Sometimes when we read some of the comments posted on Barbados Underground or listen to comments in the wider public, we have had to seriously question the political maturity of our nation 41 years after Independence. We admit that no system of government is perfect. We have always admired that in North American and to a lesser extent the British systems of government, there always seem to be the opportunity for elected politicians, whether on the government or the opposition side, to discuss and vote on issues based on their conscience. The blatantly partisan nature of how Barbadians practice politics 41 years after Independence has increasingly given us cause for concern in recent years. It is easy to blame our elected leaders but in their defense people usually get what they deserve. Unless our electorate is prepared to initiate reform by using the many avenues which our democracy provides for feedback then we are afraid it will go on being business as usual.
Many of you are wondering by now why has BU set out in this article to bash a system which on the surface has worked very well for Barbados over the years. Some might say that the politics practiced by Barbados has been the envy of many countries ‘more developed’ than us.
Let us cite two examples to support our point:
Example 1
A few months ago, the Leader of the Opposition David Thompson publicly voiced a position that the government should find a way to enroll many of our unemployed young people in a program to teach them skills. He further suggested that they should be paid a stipend for their effort. This suggestion was immediately ridiculed by government and its supporters and has been trivialized to the point where the suggestion is now familiarly known as the ‘bus fare and lunch money’ initiative.
Example 2
Last month, Prime Minister Owen Arthur suggested that in the face of the skyrocketing cost of living Barbadians should go back to cultivating ‘back gardens’ as a means to reduce their grocery bills and to promote healthy living. Again, this suggestion was ridiculed by the Democratic Labour Party and supporters.
The truth is if we examine both suggestions through non-partisan eyes anybody with commonsense can glean that there is merit in the suggestions. Instead the perception has been allowed to fester in our society that to engage in backyard farming should not be a priority for Barbadians. We have listened to all manner of excuses offered by the DLP to explain why Barbadians should be insulted at the idea and the list goes on — we have no space in the ‘heights and terraces’ to cultivate vegetable gardens or our busy lifestyles don’t encourage it, etc. Response from the BLP regarding the ‘bus fare and lunch money’ suggestion. The suggestion has been so ridiculed that in our view there is a stigma associated with the words ‘bus far and lunch money’ .
The two examples in our opinion paint a picture of the political culture of our island which we think needs to be arrested. The success of our island has always rested on the intellectual capital of our people. In the global economy which Barbados is forced to compete for its survival the need to use our intellectual capital efficiently is being compromised by the wastage caused by rabid partisan politics.
Forty one years after our Independence as we approach ‘middle age’ the time has come to dispense with some of the old politics!
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