THE SOCIETY FOR MASS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY & THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PRE-ELECTION MANIFESTO PART ONE OCTOBER 2006 2006 The Society for Mass Freedom and Democracy / People’s Democratic Congress No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the expressed permission of the copyright owner. Copyright 2006 The Society for Mass Freedom and Democracy/People’s Democratic Congress All Rights Reserved. 2 Part One TABLE OF CONTENTS Pgs 4 - 7 Foreword 7 - 14 Introduction 14 - 52 The Economy and Economics: Big and serious national problems 52 - 74 The Abolition of Taxation 74 - 88 The Abolition of Interest Rates 88 - 93 The Reform of Hire Purchase 93 - 107 Institutional Loans for Productive Purposes deemed Non-Repayable 107 - 114 Imports of goods and services into Barbados to be Zero-“Priced” at ALL points of entry 114 - 120 Exports intended for External Markets to be paid for in Barbados Currency/Price Value 120 - 158 The Greatest Development Possible for our Productive Sectors 158 - 162 Withdrawing Barbados From CSME Arrangements 162 - 170 The Abolition of ALL Exchange Rates Parities with the Barbados Dollar 170 – 176 The Disposing of the Notion of, Measuring For, Inflation in Barbados 176 - 195 The Abolition of Motor Vehicle and other Forms of(Compulsory) Public Liability Insurance 195 – 197 The Institution of a National Money Value System 197 - 209 Land Space Possession to be Acquired – Whether bought, sold or leased – ONLY at Administrative/Nominal Costs 209 - 214 The Institution of a Rent Control Regime For BuildinG 215 The End of Part One 3 FOREWORD Some approximately five years ago, a group of very politically impassioned, aware, and concerned Barbadians, on recognizing at the time that there was little being done by the political directorate in Barbados to address and resolve the myriad political, social, material, and financial problems that have been for years brought upon the masses of people of Barbados by elite/state political exploitation, decided to come to the fore of Barbadian politics and society by forming an independent, non-partisan political organization to represent the interests of the masses of people in Barbados, and to begin by using this organization and other means the setting about to achieve the long-term great transformation of the lives of the masses of people of Barbados. Actually, these great and seminal efforts had given rise to the Society for Mass Freedom and Democracy (SMFD). For, over the course of many months, first, by meeting for about 2 months at certain weeknights by Cave Sheperd, Broad Street, then later for a couple nights on the Board Walk, next to the Careenage, in Bridgetown, then later, too, for several nights in about three months or so on the Central Bank Compound, Church Village, Bridgetown, until finding rented inside space at Lorde’s Court Roebuck Street in 2002, which was secured for many months – this organization was able to, among other things, mould and fashion a slogan “a free mind, a free money, a free people”; a beautiful emblem; organizational colors; a draft provisional Constitution; an assemblage of national ideas, perspectives and programs; and a nucleus of very committed members not only catering to the fundamental and logical development of the affairs of the masses, but also catering to the fundamental but rational social, political, financial and material changes for Barbados. SMFD’S biggest goal was, still is, and will always be to help create a brighter and better Barbados for 21 st Century Barbadians, and others beyond that time. Over the last three years or so, by us, in SMFD, canvassing and campaigning hard across the country, and especially in Bridgetown, for support for SMFD and its causes, have no doubt involved our being met with good responses and support from thousands upon thousands of Barbadians for us and these causes. Over this time also by conducting open air public meetings throughout much of Barbados; by house-to-house canvassing in many constituencies; by making our views and policy positions clear by way of using various communication media –which, too, has involved a very spirited public awareness raising poster/flyer campaign educating potential/Barbadian Voters of WHAT a SMFD backed Government/a SMFD/PDC Government shall be doing for the country; by our constantly liaising with different Barbadian social groups; and by listening to many of the frustrations, concerns and views of thousands upon thousands of Barbadians as well as by observing the unsatisfactory physical conditions under which many, many of them live and work, have obviously brought us much needed political experiences and a sense of appreciation that in Barbados Voters wish to see not only a new party emerge and take 4 up the reins of legislative and executive government, but also long to see a new political, social, financial, and production order created in Barbados. Thus, with these great efforts and interrelationships over the last four years, we surely have been laying much of the foundation for the further growth and development of our movement. As such, two very fundamental aims of SMFD have been achieved: the creation and development, in early 2005, of a party - the People’s Democratic Congress (PDC) - and the production of a SMFD/PDC pre-election Manifesto, which is what you, the reader, are presently reading, First, the Congress, along with the Society, is currently based at Dear’s Land, Black Rock, and is and will always continue to have as its parent body the Society. Second, with regard to the emergence of the Congress, this is as a consequence of there having been established in the Society, the position that because of the structure of the Society itself there would have to be developed out of the Society, a party that would not only be a truly people-centered, democratic organization whose overarching political aim would be to win governmental power in order to help achieve those crucial people-centered objectives and programs which would have already been spoken to by the Society, but one that would also be presenting and giving strong support to its own full slate of candidates that will be contesting the next elections in Barbados, Also, we, in the Society, especially between the time of the last election and the emergence of the Congress, would have been bombarded by calls from Barbadians in their great multitudes to form a party that would be one of at least two other new parties to in the long term replace the BLP and DLP, which, according to them, have been for a long time outstandingly, and in many instances deliberately and willfully so, failing the masses and many others. And, last but not least, just as many Barbadians would also have been imploring us to install diligently a political leader of the party which, in contrast with the Society, requires a Political Leader! Thus, right now it is being seen that machinery of the party are being well set in motion not only in relationship to the coming elections but also with respect to many more to come!! What must be also stated is that with the coming about of the Congress, we in the Congress and the Society have found it necessary to include the promotion and securing of the interests of the pseudo-elite( middle classes) as part of our overall agenda, and not just those of the masses, because we have properly recognized that they too have been for a very long time suffering from elite/state political exploitation in Barbados, although not like the extent nor profundity to which the masses of people of Barbados have been experiencing this exploitation for over the years. We are fundamentally and diametrically opposed to elite political exploitation in Barbados and where so ever else, whatever forms, shapes or designs it comes in!! Thirdly, with regard to this pre-election Manifesto, this is as a primary result of the members of the Society/Congress determining that through the creation of such a pre-election Manifesto there will be the bringing about of a greater measure of ideological and policy coherence, consistency, and certainty than previously to our public pronouncements, views and commentaries, esp. with regard to the measures like the Abolition of Taxation, and the Abolition of Interests Rates; and 5 determining that potential/Barbadian Voters must be given a document far intellectually and inspirationally better than what has been produced by both BLP and DLP at election time, and that seriously outlines and properly explains for the benefit of the understanding of these Voters the policies, measures and prescriptions contained in it, and that would very likely between now and the next election, be a sound and valid basis for Barbadian Voters, first, properly and prudently evaluating and, then, VOTING for that package of policies, measures and prescriptions – being SMFD/PDC’S - that have enormous and limitless worth and relevancy in relationship to the great need of theirs for credible and concerted political and other actions that result in the betterment and enrichment of their lives and interests - and not plain old deceptive rhetoric and down right intellectual and party grandstanding as are synonymous with the BLP/DLP. It is clear that both the Congress and this Manifesto are but part of a wider SMFD/PDC plan of greater things to come for the people of Barbados, the vast majority of whom truly deserve better not worse living conditions, brighter experiences not duller ones, and safer circumstances not more threatening ones. We, in SMFD/PDC, intend making our entire political and other efforts and plans a serious departure from the type of partisan politics that is now muchly practiced in Barbados whereby deception, greed, selfishness and exploitation of a rank political nature are the order of the day in Barbados, by being entirely truthful, altruistic, responsible, and upright in our political actions as we continue to treat to the affairs of the public.