Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Verla DePeiza has slammed Prime Minister Mottley’s decision to go on vacation at a time of national “crisis”.
She questioned Mottley’s dedication to her responsibility, saying the country’s leader was on leave at a time Government had to address the cost of living which she said is strangling Barbadians and uncertainties in the labour market as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking at the party’s St Joseph branch meeting on Sunday, the DLP president said: “And when you are on vacation and you show up in Vogue magazine with a banana tree over your shoulder, to talk about the republic, I have to question your dedication to the people of Barbados.
“You go on vacation, and you have a crisis situation in employment that calls out for leadership, because all the talk, let’s be real about the legal position. Government needs to take a stand and say what its position is.
“It doesn’t have to mandate them, but if they are going to be mandatory, then Government can do it. This is a moment to be decisive on behalf of the people of Barbados. Make a decision and stand by it,” Depeiza added.
She told party supporters that there are times when persons in leadership positions must make tough decisions, and noted that Barbadians need certainty in their lives, particularly workers who may be facing the possibility of having to pay for COVID-19 tests if they are unwilling to take the vaccine.
DePeiza also declared that Barbadians appear to be dissatisfied with what has been happening in the country to the point that they took to the streets to march and vent their frustrations two weeks ago.
The party leader said: “The Democratic Labour Party is ready, willing and able to continue speaking out on behalf of the people of Barbados, and to make their concerns heard, because we have to speak as a collective. We cannot be speaking individually.
“The trade unions, the traditional speakers on behalf of workers, are silent on this issue, and we cannot pretend that we don’t know why. Because one woke up yesterday and understood the import of political interference, but the rest of us understood that a long time ago,” referring to the decision announced over the weekend by NUPW president Akanni McDowall that he had withdrawn from the upcoming election race.
DePeiza said Barbados is at a point in its history where it is seeing the negative effects of the trade union movement being affected by political interference and holding hands with employers.
She said because Barbadians are struggling to cope with the mental and physical impact of the high cost of living which is causing some young people to take their own lives, Government must make sure provisions are put in place that will lead to less suffering for the people.
“That is why the Democratic Labour Party will continue to call for a budget. And in case you don’t understand what we mean, let me explain. When can we have an economic statement, a policy statement, a directive, coming from the Government as to how you can raise revenue and how you can spend it, for the benefit of the majority of our people?” (AH)
