#BTSpeakingOut – When is the time ripe or right?

 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

 

“Beware of people preaching simple solutions to complex problems. If the answer was easy someone more intelligent would have thought of it a long time ago. Complex problems invariably require complex and difficult solutions” – Steve Herbert, former Australian parliamentarian.

In addition to the restructuring of the Barbados National Oil Company, the government would be well-advised to make some tough and revolutionary decisions on behalf of the citizenry and to benefit the economy of Barbados.

Just as a group of persons attached to the management of water resources have recently agreed that the privatisation of water resources can be a burdensome exercise for consumers across the region, then some focused attention should be paid to other privately-owned and managed utilities and services.

The operations of such services fall way beyond the “not-for-profit” perimeter, and are otherwise concerned with returns on investment and the earning of dividends for directors and shareholders.

In the infant years of our republic, is the time ripe and right for the political directorate to take a serious look and ask some questions about our utilities, both public and private?

Is the time ripe and right to qualify and quantify what consumers receive from our utility companies?

Is the time ripe for an audit to determine if consumers receive value for money?

Are we at the point of transitioning from making easy choices and applying some complex and difficult solutions?

One of the major challenges facing the Republic of Barbados is our national energy target of 100 per cent renewables in seven years.

For a variety of reasons, many local energy experts see this target as not likely to be achieved.

Like most other matters confronting the nation, a host of opinions and solutions are being advanced.

It seems as though a lot of emphasis is being placed on the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, especially those that are unprofitable.

Is the time ripe and right for the nationalisation of our services and utilities?

Is the time ripe and right for Barbadians to own, control and manage the resources and assets that determine whether our economy prospers or continues to crawl like a tortoise?

Michael Ray