Finally, Owen Arthur has regained political relevance…or so he thinks! This column, and that which preceded it in another daily publication, argued from day one that Owen Arthur could not “sit still” as a non-ranked member of the Parliament of Barbados. In a moment of anguish and personal humiliation, he gave up the leadership of the Barbados Labour Party back in January, 2008 and has regretted that hasty move ever since.
It is amazing the number of persons who cringed at his Hollywood-style performance in Roebuck Street last Monday, when, with a straight face and a desperate attempt at calling down tears, he said he never yearned to be back at the helm and never saw that day coming. What a laugh! If he continues like this, he is going to put Mac Fingall and Alf Padmore out of work! The only Owen Arthur Hollywood Moment more comical than him trying to remove his fingerprints from the scene of Monday’s crime was the 2007 sitcom in which he invited the media to watch him “fork” his garden. A garden, I am reliably informed, that he has not visited since that particular photo shoot. Sorry, I’m wrong! The garden scene equals, in absurdity, the removal of his shoes on the approach of a photographer at the Cable and Wireless Cricket Ground back in the late 1990s. These Arthur Hollywood Moments are legendary and will make for good comic strips two generations from now.
But last Monday’s palace coup was, as I wrote last week, the brainchild of a handful of businessmen, and one solitary woman, who felt that their deep pockets could influence the leadership and makeup of future governments in Barbados. More money will be spent by the Barbados Labour Party in the remaining life of this government, and in the next general election campaign, than in any corresponding period in the history of elective government in this country. Candidates of the BLP will match and even outspend the Constituency Councils. In the weeks and months ahead, voters must not ask for help with utility and grocery bills, they must demand of their Labour Party candidates, appliances, vehicles and trips overseas. The campaign budget I am hearing about has made provision for expenditures of this nature and voters must ensure they cash in on the bonanza. Arthur, as leader of the BLP, will singlehandedly resuscitate the Barbados economy; given the infusion of the millions of sponsorship dollars that party will be receiving from those who have set about to install a government of their design and choosing.
Big Business may have triggered the removal of Mia Mottley. Big Business may also have caused the return to relevance of Owen Arthur, but Big Business cannot influence the timing and circumstance of the calling of the next general elections…and that is the proverbial fly in the ointment for Owen Arthur.
He has started his Second Coming, by making two fundamental errors. First, he timed his comeback on the premise of three assumptions over which he has no control. Second, in a desperate bid to calm and settle the party on Monday evening, he pledged to leave the slate of candidates, installed by Motley, 100 per cent intact. That was a fundamental error! Half of those candidates are a complete waste of time, politically. They have not captured the imagination of voters and most of them do not have the capacity so to do, simply because they are not people-oriented. Most of them view politics as a second career option, having failed miserably in their current day time jobs.
Arthur should have cleaned slate and started fresh, but, that’s what the politics of opportunism is all about. He had to do what he felt he had to do to get Mottley off his back.
The timing of last Monday’s palace coup was predicated on three fundamental assumptions that will be examined in a moment. But, first, let’s put things in context. Once the pledge of sustained financial support was given, the architects of Mottley’s removal went to work. They were not concerned about how it looked or how it would have impacted or portrayed their former leader. As far as they were concerned, the command had been given and they had to get to work. Motley’s goose was cooked a clear five months ago following a meeting at a particular Graeme Hall location. The only question left unanswered from that deliberation, was precisely when the plan would be put into action.
In determining the precise moment, the crafters considered several variables and made three significant assumptions based on anticipation. First, they anticipated that David Thompson would not lead the Democratic Labour Party into the next election and that he would be replaced at the helm, sooner, rather than later. Note, while the whole country is praying for one thing, these operatives are basing their strategy on another. Second, they anticipated that the selection or election of a new leader of the DLP would be contentious and divisive, leaving the party in tatters. Third, they anticipated the calling of a snap election. I’ve been hearing a date as early as January or February next year.
None of these three scenarios fall within the purview of the leadership of the Barbados Labour Party to trigger or determine. Yet, in their typical arrogance, they proceeded to implement a plan, based on the coming to pass of these assertions.
The thinkers determined that the image of Mottley could not be altered and repaired in the anticipated time frame and thus, she had to be thrown overboard. Pure and simple! Furthermore, they concluded that the funding needed to conduct a realistic 21st century campaign would only be forthcoming if a business-friendly person like Owen Arthur, was at the helm. Interestingly, in the BLP, Mottley is not perceived to be as business-friendly as her background would suggest.
Note carefully, that the mass of voters of Barbados do not feature anywhere in the foregoing equation. There is the assumption that melodic tunes, catchy slogans and an abundance of money is all it will take to swing a sufficient percentage of voters to vote for the Barbados Labour Party and return its leaders to office. Monday’s Palace Coup was not called for by or initiated on behalf of the poor people of Ashton Hall, Eden Lodge, Belleplaine or Bathsheba. It was not as a result of any branch of the BLP calling for decisive action against Mia Mottley. None of the elders of the BLP featured in this cold blooded political execution. This was a plot hatched around a table by a small group of individuals. The execution was perfect, but the timing was flawed.
Owen Arthur will not influence or determine the timing of the calling of the next general elections. He cannot now and will not in the future influence the leadership structure of the Democratic Labour Party. Before the next election is called, Arthur will, however, have to answer a set of questions. He will have to explain the appropriation or lack thereof of hundreds of millions of dollars during the 14 year rule of the Barbados Labour Party. Once at the top, there is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide!
Monday’s Palace Coup was merely the beginning of a very exciting season of politics. There will be several other epic moments in the political life of this country before the next elections are called. Upon that solitary promise, Mr. Arthur can rest assured.
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