#BTColumn – Grading the Government 

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 Dr Ronnie Yearwood

After last week’s column, ‘Incompetence Beguiles’, some readers reached out to ask if I did not think I was judging this Government too harshly. This prompted me to create the scorecard below to assess the Government’s performance in a variety of areas, based on information in the public. The questions asked are based on issues this Government talks about most and many go all the way back to the BLP 2018 Manifesto.  I decided to make this an interactive column and encourage readers to make their own scores.  The scores go from 0 – 3, lowest to highest.  I give reasons for my answers and you can adjust your scores up or down based on your reasons from looking at the public information on each issue.

Issue/Discussion

How has this Government balanced the budget?

Before COVID there was a good attempt to reduce the debt and Government seemed to be cutting back on spending but with public debt at over $12 billion, what are the plans to bring debt under control? It does not seem there is a clear plan for balancing the budget, addressing the issue that the governments spends more than it earns.  Even at low-interest rates, borrowed money has to be repaid. Score: 1

Has the Government done anything to stop corruption and mismanagement of taxpayers’ money?
After what appears as self-sabotage by the Government, as the Government has a clear majority in Parliament but the ani-corruption laws still failed to make it on the books, the answer is a simple no. Further, if you read the most recent Auditor General’s report, mismanagement of public funds continues. Example, $124 million investment regarding Four Seasons was written off and as the report stated, “It has not been clearly established what was the basis for the entire write off of the investment. It was also not clear what was the nature of the investment relationship Clearwater had with the hotel owners. The investment and subsequent write off could not therefore be verified by the auditors.” Score: 0

Have the reports from the auditor general improved?
The recent report highlighted millions of dollars missing and looks to be one of the worse in recent memory. Score: 0

Has there been any Education reform?
Lots of talk about master teachers and middle schools but nothing so far. Score: 0

Are we any closer to a replacement for the 11 plus?
The simple answer is no. In June 2018 the PM announced at a BLP public meeting that the 11 plus would be abolished. Since then, the Minister of Education has repeated the statement often. However, no alternative transfer system has yet been shared with the public. In fact, parents are still not sure when the 11 plus will be this year, even after another announcement by the Minister of Education at a BLP public meeting that parents would know by now. (In fact, did not the BLP heavily criticize the DLP when it used political party meetings to announce national policy?) Score: 0

Has the largest Cabinet in our history delivered more than previous much smaller Cabinets?
Many hands may make light work, but the other old saying, proof of the pudding is in the eating.  At the moment, we have a spike in gun crime, the reefs have been destroyed through poor policy, unemployment is at an all-time high, the recent auditor general report shows mismanagement, some tourism workers laid off have not been paid, this Government cannot get a slogan for tourism right, announcement of ill-fitted republic transition committee and it seems a commission or committee for everything. There is a growing sense that this Government could not get people drunk in a rum shop as its basic competence is called into question. Score 0

Did creating new Ministries like Blue Economy, Elder Affairs and Youth add anything new that was not being addressed?
This is probably difficult to assess but take the Blue Economy, which seems to be doing the work of the department of fisheries in managing fish market and related activities. Did we need a whole Ministry for this? Is the Ministry fulfilling its promise or purpose? Worse yet, a new Ministry and the reefs were damaged by a colossal policy failure when cruise ships were allowed to dock in Barbados during the height of COVID. Score 1

Have the consultants hired by the Government provided real value? I am yet to learn of something done for us by a hired consultant that could not have been done by someone already paid by Government, either a Minister, Public Servant or statutory board member. Score 0

Has garbage collection improved?
Some new garbage trucks were purchased by this Government but we still have garbage collection issues.  Not that long ago garbage collection was well managed in Barbados.  This is not a dream.  There is no reason why we cannot again have a proper and efficient garbage collection service island wide. Score 1

Has there been any new approach in Tourism?
Only the players have changed, nothing else.  We lose airlift occasionally and then Ministers of Tourism announce the return of the same or similar airlift with much fanfare.  Has the airlift to Barbados really changed much over the last 20 years?  We keep hearing plans for new source markets.  Are we not still pretty much dependent on British tourists and have been for the last 40 years? And when the Government was gifted a new approach, the idea of the Welcome Stamp by a citizen, what was done? Score 1

Is public transportation any better under this Government?
New buses, so an improvement but still long waits for buses and still no scheduling system.  Many businesses here have been using tracking systems on their vehicles for years.  Why is not the Transport Board tracking its buses to ensure more accurate scheduling?  Why do we still see three buses go by in 10 minutes and then none for an hour? Score 2

Are the roads any better under this Government?
Some roads repaved but some of the choices questionable like parts of the ABC Highway that were much better than many other Highways in much worse condition. Score 1.5

Other than borrowing has this Government done anything new to help bring in more foreign exchange?
It seems nothing. The Financial Services sector is on its deathbed.  Where is the defence? Score 0

How successful has this Government been in its move to digitise Government?
Success with Police Certificates of Character but nothing much else.  Further, travellers to Barbados now complete online Immigration and Customs forms before arrival but on arrival are given a paper Health form to be completed. Score 1.5

Has this Government made it any easier to do business in Barbados?The Welcome Stamp was a good initiative and probably the only improvement.  Unfortunately, the February 2021 lockdown here and the relaxing of protocols in the source markets seem to have slowed the initial rush of applicants to a trickle.  Notice that no one in Government is talking about Welcome Stamp numbers anymore. Score 1

Has this Government followed through on its promise to spread Government contracts around rather than giving most of it to a few large companies?
If you pay attention to names this Government likes working with, they are virtually the same ones they criticised while in Opposition. Score 0

Has this Government reduced serious crime?
Most crime statistics are pretty much the same, other than the murder rate which saw a record increase.  New Laws to deal with crime poorly considered and drafted. One law regarding denial of bail recently struck down by a Judge for being unconstitutional. Score 1

Has this Government improved the water situation for those affected by serious water woes?
The simple answer is not yet. Score 0
Total: 11 out of 54

Therefore, this Government gets around 20 per cent grade from the assessment above.  Give your own scores and see what total grade you give this Government and compare grades with friends and family.

Dr Ronnie Yearwood is a lecturer in law, lawyer and social commentator. Email: yearwood.r.r.f@gmail.com