FOD rolls out policy-heavy proposals at campaign meeting 

The Friends of Democracy (FOD) unveiled an expansive slate of economic, social and governance proposals during a Thursday night political meeting at Whitehall No. 2, St Michael, with party leader and St Philip West candidate Karina Goodridge declaring that Barbados was in need of a stronger parliamentary opposition to ensure national progress, particularly with the country’s next Budget cycle approaching.

She insisted the party’s mission extends beyond securing seats, arguing that greater legislative scrutiny is necessary to balance national decision-making.

“One of our policies is this: when the government owes you the people money, they should pay you back with interest,” she said. “It can’t be that when you owe the government money, so much trouble comes your way, but then when they owe you, they should pay with interest.”

Goodridge argued that sustainable economic expansion will require Barbados to aggressively court foreign investment and diversify revenue streams, pointing to health services as a potential growth sector.

“We are proposing a state-of-the-art hospital,” she said, adding that such a facility would support medical tourism, create employment opportunities and strengthen domestic healthcare capacity.

Goodridge also pressed for stronger public consultation in national policy development, telling supporters that citizens must play a more active role in shaping government decisions.

“There should be consultations with you, the people of the nation. Any good government should know that they should be consulting with you,” she said.

Crime and youth disengagement dominated large sections of her address, with the candidate calling for both legislative reform and social intervention strategies.

She warned that rising criminal activity threatens the country’s economic backbone, particularly the tourism industry.

“We have to strengthen our laws. We said in our manifesto that we will have a conversation about having those stricter laws… We understand that we need to bring back boot camps and mentorship for youngsters,” Goodridge said.

“If we are saying that this is a country of tourism, why then will we want high crime rates to run away the same tourists that we want to come to the nation?”

Among the party’s micro-enterprise proposals, she outlined plans to formalise roadside vending through designated coconut water vendor villages, linking the idea to both tourism development and sanitation improvements.

“To have the coconut water villages is like telling every individual who handles and deals with coconuts that we appreciate your service,” she said. “It will help when the tourists come and see the coconut water vendor villages available… and the roads don’t have to be dirty with all the coconut husks.”

Focusing on youth employment, she criticised gaps between tertiary education and workforce placement, suggesting that the government should broker partnerships with international firms to expand remote work opportunities.

“It’s one thing to say that young people go to the university with tuition free, but after that, many a time these same youngsters are not paid for their degree.

“The government needs to go and get into those partnerships… and allow the contracts to flow where young people could work remotely from home. We have to give them opportunities for something new… because there is life after the degree,” Goodridge contended.

The meeting also featured contributions from other FOD candidates, who expanded on the party’s broader economic and social agenda.

Christ Church East Central candidate, Dominique Yorke, introduced a youth-focused entrepreneurship proposal, describing it as a structured pathway to tackle unemployment and underemployment among young professionals.

“We would also implement a SEED programme, the Small Enterprise Empowerment Department,” she said. “In a reality where unemployment, underemployment, and a lot of lack of innovation in many sectors leaves young professionals disgruntled and unfulfilled, entrepreneurship still shines through as a glimmer of hope.”

She characterised entrepreneurship as both an economic and social development tool.

“It is an invitation for them to use their enthusiasm, knowledge, and network to build something of their own and help improve our society. A noble pursuit and one which keeps our economy not only thriving through the activity it stimulates, but also growing in diversity, in options, and innovations,” Yorke said.

However, she argued that access to financing remains a major obstacle for many aspiring business owners.

“But it is a pursuit which for many Barbadians is near impossible, given the lack of sufficient funding and investment opportunities which help get their idea off the ground. This needs increasing, and it has led us to formulate a plan of action to address it,” she said.

Yorke outlined the proposed financing structure under the initiative.

“We will implement a startup seed fund in order to invest $1.5 million annually into over 100 entrepreneurs through the SEED programme. Applicants will receive a $15 000 loan in which there will be a built-in compulsory enrollment in the NIS self-employment contribution fund, whose accumulated fund will act as a guarantee for the loan, with the government having the first claim on the maturity benefits over time,” she explained.

“The NIS monthly or weekly payments from the loan recipients will form a part of the monthly repayment to the government for the loan. The rationale is to afford adequate and appropriate seed funding while simultaneously instituting a built-in mechanism to guarantee the loan, while providing self-employment insurance coverage for the loan recipients,” Yorke added.

FOD General secretary Steve Blackett focused heavily on value added tax (VAT) reform proposals, presenting an alternative approach to food taxation aimed at lowering consumer costs.

“We are contemplating and we’re proposing that we re-abolish the value added tax at the ports of entry and also at the retail end and replace it by a flat food reduction tax, we are calling it, of 16 per cent.

“By doing that, we are actually reducing the VAT impact on the Barbadian spenders by 19 per cent. And anytime you remove 19 per cent from anything, you will see that there is a significant reduction of the cost of that item,” Blackett maintained.

He pledged aggressive advocacy for the proposal within Parliament if elected.

“We will not stand idly by as an opposition and allow this particular policy…. We are going to be controlling and coercing the government to ensure that this particular value added tax reduction comes onto the government paper and it is implemented by the next administration in Barbados, because you’re going to get robust and vigorous pushback from the Friends of Democracy, and from all of our members who will be elected to the House of Assembly,” Blackett said.

St Michael North candidate Bertnul Harrison addressed crime policy, taking a controversial stance by advocating for the return of capital punishment for severe offences.

“Nobody ever gives a thought that when you kill a young person, a mother is grieving, a child is grieving, an entire family is grieving, a workplace has lost a work member.

“We are saying, as the Friends of Democracy, let us reintroduce capital punishment, and I say that without fear or indeed favour. If you don’t want the gallows, which last swung in 1984 when a famous person’s grandmother was killed, then use the electric chair or the gas chamber,” Harrison pointed out.

Other candidates addressing supporters included Katrina Ramsay, candidate for St Michael West Central; Ricardo Williams, candidate for St Michael North West; and Raymond Wiggins, candidate for St Michael Central.

Goodridge urged voters to treat the upcoming election as a decisive moment for parliamentary balance and policy direction.

“You have the opportunity on the 11th of February,” she said. “We deserve better.”