President Mason delivers first speech of a Republic Barbados to open Parliament

In an historic first speech by the President of Barbados, the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason today promised Barbadians an improved and inclusive governance structure and prosperity for all citizens during Government’s new term in office.

She gave the assurances during today’s opening of Parliament, the first since Barbados became a Republic on November 30 last year.

Dame Sandra said during this term, Government intends to anchor its approach under five core values; people-centered leadership; Government delivering for all; pride and industry through active citizenship; Bajan ownership matters and innovation drives opportunity.

“The core values will undergird the new policy frameworks which my Government intends to put in place, supported by drivers of national transformation of Barbados – quality of life; ownership and financial security; benefits from renewable energy; home ownership; community and family life; national identity and active citizenship; education and skills; governance and government operations; jobs and decent work opportunities in new sectors; health and well-being; infrastructure and public spaces; resilience and safety.

“Through these drivers of national transformation, my Government is determined to create a new prosperity for all citizens; an improved governance; an enhanced polity and a more engaged citizenry,” Dame Sandra noted.

The President acknowledged that “good governance is pivotal to maintaining public trust and confidence” and said Government intended to reorient the focus of its operations to be more “citizen-centric”.

Dame Sandra also pointed to several aspects of governance which would be overhauled.

As it related to social services, she said there would be a reform of the welfare system and the establishment of a Family Services Authority aimed at bringing all public social services under one directorate.

She said Government would introduce a Trade Union Recognition and Collective Bargaining Bill to Parliament in the “early days” of the new term.

She gave the assurance that a new Education Act was in the works that would be more suited to modern policy, teaching and management and focused on problem-solving, critical thinking and life-long learning.

As part of efforts to enfranchise Barbadians, Dame Sandra outlined Government’s plans to construct the “largest property-owning” democracy in the Latin America and the Caribbean, in its bid to help more Barbadians “own a piece of the rock”.

Additionally, she said a Barbados Wealth Fund would be created, which would give equity stakes to nationals in Government-held revenue-generating assets.

She said this goal would be further achieved by the establishment of Community Tourism Villages.

Dame Sandra said these would ensure all Barbadians would benefit from tourism business on the island.

“It is intended that these spaces will create substantial revenues for ordinary Barbadians, increase small business and entrepreneurship, thereby moving some of the tourism earnings from the traditional players to ordinary Barbadians. The Community Tourism Villages which will also utilise the gullies around the island for green tourism, will provide tourists with more authentic, enjoyable, immersive, local experiences which they so often seek,” the President noted.

Dame Sandra said thousands of Barbadians were also set to benefit from various construction projects across the island.

She revealed that $1.4 billion in private sector projects were expected while Government’s expenditure on public sector projects was $122.5 million.

The President said these projects cumulatively would generate 5050 construction jobs and approximately 3600 full-time jobs.

She also spoke of plans to tap into the cultural, creative and heritage economy through a 52-week event calendar entitled Eventful Barbados, that would turn the island’s main towns into hubs for entertainment and leisure.

Queen’s Park has been earmarked to be transformed into the “cultural hub of the island”.

Dame Sandra disclosed that to boost the island’s health system, community nurses would be introduced to promote greater healthcare and reduce the high incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases.

She said the construction of a new Geriatric Hospital was also on the cards. (RB)