The work of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is often underestimated or not highlighted in this regard. With levels of unemployment now reduced to less than 8 % and still declining, represents a far cry from the 1994 high of over 24 % that saw thousands of Barbadians needing work but were unable to get jobs because job creation was not a well-thought out policy of the then DLP administration.. Moreover, the sound economic policies instituted by the BLP administration under the economic prudence of Prime Minister Owen S. Arthur, while being accentuated regionally and internationally, have from time to time become the target of unfounded criticisms by a chaotic official opposition party in Parliament and by those David Thompson crusaders who refuse to acknowledge the good work that has put Barbados on a certain path to achieve its national strategic goals of buoyed human, social, cultural, and economic development. A just published report justifies the excellent work by the BLP administration in Government whereby Barbados has been able to maintain its ranking of 31st among 177 nations in the UNDP 2007/2008 Human Development Index. Barbados stands ahead of any other Caribbean state in this regard. Barbados has also coveted the top ranking for countries in the world in relation to the Income Poverty Index. This is significant considering the venom that is constantly thrown at the BLP administration by a pupeteering David Thompson who fails to see the folly in his theatrical mouthings. The BLP administration is working doubly hard to remove the incidence of poverty in this country and create the type of opportunities that ensure the continued socio-economic upliftment of individuals from all walks of life in Barbadian society. Hence Thompson's rhetoric about the marginalisation of the poor black man is an unfounded conclusion built upon his own inadequacies for leadership and practical policymaking. The BLP’s boast of “a better life for our people” is by no means a far-fetched ideal. Neither is the human-centred approach of wide public policies as formulated under a BLP regime, to be dismissed as being out of touch with the masses. For certain, the fact that the Democratic Labour Party and David Thompson refuse to bring practical alternatives for development in Barbados, illustrates the malaise to be found within a party ready to implode due to a lack of vision and leadership. Rest assured, the Barbados Labour Party's principal objectives and policies are designed for moving Barbados to the next higher level of real social and economic progress. Prime Minister Arthur refuses to rest on the laurels of success and has vowed to pilot Barbados’ direction ever conscious that “Barbados must continue to go for the gold.” Hence, in sober reflection upon where Barbados stood prior to the BLP’s rise to government in 1994 and where the island stands now, reveals the extraordinary accomplishments by an administration ably led by Owen S. Arthur. This is achieved even against the odds of global volatility and financial shocks since 1994. God bless Owen Arthur, the Barbados Labour Party, and the people of Barbados. A fourth term is absolutely the best means for securing the future development of Barbados.
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