The unusual decision by a fourteen year prime minister to resign his forty three year membership in the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and to sit as an Independent continues to create ripples across the political landscape of Barbados. Further, the decision for him to sit on the government side – and on the frontbench no less – has only added oomph to the political debate. Not too long ago DLP talking heads were making political capital of Arthur’s reluctance to debate in a parliament he described as porakey. Predictably we have another politician who has exposed chameleon behaviour probably motivated by an undeclared political objective. Arthur’s inability to serve his party in the twilight of his career must be recorded as a failure of leadership on his part. What message does it send to the society when a political leader of longstanding is unable to reconcile issues to the benefit of the party. Unlike many BU believes Arthur has done his legacy irretrievable harm.
The posturing by prime minister Freundel Stuart on the day Arthur resigned from the BLP has provided insight to the Machiavellian machinations by the actors involved – there is more in the mortar than the pestle as far as this matter is concerned. Even the garrulous minister of finance was halting in his comment when asked if consideration will be given to accommodate Arthur in an advisory role. He said yes.
Less than two years ago Owen Seymour Arthur was the man the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) loved to hate. A former DLP political strategist admitted the strategy in the last election was to shine a light on all of Arthur’s skeletons secreted in many closets, and it worked. Who can forget the attack advertisements and vicious lampooning of Arthur on social media. In the last two weeks we have witnessed how members of the political class on the government side have comfortably shifted political rhetoric in the name of political expediency.
Those Barbadians who up to now have blindly followed politicians should take careful note of our political class and where THEIR loyalty is located. The scenario playing out is a case study that defines a local politician. Political class indeed!
There is something distasteful about a former prime minister of fourteen years and a member of a political party for forty three deciding to resign and to end his political career as an independent. Then again we have to wait to see if Arthur can resist tossing political barbs at Mia Motley. Lest we forget it was Arthur who told Mia Mottley on a political platform at Haggatt Hall during the last campaign, ‘I have important work for you to do’. Did someone say political expediency?
The Barbados Constitution does not recognise political parties and therefore members of parliament are free to do as Arthur as done. Arthur was elected to serve on a BLP ticket and BU is of the view the Constitution should be amended to prevent the political prostitution we are witnessing by Arthur’s decision to become an Independent. When Clyde Mascoll held his nose to switch sides our opinion was the same. Has Arthur lodged a little dagger in the back of Mascoll as a result of his decision?
About the decision by Arthur and all others who orchestrated his seating arrangement in the House. BU listened with amusement to George Griffith, Wendell Callender et al proffering a defence of the seating decision, suggesting a former prime minister should be accorded respect . Given how Arthur had been singled out by the government side during debates to be vilified while he was a sitting BLP member and prime minister, and in turn, Arthur labelling of parliament as porakey, BU recognises their porakey PR effort .
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