New Year’s Message from the Dr Ronnie Yearwood, president of the Democratic Labour Party.
My fellow Barbadians at home and abroad, on behalf of the Democratic Labour Party, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
The Democratic Labour Party is on a bold task to prove that we stand ready to be a transformative Government for Barbados. Our focus is to make life easier and happier for all Bajans, not just a few.
This year, we will unveil a refreshed party, candidates, and policies to transform Barbados into the prosperous nation that we all deserve. You will be seeing more of the Democratic Labour Party in your communities and listening to what matters most to you.
During the last year, I have listened to your concerns about the spiralling cost of living, youth unemployment, poor roads, water outages, long wait times at the QEH, and all the other challenges that make your daily life harder. We will solve these problems, and give them our full and immediate attention.
Our country has resources, but we are suffering from absentee leadership and incompetent management. Resources are openly being funnelled to political friends and family at your expense.
To bring about a modern transformation of Barbados we must get Back to Basics. This means a future Democratic Labour Party government will set the right priorities for you. We will fix roads.
We will reform schools to focus on improving primary education, and put teachers and parents at the centre of reform.
We will introduce a First Start Programme to give all children their best chance in life. In health care, we will reduce wait times, improve clinics, and build a new hospital based on expert advice.
We will achieve the modern transformation of Barbados by stamping out corruption. We will shine a light of transparency, by going beyond freedom of information legislation to implement full open Government.
This means that a future Democratic Labour Party Government will publish information on who gives money to the Government and who receives money from the Government.
Life in Barbados is too expensive because of crushing taxes. Last year, we outlined a cost-of-living reduction plan and a future Democratic Labour Party Government will the lower VAT and reform the tax system so Bajans can comfortably buy food, pay bills, care for their families and have disposable income.
In the coming months, I look forward to continuing to meet, engage and partner with you as the Democratic Labour Party lays the foundation to make life easier and happier for all Bajans.
Again, I take this opportunity to wish all Bajans a Happy and Prosperous New Year. God Bless.
