Walters lauds PM’s Cabinet changes

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) spokesman on business affairs Ryan Walters has welcomed Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s decision to remove Dwight Sutherland from the Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Ministry in a reshuffle of her Cabinet earlier this week.

Walters, who is expected to run on a DLP ticket in the St Michael North West constituency in the next general election, has also welcomed the decision to relieve the current Member of Parliament for the area, Neil Rowe, of his responsibilities.

Rowe, who won the St Michael North West seat on a BLP ticket in the 2018 general election against then minister of finance Chris Sinckler, was the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.

“His removal from office is the Prime Minister’s public acceptance of his failure as MP and Parliamentary Secretary,” said Walters.

“On behalf of the people of St Michael North West, I wish to thank the Prime Minister for listening to our concerns and starting the process of relieving us and Barbados of MP Mr Neil Rowe. This gentleman is still experiencing a shock and awe of his success at the 2018 polls, and hence has never settled into the office of member of parliament or parliamentary secretary,” he said.

Walters, a businessman, said while the BLP “grapples with the notion of finding a replacement candidate” he remained “committed to providing the highest level of representation, pro bono, to the constituents of St Michael North West”.

“I am not waiting to be formally elected to parliament to represent the constituents of St Michael North West,” said Walters, as he reacted to the Cabinet reshuffle in a Facebook post.

In relation to Sutherland, who is now Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Walters said his “dismissal” from the Ministry of Small Business “ought to be a refresher” to the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) sector.

In acknowledging the assignment of Kerrie Symmonds to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Ministry, Walters said it was his “passionate wish that he brings a willingness to constructively engage with the sector and not to adopt a dismissive and unenlightened attitude”.

“The MSME sector of Barbados is well-poised to place Barbados on a sustainable footing. We need to start with policies and progammes that speak forcibly to first acknowledging its role in our society, facilitating research and innovation, secure strong management and financial resources for the sector and develop an export oriented and import substitution based MSME sector,” suggested Walters.