The commissioned poll by the Barbados Labour Party, which was shown in the Nation newspaper speaks to the mood of the country at this time. What was particularly not flattering to the Barbados labour Party is the narrowness of the points between them and the Democratic Labour Party. This statistical dead heat and the Hardwood Fiasco forced Owen “Ali Baba” Arthur to make the decision to go to the polls. This decision of course was hotly contested by many of his candidates. They told him that they were not ready and give them another 8 weeks. This was not to be the case. He retorted. What can wanna do in eight weeks that wanna did not do in four and a half years. This left many of them fuming and wanting his head.
Why did the BLP not step up to the plate and state what that the poll was commissioned by them and sent to the Nation Newspaper and story written by one of MIA main women. This would have clarified the poll before the people. But more of this will come from a desperate bunch who means to hang on by any means necessary.
The Democratic Labour Party will not be sidetracked by nebulous insertions. Leadership is not an issue in this election. Barbadians need to place before them the issues of (1)Governance (2) The cost of Living (3) Crime and Violence (4) Land Use Issues (5) Health Care (6) Housing for the population (7) Minimum wages (8)Education for the Future among several other matters.
A comparision between David Thompson and Owen Arthur on Leadership cannot be based on reality, but on propaganda, because Owen has been in the leadership of Barbados and has messed it up. David Thompson has never been the leader of Barbados. He desrves more than a chance to make a difference.
3 Comments
December 26, 2007 at 1:27 pm
The BLP poll, not only exposes them as failures but it also indicates how we, as a people, have waited patiently for this time.
A new dawn is breaking, and with that dawn’s awakening, rises the dreams of Barbadians. More than four decades ago, a Barbadian of great talent and endeavour, brought our beloved country to independence.
I will give him and his family, the courtesy his eminence deserves, by referring to him by name, that being the Rt. Hon Errol Walton Barrow, father of independence.
A name such as his, should be mentioned, because he taught us, that although a small island, we are not a small people.
At this moment, when a rebirth of our country is possible, when a chink of light seeps through the dark void, in which for too long we have recently inhabited, a new leader has come before us.
The time for change is upon us, and a decision has to be made, the decision will be about stewardship, proper governance, honesty, probity, integrity and a genuine love for the community for which parliamentarians will be elected to serve.
In assessing the governance of an administration at the end of term – in this instance three terms – one must ask what have they done; how have they done it, and were promises freely given, kept; were they prudent with resources; and were they accountable for their actions.
Do you recall the Chinese workers, who were not supposed to be in Barbados, and yet they were. No one was prepared to have the honesty, to step up to the plate and tell the general public what was going on. There was the arrogance of silence. Like children, we are expected to quickly forget, Barbadians are like that, they believe, but are we?
What about the cheque for $750.000.00 mentioned in the houses of Parliament. I make no allegation of any kind, I will only refer you to the incident as it happened in Parliament, you come to a conclusion.
The prison contract over runs, was the contract in US dollars or Barbados dollars, no one in a position of authority seemed to know.
Do we need a flyover, how will it be funded, is it too expensive, cost over runs, incompetent financial management, the experience of the selected contractor and his history in that field.
The Cricket World Cup, heaven and earth moved, money in prodigious amounts spent, but a “dark evening” was had by all. The gloom in which the final was played, symbolised the sorry debacle of management. I will not dwell on the humiliation of our police, I mention it only in passing, it pains me.
The beaches, our pride, and beloved by all, we always knew regardless of how poor we were, we could go to the beaches and frolic with our family and friends. Now the roads , tracks and little alleys to them are barred, rocks and man made outcrops obstruct our path – officials give acceptance by silence, inhibited often by knowing what actions certain people expect of them.
Large tracks of land are sold, indigenous people are “invisible,” the only consideration is how much the foreigner will pay. Barbadians therefore suffer exclusion by price, colour does not prevent you, price does. When you have to be super rich to buy a small piece of land, something is very wrong indeed. These lands might as well be in “Afghanistan” ordinary Barbadians will “never ever” be able to purchase them. The end result is, the general population is gradually being squeezed into a smaller area.
Some rich people seem able to flout the Law, the law as we know it, does not apply to them. The law is to be obeyed, only by the unrepresented poor, the “common man.” When the rich see no need to respect the law, the common people will ultimately do the same, and the result will be anarchy.
Fortunes are being made, and squirreled away. Two, three, or even a dozen very rich black men/women will not make Barbados a great nation. What will, is the opportunity for our sons and daughters to prosper, that prosperity will permeate through the wider society, from which will come enterprising, businessmen and leaders. The base of opportunity and wealth for the average black citizen must be spread.
We must think less of “the poor black man” culture and concentrate on the “undustrious black man/woman”. We must think of our society, and what is needed to give the majority population a good standard of living,and life opportunities. I repeat, a couple very rich black men, is not good enough.
Finally we must be “inclusive” never against white or those who think they are. We must be for citizens of “our country” regardless of shades of pigmentation. I know how difficult this is considering our past, but it is a must, there is no other way, if we are to move forward as a nation.
We have come to a fork in the road, thankfully we are free to make a choice. One way will take us back from whence we came. Or we can move forward and upward and reach for the sky. Future generations will thank us, if we change for a much improved Barbados, our country deserves better, it is time for a change, and that change can best be brought about by the “Democratic Labour Party” led by David Thompson. The BLP have proved it will not happen under them.
December 27, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Yardbroom’s comment above ought to be printed and circulated by email, and by every other means to the electorate.
NO stone must be left unturned to demit the BLP from office.
December 29, 2007 at 8:35 pm
What happens if the party don’t win the government? Will we rise up in the first 100 days and ask for another election? I sure will be packing and moving.