Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley was quoted in the press on the weekend blaming the lack of a media policy at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) for feeding perennial controversies during the Crop Over period. To summarize his view: the ad hoc manner NCF officials have interacted with the media must stop. BU agrees with the minister that an effective media policy will always add value to the process of disseminating timely and accurate information.
To support Lashley view, we had another Lashley demonstrating why a media policy is useful. Yesterday at the St. James North Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Constituency meeting Minister of Housing Michael Lashley reacted to the CADRES poll by telling party supporters, “polls don’t vote”. Lashley who has been unusually silent in recent weeks – as well as Minister of Agriculture David Estwick – no doubt strayed from his substantive script of expounding about government’s housing program to share his views on the findings of the CADRES poll.
BU suspects that Nation newspaper reporter Mike King travelled to the St. James North Constituency meeting with great anticipation stoked by the release of the CADRES poll. Lashley did not disappoint. Here is a classic case where a media policy of government should have kicked in to guide public pronouncements about how to treat with the CADRES matter by key government officials. Especially given the nature of its findings. The nonsensical comments attributed to Minister of Housing Michael Lashley in the Nation newspaper showed clearly his comments were off the cuff and exposed a kind of lethargy by our leadership which is not welcomed in 2012.
Lashley’s comments reflect the urgent need for government – even at this late state in its term – to implement a communications policy. Not since the death of David Thompson has the government been able to establish a coherent and cogent dialogue with the LOCAL media. Has it occurred to the DLP hierarchy by now that ALL utterances about the CADRES poll by government ministers and close others will be placed under the microscope?
BU is not a fan of election polls but like the ‘Exam’ there is no alternative to scientifically measure the mood of the electorate. Again, BU is not a fan of many of Peter Wickham’s ‘positions’ but his poll results over the years have always been close to the mark. His mentor Pat Emmanuel must be pleased. Last general election BLP members were ‘cussin’ and the DLPites were singing Wickham’s praises. How things have changed after only one term.
If BU were in Stuart’s position Wickham’s poll would have created by now the need to schedule a strategy session with the parliamentary group and other key persons in the DLP before weekend. Barbadians, except DLP hacks are not surprised at CADRES findings, understandable in an austere economic climate.
Prime Minister Stuart may be a nice guy and noble in his intentions. A leader must lead. Stuart must think on these things.
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