Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Banner promoting anonymous crime reporting with a phone and contact number 1 800 TIPS (8477), featuring the Crime Stoppers logo and a QR code for submitting tips.

Owen Arthur Resigns from Barbados Labour Party

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur
Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur

The resignation of Owen Arthur from from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) should make Barbadians pause for several reasons. The incapacity of a former Prime Minister of fourteen years to carve out an effective role to serve his political party in the twilight of his career leaves a sour taste. If our leaders are unable to find ways to resolve conflict to the greater good of country what message does it send to the general population?

BU hesitates to join those who believe that with the exit of Arthur it leaves a clear path to unchallenged leadership for Mia Mottley. The decision by Arthur to resign from the party BUT continue to sit in parliament as an independent may yet prove to be a bane for Mottley. Unshackled from the political party that made him, he has created the opportunity to demonstrate in his post-resignation contributions to parliament why he believes the BLP has drifted from its course. For him not to record for the benefit of Hansard and to share his knowledge as a former prime minister with the people of Barbados will be a cheat on his legacy, a porakey parliament notwithstanding.

BU is of the view Arthur sincerely believes Mottley is not made of the stuff required to be a prime minister. He has stated it publicly at a press conference held at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill in 2009.  And many of his statements since has demonstrated he has not shifted his position. When Mottley was selected as opposition leader after the last general election was Arthur present in the room?

Arthur is known for his clear and colourful language when expressing himself, he has been unusually vague about what he finds so distressing about Mottley’s leadership shortcomings.    Many speculate that Arthur is not enamoured by Mottley’s lifestyle and the attendant issues.  Defamation laws may have something to do with his reluctance to be forthright and lucid on the matter, but his constant snipping at the heels of Mottley has backfired. Mottley took a gamble by organizing a protest walk not knowing the level of support she was likely to attract from the parliamentary group AND the public.  The strong show of support from the BLP parliamentary group and the public must have caused the volte-face we witnessed today. Arthur will have a lot of explaining to do in the coming days, weeks … why would a former prime minister and elder of a political party resign from his party rather than use his influence within the party to force change.

As an independent Arthur may decide to frontally challenge contributions made by the BLP and in the process give the Arthur faction that remains of Payne, Marshall and Symmonds  the bravado to continue to show dissent under Mottley’s leadership. The approach by this lot will have to be monitored closely in the coming weeks.  Say what you want Arthur is not a fool, if he and cohorts believe Mottley is not qualified to lead Barbados, the question BU must ask is have they given up the fight to deny her?

What is distressing about what is playing out in Barbados today –  the government continues to struggle managing the economy with all economic and social indicators trending in the wrong direction. Instead of a country fully mobilized to confront the challenges ahead, we continue to be embroiled in partisan political dribble. Listen to the disingenuous quotes in the news today from Minister Donville Inniss and Prime Minister Freundel Stuart reacting to Arthur’s resignation, when just a few months ago they were braying on the political platforms a strong belief that  Lucifer had reincarnated as Arthur himself.

Mia Mottley you still have work to do if you want to be the first female prime minister of Barbados.

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

192 responses to “Owen Arthur Resigns from Barbados Labour Party”

  1. balance Avatar
    balance

    “BU IS OF THE VIEW THAT MR ARTHUR ‘SINCERELY’BELIEVES THAT MS MOTTLEY IS NOT MADE OF THE STUFF REQUIRED TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS”
    Mr Arthur should be called upon by the fourt and fifth estates to explain his statement to the country that he was preparing Ms Mottley for higher office when queried about her transfer from the post of AttorneyGeneral to the polio of Minister of Economic Affairs.
    And lest we forget Mr Arthur’s elevation to the leadership of the BLP was not by acclamation but by subterfuge as well. Hence the George Payne 14 year disgruntlemwent..And by the way, show me the Parliamentarian that does not have skeletons in his/her closet, visible and invisible.

  2. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Love him or hate him he made a statement by resigning from the Party. We are into new territory former PMs don’t resign from their political home no matter the circumstances, they are expected to sit back and accept the accolades and honorific titles and positions which are showered on them by the Party faithful.

    It will be interesting to observe Arthur going forward, it will be even more interesting observing Mia as she moves forward, she has the chance to remake the Party in whatever image she wants.

  3. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    It is truly amazing how everyone is behaving as though Owen’s resignation from the BLP is big news or even unexpected. He merely formalised his resignation today. Surely, you must recall that he declared some time ago that he would no longer submit himself to Miss Mottley’s leadership.

    If he is in a party and refuses to submit to the elected and constitutional leadership of that party, he would have effectively resigned. Today, he merely reduced his resignation to writing.

    My problem with Owen Arthur is that he has dropped broad hints to suggest that Mia is unsuitable to lead this country. Having done so and then refuse to bring the country into his confidence, he would have done Barbados a grave injustice by not allowing us to judge her based on all the information that is available.

  4. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    Caswell

    Why you dont listen to Professor KNOW EVATING BOUT EVATING AND BUP neh?
    HE CANT BUP BY HE SELF YA KNOW
    AFTER ALL HE TRIED TO GO OUT ON HE OWN AT LARGE ONCE BUT HE GET EVEN LESS FOLLOWERS THAN WHEN BOBBY MARCH
    MURDAH

  5. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @Balance
    Mr Arthur should be called upon by the fourt and fifth estates to explain his statement to the country that he was preparing Ms Mottley for higher office when queried about her transfer from the post of AttorneyGeneral to the polio of Minister of Economic Affairs
    ++++++++++++
    Owen doesn’t owe any explanation to anyone, we don’t know what he knows and he is not honour bound to disclose why he had a change of heart. In business and politics “chosen heirs” are passed over all the time I believe Owen said all he had to say on that matter at his Press Conference when he took over as Leader of the Opposition.

  6. ac Avatar
    ac

    u know what i do not feel sorry for MIA,,,she showed her true colors yesterday,,,and OSA was repulsed by what he saw…… knowing full well that she MIA Motley was playing the people for fools,,,,,she knew all of the agreements that Barbados was subjected to in terms of environmental issues ,yet she try to play down the importance and became a cheerleader for the lilly white establishment,,,,,,,,fighting tooth and nail against policies which she had previously endorsed ,,,,OSA became disgusted,,the question which remains to be seen is how MIA can remove the veil of hypocrisy which OSA has cast over her head,,as in the coming weeks and months,, she would be assessed and reaccessed not by the numbers of marches but how she can persuade her parliamentary colleagues to stand beside her,OSA words today have cast even further doubts and suspicions as to whether she is the leader that Barbados needs today,

  7. Clone Avatar
    Clone

    The BLP bloggers were supporting Mr.Morris saying the Government was stopping free speech.
    Now they want to kill all persons who speak against a political leader in a political party.
    Is that not free speech too? Thanks Mr.Hoad for bringing that point to my attention

  8. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Tom Adams brought Arthur into the BLP, back in the early part of the 1980’s and I am quite sure if Adams was alive today, he would have held his head down in shame to have seen such a disappointment. I never care too much for the guy because the first time heard him spoke, I was quite disappointed and rather embarrassed, by the ineffective manner in which he articulated himself. He wasn’t a political demagogue by any stretched of the human imagination, which begged the question: how was Arthur able to captured the collective imaginaton of the Barbadian people, with such a limited vocabulary?

  9. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Much as it pains me to say this I do think he has formalised his attentions today of all days and I wish him well.

    He has not been a team player and it is better for him to go. He should have resigned his seat too. OSA cannot feel that he and he alone owns the BLP, the party was there before him and will be there for a long, long time after.

    At this time when EVERYTHING is going wrong in this country with no solutions in sight from this wicked, inept and incompetent government, he chose to pull this stunt. The party bigger than you, OSA, no matter your contribution.

    If you OSA feel that you will not be subjected to MAM’s leadership, go your way. You got tricked at your own game, those whom you thought were with you planning whatever you were planning back out, joined the march and left you up the creek without a paddle. You therefore had no choice but to go. Party lost moorings what? Just because you are not the leader???

    If you want to, try to throw your low punches at MAM every Tuesday. She would be wise not to respond. You had your time, ride into the sunset in peace and thank God for life! Adios!

    OK dems, this is your time to gloat, we can handle it but dont forget that the dems fought each other for 14 years! So be off!

  10. FYI Avatar
    FYI

    Arthur leaves BLP!

    7/26/2014

    After almost three decades in the House of Assembly as a Member of Parliament for St. Peter representing the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Owen Seymour Arthur made a bold and decisive move yesterday to sever ties with the BLP, suggesting that the Party has lost its way.

    But, rather than leave active politics, the former three-term Prime Minister has decided he will sit as an Independent in the Lower House of Parliament. In a move that has reduced the numbers of the official Opposition to 13, Arthur hand delivered his resignation letter to the party’s Roebuck Street headquarters, ending a marriage that he had faithfully upheld for decades. His decision follows on the heels of remarks he made to the media on his way to Parliament on Tuesday, that he was “tired of being at the centre of strife”, when he declined to speak to the media about the apparent rift between Opposition Leader Mia Mottley and Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Kerrie Symmonds.

    Speaking to the media yesterday, Arthur who had also served as a senator for the Barbados Labour Party before winning the St. Peter seat in 1984, contended that it was a difficult and painful decision, but necessary if he was not to betray himself, his family and the people who had elected him. Moreover, the MP explained that his reasons for resigning from the party and those concerning why he did not participate in the march organised earlier this week by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley to protest of the Municipal Solid Waste Tax, were completely different, although he admitted that “one compounds the other”.

    Arthur, a former Minister of Finance, who had introduced an environmental levy during his tenure, noted that he would have been a hypocrite to participate in the march and say that the country should not continue to find ways to raise resources to pay for environmental solutions. He said however that he did express opposition to the manner in which they have gone about it and in all fairness to the Government; he said they have started to respond to the expression of opposition and have tried to find a way to make the tax workable. He added that while he still does not agree with the method, he admits that they are trying. With that in mind, he maintained that he does not agree with BLP’s idea to tax water and he charged that to have a march to oppose a tax when the proposal they have put forward is “even more absurd” could not get his support.

    “I am resigning because I believe that the Labour Party has not only lost its way, but it has also lost its soul. The Barbados Labour Party must stand for something. It has always been able to operate in its own name; function in its own name; ask the public to support it in its own name; inspire the confidence of the public by functioning in its own name and to hold up symbols of its identity as a political institution to inspire its members, to mobilise its members and to attract the support of the public,” he added.

    Arthur continued, “In addition to issues of policy… it would so appear that the Barbados Labour Party asked the public to support it in a march, not by saying we will march, or we invite you to march, but I will walk. It tells me that this institution, in addition to other strong evidence, this institution has been made a play thing and… I do not want to be part of an institution that is a play thing and that allows itself to become the victim of megalomaniac tendencies.”

    He was also critical of the call for persons to wear white to the march and not the red that is synonymous with the BLP. He maintained that such a departure from the norm is no different to a nation repudiating its flag.

    “I cannot be part of an institution which so vandalises and destroy its own heritage,” he maintained.

    Arthur had a meteoric rise to power in the early 1990s when he took over the helm of the BLP. After serving in the Senate, 35-year old Arthur contested the St. Peter seat in the 1984 election and won the seat for the BLP. It would only be nine years later that Arthur would be chosen to lead the party, becoming, at that time, the youngest BLP party leader. He led the party into a general election in 1994, winning 19 of the 28 seats.

    Arthur’s popularity among BLP supporters continued to gain traction and the party won convincingly in 1999, reducing the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to two seats, with a 26-2 majority in the House of Assembly and was successful again in 2003.
    However, 2008 saw the Arthur-led party lose the government to the DLP led by the late David Thompson and again in 2013, to the DLP led by Freundel Stuart, Thompson’s successor.

    After that 2008 election, Arthur resigned his position as Opposition Leader, but took it up again in October, 2010, with the support of the majority of the parliamentary group. After his second defeat at the polls, though by a slim margin, the seasoned politician stepped down once again, but rumours continued to surface about strained relations between him and the new leader Mia Mottley.

  11. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    There was a BLP before OSA and there will be one long after he has gone. Storm in a teacup, time to move on and keep focused on the dismal economic conditions in this country.

    I was in a store this evening. We think that the younger folk are not interested in politics but these were talking amongst themselves and they said they did not care about no resignation, they know that things are hard and that they would be better if Mia was PM.

    One said, the country went down hill after Thompson died. The cashier could not even remember the PM’s name… asked another what is the big nose man’s name. Imagine that!

  12. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Barbadians have been complaining for weeks about this solid waste tax. Moody’s gave this country another bad report, disputing what the Central Bank governor reported and his predictions for growth and the QEH is in crisis.

    Not a word of solace from this PM. But OSA resigned from the BLP and he could be spouting off on it. What a fraud!

  13. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926 TO 2014 , MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS OF BARBADOS, BLPand DLP=Massive Fruad Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926 TO 2014 , MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS OF BARBADOS, BLPand DLP=Massive Fruad

    Arthur resigned@ So what he nothing more than a Crook, liar and scumbag , He now, MIA next , crooks are running from each other , MiA a bigger crook now have no support to run to the Bath room , many a slave march with her ,.. Other crooks turn , soon come

  14. Fractured BLP Avatar
    Fractured BLP

    Well after her ‘Solid Waste March’ MAM and her other BLP cohorts now have to face the stark reality…..OSA will not bee going with them no more.

    The BLP has lost it soul
    ….he says…!
    The BLP has assumed megalomaniac tendencies..he says…!
    The BLP is now steeeped in absurdity….he says..!

    It is a good things Bajans voted correctly on 21 Feb 2013.

  15. Prodigal Son Avatar
    Prodigal Son

    Alright, OSA is no longer a bee. So what?

    After all of this, Barbados is still in a dire predicament with serious financial challenges……………..the country is broke and with people given the option to pay by year end, where is the money going to come from to give the so called 3000 bursaries, the 22 million for QEH, the 400 million dollar deficit, a bad review from Moody’s and devaluation staring us in the face.

    Tell us how OSA’s resignation will help Barbados predicament?

  16. David Avatar
    David

    After all of this, Barbados is still in a dire predicament with serious financial challenges……………..the country is broke and with people given the option to pay by year end, where is the money going to come from to give the so called 3000 bursaries, the 22 million for QEH, the 400 million dollar deficit, a bad review from Moody’s and devaluation staring us in the face.

    And this is the point, we have become distracted from the economy which is politically advantageous for the government but does nothing bring the country as one to rally against the challenges that confront us.

  17. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    I am quite sure Arthur’s supporters( which including David and not excluding Bush Tea as well as Georgie Porgie) still believes he is still capable of making a worthwhile contribution to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). But, when you have a former leader of a major political party, showing his disapproval over an issue as liliputian as the wearing of Red instead of White, you know right there and then you have a man who is resistant to change. And unfortunately, for Mr. Arthur, the hands of the clock cannot be turned back, so it is onward we go with the progressive ideas which propel a country forward. Listen! We need new and progressively minded leaders who are open-minded as well as fit enough to face the contemporary challenges of the new global -culture with resolve, tenacity and resiliency of our former leaders. Moreover, it isn’t any secret that Arthur had taken an outspoken interest against the manner in which Mia has been governing the affairs of the apposing party, but that issue I believe, ought to have been resolved out of the public eye. Now, here is a clear example of the self-interest usuring its predominance over the collective-interest, which ought to have been aimed the better-good.

  18. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    I think Arthur, ability notwithstanding, has made a gross error politically.

    Remember, much of the time he has commented on the ‘poor-rakey’ Parliament, a not unfounded claim. In addition, some may question his attendance therein.

    By resigning from the party but not Parliament, he has put a spanner in his once loved party, instead of a wholesome resignation, with which he could ride gracefully into the sunset.

    One would question motives. Can we claim an altruistic one?

    The St.Peter citizens that he represents may well consider themselves in the cold, not because of the Leader of the Opposition, but due to his action.

    Mia needs to immediately and strongly appoint a suitable, bright, popular and reliable youthful candidate to replace him at the constituency level.

    And start campaigning for that riding.

    With a charismatic youth, they will win the riding (aside form the next election anyway).

    On the Arthur issue, Mia needs to just offer her sadness, say thank you, best wishes and goodbye, as her public approach. Done, no more of that.

    I do think he has also hurt his own credibility, even if that sounds counter-intuitive.

    To kick the door on the way out, of a party that one led for fifteen years, does not leave a good impression, no matter the motives.

  19. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    I say shame on Mr. Arthur because after fourteen full years of governance, we still have young men and women defecating as well as urinating in the toilet in the yard, and under the cover of darkness in the year 2014. And not to mention the countless number of young people who shower at the stand -pipe in various community throughout the island. Do you know what this does to a young man as well as a young woman dignity and self-worth? Now, I am not naive to the fact that it is impossible for any given society to entirely eliminate conditions of poverty totally, but good God, how about affording the poorer classes the basic infrastructure in the year 2014? Listen! If the very basic of needs of the poorer classes aren’t met, this obviously indicates the level of progress a country has achieved, and judging from the Utube video I saw documenting the living conditions of the poorer classes in Barbados, it doesn’t look like much has been achieved in the way of progress for these socially marginalized elements.

  20. Hamilton Hill Avatar
    Hamilton Hill

    Let’s go right back to the appointment of a Co-leader. All back then this wicked, spiteful, conniving son of a bitch was wielding and dealing giving his personal vendetta prominence over the governance of Barbados. That he has chosen to stay on in parliament must be seen as strategic, and certainly paves the way for tumultuous Tuesdays so to speak. Mia with soiled hands as seems to be the prerequisite for our brand of politics, needs to flex muscle immediately by cutting down to size the Owen Arthur puppy named Kerry, thereby sending the message to lilliputian Lucifer and the St Joseph Joker.

  21. Mr Watson Parkinson Avatar
    Mr Watson Parkinson

    Owen Arthur is playing mind games with the population…! They’ll beg to have him back, giving him therefore a mandate to do whatever he wants once re-instated…! Think outside the box people…

  22. David Avatar
    David

    Arthur is not coming back, he is a sick man. His objective is to sink Mia, it is why he has remain in parliament as an MP.

  23. honey bee Avatar
    honey bee

    Read Today’s Nation. If Fumble think that Owen Arthur will ride into their party to bring some sense to the Shite DEM doing DEM Lie, Lie, Lie.

    Its amazing that FUMBLE would appose the BLP but want to have open arms to receive Owen.

    Six years they have the country and we now on life support, had blood transfusions and the diagnosis. The patient still in critical condition.

    We employed the incorrect, unqualified doctors to handle the operation.

    Sometime we work in organisations where we disagree with worker, with the bosses for the decisions they make and we resign. Sometimes to go into a new job or go home and plan what next.

    Sometimes we stay in the job and be miserable as ass because of the almighty dollar.

    The Barbados dollar under pressure.

    Sad to see him go. A brilliant man.

  24. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Once again it is clear that these two intellectually and politically backward, bankrupt and discredited DLP and BLP disorganizations must be driven – sooner rather than later – by the broad masses and middle classes of this country from the parliament of this country.

    They have nothing much to add to any future national development of this country!!

    So, Mr Owen Arthur’s resignation from the BLP indeed illustrates his own frustration and exasperation with the absolute intellectual and political depths to which the BLP has been plunging and careening over a political precipice, and at a time when many people within Barbados are rightfully crying out for serious intellectual political leadership from some quarters – one quarter being BARP.

    And in giving his reasons for his resignation from the BLP (as reproduced in a blog above) Arthur – though not our political cup of tea – is ABSOLUTELY in harmony with what we have been putting forward on here and elsewhere about the total lack of political and intellectual leadership found today within these jack o lantern disgraceful factions – NOT just the BLP.

    Indeed, Arthur is producing absolutely SOUND JUDGEMENT and REASONING in his making publicly known his officially terminating his relationship with the BLP that he led for more than sixteen years altogether.

    We have said it time and time again that Ms Mottley is absolutely politically intellectually unfit to be political leader of this country – though she has good legal skills as part of her personal resume.

    For up to now she has failed miserably to come up with a serious vision and blue print of her own for putting Barbados back on a serious growth and development trajectory, and against the backdrop that any progress Barbados makes in the very long term must be viewed in light of the government of Barbados being part of CARICOM, the OAS, the UN and other international and multilateral bodies.

    Now, clearly Arthur has for some time recognized that she has NOT grown into the type of political entity he thought she should have become.

    PDC

  25. ac Avatar
    ac

    we are in a new era of politics…..yesterday OSA ,Burned the pages of SELF INTEREST,,,,and opened a page which headlined ,, COUNTRY;S INTEREST …this kind of politics would be hard for the Blp yardfowls to endorsed as more and more they want to relive the days of Freeness and self interest,,,,at a time when the country is dire need of national support,,,,,and Yes if only for this one time ,,OSA show such SUPPORT,,,, MIA has got her work cut out for her as there are big cracks within her party and there are those while OSA sits all alone on the sidelines would be watching and taking their cue from him,and it will not be (surprising) if some take actions of similarity,,,,,,Yes OSA is and still is a force to be reckoned with ,,no doubts about that,,,

  26. Sunshine Sunny Shine Avatar
    Sunshine Sunny Shine

    I did not like the two face son of a bitch. He criticizes Motley but the two are no different in each others book of tyranny. Only if Motley was not so power hungry she should also seek to put out to pasture, that crooked son of bitch Dale Marshall; that temper tantrum wife beater and traitor Kerry Simmons, that great pain in the ass and big head thief George Payne; that shite who don’t know when to wipe Trevor Prescod; that bulling disrespectful cunt who said bajans are foolish and also crooked rat Noel Lynch; big time pilfer with a twist of perverted Gline Clarke and that shout because she got a mout Cynthia Forde. Motley needs to canvas new blood in the party with new vision and get rid of those fake ass crooks. That’s the only way I come home and vote for the Motley crew because the cunts from the Democratic Labour Party will never get my vote again unless all the current faces are written in history’s disgrace pages.

  27. David Avatar
    David

  28. Hamilton Hill Avatar
    Hamilton Hill

    That a man elected by the people, to do the work on the behalf of the people, who in these the most difficult of Times could not see the necessity of reassurance to those same people, now wants to be heard is shameful, deceitful, and highly disrespectful. As Kidsite so artfully put it”Though they announce the plane in freefall, all they beg and beg the pilot won’t open he mouth at all. “Mr.Prime Minister you are a national disgrace! Just shut the he’ll up.

  29. enuff Avatar
    enuff

    @David
    Owen is done you say, so if not Mottley who? The MPs are not stupid and know when to focus on bigger and less toxic fish. A deal or two to allow the gutting of the bigger fish and all is well. Remember I spoke about optics, add George Payne…lol.

  30. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Honey Bee

    I am not arguing for the sake of arguing but what is so brilliant about this guy? And what has he really done to impact Barbados and the region in a lasting way? These are the questions you ought to ask yourself before you embark on so loosely, a use of such a term. I am sure he has done some good but to labeled Arthur as brilliant, is an obviously exaggeration in the service of the truth. The only one who is worthy of that distinctive honour in the Caribbean in my estimation, would have been Sir. Arthur Lewis.

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @enuff

    We will wait to see, politics is a funny business sometimes.

  32. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    This current BLP, surely resembles in many ways the Republican Party in the United States of America, with its dissension, fragmentation and fractionalization within its ranks. But maybe Bush Tea is willing to offer a helping hand with his ten point plan? A plan by the way: which haven’t had any peer-view/ academic – evalution; an idealist -dream by all intents and purposes. lol

  33. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting comment reaction from the Prime Minister, it seems he has left the door ajar to tease Arthur he is willing to engage in some level of cooperation.

    On Saturday, 26 July 2014, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >

  34. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    @ Dompey – no, ALL the politicians resemble those internationally. Seeking for themselves, all for themselves and country be gone.

    Looka the pit bull, turned into Chihuahua at the drop of a hat.

    Country??? Country??? They care nothing of country, it is me, myself and I.

    @ David,

    So, the PM actually had an opinion to state on something then??? Wonders.

    The local rumshop has a better group of potential leaders than the lot in Parliament. And don’t you even think bajans don’t know this. Only the hardcore party supporters talk rot about these as being capable. The average bajan mistrusts and dislikes politicians tremendously.

    Sad days.

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Crusoe

    What defines the Barbadian who aspires to become a member of the political class?

    On Saturday, 26 July 2014, Barbados Underground wrote:

    >

  36. Pompasettin Pearlie Avatar
    Pompasettin Pearlie

    Murda wuhloss!

    Dis hotta dan one a dem ole time western flims. Mia walk and Owen walk too! De action now start.

    I gine down Sin Peeda Sundee and get de real juice cause dey got mo in de morta-pessle. Wuhloss did is backannal!!

  37. Fractured BLP Avatar
    Fractured BLP

    The caribbean’s greatest PM , Freundel Stuart, praises OSA political fortitude and wishes him well.

    Kudos to democracy.

  38. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    While we think that festivity bachannalia has some part to play in the functioning of a predominantly black Barbadian society, it is damning that the present leader of the BLP, Ms Mottley seems more associated with this type of behaviour than with anything that strikes of problem/ solution based erudition scholarship and research that points the way for putting Barbados back on a path to long term national growth and development.

    The late BLP leaders Tom Adams, Harold St. John must surely be turning in their graves on hearing the subterranean communicable messages of the overwhelming poverty mediocrity of intellect – including Dr Clyde Mascoll – that has taken over the now disgraceful BLP.

    PDC

  39. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    @ PDC
    This constant talk about going back to where we were is a mere pipe dream. One thing is certain, the future will be nothing like the past nor the present.

  40. David Avatar
    David

    The more you think about it, it is difficult to accept that Arthur is just going to skulk off into the sunset never to be heard of again.

  41. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    @David

    “Let me be very frank and say that I am not surprised. I was harshly critical of Prime Minister Owen Arthur in the past and I have been harshly critical of him because I could not understand how he could not understand the Barbados Labour Party,”

    But wasn’t Arthur the BLP? You can fool the people……

  42. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    We agree with you that the future holds multi-variate and countless events and permutations – known and unknown.

    But then what is point of learning constructing preserving aspects of our social political material cultural financial “histories”, if many of us cannot learn from them in helping bring about the “present” and “future”?

    Garvey is reported to have said that a people without knowledge of (much) of their history, is like a tree without roots.

    Also, the truth is that the “past”, “present”, and “future” are to whatever degrees logically inseperable and undivorcible.

    PDC

  43. David Avatar
    David

    With all that is playing out in Barbados a reasonable question to ask is – are Barbadians, and the two political parties, exhibiting the level of maturity to be a breeding ground for an action oriented and confident approach still missing from the Barbados landscape?

  44. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    “BU IS OF THE VIEW THAT MR ARTHUR ‘SINCERELY’BELIEVES THAT MS MOTTLEY IS NOT MADE OF THE STUFF REQUIRED TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS”

    The Premier of Ontario, Canada is a woman.Population of Ontario is over 13 million.
    What stuff is required to be Prime Minister of an Island with 280,000 people?

  45. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    “The Party has lost its way and its soul”

    But what IS the Way? What IS the SOUL? What now differentiates the two Parties? In both I only see knee jerk answers to perceived problems.

    Dompey

    I think you make some very perceptive points – but the analogy with the GOP holds but only a little below the surface. Surely, there is still a broad difference between them and the Dem Party?

    Prodigal

    I think your remarks are spot on and I would want to join you in wishing Owen well.

    I think the response you had in the bar (or wherever) sounds exactly right. The young were not fully schooled when Owen was PM. To them he would seem like a dodo and the march would have captured their imagination.

    Fractured BLP

    Sorry, your remark about Fumble beggars belief. OF COURSE he would say that. It demonstrably suits his purpose.

    David

    “What defines someone aspiring to join the political class?”

    Ans: being no better than the next man.

  46. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Pachamama,

    And you get willful or reckless attempts by some people at distorting the truth in the “present”, “past”, “future”, to foster certain narrow self serving objectives.

    The truth is that there are NOT two political parties in Barbados.

    It is totally and factually wrong for any one to assert so, contrary to the facts.

    There are more than two political parties in Barbados.

    For sure there is the People’s Democratic Congress, the Bajan Free Party, the Kingdom Government of Barbados, and the Barbados United Reformation Congress Party.

    The last we heard from the leader of the New Barbados Kingdom Alliance, Apostle Scantlebury, is that they are still performing political activities in this country.

    So, it would serve David well to check or recheck the Patrick Emmanuel definition of what is a political party in the context of Caribbean politics, and see or learn what is one.

    PDC

  47. CHAUCER Avatar
    CHAUCER

    @David
    Agreed, OSA objective is to sink MIA; at the same time to keep FS afloat. To paraphrase LBJ: better to have OSA inside the BLP pissing out than outside pissing in

  48. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    It now appears that Barbados will no longer have a political class after Mia leaves politics.

    There is still an Adams lurking but I think he knows that young Bajans doan like red people who look white tummuch.

    Times are changing.

  49. Sunshine Sunny Shine Avatar
    Sunshine Sunny Shine

    The question you need to ask David is if the Barbadian people, politicians and their loyal-list have enough maturity to rally for economic activity for the sake of the country and its well-being without the malicious endeavours. My answer – Not at all. Bajans are bark with little bite, talk with little action; gives reasons for no implementation; justifications that are deceptions; hypocritical yet perpetuates the notion of saint hood. In essence a society that believes divide and rule is better than unite to fight will find itself in the predicament.

  50. David Avatar
    David

    What does all this mean for the Arthur anointed in St. Peter?

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading