BY SHARON AUSTIN | FEB 17, 2023
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley signing the extension of the Social Compact between Government and the private sector, at Ilaro Court recently. Looking on are Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Trisha Tannis (left) and Senior Minister with responsibility for Coordinating the Productive Sector, Kerrie Symmonds. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley says it would be “impractical” for the Compact between the Government of Barbados and the private sector to cover everything.
However, Ms. Mottley is of the view that almost every Barbadian household will have to use the 46 categories of items in the compact. She made the comments recently before the signing of the Extension of the Compact between Government and the private sector, at Ilaro Court.
The Prime Minister stated: “Now is the time for us to deal with necessities as opposed to…what we want. Therefore, the Government is happy that we have been able to work constructively with the private sector and the labour movement….”
With the introduction of the first compact last year, she noted that food prices dropped during the July to October period. However, she pointed out that vegetable prices impacted the overall price of food, causing it to rise. She reminded citizens that it is within their capacity to grow crops.
Ms. Mottley continued: “Even as Government, private sector and labour movement try to do our best institutionally, …we ask Barbadians and Barbadian households to also step up…and to make sure that…we are in a position to moderate….”
During the ceremony, she said Barbados was heading in the right direction, but it had not yet reached safe harbour. Pointing out that the island was in a better position than it was in 2020 and 2021, she stressed, however, that it is a process.
Senior Minister with responsibility for Coordinating the Productive Sectors, Kerrie Symmonds, again thanked the members of the private sector for their commitment towards making life “a little bit easier for the people” of Barbados.
Mr. Symmonds told those gathered: “We are conscious of the challenge that the first compact presented to a number of players but we are ever mindful of the fact that it is now a time at which all of us have, without exception, to dig a little deeper and try a little bit harder in order to make sure that we are able to maintain stability across this society.”
Distributors and manufacturers have agreed to mark-ups of 12 to 18 per cent on dry goods and 12 to 20 per cent on cold storage products.
Those participating and witnessing the formal signing of the compact included government officials, led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Trisha Tannis; President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anthony Branker; Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Dwaine Paul, and President of the National Union of Public Workers, Kimberley Agard.
