A motion of no confidence, also called a motion of non-confidence, a censure motion, a no-confidence motion, or simply a confidence motion, is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. On rare occasions, it may also be put on the parliamentary order paper by an erstwhile supporter who has lost confidence in the government. The motion is passed or rejected by means of a parliamentary vote (a vote of no confidence). In the British Parliament it generally first appears as an early day motion although the vote on the Queen’s Speech also constitutes a Confidence Motion. ^[1] Governments often respond to a motion of no confidence by proposing a motion of confidence which, according to parliamentary procedure in the Westminster system, takes precedence and so replaces the motion of no confidence.

Source: Wekipedia

Students of ancient history are aware that in medieval Europe divisions in the society were referred to as Estates of the Realm, in modern societies although the term is rarely used is is not uncommon to refer to the press as the Fourth Estate. The thrust of modern societies has been to deflate the notion of class and demarcation of social structures, even if we know it exist, the First and Second Estates which refer to nobility and the church respectively are hardly ever used. Equal in its lack of use is the Third Estate, THE PEOPLE. Back in medieval times the Third Class was referred to as THE COMMONERS, today often referred to as THE POPULACE. History has shown that although third in the pecking order of the Estates of The Realm, THE PEOPLE have always had the final say. The “falling” of the Berlin Wall, the withdrawal of the poll tax in the UK, the fall of the apartheid system in South Africa and the subsequent freeing of the greatest black man on earth, Nelson Mandela, the enfranchisement of the black vote led by Martin Luther King in the US and the list is endless where THE PEOPLE have always been at the forefront of the catalyst of change.

In recent days if we were to measure the feedback to the blogs it is clear the THE PEOPLE are becoming more and more concerned about the how the country is being managed. This is very evident with the many capital projects which have been completed or are still ongoing where ineptitude is evident. There was a time when the call in programs were received by THE PEOPLE as the people’s parliament. Now the only purpose they serve is to push the agenda of a few. Many of the moderators seem to have enjoined themselves to the mainstream agenda and the programs are starting to “cesspool” into stagnation. All too common on the call in is the propagation of complaints and little discussion about a way forward. The management of the media houses should study the concept of “cause and effect” if they want to keep the people’s parliament vibrant.

The truth is the radio stations have commercialized the call-ins to pander to the sponsors.We cannot rely on the FOURTH ESTATE to help THE PEOPLE achieve the change which is required!

At the end of the day the Leader of the Opposition of Barbados is the arm in our governance structure which is charged with the responsibility to be the watchdog of our democracy. The sad reality, which is being confirmed every passing hour, suggests that THE PEOPLE have become equally fed-up with the David Thompson, Leader of the Opposition. So many issues out there to agitate against but all THE PEOPLE hear is SILENCE. The only action on the part of David Thompson which might redeem him is if he tables a NO CONFIDENCE motion in the government at the earliest opportunity. We know that this would be purely a symbolic action but the process would give the opportunity for the public to feel that THEIR Leader of the Opposition is working on the behalf of THE PEOPLE.

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