Wickham wants selection of senators out of the hands of Head of State

Political pollster Peter Wickham wants the office of the President to be relieved of the duty of selecting senators.

Just as Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason officially appointed two of the country’s newest senators, Wickham said it was “unfortunate” that no provisions had been made for legitimate opposition voices to be represented in the Upper House.

He said it was also unfortunate that although the President was tasked with selecting nine senators instead of seven, there was still no trade union representation.

Nevertheless, Wickham congratulated his radio talk show colleague on the Down-to-Brass-Tacks programme Dr Kristina Hinds along with Dr. Chelston Brathwaite on their appointments. He lauded Dr Hinds in particular, for her advancement as a woman, media personality and academic.

“Congrats aside, I revert to my former position that the seats should reflect DLP opinion consistent with the fact that the Dems won the second most votes in the recent election and consistent with the proposed amendment to the Constitution that was scuttled,” said Wickham.

“In this regard, Her Excellency looked past 30 DLP candidates and a few dozen small party and independent candidates to select persons who, to the best of my knowledge, have no stated political allegiance. I consider this unfortunate.

“The situation presently is one where the President has now selected nine senators, while the 30,000 people who voted for the DLP and just shy of 5,000 persons who voted for other parties and independents have no voice in our national parliament,” the pollster added.

Wickham said the failure of a constitutional motion proposed by the incumbent Barbados Labour Party to facilitate an age change and a possible opposition presence in the Senate, has left lingering questions about the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee and the nomination of a representative on the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

“This too is unfortunate and I would consider it equally unfortunate if either Hinds or Brathwaite were to be later identified for these roles,” said Wickham.

“In addition, I also consider it unfortunate that among the nine selections made by Her Excellency there was no opportunity given to any trade unionist which presents a curious situation where Her Excellency has had the historic opportunity to make the largest number of nominations to the Senate and this is also the first time no trade unionist has found favour.

“I am now convinced that our Constitutional Review needs to relieve Her Excellency of this unquestionable right to nominate senators, which should be conveyed to the people in terms of a proportional formula,” he contended.

Meanwhile, political analyst Devaron Bruce has expressed confidence in the ability of both Dr Hinds and Dr Brathwaite to perform well in an independent role, in a “peculiar” circumstance.

The circumstance stems from the failure of any other Opposition party to secure a seat in the January 2022 election. Unlike in 2018, none of the MPs from the government’s side opted to cross the floor leaving the post of Opposition Leader vacant and as a consequence, no avenue for the selection of the two Opposition senators.

“I do think that they will bring a level of grace and independence to the two senate seats. I don’t see them as opposition seats, it’s just a very unique circumstance where we have, for the first time, nine independent senators as opposed to two oppositional seats,” said Bruce.

“The key loser is the Democratic Labour Party… and it is really a testament to the fact that the priority has to be the change in the constitution that would have allowed the Democratic Labour Party to receive these two seats as opposed to one jumping ship and forming another political party or the president choosing an additional two senators. Now, the question is about how they remain relevant in the circumstances,” he added.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb