The government will scale down dual celebrations of independence and republican status, absorb fuel costs to shield households from global price shocks, and prepare to take a new Constitution of Barbados to public consultation, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said.
Addressing citizens at the Ideas Forum town hall meeting, Mottley said guiding a small island state through global conflict and inflation requires difficult, empathetic choices. To prioritise public funds for economic relief rather than pageantry, she confirmed that the government will compress the dual celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Independence and the fifth anniversary of the republic into a three-month period.
“What I’m not going to do as prime minister of this country is to misallocate funds or misprioritise funds when circumstances clearly show you are dealing with a war,” Mottley declared.
“Barbados is going to play bottom pad exceedingly close together because we do not have control over the events that are taking place internationally that can affect us otherwise. There are some things that we are committed to already; things that we are not committed to, we look, we take fresh guard, and we make judgment calls on them.”
Mottley disclosed that the constitutional review process has reached a key milestone, with the final advisory report now in the President’s hands.
“I can report to you — and the attorney general doesn’t even know fully yet — we finally got the report on the responsibilities for the new constitution,” she revealed, drawing applause from the audience.
The document is expected to go to ministers within the next two to three weeks, followed by a public consultation process. The government would not rush the change at the expense of public participation, Mottley pledged, indicating a flexible timeline to ensure wide input.
“The hope is that if we can’t make it for November, we make it soon thereafter, because we don’t want to deny the country the right for full participation.”
Defending her administration’s economic measures, Mottley outlined decisions by the Ministry of Finance to keep electricity and fuel prices stable despite international pressures. She cited a recent recommendation from technical officials to raise fuel prices from $3.72 to $4.20 per litre due to global market disruptions.
“I indicated this publicly already, that the country can handle heavy rain, but it cannot handle a deluge,” Mottley said, noting that the government capped the price at $4.01 per litre and absorbed the difference.
“The government will carry the weight of that accounting difference for the people of Barbados rather than passing it on…. So far as we can carry it, and it means making choices, we wanted to be able to start the independence celebrations just after the elections. It came, we can’t do it. I am not going to go and have celebrations in one place and then have households exposed on a daily basis elsewhere.”
Among other measures, a health bill to address diabetes and kidney disease is to be introduced in Parliament, the prime minister told the forum. She noted that the bill will be piloted by health minister Senator Lisa Cummins under the six-month-old constitutional amendment that allows ministers a right of audience in both chambers.
Mottley placed the legislation within a wider plan to position Barbados as a regional hub for medical tourism and pharmaceutical manufacturing, drawing on the island’s trained healthcare workforce and its history as a convalescent destination.
On the environment, Mottley defended the transitional use of natural gas as a “bridge fuel”, arguing that climate policy must remain practical for small island states exposed to extreme weather. She announced that Barbados will only partner with energy companies that meet strict methane-free standards.
“Methane is 80 times more destructive than carbon,” Mottley said, noting that natural gas infrastructure remains important for rapid recovery if hurricanes damage renewable energy systems. “Whoever we do business with has to show us that they’re fully compliant with their methane practices, and that ultimately natural gas will be a bridge energy for all kinds of reasons. If a hurricane hits tomorrow and destroys all of the [photovoltaic] farms and wind farms, it is easier and quicker for us to get a natural gas generator moving and working to bring energy back to the country.”
She also touted the creation of the Department of Citizen Engagement and Media Relations as part of an effort to provide reliable information and involve citizens more directly in national development.
She ended with an appeal for Barbadians to volunteer their time during the summer to support youth organisations such as the Cadets, Girl Guides and community sports clubs:
“What this country needs in order to raise our young people, to raise our children, is not so much your money. The government will find the funds. The private sector will find the funds. We need your time.
“There is no sense in saying that you don’t have time, because if we end up with a country that is inhospitable, then we will end up having all the time in the world, which none of us wants.
“I’m appealing to Bajans to step up to the plate.”
(RR)
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