DLP Manifesto Promises: 32 Days Left (Of broken promises and a Consultant-General)

Two thirds of the 100 days have already gone! Where are all the goodies which the DLP promised us?
The Democratic Labour Party 2008 Manifesto made a number of promises to the people of Barbados should that party be voted into government. Three of them were promised “within 100 days” and five of them were promised “immediately”. The first official day of work for the new government was Tuesday 22 January 2008. It is now the morning of Sunday 30 March 2008 and there are 32 days left until the deadline of 30 April 2008.

One of the promises which was to happen “immediately” has already been broken.

The promises are:

PROMISED WITHIN 100 DAYS

Page 9. In the first 100 days of the new DLP administration remove VAT from building materials on houses valued up to $400,000.

Page 12. To this end and within the first 100 days of our administration the Democratic Labour Party government will convene a National Consultation on Education…

Page 42. The DLP Government will therefore: In the first 100 days introduce the Agriculture Protection Act that will require a 2/3 majority of both houses of parliament for a change of use of land from agriculture. We will reserve 30, 000 acres for agricultural use.

PROMISED IMMEDIATELY

Page 11. A new DLP Government will immediately embark on a health promotion campaign to sensitize the public to the dangers of unhealthy lifestyles;

Page 24. Immediately review the current Central Bank procedures for approving capital account transactions with a view to simplifying and speeding up the approval (or denial) process for restricted transactions.

Page 33. Additionally a new DLP administration will: Re-examine the Port charges with a view to significantly reducing these to manufacturers. Tonnage dues are charged twice – on raw materials when imported and again on finished products when being exported. This needs to be addressed immediately since it is a burdensome cost. Free along side charges (FAS) continue to be out of proportion with our competitors.

BROKEN PROMISE!

Page 36. Conversely, a new DLP government will move to immediately enact a comprehensive national Labour Rights legislative compendium which will include the following:

• A Full Employment Rights Act

• An Alternative Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Committee

• A Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act

• National minimum wages legislation

• Legislation fully recognizing Trade Unions.

Page 48. The Democratic Labour Party will also:

Immediately introduce integrity legislation requiring

• a declaration of assets by public officials,

• a Code of Conduct for Ministers,

• a new Freedom of Information law,

• amendments to the Defamation laws and

• new constitutional provisions to rationalise the powers of the Prime Minister.

SOURCE: http://www.barbadosvotes.org/pdf/2008_DLP_Manifesto.pdf

Was it all a matter of election gimmicks, politricks and LIES?

It is interesting to note that the DLP has been very busy continuing the very projects which they criticised the former BLP government for. With one more month to go, we will soon see what next comes out of the mouths of this government. Has any single one of them declared their assets? And for all his empty talk of transparency, prime minister David Thompson is yet to tell the country how much his Consultant-General Hartley Henry is being paid?

68 gone, 32 to go.

De Standpipe Crew

Ghana Immigration Scam! … “Passengers paid between $6,000 to $8,000 for trip”

Read below the comments of one person on a Ghanaian web site.

If this is true, these Ghanaians who are “stranded” in Barbados may not be as innocent, or as poor, as they purport to be!

De Standpipe Crew

http://sil.ghanaweb.com/r.php?id=3591685&thread=3579891

Subject: SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!
Author: Ga all day (68.198.34.75)
Date: 03-09-2008 00:15

I can’t believe am reading this story… I happened to be in Ghana to watch the African Cup of Nation when i friend in Tema told me one of our classmate is leaving for Barbados. To make a long story short, the plan was when they get to Barbados, someone is suppose to arrange for them to go to America and if all else fails end up in Canada.
We discuss this in lengh and i told him it might be very difficult trying to get all the passenger to the U.S.
This people payed between 6000.00-8000.00 dollars for this trip.
He told me he was interested in going too. i told him to be careful becausem it might end up being a scam run by Ghanaians and Nigerian nationals.
my point is the organizers should all be jailed for stealing peoples HARD EARNED money and selling them false hope. Am just upset that someone that i know is a victim of the scam…. SHAME SHAME SHAAAAAAAME!!!!! SHAME ON YOU.

Thompson is to be highly commended

Prime minister David Thompson is to be highly commended for his commendation of former prime minister Owen Arthur.

Well done!

De Standpipe Crew

http://www.nationnews.com/story/302713688775894.php 

WELL DONE!
Published on: 3/8/08.

by CHRIS GOLLOP

PRIME MINISTER DAVID THOMPSON yesterday lauded his predecessor for the lead role he took in the regional integration movement.

In fact, Thompson told fellow Caribbean leaders that former Prime Minister Owen Arthur was deserving of a lasting tribute in recognition of his “enormous contribution” toward realising the goal of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Addressing the 19th intersessional meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in The Bahamas, Thompson said:

“As is customary, and in keeping with best practices as outgoing chair of CARICOM, allow me to highlight the work of the past six months and to assist in pointing the way forward.

“But before I do so, I would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution that my predecessors, and in particular my immediate predecessor, have made to the deepening of the relationship between the member states of CARICOM.

“You will recall that the Right Honourable Owen Arthur, as Prime Minister of Barbados and following on the work of his predecessor, had lead responsibility for establishing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy – one of the most important and sensitive components of the integration movement.

“It is generally believed in Barbados and abroad that he piloted this project with tremendous insight, tenacity and skill.

“I would therefore like to recommend that this august body create a lasting tribute, in the form of a University Chair or some other relevant regional programme, that would bring lasting benefits to future generations of Caribbean people.

“We need not look too far to find something to which we can lend the name of the former Prime Minister of Barbados,” he said.

Having said that, Thompson made it clear that a change of Government in Barbados did not mean a shift in policy toward the regional integration movement.

“The Government and people of Barbados remain resolutely committed to the ideals, principles and business of the Caribbean Community,” he emphasised, noting that the islands of the region faced similar challenges.

“Foremost of these are the rising cost of living which deeply affects all Caribbean people, major criminal incursions on our way of life and the complexities that retard regional air and maritime transport.

“Now is the time for this consortium of new leaders to inject novel perspectives and employ a spirit of vigour towards extending the many benefits accruing to the region’s people,” Thompson said.

½ Million In. ½ Million Out?

Politics is a funny thing. We will hear all about how much money these various BLP government consultants were getting, but somehow we don’t expect to hear a pang about how much money will be spent on the new DLP government consultants who will replace them… at least maybe not until the next change of government.

De Standpipe Crew

http://www.nationnews.com/story/291122380962479.php 

$1/2M CUT
Published on: 3/2/08.

by CHRIS GOLLOP

THE DAVID THOMPSON ADMINISTRATION has done away with $1/2 million plus bill which the previous Government paid annually in consultancy fees.

That means the consultants and their ancillary staff have been cut from Government’s payroll with immediate effect, putting an end to what Prime Minister Thompson recently described as a “horrendous” and “disturbing” situation of “pork barrel politics”.

Gone are Trevor Marshall, Victor Hinkson, Mark Williams, Phillip Goddard, Hamilton Lashley, Oral “Mackie” Holder, Angela Walcott, Kheisha Ward, Anthony Gabby Carter and Denzil Agard.

Of those listed, SUNDAY SUN investigations have revealed that Goddard was the highest paid, receiving a total of $15 000 monthly as special envoy to former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and the Minister with responsibility for Technology, Investment and Trade.

Also on the pay list were speech writer Mackie Holder, making $7 708.04 monthly for writing speeches and coordinating special projects; calypsonian and former Cultural Ambassador Gabby who was paid $6 000 as a monthly salary and $350 for travel monthly as the cultural development specialist; and Member of Parliament (MP) for St Michael South East, Hamilton Lashley, who was paid $6 400 monthly ($400 for travel), as special advisor to the former Prime Minister on poverty alleviation and the Millennium Goals.

Of the others benefiting from consultancies, Walcott, as assistant to Goddard, received a package totalling more than $5 000 a month, while his secretary Ward received $2 700.

Former MP for St Michael North West, Mark Williams, earned $5 500 a month as community projects advisor to the for Prime Minister.

Marshall, as consultant on cultural and heritage projects, earned $4 000 a month, while Agard was paid $3 000 a month for writing speeches for the former Prime Minister. Former journalist Victor Hinkson was paid $1 000 a month as research assistant to the former Prime Minister.

The salary bill for the consultants totals close to $600 000 per year.

SUNDAY SUN investigations have also revealed that university lecturer Dr George Belle had a contract for the provision of services “as needed” but did not provide for a monthly salary.

In almost every case, the contracts are to be terminated immediately, giving consultants one month’s pay in lieu of notice. In some cases, the contracts expired last Friday.

Bruce Golding Election Promises – The First 100 Days

A review of the first 100 days of Bruce Golding’s Jamaica Labour Party government in Jamaica… promises kept and promises broken.

David Thompson’s Democratic Labour Party in Barbados made similar promises of what they would do in the first 100 days.

De Standpipe Crew

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071216/lead/lead1.html

100 days of Golding: ‘It is a basket of success and failures’ – analysts
published: Sunday | December 16, 2007

Prime Minister Bruce Golding.Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner ReporterPolitical commentators and the parliamentary Opposition have identified a mixture of success and failures in the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) first 100 days in office.

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, has sharply criticised the Golding administration on its handling of the economy. He argues that, while the increase in oil and other commodity prices is beyond the control of the Government, the depreciation of the local currency under the JLP’s watch has “compounded the external problems”. Indeed, he believes the instability in the foreign-exchange market provides “perfect cover” for possible price gouging. Furthermore, Davies argues, the “puzzling” hike in domestic interest rates is not caused by external factors.

Role reduction

The former Finance Minister in the Patterson/Simpson Miller administration is concerned about the reduction of the central role of the Finance Ministry in the management of the economy, as evidenced by the transferrence to the Office of the Prime Minister of important departments and functions – the Development Bank of Jamaica, the EX-IM Bank and the Capital Development Fund. Davies also points to the inclusion of several portfolio responsibilities, along with ministers, to the Office of the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister cannot carry that weight … Things are going to get bogged down,” warns Davies in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner.

Northern Caribbean University lecturer Charlene Sharpe-Pryce says the Golding administration has done fairly well over the last three months, making some tough, but wise decisions. One such decision is the appointment of the JLP’s South East St. Andrew candidate, Joan Gordon-Webley, to head the National Solid Waste Management Authority. Though questionable, the appointment, argues Sharpe-Pryce, has begun to effect necessary changes in the organisation.

“Mr. Golding’s ability to sift through the nuances associated with an issue and to make unpopular decisions is commendable,” comments the university lecturer.

Prime Minister Golding should also be commended, she believes, for efforts to bring normalcy to the lives of people who suffered damage and displacement due to Hurricane Dean, as well as for making good on his promise to abolish tuition fees in secondary schools.

But Sharpe-Pryce identifies a level of dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister’s decision to have members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) dismissed – a decision that appears to be overshadowing his 100-days’ tenure.

“The PM’s decision to oppose Stephen Vasciannie’s appointment as Solicitor General seems contrary – even if the PM thinks he has good reason – to his pronouncements to curtail the executive’s power. This, of all his actions to date, merits questioning: flip or flop?” asks Sharpe-Pryce.

Credibility impacted

It is a perspective University of the West Indies lecturer, Richard ‘Dickie’ Crawford, shares. “This abuse of power has impacted on the role and credibility of the Governor-General, and has forced the Opposition to seek an interim injunction in the Supreme Court (in defence of the PSC members),” notes Crawford.

“My first biggest disappointment,” he adds, “is to see Bruce Golding and the JLP, who promised to be new and different, who I had hoped were turning the corner to democracy, openness and putting the people first, doing the same, if not worse, than those who were there before them.”

Both analysts, like Davies, also believe useful time is being spent exposing the ills of the previous administration. Sharpe-Pryce opines that this energy could have been better spent seeking solutions to rising food prices and other problems besetting the country.

“Given the Government’s desire to increase transparency and accountability and eliminate corruption, this is good; however, all things must be done in moderation,” she states.

Furthermore, she notes, the JLP’s 100-day administration has been riddled with careless comments from some of its high-ranking members, such as Everald Warmington and Bobby Montague, and even the Prime Minister himself, which, she contends, is making it more difficult for the JLP to sell its vision to the public.

Murder hurting admin

The spiralling murder rate has also muzzled the administration, the analysts say, and while the problem may have been inherited from the last administration, the Government needs to put its energies into appealing to Jamaicans to unite against crime and violence.

“This fight requires the united determination of the Jamaican people to want to make a difference to stop the killing, to clean up the police force, the political parties and those private interests who operate outside of the law, running drugs, laundering money, hiring hitmen, smuggling people and goods, and not paying any taxes,” says Crawford. “Perhaps that is what the next 100 days should be all about.”

University of Technology lecturer Martin Henry also views crime as a strike against the Golding administration. “I think, especially in this Christmas season, if the Government could do anything practical, however small, t the sense of security, reduce the level of crime – which tends to spike during the Christmas season – this could have a buoyancy effect on public perception of the administration,” Henry tells The Sunday Gleaner.

But, for Henry, the “most worrying trend” is the departure of the Prime Minister and members of his government from the conciliatory/collaborative approach which he announced in his victory speech on election night. “We hope that this slippage will not be permanent or get worse,” states Henry.

He, like Sharpe-Pryce, is disappointed with the Government’s response to rising food prices, particularly its failure to communicate adequately with the Jamaican people, especially those who are able and willing to analyse international affairs as to the reason for the price increase. “The Government has been very inept in communicating the nature of this difficulty and asking for understanding and patience,” says Henry.

He identifies the administration’s achievements as keeping roads usable after the sustained rains in October and November; the bright prospect for the winter tourist season this is not largely its efforts; attempts to restructure local government; and, refund of tuition fees to parents.

In terms of achievements, Davies also has commends the administration for continuing the implementation of projects such as Highway 2000.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com

Promises Kept

✔ Set up committee to review libel and slander laws.

✔ Present a bill to roll back pensions of prime ministers.

✔ Abolish tuition fees in secondary schools.

✔ Implement development orders to streamline the development process in all 14 parishes.

✔ Present bill to establish an independent body to investigate police corruption and the Citizens’ Protection Bureau to investigate allegations of police abuse.

✔ Present bill to appoint special prosecutor.

Promises Not Kept

✖ Introduce bill to criminalise breaches of Government contract procedures.

✖ Introduce bill to impeach public officials guilty of misconduct.

✖ Introduce whistleblower legislation.

✖ Curtail the powers of the executive and strengthen the Opposition.

✖ Introduce bill to amend the Constitution to include a fixed election date.

Drafted, but not yet tabled in Parliament.