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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Harry Husbands, listening attentively at a recent Social Partnership Subcommittee meeting. (A.Miller/BGIS)

The Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership has been aggressively looking at innovative ideas for economic growth and not just talking about it.??

This assertion was given by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, following a recent tripartite Sub-Committee meeting.

Stating that the present focus of the Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership was economic recovery, growth and job creation, the Minister said they were taking the "togetherness approach" to recovering the Barbadian economy.??

"When we meet it’s not a time for blaming or alleging who is at fault.?? We realise that is counterproductive, when our economy flounders it affects every one of us.?? So, since I have taken over 18 months ago, the approach has been, how can we work together to grow the economy," Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo observed.??

As a result, the Sub-Committee has been entertaining proposals from various interest groups.?? To date, they met with the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation, who proposed ways entrepreneurship can help grow the economy; the Barbados Vocational Training Board with whom they explored options for Apprenticeship; and the Coalition for the Revitalisation of the Economy, who presented ideas for growth in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.

The Labour Minister said they also met with the Barbados Tourism Authority, as the sector is an important component of the Barbadian economy; and the Barbados Private Sector Association who proposed the idea of forming a public/private committee to formally look at growth in the economy.

After meeting with the various interest groups, the Sub-Committee of the Social Partnership selects the ideas of merit.?? They then make suggestions on how the ideas can be supported and implemented so each of the tripartite representatives can then make recommendations to their peers in government, the trade unions and fellow employers.

Dr. Byer Suckoo stated that so far the recovery of the economy has been the biggest issue of concern for the Sub-Committee on Social Partnership.????

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

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