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Government has been slammed for not only failing to address the damning contents of the latest Auditor General’s report but also its response to public calls for it to do so.Outspoken trade unionist Caswell Franklyn characterised the government’s response thus far as “arrogant” and laid the blame at the doorsteps of Barbadians who are not demanding that the Mia Mottley administration address the public on the matter.“The problem is that most Bajans are cowards. They don’t want to do anything to offend so they want somebody to do it for them,” he said in an interview with Barbados TODAY.“And..[the Government] will come and attack and they believe that that kind of attack will get their base going, then their base will try to cower you into silence.”
Government has been slammed for not only failing to address the damning contents of the latest Auditor General’s report but also its response to public calls for it to do so.Outspoken trade unionist Caswell Franklyn characterised the government’s response thus far as “arrogant” and laid the blame at the doorsteps of Barbadians who are not demanding that the Mia Mottley administration address the public on the matter.“The problem is that most Bajans are cowards. They don’t want to do anything to offend so they want somebody to do it for them,” he said in an interview with Barbados TODAY.“And..[the Government] will come and attack and they believe that that kind of attack will get their base going, then their base will try to cower you into silence.”
Minister of Energy Kerrie Symmonds has accused critics of Government’s approach to expanding the renewable energy sector and amendments to electricity legislation of trying to stir up strife and engaging in “a whole lot of hullabaloo” and “partisan rancour”.While he did not call names, his comments were a clear swipe at the President of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne, attorney-at-law and utility regulation specialist Tricia Watson, and leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood who have publicly knocked the legislative and other changes.Symmonds did not mince words as he chided the critics for not having the interest of the country at heart, in their analysis.Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, he argued that their criticisms of the Bill and the expansion of the renewable energy sector have been nothing more than “unnecessary posturing” and “political partisan rancour”.
The Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) is calling on Government to establish a National Infrastructure Authority to oversee the management of “critical infrastructure” in the country. BAPE president, Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne said this authority would be similar to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as it would be under the control of Build Professionals to manage and administer important infrastructure professionally and efficiently. “It has become clear …