Walters to Gov’t: Come clean about economic plan

THE Democratic Labour Party’s First Vice President is making a call for Government to come clean about its plans for the economy. In a statement released to the media yesterday, the DLP’s spokesperson on Business and Entrepreneurship, Ryan Walters, asked several questions as it relates to the current administration’s way forward during these unprecedented times.

The statement, in which Walters lays out the proposed plans of the Barbados Labour Party administration as they promised economic stimulus in excess of $2 billion, goes on to query the stability of those promises as a similar amount was promised months before that in April. Listing initiatives such as $40 million to a 12-month COVID relief plan, $1.4 billion to private sector capital projects, a $250 million housing project and $30 million to small business, Walters is seeking answers as to the materialisation of said projects.

“I wish to urge the Government of Barbados to refer to its economic plan as presented via the Throne Speech four months ago. A plan that was supposed to resuscitate this economy in the absence of traditional tourism. It appears as though the Government has aborted this plan.”

With the Barbados Optional Savings Scheme (BOSS) programme and the Barbados Welcome Stamp marking two of the better-known projects launched by the Government last year, Walters’ statement noted that there were no updates from Government as to the performance of either.

“How much money has the BOSS programme raised and how has that money been injected into the economy? The BEST (Barbados Employment and Sustainable Transformation) programme seems to be undersubscribed. That means there is close to $300 million that the Government can redirect to other sectors across the country to boost economic activity. This leads us to the Welcome Stamp. Touted to fill the gap for tourism short term, but can it really bear fruit in the months to come? The Government needs to update us about the Welcome Stamp. Can it be a priority again for tourism? Does it have to be repackaged to become attractive again?” the statement read.

Finishing up by urging Barbadians to be respon-sible by staying safe and masking up, Walters wrote that the Govern-ment owes an update to the citizens on each of the programmes put in place to help boost the economy during the pandemic.(MP)