Team 2008.

Condolences on The Passing of Benazir Bhutto

Our Condolences and deep sadness goes out to the Pakistani people at the loss of their Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and by such tragic and violent means. The World has lost a brilliant woman and Pakistan a gem.

 We hope that this great loss will not lead to greater unrest and social disturbances in the country. We pray that the people of Pakistan will continue to be strong and resilient at this time of mourning.

From the Family of the Barbados Labour Party.

No Need For Change

This maxim sprang to mind when this writer’s intelligence was assaulted by the puerile arguments being presented by DLP spokesmen and scribes suggesting that after three terms, the Owen Arthur administration should be booted out of office.

The argument is being presented even though there are precedents in the region -Jamaica for example-where ruling parties have benefited from four terms in office. Even as far afield as Australia, the John Howard administration was able to retain the confidence of the electorate on four occasions until it suffered a crushing defeat earlier this month.

Americans are wont to say that if a thing is not broken you do not change it. Over the past 13 years Prime Minister Owen Arthur and his talented team of ministers have introduced innovative programmes which have propelled the country into the category of the number one developing in the world. The question must be asked:”Do you change an administration that made this a reality for a party which brought the country to its knees in 1994 when unemployment rose to the unprecedented level of 22 per cent?”

Barbadians will recall that under the the leadership of Arthur the ship of state was steadied, and economic prosperity restored. When he assumed office in 1994, the country’s foreign reserves were negligible; the salaries of the island’s 28 000 civil servants were slashed by 8 per cent; the level of unemployment had risen to 22 per cent ; 3000 government workers were severed; many Barbadians lost their homes and several Caribbean countries were refusing to take our currency.

Today, however, there has been a dramatic turn-around in the country’s fortunes. Foreign reserves have now reached the record level of $2 billion; unemployment has dropped to a new low of 7 per cent; the 8 per cent salary cut has been restored and there has been a return of investor confidence in the country’s economy. One only has to take a drive along the West and South coasts to witness the evidence of the return of investor confidence.

The Owen Arthur administration has also sought to enhance the quality of the vulnerable members of the society with the establishment of the Urban Development Commission and the Rural Development Commission.

Addressing a recent nomination meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Mia Mottley ,told her audience that 3000 persons living in urban tenantries will soon have the titles to their lots transferred at a cost of $2.50 per sq. ft. In addition, she disclosed that that over 1000 poor people’s homes have been repaired or built under this administration.

According to Mottley, government had commited itself to the removal of pit toilets from the landscape by the year 2017. The Minister of Economic Affairs pointed out that under progressive tax reform, workers earning $25 000 per annum have been removed from the income tax roll.

Small businessmen have also been given a new lease on life through the UDC, the RDC and the Enterprise Growth Fund Ltd. Recognising the critical role venture capital funding plays in the development of of small and medium -sized businesses, government established the Enterprise Growth Fund Ltd with a mandate to provide funding with a ceiling of $1.5 million. Farmers, barbers and hair stylists can now access funds for their projcts from the UDC and the RDC.

Common sense dictates that people change a government when they recognise that it has lost direction or its relevance. You change an appliance if it is broken or not working well.This cannot be said about the current administration.

The current pleas being made by the DLP for a change of government are born out of fear of extinction. Over the past 13 years Arthur has skillfully made the BLP the party of first choice for most Barbadians, a status once held by the DLP under the Right Excellent Errol Barrow.

An insightful political observer once said that the party which rules the streets, rules the country. BLP members and supporters now rule the streets of Barbados armed with the proud record of achievements under Arthur.

Merrry Christmas

 

                                                   

To all of our frineds  and supporters from all of us here at the BLP BLOG.

We hope that your season is a peaceful and enjoyable one and we look forward to the task ahead in the coming year.

A New Beginning

Today our little shinning nation on the hill of human prosperity stands on the threshold of a new political beginning. A beginning that will witness the greatest political rebirth this country has ever known. 

Upwards of four decades ago a great Barbadian, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed an independence proclamation. It decreed absolute authority for thousands of poverty stricken Barbadians over their limited but enduring physical and human resources. It was truly a joyous daybreak to end the long night of economic dependency. 

 Today as we search for the ultimate fulfillment of the second phase of our independence, that beacon of hope that promises to every Barbadian the realization of all their dreams and aspirations, we reflect on the achievements of this Owen Arthur administration over the last thirteen years. 

It was before thousands of Barbados Labour Party supporters who packed the assembly hall of the Alexander School last Sunday and the entire Nation that the vision of a new beginning was revealed, 2008 is not the end of a term but the beginning. 

The achievements of past thirteen years in this country have merely reclaimed much of the political and economic ground we had lost under the last politically bankrupt DLP administration. Those achievements have earned us the prestigious position as the number one developing country in the world.

There will be neither political rest nor retreat until Barbados’ attainment as a first world nation is secured. As we are challenged by our beloved Prime Minister, we will go for the gold. We will rise to meet the majestic heights and demands of the global arena. We are well poised to do so. 

The proper management of our economy will to a large extent determine our place in the new global market. The attainment of full employment, eradication of poverty, the further expansion of educational opportunities, broadening the delivery of our health services, strengthening our legislation to combat corruption in all its forms are all part of our mandate to bring about this new beginning – to take Barbados to the next highest level. 

Prime Minister Arthur continues to enjoy the full endorsement of Barbadians as the person best qualified and politically able to take this country to that next higher level. His vast political experience and economic skills has earned the distinction as the region’s most leading statesman. 

In every general election held in Barbados since independence the electorate, without fear and doubt, could have chosen any leader from either of the two political parties to manage the affairs of this country. Such was the confidence and assurance they held in their political and economic abilities. No one ever questioned the political and economic ability of the late Rt. Excellent Errol Barrow. No doubts were ever expressed with respect to the late Tom Adams’ capability in political and economic matters.  And most definitely the intellectual depth, political skills and economic brilliance of the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur have never been questioned.

 For the first time in our political history Barbadians are faced with a real dilemma. For the first time in our country’s history of electoral politics we have an opposition party whose political leader has no economic or political skills. Of even greater significance is the fact that he sits in a parliamentary group where there are no alternatives with these skills. Yet, economics is the most critical factor in driving our success as a nation.   

We invite Barbadians on a new beginning with us. To maintain the success achieved over the last thirteen years and build on them. Stay with the tried, trusted and mature leadership. 

Merry Christmas Barbados and a prosperous New Year.                

Show me your Motion

Astute Leadership versus Rebellious Babbling

Today we can safely say that the next general elections in Barbados will be determined largely on the basis of leadership, management of the economy, and the track records of the major political parties especially in the last twenty years since the passing of both Barrow and Adams.

 Change is inevitable in any society, yet Barbadians need to reflect on the type of stability that has worked for the small island that punches way above its body weight. Questions have to be asked as we approach the campaign trail as to what extent Barbados has benefitted from astute leadership when almost in every other corner of the globe inclusive of CARICOM, socio-economic buoyancy and mature state development have not always been evident in the status quo of those countries.

 What has been the fundamental determinant that has allowed Barbados to blossom while others faltered? This brief article attempts to share with Barbadians information that is relative to good governance and the securitisation of Barbados’ development. It shows why conscious reflection of history juxtaposed to contemporary circumstances is a better benchmark for decision-making than the spurious assumption that ‘winds of change’ is or can be a factor in the pursuit of serving this country. Leadership is vital for the continued successes of Barbados as a notable and stable liberal democracy.

Therefore, the upcoming elections must revolve around the frameworks of who will provide the vision and orientation to uplifting human capital, maximising social inclusion, demonstrating political acumen, engaging sound economic management, and who will peacefully transcend the type of judgement that is afforded towards leading masses of people with divergent views and interests under difficult circumstances. Barbados has already been the beneficiary of this type of leadership under Barrow, Adams, and now Arthur whose tenacity for success and outreach is unmatched by any other Prime Minister.

Nevertheless, it is by unravelling the maze of inputs and outputs by way of contributions from both major political parties that one can conclude the burgeoning effect through which leadership will be brought to the fore in the upcoming ‘Elections 2008’ and this is just as critical a factor for the voter to understand as it is for the candidates based upon the impact that leadership in the past and present has had on keeping Barbados as the leading developing nation in the world. According to many social psychologists, the best exemplification of leadership demands a sense of devotion and loyalty between leaders and their followers.

There is a high level of enthusiasm for the leader and her or his ideas which then encourages a willingness by followers to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the collective goals. One exceptional trait found among several of the most internationally renowned leaders is the ability to achieve outstanding levels of performance personally and from their followers, to the extent that results are usually of very lofty standards of excellence. There is no doubt that Prime Minister Owen Arthur has ascended to these heights of motivation, inclusion, performance, and general attraction to his followers as an outstanding leader.

How does David Thompson compare with Owen Arthur on the basis of what has been advanced here? While there is no intention to revert to unscientific data that has already been placed before the general public on the matter, this article simply suggests that early evidence depicts that Arthur easily measures up to the social psychologists’ comparative analyses while Thompson’s record of leadership suffers significantly due to past and present conflicts evidenced within and among the political party he now leads. Indeed, as far back as 1988 mention was made of Thompson’s deficiencies as a leader although that position for which he was at the time judged surrounded the post of General-Secretary in the Democratic Labour Party.

At that time, one could say that the death of barrow sent a shockwave through the DLP and this culminated in a significant fight among leadership contenders and their subsequent exodus from that party. This continued into the 1990s and throughout this first decade of the 21^st century.

It is not uncommon for fractures to elevate above the cause one is fighting, but good leadership demonstrates a strength of will that acts decisively in closing such fractures, one way or another to the extent that the larger group objectives are not compromised. The fact is that David Thompson whether as general-secretary or president of the Democratic Labour Party has been and continues to be a central and controversial figure that stands out like a sore thumb in terms of internal rifts and wrangling in that political party.

Thompson has been unable to rectify several personality clashes originating from among his colleagues and that often explode into the public domain. Many fingers have been already pointed at his ‘dictatorial’ and class prejudices as bearing down on decision-making.In September 2001, David Thompson made an eerie comment about his own leadership as he gave up a mandate entrusted to him by party stalwarts. Thompson quipped, “unfortunately, the party has not rallied to my leadership … in the light of these experiences, I believe the party’s best interest will be served if I relinquish the position of president and political leader.”

These words alone distinguish Arthur’s superiority from Thompson’s mediocrity. Former parliamentarian, president, and senator of the Democratic Labour Party, Mr. Freundel Stuart, who is on record as having stated that “I do not intend to be party to any effort to reduce a Jubilee Conference … to a bloody inter-personal battleground at worst, or a degrading political circus at best,” was quite despondent in Thompson’s contentious return to the helm of that party.

Austin ‘Tom’ Clarke was moved to surmise “how Errol Barrow is sleeping during these tumultuous nights when the party [DLP] is in such disarray. They have squandered their legacy.” Another observer notes that “the inability of Thompson and Estwick to accommodate diverging views should send a strong message to all Barbadians.” These observations are repeatedly referred in the annals of Barbados’ political history and socio-political commentary thus serving as a crucial reminder about Thompson’s inability to effectively lead or gain respect from followers.While the jury may still be out for some persons who would wish that the evidence suggest otherwise, a growing majority of Barbadians feel a sense of consolidation and now growth in the manner that Arthur embellishes the Office of Prime Minister.

Owen Arthur is being vented among national followers as a statesman of the highest order and one whose intellect separates him from any challengers across the political divide. The Barbados labour party is resolute in the support of one outstanding son of the soil to be their leader unlike the consensus arrangements that incidentally occur from time to time within the DLP. The final and only verdict can be the fact that Owen Seymour Arthur is a leader extraordinaire and on this basis will gain the necessary support that ensures he remains the Prime Minister of this country into the foreseeable future.

A Recipe For Anarchy

This week has been an eventful one for the Opposition Democratic Labour Party. If ever Barbadians needed confirmation that Thompson and the DLP are not ready for the serious task of governing the affairs of this great and prosperous nation of ours, it was provided in more ways than one this week. 

Firstly, Barbadians heard from a man who has been mounting platforms all across this country trying to convince the electorate why they should change this BLP administration, publicly articulated a code of conduct that if adopted would put Barbados in a state of anarchy.

 

Thompson was reported in the press to have said words to the effect that if you are on the football field and a decision was made out of your favour and you did not like it then you should walk off. He was at the time trying to explain the reason for his disrespectful and despicable behavior towards the Speaker of the House the Hon. Ishmael Roett on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.

 

Who would believe that a man who sits in the company of Ronald Jones and Tony Marshall, two men who are both privileged to lead two of this country’s most prominent sporting organizations, could be heard advocating a policy that if adopted within these two sports would reduce them to war zones.

 

The view that if you do not like the decision of the authority then walk out, is a view that if applied to every facet of our lives would create such chaos and disorder within the society that hell would become the preferred place to live.

 

Can you imagine what life would be like in Barbados functioning under Thompson’s code of behavior. School children would walk out of school if they did not like the decisions of their teachers. Church members would walk out of church if the Pastor or Reverend preached a sermon they did not like. Court proceedings would be disrupted if criminals felt that they should walk out of court if the Judge made a decision that is not in their favour.

 

But of even greater cause for concern is the notion that the government side can walk out of a meeting of the social partners because of differences of opinion or that members of a DLP cabinet can walk out of a meeting because they could not get their own way. This begs the question what would Thompson do if during a Head of Government conference a decision was made that was not in his favour? What bad message to send to our young people Thompson.

 

Thank God our young people and indeed our entire country has more mature, respectful and visionary leadership at this time and judging from the word on the ground the electorate is not willing to make the same mistake that the DLP made when they changed Mascoll for Thompson. There will be no changing Arthur for Thompson.

 

Secondly, the perception being conveyed by the DLP that they are a unified team was blown to smithereens on Tuesday when the representative for St. Lucy took his seat in the House of Assembly in absolute defiance of the so-call ban on Parliament being led by the embattled Thompson. 

Kellman’s attendance in Parliament on Tuesday shows up the real disunity within the DLP. It establishes that there are two sets of Dems, the Barrow Dems and the Thompson Dems. Kellman’s presence in the House demonstrated that Barrow’s Dem are willing to work while Thompson Dems prefer to earn their salaries from home.

 

Why Human and Institutional Capacity Matters

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration recognises the importance of building human and institutional capacity in Barbados for the furtherance of good governance and to safeguard the basic fundamentals of democracy in Barbados. People matter most in the development of any country and this fact has not gone unnoticed despite the many complexities in today’s world that challenge the linkages between state and society. What is this thing called capacity building? It is widely held that increased knowledge, improved attitudes, and the adaptability to changing conditions are at the base for progress in a society. Undoubtedly, there are a greater or lesser degree of tensions within and between the ambit of government and the governed, and these strictures become manifest in areas of economics, politics, and general everyday living.

Hence, the direction of leadership exhibited in the society especially from politicians, civic leaders, and those who have very conspicuous presence in the communities and other formal and informal settings are pivotal to the overall architecture of this phenomenon known as human and institutional capacity building. In the foreword to The National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2006-2025, Prime Minster Owen Arthur makes a lucid observation noting that “all the people of Barbados must pledge to work together to transform Barbados into a fully developed country.” Pertinent to this remark is the shared vision whereby Barbados is collectively implored to exemplify the conditions that speak to a “model democracy that is prosperous, productive, peaceful, socially just and inclusive.” Underlying the currents of this people-oriented focus is the philosophical root of the BLP which is etched in the practice of social democracy and social justice thus providing a wide variety of opportunities for Barbados to provide a better life for all.

The progress path of Barbados is sound and in the good hands of a political directorate that is visionary, confident, and relentless. The BLP administration working in conjunction with the support of most Barbadians have been able to and have certainly continued to maximise the utility of education, knowledge, technology, and best practices that are sometimes borrowed but which have been transformed through a strong indigenous spirit of adaptability for success. There is absolutely no doubt that the Barbados Labour Party best reflects the ambitions of Barbadian people and is therefore in the best position to pilot Barbados to the next higher level of socio-economic development and continue to enshrine the fervour of good democratic governance. The BLP has performed and on that basis I have no choice but to re-elect a government with an enviable record of performance and social inclusiveness.

DLP’s Politics of Vendetta

It is a known fact that the DLP never intended the no-confidence motion to be a serious issue. It had from the outset been designed specifically to cause some politically damage the reputation of the Hon. Clyde Mascoll for his decision to leave the DLP, taking with him the only trained and competent economic skills the Party could have boasted.

 

Well placed sources within the DLP are now openly confessing that Mascoll’s departure has dealt the party a serious blow of a magnitude they had not envisaged. They really felt that Mr. Mascoll would have endured the humiliation of being booted into submission in the same way that Mr. Kellman did in the hope that the English born leader would favourably look upon them in the likelihood of a DLP victory.

But that was not to be and so today the DLP is engaged in a political vendetta that should cause all Barbadians to sit up and take note.

 

That this political vendetta against Mr. Mascoll by the DLP has now taken priority over the national interest of this country speaks volumes about the kind of leadership being offered Thompson. It is a frightening experience especially when persons who are perceived to have said or done anything suspected by the DLP to be unfavourable to them begins to imagine their fate under a Thompson led administration. 

To bring an entire political party’s apparatus to bear on such trivial and nonsensical matters begs the question, how serious and how ready is the DLP in leading this country. By his blatant lack of respect for authority Thompson has clearly demonstrated that he does not possess the political finesse required to lead this great nation in which very Barbadian takes pride.

 

Thompson obviously believes that he can bring the same kind of dictatorial and colonial style leadership with which he rules the DLP to bear on our Parliament and our country but he is most certainly wrong. He does not possess the intellectual depth or political competence to accomplish such a task.