And while the Opposition indicts Prime Minister Musa for allowing mass corruption to overtake his government and the country's finances, Barrow said that to make sure that does not happen in any UDP administration, he would rule with a machete, not a rod of correction.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"The problem with this government is the fact of their undiluted corruption. Promises have been made by them that they have no intention of keeping; that they're incapable of keeping. But I tell you any UDP government that I lead will never be engaged in corruption. As soon as it rears its ugly head, I personally will cut it off. And I will tell you I will sharpen a special machete with blades on two sides so that every time it springs up 'right so' I will chop it off. And if it means the government has to fall then so be it. Let the consequences be damned, the people of this country deserve better and I am determined to give them better."
And following last night's town meeting, today Barrow fired off a letter to Prime Minister Musa articulating his party's staunch opposition to any increase in taxes, characterizing them as "unconscionable and downright counterproductive." Barrow attributes the crisis to "horrendous debt servicing" and concludes that the solution is revenue enhancement through improved collection and putting an end to discretionary tax exemptions. Barrow says the UDP is prepared to do, "_whateve_r" to resist any proposal for tax increase. He didn't say what "whatever" means, but in political parlance the term usually means, "whatever we can afford."