Little interest shown in day’s Estimates

Outside of parliament’s gates was like a ghost town yesterday as the Members of Parliament quietly made their entrances with the exception of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart.

The absence of crowds echoed the sentiments shared by persons in nearby shops who spoke to The Barbados Advocate. Those who chose to comment stated, “I don’t care, whatever happens, happens. I still have to live with it!”
and “whatever they do, they do. I don’t care!” when asked about their interest in Monday’s debate on the 2017-2018 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart was the sole individual to be greeted by a party supporter. Dressed in her yellow suit with matching shoes and a white and yellow hat, Wilma Kirton had the honour of pinning a corsage on the Prime Minister. She told The Barbados Advocate it was her first time doing such and she was “honoured” that had the opportunity to do so.

“We grew up together in Marchfield, [St. Phillip]. So we grow long being friends and the higher he get I am still his friend. I am quite happy with theDemocratic Labour Party because I would say ‘I born a DEM and I will die a DEM,’” she proudly stated.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Mara Thompson was among the first to arrive for the start of day’s debate. Hers was a quiet entrance. Similar, quiet entrances were made by other Members of Parliament from the Democratic Labour Party, from the opposition, Barbados Labour Party and by Independent, the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur.

When the bell rang at ten minutes after ten to signal the start of Parliament, a handful of individuals made their way into the public gallery. Outside of parliament there was still no party supporters gathered. The largest group to be seen were tourists, some of whom stood outside the gates taking photographs of the historic Parliament Buildings. Two couples from among them entered parliament’s yard to go to the museum situated in the West Wing.