A proposal for port workers to become shareholders in the holding company that will replace the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) and for Barbadians to also get the opportunity to invest, is set to go before that agency’s board next week.Chairman of the BPI David Jean-Marie made the disclosure on Wednesday after Prime Minister Mia Mottley enquired about the status of discussions on the move, during debate in Parliament on the Appropriation Bill 2023.He disclosed that the management team will next Thursday make a presentation to the board on the transformation of the port, which includes not only innovation and expansion plans but “the second wave of corporatisation in which we transition from Barbados Port Inc. to a holding company”.According to him, that model would see the National Insurance Scheme, the state, workers and workers’ representatives as shareholders in the holding company – a parent company created to buy and control the ownership interests of other companies, its subsidiaries.“We’ve identified already, nine subsidiary opportunities which would allow . . . ordinary Barbadians to participate,” Jean-Marie said.
