If there was not a clear reason to vote for Solutions Barbados in the upcoming General Election, then our recent vote at the UN should be the final straw.  Our politicians have once again recklessly put us in grave danger.

The US decided to locate their Embassy in Jerusalem.  Barbados was thinking about publically criticising that decision with our vote in UN.  So the US Ambassador, Nikki Haley, gave us citizens a clear warning. “On Thursday there will be a vote at the UN criticizing our choice. And yes, the US will be taking names.”

The warning did not seem to deter our politicians, so Ambassador Haley made her statements even more explicit.  “The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out in this assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation,” and to ensure that we would be without excuse, she added, “We will remember it when, once again, we are called up to make the world’s largest contribution to the U.N., and we will remember it when many countries come calling on us to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”

Our politicians could not be dissuaded from adamantly angering the US and potentially harming Barbados for symbolic reasons.  Ambassador Haley explained that the US will put their embassy in Jerusalem regardless of how countries voted.  She also stated “But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN, and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN.”

While our politicians were praising themselves for their principled stand, Ambassador Haley identified the countries that would remain under their good graces – Barbados is not listed among them.  She noted “We appreciate these countries for not falling to the irresponsible ways of the United Nations” and included the following Caribbean countries: “Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and Trinidad-Tobago.”

Did these Caribbean countries vote with the US?  No. They simply abstained from participating in an exercise designed to embarrass the US at the UN.  We are a friend of the US – well, perhaps until that last reckless vote.  Barbados frequently opposes positions supported by the US without our friendship being put at risk.  However, the US suggested that our friendship would be put at risk if we voted to embarrass them on this occasion.

There may come a time when all responsible Barbadians will fully accept the consequences of our politicians’ attempt to publically embarrass the US at the UN.  However, such action should only be used as a last resort when it is the only remaining option.  Because friends try moral suasion first, not international disrespect.  Further, the offence would need to be grievous, like genocide, or killing people because of ideological differences – not their decision to locate their own embassy.

Our politicians are supposed to represent our interests.  It was not in our interests for the BLP to recklessly borrow in our names to the point where our debts became unsustainable.  It is not in our interest for the DLP to have brought us to the brink of economic ruin.  It is not in our interests for our politicians to have made us one of the most economically vulnerable nations on this planet.

Other countries with our level of debt have devalued their currency long ago.  We have had 20 Government bond downgrades.  We are desperately selling every national asset of value before we will be surrendered to the IMF.  We have been blacklisted by the European Union as a tax haven.  Now, our politicians are trying to get us blacklisted by the US.  Why?  What was so important for our politicians to risk our children’s future?

Our politicians have recklessly chosen to place Barbados in a conflict that they have not demonstrated any level of understanding whatsoever.  The Arab-Israeli conflict is primarily a religious conflict, and not a political one for politicians to get themselves involved in.  It is rooted in Mohammed’s final command that “Two religions should not be allowed to remain in the peninsula of the Arabs.”

Islamists on the peninsula will never violate Mohammed’s final command, regardless of any type of political compromises that their politicians reach.  As long as the Islamic nations teach that Israel is part of the peninsula, then it does not matter what Israel does or does not do, Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state will never be accepted by the surrounding Islamic nations.

One non-military route to a sustainable solution is through meaningful discussion, by Islamic religious leaders, on whether Israel is situated outside of the geographic and political boundaries of the Arabian Peninsula.  If Barbados has a burning desire to enter this conflict, then we can play a meaningful role in this solution by facilitating such a discussion – not by putting our economically vulnerable population at risk by attempting to publically humiliate the US.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer, an analyst of history, and the founder of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Dear Fellow Barbadians:

Sometime during the Christmas season, I normally find myself watching a movie of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.  The story describes the reactions the selfish Ebenezer Scrooge to visits by ghosts of Christmas’ past, present and future on Christmas Eve.  However, his redemption only happens after he sees the impact of his selfish actions on others in his likely future.

This Christmas, each of us need to see whether our planned actions will harm or benefit our fellow citizens.  For the first time since our independence, we can accurately predict the type of Christmas that most of our fellow Barbadians will have next year if we do not change.  That is a future with the IMF dictating our economy.  So let us get to know our planned new masters.

Before the World Wars of the last century, if a country could not repay its debts, the lender could invade the country and plunder its wealth in order to recover the debt and the cost of the invasion.  After World War 2, the principal lending nations decided to establish a bank of last resort from which indebted nations could borrow in order to repay international creditors.

As a condition of the IMF’s loan, indebted nations first had to agree to inflict severe austerity measures upon the population.  One reason is to punish citizens for electing politicians who would take out unaffordable loans in their names.

A former Prime Minister asked the now famous question “How did we get back here?”  We got back here because the last punishment was not memorable enough.  The most memorable IMF austerity measures are reserved for those countries who have run out of all good options, like us.  Guyana is another country that had run out of all good options, and their experience with the IMF is instructive.

Within one year of being surrendered to the IMF, Guyana had fallen from being one of the richest Caribbean countries to one of the poorest.  Guyana’s politicians became overseers who oversaw: a 70% devaluation of the dollar, doubling of income tax rates, a lack of supplies and maintenance parts, reduced social services, mass emigration of professionals, and 75% of the population in poverty.

Our Christmas next year may be similar because our dollar will likely devalue.  The obvious result is that everyone with a mortgage who is not earning foreign currency will likely lose their homes, our infrastructure will not be properly maintained, and the cost of imported products will be unaffordable for most.

Like Scrooge, we can ask “Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be?”  We can also learn from Scrooge’s insight that if you do not change your behaviour, then your future is predictable.  However, you can change an undesirable future by changing your behaviour now.

If you thought that your only option was to vote for severe austerity for your fellow Barbadians, then be assured that you can vote for Solutions instead.  Austerity can be avoided by: reducing taxes, depoliticising the public services, rooting out corruption, and properly managing public services.

All Barbadians can finally experience: a fair economy where everyone can participate based on merit and not whom they know; good quality public services delivered in a timely manner; and significantly more income left after paying their normal monthly expenses.  If you truly want to give all Barbadians that bright future next Christmas, then vote to give them Solutions, and not austerity.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and the founder of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The Government has decided that after 3 years of sewage problems in Worthing, the solution was beyond the capabilities of the Barbados Water Authority.  This is not surprising.  The Government has been degrading Engineering posts for some time.

Barbados came to a crossroads over 40 years ago.  We could have continued with our highly professional civil service that others wanted to copy, or we could copy the example of failed states and politicise ours.  Our politicians chose to politicise it.  But it was the degrading of the engineering posts that was most harmful.

The Government started putting non-engineers in engineering posts.  When Engineers complained, our politicians permanently solved this problem by abolishing all engineering posts and creating a new post called Technical Officer.  This is a root cause of Barbados’ poorly designed and high maintenance infrastructure.  Barbados needs to care about the professional development of public sector Engineers, since their work affects us all.  They can demonstrate this care by facilitating their route to Chartership.

The Ministry of public works used to have 6 Chartered Engineers, who ensured the proper design and maintenance of our roads and drainage systems.  Barbados’ water authority used to have 3 Chartered Engineers, who ensured the proper design and maintenance of our water and wastewater systems.  By 2004, there was not a single Chartered Engineer in the entire public service of Barbados.

A modern Barbados needs highly qualified Engineers to ensure that our infrastructure is designed to be as low-maintenance as possible, economically constructed with no defects, and effectively maintained to avoid customer complaints.  Without this professional management, we can expect intolerable infrastructure maintenance problems as a natural result.  This brings us to the sewage problems that have been affecting Worthing for the past 3 years.

The Government had two good options for quickly identifying and proposing a solution to the sewage problems.  They could have invited Engineers, both from within and outside of Barbados to tender for the engineering work, or they could have invited the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers to participate in the problem-solving process.

The Government chose to engage the services of consultants.  However, the final insult was to disqualify all Barbadian Engineers from tendering for the work, and exclusively select foreign consultants to solve a very simple problem.

The Auditor General keeps complaining about the audited accounts not being completed.  These accounts can be completed by any member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados.   How would accountants feel if the Government disqualified all of them from tendering for this work, and then engaged the services of a foreign consultant to displace them?

I am sure that all professions in Barbados would reasonably expect the Government, who is supposed to represent our interests, to include local professionals in the tender for any tax-payer funded work.  The Government should never be handing out no-bid contracts exclusively to foreign consultants in 2017 – we are no longer a colony.

Are the foreign consultants who have unfairly displaced Barbadian Engineers in this no-bid service to blame?  Of course not.  They are simply engaged to perform a service, completely oblivious to the harmful consequences of their engagement.  Persons who care only about their fees and nothing else are called mercenaries.

Since the Government has now embraced this path, then all professionals, especially those not yet targeted, should be very concerned.  If they choose to keep silent now, then when they are inevitably targeted, they will be no one left to speak for them.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and the founder of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

There are some events that change all of our lives so dramatically that we remember what we were doing when the national event occurred.  For most of our grand-parents, it was hurricane Janet which devastated the island in 1955.  Since our independence, we have been spared such life-changing national tragedies, until now.

This Christmas season, we should prepare our families for the impending national disaster that will likely affect us all, because we are now out of all good options.

Our politicians have borrowed so recklessly that we are now one of the most indebted nations on this planet.  The rating agencies do not think that we can repay what we have borrowed.  So they have already warned all international banks and investors that lending to Barbados is extremely risky – they are unlikely to get their money back.  That is what all of those downgrades were about.

The Government must put on a brave face in order to inspire confidence.  However, many nations have failed before us, so we need to prepare ourselves for what is clearly foreseen.  The scriptures advise:  “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Proverbs 22:3)

Since we are now at the brink of economic ruin, we need to prepare for a level of austerity that is outside of our living memory.  Like a desperate addict in his parents’ house, the Government is selling off our prized assets.  The Hilton Hotel is reportedly being sold at a loss, just to get enough money to afford a loan payment.  Soon, everything of value will be gone, and they will be forced to surrender us to the IMF.

The IMF’s measures will be particularly harsh – for us.  We do not have to wonder about them, because they have warned us for years about the bitterness of the medicine that we citizens will be forced to swallow.  Few of us will be able to afford our mortgages, most public workers will be sent home, the maintenance of our infrastructure will plummet, and our dollar will devalue.

The IMF punishes citizens for electing politicians who take out unaffordable loans on their behalf.  It is analogous to punishing parents for allowing their 5-year old son to drive their car, and then he gets into a serious accident.  What did we expect would happen?

We have elected our children to rule over us.  We have given them access to our national bank, and they have spent all of the money on shiny stuff that they then had the temerity to put their names on.  When they had spent all of our money, they then maxed out the national credit card an put us all in an unsustainable debt so that they could buy more shiny stuff.

Our children will surrender us to the IMF so that their trough can be filled.  The BLP and their spawn want to surrender us to the IMF as soon as possible.  The DLP will have to surrender us to the IMF after they have sold everything of value in Barbados.  Solutions Barbados is the only adult offering to steer Barbados away from the IMF to a level of prosperity hitherto unknown in Barbados.

Our 4 point plan has been published for over 2 years for rigorous public scrutiny.  It comprises: lowering taxes, improving the management of government services, depoliticising the public service, and eliminating corruption.  It should be clearly stated that our plan is not some theoretical untried plan, but it is proven.

Of course you can expect our children to kick up a fuss when they realise that we are taking back our credit card and bank account, but it is high time that parents took back control.  If we do not, then we must all prepare ourselves for the impending doom into which our children will take us.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and the founder of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

It has been reported that the sewage problem in Worthing is beyond the technical capabilities of the Barbados Water Authority.  The evidence suggests that that may be so.  However, it is not beyond the technical capability of Barbados. The reason why the problem is allowed to exist is essentially a management problem, and therein lies the solution.

Seeking outside assistance is the responsible thing to do, but only after properly managing the local expertise on this matter.  The problem is not a lack of technical knowledge.  But rather, the management of this knowledge.  Let me explain.

The Auditor General regularly complains about the poor management of statutory corporations, especially in their continual failure to provide audited accounts.  Can members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados complete the accounts?  Of course they can.  The main problem is that Barbados’ resources are being poorly managed.  Is the solution to deem all local accountants not sufficiently competent and invite accounting companies from the US and China to perform the audits?  Of course not.

The Caribbean Court of Justice regularly complains about the poor management of Barbados’ court system.  Can members of the Bar Association and management consultants improve the system?  Of course they can.  But our national resources are being very poorly managed.  How would members of the local Bar Association feel if the Government invited lawyers from the US and China to displace them, and show them how it should be done?

The sewage in the streets of Worthing is evidence enough of bad management.  Can Environmental Engineers in the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers solve this problem?  Of course they can, but our national resources are being very poorly managed.  The management of our public services is so far beyond redemption that not even raw sewage regularly flowing along the streets of Worthing, for over one year, can get them to improve.

In order to provide quick relief, we offered to train all Board members and Chief Executive Officers of our statutory corporations in the customer-focused ISO 9001 quality management system.  We promised them that after 2 hours of free training, they would have both the knowledge and confidence to implement the system in their organisation the following day.

Their sacrifice of 2 hours being trained was to provide almost immediate relief to their frustrated employees and the long-suffering public.  To their utter shame, not one board member or CEO attended.  Therefore, the sub-standard public services must be tolerated a bit more until a Solutions Barbados administration provides the much needed relief.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and founder of Solutions Barbados and can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

The closer we get to the date of the General Election, the more silly some politicians tend to behave.  Perhaps that is why it is called the silly season.  Recently, former Prime Minister Owen Arthur scathingly criticised our plan to improve the national economy.  I wish that he had called me first to discuss his concerns, but it seemed that his only intent was to criticise it.

Our 4 point plan comprises: lowering taxes, improving the management of government services, depoliticising the public service, and eliminating corruption.  It should be clearly stated that our plan is not some theoretical untried plan, but it is proven.

It is proven that a country takes in more revenues when it reduces its tax rates.  Mr Owen Arthur himself proved this when he was the Minister of Finance, which is why we recommended that he deserved a knighthood.  Now he seems to be rejecting his own proven plan in order to criticise us.

A Solutions Barbados administration will do the good and responsible things that Mr Arthur did, but will reject the irresponsible things.  Mr Arthur lowered tax rates and realised record amounts of revenues.  Yet despite this, he irresponsibly kept borrowing money, taking Barbados’ debt from the safety of 30% of GDP, past the 40% of GDP debt that the IMF warned us not to cross, to an unsustainable and reckless 90% of GDP debt.  He is an economist and should have known better.

When asked about the unnecessary borrowing given the significant amount of revenues received, he claimed that he was borrowing for a “rainy day”.  Given the excessive amount of borrowing, it seems that everyday was a rainy day.

It is proven that better managed public services results in less wastage and a higher level of customer satisfaction.  Mr Arthur knew this and to his credit, he did try to reform the management of the public sector.  However, he failed miserably because he rejected the ISO 9001 Quality Management System when I presented it in 2004.  I am sure that he is regretting that rash and unfortunate decision now.

It is proven that a politicised civil service can ruin a country.  When he led the country for 14 years, did he make any effort to stop the politicisation of the public service?  The Constitution of Barbados, Section 104, states that the Service Commission can recommend to the Governor General that the pension of any public servant be reduced or suspended due to being guilty of misbehaviour for which he has been removed from office.

In a Solutions Barbados administration, the Public Service Act will be amended to explicitly state the specific acts of partisan political behaviour that will attract immediate dismissal and suspension of the pension.  Namely: approving and non-approving applications, providing and denying services, and frustrating processes.  Politically partisan behaviour will be determined by audit results and/or appeal decisions – it will not be subjective.

Finally, it is proven that corruption results in severe austerity for most citizens.  This is because the public ultimately pays all bribes that corrupt persons receive.  The bribe is actually added to the cost of the good or service, which means that the public overpays for these things.  Let me explain how this occurs.

If a contractor agreed to do some work for say $2M, a corrupt official will tell him: “If you want this job, then you must sign a contract to do the work for $3M, and when you get paid, then you must give me $1M.”  Alternatively, a corrupt contractor will say to the official: “If you give me this job, then I will bill the Government for $3M, and I will give you $1M, because I can do the job for $2M”.

When the DLP were in opposition, they regularly accused the BLP of gross corruption.  When DLP were elected to govern, then they attracted the same regular criticism.  Therefore, both established parties appear to be very aware of, and very concerned about the levels of corruption in Barbados.  Since they have both had multiple turns at the trough, then why are the accusations still being made?  In a Solutions Barbados administration, corruption will be effectively addressed.

Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and the founder of Solutions Barbados and can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com

Good evening.

My name is Grenville Phillips and I am the founder of Solutions Barbados, and a Candidate for St George North.

First, I want to acknowledge God.  We as a nation depend on Him.  Our National Anthem confirms that, with Him still on the people’s side we have no doubts or fears.  Since we do not want Barbadians to be doubtful or fearful about the future, we have no intention of putting that relationship in jeopardy.  So we plan to lead this nation in righteousness and humility.

Leading in righteousness does not mean trying to avoid scandals.  Scandals may come as we try to help others, because some people may misinterpret our motives.  But we intend to lead in doing right things.

We will walk humbly before God.  That means that we are not demanding to be your lords, but offering to be your servant-leaders.  A relevant question is, “What do you intend for those who do not believe in God, or who are part of the L G B T community, or who worship something else”.  Our answer is that because we are a Christian country, they are equally entitled to participate in Barbados’ economy without persecution, and any who persecute a minority group will find themselves outside of the protection of the law.

However, let me make one thing very clear.  Christians are being persecuted in other countries just for being Christians, or giving their Biblical opinion.  Because this is a Christian country, any minority group has a right to politely offer their opinion on any topic, without persecution.  However, others also have a right to politely disagree with them without being persecuted, or disqualified from participating in Barbados’ economy.

They may come a time when the majority of Barbadians no longer wish to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Well, then we will experience the persecution that we now only read about.  However, until that time comes, me and my house will faithfully serve the Lord to the end.

Many ask me why do you have to talk about God?    Well I am unashamedly a structural engineer, I am unashamedly a husband and a father, and I am unashamedly a Christian.  That is just who I am.

Let me also say that for me, it is an absolute honour to be associated with each of these highly competent persons who also love God, as we offer ourselves to serve you.

Later this evening, Scott will describe how we plan to cause the economy to soar with our proven economic plan.  It is a 4 point plan comprising lowering taxes, improving the management of government services, depoliticising the public service, and eliminating corruption.

Our plan is not some theoretical untried plan, but it is proven.  It is proven that a country takes in more revenues when it reduces its tax rates.  It is proven that better managed public services result in less wastage and a higher level of customer satisfaction.  It is proven that a politicised civil service can ruin a country, and it is proven that corruption results in severe austerity for most citizens.

So if all of this is proven, then why won’t the established political parties follow the proven plan?  Because it is also proven that politicians are prepared to ruin a national economy, for the sake of their development philosophy.  That is essentially what happened in Guyana, and it is where we are currently headed.

Just to remind you, Guyana was one of the richest countries in the Caribbean.  Barbadians used to leave Barbados and find work in Guyana.  However, once the politicians surrendered the Guyanese people to an IMF programme, within one year there was: a 70% devaluation of the dollar, doubling of the income tax rates, a ruined economy, mass emigration of professionals, and 75% of the population in poverty.

In the aftermath, Guyana’s citizens learned three simple lessons the very hard way.

1. Politicians rarely tell citizens the true state of a poorly performing economy.
2. Industries are not toys for politicians to share with their friends.
3. Politicians are prepared to ruin a national economy for the sake of their development philosophy.

Be very careful who you choose to vote for in this election.

Tonight, I want to specifically address corruption and mismanagement.

What is corruption?  Let me explain this with an example from another country – not Barbados.  If a person is building houses for the Government of another country, then who really pays him?  It is the tax payers of that country that really pays for the work.  Therefore, it is important not to waste the taxpayers money by overpaying for goods and services.

So if a contractor agrees to do some work for say $2M, a corrupt official will tell him that, “If you want this job, then you must sign a contract to do the work for $3M, and when you get paid, then you must give me $1M.”

Alternatively, a corrupt contractor will say to the corrupt official, “If you give me this job, then I will bill the Government for $3M, and I will give you $1M, because I can do the job for $2M”.

Now, every political party in opposition normally accuses the party in power of at least 2 things, high corruption and gross mismanagement.

The DLP, when they were in opposition, regularly accused the BLP of corruption and mismanagement.  When DLP were elected to govern, then they attracted the same regular criticism of corruption and mismanagement.  Why don’t they simply address the corruption and mismanagement if they are both so concerned about it?

Why does it appear that any act intended to address corruption has windows of escape, or loopholes.  A former Chief Justice noted that our Prevention of Corruption Act was “seriously deficient”.  If it were actually used, he stated “one would be able to drive a cart and ten donkeys through it.”  That is what he said.

The BLP recently published their draft anti-corruption legislation, and after reading a few pages, I had to put it down.  I then tried to design some fool-proof legislation that would protect corrupt persons, and this is what I came up with.

First, I would establish a separate court.  I do not want any of my boys going through the normal court system, since they may get locked up.  So I would establish a separate court, and call it an Integrity Commission.

Then I would make it appear independent, so I would add a lawyer from the Bar Association, and representative from the Church.  Since they are 2 independent persons, I want twice that number to over-rule them.  So I would select 4 of my own people.

I would let the Integrity Commission busy themselves doing nothing.  However, if they ever happened upon someone who had his hand in the cookie jar, with crumbs around his mouth, and half of a cookie sticking out his mouth, then I would not want any of the independent members looking at any of that incriminating evidence.  Not at all.

If the evidence against him was strong and damming, then I would not even want the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Police investigating.

So I would appoint a special investigator, who must not be a member of the police, to investigate the fellow and determine whether there was enough evidence to charge him.

Therefore, the investigator simply has to appear busy for a few weeks, declare that there was not enough evidence to support a charge, and my boy goes free.  It is perfectly fool-proof.

Guess what, the BLP’s proposed legislation appears similar.  They have an integrity commission, with 2 independent members and the 4 others are appointed by the Governor General after consulting with political leaders.  The integrity Commission then appoints an investigative officer to investigate fellows with damning evidence, for the purpose of determining whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the accused.

The BLP’s plan also notes that no investigation can be carried out once a person has retired from public life for 2 years.  That is the ultimate loophole.

The BLP can improve their plan by allowing the Integrity Commission to be filled by non-political persons, proposed by professional organisations.  Why can’t they do that?  And why the apparent amnesty after a person has retired for 2 years.  Why these glaring apparent weakness?

The BLP’s plan notes that they plan to fine people $500,000.  This appears to be a deterrent.  However, it will not make a difference if the Investigative officer simply declares that there is not sufficient evidence to charge an accused with his hand in the cookie jar.  Politically protected individuals tend to have an expectation that they will be protected if they get caught.

What is our solution?  Well, when bribes are added to the cost of Government services, the public pays more for them.  So who really pays the bribe – we do.

Now they say, that there are high levels of corruption.  If we have overpaid for goods and services because of bribes, then we want that money back – with interest.

Therefore, for our first 3 months in office, every person who has paid or received a bribe must repay the full value of the bribe.  That should take care of the principal owed and the interest since both the giver and the receiver must pay.

After 3 months, we enact whistle-blower legislation, where the whistle-blower is rewarded with the full value of the bribe.  However, the fine upon conviction is 10 x the value of the bribe.  So if a $100,000 bribe was given, then the fine on conviction is $1M, and the whistle-blower gets $100,000.  There are no loop holes there.

Let us address a related topic, crime.  In a Solutions Barbados administration, every offense will carry a fine of 10 times the value of the offence.  Therefore, if someone stole a $700 cell phone, then he must pay a $7,000 fine on conviction.  After stealing a few cell phones, he will eventually learn that it is a lot cheaper to purchase his own.

If he cannot afford to pay the fine, then we will find work for him to do in maintaining Barbados infrastructure.  He can patch pot holes, seal cracks, paint walls, and such like.  If he will not show up for work, then he can reside at Dodds where he will be taken to the work-site on-time.

Staying on crime, you may ask what we will do about the guns.  Well, we will pass an effective law, not these loophole laws, an effective law, where the importer, distributor and renter of a gun are charged with the same offence as the final user.  Why?  Because they are like accessories to the crime.  What do they expect the person to do with the gun?  Do they expect him to use it to do some construction work? Or to Cook?  Of course not.  How about using it to rape, rob, or commit murder.

We do not think that importers, distributors and renters of guns will want to risk being jointly-charged with the final user of the gun.  So they will likely get out of the gun business, either voluntarily, or by residing at Dodds with the final user.  Either way, they are both off of the streets.

I want to address the next big accusation – that of mismanagement.

There is a customer-focused management standard that can solve most if not all of our nations’ management issues.  That is the ISO 9001 quality management system.  Many countries have benefitted from it over the past 20 years.  We plan to implement it in all government services.

While this may sound nice, it does not help anyone right now, because we have no authority while we are the Government in waiting.  However, may be possible to influence change by simply being part of the political process.  Let us see.

I recently had to visit the QEH repeatedly, and clearly it needs better management.  Anyone who visits can clearly see that.  Let me put the QEH board and their CEO on notice.  Why them?  The Board should instruct the CEO to implement the ISO 9001 quality management standard, and/or the CEO should recommend to the Board that they should implement the ISO 9001 management standard.

So I am speaking tonight to the Board and CEO of the QEH.  Manage the QEH in accordance with the ISO 9001 QMS, or your contracts will not be renewed in a Solutions Barbados administration.

If you are unsure what the ISO 9001 quality management system is all about, then you are welcome to attend a free public town-hall meeting this Wednesday 29 Nov 2017 at 6:00 pm at Combermere School hall, where it will be explained to you in detail.  Send someone and come yourselves.

You will learn exactly what it is, how it can benefit public workers and everyone who uses Government services, and how you can start to implement it in your organisation.  At the end of the meeting, you will have the training and tools to start implementing the system the following day.

Do not delay in providing the public with the relief that they deserve, when it is within your power to do so.  We have all suffered to long, both employees and the public.

The Sanitation Services Authority.  People have had to wait for weeks to get their garbage collected.  Why are so many trucks of off the road?  Please implement the ISO 9001 QMS.  Come to the same training seminar.  If you do not implement the system, so that people can get relief from poor management practises, then you have received fair warning.

The Barbados water authority.  I understand the lack of water to rural parishes.  But raw sewage flowing on the streets in Worthing?  I am calling on the Board and CEO to implement the ISO 9001 QMS or do not expect your contracts to be renewed in a Solutions Barbados administration.

Transport board.  Why are people waiting 90 minutes for a bus?  Come on.  You need to better manage our resources.

The NPC, Licensing Authority, Barbados Revenue Authority.  Senior management, you are all on notice.  I am calling on you to start implementing the IS0 9001 QMS for the benefit of your longsuffering employees and the longsuffering public, or your contracts will not be renewed.

Now I am well aware that there will be some fellow on these boards who will ask, who is this Grenville Phillips?  Why do we need to listen to him?  Why can’t we keep managing these employees and resources as badly as we have?  Why do we need to improve anything at all?  Who is this Grenville Phillips?  Well, please tell him for me, he will be the next Prime Minister of Barbados after the upcoming General Election.  Tell him that for me.  I am trying to help all of you now.

Finally, I want to briefly address the cultural industries.  That would include those fine artists whom we heard earlier. You will hear a lot of long talk about the cultural industries from those who like to talk rather than do.  We are a party of doers.

Our singers and musicians and crafts-persons.  What do they really want?  They want exposure, which can lead to them earning a living.  They want the opportunity to fully participate in Barbados’ economy without hindrance.  Let me try and help them out – right now.

I do a lot of travelling around the Caribbean region.  When I am in the departure lounge of our airport, I normally only hear American type popular music.  I have never heard Barbadian music there.  I have complained several times for many years, but they claim that they can do nothing.  I am normally told that the ‘higher ups’ have to make the decision to play local music.

If I am going to Trinidad, then as soon as I enter the aircraft, there is the pleasant and calming steel pan music.  Why can’t we showcase our Barbadian artists in our own airport.  Why must we only promote American artists and their music?

Why don’t I hear Nocovia, Neesha Woodz, Gozzy, Arturo Tappin, Nicholas Brancker, Gabby, and any of our talented Barbadian performers at our national airport.  If we do not promote them, then who will?

Will airports in the US and Europe promote Barbadian artistes in their airports?  Not likely. Therefore we need to promote our own artists in our own airport, preferably with a banner at the bottom of the Arrivals and Departures screen identifying who the performer is at the time.  Why is that so difficult?

Well, let me give the board and CEO of the GAIA inc fair warning. Either play 100% Barbadian artists in our airport, or provide the public with a reasonable excuse of why you cannot play local music in our airport, but are instead somehow forced to promote American artists.

If you cannot manage a simple thing like playing Barbadian music in Barbados’ airport, then why should we trust you to manage more complex things, like managing an airport.

Given the length of time it normally takes to get things done, let me try to speed things up a bit.  If I pass through the airport next week, and you have not given the public of Barbados a reasonable response, then start sending out resumes.

In the event that some board member wants to know “Who is Solutions Barbados.  Why do we have to listen to them?  Why can’t we keep our Barbadian artists down but promote the American and European ones in Barbados’ airport.  Who is Solutions Barbados.  Tell him that they will form the Government in the next General Election, so you better start listening to them now.

I was born right here in St Michael South Central, in the village of Carringtons and immigrated to the UK in my early teens. It was always my intention however, to one day return home to Barbados.

Most recently in the UK before returning, I ran my own business, a successful Education Consultancy delivering internet safety training and resources and speaking and presenting at internet safety conferences internationally. I am also a published author of two books on internet safety and operate my internet safety business online these days.

I am a qualified teacher and spent a number of years teaching in schools and colleges as an Assistant Head and was also a school governor on two occasions. Earlier I ran my own theatre company, writing and directing several plays for the London stage and for a number of years was chairperson of a large Arts centre in London, the biggest ethnic minority arts centre in the UK managing a multi-million pound budget.

Since returning home, I am concerned to see the problems we face in Barbados, in particular the sense of hopelessness amongst our young people, the lack of well-paying employment opportunities for all together with the lack of encouragement and support for a growing number of entrepreneurs and small traders. On another level, there is also the frighteningly poor management of the governmental budget, the lack of economic growth and stability and a growing debt that appears unmanageable to the current and past administrations.

I am here to help and pledge to represent the concerns of my constituents and of Barbados as a whole. Together with my colleagues at Solutions Barbados, we will competently and diligently implement the necessary solutions to address those concerns. In the words of William Shakespeare, “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” or in our case, Barbados. That has to be addressed and we promise it will be addressed.

Strengthened by my Christian faith, I personally promise to provide the necessary vision, clarity, rigour, integrity and accountability in helping to take my constituency forward and importantly, to help get things moving again in Barbados.

My university qualifications are BA (Hons) degree in Combined Arts, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and a professional certificate in TiE (Theatre in Education). I am confident in saying I have the skill-set and the mind-set, the expertise and the experience, to deliver on behalf of my constituents and for the citizens of Barbados.

Married to wife Amanda with two children, daughter Ahisha, son Sekani and one grandson, Malakai. I am family oriented and love Barbados and Barbadians. We are all family.

A vote for Alan Springer is not just a vote Solutions Barbados, but a vote for the change you want to see finally take Barbados forward as one big, happy and prosperous family.  We have delivered a flyer and mini-manifesto to each house in St Michael South Central.    It may be downloaded below.

A4 Flyer AS R0

Best regards,

Alan

History can be studied from an infinite number of perspectives, and no historian can study them all.  I study history from several different perspectives, one being seeking patterns among nations.  There seems to be a model that former colonies do not appear to deviate from once they have been granted independence.  It currently comprises seven phases.

Phase 1 is the period of competitive elections, where politicians tend to compete by enticing voters with promises of free government services.  Two dominant political parties typically emerge, each with its own philosophy of financing the country’s development.  Typical financing methods include: taxation, borrowing, nationalising productive industries, or combinations of these.

Since politicians rarely have any relevant management experience, the country soon finds itself in debt.  Once the debts exceed a maximum limit (40% of GDP), the debt becomes unsustainable.

Phase 2 is the period of the debt spiral.  An economy in a debt spiral cannot recover unless the established political parties drastically change their development philosophies.   However neither of them do and the debt accumulates until the country is on the brink of economic ruin.

Phase 3 is the period of the final election.  Normally, the party who promised to place the country more in debt wins the elections.  However, there comes an election when both established parties are fully aware that they cannot keep their election promises.  But they make them anyway, since that is the only way that they know how to compete.  Thus, they guarantee the economic ruin of the country.

Phase 4 is the period of military intervention.  With a ruined economy, severe austerity and poverty becomes the people’s daily experience.  Social unrest follows and it is directed towards the politicians.  The people realise too late that the politicians have economically ruined a once prosperous country with reckless promises and corrupt practises.  Concerned for their safety, the politicians seek protection from the military.

Phase 5 is the period of military take-over.  With limited revenues, the government is unable to pay public workers, and the military starts to manage an increasing number of government services.  Eventually, the military leadership grows tired of sharing power with the incompetent and corrupt civilian leadership, stages a coup and takes over.

Phase 6 is the period of military control.  The military leadership have no experience in managing productive sectors of the economy, and are shunned by the international community.  So they tend to develop alliances with ruthless dictators who teach them how to maintain control by intimidating citizens.

Outspoken speakers, writers and singers are persecuted.  However, soon the paranoid leaders resort to the torture and murder of anyone suspected of being a threat to their rule.  Needless to say, all women, except the very young and the very old, become targets of rape.

Phase 7 is the period of tolerated deception.  After looting all that can be looted from the country, the military appears to submit to international pressure and agrees to hold a general election in order to select a civilian government.  The military leader resigns, leads a political party and wins the general election, thus maintaining control.

Every former colony that became independent after World War 2 can find itself in one of the periods; although, surrendering a country to the IMF can prolong Phase 4.  Barbados is currently in Phase 3.  However, we have a unique opportunity to create an entirely new path.

By electing any established party, we would have selected the way of the one trough.  It will be a Barbados where the political trough is the only one that will be filled.  Politically favoured individuals will be allowed near the trough where they can only hope for spillage when the politicians feed.  The rest of us can only hope that those near the trough will be kind.

In a Solutions Barbados administration, there will be no political trough.  The rain will fall on all of us, and we will each contribute a small portion (10%) to look after our most vulnerable.

As we approach the inevitable General Election, voters have a most important decision to make.  Who will they select to manage their affairs for the next 5 years?  During this time, political parties will try to entice voters to vote for them.

There are currently 3 political parties with over 20 Candidates.  The Democratic Labour Party (DLP), the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), and Solutions Barbados (SB).  The BLP and DLP are skilled at wooing voters, who, for this article shall be called Lady Barbados.  They are the equivalent of boyfriends whom she has had in the past.  Solutions Barbados is a new suitor.  How can he convince Lady Barbados that he truly cares for her?

Her experience with Boyfriend DLP has not been exciting.  He goes out with her but insists that she pay for everything.  The items are not the most expensive, so she pays for them.  He has made it clear that if she selects him as her boyfriend, he will never pay for anything.  She will always have to pay for herself, him and his friends, because he does not work.

Her experience with Boyfriend BLP is a lot more exciting.  He takes her on expensive trips and lavishes her with expensive gifts.  She feels so lucky to have him.  Then he presents her with a bill for all of the items.  She is shocked to learn that he had added her name to his credit card making her responsible for all of his purchases.  He tells her that she must pay the entire debt.  He also makes it clear that if she selects him, he will keep her in unsustainable debt by doing the same thing – but she will enjoy the gifts.

Lady Barbados is so disappointed and hurt by the actions of present Boyfriend DLP that she is considering returning to Boyfriend BLP.  Then she meets Solutions Barbados and he immediately shows her how she can pay off her debts without much difficulty.  He also works with her to start a new business and generate another revenue stream.  He then helps her renegotiate her employment contract with her employer to protect her future earnings.

Solutions Barbados knows that she has been hurt by previous boyfriends, and is attentive to the cautious manner that she now approaches monetary issues.  So he prepares detailed financial plans for their future together and encourages her to get professional analysts to examine them and advise her accordingly.  He does this because he truly cares or her.

Lady Barbados considers her options and realizes that she no longer remembers the harm done to her by Boyfriend BLP – time has healed the wounds.  Now, she only remembers the expensive trips and gifts, and longs for that experience after being burdened so long with cheap and lazy Boyfriend DLP.

Solutions Barbados tries to warn her about the previous irresponsible ways and reckless debt promises of Boyfriend BLP.  However, she gets angry.  Why must I talk negatively about Boyfriend BLP?  Why can’t I just woo her without spoiling her dreams of an expensive lifestyle – the fine wines, tender sirloin, exquisite deserts, expensive jewellery, and Paris by night?

I try to convince her that our planned future will allow her to purchase any of those things herself.  But I am losing her.  I try to bring her back to reality, but she is lost in her dream world.

She is certain that no-good Boyfriend DLP has to go.  But the recollection of the good times overpowers her.  She can smell the food, taste the wine, and feel the excitement of opening a present that she knows will be wonderfully delightful – oblivious to the fact that she will be forced to pay for it all.  If she makes the tragic decision to return to Boyfriend BLP, she will never know the stable future that she just, in a moment, gave up.

Choose wisely Lady Barbados.