Prime Minister Mia Mottley, acted as lawyer for the project before being elected to government
Sandra Husbands, BLP Candidate
Dr Ronnie Yearwood
The political temperature in the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) neck of the woods is starting to rise as it identifies candidates to run in the next general elections constitutionally due in 2018. It is not unusual for political parties to engage in tussles while negotiating the candidate selection process. Who can forget the dogfight that took place to replace then Henry Ford in Christ Church West and of recent the Maria Agard catfight that has seen the return of former representative William Duguid.
In the news recently veteran BLP candidate David Gill was defeated by rookie Marsha Caddle in St. Michael South Central. The result forced him to admit ”I done wid Mia”. In St. James South new comer Ronnie Yearwood appears to be the Mia anointed at the expense of BLP foot soldier Sandra Husbands. And there is St. Michael North West…
Clearly there is a BLP purge on the way and who can blame Mia? Why would she want Arthur’s disciples at her back?
The downside to the party system is that the democratic ideals to which its members aspire are often compromised in the interest of the leader of the party. Across the globe the party system has been failing. There is no better example than in the United States where the presidential race has been reduced to a reality show staring the greatest of them all Donald Trump and co star Hillary Clinton. The party system is located at the foundation of our democracy. It is scary to observe how those with influence are able to easily influence many who offer to serve.
The BU household is of the view the best representative of a constituency should be a person with an enviable track record of public service. And it should be considered an asset if said person was born and or raised in the constituency they have offered to represent. How do we ring-fence the representative from those who are able to command limitless resources. Denis Lowe and billionaire Peter Allard comes to mind.
An example of influence is the ease with which political aspirants have been able to secure contracts to propagate their agenda in the print and broadcast media.
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