Opposition Leader hits back at criticism

Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne on Friday served notice on his former government colleagues that he will continue to scrutinise, criticise and, where necessary, chastise but without any viciousness.

His declaration came early on Friday morning as the House of Assembly resumed consideration of the 2024 Estimates under the Tourism and International Transport head.

Thorne had come in for some criticism in some quarters for his criticism of the administration’s subvention to the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH). But, he said, it is his right and responsibility to keep the government accountable.

Pledging his support for the tourism industry, Thorne said he was prepared to join Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill in a moment of patriotism to bring about prosperity for the country.

He took the House back to Wednesday’s sitting when Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughan said he had taken personal and professional offence at Thorne’s “vicious” accusation of the administration stealing from workers.

Thorne said: “I come to this office with a mandate that involves the legitimate right to seek accountability. This is not an exercise in games. I come to this office with a mandate and a duty to ask the government to be accountable to the people of Barbados.

“I have a duty to this Parliament, to the people of this country to seek accountability in government and it is a duty from which I will not resile. And I ask the government in the exercise of its own mandate to accommodate us in our own duty to seek accountability.”

The opposition leader charged that after two days of the Estimates exercise, he heard from a government minister about a perception of Thorne’s “nasty and vicious” interrogation.

“I will not resile from my responsibility to ask questions, to represent the interests of the people of this country in respect of a government that spends the people’s money. That is my duty and there is no nastiness nor viciousness intended nor exercised in my mandate, in my duty.”

Thorne said he would continue “above the noises” to do his duty and called for an abandonment of the attitude he had seen over the first two days of the Estimates.

“I resent it, I resist it, I reject it!” he declared.

The Democratic Labour Party’s political leader said even amid “an attitude of resistance” against his legitimate right to ask questions on behalf of the people of this country, he would continue.

In remarks on the tourism ministry which took centre stage in the well of the House of Assembly, Thorne said the industry has moved beyond sun, sand and sea and it is now more important to recognise the role of cultural exchange in an important but volatile industry. He said it is also critical that every Barbadian pledges support for the industry for which workers must endure slow seasons, and hoteliers must invest in plant upkeep during a season of inactivity.

“Let us agree that this exercise becomes an exercise in accountability. This is not personal engagement; we come here as professionals, legislators, to represent the people of this country, not in representation of narrow interests.

“Let us do the people’s business and let us do it in a climate of civility, courtesy and according to the rules of this noble House.”

On Wednesday, BAEH president Kemar Saffrey took Thorne to task and called for his resignation after comments he made in Parliament referring to him and his organisation.

The opposition leader had accused Saffrey of campaigning in the St Michael East constituency, as he questioned the $500 000 government was giving to the BAEH which runs a homeless shelter.

“Let truth be told, that he, through his organisation is paid $500 000 every year to sing lullabies and read bedtime stories to the homeless. That is not right,” Thorne had said.

Saffrey, in response, stoutly defended his organisation’s operations, said he had nothing to hide, and accused Thorne of being disrespectful.

“I find it offensive,” he told Barbados TODAY. “How can you use your position to degrade homeless people…? People have been given shelter on a nightly basis to help with their situation…then you are stating that the position that I am taking is to sing lullabies and read bedtime stories is disrespectful.

“I believe the opposition leader should take the time to remove himself from being opposition leader and also remove himself as an MP.”

(SP)