General Secretary of the BWU, Toni Moore, while speaking to the media after the service yesterday morning.
GENERAL Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Toni Moore, is of the view that the full scope of what is happening in the Barbados economy must be brought to the table in order for the social partnership to be effective.
She was speaking to the media briefly after a church service to mark the beginning of the Week of Excellence at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels yesterday morning.
Her comments came against the backdrop of a proposed meeting of the social partnership at end of the week, and in response to ongoing queries about the relevance and effectiveness of the tripartite arrangement in Barbados.
According to Moore, “What makes a social partnership functional or what would make the social partnership work is where all of the partners of the partnership come together and engage in full and meaningful discussion about the issues that are relevant to the partnership.
“Where that is not happening the partnership will be regarded as dysfunctional and in the case of Barbados, I think that is the point that we are at. Where unless the partners see the relevance of speaking out, engaging in the full and meaningful discussions where there is full disclosure, that is the only way the partnership is going to be able to succeed.”
She noted that this is particularly critical at this time, noting that it will be difficult for workers to feel motivated to give 100 per cent within the context of the current economic conditions.
“That is why I can only emphasize that it is important now than ever before for the partnership, all members, at the individual level and the collective level, when we come together to set the example, be the right example for workers and citizens of Barbados.
The next few months, the next year or so is going to be one that will require all of our utmost opinion and I can commit that for the BWU and we certainly hope that all others will follow suit,” she stated.
It was further pointed out that this extends to the level of indebtedness facing the country. “So where there is indebtedness, the Government of Barbados needs to open up and indicate to which a situation is indeed a situation. It makes no sense if partners are not aware of exactly where things stack up, it makes no sense trying to forge responses, because responses may indeed be misplaced.”
“As it relates to the increases for public servants, it would be somewhat difficult where public servants are seeing that although there is indebtedness there seems to be a commitment to restore in other areas,” she said.
Touching on the recent impasse between the Governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance, she opined that the concern for the economy has little to do with what has been unfolding in the public domain in recent weeks. “The concern for the economy is a subject that stands on its own. I think the situation that we had to witness for the last few weeks was unfortunate on many levels and I hope that we can get past ... the issue, and focus on the economy and the sustainability of Barbados and citizens of Barbados, which is far more critical at this time,” she said.
Moore stressed that in the absence of full disclosure, there will also be room for speculation. (JH)