Former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur met today with the Opposition lawmakers in the House and Senate to advise them on the issues surrounding the Appropriation Bill as they prepare for Wednesday’s Budget Speech.
But while repeatedly stressing that he is not planning to join the Opposition, the man Arthur once led in his Labour Party government from 1994 to 2008, Bishop Joseph Atherley, announced that he would soon disclose plans to form a new party.
Arthur met with Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley and his team in Parliament’s Conference Room on Thursday to assist with the Atherley’s reply preparations.
Arthur told Barbados TODAY: “I have retired from politics. I am not going to join a political party, but this young man was a minister of state when I was Prime Minister of Barbados. He is a person with whom I am well pleased and as he has asked me to help him with economic advice, I am very happy to do so.”
The former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance suggested that for the first time the Budget debate will focus on a fiscal policy which was given to Barbados and not Barbados’ own economic policy.
He said: “The fiscal policy is the Government that is running at three per cent primary surplus must run at six per cent primary surplus next year, and it has to do things to realise that surplus already stated in the IMF document.”
Atherley told Barbados TODAY the Opposition was pleased to have Arthur share his expertise freely with them.
Atherley said: “Prime Minister Arthur has had the confidence of the Barbadian community over the last 25 years on matters of economics and finance. The Prime Minister – the Minister of Finance and the whole Ministry benefit from a whole core of consultants that are very highly paid. I don’t have any money to pay Mr Arthur but I am glad that he is willing to come and offer his experience, expertise and vast knowledge.”
Atherley told Barbados TODAY with the economy in a slump the advice from Arthur was critical.
He continued: “Barbados is at the crossroads with the economy in such doldrums as they are. You want to tell me that I should not grasp with both hands any help that is offered by him to us? The group is delighted to have him on board as an advisor in this capacity with respect to economic and financial matters as we face this dark era, ain’t no two ways about that and we are unapologetic about that.”
And Atherley declared that he intends to reveal full details about forming a new political party once the Estimates debates are completed.
The Opposition Leader said: “I have stated quite definitely that very shortly I shall be announcing the formation of a new political party in Barbados and it is not in the realm of rumour anymore as I have said that now for several weeks and as we get over the estimates we will look into those matters.”
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Well I guess Atherley is still ‘young’….. Atherley will not know how to properly reply to the Budget speech thats why he ran to King Arthur for help.
The Budget speech will mostly be about meeting the IMF requirements. I heard through the grapevine that income taxes will be reduced but indirect taxes will increase. Will have to wait and see if that will be true.
I was quietly wondering how long before ‘Semore’ would be seen in the political arena again.
lolĺllllllllllll
Traitor Joe is a very articulate opposition leader. He asks the thought-provoking questions that are pertinent to the proceedings. Hence this writer is looking forward to his reply to the Budget. With Owen Arthur’s input, it should contain sound economic analysis.
Guess the Dems will huddle in their George Street parliament and watch the debate on television. Verla Depeiza is expected make some feeble comment the day after in
Barbados Today which has become her main outreach platform to the wider public.
The news media really must stop making Verla believe that she is Leader of the Opposition. Her near defunct Party has no more relevance than any of the other political “pressure groups”. There is only opposition leader, and that is Traitor Joe of the soon to be formed Judas Labour Party.
Much irrelevance Harper.
Stop looking back and deal with current issues Harper you have become stale soon to be irrelevant.
Jade I agree with you. We all know that Carl Liz Thompson has never and will never get over being fired by Arthur. The DLP will rise again just like the BLP did. People in Barbados are hurting and come next elections 30 nil will be reduced.
Judas Joe! the Stuart administration did not take any advice from “Turncoat Arthur” when he tried to offer them. He is now going to give you advise for your Opposition party instead of the party that he once led so the advice would be faulting every thing that his party is doing.
Carl Harper and t seems are BLP trolls always ready to pick a fight. Dirty Harry is just a nasty whore
The ridiculous thing in all this, is that phony Joe was one of those BLP brains that drafted the dreaded BERT/IMF programme.
This is certainly the period of Lent.
The BLP poppet show of dancing with the devil. The thousands who did not vote for the tricky political party, can only sit back and watch the various daily dramas.
Best thing Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley has done for this country. Arthur has a wealth of knowledge. We need his help and that of other honest economist.
From a trickle to a flood the gates are really opened.
I will not comment about Harper Liz as she thrives on attention given to her nonsense.
Why are we so caught up with Verla Depezia. Once again I must remind the BLP supporters that:
1) Verla is just as educated as the present Prime Minister. She attended Harrison College. Mia went to Queens College.
2) She is a Barbados Exhibitioner, so too is Mia.
3) She has met all of the requirements to being a lawyer.
4) She is also a beautiful woman.
Please stop worrying. The DLP will be back.
The DLP got you all sooo good. Can’t seem to keep them out you’ll mouth
3RDSUN: LLOOOLL
@Tennyson Drakes: I’ve noticed your comparison of Mia, and Verla. You mentioned their equality in items 1, and 2. I’ve noticed in items 3, and 4 Verla stands alone?
Why is this? Does our Prime Minister not fit in these two categories? Lol.
@TENNYSON DRAKES VERLA HAVE NOTHING ON MIA, LET ME SET THE ONE STRAIGHT, ENOUGH OF THAT, NOW MOVING ON , VERLA AINT MY CONCERN, SHE IS SMALL FISH, I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH OWEN ARTHUR, AND JOSEPH ARTHERLEY, NOT THAT I CONCERN BOUT THEM EITHER, I GOT A FEW CHOICE GERMAN WORDS FOR THEM AS WELL,, THESE TWO MEN TRYING SO HARD TO DERAIL THE FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER OF THIS COUNTRY, AND THEM AINT LOOKING TO SEE HOW THEM CAN HELP BRING THE COUNTRY BACK TO SOME LEVEL OF NORMALCY, BUT WANT TO DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRY, BOTH OF THEM ARE LIKE CHILDREN, ONE HAD THE BAT AND ALWAYS WANTED TO BAT FIRST AND THE OTHER NOW COME ALONG AND FIND HIM SELF WITH A BALL AND WANT TO BOWL FIRST, I CANT BELIEVE THAT I AM TIED TO THESE TWO CLOWNS, ARTHERLEY IS MY FAMILY AND OWEN FIRST DAUGHTER FROM A FAMILY OF MINES, HOW BUD LUCKED CAN A MAN BE, THEM GOT ME ON A CROSS IN THE CENTER AND TWO OF THEM BAD MINDED MEN ON EITHER SIDE, JOSEPH YOUR FAMILY IN ST ANDREW TELL ME THEM HEART HURTING THEM BADLY, CHALKY MOUNT, BAXTERS, COGGINS,ALL OVER,,
@Kevin:The Budget speech will mostly be about meeting the IMF requirements. I heard through the grapevine that income taxes will be reduced but indirect taxes will increase. Will have to wait and see if that will be true.
Wouldn’t be surprised about this because income tax refunds are not deadline based. The government can owe that for as long as they wish.
@CarlHarper: Traitor Joe is a very articulate opposition leader. He asks the thought-provoking questions that are pertinent to the proceedings. Hence this writer is looking forward to his reply to the Budget. With Owen Arthur’s input, it should contain sound economic analysis.
Articulate Joe, and smooth operator Seymore making you get jitters nuh. You don’t have to worry though, Mia went to Washington last month to get her Bible verses according to the gospel of the I M F. She only have to preach it now, so the Bishop has called in Arthur to teach him the gospel of old. Old time religion yuh know what I mean?
@Carl Harper: Verla Depeiza is expected make some feeble comment the day after in
Barbados Today which has become her main outreach platform to the wider public.
The prostitute who sells on Fontabelle has been the facilitator of the B L P for decades.
Now a new lady of the night comes to town, finds Lynette and Verla attractive while seeking a solution because Mia has none.
Is that a problem for you too? What do you want her to do, go to bed with Mia when she knows not what to do? The B L P can’t control all the media Carl. No, not in Barbados.
@Carl Harper: Her near defunct Party has no more relevance than any of the other political “pressure groups”.
Yes Carl we are all pressure groups aren’t we? Yes our citizens are under pressure, our energy, food security, debt servicing, creditors, teachers, students, workers, the justice system, our law enforcers are all under pressure from this Mottley lead Dr. Doolittle/Alice in wonderland administration.
So pressure groups like the entire nation are the order of the day. We are a people under pressure Carl, so wherever we see a group formed, whether on the street corner, in a rum shop, a church yard after service, or at the beach.
It’s one thing on their minds, ‘the pressure we’re under’. So pressure groups are expected to rise up shortly, all because of this government’s policies. Keep writing Carl, you give me such incite.
GREENGIANT: You are so observant then. Enough said.
Joe is no fool and knows all Owen wants is a soap box to get on and criticise anything Mia says. That is the sad part about it is Owen has a wealth of experience but because he has made his disdain for Mia so well known, he will be dismissed based on that. I hope some day he will get over the fact that the same public who dismissed him in 2013 in favour of the DLP gave Mia a full house 5 years later.
@3RDSUN…I beg to differ…since you claim to be the THIRD SUN then the FIRST and the SECOND SUN along with you would have had to be the PRODUCTS of the nasty whore…ya muddaskunk
See how that HYPOCRITE one SONYFAIR skinning she teet because a THIRDSKUNK called me a NASTY WHORE…head held high and cackling like a pregnant hen.
Wonder who is ADVISING DEM? won’t be surprised if all a DEM disgraced LOSERS venture to the BOWELS of the Atlantic Ocean to get that much needed advice from Errol Barrow.
Only the other day she was ALL HYPER after I said that her good friend and buddy and just as HYPOCRITICAL as she… one PATTY now has the LUXURY of 3 dildos..here she is skinning she teet with glee…..how much you got SONYFAIR?…and if ya one short why ya doan borrow one from PATTY
Harriette Turncoat aka sweet cakes aka Cocoa in hiding is not a dirty Whore
I beg to differ
She is a night Vendor in Pinfold Street if you please and she will soon be honoured by the BLP Patsy King get honoured Lorenzaaa get honoured Harriette turn next