The Estimates for 2021-2022 did not go far enough, claims Democratic Labour Party (DLP) president Verla DePeiza, accusing Government of not charting a new economic path for the country.
DePeiza said that Government was continuing to pump millions of dollars into the traditional industries while there were other sectors with potential in need of capital. She was speaking during the party’s Sunday Roast programme aired on Facebook.
DePeiza said: “This administration is spinning top waiting for COVID to lift to get back to business as usual. We don’t see anywhere in the Estimates for preparation for venture capital because $5,000 as a start-up does nothing for a small business.
We are not satisfied by what we are seeing coming out of the current administration. You can test the seriousness by where the money is put. Put the money where your mouth is.”
The DLP leader also criticised the Government for constantly throwing money at tourism while neglecting other industries.
“We threw a wash pan of money at tourism,” said DePeiza. The players aren’t even picking it up because they don’t want to meet the requirements to secure their piece of the $300 million. Then they give chicken feed to small businesses. So we see where the emphasis is. We see there is money allocated in traditional ways but we are not seeing allowing people to raise themselves up.”
DePeiza pointed out that the cultural industries should be explored and claimed that the $160 million allotted was not enough.
Referring to the Freundel Stuart administration she said: “One of the last things we did was the Cultural Industries Development Act which was designed to create more economic space in a different direction. When we speak of Cultural industries we are not just talking about singing and calypso and what happens at Crop Over time but we are talking about the very same agricultural side products, the development of manufacturing coming out of that. We are looking at building out the economy and giving options via entrepreneurship. I see it as limitless.”
DePeiza said another industry that was “disrespected” was agriculture – the only portfolio to grow last year.
“Agriculture has not been given the respect. It is the one industry that showed growth notwithstanding COVID,” the DLP president said. “We haven’t spoken about alternative energy and agriculture. We haven’t dealt with technological advancements in agriculture. We have to be positioning Barbados in a way that our people can be major players, not just [any] one person, but that it becomes a mindset for our people. The intention of the DLP is to move Barbados there.” (IMC)
