Policy Suggestions
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The Mahogany Coconut Group, cannot in all honesty, endorse either
the ruling Democratic Labour Party or
the Barbados Labour Party in the recently announced General Elections of
February 21st. 2013. We remain steadfast in our position, that
neither party has the intellectual capacity or the political will to engineer
progressive socio-economic reform. However, we respect the right of the
populace to vote and we will be the first to offer critical support to any
party, organization or individual, who come forward with suggestions and or
positions to enhance our national and Caribbean well-being. However, we are
cemented in our belief, that we are governed by a very sophisticated one party
state. In other words, “six of one and half dozen of the other!”
Against this background we offer some of the policies we will
support in the interest of national development:
Education
We believe that there can be no real or sustainable change
without the radical reform of the educational system. We therefore call for the
abolition of the Common Entrance Examination. We will replace the current
system with continuous assessment so as to identify the skills sets and
educational strengths of our children. Too many of our children are falling
through the cracks because of the elitist approach to education;
Land Use Policy
We call for an
immediate band on the sale of land to non-citizens. In recent years we have
seen the increase in land prices because of unregulated speculating. This
activity has resulted in citizens being denied the ability to purchase land and
therefore have no real legacy to leave for future generations;
Tourism
We call for the establishment of craft markets at all hotel
plants,each to accommodate at least twelve vendors to sell their craft.
The vendors would be chosen by a
lottery which would be conducted by the hotels and a reputable firm of
auditors. This would assist in restoring some form of economic activity by
small business persons who have been systematically denied opportunity in the
tourism industry.
Agriculture and Fisheries
We call for the establishment of a revolving fund of fifty
million dollars to assist small farmers with ten or less acres and fisher folk
with small/medium sized vessels in order to improve their operations. These
funds should be loaned from the National Insurance Scheme. We call for the
establishment of an Agriculture and Fisheries Fund Department to exclusively
manage the fund.
The Arts
We call for a National Primary School Arts festival. All performances should be filmed and
marketed throughout the world. Outstanding students/performers should be given
scholarships to further their Craft/skills. This festival should include
calypso and steel drum (pan) performances in addition to all other activities.
Governance
We call for senators
to be elected every two years and with
term limits of six years or three terms. Candidates should be nominated
by any civic group or organization registered by the state. Independent
candidates will not be allowed. No more than one candidate should be nominated
by each civic group. In cases where there is no clear winner, run-offs should
be used to determine winners. The newly constituted senate will have the right
to vote on all government bills. Defeat in the senate will send the bill back
to the House of Assembly for further consideration. A bill can only be defeated
by a clear two third majority in the new senate. The senate should comprise of
no more than twenty four persons and the stipend paid should be no more than
that necessary to cover travel to and from the senate. Senatorial campaigns should not exceed ten
thousand dollars and the monitoring of such will be executed by an independent
Senatorial Overview Committee whose members will not be paid but selected by
the Government Opposition and Governor General.
Integrity
We call on all Members of Parliament to declare their assets immediately.
Failure to declare assets after six months in Parliament should lead to recall
and new elections barring those who refuse or fail to declare their assets from
being elected and or participating in any campaign;
Republic
We call on both the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic
Labour Party to move Barbados to Republic status within one year after the date
of General elections of February 21st. 2013.
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