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Mara Thompson Succeeds Her Husband In St. John

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Mara Thompson MP

The people of St. John in unprecedented fashion elected the wife of the late Prime Minister David Thompson to represent them in parliament. It was an expected result in a DLP safe seat which should encourage caution by Democratic Labour Party (DLP) supporters. To demonstrate the overwhelming support for Mara Thompson, she benefitted from a 5.5% swing in a recessionary economic climate by winning her seat 4,613 to Hudson Griffithโ€™s 553 votes.ย  Bear in mind she did this in a rural parish which is described as the poorest in Barbados.

Now that the final distraction of the by-election is over, independent Barbadians would urge the government to focus its full capacity to managing the economy of Barbados. Since the late Prime Minister announced his illness last year there is the belief by many that the country has lacked forthright management for the last six months.

Both parties have their internal fires flickering and we hope that as we turn the page the interest of Barbados is put first, at this time, above the petty political ambitions of a few. The dire economic situation confronting Barbados merits a level of sacrifice, patriotism and enterprise by all Barbadians. Managing the economy in a sluggish global environment will not be easy and it will call for extraordinary vision and leadership from our leaders. Given the adversarial nature of our Westminster-style politics one must expect the unexpected in the fickle political climate which currently exist in Barbados.

On behalf of the BU household we extend congratulations to Mara Thompson on her election. She has been given an overwhelming mandate by the people of St, John to represent them in the House of Assembly. Mara should remember that to whom much is given, much is expected.

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180 responses to “Mara Thompson Succeeds Her Husband In St. John”

  1. KISSMYA Avatar
    KISSMYA

    SCOUT said
    “I was talking to a St. John man today and he was obviously celebrating, however, he made a statement that made me ponder;he said if the DLP bring a DOG in St. John as their candidate St. John people would vote for it. That sounded soooo pathetic, I didnโ€™t know in this century, we still have people so dumb.”

    When I say that the people of St. John are a little backward thats what I mean SCOUT
    THATS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN
    I have heard similar sentiments
    No group of people should be so naive and stupid to be controlled by any one party and we should be concerned about this crap. It does not augur well because it means by extension that those elected can do whatever they like , they would still get the vote.–You see now where down to road , the violence could happen. I was always wary of the Thompson style of politics -the bloodletting, the fatted calf talk , the viciousness and vindictiveness towards ‘others’.

    I could appeciate why DLP operatives would want to label me a BLP operative because I am onto them-DLP Liars and deceivers. The way they operate will have serious implications for BARBADOS. Is this what we want ??

    NO! NO! NO!

    It is nonsense and that is what makes this Mara Thompson thing so BAD !!!!
    That is exactly what I am talking about but they are some that are so frigging blind that even if bring the world of LIGHT, THEY WOULD NOT SEE, ACTUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD BLIND THEM FURTHER –SO ACCUSTOMED TO THE DARK they are .

    Mine is not rantings
    my comments might look so but they are not .

    I rest my case
    Thank you SCOUT !!!!!!!

  2. Hugh Avatar
    Hugh

    Okay, now that you have toned down the anger lets have a conversation.
    I have heard same sentiments expressed at various times all over this country not only in St. John. People make these statements all the time You & SCOUT heard a “dog “, I have heard “a frog in a tie” in reference to an election in St. Philip. Would you consider St. Philip to be backward.?
    The premise for the argument of “Backwardness”, based on an off comment is weak and fails to satisfy.
    What persons need to understand is that Mara Thompson had 22 years of building genuine relationships with the people of St. John and Hudson Griffith only had two months.
    If the candidate for the DLP was different there is no guarantee that the results would be the same.
    Btw: I have voted for BLP, DLP and NDP in this country, my hands and feet are free and I bear no homage to any politician in this country

  3. The women spoke: has the BLP become a male chauvinist party in their eyes Avatar
    The women spoke: has the BLP become a male chauvinist party in their eyes

    Something would have to be seriously wrong, when 2 ยฝ years after a general election and with the BLP being led by the very man who said that there is โ€œa clamour for himโ€ and he even alleging that the DLP is โ€œincompetentโ€ – yet in a By-election, the BLP under his leadership, is unable to get the support it did, a mere 2 ยฝ years ago? What could have so turned off even BLP supporters? Is St. John not part of Barbados? Clearly not, especially since it is obvious (given the By-election results) that the alleged โ€œclamourโ€ does not extend to that parish. But are there other factors at work here?

    What, pray tell – could have caused the DLP to get a 5% swing towards it and how could Owen Arthur lead the BLP into a By-election and get substantially fewer votes than in a general election held a mere 2 ยฝ years later, even despite the fact that on the very morning of the election, a report surfaced that some 200 persons who worked on sugar plantations in that same constituency, had lost their jobs?

    Women are the ones who primarily work on sugar plantation and yet โ€“ it would seem that even they voted against an Owen Arthur led BLP. Is the image of the Barbados Labour Party, now – that of a political institution that is anti-women? That would be a very bad thing and if women actually feel that way, unless the BLP urgently changes its image, it will lose badly in the up-coming general election, despite however bad the economy is. If Barbadian women now feel this way about the BLP in its current form, this could hardly be good news for people who won a seat at the last general election by fewer than 130 votes.

    The question remains, how could a BLP led by Owen Arthur, get fewer votes in a By-election (a mere 2 ยฝ years after a general election) and in circumstances where Arthur, himself, stated that since the DLP came to office, some 10,300 persons lost their jobs nationally? Am I to believe that people are suffering and living in fear but would prefer to turn to a DLP that is inflicting the pain on them? Houston: there is a problem!!!

    Despite alleging that the people of St. John are backward, it would seem that the By-election result was a referendum on the five men who ousted Mia Mottley, as Barbadosโ€™ first female Leader of the Opposition. No doubt, the female vote in their respective constituencies (the five) will follow the St. John precedent. That five have now been reminded, that it is actually the โ€œPEOPLEโ€ who have the power.

    As I understand it, a number of Branches of the BLP tabled a Resolution at it last Annual Conference, which sought to give the people the right to choose (one man one vote). In the spirit of democracy and good governance, now seems like a good time for the BLP to hold a Special Conference to discuss that matter.

    I am not calling on Owen Arthur to resign (that is entirely a BLP matter) but someone must be prepared to listen to the women! After all, how can you change the country without first changing the party?

  4. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    @Pat

    Ecoutez bien dou dou, Je m’appelle islandgal cherie. J’habiterais dans les antillais.

  5. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    Scout
    You could really stop talking foolishness. The DLP always gave to St.John candidates of class. These candidates always have this personal relationship with the constituents of St.John that is the difference.
    If the man told you that, you should have asked him how come over 3000 voters donโ€™t vote for anybody?
    Those 3000 voters live in St.John. Those are votes that THE DLP and the BLP did not get for many elections since 1966. Making a generalized statement like that does not make sense.
    St.John could be competitive if the BLP changed their insulting language of calling the parish the poorest, backward and they would vote for a dog if the DLP brought them.

  6. anthony Avatar
    anthony

    Well at least charlie finally see my point about there voters either didn’t get but i think it stands that most bajans feel the they would vote for a anyone( women always calling men dogs lol ) if the DLP brought them.

  7. A. Freeman Avatar
    A. Freeman

    This seems to be good party politics, but is it good individual politics on the Prime Ministerโ€™s part. Ms. Thompson, from all reports, has a safer seat than the PM and the Finance Minister. When change comes (be it in two, seven, twelve years), assuming they are all still in politics, Mr. Kellman and Ms. Thompson are more likely than any other to retain their seats, as before.

  8. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    KISSMYA

    Take it easy.

    Try not to get a heart attack. We all know that you are hurting like hell.

    I can recommend a good psychiatrist to help you if you are interested.

    Just say the word and I will pass on her name. BTW she is BLP so you would be in good company.

  9. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    A Freeman;

    You said ” When change comes (be it in two, seven, twelve years), assuming they are all still in politics, Mr. Kellman and Ms. Thompson are more likely than any other to retain their seats, as before.”

    You got part of that wrong. Unless the power gets to her head, Mrs Thompson won’t be contesting the seat in 7 or 12 years. She would have bequeathed the family seat to Oya by then. people still don’t seem to understand the import of what has happened here.

    The dynasty is a fait accompli, courtesy of Freundel Stuart.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    beยทqueath Verb   /biหˆkwฤ“TH/   /-หˆkwฤ“TอŸH/
    Synonyms:

    verb: leave, devise, will, legate, hand down
    bequeathing present participle;   bequeathed past participle;       bequeaths 3rd person singular present;   bequeathed past tense

    Leave (a personal estate or one’s body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will

    an identical sum was bequeathed by Margaret

    he bequeathed his art collection to the town

    Pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else

    he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him

    Checkit, are you ignoring the fact we live in a democracy?

    What the BLPites need to do as a matter of urgency is to study what makes St. John a garrison constituency and using the organs of our democracy seek to penetrate how they can improve their message over that which has failed for the last 52 years.

  11. jack spratt Avatar
    jack spratt

    The word the BLP was searching for is not dynasty, it is bequest, or inheritance.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    Hi spratt

    Would recommend the BLP adopt the same ‘shock strategy’ come next general election to see how it would resonate at the national level?

  13. jack spratt Avatar
    jack spratt

    It would make as much sense then as it did in the recent by-election.

  14. Liberal Avatar
    Liberal

    To Sylvan Greenidge, are you speaking as a DLP or BLP.Bring back the files and then you can talk.Maybe the leadership can tell the people of Barbados the truth and nothing but the whole truth as to why it was necessary to remove the fomer leader of the opposition and as quickly as it appeares to have had to be done.Further why was there no functioning branch of the BLP in St John.Stop talking foolishness for a change

  15. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    Iet’s hand it to Mara Thompson for winning the seat so handsomely, but let’s also face facts, had Leroy Mc Clean, Verla, Depeiza, Fruendel Stuart, Chris Sincklar or ANYONE else from the DLP, they too would have won the seat. They might not have won as big as Mara because of her connections, but they too would have won easily, St. John is pure DLP country. To measure the popularity of the DLP’s regime would come if a marginal seat like Denis Lowe’s becomes vacant, if the DLP could win that seat by even 5% then they would definitely be a swing away from the BLP.
    I hope the DLP is not resting on their success in this by-elections and think that this is a sign of how the general elections would go. I heard a DLP supporter in his enthusiasm, perhaps, said that the party is going for all 30 seats next elections. I hope the day will NEVER come when either party gains all the seats in any parliament.

  16. KISSMYA Avatar
    KISSMYA

    I have spoken !

    I predicted what would happen to David Thompson.

    . Mara Thompson’s candidacy has marred Errol Barrow’s legacy and memory.
    IT STINKS!

    David Thompson distanced himself from Barrow’s legacy a long time ago. Ask PM Stuart.

  17. KISSMYA Avatar
    KISSMYA

    From the word SENTINEL
    we get the word LIES

    YOU WANT TO NITPICK
    go ahead !

  18. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    I think this โ€œdynastyโ€ talk is pure unadulterated crap which the BLP tried to use as traction to get a response from the electorate. As Harold Wilson said โ€œ A week is a long time in politicsโ€ and the notion that someone could keep a seat warm for another individual for 7,12 years is either simplistic or delusional.

    The DLP chose the wife of the late PM and a very popular representative to succeed him when there were any of several other candidates whom they could have chosen. Overkill? You bet, if they needed a female representative why not Maxine McClean who has a senior portfolio as Foreign Minister ( and God knows that they need a boost on their front bench) but they won overwhelmingly as expected so one canโ€™t argue with success.

    I hope that the season of mourning is over and the DLP Govโ€™t can get back to the difficult challenges confronting the country.

    We deserve no less

  19. A. Freeman Avatar
    A. Freeman

    Checkit-out | January 22, 2011 at 10:46 AM |

    Okay. How do you see it playing out in two years, with the DLP retaining power, but the current PM and Finance Minister being unable to retain their seats? Do you see Ms. Thompson being elevated, given her level of success, assuming a repeat of Jan 20, 2011?

  20. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    A Freeman
    If I may be so rude as to reply to you, I see P,M Stuart losing his seat in the general elections and either Sinckler or Mara becoming the next P.M. My prediction is Mara.

  21. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Sargeant re your post of Jan 22, 2011 at 12:11 PM;

    I beg to differ. Perhaps dynasty is not the correct term as I think i obliquely pointed out in an earlier post. But what has now occurred is the beginning of what could turn out to be a Thompson family seat in St John as long as the dlp hierarchy obliges.

    It does not take a Solomon to see that what has been rumoured for so long about David “willing” the seat to Mara has been vindicated by the reported mouthings of HH and her Brother. What is yet to come to pass is the other part of the “rumour” reported in the press that, in that same death bed speech, DT indicated that the seat should be held by Mara for Oya. There have been some reports that Mara, during the campaign, corroborated that there was indeed a death bed speech in which David beeseeched her to run.

    If one puts the dots together there is little room to doubt that David sought to keep the seat in the Family and Freundel Stuart obliged.

    What unadulterated crap what, re. someone keeping the seat warming for 7 to 12 years?

    The facts are there to strongly suggest that DT is directing the DLP from his grave. It only needs an accomodating DLP hierarchy to make the Thompson family seat survive well into the future (forget dynasty if you don’t like that word)in the extremely safe St John constituency and an opposition that can’t mend fences and thereby would allow the DLP to post uncompetitive wins now and in the future.

    Your 3rd last paragraph is not totally logical but betrays the thinking of a total party hack. Unconsciously you have admitted that the DLP did not need to nominate Mara to win the seat but that Maxine McClean could have done so handsomely. Why else would they have nominated Mara when they had a better candidate but to placate David in his grave and further his wishes of making St John the bailiwick and safe seat of the Thompson Family perhaps in perpetuity.

    Looking forward to seeing which ministerial post Mara gets in the coming reshuffle.

  22. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    A Freeman;

    Fwiw; I tend to agree with the Scout. Whatever happens Sinckler will survive. I think Stuart will not. Therefore it may well be Mara and Sinckler vying for the top position in late 2012 or 2017.

    However, there’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip and who knows what will really happen. Some other DLP member like Sealy or Jones might come through or Mara may become discredited through the linkage of herself with her husband’s dealings re. CLICO and other matters, fuelled by leakages provided by one or more of her competitors for the top post in the DLP.

    The family seat situation has been started. Whether it will survive will depend to a large extent on reactions by the DLP rank and file in Cabinet and the House as they see the ramifications that such a situation will have on them personally, on the Parliament and on Barbados.

    Stuart’s record so far, over the last half year or so, does not inspire confidence.

  23. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    The entire puzzle will unfold in due time and fortunately or unfortunately Stuart will be the one holding the bag. Much money will be spent to see that Sinckler regains his seat but also much money will be spent to make sure the unsafe Stuart loses his. This would clear the way for the David Thompson’s fraction to take control of the DLP, once they win the general. It would then be left to the big-ups in the party to decide between Chris and Mara who will become P.M. As I said, I believe Mara will win the vote given that it would be the first in many ways for barbados. The first woman P.M, the first non-national to become P.M, the first widow of a former P.M to become P.M and I’m sure there are many more first we can find.

  24. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    The Scout

    You have quite an imagination.

    This is the most poppy cock I have heard in years.

  25. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    C C C
    In another couple of years, I want you to be honest with me and tell me that I was right. Tom did it to Bree, why can’t David do it to Stuart?

  26. Liberal Avatar
    Liberal

    Will Carson Cadogan please provide the proof of corruption in the last BLP administration of which he so frequently speaks.I shall also be calling out Harold Hoyte on this one as I heard he make this assertion on bye-election night on VOB .

  27. Liberal Avatar
    Liberal

    Charlie you are wrong,the BLP polled 1593 votes in 1999.Check the facts.

  28. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    A. FREEMAN

    โ€œWill the mood change if BL&P rates increase over the next two years to allow Emera to export more money to Canada?โ€

    Can the NIS board alone decide if the shares are to be sold?
    Think about that.
    A lot of people are in for an unpleasant surprise.
    Just hold your horses!

  29. Liberal Avatar
    Liberal

    HUGH you contradict yourself when you say physical infrastructure is not the only way to measure development but yet refer to it as a means to measure Barrow’s success between 1961-76.For anyone to say that Owen Arthur did not make a significant contribution to Barbados in the 14 years in office would suggest that they were either blinded by opposition party loyalty or were hypocritical.Remember the people of Barbados were satisfied enough to reelect him and the BLP three times.So you are reflecting on the judgement of the electorate in those three elections.The record speaks for itself.

  30. Liberal Avatar
    Liberal

    @Zoe It is easy to find out the number of female voters registered in St John which I will do for you but there is no way to statistically state how many voted for the DLP.

  31. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    Mr. Contortionist
    Get over you great conspiracies and see the real world through non clouded eyes. David Thompson did what any sensible man with a family who worked at his side for twenty years would have wished for. He wishes that his wife could have taken up the seat when he died. It was a wish not an entitlement, not a coronation, it was not bequeathed.
    She had to go through the democratic process as done in the DLP and not the BLP.
    It was left to the constituents of St.John to fulfill his wishes. They did not have to vote her 60-9at the branch level.
    The constituents of St.John did not have to half kill Griffith on bye election day, but they did because Mara Thompson was a household name in St.John for twenty two years.
    Now Mr. Contortionist give me a conspiracy theory on how voter padding was done by George Payne at the BLP general conference

  32. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    I hope you Bajan Canadians will join me in buying shares in Emera if the BL&P deal goes through.

    Emera is a good 5 year bet co Canadian Investors.

  33. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    Both the BLP and DLP candidates were chosen without any assistance from the lay members of the constituency. In the case of the BLP there was no St. John BLP branch, in the case of the DLP what was done at the St. John’s Church Hall, which incidentally is a stone’s throw away from where David is buried, was a farce. Long before that meeting, even during the Christmas season when Mara was in St Lucia, a team was making the gadgets and T-shirts and other materials were being prepared, this was long befire the so-called meeting of prospetive candidate coming to state their resume for selection. It was an exercise in futility, simple grandstanding for the public

  34. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Charlie;
    It doesn’t require a conspiracy theory to agree with you re. vote padding in the BLP general conference. Rawle Eastmond documented those events and it was widely reported. From the beginning I wrote that I was very dissapointed in the machinations of the Gang of Five.

    On the other par of your post; Let’s grant that DT merely wished for his wife to take up the St John seat. Nothing more.

    I think you will agree with me that DT was recognized as a consumnate political animal. If you grant the above you must also grant that he would have been perfectly aware that once Mara expressed an interest that she would have been nominated. To ensure that the other part of the necessary preconditions for her running were satisfied, from HH’s own mouth we heard that DT sent him into the constituency to canvass the voters about Mara’s possible candidacy. Knowing HH’s capabilities it is not a stretch to consider that what HH did was to ensure that the people themselves were seen as throwing her up as THE candidate, not him or DT. How many times before in Barbados have we heard of the spontaneous upliftment of a candidate by the people. A candidate who was not too keen to be a candidate until the people overwhelmingly requester her. To my mind it speaks of machiavellian machination of the body politic. In addition it was evident that Mara made up her mind to contest the election long before she publicy acknowledged it. The note to the Speaker re. Owen Arthur’s tribute said, in spades, that she was playing a very political move. The printing of the manifesto and electioneeering materials also gives the lie to the impression being given that Mara, only at the last minute, with much screaming and kicking, very reluctantly acceded to the wishes of the St John electorate.

    So DT did not merely wish his wife to contest the seat. He willed the seat to her and his offspring.

    If you can think for yourself and allow the possibility that others can do so, you will see that it is patently obvious that the weight of the evidence and circumstantial events suggests that DT, HH and Mara engineered her choice as the DLP candidate in furtherance of a master plan to install a Thompson Family seat in St John.

    Nothing else explains the facts in the public domain.

  35. Negroman Avatar
    Negroman

    Brother Scout,I am all but convince that you are either a member or ardent supporter of the Barbados Labour Party.There is nothing that you can say to convince me otherwise.
    Brother Scout your bias is very apparent with you constant negative comments about the Democratic Labour Party.
    I have read most of your postings on political issues on this blog and with the exception of this government position on immigration,you have not said anything positive about this government.
    Negativity is your trademark when commenting on the government performance.Nothing positive ever comes from your postings for this government.
    Brother Scout,you come up with all types of conspiracy theories – infighting,members undermining the present Prime Minister, Clyde Mascoll returning to the party to take over the leadership and now this ridiculous one about members of the party coming up with a strategy to allow Freundel Stuart to lose his seat.Utter nonsense.
    Brother Scout be like Your Truly and come out and state with out any fear that you support the Barbados Labour Party.This Negroman was a member of the Democratic Labour Party who might rejoin the party and a fervent supporter of the party.Everyone including my work mates at the office know that Negroman is a fervent supporter of the Democratic Labour Party but an individual who will criticise the party when he sees it fit to do so.
    Brother Scout,your opposition to this Democratic Labour Party government is glaring.

  36. jack spratt Avatar
    jack spratt

    All you who are talking about wills and bequests seem to forget that Mara is an MP by popular choice, in fact the most popular choice- 89% -in the entire House.

    Scout, admit it, the DLP’s success sticks in your craw!

  37. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    jack spratt re. your post of Jan 22, 2011 at 3:21 PM;
    I have not forgotten that Mara is the most popular MP ever in terms of percentage votes cast. But that popularity, in my opinion, is based on a number of abnormal features that does not apply to any of the other MPs.

  38. jack spratt Avatar
    jack spratt

    But Checkit, each one has different assets. Remember how some used to argue he only get her because he got curly hair…nuff money…a fancy car….a good job…live in a big house…is a doctor….lawyer…got nuff gold….all different qualities?

  39. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Jack Spratt; I really don’t understand your last post. care to explain it some more? Who is “he” and who is “her”? You are surely not referring to DT and Mara.

  40. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    There was a death bed speech but it was the drug induced agitated ramblings of a dying man who like most people his age did not want to die.

    It was NOT a coherent political thesis as some would like to believe.

    I KNOW because I know someone who was there.

    Do we understand how much morphine is given to a patient dying of cancer, and do we understand what morphine does to the mind.

    And why would the people of St. John want to hold a seat for a mere girl. Don’t the people of St. John have enough respect for themselves and for their children that they do not want to seat for themselves or their children but they covet the seat for David’s children.

    And tobesides if David died of pancreatic cancer as is alledged (did he really??) and if Mara’s father died of the same (according to Hartley Henry at the first public meeting of the campaign) and if David was a heavy smoker as is alledged do we really expect his children to live long lives. I really would not want to be a young person whose father and grandfather both died of pancreatic cancer and who has lived around smokers a the days of my life.

    Do we believe then that genetics means nothing?

    And don’t we understand that heavy smoking in the presence of children damages the children.

  41. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    Thanks Check it that you have accepted your new name. I came to that conclusion because of the way you twist and turn on a pin (every issue concerning the BLP).
    I still say that he wished for her to run and she went through the process. If the constituency branch had voted for someone else and she was given the nod by the executive council then I would have agreed with you.
    Printing of posters and other paraphernalia could have been done with the expectations that she would have won the nominations and therefore would have a head start. That means she is a good planner. I am looking forwards to her jumping a lot of people with her tenacity.
    The BLP will have to handle her with kidโ€™s gloves because they have already damaged one woman and if the female electorate of Barbados feel you are picking on the women then you could lose more of their votes.

  42. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    Negro man
    Nice to hear from you; I’m not sure if I yold you before but it is not too late to wish you a HEALTHY and BLESSED 2011. Now to your comments, I have stated and if needed I’ll do it again I AM NOT AND WILL NEVER BE A MEMBER OF THE BARBADOS LABOUR PARTY. I WAS a member of the dlp in my early years back in the 60’s for a long while, I still have a bias towards the DLP , mainly through my respect for and adoration of the Late Errol Barrow. The DLP today is a shadow of the party I once believed in, I too would have died for the party then, therefore now I know how these diehard supporters feel. However, after the death and the fiasco that resulted immediately after Mr Barrow’s death, I got turned off by the infighting and the time it took to mend relationships. I am glad to see that some respectabilty has returned to the party but they still have a long way to go. One CANNOT forget the remarks Stuart made about my friend David Thompson, one CANNOT forget David Estwick not so long ago on “brass tacks” lambasting the Late David Thompson and swearing he would never sit in parliament with him as P.M or words to that effect, one cannot forget Dennis Kellman’s behaviour towards the same David Thompson when it was just the two of them in opposition. Therefore, while deep inside I wish that they would respect Mara now that she is there, I know that Stuart has his eyes on Sinckler and Inniss, who were bosom buddies of David Thopmson. On the other hand David Estwick, who was not happy with the last reshuffle, will be looking to be elevated to be close to his friend Stuart, while Sinckler is not sure where he stands right now. The P.M is too layback and must assert himself or he will find the carpet dragged from under his feet. It is obvious that the late David Thompson still have GREAT influence on the party and some of the elders, it was not by accident that he made Sinckler his right hand man, therefore Stuart MUST decide who is his right hand man or else he will be dethroned. I am seeing that through the eyes of one who has a bias towards the party but who is seeing this through clear eyes and was part of that party for a long time. Like Chalkie sang “I ‘ ve been in town too long” not to see with critical eyes. I hope I have convinced you of my position, if I have not I made no apologies. I say things as I see them and my conscience has always been my guide; I’m not always right but I’m genuine in my comments. Nice hearing from you, I thought you were indisposed

  43. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    Charlie
    I hope you really don’t expect the BLP to handle Mara with kid’s gloves. Yes, she is the widow of a very popular man but most of all she’s now a M.P and that makes the difference. I just hope she’s ready for it. The honeymoon is over the mourning will go on privately for a while because I know that even though the family publicly is showing one face deep inside they are still coming to grips with the lose of a man, who apart from politics, was a great father a man that those children loved to the bone. I lost my dad fairly early in life and even though I’m now in my senior years I’m still missing him, so I know how they feel.

  44. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Charlie; I have’nt accepted any new name. I responded because in an earlier post you called me a contortionist so you had to be referring to me as you did not call anyone else a contortionist.

    I stated then that I thought the BLP was the superior party until the Gang of 5 went into action. I also plainly stated on this blog quite early on that I did not like DT and his handling of the economy, the CLICO affair, etc. I also stated that there were a number of people on the DLP side that I thought highly of. If you consider that anyone who can see both sides of an argument, can think that Owen Arthur has done much good for Barbados and yet condemn his actions in the Mia affair, can stick to a position that David Thompson has left no appreciable legacy, etc. etc. is a contortionist. It says a lot more about you than it does about me. It seems that you think that someone should slavishly go along with anything their preferred party does. If he doesn’t he is a contortionist. I think you are the real contortionist as you contort your view of rightness or wrongness to the current accepted views or discussion points of your party in every instance and can see no good in the other party.

    What contortionist what?

  45. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    Check it
    On what basis is the BLP superior?
    The electorate threw that thought through the window in 2008
    Could you support a party that one George Payne for five years never uttered a word in parliament and was drawing money from the treasury?
    On what basis must you hate DT for the CLICO fiasco? Was the BLP not in power when the registrar of Insurance allowed the insurance company to break the law. David Thompson said that CLICO was too big an organization to be allowed to fail without giving it a chance to get back on its feet. It would have hurt the economy badly if they were allowed to go under.

  46. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Alright. Election done, past irrelevant, over, complete. N’est pas?

    Now, what of the issues? Employment, health, agriculture, should we get back into sugar and push other agriculture, import costs, legislated protection on mortgage loans for princiople residence (where the mortgagee is in financial difficulty due to economic crisis), removal of all tax on severance and final payment no matter of how they are made up, Four Seasons restart, Clico.

    Those are issues, past the now red herring.

  47. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Checkit-out

    Your 3rd last paragraph is not totally logical but betrays the thinking of a total party hack
    *****************
    I had to read that paragraph again to see what I wrote and your reasoning escapes me. If expressing the wish that the elected Govโ€™t get on with the task at hand makes me a โ€œparty hackโ€ then I plead guilty. Here is a News flash, the DLP is the elected Govโ€™t of Barbados if they fail to do a good job then the whole country is at risk so wishing that they get on with the job should be the hope of all Bajans.

    As to your other argument (and I use that word loosely) that I โ€œunconsciouslyโ€ admitted that the DLP โ€œdid not need to nominate Mara to win the seatโ€, there was nothing subtle about anything I wrote and here it is again

    ***The DLP chose the wife of the late PM and a very popular representative to succeed him when there were any of several other candidates whom they could have chosen***

    I believe the above is as clear as a bell, but I suppose when your premise about โ€œdynastyโ€ is put under scrutiny then you feel the need to lash out wildly in all directions.

    BTW when you resort to name calling you have lost the argument.

  48. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Charlie re your post of Jan 22, 2011 at 5:41 PM;

    Red herrings!!!

  49. Checkit-out Avatar
    Checkit-out

    Sargeant;
    The following is the full paragraph I was referring to:

    “The DLP chose the wife of the late PM and a very popular representative to succeed him when there were any of several other candidates whom they could have chosen.

    Overkill? You bet, if they needed a female representative why not Maxine McClean who has a senior portfolio as Foreign Minister ( and God knows that they need a boost on their front bench) but they won overwhelmingly as expected so one canโ€™t argue with success.”

    I wasn’t specifically referring to the first sentence above except that you do state there that the DLP had several alternative choices.

    It is the second sentence where you gratuitously suggest that Maxine McClean might be a better choice in so far as strengthening the front bench is concerned and then go on to justify the choice of Mara because (in retrospect) she won the seat overwhelmingly when actually anyone the DLP had chosen would have won convincingly, suggests to me that your argument followed party lines moreso than a personal conviction that Mara should have been the choice.

    I might have been reading into your post somewhat more than I should have and I therefore withdraw the offending “party hack” term and would like to replace it with “typical party supporter”.

  50. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Checkit-out

    What is a โ€œtypical party supporterโ€? If you are going to read into other peopleโ€™s political affiliation perhaps I should say that you are also a โ€œtypical party supporterโ€.

    In any event whomever the DLP nominated is their business whether one disagrees with them or not but certainly we canโ€™t argue with them because they won and thatโ€™s all that matters, there is no prize for second place.

    It is not whether A or B would have been a better candidate but based on the DLP support in St. John anyone that they nominated would have been a better candidate.

    The discussion is still about your arguments that Thompson sought to establish a dynastic succession to an elected office which I called โ€œunadulterated crapโ€, let me also add stupid and overreaching.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

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