I soo miss our chats, Aunty Hazel. You always made sure I’d be accountable for something I said publicly each time I visited you. As my first teacher, you had every right. You taught me the Montessori method of thinking, guiding me from childhood to clearly yet creatively express my thoughts. You’re one of three women who laid the foundations of my success, particularly my intellectual growth. I’ll always love and miss you. I promise to look after Kay and Lynn, even though, as my “seniors”, it should really be the other way around. Given you’ll be resting peacefully the day after this article’s published, your spirit might have one last laugh at today’s topic, which is quite personal.
Recently, I read that the largest spikes in venereal disease in the developed world are found in retirement homes. This isn’t as obvious as it sounds. The tools used to spread infections are presumably way past expiry, and the means to engage those tools are weakened or troubled unless aided by veneers or other assistance.
Yet, facts are facts. Venereal diseases are bad, and unchecked spread is even more problematic. Infection rates are now higher inside these residences than outside. Surprisingly, this scenario helps me draw comparisons to regional policymakers. I’m unapologetic in suggesting that many policies introduced regionally remind me of events in geriatric residences.
It’s a pandemic really. Policies spreading across the region attempt to solve non-existent problems or are entirely ill-suited. Policymakers pushing these ideas resemble overly-excited senior citizens; they have the will but the “tools” just don’t function properly. Their best use is of gnashing “veneers” in Parliament—sweet talk without effective action. Policymakers aren’t alone; the Caribbean citizenry often succumbs to conspiracy theories, spreading these in a worryingly fast manner.
One clear example appeared in Barbados’s recent Budget: the Solidarity Allowance. My diagnosis suggests our country caught this infection, in part, from St. Kitts and Nevis and, especially, Guyana. I believe St. Kitts and Nevis is better equipped to manage the longer-term symptoms, thanks to consistent fiscal surpluses since the early 2010s, sustained primarily through its Citizenship by Investment Scheme.
The day that scheme unravels, however, public sector Christmas double pay and other easy payouts will vanish. Had St. Kitts created a sovereign wealth fund ten years ago, they’d be in better shape when the inevitable happens. Instead, this illness festers.
Guyana’s future windfalls from oil and gas licences are rising rapidly, fuelling immense infrastructure hype. However, it’s a “cart before the horse” scenario; the country hasn’t earned enough yet to justify increasing grants. Some grants make sense, like the Newborn Grant, helping Guyana avoid Barbados’s worryingly impending demographic issues.
I’m less convinced by the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, meant to help impoverished families afford schooling. It’s severely underfunded and might’ve been better allocated partially to schools directly. My real concern is the now-famous US$500 cash grant. I’ve previously expressed angst over this. I sincerely believe that money should have seeded a sovereign wealth fund. A partly foreign managed sort at least.
Barbados adopted the form and function Solidarity Allowance from what seems like Guyana, sparking significant scepticism about its intent. For years, we’ve been told our social security scheme, specifically pensions, was precarious, though funds finance climate resilience and welfare payments. Recent adjustments to resilience payments have upset many, though I support them provided proper investment oversight continues.
Given these schemes’ health directly impacts economic viability and sustained employment, scepticism is logical. Doubts appeared island-wide, despite many registering eagerly for their $300 payout, driven by self-interest rather than logic as the day for payment came.
I frequently heard this amount was too insignificant for medium-term impact (it was). I laughed whenever I heard the payout widened the tax net (it might have depending on how records are shared). Some feared taxation similar to overtime pay. Worse still, absurd rumours claimed funding came from an $800 reparations payout from the Royal Family—a perfect example of a nonsensical idea epidemic. Europe lacks the capital for meaningful reparations, and I doubt we’ll see such payments anytime soon.
The Solidarity Allowance could’ve had lasting benefits if modelled after my suggestion for Guyana’s ‘Because We Care’ grant. Allocating the $36 million (about 5% of the Ministry of Education’s budget this fiscal year) toward public education would have had enduring benefits. Since 1966, education investment has consistently proven fruitful. I’m sure my aunt would wholeheartedly agree.