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Ambassador Denis Kellman, Member of Parliament for St. Lucy has expressed that the money given to the tourism industry, the increases in gasoline and bus fares, mentioned in the budget by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler are all steps in the right direction.
Speaking during reply to the Budget in the House on Tuesday evening, Ambassador Kellman is of the opinion that one cannot quarrel about the said proposals.
“I want to congratulate the decision to ensure that there is more money to market tourism and to protect our key market; the European market. There is no doubt that any money given to the tourism industry now to market it is a step in the right direction. We must do everything within our power to secure the tourism industry especially the United Kingdom.”
In commenting on the increase of gasoline, he noted, “There is no doubt that we have to protect our foreign exchange and if we continue to give gasoline at a reasonable price we will either have to borrow or we would have to use the few cents we are earning from tourism to supply those persons who use it.”
Ambassador Kellman indicated that there was not an increase in bus fares in this country for many years. “No one can quarrel about 50 cents increase in bus fares. If 50 cents will allow the Transport Board to remain in operation, I know that the public of Barbados would prefer to have a proper transportation system,” he said.
According to Kellman, over the years, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has had large sums of money to ‘play’ with; however, he noted that if they had invested that money wisely we would not be in this position today; as the surplus would be able to erode the deficits created and we would have been in a better position.
He also stated: “In 1992 to 1993, the Democratic Labour Party in hard economic times were able to have a surplus of $5,441,615.00. In 1993 to 1994, we were only able to have a small deficit of $8 million. But would you believe that the same party that wants you believe that $8 million in deficit on the current account is bad were able to give this country in 2003 to 2004 a deficit of over $300 million dollars.”
Kellman added that this deficit is supposed to be at a time when things are bad, but in the case of the BLP they were bragging about economic growth but still had the highest deficit ever. (TL) (Barbados Advocate)

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