Submitted by William Skinner
Any objective analysis of the Opposition Peoples Democracy Party (PdP), would conclude that the PdP, has performed admirably. As one who closely follows parliamentary debate, in both the Lower and Upper chambers, I must state that in the Lower House, Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley, has been measured and extremely focused in his presentations. He has supported the government when he deemed necessary and has been direct, precise, and penetrating in matters he opposed.
The two opposition senators, in the Upper chamber, Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn, have demonstrated a firm grasp of all issues. Senator Drakes’ contributions on Economic matters, have been outstanding and far superior to some emanating from the government benches.
Senator Franklyn’s most recent clobbering and public take-down of Attorney General Dale Marshall and PM Mottley, herself a former Attorney General, in relation to the botched appointment of a “second” Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been a defining moment in the life of the current parliament.
However, in this writer’s opinion, the most encouraging development, has been the public emergence of Opposition shadow persons, on national matters. We have been given clear and appealing discourse on Transportation, Culture, Health, and other sectors. They have been thought provoking and free of political bombast when critiquing and offering alternatives policies. An almost unbelievable change from the nonsense and one-upmanship, that represent the standard diet of the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour party and their politically blind party loyalists.
The organization should now go forward and build constituency branches; seek to broaden its membership and commence selecting candidates for the next general elections. I am certain that on the present path, the PdP, would attract those who are genuinely fed up with the BLP/DLP unofficial coalition. A very tall order but not as insurmountable as many would have us believe. Therefore, I totally disagree with Comrade George Belle, who recently put the PdP, in his “mock” party column.
In conclusion, Reverend Atherley and his entire team, should be complimented for in many ways, keeping the flickering torch of democracy alive within our island state. I have no doubt that some of us who questioned, his elevation to Opposition leader, would now admit that to date, he has performed beyond expectations. Sometimes, fruit comes best from a twisted bough.
Only Caswell has worth and Value: The party can not solve Barbados problems, Many of them is Barbados problems, All they will do is drag out the problem base on MiaVirass cover up party, No matter what they do They All Still have to come My way, We can not cover up A Massive Land Fraud and PONZI and expect real Banks to give Loans for Growth! Clear Title Deeds is a Very Big Part of the Fix!, Drugs and Guns will leave us all dead, Nature Will take over! Too Many Crooks, Liars and Scumbags family, and lawyer friends sucking the money and Life out of Bajans, this party will end up like the DLP dead in the water! Bajan Life Matters, Bajan Land Matters, Bajan Law Matter !
@Bajan Free Party 2023 0r sooner June 13, 2020 11:53 AM
You have made some good points.
@Dr. Lucas
What are the good points?
What are the dimensions on which such an analysis has been made?
Where are similar analyses serving as comparisions and to buttress the central conclusion made?
Or are we to be content with the feel-good pleadings of the writer?
Or must we conclude that this polite intervention constitutes the heightened level of public discourse long evasive.
How could it be possible to make such a conclusion when otherwise determining that the country is a hyper political duopoly with the so-called pdp having no role.
Has the writer considered that some perceived victories have no lasting currency?
Yes, and while we accept that Sen Franklyn represents a deviation from the bankrupt political culture a genuine political party he, and he alone, does not make. For there is nobody else with him!
The so-called “opposition party” is opposition in name alone. We could already see that firm duopolistic control will re-assert itself next time around giving a patina of respectability to the elected dictatorship in Barbados.
Every time I see these clowns I reduce understanding their logic to this.
The organization should now go forward and build constituency branches; seek to broaden its membership and commence selecting candidates for the next general elections. I am certain that on the present path, the PdP, would attract those who are genuinely fed up with the BLP/DLP unofficial coalition. A very tall order but not as insurmountable as many would have us believe. Therefore, I totally disagree with Comrade George Belle, who recently put the PdP, in his “mock” party column.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I AGREE WITH THIS 100%.
UPP SEEMED TO HAVE DISAPPEARED AND UNFORTUNATELY SOLUTIONS BARBADOS CONTINUE TO PRESENT ITSELF AS A ONE MAN BAND.
PdP: Bajans must decide on Nelson statue
action this time. (FP)
More dialogue will be needed before the fate of the Lord Horatio Nelson statue is decided.
That is the view of the People’s Party for Democracy & Development (PdP) spokesperson for culture, Alan Springer, who encouraged Barbadians to air their views on whether the monument should remain in Heroes Square.
“I think it’s something Barbadians should discuss. I don’t think it’s my place here to give my thoughts on that,” Springer said.
He was speaking on Thursday at the Opposition Party’s offices at Worthing, Christ Church, during a press conference on its Alternative People’s Plan for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
Since the murder of black American George Floyd, whose death last month led to protests against police brutality and racism across the United States, the Black Lives Matter movement has led to the removal of numerous controversial monuments around
the world and reignited calls here to remove the statue from Heroes Square.
Some Barbadians and many who have signed an online petition believe the monument is just a reminder of British colonialism and should be moved.
“ Heroes Square needs to be a square for Barbados’ heroes. You might like to draw some conclusions from that but, certainly, it’s a decision Barbadians need to [make] and they need to come to a decision about the statue,” he added.
In the PdP’s plan, the party would give the National Cultural Foundation control of Heroes Square andIndependence Square, which they want to be developed as art spaces for street theatre and en plein air.
“ Heroes Square will be turned into an open-air museum with a genuine legacy to our heroes with statues and information pillars, giving a sense of style to the centre of Bridgetown,” Springer said. (TG)
Source: Nation newspaper
@ Pacha
Your response about “ feel good pleadings of the writer and polite interventions” does not address anything I have written.
Now take your time , read it again and then ask yourself one simple question: Did Skinner write the truth?
On his appointment, Mr. Price said he relishes the opportunity to work with the Board and staff to chart a new era for CBC.
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Chart a new era? In my lifetime? I’ll believe it when I see it
(Quote):
On his appointment, Mr. Price said he relishes the opportunity to work with the Board and staff to chart a new era for CBC. He said the agency needs to utilise digital technology more to offer services to advertisers and the public, and in so doing become self-financing. (Unquote).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
But how can this lofty goal be achieved without ready access to significant amounts of cheap funding badly needed for the ‘real’ restructuring of the Corporation?
The Corporation’s costly-to-maintain infrastructure and partisan politically-controlled listening and viewing offerings belong to a bygone age.
The internet and social media will put the final nail in the CBC coffin.
The only alternative is for the Corporation to divest itself of those assets and broadcasting rights for their scrap value.
Why not sell the TV rights to Flow or some other investor willing to gamble in a fast-changing market of mass communication and broadcasting?
@WS
your truth lies in the statement ‘keeping the flickering torch of democracy alive’. For democracy lies beyond the peaceful exchange, or continuation of government, after each general election. It has many components. Democracy in many of our public entities is out. The ‘torch’ may exist, but no one has attempted to light it in eons. We face a near island wide outage.
And while democracy flickers, the vestiges of accountability (beyond the ballot box) are equally sporadic. Rules, and in some cases laws, are flagrantly ignored. In fact, it has become the norm.
Hence, it is easy to see, even for those who do not support the pDp, or any third party, to find ‘hope’ within the construct of their fledgling party, and the contributions of their appointed Senators. It is human nature to find cause for optimism.
@ Northern Observer
Well put, my friend.
If Sanka Price intends to start with a fresh sheet, are we now going to get an annual business plan, including accounts? Is he going to publish a statement of plans in two to three months, including a road map for improving the journalism and programming?
Small “d” democracy cannot coexist within an establised duopoly.
Those who meme about keeping democracy alive must certainly be from Mars or somewhere like that.
How could the once leading proponent of b/d/lp as representative of such a duopoly could now see dominant democratic tendencies to be in some sort of coexistence.
@ Pachamama
In the context of what now exists within our parliamentary system and how we are currently governed the position I took regarding democracy is more than correct. Our democracy has functioned with a government and opposition. The opposition , within that system , has performed admirably. This system if parliament consists of 30 seats and the government has 29 , it is obvious that the party of 1 which in this case makes up the opposition has to be assessed from that angle. That is the reason for saying keeping a “ flicker” of democracy alive. You have missed the entire point of the article. You are taking an objective commentary and turning it into a defense of a system.
Two years ago you began to predict that DLP would have been beaten. You were mainly putting an opinion out there. I did not see your position as a defense of the BLP.
Once again , I suggest you read the article very slowly and then you would perhaps get where I am coming from. It was nothing more than a mere commentary. Read it again very slowly.
@William
We have a default opposition. A man who ran on a government ticket and had an epiphany after the result. Where is the will of the people in all this? The honourable thing for Atherley to have done, resign his seat and allow the people of the riding to legitimize the process.
@ David
Please note that I have said before that Atherley hit the “ political jackpot” with the move he made.
Did Haynes, Miller, Byer and Bourne resign from the DLP ? Did the NDP that did not win any seats go back to the people when Haynes usurped Forde and became Opposition Leader?
We do not have any system of recall.
You will note that at the end of the article I wrote: “ Sometimes fruit comes best from a twisted.” I meant that while Atherley became Opposition Leader by somewhat dubious constitutional means, the Opposition itself has performed admirably. “ Our BU associate Caswell has made us proud and Crystal Drakes has emerged as one of the better thinkers in Economics. The party’s spokespersons are on the ball and Atherley has surpassed expectations in parliamentary debate.
That is the truth. And that is all the article is really about. Are the taxpayers being properly served by the Opposition- they are.
Senator Caswell Franklyn is now the mostrustedpolitician/parliamentarian in the country. That should count for something.
@William
You have just added to the wart on our democratic system. Besides citing precedent what can be done to advance the situation?
Respond to this comment by replying above this line > New comment on Barbados Underground > > * William Skinner commented on PDP Keeping Torch of Democracy Alive > > * > > Submitted by William Skinner Any objective analysis of the Opposition > Peoples Democracy Party (PdP), would conclude that the … > > @ David > Please note that I have said before that Atherley hit the “ political > jackpot” with the move he made. > Did Haynes, Miller, Byer and Bourne resign from the DLP ? Did the NDP that > did not win any seats go back to the people when Haynes usurped Forde and > became Opposition Leader? > We do not have any system of recall. > You will note th
@ David
You are correct. The wart is there. Perhaps if we want to change things we should look at how a party got 23% of the vote and ended with no seats as well but that’s how the system works at present.
So, it ain’t only Atherley’s wart. 😁
@ Mr. William Skinner
De ole man is surprised that de Honourable Blogmaster let you publish this
But then de ole man noted that after allowing you to publish it HE CAME BACK and posted two non related topics in the middle of your serious posit
Heheheheh
De ole man does see things like this including that as soon as you said *** a fellow by name of *** appeared!
Why is that? Heheheheh
But I will mention what you said and I quote
“…Senator Caswell Franklyn is now the most trusted politician /parliamentarian in the country.
Heheheheh
Now I Piece the Prophet have oted that you have spoken great truth in that superlative AND de ole man wonders how “That CAN BE MADE TO count for something.”
De ole man gine share did point with you!
All the “currency” that Caswell has IT SERVES FOR NOTHING , if he and his part do not do one thing!
What is that thing?
De ole man gine leave you wid that question and come back and see if you or anyone here can answer that question
It late so I got to go and go sleep heheheheh
@ Mr William Skinner
Good morning Mr. Skinner and others of the BU blog de ole man notes dat noyone returned to answer the question posed so I will help you along!
Interestingly enough the PdP needs to improve its social media campaigns and VISIBILITY!
an article of this nature, AS RARE AS IT IS TO HAVE A TOPICAL SLOT ON BARBADOS UNDERGROUND, is not an article to waste!
First of all this article was composed by an author who has impeccable credentials!
When you write few people attack you personally, most got to the topic.
But here is a perfectly names topic BUT NOT ONE OF THEM HAS COME TO BU to engage!
Why is that? (I will not respond because I will expose their obvious weaknesses)
But back to yesterday’s question!
WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT THE PdP MUST DO?
They must produce jobs!
De ole man is reminded of Genesis 41 which reads
“…56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands…”
The SOLE UNDERTAKING OF THE PdP Mr. Skinner is to find jobs.
They have to become the granary for the country IN THIS TIME OF NEED!
All the pretty talk IS NOT GOING TO MEAN ANYTHING at election time IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO provide grain in this time!
It is in this regard that I, Piece the Prophet (formerly the Legend Legend heheheh dat does get dem vex bad) it is here that I sadly must agree with Dr. George Belle.
The PdP is doomed to win a few seats IF IT CANNOT CREATE JOBS!
ohhhhh and de ole man, now Piece the Prophet, prophesies that the Reverend Joseph Atherley is going to LOSE HIS, should he run for office again!
@ Piece
Points are well taken but I remain firm that the PdP performance to date does not qualify it for Comrade Bell’s “mock party” designation or description.
I once proposed to the NDP that we embark on a series of meetings with small farmers and fisherfolk etc. The purpose would have been to create community cooperatives to attract people to those skills thereby educating them and getting them to see the possibility of selling fish vegetables directly in their communities and hopefully creating employment opportunities. The idea never materialized.
The political landscape is now wide open for ideas about employment . The PdP must now break out on a national effort to bring ideas that can be implemented quickly. Even two or three hundred jobs coming from such ideas would be attractive to voters .
So, philosophically and from a political strategy position, you have once again exposed that you are a thinker of considerable depth.
The PdP must realise that intense political activity and engagement is hard work . Believe me the lack of such was one of the NDP’s most fatal flaws.
Comerade Bell knows that too because his Workers Party failed spectacularly because of the same flaw.
The ball is now in Atherley’s court.
@ Mr. William Skinner
I have deep respect for Dr. Belle but, on this subject, i fear that he has lost his compass.
I think that he is still in that immovable mindset among those who believe that “Bajans are all a simple docile people, disposed to ONLY follow the DLP or BLP”
But neither he, nor Wickham, comprehend the new shift that is happening in Barbados where an entire nation of people IS TIRED of the old FAILED “5 YEAR CYCLE OF MEDIOCRITY” EXCHANGE!
SWAPPING OUT JOBBY & TOPSY EVERY 5 YEARS
These gents also cannot see the “we would vote for Ninja man’ mentality that has crept into the minds of bajans across the island, people who are “out to the baller” of our respective existences
I guess that such is the comfort that their lifestyles afford them that neither is in tune with de common man anymore.
But de ole man accepts that such calcified perspectives occur when (i) one is unwilling or (ii) incapable of identifying with the common man or (iii) with the efluxion of time when mortal man grows tired.
But I am Piece the Prophet who is not touched by any of the 3 afflictions immutable and “as constant as the northern star like who there is no fellow in the firmament! (Dat self adulation be for my fan club of adoring admirers)
So now to the wisdom of the ages
heheheheheheheheheehh
While I acknowledge that Reverend Atherley is well out of his depth, and concurrently, DOES NOT HAVE the trust of the electorate,
and while i will accept that Atherley, would in these times, POST HIS CROSSING OF THE FLOOR, BE UNABLE to impress ANY ELECTORATE of his patriotism
People need to unnerstand dat Atherley IS NOT the Third Party Movement!
No one is interested in Atherley BUT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN CASWELL.
You said and de ole man quotes
“…The political landscape is now wide open for ideas about employment .
The PdP must now break out on a national effort to bring ideas that can be implemented quickly.
Even two or three hundred jobs coming from such ideas would be attractive to voters…”
Boss thinking, Mr Skinner, Boss thinking. You in Hero Square all by youself and Nelson get give back to Englant!
So, what the PDP has to do is create 500 jobs in this trying economy.
BRILLIANT!!
De ole man got some additional ideas to discuss with you but dem gine get shared with you in upcoming exchanges
heheheheheheheheeheheeheheh
@ Piece
Thanks.
Crystal Drakes voted in the Senate to back BOSS. Is BOSS now PdP policy or is she a loose cannon? If it is policy, can someone plse explain why?
there an alternative to the “BOSS” which the Opposition, both in and out of Parliament’ can put forward?
The current administration is playing for time by kicking the real payroll cost reduction can down the road.
The ‘BOSS’ programme is a Hobson’s choice at this point in time and has a mere 6 to 8 months ‘running’ life.
After that the real McCoy of payroll cost reduction in the public service will kick in.
A significant reduction in manpower costs must be achieved if those quarterly transfers to the SOEs are to be reduced in keeping with the real BERT now hiding behind the curtains of the Covid-19 requirements.
With a significantly reduced tax base which financial obligation would have priority?
Pay workers the ‘full’ non-BOSS portion of their salaries or meet the increasing debt obligations as private sector suppliers experience growing difficulties in receiving settlement of invoices from both the central government and the cash-strap SOEs.
@ Miller June 18, 2020 9:01 PM
[Is] there an alternative to the “BOSS” which the Opposition, both in and out of Parliament’ can put forward?
The outspoken senator is now demanding a drastic reduction in top positions in government and administration. He’s a plagiarist! Hasn’t Tron been calling for centuries, maybe millennia, for this? I should sue him … I’m not gonna sue him, because there’s nothing to be gained from his paltry senatorial allowance.
Anyway, the senator stops halfway since he is a unionist: Reducing top jobs will only bring in 2 or 3 percent of the necessary savings. We have to cut down he large human overhead, the civil servants in the S and Z grades. An administrative reform urgently requires a 50 percent reduction in salaries in the S grade and a reduction in the number of employees by 30-50 percent in both grades.
Of course the outspoken senator lacks the courage for such a progressive demand which would free the masses from the second slavery of Barrow´s deep welfare state.