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DLP in Drift Mode

Steve Blackett, Verla De Peiza

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A week after the snap general election and no surprise, Prime Minister Mottley continues to suck the air out of the local, regional and to a lesser extent the international news space. As if a second 30-0 shellacking for opposition parties wasn’t enough and a new look Cabinet, her recommendation to appoint teenager Khaleel Kothdiwala to the Upper House has blown up news streams on traditional and social media.

An observation of the Barbados landscape in recent years has been the dominant personality of Mia Mottley as leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). In contrast the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) -the other major political party- competed with late Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and of recent Verla De Peiza who both possess seemingly introverted personalities. 

The blogmaster does not have to analyze numbers to understand the psyche of the Bajan voter. We prefer alpha personalities to lead the country. Stuart through happenstance was an outlier who benefited from a sympathy vote commingled with the cuhdere mentality of Barbadians that a government deserves a second term. We can only speculate if the late David Thompson would have been able to overcome the stink of CLICO to breathe fire into the party.

Of immediate concern to civic minded citizens has been the inability of a political opposition to favourably appeal to the electorate in two recent general elections -not to forget the by election in St. George North. Political parties although private entities decisions made have national significance. The resignation of Verla De Peiza with immediate effect has ensured the DLP’s voice will be less credible in the Barbados space for at minimum the next three months – a special conference is scheduled to filled the leadership role in the party. It does not help with the rebuild of DLP’s image that the interim President is Steve Blackett, a member of Stuart’s Cabinet and willing participant on the platform of that infamous Waterford Stadium political meeting. 

A surface scan of DLP actors serves up slim choices to lead the party at a critical juncture. The task to rebuild the party and at the same time be a strident opposition voice is a gargantuan one. On the weekend a suggestion was made by Hartley ‘Kingmaker’ Henry the DLP should look to the diaspora for candidates to lead. On the current political trajectory unless there is a catastrophic occurrence the DLP can anticipate another defeat in five years.

On the assumption the DLP will struggle to regain relevance in the eyes of the electorate in five years, what does it portend? A splinter of the party if old heads continue to make it difficult for the DLP to reimagine itself? A credible third party made up of disaffected members from the BLP and third parties?

Interesting times ahead.

There is the national debate about the new Constitution to come. It is evident based on the results of two recent general elections, there is a lacuna to be addressed.

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208 responses to “DLP in Drift Mode”

  1. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    There are also trimmings that can be removed from various kinds of meat that is fatty and used for making tasty stews and appetizing gravy

  2. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    I believe the word you actually meant to use was, ‘ facetious.’

  3. Lawson Avatar
    Lawson

    maybe fecestious

  4. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    The president should advertise the 2 opposition senate seats in the official gazette requesting a one page resume and one page covering letter in large print and conduct job interviews.

    The DLP jokers wasting time playing their political games and need to be left alone free to continue their fight for large pieces of the nothing pie. Take your bat and ball and go home, no one wants to play with your bat and ball anymore.

  5. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    CA

    . Take your bat and ball and go home, no one wants to play with your bat and ball anymore.

    Xxxxxx
    One day u would be force to eat those words
    BTW the blp had their moments minutes seconds and hours reminiscent of what the dlp is going through
    Ten years in the wilderness must have been a long time for the blp
    The blp found a formula that has worked for them
    And so will the dlp

  6. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    @angela cox

    It pains me greatly to see the DLP so caught up in the minutia of power struggles that they made absolutely no progress towards reforging the party 3 1/2 years after the first 30-0.

    The party needed to take the lead from the few bright sparks like Ryan Walters and Kemar Stuart that were out there canvassing from early and talking the issues when they came to the airwaves. Issues win campaigns not a

    The voters of today have no time or stomach for the political antics of yesteryear. People want their issues resolved, not political comedy and meager handouts that does nothing to help them pay their bills and put food on the table like the politicians can.

  7. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “The blp found a formula that has worked for them”

    Mia told voters they should avoid voting for opposition as a protest vote or the country may end with the wrong people
    which made you vex
    but it did the trick and there is no opposition anywhere
    nobody nobody

  8. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    “The president should advertise the 2 opposition senate seats in the official gazette requesting a one page resume and one page covering letter in large print and conduct job interviews.”

    As no local citizens met the criteria we are now recruiting from the diaspora.

  9. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Critical Analyzer,

    Hear, hear!

    Only a few thousand people are impressed with political games. The rest of us are tired of them.

  10. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Garth Patterson weighs in on the ongoing Issue of PM offer to the dlp
    Barbados Today
    Xxxxx
    When did PM ever take advice on issues dealing with the Constitution
    The PM has shown her stealth brazen approach when dealing with the Constitution
    She understands the mentality of her supporters and the Constituion be damned

  11. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    There is a reason Jim Jones got people to drink poison.
    Suddenly, the Constitution means nothing. Tek seats and be glad that a magnanimous leader , who have documents that allegedly accused you of corruption giving yuh
    Like , I said there is a reason Jim Jones got people to drink poison.

  12. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    There is a reason Jim Jones got people to drink poison.
    Suddenly, the Constitution means nothing. Tek seats and be glad that a magnanimous leader giving yuh some ting’ before she gey dem to somebody else.
    Fuh get de stupid constitution godblimuh.

  13. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Expect more of PM manipulation as she barrels head first into fulfilling an agenda of Barbados becoming a one govt state
    Her ability to make red herrings work in her favour is well noted

    Xx
    Meanwhile standing on the sidelines is the wicket keeper Caswell Franklyn whose calls for the nurses has been given Stone cold silence by this govt
    But here is the good news the PM has stated she respects the democratic rule of governance

  14. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ angela cox January 28, 2022 10:56 AM
    “But here is the good news the PM has stated she respects the democratic rule of governance”

    Your naivety is boundless, as usual. You should study the whole speech of our Supreme Leader.

    She spoke there of monthly constitutional revisions, starting with the human rights in the constitution. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are changes in favour of our Supreme Leader soon. In any case, I am already preparing text modules to convert human rights to human duties.

  15. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    @Tron
    “She spoke there of monthly constitutional revisions, starting with the human rights in the constitution. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are changes in favour of our Supreme Leader soon. In any case, I am already preparing text modules to convert human rights to human duties.”

    That was very good.

  16. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    So.there is a video where Mia at her swearing invokes the gender of God as her or he
    It is clear that Mia does not have an understanding of the 2nd commandment

  17. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    https://youtube.com/shorts/BPLCF7qMSOc?feature=share

  18. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    The Constitution and God seems to have met their shelf life of an expiration date
    Never have I ever heard a person of the christain faith refers to God as it or her or whatever one assumes God to be
    On Christ the solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand
    Xxx
    Some baffled b..S happening in Barbados

  19. David Avatar
    David

    For Immediate Release

    PRESS RELEASE
    The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling on the Chairman of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Mr. Leslie Haynes and the other Commission members to resign.

    In a Press statement issued today the DLP expressed grave concern at recent revelations from the Chairman regarding the inability of some citizens to vote.

    The Party said Mr. Haynes, a Queen’s Counsel (QC) had admitted the denial of those citizens’ rights and that the apology given was an admission that the EBC was at fault.

    The Party said:
    “That Mr. Haynes a Q.C. has found it necessary to issue a public “apology”, courtesy of a local radio station, to the number of Election Day workers who, by the faulty administration of the Department of the EBC were denied their right to vote during the recent General Election, is a ready admission that the apologist is guilty of some wrong doing.
    “In this regard therefore, Mr. Haynes’ action must be considered an act of the gravest concern for the DLP and wider Barbados which voiced great doubt over the readiness of the Department that is entrusted with the statutory responsibility for administering the electoral process to efficiently conduct the called snap-election under the existing circumstances brought about by the raging Covid pandemic.”

    The DLP added that Haynes’ admitted maladministration which affected the body of election workers must be viewed in light of the far greater problem raised in respect of the fact that thousands of other qualified electors who were afflicted by the Corona virus were also disenfranchised from the said elections.

    “Mr. Haynes boldly pronounced that those persons who had contracted the Covid virus would not be able to vote. The EBC had therefore failed in its responsibility to put such arrangements in place to accommodate all registered voters and had unlawfully excluded thousands who fell victim to the Covid virus,” the DLP declared.

    “It is the view of the DLP that the disenfranchisement of those voters was an unlawful act and since Mr. Haynes is apologizing for the EBC’s inefficiency in respect of the smaller group of electors, the EBC must also take responsibility for the disenfranchisement of the thousands who were unable to vote through the same inefficient process which provided no accommodation for every registered elector to exercise his franchise in the recent General Election,” the Party added.

    “The DLP considers the act of the EBC as being of so egregious a nature as to merit the removal of the whole Board.
    This Board has clearly demonstrated that it is incapable of rising to the standard required to administer the electoral process in this country to satisfy the requirement that elections are conducted in accordance with the Laws of Barbados and remain free and fair,” the statement concluded.

    The Democratic Labour Party
    2022-01-28

  20. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    The truth is ‘I try to be funny”.
    I may fail at my attempts, but I get a great laugh from many that don’t try.
    It appears that the DLP just became aware of the EBC ruling
    Horse bolted long ago
    Now we close the stable door

  21. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    Some criticism of the EBC would have been more effective during the run-up to the elections.

    The race was run, the votes were counted and the seats were assigned. Doubtful if any victory would be obtained in any situation, but the best that can be obtained in the current circumstances is a Pyrrhic victory.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    This is the best point so far if you consider the political parties held meetings with EBC and from reports no serious issues were raised.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    After the battle has been won

    By Dr Kristina Hinds
    The 2022 election is more than a week behind us and not a moment too soon for many. We know the result: a resounding victory for one side (30-0) and a painful defeat for others.
    The comparison of election contests to battles may be quite apt as we end up with winners and losers and all sides leave with wounds. When the smoke clears, though, everyone must carry on. All must figure out what comes next and, in doing so, must look forward and back. The defeated must determine what went wrong and how to fight another day. The victors must make good of their triumph, proving such was well-deserved and managing those less than pleased with their win.
    Out of this battle we have a new(ish) Government, still 30 MPs from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), though differently configured. There is a redesigned Cabinet, complete with a Deputy Prime Minister and three…wait, no… four, senior ministers.
    Out of the battle, the Cabinet is both refashioned and has slimmed ever so slightly. We have a new post of Chief of Staff and there are some new parliamentary committees too. After a tough battle there is lots of work to do and there are other ongoing and pressing battles to attend to: COVID 19, climate crisis, water woes and financial viability just to name a few. The business of governing must commence, and this requires personnel.
    Winning so emphatically comes with costs. Although “the people” have elected members to the House of Assembly, there is the matter of the Senate. The Senate in Barbados comprises 21 senators all nominated by the President, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and seven by the President alone. The resounding BLP victory has left the country without a Leader of the Opposition and, thus, no one to advise the President as to the selection of two of the 21 senators. The President may be left to act on her discretion alone here. The Prime Minister has offered the helpful suggestion of allowing such senators to be selected from among those defeated in the election battle, although I am not sure that the offer is the Prime Minister’s to make. I guess there is reason not to entirely vanquish the defeated. It seems we do need some of them after all.
    Downward movement
    There is another quandary, that of allowing 18-year-olds to sit in the Senate when the Constitution requires that one be at least 21 years of age. This downward movement in the age qualification will necessitate a constitutional amendment. This, too, is puzzling since amending the Constitution requires that a bill be passed with a two-thirds majority in both the House of Assembly and the Senate. But should this be done while constituting the Senate with a member short? Legal minds will give us the answers, no doubt, and we will get the amendment.
    Still, puzzles like this lead back to the pressing need to holistically remake our Constitution to avoid further headaches such as what would happen if no one person commands the support of the majority of MPs, say in a 15-15 General Election tie. More importantly, our Constitution should provide a framework that is better able to serve us all.
    How election battles serve us all is another point to ponder. In the aftermath, the pain and problems of the civilian non-combatants remain as do their hopes and expectations. Those jubilant in victory need to attend to these matters and must carefully heed such civilian concerns, whether these include concerns about gloating-anti-African victory dances, the ballooning numbers of people testing positive for COVID 19, the cost of living, nurses still on strike, or children forced to learn on rectangular screens.
    Several such civilians don’t care about the battle, who won or who lost, what the Constitution permits or does not. Instead, the gimmicks employed in election battles and experiences of previous victors leave them mistrustful or indifferent. Beyond the procedural elements of elections, of decision-making and governing, important as these all are, those who govern must stay focused on the ends.
    As the defeated parties look for ways forward, they should do so without treating politics flatly and superficially as a numbers game simply to be won by racking up supporters and popularity. All sides must centre the people they seek to serve, and perhaps they already do. As much as elections are battles and politics may be viewed as “a game”, there is little sport to be had here. When the dub plates, picong and the speeches end, when the Constitution tinkering is done, when the smoke clears, and the battle has been won… lives are really at stake.

    Dr Kristina Hinds is a senior lecturer in political science and Head of Department of Government, Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at UWI Cave Hill. She is also a moderator of VOB’s Down To Brass Tacks.

    Source: Nation

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Who will bell the BLP cat?

    By Garth Patterson

    The result of the just concluded, confoundingly premature General Election was always a foregone conclusion. The ink on the 2018 ballots was not yet dry, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) was in disarray and the nightmare of their last failed administration was still fresh in the minds of the electorate when we were, again, dragged to the polls.
    It was inevitable that the incumbent Government would be returned to power, and no one seriously contemplated any alternative. The Mia Mottley-led Barbados Labour Party (BLP) pulled off a repeat of their historic 2018 showing, but this time not without serious controversy.
    The Government called elections in late December 2021, citing that it was imperative that it receive a fresh mandate, for reasons that are not entirely clear or convincing. The Electoral & Boundaries Commission subsequently announced that persons who were in isolation or quarantine due to the COVID-19 virus would not be allowed to vote and the announcement ignited a firestorm of protest. And the rest is history.
    If the Government was seeking a fresh, resounding mandate, then it is an open question whether that is what it got. With a historically low voter turnout – by some estimates as low as 46 per cent – fuelled in part by the fact that tens of thousands of voters were either unable to vote because they were in isolation or quarantine or, in the case of the elderly and those vulnerable persons with co-morbidities that put them at high risk, were unwilling to risk going out to vote, the victory hardly represents the consolidation – the unequivocal recalibration and unity as a people “behind one Government and one leader”– that the Government was hoping for.
    The win was historic for sure, but for all the wrong reasons. The conduct of elections under pandemic conditions and during a state of emergency ensured that, for the first time since universal adult suffrage, tens of thousands of otherwise qualified electors were disenfranchised and denied a reasonable opportunity of voting. Their sacrosanct right to choose whether or not to exercise their franchise was unceremoniously stripped away. It represented the single, greatest assault on democratic traditions and precepts that has ever been witnessed in, or perpetrated against the people of this country since the pre-universal suffrage era. January 19, 2022 will forever be remembered as a decidedly dark day for democracy.
    I said before, and say again, a mandate salvaged from the ashes of democracy is no mandate at all. And if this new Government is to gain any semblance of legitimacy – if it wants to erase the taint of illegitimacy that inheres from its deliberate, widescale disenfranchisement of thousands of qualified voters – then it must rededicate itself to demonstrating by its words and deeds that it is truly committed to the rule of law and the best democratic traditions.
    Unreservedly rebuke
    This new administration must convince the people of Barbados that it is not only capable of resisting, but will unreservedly rebuke, any natural inclination towards authoritarianism or autocracy, and will vigorously uphold the cause of democracy, no matter the cost. It should take a fresh guard and have a critical look at the things it got wrong during the last administration, with a renewed determination to do right by all Barbadians. It should make a public promise, a solemn vow, and put necessary systems in place to ensure that this travesty will never happen again.
    With awesome power comes awesome responsibility. And the 30-0 sweep of the House guarantees the Government the almost unfettered ability to chart the course of this country without any constitutional opposition. The office of the Leader of the Opposition was created by section 74 of the Constitution, which provides that the President must appoint as Leader of the Opposition the member of the House of Assembly who, in her judgement, is best able to command the support of a majority of those members who do not support the Government.
    From a constitutional standpoint, the Leader of the Opposition is required to give advice or be consulted in respect of the exercise of certain powers vested in the President or the Prime Minister by the Constitution. However, with the BLP winning all the seats, there is no member who does not support the Government and, consequently, no one qualified to hold the office of Leader of the Opposition.
    In 2018, the issue was
    resolved because Bishop Joseph Atherley signalled his willingness to sit in opposition to the Government, and thus became the Leader of the Opposition. After being sworn in, he said, “I believe very passionately in the importance of our democracy. I believe very strongly that we need to do everything we possibly can to make sure that we expand that platform of democracy. That’s the legacy of this Barbados Labour Party and … one of the principal mandates I believe will fall to the Barbados Labour Party team … would be that they would have to further expand the democratic platform, democratic privilege in Barbados.”
    He vowed “to give critical support to the party in office and in Government” and that he would applaud them when they get it right and to “put pertinent and pointed questions to them when necessary to keep them on their toes”. He added, “This is not about Joseph Atherley, this is about the people of Barbados, it is about our traditions of democracy, it is about our parliamentary processes and that is why I am doing what I am doing.”
    Personal sacrifice
    Joe Atherley is a patriot and held true to his promises and faithfully served the cause of democracy in his role as Leader of the Opposition. He did so at some personal sacrifice, as it most likely has torpedoed his political career. He stood up when democracy needed him most and by his spirited and sometimes stinging debate in the House showed that he was ready, willing and able to bell the proverbial cat. It begs, therefore, the question: who among the current batch of House members will perform his patriotic duty and do an ‘Atherley’? Who has the courage and fortitude to defend the best democratic traditions by putting the nation before party by putting the people of Barbados before self? Who will now bell the BLP cat?
    It is doubtful that any of the current members of the House is prepared to follow Bishop Atherley’s lead and, absent constitutional amendment, we will, in all likelihood, have no Leader of the Opposition. And while this does not necessarily create a constitutional crisis, since the Constitution anticipates this eventuality, and makes allowance for the relevant powers and functions to be performed or exercised without the advice or consultation of the Leader of the Opposition, it nevertheless creates a crisis for our democracy.
    Having regained power by trampling on the people’s sacred right to vote, disregarding the rule of law and causing grievous harm to the cause of democracy, this Government has revealed just what it is capable of. The fact that it would have won the election anyway is no justification for its undemocratic stance – the end never justifies the means.
    It means that the Government has its work cut out if it is ever to restore the people’s confidence that it is committed to upholding democratic principles: freedom of speech, free and fair elections, the right to vote. More importantly, it means that the third estate, the media and the members of civic society – each and every one of us – must be prepared to step up and hold the Government’s feet to the fire to ensure that it stays the course of democracy.
    In the best traditions of democracy, we, the people, must fill the breach and, regardless of political affiliation, become the opposition.

    Garth Patterson is a senior counsel.

    Source: Nation

  25. David Avatar
    David

    Cabinet, constitutional and NIS changes

    I was never much into pomp and pageantry or ceremonial events. It is just not me. I did not watch the royal weddings and I do not stay up on any election night (not even when President Obama first won) awaiting the results. I figure whoever wins that night will still be the winner in the morning and I prefer to find out after a good night’s rest.
    So it should come as no surprise that I did not watch the swearing-in ceremonies held last week. Nevertheless, I followed keenly the statements of the Prime Minister regarding the new Senate.
    Two particular statements caught my attention: the Prime Minister’s indication of a possible amendment to the Constitution to appoint 18-year-old Khaleel Kothdiwala to the Senate and her offer of two Senate seats to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
    In her decision to pursue the appointment of Kothdiwala, the Prime Minister stated that “if you’re old enough to vote, then you must be old enough to serve”. That may be true, but in what capacity? We are old enough to marry at 18 years old, yet it is still discouraged. Why? A legal ability to do something does not equal readiness for the task.
    I do, however, agree that it will be beneficial to have the interests of the youth represented in the Senate and wonder how Ms Roshanna Trim was overlooked. She has been a very vocal youth advocate both regionally and locally for several years, including serving as a past prime minister in the Youth Parliament of Barbados, president of the Barbados Youth Development Council, chairperson of the Caribbean Regional Youth Council and founder of Barbados Pink Parliament, to name a few.
    She is an avid Barbados Labour Party (BLP) supporter and party member and has spoken on BLP platforms and in the news and social media on various issues concerning youth and women’s rights. A senate appointment is a big responsibility and requires a certain level of experience and understanding of various matters that only comes with age. It also requires the ability to withstand the sometimes harsh and unfair public scrutiny and comments.
    Shadow a senator
    Kothdiwala could have been allowed to shadow a senator until he attains 21 years, during which time he could hone his skills in preparation for the Senate appointment. But this is just my view. I hope he will receive the support he needs to do well in the role.
    The Prime Minister’s offer to the DLP to join the Senate was also rather curious. An examination of sections 36 and 75 of the Constitution show that the power to appoint Opposition senators rests squarely with the President.
    Pursuant to section 36, the President has the power to appoint two Opposition senators on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and to appoint seven opposition senators in her own discretion. However, section 75 of the Constitution states that where there is no Leader of the opposition, the President shall act in her own discretion in the exercise of any function where she was required by the Constitution to act on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. Section 75, therefore, gives the President the sole power to appoint the two Opposition senators when there is no Opposition Leader. Therefore, only the President can offer those two seats to the DLP or to any other person she deems suitable.
    Finally, it was reported last week that Cabinet has approved the transition of the NIS department from Central Government to a statutory corporation. From an employment law perspective, NIS employees will enjoy some benefits from the transition. For instance, the Employment Rights Act (“the ERA”) does not bind the Crown but applies to the private sector and statutory bodies. When the department transitions to a statutory corporation, NIS employees will receive the protections and rights conferred by the ERA and other labour legislation that do not traditionally bind the Crown. This includes having rights under the Employment Prevention of Discrimination Act.

    Michelle M. Russell is an attorney at law with a passion for employment law and labour matters and is a budding social activist. Email: mrussell.ja@gmail.com

    Source: Nation

  26. David Avatar
    David

    Sometimes there is a bigger picture

    “When it comes to interpreting other people’s behaviour, human beings invariably make the mistake of overestimating the importance of fundamental character traits and underestimate the importance of the situation and context. We will always reach for a dispositional explanation for events as opposed to a contextual explanation.” – Malcolm Gladwell I don’t know about “invariably” and “always” but I think Malcolm Gladwell is not far off. We will sooner point to a person’s behaviour or some fundamental flaw within them, rather than look at the situation or context which they find themselves in.
    This is except, of course, when it comes to ourselves. We will be much more quick to acknowledge the situational influencing our behaviour, especially if what we did wasn’t so good. But when it comes to other people’s wrongdoings, it’s much easier to simply say “John is just an idiot”, or “Jill is just a mean person”.
    When we take the time to understand the situation, we often end up being a little more sympathetic and understanding to John or Jill. That doesn’t mean that they bear no responsibility. But, understanding a person’s situation is often the beginning of greater compassion and more flexibility in response. In short, we tend to be less judgemental when we have the bigger picture. We are able to see greater possibilities for solutions.
    Quarrelling and fighting
    As the story goes, one particular John got on a bus with his three small children. They all sat down together. But in two-twos the children were screaming and quarrelling and fighting with each other and making the bus miserable. John didn’t even seem to notice. He just kept his head down as if he was asleep.
    One lady in the bus, possibly named Jill, couldn’t take it any longer. In an angry voice, she shouted to John, “Why you doan control your so and so children?” John raised his head for the first time since sitting in the bus and looked around at the angry stares. After a few seconds, he turned to the lady and said, “Sorry ma’am. We just came from the hospital. Their mother just passed and I am not dealing with it very well.” I would bet money that Jill’s attitude changed after hearing that response. She now had some context.
    Not that every time you get context and that every backstory will make a huge difference. But it often does. And this is something to bear in mind when we do not have full context or backstory. You never know what circumstances are contributing to the current situation or behaviour. Keeping this in mind helps keeps us open to a greater range of solutions and responses which may be better in the long run.
    If you think the problem is the person, then getting rid of them is the only solution.
    Sometimes that’s not possible. And even if it is, if you think that the problem is the person but the context or surrounding the circumstances are the bigger problem, then even if you remove the person from the equation, the problem remains. So, it makes sense to make sense of the whole situation, and not just blame the individual or individuals involved.
    By now, Barbados has enough political history under its belt for us to see that certain problems keep popping up no matter which group of persons holds political power. Not to say that none of these persons are themselves problematic, but obviously, there is a bigger problem. Something is wrong with the overall situation, structure, context, culture. Blaming and changing personalities every few years does not truly address the situation at its core. I am one of those who ha spent a lot of time cursing at the character and disposition of Caribbean politicians.
    I now believe that unless we seek deep contextual explanations and understanding, we will not find deep and lasting solutions.

    Adrian Green is a communications specialist. Email: Adriangreen14 @gmail.com

    Source: Nation

  27. David Avatar
    David

    Ensuring democracy not eroded

    By Ezra Alleyne

    Recent political history tells me that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is prepared to be kinder to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) than the voters of Barbados have been.
    On two occasions now, three and a half years apart, with a high poll in 2018 and a lower poll in 2022, the voters of this country have deemed the DLP unworthy of a single seat in the Lower House of Parliament.
    This state of affairs speaks of a fierce determination of the electorate, howsoever configured, to send a strong message to the DLP that it has not learnt any lessons from the defeat of 2018 and that it does not deserve, in 2022, even a single seat in Parliament.
    Arising out of the current can of concentrated conflict confronting the Dems, the Prime Minister, who had been falsely and malevolently branded by the DLP as displaying dictatorial tendencies, raises the first bars of a public debate designed to safeguard our democracy and to protect the rights of the self-same DLP as the party securing the second highest number of votes.
    Lightning strikes twice
    Lightning having struck twice, this prime ministerial suggestion, first raised in 2018, is repeated. On the first occasion, Bishop Joseph Atherley rescued the DLP from the kind of loose talk that sinks ships, by crossing the floor and morphing from BLP member into the Leader of the Opposition.
    That singular act confirmed the temporary irrelevance of that party, which, for the first time since its formation in1955, found itself without a single seat in the Parliament of this country to which its earliest flag bearers had contributed so much. Now history repeats itself.
    In our system of governance, Prime Ministers have a duty to party, but a superior duty to the Constitution and to the country. As the highest elected political official, the protection of the Constitution is of great moment to Prime Ministers.
    I argued this point with Sir James Tudor in the pages of the Nation newspaper back in 1989 when Richie Haynes of the National Democratic Party, with three other parliamentarians, petitioned the Governor General to oust Henry Forde, David Simmons, and Owen Arthur as the Official Opposition.
    Hot political issue
    If the correct view is that the head of state is the decision-maker in this present imbroglio, then the choice of those two DLP senators becomes an intensely hazardous political issue, given the tortured state of the DLP, whose political leader is yet to be established.
    The head of state in our kind of system as the dignified part of
    the Government is not to become embroiled in the partisan arena of the political dogfights.
    But the current provisions of our Constitution, in my view, inadvertently places the President right into the very cauldron of the political controversy. Even more heat could be created if, on the exercise of the presidential discretion, the two choices do not fit within the “four corners” of the views of the DLP leadership such as now exists.
    Talks, albeit discreetly so, to find appropriate amendments to cure the situation are needed. I noticed that the learned Attorney General, in another part of the Press, is making the matter pellucidly clear by saying that there should be talks between the head of state, the Government and the DLP to resolve this matter.
    The DLP appears fixated in another direction. The Reverend David Durant is quoted in a newspaper article as advising his colleagues not to participate in the current Parliament through taking up any seats in the Senate.
    I expect that this advice will be ignored. The reverend may well be a king, but even in the land of the DLP they cannot be so blind as to anoint the goodly cleric as King.
    Good prime ministers must have 20/20 vision to reflect on future matters before these matters become history. Think on that for a moment. The Prime Minister was right to raise the issue for public information. And we must now deal with this problem. I support the idea that an amendment of Section 75 is the orderly solution.
    It cannot be in this country’s long-term interest for the DLP to be excluded, once again, from the lawmaking table in our Parliament. The discussions must discreetly take place now that the issues are known. And the DLP must quickly put its house in order for this situation would hardly have resurfaced if that had been done.

    Ezra Alleyne is an attorney and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Source: Nation

  28. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    This PM continues to make political decisions hell bent on keeping the country divided
    This is a serious character flaws that fails to address and is not in allignment with good governance
    Yesterday Tump held a meeting with his loyal supporters in tow
    Besides doing his usual skits about Biden he read a story about a woman giving aid to a sick snake
    After the snake recovered the snake bit the lady
    I couldn’t help but remember the many stories told of Trump.helping people then turned around and disadvantage them and those who who he had helped and also did wrong turned on him
    I say the above that unless one give with an open heart the image one tries to present of one self might be one like the snake albeit also be the truthfulness of the real character that lives within

  29. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Ezra Alleyne Zooms in on part of the story
    But leaves out the importance of doing things right in order to get the right result
    PM steps out front to present an image of being good
    Meanwhile the Constituion does not instruct the PM in the order as the image she wants to present to the people
    The PM constantly present a character flaw of deceitfulness
    This time that deceit rubs against the highest law of the land called the Constituion
    Shameful

  30. David Avatar
    David

    You are confusing political posturing with law. You et al are so easily distracted.

  31. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    DavidJanuary 30, 2022 7:58 AM

    You are confusing political posturing with law. You et al are so easily distracted.
    Xxxxx
    So. what is the law
    Who is doing the posturing
    Maybe u should sit on the fence a little longer and wait till.sunrise

  32. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Mottley postures
    Trump postures
    Both seem to be cut from the same political cloth
    Mottley throws red herrings
    Trump throws red meat
    Trump.uses his wealth to take the law of the land to court
    Mottley uses her power to undermine the Constitution and expects the AG to agree
    So what is the story snakes using power and wealth while presenting an image of doing what is right for the country

  33. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Either govt.wants to do what is right as directed by the Constitution or govt intends to pursue a political.path of smoke and mirrors and tinkering
    Xxx
    The Young lady who.was underlooked after much hard work after giving a voice of concern for the youth and other organization must be feeling a sense of disappointment
    Here was an opportunity for the PM to present a person whose actions speaks towards her commitment
    However the PM rather present to the people a young man who does not meet the criteria as directed by the Constitution and a person whose only claim to fame is widely known as being a mouth piece for the blp
    Lol

  34. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    “But the current provisions of our Constitution, in my view, inadvertently places the President right into the very cauldron of the political controversy. “(Ezra Alleyne”
    Ezra Alleyne should be ashamed to write such a damaging and nasty political piece of anti- constitutional mis information. Talking about “ inadvertently ““ including powers that are given to the President.
    He really cannot stoop much lower.
    Pure pro- Mottley BS. The damn AG should not be in any cabinet in that office.
    The man has failed at every legal argument he has put forward to defend the government.,That’s why there is widespread support for Caswell Franklyn
    Marshall is a complete failure, just like the one before him.

  35. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Somehow the “learned Attorney General” is always in the middle of some chaos when it comes to legal opinions as I’m sure I heard the PM say that she received a legal opinion from the AG that supported the selection of two Senators from the DLP (The opposition party that polled the largest number of votes) there was no caveat, no mention of the President’s role, it was a fait accompli. Now the whole nation knows better, and everyone interested in the welfare of the country should carry a copy of the Constitution with them to double check any advice the “learned Attorney General” proffers because if this was baseball, he would be batting .0000.

    Does anyone have any “L’s” left over from student driver days? Someone could use two to adorn the suit that he wears in public.

  36. David Avatar
    David

    Losing candidate challenges ruling

    Attorney for Sovereignty Party’s Catlyn files appeal
    by HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON heatherlynevanson@nationnews.com

    BARBADOS SOVEREIGNTY PARTY candidate Philip Catlyn is not taking his loss at the High Court lightly.
    The man who ran unsuccessfully in St Thomas has filed an appeal challenging Justice Cicely Chase’s decision on the eve of the recently concluded General Election. Her night-time ruling paved the way for the poll as she threw out Catlyn’s challenge to holding it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Catlyn, through his attorney and civil activist Lalu Hanuman, had sought a restraining order against the holding of the election until “the disenfranchisement of thousands of electors who are in quarantine due to the zoonotic COVID-19 viral pandemic is resolved beforehand”.
    The suit had challenged President the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason’s dissolution of Parliament last December 27, and the issuing of election writs. It claimed the act was unauthorised, contrary to law and illegal; arbitrary, unreasonable, irrational, irregular and an improper exercise of discretion; capricious, erroneous, an excess of jurisdiction, ultra vires and an abuse of power, and in conflict with Section 6 of the Representation Of The People Act.
    Justice Chase, however, declared that since the main issue related to the action of the President in following the recommendation of the Prime Minister to dissolve Parliament, it represented a controversy as outlined by Section 36.1 of the Election Offences And Controversies Act.
    She said as a result, the matter ought to have been properly presented to the Election Court for determination.
    Justice Chase held that the action had been incorrectly filed and refused to order any injunctive relief.
    However, just over a week after the Barbados Labour Party romped home with a 30-0 victory at the polls, Hanuman revealed he had filed an appeal on behalf of Catlyn.
    “Jurisprudentially it needed to be done in order to challenge the High Court decision, or otherwise it would have become a precedent fettering future litigation,” he explained.
    Most unfortunate
    “It is most unfortunate that we have had to go down this road as a Court of Appeal decision in Mr Catlyn’s favour, at this late stage, will be more disruptive than had it been made before the election.
    “If it is decided in my client’s favour, then Barbados will go back to the pre-December 27, 2021 status quo, constitutionally speaking. But of course we cannot go back to the pre-December 27, 2021 status quo as far as COVID-19 is concerned. That genie is now well out of the bag with doubling infection rates, as anticipated by Mr Catlyn in his judicial review application,” Hanuman declared.
    The attorney also noted
    that left unchallenged, the decision against Catlyn would expose him to “potentially hefty court costs, as [the President and the Attorney General] were represented by ten lawyers, including two Queen’s Counsel”.
    The appeal is arguing that the judge’s decision was erroneous in point of law; that it was erroneous in point of fact, and that the matter raises fundamental public interest issues.
    “On the very day that [Catlyn] filed his application for judicial review in the High Court, the Electoral and Boundaries Commission released information that they had taken legal advice which confirmed they were incapable of making any provision for voters who were in quarantine or in isolation as a result of the zoonotic COVID-19 virus,” the appeal read.
    The appeal further states that Catlyn had been “unfortunately vindicated in that as a direct result of the calling of the elections, there has been a predictable spike in infected persons with the COVID-19 virus. The General Elections has been a ‘super spreader’ event as [Catlyn] anticipated”.
    The appellant is therefore asking the court to find that Justice Chase’s decision was contrary to law, unreasonable in all the circumstances and/or void.
    No date has yet been set for hearing. Catlyn polled 98 votes to winner Cynthia Forde’s 2 971 in St Thomas. The Democratic Labour Party’s Dr Roderick Hinds amassed 625, while Independent Samuel Maynard got 88.

    Source: Nation

  37. David Avatar
    David

    A word to the DLP

    AS A YOUNG BANKER starting out in life, and as the world’s challenges confronted me, I reached for my wallet and extracted a poem that has kept me motivated ever since. It is called “Don’t quit”. The writer is unknown.
    “When the funds are low and the debts are high, rest if you must but do not quit.” These words have kept me motivated on many an occasion. There are now apropos to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and their adherents.
    While I agree that the 30-0 is deserving and that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Government has performed creditably, a one-sided Parliament should not be the best thing for Barbados even at this time. We saw it in the last administration. However, anger at what happened between 2008 and 2018 has not subsided and the appearance of those of that cabinet on the political platform was not the best thing. Even so there was no contrition or apology, an irritant to the electorate who did vote.
    Take courage
    Those new candidates that were bold enough to appear on the DLP platform should take courage in the words of the quoted poem. They now have perhaps five years to show that they can contribute positively to Barbados even in suggesting a meaningful way to help the country going forward, agreeing with the actions of the Government when those actions show progress.
    Many of the old die-hard supporters of the DLP have passed on and a younger crowd are the ones that suffered over the years from 2008. That is a whole generation, a substantial number. Analyse those past actions and make sure that what you now do is positive.
    The voting public can be fickle and you never know what action on the part of Government may anger the electorate in the coming years. “You may succeed with another blow.” You must be ready. And you can only be ready if you are seen to be ready. An about turn has happened in the past and it can happen again.
    It most likely will not be seen in the near coming months because the actions of Government and the challenges of Government are yet to be manifest, so there is time to, “When care is pressing you down a bit”, time to be introspective.
    If you analyse the changes in Government since 1939, you will see that sudden and unexpected changes in the behaviour of the public have triggered huge swings on the part of the voting public.
    I believe that the saying that an Ethiopian cannot change his colour now applies to most of the DLP cabinet of the past and any part that they should try to play should be in the background in support of the new names that may want to step
    forward.
    In the meantime it will suit any new hopefuls to concentrate their efforts on building a constituency base and getting themselves known in the community by house-to-house canvassing. This is hard work, but it will pay off in the long run.
    One of the areas on which hopeful candidates may concentrate is the work done (or not done) by the public sector institutions as they will be under immense pressure as funds generally will be scarce. While it is unlikely that DLP supporters will be appointed to boards, public disclosure of operations will dictate availability of information. New ideas of government to close the expected expenditure gap must be the subject of scrutiny.
    Awarding of contracts
    Another area of operations of government which DLP hopeful candidates will have to monitor closely will be the efforts of Government to award contracts for large new operations both locally and internationally. This is crucial as the way out now depends on the success of new projects.
    There is no room for error. Agitation for strikes where efforts to chart new paths are under consideration must be given the utmost scrutiny so as to allow a real period of time for Government projects to gestate.
    “Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit to his full height.” A little help from King Henry V’s speech to his soldiers. “Once more unto the breach.”
    You must realise that Government is treading a new path so far not seen in Barbados. As I said in my last article, we are launching out into the deep end as fishermen and we can come up with a shark or a ning-ning.

    Harry Russell is a banker. Email quijote70@gmail. com

    Source: Nation

  38. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Every thing this PM as well as the AG has divided the country
    Unfortunately the dlp in house fighting has given way for this govt to score another victory
    Yes indeed Barbados is chartering new waters
    Waters that are thick.and muddy
    Waters that would find most barbadians without a life raft to cling to

  39. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Art of Decanting (Bu comments need to be distilled by level headed facilitators)

    Barbados is slowly coming to term with it’s election results with a couple of ticklish tropes lingering regarding God and Constitution.

    All beings have masculine and feminine aspects within and God the Creator has both representations in many deities and esoteric existential schools of thought such as the spiritual energies of the Sun Stars and Heavens above is masculine while the grounding energies of Earth and Moon are feminine.
    God is the Creator of All in the Universe including feminine Mother Earth that gives birth to all life forms.
    People pray to the father or mother or both.

    Constitutions set forth structures of Government and Barbados is moving away from the British Royal Power system to a Republic System like USA and other places. In USA Senators and Presidents are elected, in UK the Lords (Senators) in the Second Chamber are chosen and the Crown (President) is the existing Monarch. The Barbados Constitution will need to be amended for it’s Republic moving on.

  40. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    “ It cannot be in this country’s long-term interest for the DLP to be excluded, once again, from the lawmaking table in our Parliament. “ ( Ezra Alleyne)
    In one breath Alleyne says that this is the second time the people have determined that the DLP should not be given not even get one seat.
    Now he comes with crocodile tears pretending that Barbados cannot survive without the DLP in Parliament . This is ludicrous , when in reality, Barbados is going to survive and just survived without the DLP in Parliament.
    The problem that Mottley, Marshall and Alleyne now have is that they cannot go above the President without amending the Constitution
    They cannot say that the PM stuck her feet in her mouth ; they cannot say that the AG gave the PM bad advice.
    Alert readers should avoid those acting as prosecutors on BU, and realise that Alleyne, Marshall and Mottley will not even mention Garth Paterson’s name nor Tricia Watson, who have objectively exposed this attempted Duopoly family sham , that was engineered by the PM.
    All the PM had to do was allow parliament to be properly constituted and use the two third majority to amend the Constitution to state clearly that the party getting the second highest number of votes but does not have a seat in Lower House will automatically be given two seats in the Upper House.
    Mottley has learnt , in the most embarrassing way , that not all”big works” have to “come through “ her.
    In other words , regardless of what the prosecutors on BU say , not even the PM
    Alleyne and the bungling AG are above the Constitution.
    Simple as that. In our Caribbean vernacular: Mottley try a ting and she failed. She is wasn’t trying to be magnanimous in the interest of the country she was simply trying to be a political Suki King.
    Peace

  41. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    Is this what Ezra Alleyne is saying? Read carefully.

  42. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ David
    Respectfully, people like Alleyne is the reason, I don’t use the term yardfowl. I ate a lot of yardfowls growing up , and I still do , especially when I frequently travel , to other islands. Yardfowl is a delicacy.
    I don’t have to read Alleyne any more carefully than I read anybody else. This article is nothing more than a piece of propaganda . Alleyne knows the PM screwed up.
    Peace.

  43. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “The problem that Mottley, Marshall and Alleyne now have is that they cannot go above the President without amending the Constitution”

    Barbados has a British legacy system where the Queen figurehead has been replaced by a President.
    Neither the Queen nor the President do any work, but authorises what PM does and Parliament verifies.
    Mia suggesting seats and seeking legal advice is par for the course and due process.

  44. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Barbados Population 287,371
    UK Population 67.22 million
    US Population 329.5 million

    Clearly
    Barbados can design a simpler and more intuitive system of Government and Parliament Houses
    than UK/US as two examples due to its smaller population

  45. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Dub,

    Yuh knocking yuh head against a brick wall.

  46. GP Avatar
    GP

    William January 31, 2022 8:27 AM
    well said, sane sensible and solid as usual
    we will soon now see the true Mugabe Muttley, a reincarnation of the man ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES also called EPIMANES A

  47. GP Avatar
    GP

    Angela Cox January 30, 2022 7:48 AM &January 30, 2022 7:54 AM

    I dont always agree with you, but, you are not always always wrong, and you are often very correct as in the above.
    Stick to your guns, and be true to your self and your convictions.
    You seem to have much more common sense, and more guts that your main protagonist here.

  48. David Avatar
    David

    @William

    We have to respect people as hard as it maybe for aligning with a political party of choice.

  49. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “more guts that your main protagonist here.”

    that is a loaded phrase are you referring to Satan again as per your obsession like a bajan bitch

  50. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Let govt and henchman carry on with their nefarious actions in deeds and words
    One day coming soon when wisdom takes over in the minds of the people
    They will.be hell to pay

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