BMEX A SUCCESS! The Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX) continued for its fourth and final day yesterday, showcasing the talents of Barbadian businesses. In addition to the offerings from businesses, the Schools’ Exhibits, seen here, were also a hit with patrons.
Put Barbados first
A veteran businesswoman in this country is lauding the Freundel Stuart led Government for not devaluing the Barbados dollar.
Mrs. Ram Mirchandani is adamant that the country would suffer badly if the dollar is devalued, and she is urging the Democratic Labour Party Administration to do all within its power to prevent such from occurring. Moreover, she is also appealing to the Government to resist going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance, and instead to continue to craft homegrown initiatives aimed at boosting the country’s economy.
She was speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday afternoon at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition, which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, as she reflected on and offered comment on last Tuesday’s Budget presented by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler.
“I don’t care who tells you what, the IMF is for the rich people; the IMF cares for the bigger countries. We are a small country, we are a dot in the Caribbean, so we have to find solutions to our problems ourselves and that is why I say we have a great Prime Minister and that is why I say what Sinckler has done is right,” she said.
Mrs. Ram contends that Barbados must utilise the brain power resident here to come up with the best solutions to emerge from the current crisis, and so she maintains that turning to the IMF, as has been suggested by some, including Former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, is not the answer.
“Sometimes they are thinking on the terms of their time; so we have to now go beyond their time and see what is more innovative, and bring ideas to the table from what we call the new thinking cap for Barbados,” she stated.
With that in mind, the businesswoman who has resided in this country for 55 years, says that local companies need to be given incentives as worthwhile as those offered to the likes of Cost-U-Less and Sandals for example, if they are to successfully compete in the market and survive. She maintains that this is only fair.
“We have to start putting, as the BMA says, Bajans first. Let’s go back to the roots. We have to create an atmosphere and platform for people of this country to thrive,” she stated.
She added, “There has to be fairness, fairness in all aspects.” (JRT)