Strong Opposition needed for Barbados’ political prowess

hat a turbulent political week it has been for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). A highly-charged members-only meeting was held on Sunday at party headquarters in George Street and the aftermath left a bitter taste in the mouths of party faithful, pundits and the general public.

The party now has motions filed against Political Leader Ralph Thorne,  President Dr Ronnie Yearwood and General Secretary Steve Blackett.

A month ago, when there was jubilation over the acceptance of Opposition Leader Thorne in the fold, a Barbados TODAY editorial reminded the party and readers that they can be only one leader.

Published on February 22 and headlined What’s next for DLP Opposition?, it stated: “The DLP leadership again has two heads – a political leader and a party leader – and while it may serve the party for the time being, one wonders what will be the next step particularly when the election bell rings. For a party in the political wilderness since 2018, it would be wise for them to line up behind the most effective leader and reclaim a proper place in the House of Assembly whether governing or opposing – strongly.”

Those sentiments are no different to those echoed by the political pundits who all agree that there can only be one leader. The party rank-and-file and wider Barbados – based on the call-in programmes and social media – are also of the same view. Only one can lead.

So it came as no surprise the battering the party took this week for what many have described as a “shameful” moment in its 69-year history.

We are now at the end of the week and we are no clearer or nearer to understanding what the eventual outcome will be as it relates to the party’s internal power struggle and infighting.

But as DLP members continue to beat up on themselves, Bajans are again forced to be their own Opposition voice.

When the story broke in the British media about the Barbados Government’s intention to pay British MP Richard Drax some £3 million (BDS$7.5 million) for the compulsory acquisition of his Drax Hall plantation in St George for housing, there was much public outcry.

Critics of the acquisition suggested the government should confiscate the property as reparations rather than enriching the pockets of the owner, a descendant of Colonel Henry Drax who introduced sugar cultivation to Barbados within a decade of settlement. An estimated 30 000 enslaved people died on the Drax estates over a span of 200 years.

So loud was the outcry that Prime Minister Mia Mottley backed away from the government’s original plan to purchase some 50 acres of land for low and middle-income housing. She said she did not take lightly the concerns of many Barbadians who may feel that they have been robbed of the opportunity of having an appropriate settlement as a result of the reparations that ought to be made as a result of the blood, sweat and tears of Barbadians over centuries.

Her address on the issue on Tuesday was to address the public outcry – that loud, strong opposing voice.

This is what is needed. This is what the citizenry has been doing, for the most part, since 2022.

The DLP must now step up and act as the strong party it once was. That said, amidst the DLP battle royale, it was pleasing to see there is a space for Opposition Leader Thorne and his team, provided through the Clerk of Parliament, as seen in a press conference he held on Thursday. We last had such when Reverend Joseph Atherley was the Opposition Leader.

Reality is though, that whether political leader or member of the DLP, Thorne remains the Opposition Leader until the next general election is held.

He assured that the parliamentary group of Senators Ryan Walters and Tricia Watson and himself will carry the fight to the government.

From the outset, Thorne promised that the Opposition’s office was open to all and reaffirmed that they were there to serve the people of our beloved country.

We commend Thorne for calling the press conference even in the midst of trying times within the party he currently represents. We trust that this start of an open door policy to the people and media will continue.

As the majority of Barbadians have opined this week, our country’s democracy, our government’s accountability, and our nation’s collective political prowess depend heavily on a fully functioning and well-oiled Opposition.