The Obama era was suppose to bring a level of bipartisanship hitherto not experienced by politicians in the US legislature. The term ‘reaching across the isle’ was a term which was synonymous with the Obama campaign. A couple years later the Obama administration and the USA finds itself in the midst of a level of political polarization which threatens to split the country into small pieces. Obamamania was so rife that it became obvious Prime Minister David Thompson’s political strategist became an admirer and adopted bits and pieces of Obama policies and strategies during the last campaign. Prime Minister David Thompson to complete the script’ ‘reached across the isle’ by inviting former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Sir Richard Haynes to join him and Sir Lloyd Sandiford at a breakfast meeting to discuss solutions to the nations problems brought about by the current global recession.
Despite all the talk about about bipartisanship blowing far and wide it appears the political rhetoric has coarsened the world over. In recent days the rhetoric has heightened in Antigua to a degree that if left unabated can have devastating implications for that country. There is the wider implication of the recent court judgement handed down by Antigua High Court Judge Louise Esther Blenman in the case which challenged the electoral process in the last Antigua general election. It is now history that the Judge, to the consternation of the three government incumbents affected has declared invalid the seats of Leandro, Spencer and Maginley. The affected parties have since responded to Judge Blenman’s decision by asking the Court to issue a stay on the order which has been granted. The stay is important because it gives the Baldwin Spencer government breathing space to determine next steps.
The political temperature is likely to rise in Antigua given what is at stake. The Baldwin Spencer United Progressive Party (UPP) won 9 of the 17 seats in the last government; getting pass the poll ahead of Lester Bird’s Antigua Labour Party (ALP) who won 7 seats and the Barbuda People’s Movement 1 seat. The recent court decision to declare 3 seats, controlled by the government invalid, has thrown the proverbial cat among the pigeons. The implication for our region of the 136 page court decision is probably being studied by our regional legal eagles at this moment. A quick perusal of the document reveals some eye opening observations made by the learned Judge which obviously weighed heavily in her final declaration. Why does it have implications for the wider region? Have a read of the judgement. We are expectant that BU family members of the legal profession would précis the issues for discussion. The decision has occurred at an opportune time for Barbados, the next Barbados general election is constitutionally due in 2013. In Barbados we have given lip service to electoral reform, maybe this decision if it stands will spur the conversation.
Of wider interest to BU is the legal recourse which Prime Minister Balwin Spencer’s UPP government is likely to exercise. Bear in mind this decision has come after nearly one year of a UPP government. Decisions have been made and have to be made daily by the Antigua government which may call into question certain legalities. What are the implications if the court decision stands? While the Spencer government has the legal avenues open to it there is the moral decision which is likely to cause him sleepless nights. By pursuing the legal solution there is the potential to split the country in parts given the political divisions in the country. The Bird era would have served to seriously polarize Antigua. To expect dispassionate national dialogue on this matter is wishful thinking.
Finally, Antigua is NOT a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice. If this matter has to find its way to the British Privy Council there is the implication for the time it will take. Importantly BU questions the relevance of a foreign court to deliver a decision in this matter. Therein lies the ignorance of the Caribbean people.
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