Last week the four main opposition political parties announced they will combine forces to support one candidate in the by-election to be held on the 11 November 2020 in St. George North. Leading political commentator @budavid described the move has “shrewd”and one that finally demonstrated a level of political maturity not witnessed since universal suffrage in the Caribbean.
When asked to elaborate by international foreign affairs correspondent @Pachamama, @budavid indicated adversarial politics was the vestige of a colonial past and had demonstrably failed to optimally define the people of the island state of Barbados. He stated, “we are a homogenous society and a consensus type of politics should be the alternative to determine the future of our small predominantly Black nation- and to ensure the hopes of a proud small island developing state are realised and fears are assuaged“.
The entrenched incumbent political party has implemented and supported a raft of polices on winning office which have weakened the voice of the opposition and served to destabilize the system of governance as envisaged by the framers of the Westminster system which the country has parodied. Two polices continuing to attract scathing critique from the BU intelligentsia are the politics of co-option and the reluctance of the incumbent and entrenched government to relax the rule governing a subvention for opposition political parties.
And the politics of inclusion practised by the incumbent party reared its head again last week with the head of the largest trade union fast tracked for membership in a record setting one week to support her candidature in St. George North. The leader of the incumbent party admitted party rules had to be ‘abridged’ to accommodate the new member.
The incumbent political party has dismissed repeated calls to relax the rule that prevents a subvention to political parties who have not faced the electorate. @budavid recently reminded the prime minister from the #barbados_underground that she had a “duty of care” as primus inter pares and guardian of our democracy to be bipartisan when treating with certain matters. She was also reminded that there was no hesitation by the government she represents to amend the Constitution for less important matters as reflected in Hansard.
The shrew decision of the Opposition parties to coalesce behind the candidate with the best chance to win has resonated across Barbados and resulted in the needle on the Political Apathy Index (PAI) shifting +10 – the most significant movement in 40 years. A desirable outcome of the tectonic shift in political sentiment has resulted in the redundancy of political pollsters.
That the political system has mechanisms by which political parties can reach a compromise even though they disagree on policies. In Sweden, difficult issues are sent to a commission on which all the parties and key interest groups are represented in order to reach an agreement, and, in Austria, Government, business and the trade unions agree on the main economic policies and the left and right parties accept what has been agreed.
Britpolitics
@budavid throws his support behind the move by the main opposition parties to embrace a consensus style of politics and hopes that it will be the catalyst for a transformation event to a consensus style of democracy. For too long the hopes and aspirations of a proud people have been superseded by the paramountcy of the political party.
What the DLP and the other opposition parties must press for, is not the Americanised nonsense of television debates, but to get all the candidates sitting in a hall answering live and spontaneous questions from the audience.
The artificiality of a television studio, with known journalists who are deferential almost to a creeping style, to politicians, will not be as forensic as untrained questions from a curious public.
Further, journalists want to maintain a working relationship with the politicians, while the general public do not.
Interesting column by Dr. Tennyson Joseph.
Nobody listening to Mottley with her mock talk about televised debate
This woman promised transparency and in two years has yet to delivered
Now pretending to be having a televised
People already know that the debates are smoke and mirror circus shows
This observation of the politics of division by the president, has come a bit late, but it is still necessary. It is clear, even when compared with the rules of Barrow and Tom Adams, that Mottley’s premiership is one of an autocrat, who appears not to consult her Cabinet and believes, mistakenly, that she rules the little Barbadian universe.
As to the marginalising of the Pan-Africanists, in the person of Mr Prescod, what was and is interesting about that development was the role played by David Commissiong, who, it is said, set himself up as a middle man liaising between the president and the dismissed minister.
If true, it was Commissiong’s role which undermined the Pan-Africanists position, which had the president on the back foot. First, she brought him in to the fold over the Hyatt proposed development, then she gave him the freedom to interfere with non CARICOM affairs.
Then we had the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, in which she played a duplicitous role then failed to make any comment, blaming, disgracefully, her position in CARICOM, a regional body of mainly black people; and, further, her position on the removal of the Nelson statue. Interestingly, she demoted the culture minister to a junior, with a desk in her office like a bag carrier.
But there is also a food chain and the president knows full well that if the state is, by far, the biggest employer in the country, and her rivals’ love ones are state employees on temporary contracts, and they have mortgages and other debt to pay off, then there is a limit to how much they can protest.
This is the perverse nature of Barbadian – Caribbean – politics. A vote every five years or so means the people giving up their freedoms for a given period, with no control over or say in the management of their democratic institutions.
Mottley is the politically sharpest person in public life in Barbados, and by far of the 28/9 others in parliament. There are no checks and balances on her dictatorship and the people are living in fear of losing their jobs.
It is the manifestation of a failed state and will end in tears.
@Hal,
on the ball. however, Pressie has no balls. he talked about white shadows behind party decisions but was silenced since he was given another pick. he was bought off. so much for pan africanists and their goals. and you have covered Commisiong. oh…the politics of collusion.
Mottley has climbed so high with false pretentious moves
Her tail is dragging to the ground
The idea that Mottley is genuinely in favour of having a debate is laughable
Only recently Caswell exposed Mottley as a person with sinister Motives all designed to benefit self interest
The country interest is all but an afterthought
@ Greene
Plse remind me, did Commissiong take part in any of the Black Lives Matter marches? This apologist for Cuban coffee-coloured racism is playing a very dangerous game. Keep your eyes on him, also note how the Nation and Barbados Today genuflect to his every whim.
@Hal
that is a rhetorical question obviously. Commissiong on a BLM march now that he is an Ambassador? really? when pigs fly, mate
@ Greene
Is Commissiong our ambassador to Cuba? Why do we allow these foreigners to come in to Barbados and take over?
@Austin how do you make statements like “Why do we allow these foreigners to come in to Barbados and take over?” and maintain equilibrium of credibility????
YOU sir a foreigner in a far away land who ‘took over’ in your own space and competences against locals just like the thousands of others who also superbly did similarly,
I hold no brief for the man but he has lived most of his life here due to his father moving here (dont recall if he was born here) and he has adopted this land as his own… like him or hate him at least give the man the same due care as any ‘foreigner’ who gave their life (in and) to England deserves.
SMH!
de pedantic DribblerOctober 8, 2020 9:52 AM Well said.
Hal, are you being deliberately provocative, or are you off the wagon today? That approach is wrong on so many levels, one of which dePendantic has addressed.
Whatever views one has on Commissiong’s worldview, there is no doubt that he speaks from his heart. He is a Caribbean man, a man who also seeks better for all, that has always been his way.
They allow random people like the Kings Beach hoodlum and the Paradise hoodlum, to come and others more recently, to come and make fortunes, then bolt, leaving huge sums owing to the NIS and employees without severance, yet you argue against a man who has done nothing of the sort, merely sought to improve things for the average Barbadian?
What is wrong with the Cuba that Commissiong supports? Against all odds and sanctions it has survived. All African, South American and Caribbean countries should open full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
After all, Cuba was instrumental in the liberation of more than one African nation, via soldiers and arms.
Yet you rally against this? Why?
Commissiong went to the same Crumpton Street that so many of Barbados leaders went to, as his father worked and lived here, as a Caribbean man. He was also one of those few at the school who really interacted with all at the school, where the colonial past still reflected boundaries of color and status and insular thinking, regardless of origin.
Maybe that was because he was indeed from a Guyanese background, not Barbadian.
Insularity is not a good look.
PDP and Crusoe do not take on Hal Austin anyone who can suppprt Mariposa in her shite talk cannot be serious.Mr Commisiong has championed many causes and has done far more than Hal Austin will ever do for Barbados.All he is good for is criticizing Ms Mottley and the government a total nuisance.
Off topic to Mr Ellis and Mr Clarke why continue with the foolishness of christmas in october on love Fm.Christmas music is for December and this to me is a real turn off.Please return the love music to love Fm at thos time of the year.The other thing i am not sure why they continue to give Mr Johnson 2 days on Brasstacks.I can understand Mr Ellis having two because his programmes tend to be exciting but i find Mr Johnson, s to be boring as certain persons do not call him therefore i beleive one day is good for him which would free up a day for Mr Wickham.
i didnt know Commissiong’s parent (s) were from Guyana?
i know he was rude to my gran when he almost ran her over whilst riding his scooter / motor cycle from home on Wanstead Heights to uni in 83 or 84.
@ Crusoe
I am not being provocative at all, Crumpton Street or no Crumpton Street. I feel strongly about the formation of new communities who then try to change the cultural direction of the very country they settle in to. If I had my way I would close Crumpton Street down and build apartments on the site.
Commissiong regularly finds himself on the other side of the ordinary black Barbadian. At some point we must stop being polite and question this.
I am sure you are aware, we have the same thing in the UK with the spread of CoVid. Some communities, for religious and ethnic reasons, refuse to wear facial masks, gloves, use sanitisers etc and go around in groups in public. Only last week we had an illegal wedding of 200 guests in East London. The result is that the spread of the virus in certain locations is reaching crisis point.
The politicians know, the media know, neighbours know who the culprits are, yet they refuse to call out these people.
As to Commissiong, I am not so sure he has a political heart. I know he has a lot of inconsistent ideas. Commissiong appears regularly to support the coffee-coloured Cubans’ and Venezuelans’ exclusion of black people from the mainstream of their nations’ lives and constantly finds apologies for them. Is this a coincidence?
When Raul Castro retired and was replace by Diaz-Canel, who immediately promoted a number of black people, both in the party and the state apparatus, we had a discussion here on BU and I raised the same points and Commissiong said we should give them a chance.
But the Castros had an opportunity since 1959 and failed black Cubans. I think he does not find it strange that these coffee-coloured people should relegate black people to the back of the bus, as long as their political hearts are in the right place.
You mentioned that Cuba was involved in the struggles in Angola and Mozambique, which is true, and they have done some wonderful work there. However, the late CLR James, the Trinidad-born Marxist philosopher and thinker of Barbadian heritage, visited Cuba in the Spring of 1968, and never talked about Cuba or the Castros again up until he died. In this he was like Che Guevara and his distancing himself from the revolution. There must have been a reason.
I also suggest you talk to the many ex-Cubans, not all rightwing Floridians, and get their views about Cuba under the Castros.
This is not new, and has sailed through the blood of Marxist since Karl Marx’s daughter, Laura, married the coloured Cuban Paul Lafargue. Marx was not a happy man. Race brings out the nasty side of Marxists. Just go back to the New York of the 1950s and 60s, or read Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison, among many.
As to being an immigrant, it is like inviting someone in to your home who then sets about telling you how to rearrange the furniture. I am a Caribbean person, and have not the slightest objection to his promoting Caribbean unity. I want regional unity, but not at any price. By the way, I thought he was Grenadian/Trinidadian, but it does not matter.
As we are at it, I cannot understand @Pedantic’s debating style and interventions and would prefer not to have anything to do with him, but he clearly finds it fascinating trying to challenge me. It is not his fault, but mine. I just cannot understand his logic..
I do not normally mind these things. In fact, I enjoy them, but his reasoning is above my pay grade, whether it is about how we define unemployment, ‘facts’ as per New York Times reports, or now, about the role of immigrants in a new society, i miss it completely.
@ Greene
I rest my case. If you cannot respect ordinary elderly black people, then all you say about their welfare is fake.
@Hal
he was a young guy at the time so i wont hold that against him
“In fact, I enjoy them, but his reasoning is above my pay grade, whether it is about how we define unemployment, ‘facts’ as per New York Times reports, or now, about the role of immigrants in a new society, i miss it completely.”
I find it absolutely HILARIOUS that you find my logic incomprehensible. But it’s also interesting that to disagree with YOUR perspective is to ‘CHALLENGE’ you, which is your way of saying ‘how dare you critic me’!
If you perceive that you are beyond criticism or disagreement then so be it … but please try to be a bit more rational about logical progressions!
An expat foreigner working diligently away from his homeland should be the LAST person condemning another ‘foreigner’ for his/her diligent work… if that’s illogical to you then think of it as hypocrisy or more simply as the pot calling the kettle a sweaty tin-can so and so!
I gone!
@ Greene
Our values stay with us for life. If he was at university then he was an adult. We can forgive, but never forget. I was once in Grand Bahama and my friends introduced me to an old Bajan headteacher.
At the time he had been there for over 30 years and they still refused to grant him citizenship. He only became a citizen when a politician he had taught at school pulled a few strings.
I remember the Bahamians were so hostile to him, even his daughter called him a foreigner. When he saw a friendly face, he took out an old bottle of Mount Gay, probably which he had brought with him from Barbados. And, although I am not a rum person, out of respect I had to have a sip.
Have you ever met Bajans families in the UK with children born in Barbados and those born in the UK? Two different tribes.
@ Pedantic
Here you go again. I have said I do not understand your reasoning and so avoid having any discussion. Now you say I think I am above criticism. I could not explain it better myself. I have not said any such thing. You have jumped to a conclusion.
I do not perceive anything. My use of challenge does not mean to fight, but to debate and I cannot debate with you because your logical sophistication is above my level of education.
Your bit on expat foreigner working from home is exactly what I mean by misunderstanding. @pedantic, you are a level above mine. To paraphrase Jurgen Habermas, before two people can have a conversation they must agree on the ground rules. We do not have any such agreement. Not because of you, but because of me.
Let us end it there and avoid each other in future.
@Hal,
Ok, I get where you are coming from. Will take a look for those writings that you mentioned.
There is much paradox in racial cultural aspects of society in the Caribbean and South America. One other example, is the very strong systemic racism in Brazil, of which I only learned a few years ago. I was shocked to think that a country that produced the great Pele so many years ago, still would not let people of darker skin on the television as anchors even.
How must Pele have felt, knowing of all that he did, yet people like him were not accepted fully? Or, is there even a fully? Either you are accepted or not.
But for such a country to still ostracise a majority of the population, even now, is nothing short of astounding. To be allowed to do it. But that is what systemic racism is, occurs and all known, but no one says a word?
Nevertheless, on the bigger picture, Cuba has still done much good, even if as you say, the Castro regime did bad too.
On Commissiong’s origin, maybe I am wrong, I remembered Guyana, not sure.
exactly. i dont have to met them to know. i went thru that sibling thing. completely different mind set. i am so glad i was allowed to finish my schooling in Bim. the UK was so different and my siblings were like foreigners to me and I to them. they still are. that is why i will return to Bim to live and why most of my true friends are bajans i went to school with.
there are some good qualities to the UK. and i have made some good friends there but i prefer Bim with all its warts and all. i just hope that we could get our act together and dont see bajans who lived overseas as enemies.
there should be an overseas bajan career bank where bajans could tap into the knowledge and experience of returning national who would give freely of their time. instead we are relegated to remittancers thank you
@ Crusoe
@ Greene
Welcome on board. There is the theory and there is the reality. The coffee-coloured people of Brazil are more racist than white Europeans; to say that is almost an insult. But have you ever interacted with the South Americans in Clapham or Brent?
The same with even with your English-born siblings. We jump from this reality in to the Pan-Africanist ideal of brotherhood. You both know that Londoners born one side of the river do not like those born the other side and all of the UK dislike Londoners.
Even in Barbados we have men and women, nearly all pensioners, who still sulk about why their parents left them in Barbados to go to Britain. Some of them are bitter and twisted and fail to see the reality that the parents had to leave Barbados to get a job to support them with their remittances.
I have some Chinese friends and we talk in a kind of code: I will ask, for example, if a new girlfriend/boyfriend is a BBC (British Born Chinese), then there will be some light-hearted joke about BBCs not being real Chinese. They are all dismissive of Hong Kongers.
Who remembers the Biafran war in Nigeria? Or the terrorist attacks between the protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.
Elombe has espoused a position that the English speaking Caribbean should be regarded as one space. Go figure.
it was during British rule. so why not again?
Does that Caribbean space include Bermuda/Guyana and/ or The Bahamas? We have been here before will the result be any different from 60 years prior? 1 from 10 leaves nought
That’s a fair assessment and plan @Austin… You may hide behind your deliberate word games as you wish…
We come to the blog to debate and take apart the various points raised and YOU sir have no more of a ‘do non-take-apart pass’ to play pretty word games than anyone else will get.
Were I the ONLY blogger who finds your language hypocritical then ur “it’s me not you” folly may have passed muster but surely it can’t be all the others too who are so illogical.
@Crusoe, maybe I have misread of misunderstood your remarks above re Brazil, as I am shocked that only now is your realization of the colourism/racism of that nation.
As much as they loved Pele the nation is grossly racist. Even when the maestro was a Minister (or whatever govt post he had) until recently (last time I checked) the number of Afro-Brazilians in Congress, Executive corp positions, key leaders in society or in governance leadership was abjectly minuscule… Brazil afterall has the largest population of African (Blacks) outsize of the continent.
On that @Austin’s (and Cuba too) rhetoric is quite correct.
Hal
I just cant understand why they give such a hard time time here on BU. A lesser man would have given up.
@ Carson
They do not really know me. They think they do. I was born and raised in the Ivy. Do you think a few flies on BU will intimidate me?
IT IS WELL known the flies do not intimidate shit. right DPD? yuh fly . whaloss
@Dpd, I only understood that about Brazil a few years ago.
We see the facade of football internationals , beautiful women of all hues at carnival, but not the workings of state so much.
Because of the high proportion of people of African origin there and the international facade, could not conceive that it could be so structurally racist.
But looka muh crosses
Reifer open mout in SGN. shamed the govt and things getting started in SGN
But look muh crosses SGN had a long standing minister for 26 years and the place was running away with bush
Reifer keep hitting them sixes people listening and watching
26 years SGN running away with bush
Reifer shows up and less than two weeks big things happening
Respect due
He up in there for 26 years and the Constituency still PISS POOR. But he. he RICH, RICH, RICH.
He claiming to “”represent”” the people. And represent himself. Houses, land, Apartments, Cars, Women, and the list goes on. Now another joker from the BLP told it is her turn to do the dog up in SGN.
@Carson
If someone has a lifestyle that his/her declared earnings cannot justify, that is a prima facie case for a forensic investigation.
A good set of the contributions here are vomitous–the lies, half-truths and hypocrisy. Can’t wait for the by-election to end.
Clarke should be locked up for taking tax payers nothing and doing nuttin
Now Mia gets rid of him and puts another do nothing representative called Moore(lol) who did nothing to represent Union members in two years while she draw a salary from money placed in govt revenue from tax payers
The long and short govt has no intentions of helping the people ofSGN
When election over govt would stop the cleaning
What a bunch of jokers teking SGN people fuh fools
the jokers are in here spewing it. SGN already know who clarke was and that he his family was “well off” even before he entered politics. Even people outside SGN know this. so you fools can continue!
They do not really know me. They think they do. I was born and raised in the Ivy. Do you think a few flies on BU will intimidate me?
Hal Austin, you are easy to intimidate. When people disagree with or challenge you, you get very, very angry. To the point that you would go into the gutter to call them things like slimy pigs and social vermin. Then you does stop speaking to people and hold them in mind and would drop all kinds of nasty remarks.
You are the only man that does behave so on BU. The other men would disagree with each other and be men enough to praise each other’s post.
But you, you behave like a WHORE We shouldn’t be surprised because you say you used to be in a Nelson Street rum shop.
Men that does behave so are usually homosexuals. I believe you are a BULLER.
Mariposa as someone already told videos and social media don, t win elections hard work does.If this is Mr Reifer,s strategy he already on the road to defeat.As i said i respect Mr Reifer as a cricketer and coach but let, s be serious he is a rookie politician and can do little for the people in opposition.You know that, he knows that, and the people in SGN especially the youths he kerps speaking of knows that.As for CCC you might have well stayed buried and in hiding as Mr Phillips will win nothing so prepare for another loss in my view.Tell us you left the dems now and supporting Solutions?My advice to them is to keep you far from around them.
Now Reifer owns the bragging rights for exposing Clarkes record sending the blp party running for cover
Thanks to the videos and social media platforms
Refier momentum has exploded across social media with the help of a blp strategy which has blown up in their face
they say Reifer cant speak but Gline Clarke and Dddddwwwwwight Sutherland can?