have been doing. what have we been doing? the government has spentjust under $10 million doing a series of dams across the country so that what we are responding to first and foremost is correcting decades of ignoring the critical aspects that are necessary in order to increase food production. we have had some interruptions. the worst asphalt in 119 years in the west hurricane nate 66. i would call it a trifecta. ads, west hurricane nate 66. i would call it a trifecta. call it a trifecta. a triple whammy- call it a trifecta. a triple whammy. so call it a trifecta. a triple whammy. so you - call it a trifecta. a triple whammy. so you need. call it a trifecta. a triple l whammy. so you need to call it a trifecta. a triple - whammy. so you need to cut your prime minister some slack. i prime minister some slack. i call it the trifecta. that will do, thank you. let s go to our next question. do, thank you. let s go to our next question. good afternoon. prime minister, next question
yes, true. you are in america s neighbourhood because at its closest point it is only 70 kilometres from cuba to the united states. seven military us bases are here in the caribbean. but people are beginning to wonder whether you are looking further east. we had a question on social media, prime minister, which says i honestly would like to know why we in barbados are so ingratiate it with china. why are we in so deep with china? so are you swapping one superpower for another? well, once again superpower for another? well, once again i superpower for another? well, once again i regret superpower for another? well, once again i regret that - superpower for another? well, once again i regret that the - once again i regret that the person once again i regret that the person who asked the question doesn t person who asked the question doesn t know our history. in 1977. doesn t know our history. in 1977, barbados established relations with the people s republic of china. this is
young person will feel that this is a matter that bothers and affects them. it this is a matter that bothers and affects them. and affects them. it sounds like the prime and affects them. it sounds like the prime minister i and affects them. it sounds| like the prime minister likes your idea. you can have a chat with her later, may be. put forward and volunteer. final question. forward and volunteer. final question- forward and volunteer. final cuestion. ., question. good afternoon, prime minister. you question. good afternoon, prime minister. you mentioned - question. good afternoon, prime minister. you mentioned the i minister. you mentioned the constitution earlier so my question is that if the new republic constitution will be amended to include the right clauses amended to include the right clauses as well as the removal of discriminant tree laws, laws that affect people such as the disabled, lgbt queue and homeless persons. a disabled, lgbt queue and homeless persons.- di
our people have a right to development. and therefore we feel that development. and therefore we feel that there is need for a conversation, particularly for the developing countries of the world, the developing countries of the world, who were made victims for centuries of the extraction of wealth for centuries of the extraction of wealth on a continuous basis of wealth on a continuous basis. , ., ., of wealth on a continuous basis. , ., ., ., ~ basis. let s go to ian melville now, he wants basis. let s go to ian melville now, he wants to basis. let s go to ian melville now, he wants to ask - basis. let s go to ian melville now, he wants to ask a - basis. let s go to ian melville i now, he wants to ask a question about the economy. just before he speaks i should say to you, prime minister, that guy hewitt from the opposition here in barbados says all this talk about the republic and so on is just a convenient distraction from covid and the economic crisis. that s what he
regrettably, these are some of theissues regrettably, these are some of the issues guyana. and these are red the issues guyana. and these are red herrings that people float are red herrings that people float out there to determine whether float out there to determine whether this is a good thing or a bad whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but we re not leaving a bad thing, but we re not leaving the commonwealth. in leaving the commonwealth. in fact, leaving the commonwealth. fact, we leaving the commonwealth. in fact, we have a question leaving the commonwealth. ii u fact, we have a question about the commonwealth from pierre cook. ,., the commonwealth from pierre cook. , ., ., ., cook. going forward, will the commonwealth cook. going forward, will the commonwealth still - cook. going forward, will the commonwealth still be - cook. going forward, will the commonwealth still be our . cook. going forward, will the i commonwealth still be our main international