Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the government’s approach to crime and public spending.
Following a service at the Messiah Wesleyan Holiness Worship Centre to honour the memory of Democratic Labour Party (DLP) founder and national hero Errol Barrow, Thorne called for immediate action to stem the crime wave and for greater transparency.
Addressing the crime situation on the island, he said: “It is clear the government is clueless as to how to deal with crime. They are going into areas now, belatedly saying that they are going to concentrate more police officers in the area. We have long called for government to go to the source of the problem, and government knows, government has enough intelligence information to know where and what is the source of this problem.”
Thorne criticised the government for failing the people of Barbados, accusing them of being derelict in their duty.
“The public is asking the government, ‘Why, why aren’t you going to the source of the problem? Why are you so reluctant to do that?’” he said.
“This is a lazy government, this is a government that is refusing to do what it needs to do to arrest the crime that is afflicting this country.”
Thorne reiterated the need for anti-gang legislation, contending that the recent crime is not random.
“It is direct, and it is targeted, and it is clear that it is organised crime, and when you have organised crime afflicting the country they know who they want, except that there will be collateral injury. The government with a sophisticated police force—that they are underpaying—must know where is the source of this crime. They are refusing to deal with it,” he argued.
Thorne also used the opportunity to renew his call for the government to disclose how much money has been channelled into the National Peace Programme, declaring: “This is a public project. The government ought not to be spending the taxpayers’ money unless they disclose those amounts to the people of Barbados; it is not their money.”
He also chastised the Mia Mottley administration for the use of public funds to stage the We Gatherin’ initiative. He described it as “a partisan exercise”.
“It is a Barbados Labour Party exercise, except that it is using public funds, and that is wrong,” he added. “This is no national event, this is no national festival, this is a grand preparation for an election and that is why we are calling on Barbadians not to support it.”
Meanwhile, focusing on the island’s crime challenges, acting DLP president Senator Andre Worrell stressed the importance of education in shaping the future of the nation’s youth.
He argued for the dissemination of positive messages, reminding Barbadians of the sacrifices made by past generations to ensure access to quality education and opportunities.
“You had people that suffered, that went through a lot to allow you to have a proper education to gain decent work. Not for you to go and clean gullies or not for you to clean up bush against the side of the road, but for us to punch above our weight internationally,” Worrell said.
He further declared that the opposition party is on a mission to save Barbados, and is “moving forward with passion, with conviction, a vision, and unity”.
He urged greater emphasis on celebrating the legacy of national hero Errol Barrow, highlighting the late leader’s unparalleled contribution to Barbados.
“Errol Barrow Day comes around every year, and it should be a nationally organised event,” he said. “If the DLP was not putting about all these events with our limited resources, you would hear very little in the nation, and that is unfortunate and that is wrong.”
“This is the leader of our Independence. You cannot do anything to wash him off the face of Barbados, because all Barbadians, even the young ones, know about Errol Walton Barrow. So it does not make sense not trying to celebrate him. The more that you celebrate him, the more people will recognise the unity that is necessary.”
Worrell argued that the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) would do more to celebrate Barrow.
“Every year, funds should be put aside to make Errol Barrow Day a national initiative with the Democratic Labour Party, because you cannot divorce Barrow from the DLP. We should not be struggling to put on events to honour Barrow in Barbados so that people will know who he is,” he added.
The opposition politician said the DLP remained steadfast in its commitment to preserving the legacy of Errol Walton Barrow and ensuring future generations recognise the contributions of the national hero.
He told reporters that the president of the Young Democrats will visit schools to educate students about Barrow’s life and legacy.
(STT)
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