At the root of the state of things in Barbados is the high level of voter apathy commingling with a heavy dose of ignorance about the individual role John citizen must play to ensure an effective democratic system. One does not have to read, All the Kings Men or be acquainted with the insights of Niccolò Machiavelli in his well read Prince. The weight which comes from sitting behind the BU dashboard makes the task of enlightening our audience the more urgent.
In April 2013 Barbados Underground (BU) posted a blog George Payne v Edmund Hinkson: Storm Clouds Hovering Over MAM. The blogmaster wondered at the time why politicians who aspire to lead a nation demonstrate an embarrassing inability to resolve personal conflict.
In October 2015 BU posted a blog Remembering What Politicians Do. When the Eager 11 uprising threatened to derail the Stuart led DLP government- Stuart successful quelled the uprising David Estwick and a few colleagues threatened to sue the Nation newspaper for defamation. Here is a quote from the blog:
…this is innuendo and is defamatory in law. Pleased be advised that I have given my lawyers the instruction to see that my integrity in public and private advocation remains untarnished and unsullied…
There was the incident where David Estwick brandished a gun in the presence of Dale Marshall in parliament of all places. In March of 2019 BU posted the blog Two Members Of Parliament David Estwick And Dale Marshall Go At It!. There is no doubt in the mind of the blogmaster the matter was allowed to fade by the political class with the prorogue of parliament. Why did the Committee of Privileges not honestly rule on the matter in the two years that followed?
There are other examples found in BU Archives that paint a picture of how members of the political class conspired to undermine the democracy they pledged to uphold. It must be stated that the challenge facing Barbadians is no different to citizens elsewhere. In developed countries the smell of decaying societies may stink less or more based on perspective. It is one of the greatest challenges human beings will face as life continues.
#atrophy?
How can Barbados be the proverbial diamond in the rough?
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.