Bridgetown.
Newly appointed Minister of Industry, International Business and Small Business Development Donville Inniss has alledged that fee structure for lawyers and doctors are slanted in their favour and has resulted in weath for a minority and crumbs for the majority of Barbadians.
Speaking at the Fair Trading Commission's ninth Annual Lecture at the Accra Hotel over the weekend Inniss said.
"As fellow Barbadains and myself complain about food prices and utility bills. I am equally concerned over the free seting policies of service providers in this country. For example, I have always had concerns over legal fees charged for all transactions in this country", Inniss said.
"Perhaps it is time for the public to be more engaging on these issues. We have a surplus of lawyers in Barbados but maintains a very artificial and unsustainable pricing structure for they services, resulting in wealth to a few and crumbs for the majority and a population that grumbles in silence", Inniss told the audience.
"I do not expect to find much favour with lawyers on this issue but we must have sober discussions on these matters. Likewise our healthcare professionals and their fee setting structure must be addressed. Our society must become far more engaging and fearless in discussing these issues that affect the cost of living in a small open society", the Minister said.
He added that the growning concerns of young members of some professions over the restrictions on advertising their services would engage the attention of his ministry.
Inniss said his minstry would also be paying attention to interlocking directorships and shareholders, banks and their relationship with corporate entities and the crowding out of some enterprises in the society.
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