Submitted by Debra Ifill
If the DLP government has proven that it is good at anything, it has to be that it is good at playing political games, doing almost exclusively what is politically expedient, and that without a doubt, for them it will always be party first. The DLP is without a doubt the worst government of recent time, in terms of managing the economic and social affairs of the state and its people. Principally because its members seem to spend most of their time concentrating on ways in which to hold on to power, even though is is glaringly obvious, for the sake of power itself.
I have always had major respect for the economic prowess of former prime minister Owen Arthur. It is because of his abilities that I want to believe that the step he now takes is without the obvious malice that he holds for the leader of the opposition, and simply out of love for country. God and all the angels know that the DLP need the help, since they have proven for eight long and arduous years that they cannot get the job done. To be honest I really want to continue to see the former prime minister as a statesman and patriot of our fine nation.
But I will say this, the DLP is shameless, or as someone recently described them to me, desperate power parros, willing to do whatever to get a hit or in this case; to keep the last, dying end of the hit. In 2015 the Mia, who on seeing the economic and accompanying social devastation of the country; suggested that a Council of Eminent persons be convened. The idea seemed of course, that this bipartisan team would pool ideas designed to bring about much needed economic change.
Instead Mr Stuart in his usual, egotistical manner dismissed Owen as having no special insights and having no magic portion. AND Owen in fact declined Mia’s suggestion, a suggestion that on the eve of election in Barbados, when the bottom has all but fallen out the proverbial boat, when the task of turning around the country has become much more difficult, Owen has risen. I struggle with his decision because of the obvious politics at play, and because of my inherent love of country, which indeed compels me to want whatever is best for Barbados.
However to my mind, even if Owen is able to help the DLP to turn around the country, it has never been clearer that he nor the DLP is no longer what is best for the country. We have a situation where he, instead heeding Mia’s call to assist as a part of a task force, when it best could have helped the country, waited until it was politically expedient for him to join the DLP’s ranks. This once great man has fallen more than a few notches in my eyes. And … well there is no explanation needed to further convince that the DLP is dangerous for Barbados’ social, political, and economic landscape, they have at least done a good job of that on their own.
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