Do you think the BLP will win the next General Election in Barbados?
Yes
(30)
No
(75)
Don’t Know
(4)
Total votes: 109
The result of an informal poll carried out by BU over a two week period. Although unscientific one can conclude that there is healthy DLP readership of the BU blog or a general dissatisfaction with the incumbent Arthur government.
One can argue that one of the most talked about politicians in the last 15 years has been David Thompson. To many of us who have followed politics in Barbados whether at home or abroad there has always been the inevitability that he would assume the highest office in the land at some point. Some may argue that it is not his fault that Barrow elected to leave an ambiguous succession plan. Other argue that David Thompson like Carlisle Best started a career at the wrong time. Whatever the reason we are at that point in our history when the public will have to decide, yet again, David or Owen. There is consensus that should David loose the election this time around he may have to look at giving stepping aside though still a young man.
The upcoming election is filled with the usual intrigue but at the top of the list must be the anticipated clash between Mascoll and Thompson. If previous confrontations are anything to go by it is expected to be gory and must be rated X. What about the GEMS issue this time around? Is it an issue that will resonate with the electorate this time around? At the top of the list must surely the issue of the donation which Arthur received to his personal FCIB account. For the first time Barbadians witnessed Arthur making a hurried retreat when confronted on prime TV. Has he had time to recover or is he gathering dirt to ensure that he can counter punch at the right time.
What impact will the CWC 2007 have on the outcome. BU recognize that the BLP spin on CWC is to labeled it a success. Maybe all except the BLP think so. Anecdotally it seems to BU that tremendous disappointment exist among Barbadians at the money spent and the many problems which kept surfacing, least among them being the alienation by the LOCs of the cricket loving public and the huge sums spent to ready for the games. BU thinks of all the possible issues raised the one of immigration and the seemingly wanton influx of Indian Guyanese will be a a hot issue. It is an issue which appears to be of concern to all Barbadians and it is to span the social spectrum. Whether Thompson is prepared to risk creating a racial divide which could ensue from making this a platform issue is left to be seen. Please note that BU has not listed corruption as an issue because the libel and slander laws of Barbados makes it impossible for any messages of this nature to be promulgated.
It is too early to call this election because of many unknown variables. What we know according to Professor Don Blackman is that a third term lethargy has reared its head in the Arthur administration. This apparent “tiredness”, a settled DLP leadership and a historical impatience by the Barbados electorate for third term governments all combine to give David Thompson his ONLY but BEST chance to win the next government.
Related Stories:
David Thompson Has Owen Arthur By The “Balls”. When Will He Squeeze?
The Man Behind David Thompson: Will He Proove To Be A Liability…Yet Again?
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