38
7. To develop a ‘Mature Economy’ that
utilises the wisdom, knowledge and
experience of thousands of retired
persons, domestically and within
CARICOM and the Commonwealth,
while allowing them to enhance their
pensions.
8. To enhance an ‘Energy Economy’
that efficiently utilises new sources
of clean, sustainable, renewable and
non-renewable energy and provides
new and better opportunities to
workers and communities while
protecting our environment.
9. To develop an ‘Innovation Economy’
that utilises and grows the skills
and
creativity
of
our
people
and the opportunities for social
entrepreneurship; and that focuses on
Research and Development.
10. To revolutionise our ‘Agricultural
Economy’ (including our sugar cane
industry) by better fusing access to
technology, research and capital;
promoting the consumption and
export of viable agricultural products
and better utilise our land towards
ensuring greater food security, food
sovereignty and export earnings.
11. To create a “Maritime Economy”
that preserves the oceans around
us, transforms our Fishing Industry
and effectively and sustainably
expands other areas of economic
development related to our vast
marine environment.
12. To build a “Green and Integrated
Economy” anchored on the three
pillars of sustainable development –
society, economy and environment,
in which our long term prospects are
not compromised or jeopardized by
short term actions for unsustainable
gains; and to invest in sustainable
environmental practices and policies
which reorganizes how we live, how
we work, how we address waste and
conservation and how we ensure
the responsible use of renewable
technologies
Underpinning various approaches to economic
development is the need to foster the
enhancement of our physical infrastructure to
urgently develop our water security along with
air, sea and road transportation systems. We
have a new vision for comprehensive water and
waste management and modernization of our
transportation systems.
The process of economic transformation must
begin at home to allow Barbadians to enjoy
an assured quality of life. We do not subscribe
to the pervasive view that we as a people lack
entrepreneurial skills anddrive.This viewhas been
used to justify focus on traditional sectors and to
deny small and micro-enterprises, vendors and
farmers access to capital to grow their business.
We call attention to the fact that within every
community there are small business owners, food,
fruit and clothing vendors, beauticians, shop and
bar owners, farmers, electricians, landscapers,
plumbers, mechanics and other entrepreneurs
who take calculated risks every day.
This confidence in the small business sector
allowedtheBLPtocreateanumberofmechanisms
to finance micro-enterprises and to implement
fiscal incentives to bolster Credit Unions and
create over one hundred thousand Credit Union
shareholders today. We stand by the important
value of small and micro-enterprises at the
community level and in growing the economy.
We will continue to invest in training and capacity
building, removing impediments to growth and
expansion and in providing accessible financing
for this sector.
To broaden access to financing, we will develop
new, innovative, well-regulated instruments for
mobilizing domestic and diaspora savings for
domestic investment, such as crowd financing,
local investment clubs and junior stock markets.
