As Government rolls out the next phase of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme, one backbencher has advised the administration to take care of the unfinished business from the first phase and to cover all bases for the second phase.Speaking during debate on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Programme, 2022-2027, Member of Parliament for St. George North, Toni Moore, said, “As we seek to implement BERT 2022, we cannot afford to hurry what was not done in the previous one and foist it on our workers. While we can blame COVID on why some aspects of the previous programme were not completed, it cannot take all the blame, because in all honesty, there were some conversations that we could have had during that time that would have ensured that we could make a seamless transition immediately after it blew over.”Moore, the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) added that, “I have examined the macroeconomic policies and the reform agenda we have to complete, and I want to challenge my colleagues to take their time and have the relevant discussions associated with them rather than trying to rush them through.”She suggested that any criticism of Government’s policies should not be seen as offensive, but considered a reflection of the challenges that the society as a whole may be facing. If these issues are taken into consideration, she added, there may influence better decision-making.
