This is a brief examination of stewarding Barbados’ infrastructure – for me, there is a right way and wrong way… I shall do my best to let you decide for yourself based on examples put forward from a single 24-hour period.

Sunday morning found Freundel Stuart, the Acting Prime Minister of Barbados, emerging from his inactive status to become the main lecture for the DLP’s 55th Annual Conference, after William Dookeran from Trinidad cancelled at the last minute.

In an unexpected effort, Mr Stuart strove hard to show he has an acerbic albeit comedic side which nevertheless lacked a certain – perhaps he should leave Calypso references to Chris Sinckler? {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The Acting Prime Minister decides to quote Bajan entertainer Li’l Rick to the amused shock of the audience

Leadership requires decisiveness even in the midst of unpopularity – Alexander The Great wished to control Greater Europe and Northern Africa and was told only he who can undo the Gordian Knot can wield ultimate power over Asia and Europa. The Gordian Knot was a monstrosity of convoluted ropes and twists that would defy Solomon, Alexander took one look at it then whipped his sword out and sliced it in two and declared the knot was undone and set forth to gain new worlds as yet unconquered.

Flashing forward to a far smaller microcosm, we see Barbados in the early 90’s when now-Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford in brokering a deal with the IMF agrees to slice Public Sector workers’ salaries by 8% whether or not they like it – it was an ugly decision which nevertheless was implemented with as some Latin members of the Caribbean would say…

Will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you,
Won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you,
Won’t you, won’t you join the dance?

The as sung by the Mock Turtle: Chas. Lutwidge Dodson, aka – Lewis Carroll

Such clarity of thought is not forthcoming in two significant areas of stewarding Barbados in its ongoing financial crisis, the first in pledging a Budget with the year nearly evaporated and the second in extending Unemployment Benefits as a means of coping with the Global Recession.

Mr Stuart says a Budget is coming, see if in this clip you can give the date? {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The Budget will occur once a meeting is held with the Social Partnership of Trade Unions and Businesses

With equal ‘conviction,’ Mr Stuart explains his efforts to stave off recession is lengthen Unemployment Benefits, how much and from what issue period? {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

Benefits will be disbursed, rather than a six month duration of 26 weeks, will now extend to 40 weeks either into 2011 or from 2011 onwards, will readers clarify?

No incentives to develop Entrepreneurism as Mr Thompson desired before his unfortunate and mysterious illness, no plans to lay Price Controls at Petrol or Basic Food commodities, just make it easier to be lazy for longer and perhaps  with even a bit less as everything costs more… When Crime rears its ugly head as a result of this hardship Mr Stuart, what will you do to ensure there are more Police and intelligent officers willing to drive away nefarious elements in Barbados seeking to prey off of already hard hit citizenry?

This is Sunday morning of August 22, what happened Sunday evening? Night & Day, Chalk & Cheese… Stand by?