” she stated.

Her comments came as she said that they however do not anticipate the
same number of tourists to initially return, as came before commercial
air traffic was scaled back.

Turning her attention then to diversification of the economy, she told
Barbadians living overseas that even prior to covid-19, Government was
creating two new subsectors – renewable energy and medicinal cannabis.

On the former, she said the target remains to be fossil fuel free at
best, or carbon neutral at worst by 2030. She said this will involve
including wind, photovoltaic energy and waste to energy into the
energy mix. She indicated that if achieved, this could save the
country between 700 and 800 million Barbados dollars in terms of our
fuel imports.

In respect of medicinal cannabis, she said they have already laid the
framework for the industry and the legislation has been passed. At
present, the PM said, Attorney General Dale Marshall has been working
with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and the Ministry of Agriculture
on completing the regulations. She expects that such work should be
finished within a month and they can begin the licensing process.
(JRT)