A government minister has conceded that some of the administration’s initiatives to improve the economy at the macro level may not always resonate with citizens at the individual level though the actions are critically important.
This was the contention of Senator Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy and Business Development, as she addressed the Senate during debate on Monday on the 2025 Budgetary proposals which were approved in the Lower House last week.
She told the Senate Chamber that the Mottley administration was working on the “macro stuff” but also attending to the things that matter in people’s everyday lives.
“When I drive on roads, I don’t want to drop in potholes. That is what matters to people. When I put my garbage out when the nights come, I don’t want stray dogs or cats to come and rummage through it and [leave it] strewn all over the place and dirty up the road.
“I want to know my garbage is going to be picked up. That’s what matters to people. When I put my hand in my pocket, Mr. President, because I want to be able to have a job, I want to know that I have money in my pocket because I went to work this week.
“Those are the things that matter to people. Employment levels matter to people because behind employment levels are real people. They’re not just numbers,” Cummins stated.
The Energy Minister made it clear that when the current administration engaged in policies that stabilised the country and placed it on a path to economic soundness and growth, it did so knowing that when it took care of the macro fundamentals, government was in a stronger position to address the micro issues that affected Barbadians.
“It is because they understand that when you buy garbage trucks, people want to have those garbage trucks coming out on a regular schedule and picking up their garbage in front of their houses. People want to know that when they leave their houses and they stand up by the bus stop, with the bus shelters, that a bus is going to be coming, and they’re not waiting for buses that have never come,” she told the Upper Chamber.
According to Cummins: “Those voices who would have the public of Barbados believe that debt at a certain level is a creation of the Barbados Labour Party, let them go to the IMF staff reports and the World Bank reports. It is there for all to see.” (IMC1)
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