The Barbados Labour Party decries the attack on the former Chairman of the National Housing Corporation from an un-named source that appeared in a section of the Press today.

It is yet another example of the Democratic Labour Party Government using fear and smear tactics to try to silence anyone who does not agree with them and has the courage to express their opinion publicly.

It is a level of politics to which this country does not need to descend and we will not condone this sort of behaviour in public life. This is not the sort of democracy we wish to build. Citizens, particularly those who give public service, must feel free to criticize without being open to attack.

What Minister Michael Lashley needs to do is answer the charges made by Mrs. Rice-Bowen so that the public can come to its own determination on this matter.

Furthermore, what the counter attack on Mrs. Rice-Bowen has laid bare is the circumstances under which a number of insurance policies for statutory corporations have been re-assigned since this Government took office. The can is now open and the worms are leaping out.

What the public needs now is full disclosure of the facts that led to the insurance for the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation being moved from ICBL to CLICO. We all know that the Chairman of CBC, Leroy Parris was the Chairman of CLICO Holdings at the time.

We also wish the details on the change of insurance cover for Barbados Conferences Services Ltd. (Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre) from ICBL to Trident Insurance in circumstances where the Chairman of BCSL, Algernon Leacock is also the CEO and a substantial shareholder in Trident Insurance.

What led the Board of the Gymnasium Limited to terminate its contract with CGI Insurance to have IMPS Insurance Brokers, with family connections at the highest level of Government, source new coverage and leading to an increased outlay of 25% for the Gymnasium?

Similarly, why did ICBL lose the insurance business for the airport and the seaport?

These are matters that the Cabinet must address without delay. We will await their findings and their action.