The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration recognises the importance of building human and institutional capacity in Barbados for the furtherance of good governance and to safeguard the basic fundamentals of democracy in Barbados. People matter most in the development of any country and this fact has not gone unnoticed despite the many complexities in today’s world that challenge the linkages between state and society. What is this thing called capacity building? It is widely held that increased knowledge, improved attitudes, and the adaptability to changing conditions are at the base for progress in a society. Undoubtedly, there are a greater or lesser degree of tensions within and between the ambit of government and the governed, and these strictures become manifest in areas of economics, politics, and general everyday living.

Hence, the direction of leadership exhibited in the society especially from politicians, civic leaders, and those who have very conspicuous presence in the communities and other formal and informal settings are pivotal to the overall architecture of this phenomenon known as human and institutional capacity building. In the foreword to The National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2006-2025, Prime Minster Owen Arthur makes a lucid observation noting that “all the people of Barbados must pledge to work together to transform Barbados into a fully developed country.” Pertinent to this remark is the shared vision whereby Barbados is collectively implored to exemplify the conditions that speak to a “model democracy that is prosperous, productive, peaceful, socially just and inclusive.” Underlying the currents of this people-oriented focus is the philosophical root of the BLP which is etched in the practice of social democracy and social justice thus providing a wide variety of opportunities for Barbados to provide a better life for all. It is clear that the vision expressed by the leadership of the BLP administration and that is ably demonstrated in the number of programmes and policies implemented since 1994 is geared towards e sustainable development and the socio-economic empowerment of Barbadians. It takes political will and a determination to bring about capacity building more so through trying economic recessions and global instability in the international system. It is remarkable that Barbados although being a very small nation ranks as the leading developing country in the world and is second to none in its efforts and poverty eradication. Many tax incentives have been introduced under the BLP that not only assists the corporate sector, but is widely seen as providing enormous relief to citizens.

Beyond this and holding closely to the function of increased knowledge to a society’s growth path, the Arthur-led administration has been pivotal in brining a greater utilisation of technology into education through programmes such as Edu-Tech and the greater exposure of Barbadians to tertiary level education. Also, through reform in the public sector of Barbados and the fact that there is a greater emphasis on training individuals throughout the public service, has enhanced what has traditionally been a an area of concern so as to bring about higher levels of efficiency and service. The co-existence of a social partnership that works for the national interest instead of only responding to narrow and sectoral interest indicates the measure of inclusiveness that is vital for a society to go forward. As market forces create other hurdles for the state’s mechanisms to act in a fashion that eliminates or largely reduces discrimination and heavily skewed levels of wealth distribution, this type of proactive effort from the BLP is to be lauded. In many ways, there have been a number of consultations with various stakeholders for their input to delivering ideas and projects for national consumption. The Barbados Government under the confident leadership of Owen Arthur has been able to demonstrate to the world that human capital and a country’s institutional capacity are the foundations for building a prosperous nation that is fully conditioned in the tenets of democratic governance. Civic participation has increased and there has been some decentralisation with regard to the traditional functioning of the state bureaucracy.

All together, the expanding of the Barbadian economy and the prudent management of its fiscal and monetary structures have served notice to the international world that Barbados has much to contribute to the international system by way of its people and their skills. Barbadians from all walks of life, living in and out of Barbados, are proud that an administration sees the need to empower people, prioritise the security of those people, and allow them to be leaders in framing public policies designed specifically to benefit current and future generations. With unemployment at record lows and economic activity at unprecedented heights speaks volumes to the work of Prime Minister Owen Arthur and his dedicated team of workers. This is the hallmark of representative government and a labour-oriented administration keen to bring about human development in real terms.

It is a logical calculation then to conclude that the progress path of Barbados is sound and in the good hands of a political directorate that is visionary, confident, and relentless. The BLP administration working in conjunction with the support of most Barbadians have been able to and have certainly continued to maximise the utility of education, knowledge, technology, and best practices that are sometimes borrowed but which have been transformed through a strong indigenous spirit of adaptability for success. There is absolutely no doubt that the Barbados Labour Party best reflects the ambitions of Barbadian people and is therefore in the best position to pilot Barbados to the next higher level of socio-economic development and continue to enshrine the fervour of good democratic governance. The BLP has performed and on that basis I have no choice but to re-elect a government with an enviable record of performance and social inclusiveness.

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