There is a cricket saying, if a batsman does not watch the ball carefully onto the bat, bad things are likely to happen. The local news will be consumed with the resignation of former prime minister Owen Arthur from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) after being a member for 43 years for the next week or two. Arthur’s resignation – which took many Barbadians by surprise – has triggered a flood of speculation about how it will influence the porakey political landscape of Barbados. Sadly we have found yet another politically motivated event to distract from the important job of rebuilding Barbados. Has anybody noticed Barbados dropped from 38 to 59 in the Human Development Index?
The imposition of the Municipal Solid Waster Tax (MSWT) on Barbadians by the government has proved to be the most controversial government initiative since the 8% salary cut on civil servants salaries in the 90s. Coincidentally, that austerity measure was also imposed by a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government battling to manage in harsh economic conditions. What the MSWT has done is to provoke a greater level of interest by the public in how government is managing the affairs of the country. It has resulted in a strident call by ordinary Barbadians for government to be transparent in how decisions are being made. The MSWT is good for Barbados because it aggravated Barbadians to march, again. Because of the muni tax Barbadians were able to force the government to claw back on a policy measure which was signed-off. The tax forced a former prime minister of fourteen years, and a member of a political party for forty three to resign. The wreck caused by the muni tax is a work in progress.
Owen Arthur’s resignation will hog up the news space with stoking from the DLP spin doctors because it removes the spotlight from a government labouring to find ways to spur the economy. BU will not be distracted from the issue which has been the catalyst for unprecedented rising public discontent in the government. Unless there is dramatic improvement in the economy between now and the next general election the discussion will be whether Mara Thompson and Dennis Kellman will retain their seats, two DLP safe seats. The BLP, currently in disarray, has time on their side to fix the wrongs.
There is a strong feeling the MSWT is unjust and unless the government is able to convince Barbadians otherwise this will be an issue on the next general election platform. What makes this issue upsetting for many is the refusal or inability of the minister of the environment Denis Lowe to effectively interact with the public to answer many valid questions and concerns. No where in the world will a government propose to build a USD300 million Waste to Energy Plant using new technology (plasma gasification) and expect to implement as a business as usual project. The discussion which is currently taking Barbados by storm should have been encouraged by the government BEFORE the decision to sign a MOU with Cahill Energy. Any sensible government would have engaged a more transparent approach to introducing the technology of plasma gasification to Barbados. Even more disgusting is the flat refusal by Lowe to engage the most visible NGO on the environment in Barbados , The Future Trust.
It is interesting that two large initiatives the government has launched are being championed by two ministers who are not very forthcoming with sharing information with the public. The government has placed a lot of store on a renewable energy program and a waste to energy initiative, BU agrees with the approach, but Ministers Denis Lowe and Darcy Boyce are two of the lease likely to win the hearts and minds of Barbadians on any issue which require a champion. If the government of Barbados is interested in being transparent it is advised to take the job of effectively communicating with Barbadians more seriously. Frankly, Barbadians have become very frustrated at the corn beef approach adopted by BOTH political parties to secure popularity. This is the age of social media which has fuelled a different expectation how Barbadians want to be informed.
We hear from Jepter Ince – his shortcomings notwithstanding – more than Darcy Boyce and Denis Lowe, why?
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