Welcome to Extra N.A. Online! Tuesday September 7, 2010 Homepage    |    News    |    Archives    |    Advertise    |    Contact Us    |    News Email to a Friend > Barbados PM thanks Diaspora for victory Wednesday, September 24, 2008 PHOTOS by FRANCINE BUCHNOR - Leroy McClean (left), Consul General of Barbados in Toronto, and Barbados Prime Minister The Honourable David Thompson at the Delta Toronto East Hotel in Scarborough. By Francine Buchner Toronto, Canada: When Barbados PM, David Thompson, took the stage last week at the Delta Toronto East Hotel in Scarborough on Saturday, it was to say thanks to the Diaspora for its support in winning the general elections, as well as detail the successes of his new government. “Your individual contributions are what made the victory easier and your individual contributions are what made the victory sweeter,”he said. “One thing that I’ve learned in 30 years of active politics, is that it’s never too early or too late to say thanks. I also want to thank many of you individually for your personal interventions. Much of which, were done at your own expense and sacrifice. Barbadians in Toronto, in my mind, came alive in the last election.” The prime minister said the efforts of the three branches of the Democratic Labour Party – United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada – to sensitize Barbadians living on the island and abroad to the issues at stake in the last election; putting the election into context, made a difference. confused Taking jabs at the Opposition, Thompson said his style was to “Consult and listen to the people, “this, of course is foreign to our detractors and this is what has them so confused. Because they would have expected us to come out to the gates like a bull at the rodeo. But to my mind, you don’t do that when you are laying the foundation for 25 years in office,” said the PM. “The previous administration bedazzled Barbados and Barbadians, to my mind, at home and abroad, about its economic management, its fiscal prowess and its ability. He criticized the previous government for spending money “in the most bizarre of circumstance” - the highway contract, the astronomical operating cost of the National Housing Corporation (with very little housing for Barbadians to show) and the purchasing of buses. Thompson promised to tackle high unemployment; protect the west coast, concentrate on a state-of-the-art national healthcare institution for visitors and residents, and utilise the skills of retired Barnadians through the setting up of the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. The PM will also change the Returning Nationals Programme concessions structure, including a name change to Barbadians Networkers Program. As promised in the manifesto, the Prime Minister’s office has set up a governance commission to review and examine current loopholes in the system of Public Administration in Barbados and propose a series of reform. A draft Freedom of Information Bill was presented to Cabinet last Thursday and the Integrity and Public Life Legislation, which covers issues such as the declaration of assets, conflict of interest issues, conduct of parliamentarians, will available within the next two weeks. The PM said this is vitally necessary for the orderly and honest running of Barbados. “For Barbados to grow we have to remove all semblance of political tribalism,” said the PM. Send your comments about this Note. Include your name and location at the bottom of your comments. 1000 characters left. Change Image Write the Validation Code from the image above >>Read More News Stories © 2006-2010, Gleaner Extra NA, All Rights Reserved.