taught we went thru this already. The Bee got vote B the Dee go vote D. the swing is who wins the elections and right now they not too likeing the Dees. The Dees have time to change that. exactly 1 year and 4 months it up to them to show they did a good job Or continue to do what they doing now which is blame the last administration for everything. which doesn’t sit well with the population currently as they are tired of hearing excuses.

At this time, I’ll play “blind-man-cricket” just close my eyes and place the X to where-ever the point lands.

The other question which we are forced to ask is whether anything has changed in Barbados under the DLP as far as governance and transparency issues are concerned.

Many of us judge government’s performance nowadays based on economic factors forgetting that we should be evaluating other inputs which go into making a prosperous country.

@Hants

Good one 🙂

I believe that the nex budget or financial statement which ever you like holds the key, unemployment, cost of living, fuel, electricity bills etc. the fact the gov’t workers have not gotten a raise in 3 yrs and all the before mentioned things will harm the DLP if the budget is not good enough to satisfy the people. The Mia, Owen, Mascol scenario can also cause great harm to the BLP. Most importantly I think that most bajans want a party that will give results aftering winning the next elections and not just making major promises that cannot be kept.

The Key word in the question is “tomorrow”. If miraculously an election could be held tomorrow I would abstain as none of the parties seem suitable or able to take Barbados forward at the present time. In 1 years time the situation might change dramatically. Freundel might be gone as leader replaced by a strong proactive charismatic leader, the CLICO problem might have been sorted out but in a way which would have annoyed most voters because any solution will have to be borne financially by the taxpayers/voters, the economy and crime might not have improved appreciably, RedJet might have gone or be still there, Lots of corruption might be exposed in the current administration, and Owen and Mia might have patched up their problems in a believable way. If so it would not be be a difficult call to vote BLP.

If all candidates were equal, I would find it hard to vote for the present Government in the next general election. However, I am from St. Thomas and I would chew of my hand before I vote for the incumbent again. I will vote, and if there are only two choices the DLP would get my vote.

Unfortunately, I am hearing similar sentiments from all over the place in relation to candidates from both parties. Apparently, the candidates seeking to represent us are the weakest I have seen in my lifetime, so any number can play.

Ok please note. Urban voters usually support the party in power for a second term. Rural voters are loyal in their support. If the BLP is to win the next election it has to appeal to the urban voters. What they have going for them is the “feel good factor” but can that be translated into votes? I would say no, not at this time. This is former prime minister Arthur’s last chance to make an impact and rule Barbados again. His lots rests with the next budget, how he responds (even thought debaters notice he can only win a debate if he speaks last). Another factor is the Mascoll factor. Any political commentator would tell you that he is ‘dead in the water’. What bother me is why Owen would worry with him. He should be brought in through the Senate.

Anyone that will publicly say that they will vote is a Jackass, someone who does not mind being exposed as prone to being duped …! I would be so proud if less than 20% of the population voted in the next election… Wow what a wake up call…

@DMC

Austin has submitted his opinion and a poll is provided to capture the positions of commenters. You must know how you feel about the performances of the political parties Austin’s opinion not withstanding.

What is fair?

Another opinion?

@ 0bserving

I think Enuff’s response answered your earlier query to me.

i am sorry to say that i will have to go with the BLP. i looked forward to this govt really making changes and doing something for barbadians but i have seen only free bus fare, free summer schools. nothing else. what about cheaper food by way of removing VAT? the housing projects had their beginnings in the BLP era so don’t even go there. i have seen them take Coverly, ch ch, project that could have put 500 first time home owners with their own property and place it in the hands of that thief, crook, drug abuser, murderer Berjerham (JADA). the most expensive 3-bedroom property under the NHC at coverly was valued at $145,000, now berjerham has it and the cheapest 2-bedroom is $236,000. i know because i was informed that i would have been one of the first 50 to get one. but when it was placed in JADA’s hands, i had to forget about it.

they have given the public servants a wage freeze, just like when they were in power under sandiford, when he gave them an 8% salary reduction. i have no affinity towards any party but at least the BLP gave EVERYONE something, whether big or small. NO WAY will i be voting DLP. another thing i know that public servants carry the votes so the DLP might as well accept defeat

@ No Way

I challenge you to go get the DLP manifesto and tell us what significant progress has been made based on what was promised?

As we march towards the general election I guess we will start to see all kinds of “meaningless” projects and photo opportunities being protrayed as “progress” …

The bajan people are getting HIP to the DLP game.

@ Sonia

You very cruel with JADA, you aint know them boys got polo ponies to feed, first class airfare tickets to buy and boats and women to maintain?

What is all the noise about, you like you only vex causing you aint get a spot up at the Coverley Army Base housing project.

Pull yah pocket if not, go an beg Mr. Bjerkham to borrow some money so you could buy one, he lending money at 12% I hear.

@ DMC

“In this day and age people do not vote based on emotions, people vote based on party support and who makes them feel comfortable.”
—————————–
I thought voting based on party support and comfort = Emotions.

Anyway, where are the poorest neighbourhoods in Barbados? Who do you think are most affected by the increasing cost of living? What has been the performance of the Urban Development Commission since 2008? How/why the DLP won in 2008?

There was an increase of 2, 894 votes (BLP and DLP only) across ST. MICHAEL in 2008 when compared to 2003, and the DLP got 1,232 more than the BLP. Given Mia’s large victory and Hammie’s switch, if we remove the results for those two seats the difference is 3,102 with an increase of 2,466 votes.

The lowest margin of victory was 25 and the highest 810 while the remaining were 579, 422, 409, 365, 340 and 316. When analysed at the constituency level, it is appears that the larger turn out in ST. MICHAEL benefitted the DLP.

So unless Sinckler pulls a rabbit out the hat, with the charismatic David Thompson dead, many of the vote catching promises unimplemented and unimplementable and both unemployment and cost of living higher, the Dems gotta hope those ‘new voters’ in 2008 return in 2013.

In 2013 it will be record and vision vs record and vision. Not record vs promises as in 2008. The Bees must energise their supporters and the country as a whole.

If any party were to pass an integrity legislation bill they would win the respect of the people. If the BLP decide to pass such a bill if and when they get back into office they would be governing for many more years than the DLP. The DLP is playing football with the integrity legislation bill and there is no hope for them passing it. To tell the truth the selection of candidates for both parties is soo poor rakey that I find it very difficult to decide. I know I won’t vote for the DLP but if I decide to vote I would have to vote for the stinking Owen and company.

BTW what has Mara Thompson been doing except for falling asleep in the house? That is one BIG waste of taxpayers money.

DLP is de party fa me. DLP is de whun fa me. DLP,DLP,DLP, DLPPPPPP.

Wunna-all hare me?

Freundel, Donville, Estwick I luv de 3 a wunna rale bad. I would marrid wunna, one afta de nex or all de same time. As fa Donvilleeeee……………I jes luv dem sleepy, drooly, sexy eyez. He like Maggi cubes, ‘um, um good’.

O lawdddd, n doan tawk bout de CJ. He meks me whet all ova. When evva I sees he in de Nation, I does got bare dribble all ova de papah. I would marrid he tamorrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Sumbody,anybody, pass dah messag on fa me pleeze. Wunna wood get a ‘invite’ ta de big-day.

DLP is not the party to lead this country anywhere else but down a gully hill

The DLP is so bad that they will probably repeat the election result of 1999 —only two seats.

The DLP cannot in the next election depend and win on Lies and Deception. It simply wouldnt work.

@ Bonny Peppa

That light that you are seeing at the end of the DLP tunnel is coming from a “TRAIN” …. feel free to stand there if ya like …

“ignorance is bliss”

Don’t you find it strange that persons would identify themselves as DLP supporters and then demand that Mia should be reinstated as Opposition Leader? Could it be that the DLP knows that with MIA at the helm of the BLP a victory for the DLP as almost assured?

Sunshine ss -The only thing gine happen in 2013 is the BLP ass gine get lick again!

The only poll that matters is on election day when the Prime Minister calls election. The last election George Belle had the BLP winning by a large margin and all the BLP people cried when the results started to come in.
The DLP may have made promises on cost of living that they had no control over and that is the problem. The cost of food is high all over the world and getting scarce too.
The BLP people who are using that as the reason why the government should lose the next election would find that they will not be able to anything with cost of living either, it is a worldwide problem.
Someone said reduce taxes and how will we pay the 30 million dollars every January for the Prison that your party built and so much graft and corruption were involved in the building.
Barbadians are exposed to international news and so will not be fooled with your juvenile arguments about the government lowering food prices.
Here is an article from the daily mail in England to show that Barbados is not alone in terms of gas prices
“Motorists are paying over the odds for fuel despite market prices of crude oil falling by more than 10%”
Barbados has done well enough under the DLP and will get another five years with the loss of some seats like St. Michael East

@Enuff
We don’t often agree but your analysis at 1:50 pm is 100% correct. I’ve noticed the same thing as well. It gets even more worrisome for the ruling party when other constituencies (e.g. Christ Church) are taken into consideration or you go further back into election history and track trends. They still have time to correct their trajectory though.

@Austin
Enuff’s response didn’t answer the question “Why do we NEED the BLP.” It kinda sorta answered why we shouldn’t vote for the DLP, but didn’t give me a reason to vote the other side.

@Clone
No one took George Belle seriously. No motorist here gives a rats’ arse what English gas prices are like. Especially when Caribbean neighbours are paying less.

@David
I’m ignorant on the matter. But, perception is the deliverer of popularity and if what you say is the case then somebody in gov’t should be pushing back on all the flak that’s coming their way. Hard.

Observing
That is you and the BLP problem you do not give a rat ass about bajans. It is about you getting your hands on the treasury again but it not going to be easy. You insulted their intelligence last time and Owen is doing it again. Go check which seats you will win constituency by constituency and tell me the ones you will win.
I voted two time in this poll to see if can be rigged like Austin voting twenty five times. There is no traction.
Yes there some Barbadians who are disappointed that they did not get what they wanted from the government but the majority of the people will not put Owen Arthur back as PM.