#BTColumn – Mia cares: building the best Barbados

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Kevon E. Henry

While no one will claim that this government, like all of us, has always got it right, the naked political narratives coming from some corners with their own axe to grind, in an attempt to discredit the record of this government in putting Barbados and Barbadians as its foremost stakeholder, are misleading.

It has always puzzled me the promoted narrative by these persons, that the BLP is an anti-black and anti-poor, anti-small man party. Not the party of Grantley Adams that brought the franchise to the masses, not the party that introduced health care, education and workers rights expansion.

Not the party of Tom Adams that empowered the poor working classes with the Tenantry Freehold Purchase Act, spawning a generation of landowners, enabling so many families to achieve the Barbadian dream. Not the party of Owen Arthur that made every Bajan a winner and drove unemployment down to its lowest in our history.

The constant attempt to distort a real history of works that improved the lives of the people of this nation is unfair at best, malicious at worst. Yet in 2021, despite the efforts and policies implemented in challenging times, they are being tainted by the mischievous using ‘Mia doesn’t Care’ as their new tag line.

MIA CARES – Taxes

Isn’t it Mia cares, when we received our income tax returns that we were deprived of by the Dems? Isn’t it Mia cares when VAT arrears to businesses were cleared allowing for an ease in cash flow problems and further negative impacts on jobs?

Isn’t it Mia cares, when the $1300 refund was re-introduced and the threshold raised to allow those earning $2000 and less, (instead of $1500 & less) per month, to now qualify for it?

Isn’t it Mia cares, when the income tax thresholds were reduced so that everyone
who pays income tax, now pays less from
their salaries?

MIA CARES – Social Support

Isn’t it Mia cares, when welfare was raised to help those less fortunate to be able to meet the needs of their dependents? Isn’t it Mia cares when pensions were raised for those who as a generation of housewives et al who mainly receive the non-contributory pensions, to be able to live with some dignity?

Isn’t it Mia cares, to build and support the Adopt Our Families Programme, the sex work programme, the creatives grants, the small business relief programme, and the Best programme for the tourist industry, to ensure that over eight thousand households collectively are now able to stay afloat through this pandemic?

MIA CARES – Health

Isn’t it Mia cares, when polyclinics opened for 24 or extended hours? Isn’t it Mia cares when Accident & Emergency opens its newly expanded and equipped wing in weeks to come? Isn’t it Mia cares, when a funding model for the QEH to allow it to provide the essential services we expect was established?

Isn’t it Mia cares, when Harrison Point was built and equipped to ensure that COVID patients did not have to be intentionally treated in our main facility with our sisters, cousins, uncles, grandparents, etc?

Isn’t it Mia cares, when Barbados secured the first set of vaccines in CARICOM?

MIA CARES – Education

Isn’t it Mia cares, when our children and teachers can go to school on campuses that are healthy, clean, well maintained and equipped? Isn’t it Mia cares, when university students can now attend classes with their tuition covered?

Isn’t it Mia cares when the Barbados Youth Advance Corps was expanded to provide an avenue for young people? Isn’t it Mia cares with the First Job Initiative? Isn’t it Mia cares, when every Bajan can utilise the National Training Initiative to do and receive certificates from Coursera free of cost?

MIA CARES – Business and Earnings

Isn’t it Mia cares, with the National Minimum Wage being established at $8.50 per hour of work? Isn’t it Mia cares, when over $25m has been disbursed as part of the Trust Loans to ordinary Barbadians, to invest in their businesses?

Isn’t it Mia cares when vendors have been humanised with the cessation of harassment from our sidewalks, to Barven being accommodated in more complete facilities?

Isn’t it Mia cares with the Fairchild Street Market rebuild? Isn’t it Mia cares with fish markets from Oistins, Tent Bay, Bridgetown, Speightstown, Paynes Bay and Weston, having all been refurbished to allow vendors to have safer facilities to operate from?

Isn’t it Mia cares with a new market, just opened at Pile Bay, giving the fisherfolk the home they deserve? Isn’t it Mia cares with the Block-preneur Programme, empowering spaces for young people?

MIA CARES – Transport

Isn’t it Mia cares with numerous highways and roads that have been repaired which will cause motorists to save on maintenance costs for their vehicles? Isn’t it Mia cares who just announced a further $215m projects for the Scotland District roads? Isn’t it Mia cares with the purchase of 33 buses and another 14 that will soon arrive; electric buses, with air conditioning and Wi-Fi, for the transport board’s fleet?

MIA CARES – Environment

Isn’t it Mia cares, when protecting our environment against the climate crisis is prioritised; the National Botanical Gardens realised; and the country cleaned up like never before with the Clean and Green teams, creating jobs all across Barbados for Bajans?

Isn’t it Mia Cares, when the sewage crisis was addressed off the South Coast streets and Graeme Hall Swamp allowing businesses to be open while protecting jobs?

Isn’t it Mia cares, when 29 garbage trucks were delivered that addressed refuse collection and the rat crisis which was caused by the inherited garbage crisis caused by the previous administration’s negligence?

MIA CARES – Housing

Isn’t it Mia cares when Bajans can see projects like the land sales at Deanstown, the Hope project from National Housing that creates access to affordable housing? Isn’t it Mia cares when persons who paid for housing units more than they should, have received over $5m worth of refunds of their own money?

Isn’t it Mia cares when title deeds were returned to clients of UDC & RDC, where for 10 years they were being withheld unlawfully? Isn’t it Mia cares when the Housing units wiring were replaced to reduce the risk of fire?

MIA CARES – Going Forward

Isn’t it Mia cares when 3000 civil servants were appointed to jobs, they have been doing for over three years, thereby giving them access to facilities like mortgages? Isn’t it Mia cares, when MIST has gone about the digitising processes like online payment of licenses, police certificates of character, which now take hours instead of weeks? Isn’t it Mia cares when later in 2021 citizens will receive their new digitised national ID?

MIA CARES – Agriculture

Isn’t it Mia cares, when in agriculture, the FEED programme has been launched and over 4000 young, new farmers have access to land and training to aid in promoting our food security? Isn’t it Mia cares with the leasing of 60 acres of land to the Rastafarian community, to allow them to be enfranchised and legitimised? Isn’t it Mia cares when medicinal cannabis is being explored with provisions that those investing in the industry must have 30 per cent of the business ceded to Bajans?

Isn’t it Mia cares when for the first time, marijuana possession is to be treated as a ticketed offence, and not a criminal offence? This, thereby paves the way to enfranchise many who have been victim to these socially unjust laws.

MIA CARES – Our Identity

Isn’t it Mia cares, when this government wishes to build our national identity, by completing the independence project and attaining Republican status later this year; removing Nelson from Heroes Square; and developing Golden Square to represent its value to modern Barbados?

THE ANSWER – Mia Cares, the BLP Cares

The answer to the above listed questions is yes, Mia cares, the BLP cares. Each and every one of these policies moves the needle to allow a Better Life for each Bajan.

This list isn’t exhaustive. With solutions to the water and the gun situations being actively implemented; and another attempt at Integrity Legislation, attracting an all of government approach, we can take comfort in knowing that this team does what needs to be done.

The record speaks to the large volume of what has been accomplished thus far in only three years with so much more to go. Some critics would point to what our government has not got to as yet, but rest assured with this record, in the circumstances faced, we can look forward with confidence that the Mia Mottley administration will continue to address the agenda to transform Barbados.

Daily, Barbadians reach out to express their gratitude for the job being done and the positive impact that Government’s policies are having on their lives.

Rooted in care and ensuring that those vulnerable reach safety and safe there, this government has continued the real legacy of the BLP in fighting to make each Bajan a winner.

This Government has addressed crisis after crisis, and while admittedly not perfect, has worked and continues to work, to repair, rebuild and make Barbados better after a lost decade. Let’s all pray they remain focused and committed to that task.

Kevon E. Henry is President of the League of Young Socialist of the Barbados Labour Party; Member of the Party’s Executive & Communications Team.