At his press conference today, Prime Minister Barrow committed to the media that his government’s business, unlike the one it takes over from, will be open to the media and the public.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“This question of being called Prime Minister will take some getting used to, except I am happy that it obliges my friend Jules Vasquez to address me in that fashion. That’s the only citizen of this country to whom I will insist on my due. No you know Jules and I, I fool myself into thinking we have a special relationship and those who know Jules will tell you no one can have a special relationship with him. And certainly as a professional he, like the other members of the media, we know will continue to shine the light on government and in fact we welcome and appreciate that and perhaps it gives me a chance to say one other thing, I will never ever run from the press. I will never ever avoid the press. I will always be willing to talk to the press because I consider that my duty.
I am insisting that no Minister makes any appointment without coming to Cabinet, not even to the post of drain sweeper. This must be done collectively. The Deputy Prime Minister’s Ministry will award no lease or sale of land in excess of ten acres. We will come into Cabinet.
The government’s website will host a great deal of information. Everything that we do must be published on that website for people to see. There will be no secrets in this administration, there will be no doing things in the dark, there will be no dodginess – this is going to be a completely open administration and Cabinet colleagues will work together and will consult and make decisions by consensus.”
And with such a powerful mandate and widespread antipathy to the outgoing Musa government, Barrow agreed that he has to caution his party’s leaders and new ministers to be magnanimous and not triumphalist in victory.
