We were making real headway in fulfilling our 2018 manifesto promises AND tackling your critical issues.
… and then Covid-19 happened.
New Deal
WITH
Young Barbados
New Deal
WITH
Young Barbados
Dear Young Barbados,
This is Mia. I want to have a conversation with you that’s real and honest.
Dear Young Barbados,
This is Mia. I wanted to have a conversation with you that’s real and honest.
I want you to know that this election is about you and your future.
I will admit that like many other countries in the world – COVID-19 hit us hard. It’s been difficult for kids, families, communities, businesses, our government and frankly, it’s been challenging for me as a leader.
At the beginning of 2020 Barbados was starting to do so well.
We ensured that we were no longer at risk of devaluation or our economy crashing.
We ensured an end to the South Coast sewage disaster.
We ensured that mountains of garbage and roadsides of head high grass, were a thing of the past.
We ensured roads were being fixed.
We ensured there were state of the art buses to get Bajans anywhere in comfort and with ease.
I want you to know that this election is about you and your future.
I will admit that like many other countries in the world – COVID-19 hit us hard. It’s been difficult for kids, families, communities, businesses, our government and frankly, it’s been challenging for me as a leader.
At the beginning of 2020 Barbados was starting to do so well.
We ensured that we were no longer at risk of devaluation or our economy crashing.
We ensured an end to the South Coast sewage disaster.
We ensured that mountains of garbage and roadsides of head high grass, were a thing of the past.
We ensured roads were being fixed.
We ensured there were state of the art buses to get Bajans anywhere in comfort and with ease.
This is what
2021 felt like.
WHY
The reality is that Covid-19 is going to be around for some time. And what’s more, even as we battle this global pandemic, we have other major threats in our immediate future.
- CLIMATE CRISIS with global warming, increases in violent storms, fresh water shortages and rising sea levels;
A POPULATION CRISIS that threatens the stability of our social security;
A HEALTH CRISIS with high incidences of NCDs and mental unwellness.
I’m not trying to scare you, but the truth is we live in a time where we have to fight battles on many fronts.
If this experience has taught us anything, it is that while continuing the important work of securing Barbados’ tomorrow, we must urgently transform Barbados’ NOW.
If this experience has taught us anything, it is that while continuing the important work of securing Barbados’ tomorrow, we must urgently transform Barbados’ NOW.
If this experience has taught us anything, it is that while continuing the important work of securing Barbados’ tomorrow, we must urgently transform Barbados’ NOW.
Over the last few months as I talked with people from all walks of life across Barbados, it became clear that you felt very strongly that it was time for us to get out of survival mode and get back to the mission to transform Barbados, by 2030, into a world-class country.
To become world-class we need to transform:
Bajan Ownership Financial Security
Health & Well-being
Housing
Transport
Clean Energy
Education
Governance & Government Operations
Resilience
Family Care
Jobs & Work Opportunities
Bridgetown & our towns
Bajan Ownership & Financial Security
Health & Well-being
Housing
Transport
Clean Energy
Education
Governance & Government Operations
Resilience
Family Care
Jobs & Work Opportunities
Bridgetown & our cities
This election is about securing our now by focusing on building our future - together.
This election is about securing our now by focusing on building our future - together.
About Bajans agreeing that we now live in a different time.
About Bajans agreeing that we can no longer take previous approaches.
About setting on a new path, on a collective mission of transformation.
About working together to PUSH for double digit growth in our economy for the next few years.
WHAT
What is clear to me is that the only way we will achieve the growth and transformation our island needs, is if young Barbadians are empowered and entrusted to be our LEADERS and OWNERS
Our #1
Priority
Thus if re-elected, BLP Government will implement the most expansive, ambitious and inclusive transformation in the history of this country.
We will unlock the money, ideas, policies and capacity necessary to create substantial and sustainable growth.
We will make the creation of thousands of new, high-quality, well paying jobs as well as business and investment opportunities for young people our number 1 priority.
We will transform Barbados into a country where Bajans are OWNERS.
HOW
We will revolutionise Bajan Ownership & Financial Security.
- By creating a Housing Revolution. We will expand the HOPE programme and make 10,000 new homes available for Bajans.
- By eliminating land tax on the first $400,000 of your property values.
- By introducing a First-Time Homeowner Grant of BDS$3000 for first-time homeowners under the age of 35, to be applied to any related expense, including down payment on land or a house, mortgage or loan payment, or legal fees.
- By making renewable energy work for all Bajans. We will partner with credit unions and other credit institutions to equip 50,000 small homes across the island with solar panels and hurricane resistant roofs.
- By creating opportunities for Barbadians to invest and build wealth. We will divest interest in the Sam Lord’s hotel and its surrounding lands to Barbadians and Barbadian institutions such as credit unions, thereby providing opportunities for Barbadians to invest, gain ownership stake and make money from the island’s largest tourism project.
- By making all Barbadians owners of public assets. We will complete the development of the Barbadian Wealth Fund which will put unused government land and assets to use as stakes for equity in more significant developments. The fund will be equally owned by every single Barbadian over the age of 18, providing each with an equal dividend cheque and report with the annual proceeds. As the Fund grows, the dividend cheque will become a steady source of income to all citizens.
- By making Barbadians owners of the Medicinal Cannabis industry. We will create new structures of ownership so that average Barbadians can own and have a stake in the benefits and resources generated by the industry.
We will empower young Barbadians to drive National Innovation & Economic Diversification.
- By developing and investing in large-scale, future-centric projects that fast track economic diversification and work opportunities for young Barbadians. We will:
- Develop the Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny (R.O.A.D) project that will digitise Barbados’ Archival Records using world-class technologies and skills; which will lead to the development of a Sir David Adjaye designed Memorial, Museum and Global Heritage District;
- Develop the Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny (R.O.A.D) project that will digitise Barbados’ Archival Records using world-class technologies and skills; which will lead to the development of a Sir David Adjaye designed Memorial, Museum and Global Heritage District;
- Develop a Life Sciences Business Park and Campus at Newton Industrial Park – attracting global companies in research, education and production to be based in Barbados;
- Develop a Life Sciences Business Park and Campus at Newton Industrial Park – attracting global companies in research, education and production to be based in Barbados;
- Develop a Green Hydrogen Park at Greenland – combining modern clean technologies in Solar, Wind, BioFuel and Wave energy to create Green Hydrogen for local industrial consumption and global export;
- Develop a Green Hydrogen Park at Greenland – combining modern clean technologies in Solar, Wind, BioFuel and Wave energy to create Green Hydrogen for local industrial consumption and global export;
- Develop a Film and Digital Content Studio Campus. We will partner with local and global investors to center the growth of Barbados’ creative economy through the development of world-class sound stages, audiovisual suites, design studios and post-production facilities.
- By appointing persons under 35 to serve on every Government board and major committee.
- By creating an Innovation Advisory Council. Comprising a cross-section of highly knowledgeable and highly skilled young Barbadians, to advise the Cabinet on the implementation of policies and strategies for new opportunities including Fintech, Cannabis, Cryptocurrency, Data Economy, Green Hydrogen, Blue Economy, Life Sciences as well as the Creative Economy. The council will lead on public education and awareness campaigns about global trends and opportunities ranging from the Metaverse and NFTs to Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology.
- By creating a Crypto Park. We will become a global FinTech Hub, developing new and amended financial regulatory regimes appropriate for the safe development and rollout of FinTech, decentralised finance, Crypto and other Blockchain and FinTech activities, including Digital Exchanges and Yield Apps. We will modernise our corporate laws to support the development and use of digital registries and Decentralised Autonomous Organisations.
- By creating “MyEconomy”. We will provide every Barbadian with a digital account which offers a range of tools, including web-publishing and payment systems, to enable them to be producers, sharers and sellers of digital content to the world.
- By working with financial institutions, including credit unions to create new, safe, low-cost platforms for all Barbadians to manage their savings, purchase and sell local and foreign securities, including new and regulated digital and cryptocurrencies.
We will revolutionise E-Government Operations & Ease of Doing Business.
- By government modernisation. We will implement our “Commitment for Results” programme that ensures the public service serves better, works better and costs less. We will reorient the focus of government’s operations to be more citizen-centric.
- By fast tracking the transformation of Barbados into a Digitally Secure and Smart Society. We will create a Govtech Agency, resourced, mandated and empowered to digitise and improve the delivery of public services. Led and staffed by computer scientists, data analysts, UI/UX Designers and software architects, we will create and/or procure world-class technological solutions locally, regionally and internationally that make the daily experience of citizens using government public products and services easy and enjoyable. We will invest in people, technologies, infrastructure and partnerships that place Barbados amongst global leaders in Data Management and Analytics, Cloud Technology & Digital Economy Management.
- By undertaking the digitisation of the Barbados Land Registry and the process of land transfer using blockchain and smart contract technology. Done in consultation with the legal fraternity, when completed the digital platform will create a single source of proof of ownership status and history of a property. Purchasers will be assured that the land being bought is the correct plot, and sellers are unequivocally the owner. This will significantly reduce the incidences of legal disputes as well as the length of time and cost associated with property transactions.
We will empower young Barbadians to drive Leisure & Entertainment.
- By revolutionising the cultural, leisure and commercial experience of our town centers. We will create a City Experience Office to work with public and private partners to deliver strategies and projects that make Bridgetown, Speightstown, Holetown and Oistins hubs for enjoyment for all Barbadians. The office will ensure that all towns and public buildings are accessible to People with Disabilities.
- By re-commencing the establishment of a 52-week festival and event calendar.
- By creating an Eventful Barbados Advisory Council comprising creatives, event professionals and health officials, to advise the Cabinet on strategies, systems and projects to fully leverage the tourism industry. We will significantly increase the ability for Barbadians to earn well from local products, services and technologies integrated into the visitor experience, as well as to authenticate and differentiate the Barbados experience.
- By relocating the National Cultural Foundation headquarters to Queens Park, to ensure that the capital, once able, becomes a hub for creativity, expression and fun.
- By developing Barbados’ Night Time Economy (always in keeping with any Covid-19 protocols) to sustainably increase commercial and cultural activity in Barbados after 6 p.m.
- By substantially improving the ease of doing business for event promoters by establishing a 1-stop event producer license regime.
- By prioritising Sports and Physical activities.
- We will complete the National Sports Policy and Sports Development Act.
- We will complete the re-development of the Barbados National Stadium and the creation of 15 mini stadia across the island.
- We will transform the National Sports Council and make school sports competitions, elite youth athletics development (including E-sports) and community physical activities major tasks of the government. We will invest and facilitate the development of a cricket economy.
We will revolutionise National Contribution & Social Inclusion.
- By being guided by the principles of the Charter of Barbados, to build our country into a modern, compassionate, peaceful and productive society. We will complete public-led reforms of Barbados’ constitution and parliaments.
- By building a Barbados where second chances matter.
- We will move from a Victorian punitive approach to restorative justice and transform our intervention strategies and systems for managing youth deviance in schools, reforming probation and dealing with young offenders, investing in new technologies that manage the well-being and personal development of Barbadians.
- We will build alternative interventions for young people with behavioral challenges – whether it is Coding classes and music production in prisons, art classes after school or training in maritime career opportunities with the Coast Guard – all young Barbadians will be offered multiple paths and options to be more productive and safe.
- We will develop a more robust approach to addiction rehabilitation and homelessness, finding more effective ways to fully reintegrate persons into their communities and society.
- We will move from a Victorian punitive approach to restorative justice and transform our intervention strategies and systems for managing youth deviance in schools, reforming probation and dealing with young offenders, investing in new technologies that manage the well-being and personal development of Barbadians.
- By revolutionising Barbados’ social services system. We will create a Universal Citizen Services Policy and Directorate that combines the work of all government’s welfare related agencies and programmes into a single point of engagement for individuals and families in need. Responsive, caring and efficient, the new Universal Citizen Services Directorate will be empowered and held accountable to improve the lives of Barbadians who use its services. This new system will include the restructuring of the welfare services as we now know them.
- By significantly advancing the work of fully integrating Persons with Disabilities into our country’s social and economic life. We will resource and empower the Commission for Improving the lives of People living with Disabilities to develop policy, strategies and interventions to ensure better access in employment, education, legislation and the built environment for all Barbadians.
- By significantly advancing the work started on upgrading social inclusion and equitable policies across government. This will include policies such as the removal of VAT on Baby Diapers, Sanitary Napkins, Vitamins, Multi-Minerals and Anti-perspirants.
- By finalising Barbados’ first national policy on philanthropy and volunteerism. We will create a Philanthropy Council, to advise the Cabinet on strategies, projects and public campaigns to help Barbados be a more giving society. Additionally, the council will oversee the completion of and help manage a digital portal which allows Barbadians at home and throughout the diaspora to contribute money, time, efforts, ideas, skills to organizations, social causes and projects registered on the portal.
We will revolutionise Education & Skills Development.
By revolutionising public education. We will
- Transition our primary to secondary school process beyond the 11-plus examination.
- Develop a new secondary school structure with Middle Schools that transition into Centres of Excellence in Arts, Sciences, Commerce, ICT, Technical Skills and other areas critical to national development.
- Evolve the curriculum to be more focused on problem solving and critical reasoning.
- Introduce new teaching methods as well as professional development training and standards for teachers.
- Place modern technologies and innovation at the center of all elements of learning, teaching and education management systems and structures.
- Place special emphasis on training and developing standards for the delivery of high-quality education leadership.
- Place substantial emphasis on the physical environment of our schools – ventilation, public art and outdoor instruction.
- Develop a new, modern Education Act to replace the 1983 one.
- Transition our primary to secondary school process beyond the 11-plus examination.
By ensuring Barbadian men and women have the requisite skills to fully benefit from Construction, Home Building and Green Energy programmes. We will establish an 8–12 week programme of initial training for carpenters, masons, tilers and other artisans to perform the jobs required. The training for artisans will include job attachments to master craftspersons and artisans to better allow the trainees to hone their skills as well as leasing facility for tools.
- By creating a Barbados Global Leadership Immersion Programme – an annual award of the Prime Minister to recognise outstanding young leaders to participate in an intensive summer immersion programme, attached to one of Barbados’ Overseas Missions supporting an international or regional institution. This programme will focus on exposing our youth to international affairs and diplomacy while building foreign language capacity.
We will revolutionise Health & Wellness.
- By prioritising the mental well-being of our people – especially the youth. We will expand the mandate of the National Task Force on Wellness, which advises the Cabinet on strategies, projects and public interventions to help Barbadians be happier, being better skilled in managing the pressure of life and addressing mental illness issues.
- By ensuring every Barbadian community has a community nurse. This is so as to engage and check on the safety of the residents of the community, build trust, aid in early detection of medical conditions, give nutritional and nursing advice and support parents. Prevention Matters!
- By establishing a “Spiritual University” at Codrington College, St. John which will be one of 5 such sites in the world. The Communion at Codrington will become a Centre for the Exploration of Faith and the Human Spirit.
WHO
The simple truth is, things get done when people come to work everyday, are resourced and held accountable, to get things done.
For this reason, the new BLP government will complete the work already started and introduce a Youth Empowerment Directorate.
The Directorate will be empowered to work across government Ministries and agencies to assist in the delivery of youth-centric public projects.
Staffed and led by a team of dynamic young Barbadians, the Directorate will serve the Government’s major point of contact with Young Barbados. Young Barbadians will be able to hold them accountable for their ability to advocate, engage and deliver on their behalf.
The simple truth is, things get done when people come to work everyday, are resourced and held accountable, to get things done.
For this reason, the new BLP government will complete the work already started and introduce a Youth Empowerment Directorate.
The Directorate will be empowered to work across government Ministries and agencies to assist in the delivery of youth-centric public projects.
Staffed and led by a team of dynamic young Barbadians, the Directorate will serve the Government’s major point of contact with Young Barbados. Young Barbadians will be able to hold them accountable for their ability to advocate, engage and deliver on their behalf.
This is the roadmap for the next 5 years of work for a BLP led Barbados Government. Is it ambitious? Yes. Is it doable? Absolutely! But only if YOU – young Barbados become active partners in this transformation.
Yes, I know some of you will say “It doesn't benefit me” or “I don’t care about voting, it doesn’t matter” or even “why should I trust what you say?.
I'm here to tell you that your vote absolutely does matter.
This is the time to contribute to national development and show us through your actions, the transformation that you want, and that our country needs. TO-NOW!
This is why I’m asking you to
VOTE FOR
THE BARBADOS LABOUR PARTY
on January 19th, 2022.
While I may have initiated this conversation, it is not intended to be one sided. I invite you to use the box below to share and engage with me – to express your desire and interest in how you would like to contribute.