FORGET FREIENDS, LET FAIRNESS PREVAIL
BARBADOS ADVOCATE – DENIS KELLMAN’S COLUMN – THE DEBATE
JANUARY 14, 2005
Recently, I was asked whether I would appoint any former ministers of government who are contractors on any boards that would create conflicts of interest. I readily replied that it is wrong for a man to be a contractor and stop himself from getting work. The system must protect persons from themselves and wherever the possibility of interest is possible, such persons must not be placed on boards.
In recent times, as I traversed Barbados, I am hearing about contractors who all of a sudden are working for Government agencies and who are not bidding for work, yet are getting work. Theses contractors are using the power in these organizations to get permission for professionals to act opposite to their training.
The directors of these organizations must be protected from political appointees, who are only thinking pocket and who do not care whether a house that should be repaired for $28 000, has a final cost of $60 000.
Further, every costing that is submitted by such persons who have power in their corner is varied upwards and the boys looked after.
Mr. Prime Minister, you need to give certain section of ministries to Ministers who are accountable to the public. The masses that include the poor and elderly should be protected from these persons who feel that they are only accountable to elected persons.
These persons are not treating the elderly fairly, when money extracted is now delivering only half of what the woody fellow would have delivered. I know that you are going to summon Mr. Upright to your office, and you are going to investigate these persons who are not giving the elderly their fair return.
There is no wrong in our brothers and sisters getting work or privileges, but these men must appreciate the confidence placed in them and set about to increase the popularity of the party, instead of robbing the masses by extracting excessively and having Ministers who are normally regarded as professionals, being branded wrongly.
I have said previously that those “social heads” should be prorated and the amounts known to each Member of Parliament, so that these heads could easily be monitored by the Member of Parliament, in order that their inconsistencies can be easily highlighted.
Members of Parliament should ensure that work for the elderly is carried out without accommodating their friends and be prepared to distance themselves from persons seeking to gouge them. Selfishness and greed cannot be a positive factor when considering members for boards. These members are prepared to bribe and belittle their brothers and sisters to satisfy their own personal greed.
I do not want the elderly telling me anymore that money was voted to repair their homes and it was expended without any of the m receiving aid. Estimates in the future must show the number of houses to be built and the price per house. Parliament should then be informed as to whether these goals were realized.
Social engineers need to deal with the masses and the rich in this country. We must understand that this country is made up of the rich and masses, and not the rich, middle class and the poor. Nobody wants to be labeled poor and we as writers and politicians should appreciate this point. Being poor should be seen as a negative, but being “born poor should be seen as a positive.”
When I was a boy, I heard about lining and it referred to ground and clothing, but these days it seems to mean lining your pocket with money off the backs of the masses.
The Minister of Agriculture would do good to get board members to go and learn the trade of farming or tailoring, seeing that I will always be a “rural man”. Are we aware that a price increase in water rates can be more damaging than a price increase in oil?
(Denis Kellman is the Member of Parliament for St. Lucy, Barbados)