Barbados Facing Population Decline Crisis, Urgent Actions Needed, says Prime Minister Mottley

Barbados is grappling with a “crisis” of population decline that threatens the island’s way of life and social systems, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has warned.

“Our country is in a crisis with respect to an ageing and declining population,” she told the House of Assembly on Tuesday. “Our country needs now to take decisions that may be difficult for some but necessary for all. That decision will lead to us committing to maintaining our values and our way of life as we know it.”

Mottley emphasised the urgent need to address the issue: “This is not a case of desire anymore, this is a case of necessity.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the stark reality outlined in the Barbados Population Policy document, laid in the House on Tuesday. She pointed to a declining and ageing population, reduced production levels, and falling tax revenues.

She said: “This country has seen a declining population, an ageing population, a declining level of production as a result, and declining taxation. There will be consequential actions that flow from [the report], once we have heard where all of it settles, and those consequential actions will have far-reaching implications for the state of Barbados, and for the state of families and their way of life in Barbados.

Mottley stressed the importance of maintaining the country’s social care services, which she described as “integral to the health and wellness of Barbadians”. However, she noted that these services “do not come cheap” and rely heavily on tax revenue, which is under threat due to the population decline.

She told lawmakers: “Barbados has a strong caring infrastructure, and it does not come cheap. If we are going to maintain that because we believe in equity and we believe that the most vulnerable must be taken care of, then it means we have to manage carefully how we grow the economy, but equally making sure that the systems that are necessary to make sure that everybody can benefit and improve the quality of life, can be done.”

The Prime Minister called for a frank discussion on immigration and migration as potential solutions to the crisis. She acknowledged the historical contributions of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals to Barbados, particularly in the construction and agriculture sectors, where their presence has helped control labour costs and inflation.

Mottley said: “We have had the opportunity of knowing how CARICOM people have been able to add value to this country, and in areas of construction and agriculture, there was a time where if you did not have those persons living here helping to control the price of work labourers in agriculture and construction, the level of inflation and cost of living would have gone through the roof at a much earlier point. That is why in many countries the absence of available labour has led to cost of living increases.”

“We believe that this thing can be managed properly,” Mottley said, emphasising the need for a “very careful balance” in managing any influx of migrants or returning Barbadians. She added: “This country certainly cannot continue to sustain the way of life and benefits it provides to its people, with a declining and ageing population.”

But the Prime Minister was quick to stress that any immigration measures must not compromise Barbadian values and security. She declared: “So as long as we commit to ensuring that as we bring people, that we can manage their integration into this country, so long as we continue to make sure that our values remain dominant in so doing, then this is the right thing to do.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb