A year or so ago when I said that any new party mounting a platform on transparency and integrity in 2018 can’t get my vote, I was ridiculed. Barbados is in an economic morass, the electorate is looking for leadership, experience and a track record that combine to instill a level of confidence and belief in the people that the government can get us out of the current situation. The new parties are peddling catch phrases and sound bites–innovation, entrepreneurship, restructure, 11+, food security, AE, culture and of course FOI and IL. Nothing short of palaver more suited for Alice . If the last 9 years has taught us one lesson it should be that talking policy and actually implementing policy are not the same kettle of fish. This is not an election for alternative parties – Enuff
Based on the evidence of the recent CADRES poll third parties have not gained traction in Barbados in the lead in to the next general election constitutionally due in less than one year. This is despite a political, economic and social climate that should be presenting opportunities to all comers. From behind BU’s dashboard it seems clear the choices of political parties to govern Barbados STILL top of mind of the electorate are the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), the Duopoly.
Even Owen Arthur appears on the radar ahead of leaders of the so called third parties.
Both political parties command significant support from the respective bases which represent a significant percentage of the perennial total vote. It is worth noting that the total number of those who are eligible to vote rarely has exceeded 70% . Too besides, none of the third parties on offer have been able to present a compelling message anchored in a differentiating philosophy from the BLP and DLP. This is made all the more distressing in the resignation that both BLP and DLP have adopted a reactive approach to governing Barbados. Management by crisis!
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