#BTColumn – Hiding behind privileged cowardice

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados TODAY Inc.

by Dr Derek Alleyne

“A parliament is to the Commonwealth which the soul is to the body. It behooves us therefore to keep the facility of that soul from distemper.” – John Pym

Recently the Government announced that Barbados was placed into a deeper debt hole trying to meet the cost of managing the response to the pandemic. Rather than spend time dealing with how we could motivate Barbadians to engage whatever creative energies they possess, the usual political absurdity of the loss decade and the incompetence of the former cabinet was the focus of the Appropriation Bill “debate” before our Parliament.

That exercise became so ridiculous that from a clip circulation across the social media, it was clear that the House had deteriorated to reflect an enclosure of comedians and empty vessels.

There is always room and time for political grandstanding and invective but the claims, accusations and charges allowed to enter the record of Parliament have added another low in the audit of the performance of the Mottley administration.

There is no need to be specific because some of the statements are clearly defamatory and would survive examination in the law courts only because of the privileges given to Parliamentarians in their house of work.

Haider Almoatasm, in his article, “The Determinants for new role of contemporary parliament,” argues that the most important functions of parliament are representing the people during the process of enacting laws, discussing the state’s budget and approving it and making important decisions that will determine the fate of the people such as the ratification of international conventions, membership in international organisations or declaration of war.

As I write, Barbados is facing a war against a global pandemic and from all evidence, this 166 square mile island state is taking a heavy pounding. On several occasions the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, exclaimed, “We are in this together.” And, “We can beat this pandemic because we know who we are.”

Yet, at a time when sympathies are required by the Government for having to spend taxpayers’ money without the approval of parliament, elected members find space and time to abuse the privileges of parliament right in the presence of the Speaker.

Hiding behind parliamentary privilege is an act of cowardice and reflects poorly on the entire government. Further, the constant abuse of the Leader of the Opposition demonstrates the inability of many of those sitting in the Chamber to connect to the many issues that we as a country must confront. So what do these miscreants do? Make fun and jokes and remind each other about their contempt for the people who elected them.

In a recent conversation about the road ahead given the uncertainty about the pandemic, a senior lecturer of the University of the West Indies warned that policy makers will require the intervention of many thinkers if light is to flow from the pit into which we have fallen.

He contended that many of them would have been drained just dealing with the pandemic. He reminded me that the PM had already selected some committees and he believed that they represented Government’s response to the first wave of Covid-19. By the way, what happened to those committees? What did they produce?

It is clear to all right-thinking persons that life will never be the same for this generation. If we accept this as true, then the way we approach development – particularly economic development and governance – must change.

In an article, “Cancelling a debt we already own has a false allure,” Anne Delatte et al contended that “while an end to the pandemic is not yet in sight, austerity is nonetheless making a discreet comeback in public debate.

If fiscal orthodoxy could allow that states stood by an economy hampered by health restrictions, it affirms once more that newly-contracted sovereign debt would have to be repaid through cuts in pensions and public services, as well as tax increases for the vast majority of the population.”

The challenge for Barbados is that cuts to services have reached saturation and the Robin Hood in reverse tax policies introduced by the Mottley administration will not be rolled back.

The question which must be asked, therefore, is, if cuts in services and debt forgiveness options are removed from consideration, then what?

The administration has signalled its intention to set a minimum wage regime at $340 weekly for a 40-hour work week, and $68 per day for an 8-hour workday. It is a step in the right direction but already the business sector has raised its opposition on the claim of unaffordability. The question before this government is what else can the body of consultants across all ministries offer to move Barbados out of its hole?

From the evidence emanating from departments, statutory boards and the ministries, confusion reigns. The NIS, prison officers, nurses, BADMC, NCF and the teachers may have made their grievances public but there is a growing level of discontent across the public service that will not abate.

When added to the new form of theatre that has taken over the parliament of Barbados, looking ahead presents a frightening picture of a country bathing in “good news” in the midst of a war with no end in sight. Worse yet, it seems to be losing its soul!

Dr Derek Alleyne is a trade unionist, social commentator and member of the Democratic Labour Party.