Voter turnout by constituency extracted from caribbeansignal.com compliments of blogmaster Amit. In the euphoria of a BLP victory the government should be concerned at the diminishing interest by Barbadians to vote in elections since the 70s when the turnout hovered at mid-70s.
Are these table and graph complete?
@Vincent
If you click through to Amit’s site caribbeansignal.com he posted an explanation.
Low turnout was 100% predictable
O Election announcement after X’mas
O Uninspiring poor campaigning
O People were not interested
Winner was also predictable
O Second term winners usually win
O 30-0 result against DLP 2018
The issue here is not low voter turnout in 2022. It is how the voter turnout number has been trending in recent elections.
Now I am reading voter turn out could have been lower
So much for the beating over the head of the democratic process
As PM Sandiford once asked
How did we get here
I also asked whose heads are being buried in the sand
Have a nation of two hundred and seventy five thousand relinquished their power into the hands of a few
Sad but true after Wednesday results showing that the majority has closed the door on democracy
Where is the country heading only God knows
Nothing here to celebrate when a country national interest which relies on good governance has been sent a winner takes all postcard by 40.percent of the populace
Sad
I had the same question as Vincent.
It may be too late for Santa but I am hoping that Amit or someone can grant my wish
Constituency, eligible voters, voted DLP. Voted BLP, and voted others.
Alerting DLPTV to be on standby. I am coming again .
Also concerned about ‘number of electors’… Is that eligible voters,???
Waiting to comment.
“Nothing here to celebrate when a country national interest which relies on good governance has been sent a winner takes all postcard by 40.percent of the populace”
Political campaigns either attract voters or are a waste of time
the incumbent champion won again and the long shot outsider lost
DLP are banished from the House
@David
Wouldn’t have been wiser to allow Amit to complete his table before publishing it? As it stands people are commenting on incomplete data
@Sargeant
The blogmaster shared what Amit posted to his website. There is enough to chew on.
” Canada election saw 62% voter turnout amid COVID-19 challenges
By Staff The Canadian Press
Posted September 27, 2021
@Hants
Elections held during the pandemic in the Caribbean have been hovering in low 50’s.
@Hants
Voters can vote electronically and mail in Canada?
@ David who wrote ” Caribbean have been hovering in low 50’s.”
Barbados 39%.. That tells me the majority of Bajans don’t think voting is a right and a responsibility.
This Bajan-Canadian aka HANTS has always voted because I was taught that it was important to do so.
The Virus and the Votes: How is COVID-19 changing voter turnout in LAC?
https://www.latinamerica.undp.org/content/rblac/en/home/presscenter/director-s-graph-for-thought/the-virus-and-the-votes–how-is-covid-19-changing-voter-turnout-.html
If you talk to enough random people as I do any time I am waiting in line or congregated ANYWHERE you will hear the same answer.
The answer is that voting is a waste of time because politicians are all the same – UNTRUSTWORTHY AND ALL ABOUT THEMSELVES.
I make a point of chatting with people I do not know. Did it just yesterday for over an hour. That was the opinion
He is 38 and HAS NEVER VOTED.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley captured the St Michael North East riding without much effort – polling 3 216 to her nearest opponent’s 476.
it was less than her winning 4 553 performance in the 2018.
https://www.nationnews.com/2022/01/21/election-results-2022-st-michael-1/
Advantages and Disadvantages of The Post Voting System
https://www.uk-engage.org/2013/06/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-the-first-past-the-post-voting-system-2/
Barbadian Elections may be boring with low turnouts but at least they are peaceful with no acid throwing or shootings
People have to be waiting and anticipating voting
they did not have that emotion 3.5 years in a term
too much elections and politics is a massive turn off
It doesn’t matter who rules over you
they will always fall short anyway
A low voter turn out was expected; and so it was. No change in composition of HoA ; and there was none. Business as usual after that unnecessary interruption. But should there be less trivial analyses.? Yes. There are issues that require deeper understanding and meaningful solutions. Issues that generate lots of discussion but no meaningful or useful solutions should be discouraged.
@Vincent
The one difference is the red bishop. The wait is on.
How about President Mason reappointing Caswell to the Senate?
@ David, re your query.
” There are several ways to vote:
Vote on election day
Vote on advance polling days
Vote at any Elections Canada office
Vote by mail
https://electionsanddemocracy.ca/canadas-elections/canadas-election-process/elections-step-step
Donna I chasing 60 and never voted here or there.
Came to that conclusion long ago
@Donna
Always chatting up the younger fellas?
(just b4 Lawson arrives)
In numbers I like consistency. However the causal factors are attributed, they appear to be consistent.
@Hants
AND…in bank to back elections, the GoC was formed by a party with 33% of the vote, and Losing the popular vote.
The anomalies of the system are interesting.
Wusser when you see the coalitions of Europe et al
Looking at the data shown so far, the percentage of ‘eligible voters’ who voted may be above 39%. Possibly 40nuff.
Waiting anxiously.
Trevor P should go for opp- leader he know how to crossover, plus his age
@watchman
The piece a change would come in handy too.
@ David Bu at ! :29 PM
” A piece of change”? Is that who we are? Shame on you for thinking thus. Thoughts have wings.
It would be a very brave man or woman who will sacrifice his future political career to do what Rev Atherly did last time. Nobody thank him then. They even vilified him. The constitution says nothing about the necessity for a leader of the opposition in the lower House. Let it be this time around. The Electorate has spoken more emphatically for the secound time.
@David Bu
You right Bro , he will have everything to win, and make a name while leaving the political game. He can invite the young political aspirants and create a party, 4-5 years.
@ David Bu at 1 :35 PM.
He expected it last time and it did not come forth . Why should it come “fifth” now? Lol !! Who of those she chose last time do you wish her to eliminate? Is there a constitutional problem in having an Upper House with two members short?
@David, good sir u created your own problem. I agree that there is more than enough to chew on above as three missing constituencies will NOT change the trend but why present only 2022 and yet opine “The issue here is not low voter turnout in 2022. It is how the voter turnout number has been trending in recent elections.”🤦🏽♂️… There is extensive historical election data on caribbeanelections.com as well as the statistician Amit’s excellent site.
But to your point of continued low turnout…this has been discussed at length often here. It’s an everlasting topic and I am not aware of any compelling evidence that says a high turnout (in the European countries historically) has developed any superior elected corps than in most of the Americas (where turnout is generally low). If anyone can show that evidence please do.
We can slice and dice this topic 30 or 130 different ways but right here right now in Bim in the last 4 years our system worked PERFECTLY !… An inept, clueless government was dismissed comprehensively in 2018 with a decent turnout… the SYSTEM worked. Then the imperious almost autocratic but industrious and seemingly competent govt was comprehensively re-elected…. with a much lower turnout… in THE MIDDLE OF A CONTAGIOUS PANDEMIC!
Yes turnout is a pertinent point but really not much beyond the normal political scientific spiel…Bajans effectively and essentially acted the same way in 2022 @ 40% as they did in 2018 @ a 60% turn out… it seems we are NOW seeing a REALLY BIGGER problem ! Why???
But are we concerned for the right reasons… it’s not turnout (amidst a contagion) … it’s HOW this admin will use their unprecedented mandate and can they be curtailed if they go off the rails!
@Dee Word
Created what problem?
You are analyzing the issue ‘ass backwards’. We elect members of parliament from a pool of individuals in society who feel inclined to offer themselves for public service. If a large chunk of citizens are apathetic and have disengaged from the system, to what extent has it affected the talent pool to assure a good quality MP?
@VC
“A piece of change”? Is that who we are?”
Recall the Charity Donville donated those $US to?
@NO
How about the 75k cheque gifted to the late OSA?
Are these table and graph complete?
@Vincent Codrington
No, 3 constituencies are missing data. At the time I made the post (Jan 21 around 2 PM), numbers were sourced from The Nation (which did not have data for St. Joseph, St Thomas and Ch. Ch. West Central). I checked The Nation website today and there is still no data for the 3 constituencies. Hoping they will publish it soon.
Kind regards,
Amit.
Also concerned about ‘number of electors’… Is that eligible voters,???
Waiting to comment.
@TheOGazerts
Yes, number of electors are those persons that are eligible to vote, but as we know, being eligible to vote does not mean someone will vote.
Based on the numbers for 2022 and 2018, it would be interesting if some type of independent research/survey of a significant portion of the electorate be undertaken re: if they didn’t vote recently, and why.
Kind regards,
Amit.
The same crooks who have funded the BUY VOTES election campaign for years , also funded this one, watch out for less and less people voting and more and more intimidation and vote buying..no one is keeping quiet anymore..
@David
Wouldn’t have been wiser to allow Amit to complete his table before publishing it? As it stands people are commenting on incomplete data
@Sargeant
Yes, ideally it would have been best to have info on 30/30 as opposed to 27/30 constituencies.
At the time I made my blog post (Jan 21, around 2 PM), my data source (The Nation website) did not have info on the 3 constituencies (which I made sure to mention in my post).
As David said, I felt that there was enough to chew on. I checked The Nation website today (around 2 PM) and there is still no info on the 3 constituencies. Will continue to check The Nation, and also Barbados Today.
Kind regards,
Amit.
Re TheOGazerts January 22, 2022 11:54 AM
Come as much as you want. I wasnt talking off the cuff…I checked the vote tallies in most constituencies in the 2022 elections especially those i thought the DLP had the greatest chance of wining. I also check the 2018 Election data
The CURRENT numbers in isolation would not have affected the seat result. Peter Wickham on Brass tacks last Friday stated that the voter turnout was 45%. I expected ~50% or less. There was a 60% voter turnout in 2018. In short it think was an unnecessary election in terms of timing. the BLP had a strong enough mandate in 2018 that they could have easily won a post May 2022 election even if it lost a few seats. The fact that voter turnout was reduced by 15% and the DLP was heavily beaten is an indictment of the DLP poor 2022 strategy and general lack of preparation.
LOL @David… ‘ass backwards’ you say.
Most nations (other than European democracies and places like Japan) embrace a 60% turnout rate with joy. And that has been our average for the last 5 election cycles … So in the middle of a very contagious pandemic when Bajans stayed away from polling booths BUT effected the SAME result as four years ago when they turned out reasonably strongly you accuse me of ‘back-asswards’ analysis!
Alright bro…not following your logic but if the other bloggers accept your moot that we are in a bad place because “a large chunk of citizens are apathetic and have disengaged from the system’ and despite a very BLP similar crew from 2018 we have a poor “talent pool to assure a good quality MP” then I am the odd man out.
I gotta be careful wid my positioning …fah sure.😂
@Dee Wors
Would you opine in your country references the citizenry is generally inclined to greater advocacy compared to their counterpart in Barbados?
In other words what are the causal factors behind voter turnout in those countries and to what extent are there compensating avenues for citizens to hold governments accountable.
Even thought Amits’ table is incomplete and the 39% total turnout is wrong…you just have to look at the voter turnout per constituency and there is a very consistent pattern of below 50% turnout. In short this election was one the electorate was least interested in in the history of Barbados. I personally was surprised Ms Mottley announced a general election on Dec 27 to happen 3 weeks later.
I am tending towards the idea of having fixed election dates as Dr Kristina Hinds was proposing or having a minimum length parliamentary term.
There is a red flag between Caswell and the supreme leader for a long time, so if the President elect Caswell to the Senate, the supreme leader will find a way to get rid of the upper house along with this president. Remember how EWB got rid of a Mottley from the City
You need to look down to the box level by electoral district.
The lowest will tell you where the show is headed.
The highest may engender a flicker of hope.
That’s the closest you will get to the individual.
30 – 0 is a loss for every single politician and with the turnout as low as it is and heading lower, it is more than a loss, it is an abysmal loss.
DavidJanuary 22, 2022 1:35 PM
How about President Mason reappointing Caswell to the Senate?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If there was a constitution that senate post would be called independent.
Caswell Franklin is not indepndent.
His is BLP tending to the party his sidekick the other BLPite formed.
2018 was a disaster for Barbados.
That any sensible person would not refer to Caswell as independent beggar belief.
Donna January 22, 2022 12:39 PM
“The answer is that voting is a waste of time because politicians are all the same – UNTRUSTWORTHY AND ALL ABOUT THEMSELVES.”
This mindset isn’t helping any. I mean you can say that about some (or most) politicians but they can be others working behind the scenes. You may not see an MP that is a MOF every week but if he he part of a Cabinet helping to bring our credit rating up, helping the poor get their $1300 reverse tax credit in a timely manner, giving us VAT free holidays at least he is helping all Barbadians and not only his constituency
Thanks Amit. I stand corrected.
I thought the population of Barbados was around 275K and was doubting your 266K.
From Google I learnt that our population was estimated at 301K in 2021 with 25K age 0-14. Your number appears very reasonable.
If Santa is nearby, tell him some want to see B and D columns.
—-*xx—–
I cannot resist this..
It looks as if Mia already has 24 of the required 80K.
@DLPTV
Here is what I am looking for. The smallest B minus D constituency value in 2022. If it is larger than 500, I will make a half hearted argument. If it is around 300, I will be (in the words ofJ2) be ‘scratching for votes’. I ignore all your references to 2018.
Don’t tell me
“The CURRENT numbers in isolation would not have affected the seat result’
Please give me the vote numbers or a link and let me see for myself.
The low voter turn out is disturbing but what is more disturbing is the election day practice of buying votes in all constituencies. Talk on the ground that this is real. The young people do not care that at one point in our history you had to own land to vote, now $100.00 can buy a vote. Part of that low percentage came from that sickening act. It is hard to prove because no-one will come forward to say that they received money to vote because it is illegal.
@Watchman
There is a red flag between Caswell and the supreme leader for a long time, so if the President elect Caswell to the Senate, the supreme leader will find a way to get rid of the upper house along with this president
+++++++
I didn’t pay much attention to the DLP’s manifesto but one of its promises was an “Elected Senate”, that could be one way to get rid of a recalcitrant Senator
Northern,
I am a former teacher and youth worker.
Besides which, when you chat up random old men they run their hand up your leg.
‘Would you opine in your country references the citizenry is generally inclined to greater advocacy compared to their counterpart in Barbados? […] In other words what are the causal factors behind voter turnout in those countries and to what extent are there compensating avenues for citizens to hold governments accountable.”…… @David, of course they are simply because the risk-rewards ae greater and more importantly the lack of homogeneity which we basically have in Bim.
The principal causal factors for protest are well known: race/ethnicity, religious differences and deeply rooted ideological convictions… none of which engage Bajans at a level to cause continued anger and agitation…
So just one topical reference in this brevity: Reflect on the then raging debates fueled by Dean Crichlowe on the religious purity test re homosexuality… that was evidenced with the rather self-defeating argument of ‘no condoms’ at Glendairy; strident opposition to cruise ships docking with with gay guests etc. and all that… despite of course the reality of gay men in our cabinet (prior)… the point there is that for all the NOISE then, Bajans elected folks who were known as gay even as they ‘protested’. Definitely more a contrived PROTEST community compared to the folks up north and in Europe.
And yes again we do NOT effect our avenues to hold our govt accountable other than at the ballot box. We really never have and that will not change in any incremental way. Something significant needs to happen where the change is FORCED on us. What/ how that will be… I have no idea….but this is as good a time as any for that forced act to materialize!
@Donna,
Your assertions has puzzled me for some time vi must break my silence.
Would random old men take such liberties?
Wouldn’t having wives and daughters modify their behavior?
Wouldn’t fear of an angry boyfriend, husband or relative be at the back of their mind?
What of fear if the law?
People need to calm down and stop being Drama Queens
there is no constitutional crisis
just an old redundant constitution
that needs replacing by level heads
what are the allegations of vote buying in 2022
sounds like more goss
@ Vincent Codrington January 22, 2022 1:43 PM
(Unquote):
It would be a very brave man or woman who will sacrifice his future political career to do what Rev Atherly did last time. Nobody thank him then. They even vilified him. The constitution says nothing about the necessity for a leader of the opposition in the lower House. Let it be this time around. The Electorate has spoken more emphatically for the secound time.
(Unquote).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh!
Is the use of the phrase “There Shall be a Leader of the Opposition” no longer implicit of the necessity for an elected member to serve in that capacity?
Aren’t there specific functions which ‘mandate’ the involvement of the Leader of the Opposition in the decision-making process before laws and edicts become Constitutionally valid and binding?
If the people’s Parliament can do without a ‘Leader of the Opposition’ in its lower chamber it can certainly function similarly and just as effectively without A Senate.
Why duplicate a mere rubber-stamping body at the already overburdened taxpayers’ expense?
Do the people have a say in the selection of members to the Senate?
In the absence of a Constitutionally appointed Leader of the Opposition (LoO) the President will have to fill that breach and perform the duties of the LoO, either directly or indirectly, as set out in the existing Westminster-based Constitution.
@TheO
Before you jump down the🐇 hole 😜
Have you forgotten when the Caricom squatting took off?
When the only new roads led to areas to ‘promote squatting’.
So the population may be higher than an official count….but….it may appear both sides have a hand in this 🍪 jar?
https://www.instagram.com/jamaicagleaner/tv/CY_0KCOL3e9/
Donna
Wait. Yah tellin’ muh you is accustomed going much younger…lol
You go girl!
None ah dis subtle old man bad behaviour, pose yah question, get on with it or be gone! And remember, effin my son home, you is a plumber, and come back another time.
The case for proportional representation is very strong.😃
Not voting – 18 seats
BLP – 8 seats
DLP – 4 seats
As leader of the not voting party, how do I get my supporters to vote …
@ David BU:
How about making voting compulsory except for those who are incapable because of sickness, either physical or mental, or absence due to travel?
How about using the upcoming opportunity of a revised Constitution to reflect the expectations of the more sophisticated (so-called educated) citizens like electronic voting the same way the current administration is ‘talking’ digitizing the economy and wider society?
The only concern about this way forward is the security and confidentiality surrounding the option of electronic voting over the internet.
But isn’t there a major push towards on-line banking and digital payments system for the ordinary man with access to a computer/cellphone/internet?
If Bajans want to maintain their democratic rights to select the government of their choice which reflects the expectations of the majority of citizens then they must be prepared to exercise equal responsibility by participating in the achievement of that ultimate political objective.
@Miller
The blogmaster is all for radical reform. Let us wish for good national debate if it comes on the new constitution.
I (imputed) gave the 3 missing constituencies, the lowest percentage in the table … 36% each.
I used this to compute a total score and then get a new average percentage 42.6
I expect the final percentage to be in this region, if the numbers given do not change or the non reporting constituencies do not have ‘new lows’.
It is reported elsewhere voter turnout is 45%.
@ David January 22, 2022 5:49 PM
Radical reform resulting in meaningful changes in the economy and wider society must be undertaken if Barbados is going to survive as a viable state with the potential (still) to punch above its (fly) weight in the grand scheme of global things dictated by the international heavyweights.
You cannot promote Barbados to the modern Western countries using the Welcome Stamp programme while having laws on the books which reflect the ‘hypocritical’ moral views of some political systems found in places like Afghanistan and Uganda.
Reconciling numbers in the rumours dong the rounds
If Voting lists contain people who have left the realm or earthly plane
then 100% votes would not be possible
If people were paid to vote (albeit in secret)
then voting turnout would be a lot higher
Kiki…you would have to be on the ground to get the full story.
DavidJanuary 22, 2022 7:10 PM
It is reported elsewhere voter turnout is 45%
Xx xc
The fact being the numbers being low remains a poke in the eyes of govt and politicians
In.simple terms
Democracy became a hot mess on Wednesday 19th Jan 2022
“Kiki…you would have to be on the ground to get the full story.”
are you on the ground
or have an ear to the ground
I thought you were a bbd leaver
both…you will need to speak to the people who were right there and saw the whole mess play out…they can give you a better timeline of events, it’s no secret and no one is trying to hide anything, this is a road that can lead to violence, and is cause for concern…let them keep it up..
TheOGazertsJanuary 22, 2022 5:46 PM
The case for proportional representation is very strong.😃
Not voting – 18 seats
BLP – 8 seats
DLP – 4 seats
As leader of the not voting party, how do I get my supporters to vote …
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The NDP has returned to haunt the scene as the NVP.
There are pros and cons to both first past the post and proportional representation.
It seems buying votes
and taking the money
are both illegal
who would have thunk it
All you have to do to appreciate just how low the turnout was and was expected to be is to reckon off the small stretches of roads that got resurfaced in the various constituencies.
I saw COW Williams working on one at 7:00pm the night before the elections opposite the service Station in My Lord’s Hill.
Then there was the Pilgrim Place stretch and the Providence stretch to the ABC highway.
I am sure others can add more.
The BLP pulled out all the stops and the afternoon of the election its constituency office started phoning around to beg people to vote.
The only thing I did not see was corn beef.
Bajans have developed more sophisticated tastes.
David BU
A few days ago you posted a newspaper article which carried some comments by Lucille Moe , who amongst other comments – stated that she is afraid of Mia Mottley.
Would you by any chance since the general election results of Wednesday 19 2022……know if Lucille Moe is still scared of Mia Mottley ?
I ask you since you are a close confidante of Lucille Moe !
@David January 22, 2022 1:35 PM
I see you looking for another election to be called or the President to get fired or assassinated before she remember to stop referring to herself as GG. I believe Caswell forced her hand into calling the election with his 200% justified strike action.
I also don’t see all the hullabaloo about not having an opposition in Parliament. The voting will still go the same result with or without an opposition as they can’t change anything with all the parliamentary theatrics before they laugh at each other and the electorate during lunch breaks.
The president should offer senate seats to true independents who represent various sectors and interest groups and NONE to loser political parties. We are getting to comfortable with rewarding mediocrity and participation trophies. NO CONSOLATION PRIZES in this election race, WIN OR GO HOME.
Social media, blogs, press briefings and press releases are avenues available to the DLP to get their opposition messages out and they will be forced to learn how to speak respectfully in public lest they get sued for defamation without the parliamentary privilege shield.
Ms. Mockley’s ostensible reason for calling the election was to unit a divided country behind one leader.
The election has proven beyond all shadow of a doubt that the country is divided not in half but as 1/3 to 2/3.
… unite …!!
Will it function?
@john
With all your numbers, I find it odd in 2016, in the US, with a 55% voter turnout, DJT got 46%, and it never bothered you he ruled with approval of 25% of the adult population?
Even with (total incomplete) seems +/- 43% voted, and Ms Mockley got 65%+, so she is at LEAST 28%, and it’s bothering you?
Two different systems.
One is a Republic with an elected Congress and an elected Senate as checks and balances, the other a Parliamentary Democracy.
Didn’t you know that?
Somebody please explain these elementary principles to Frankie!!
…. plus we all know the elections in the US are rigged!!
Both the Democrats and Republicans say that,
“The election has proven beyond all shadow of a doubt that the country is divided not in half but as 1/3 to 2/3.”
Your thinking gets duller and duller every year and your comments are hooks for more nonsense aka old man trolling hijacking threads with warped garbage theories about Covid Conspiracies Trump and Quakers running for days.
But, everyone knows political cliques and factions are groups of careerists and business interests sponsors who look for votes in numbers from the poor man and woman during campaigning making false promises of free buckets of fried chicken biscuits and gravy which never materialise in this life. In other words people are wary of buying into the same old bullshit again.
The country seems to be divided into the bothered and the not bothered. The not bothered are too complacent to be revolutionaries.
Bob Marley and The Wailers – Revolution
To vote or not to vote
That is the question
Another election issue causing mass non-voting was there was a secret about revealing the secrets where it was insinuated that Barbados is struggling to keep it’s head above water and there was a built in implicit assumption that people would be signing into an agreement for hardship and penury with their heads underwater in the depths of the great abyss stuck in the deep sea wandering in all directions, right, left, length, forward, backward, and down and many will be broken.
xx
A Sunday ramble
Knowledge itself was concealed for over a thousand years before it was allowed to be found, and a few righteous people could start studying it. In our times, we have access to secrets that only a few knew hundreds of years ago. Since we are getting closer to the great revelation of Light and the Final Redemption, we can see more ‘details.’ We should thank the Creator and the Energy of the Universe for bringing us closer to this enlightening knowledge.
The dissent within the dlp.was very strong
Strong enough to.send a message on 19th Jan 2022 to the party membership
Strong enough and in effect as throwing a lighted torch with an effect to burning the dlp house down
Hard to envision ranking party members .ignorning these voices
Voices who stood strong and firm against Verla as President and voices who were defiant and bold enough to.withhold their vote on Jan 19th
What a rift and a baffled message to mash up and brek up
Is the figure of 266,300 eligible voters correct?
@Sargeant
Hopefully the numbers will be confirmed next week. It seems we are subjected to working with partial reporting for the moment.
@David, the Wickham article seems to be missing wordd due I presume to the pasting but the thrust was understood and it should be keen reading for all those who he would describe as “pedestrian” in their analysis.
The key take away that his well defined argument makes and others have already made here are 2 things: 1) this election (sans covid issues) is no more an unpopular mandate than many previous elections … when in fact it clearly is seen that many past admins governed from a victory of NO resounding majority often marginally so…. and 2) while low turnouts are troubling … the fact is that incumbents are just as likely to suffer from them as the oppositions …and the corollary to that being high turnouts are as problematic for either group.
His confirmation that our negative swing here as compared to the positive swing in the Grenada 30-0 was statically and practically the same thing simply validates the point also made earlier in the blog: our low turnout is NOT some grave harbinger of Bajan doom.
Like him or not but his analysis is professional and based on data not BS.
BTW I read the post from that strange person @AC and I now firmly believe that they are an insidious plant simply coming here to ‘mek foolish talk’ …
This was amazing : …
“The dissent within the dlp.was very strong
Strong enough to.send a message on 19th Jan 2022 to the party membership
Strong enough and in effect as throwing a lighted torch with an effect to burning the dlp house down”
Must be a nefarious agent againt the DLP.
SMH.
@Dee Word
We agree to disagree. The blogmaster sides with the via voter apathy is more real in these times.
http://tun.in/senqF
Hartley Henry, Peter Wickham , Ronnie Yearwood et al hosted by Kristina Hinds
Interesting to see Dr. Yearwood put his hand up to participate in a post election radio show this morning.
Dee word
Must be a nefarious agent againt the DLP.
SMH.
Question
When dissent is so strong within an organization that one side decides it will withhold support during election for the organization or party
Isn’t that like throwing a flaming torch to burn down a house
@Sargeant and @David
The number of electors that I used in my turn-out post (266,330) is the number I obtained from a file from a trusted source. Peter Wickham also mentions this number in the analysis that David posted above. The same file (that I used) also allowed me to calculate the number of eligible electors per constituency for my turn-out post (which then summed up to 266,330).
For whatever reason, this figure (266,330) differs from the total electors stated in the Preliminary List (264,940). That list, i.e. the Prelim List, was generated on Dec 28, 2021 at 01:59:49 (recall that the list was published on GIS website and then taken down).
Furthermore, another document that I recently obtained from trusted sources, with the heading “January 2022 Preliminary Data” with columns and values including things like: Total Registered, Increase in Total Registrations, Total Voting, Electoral Turnout, Total Valid Votes Cast, BLP Votes, and so on and so forth, had a Total Registered count = 248,815.
So we have:
“Preliminary List” posted by GIS = 264,940
Total from my source (and the value that Wickhamn used) = 266,330
Total Registered (assuming this means # of Electors) from “January 2022 Preliminary Data” file = 248,815
I am hoping that the EBC will publish detailed data very soon and clear it all up.
Back to turn-out, I have numbers for Ch. Ch. West Central. It seems that while the The Nation website did not update that constituency on their website (as I type this), they did have a graphic posted on their FB Page for Ch. Ch. W.C. However, data is still not there for St. Joseph and St. Thomas (on both the Nation’s FB and Nation’s website).
I’ve updated my post accordingly: https://www.caribbeansignal.com/2022/01/21/barbados-elections-2022-results-by-constituency/
In summary, based on results for 28/30 constituencies:
Average turn-out: 40%
Lowest turn-out: Ch. Ch. West (36%)
Highest turn-out: St. Andrew, St. Lucy, and St. Philip West (48%)
Kind regards,
Amit Uttamchandani
http://www.caribbeansignal.com
@ John January 23, 2022 3:59 AM
(Quote):
Two different systems.
One is a Republic with an elected Congress and an elected Senate as checks and balances, the other a Parliamentary Democracy.
Didn’t you know that?
Somebody please explain these elementary principles to Frankie!!
(Unquote).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well said, Sir John! The man is totally blind even when wearing all-red blinkers.
The Opposition in the Barbados parliamentary system is deemed to represent the necessary initial checks and balances on the mistakes and excesses of the Executive.
That is why the Bajan Constitution-fashioned after the Westminster system based mainly on democratic principles and conventions- was written to provide such brakes, if required, to the potential abuse of Executive power.
That is why it was styled as ‘Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition’ to keep a sharp eye on the acts of Her Executive.
Without an eagle-eyed Opposition who else would have spotted the illegal act of appointing two deputies to the CoP?
Without a duly appointed Leader of the Opposition by the People’s President- having replaced Her (soon to be His) Majesty- has no such Watchman to guard the Treasury and report to the people on any Executive misdeeds and illegal acts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Barbadian_general_election
This page has some data for St Joseph. Only incomplete because it doesn’t have data for one of the minor candidates. As is though 3445 total votes casted vs 7929 registered voters gives a 43% turnout for St Joseph
@MTA
Between you and Skinner, I am going to beg Chumpers to add Sarcasm Soup to the post election menu. I think it maybe popular. I know @dpd wouldn’t be against it either. 😉
Dear BU et al,
I never noticed it before, but the EBC published Reports on General Elections for 2013 and 2018 (PDF format) on their website. Personally speaking, these reports are a nice treasure trove of data!
https://www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Report-on-the-Barbados-General-Election-2018.pdf
https://www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Report-on-the-Barbados-General-Election-2013.pdf
Kind regards,
Amit Uttamchandani
http://www.caribbeansignal.com
@ NO
Sometimes the only way to get the message across is to show people how ignorant the nonsense they write sounds when somebody else writes it.
Eg:
Why the hell overseas Bajans should be allowed to say anything about the elections in Barbados. Just look at that one Rihanna. She mek all she money overseas and could not even add a wing to the hospital or send a tablet to give poor Bajan children who couldn’t afford any and then she would come here taking ignorance.
Dem don’t even come ‘ bout here and at Crop Over and rent cars or help the entertainers to get some money. But they want to come on BU talking BS.
David should ban all dem so. A pack of disgruntled Dems.
I gone
Northern,
No. It means I am used to interacting with younger people. It comes naturally.
TheO,
Ask Miller. He says it’s common.
Source: Nation
“which would have the breakdown at its disposal.”
from afar the election seems like a national breakdown
but, the Bu prism seems to be an old age people forum
where the regular posters eventually lose their minds in real time but carry on
“The Opposition in the Barbados parliamentary system is deemed to represent the necessary initial checks and balances on the mistakes and excesses of the Executive.”
what do you call a political party that has no seats and is not part of any official parliamentary opposition
there should be a word to describe these groups of entities as they are common in Barbados
William,
But when you do so, you need to keep it in context or you are guilty of distorting the meaning.
Otherwise you are the one who appears ridiculous…. or worse dishonest.
Hello David et al,
Post updated to show St. Joseph numbers. No data for St. Thomas (based on what I saw when I last checked The Nation’s website).
https://www.caribbeansignal.com/2022/01/21/barbados-elections-2022-results-by-constituency/
Over-all turnout for 29/30 constituencies – minus St. Thomas – is at: 41%
Kind regards,
Amit Uttamchandani
http://www.caribbeansignal.com
@ Donna
Nothing I have written is out of context or near anything called dishonesty. However, I have no problem with being told it’s ridiculous.
The damn truth hurts. There is widespread intellectual dishonesty on this blog that I refuse to be critical of because I literally enjoy those who come here disguising the truth pretending that they are purer and more honest than anybody else. I bluntly refuse to challenge them.
I am ready to defend anything I have written on this blog. Occasionally, I enjoy light heartedness but when I see attempts, some already successful, to marginalize people while others are daily attacked and vilified for their views and called all kind of names . Others are allowed yo write what ever they want to write and I just laugh.
I am open to attacks like anybody else.
I take as I give. I ain’t no paragon of any virtue known to mankind.
But I know hypocrisy especially the political kind.
I sincerely hope that the Duopoly and its apologists, detractors , and propagandists burn in the political hell.
And I hope that all Barbadians wherever they live continue to let their voices be heard here and elsewhere. I hope they continue to criticize and love their country like all the ones there .
And I want them to know that no Bajan living on the island loves their country more than any one of us living any here else.
Peace.
If the figure of 266,000 eligible voters out of a population of 288,000 is correct the Demographers should be worried as less 10% of the population is under 18. No wonder the powers that have expressed a desire for an additional 80,000 immigrants as it appears that birth control is working only too well, or the young men are following the path of Onan.
From what I’ve read a representative mix should be at least 20% of those under 18 but perhaps someone that understands population mix could set the record straight.
The voters list is bloated. Especially because we have not had an enumeration exercise for many years. The blogmaster agrees with Wickham it makes sense to use percentage changes election over election because the state of the list is constant.
Hi David et al,
Nation has published numbers for St. Thomas, so I’ve updated my blog. That’s 30/30 constituencies complete. However, I am still looking forward to EBC published data.
https://www.caribbeansignal.com/2022/01/21/barbados-elections-2022-results-by-constituency/
Over-all Turnout as a % = 43%.
Kind regards,
Amit Uttamchandani
http://www.caribbeansignal.com
@Sarge
Population estimated in 2021 at 301K
0-14 years: 17.49% (male 25,762/female 25,764)
15-24 years: 12.34% (male 18,024/female 18,330)
80K no longer needed.. 67K needed now
__xx—
‘Scorecard documenting the box by box count in last Wednesday’s General Election.”.
Why would anyone want a box by box count?
Is there suspicion of fraud?
Will there be guessing of who voted for who in each box? We are not talking of hundred of votes on some boxes.
Constituency level should suffice
–$—
Pat self on back at guesstimate of 42.6%.
You check boxes to understand voting behaviour within the constituency .
@TheoG
Thanks for the update
@David
(J2, Lorenzo, Enuff, X)
Some of these boxes are very small. Shouldn’t there be a fear that there could be some guessing of who voted for who and those voting ‘incorrectly’ being penalized.
“50 of wunna did not vote for me and I have a good idea of who you are?”
Area A in a constituency flourishes and. Area B gets the kiss of death? Is this a real concern?
How would the voters be identified? This can only be done under a court order in very rare circumstances.
@TheO
Yuh mean like one candidate announced
“Wait. Dah box could only had in 85 people, effin all did vote. Now I hearing only 38 voted, and only 5 fah me. But I done pay to have 12 ah dem vote fuh me. Wha de (bad word) gine on hey?”
@NO
Then one would have to say, serve yuh right!
David
I mentioned “guessing” in both posts.
Guessing and predicting is all part of the electioneering activity.
@David re “You check boxes to understand voting behaviour within the constituency .” LOL
Come on bro, take @Theo’s comment with a pound of salt, fah real.
The brother lives in a US state where he surely can search on his Govenor’s last election by county and down to the granular level by district of votes made – which would basically be our box- district detail.
Similarly your boy @Miller in merry ole England or Sargeant, Hants and Northern in Canada can get voter data down to the district too… that is nothing new and surely as you say every politician needs to understand the lay of his voter representation.
The phrase ‘all politics is LOCAL’ is grounded in that simple context… you gotta know your constituents where they are living … that’s basic as you clearly know. And he does too, surely.
@NorthernObserver January 24, 2022 5:09 PM ““Wait. Dah box could only had in 85 people, effin all did vote. Now I hearing only 38 voted, and only 5 fah me. But I done pay to have 12 ah dem vote fuh me. Wha de (bad word) gine on hey?”
Maybe somebody paid more. If you treat your constitutes like whores, why then do you expect them to behave like honourable people?
Stupssseee!!!
@David
how harsh? At least 7 persons owe the candidate money.
You ever see anybody in Barbados get lock up for helping a few on election day?
Steupse
Is the candidate’s checks and balances any better than the elected?
Wait…there is supposed to be 3 houses here, but all I could see is pasture. You feel they get move? I feel we got the wrong address.
Voters had to leave cellphones at the door before voting, it would have been a lottery for them to find out who vote for who. Remember the proof historically has been to capture the vote with cell and for purchasers to watch them.
constituents