Submitted by Concerned Bajan
Government of the People Must Listen to the People. A government of the people, elected by the people, must listen to the people. The authority granted through electoral victory is temporary and conditional, it must be exercised with humility and accountability.
Seven years into its term,this government must be minded to reflect on the above principles. It must prioritize building bridges rather than burning them, for the trust of the people is never guaranteed and must never be taken for granted. Likewise, the traditional silence or docility of Barbadians should not be misinterpreted as ignorance of civics or democratic rights.
Before the 2018 general elections, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) rightly called out the then-ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) for poor governance, lack of transparency, and erosion of public accountability. It would be both ironic and disappointing if, having come to power on those promises, the BLP were now to follow a similar path.
One issue that weighs heavily on the minds of many Barbadians is the rise in crime. In this context, the public largely supports the concept of legal wiretapping to enhance national security. However, this support does not and must not extend to warrantless or unlawful surveillance.
Barbados, as a small democracy, has already had a troubling experience with illegal wiretapping and the unauthorized interception of citizens’ communications. As such, public trust is fragile, and the line between protection and intrusion must be carefully observed.
To restore and preserve this trust, any monitoring authority responsible for surveillance must be fully independent from any political interference and beyond the influence of the ruling party. Its leadership should not be drawn from individuals with controversial pasts, especially those previously implicated in unlawful actions, such as former Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin who was removed amid allegations of unauthorized wiretapping or any of his associates.
National security must never come at the expense of civil liberties or democratic oversight. Let us not sacrifice the principles that define us as a free society in the name of safety. If we do, we risk becoming unrecognizable to ourselves.
Democratic governance demands humility, accountability, and above all, respect for the people. The power entrusted to elected officials is a privilege not a right and it is one that must always be exercised. Let not create days which become funny nights.
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