Bishop Joseph Atherley
Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley on Saturday named a team which he said would speak on behalf of the Opposition on national issues.
“I am here this morning with a team of persons representing the interests of Barbadians . . . who are prepared to give themselves to service in the name of the Opposition,” Atherley said.
The team includes people who ran in the 2018 General Election under the Solutions Barbados (SB) and United Progressive Party (UPP) banners.
From Solutions are Scott Weatherhead, Alan Springer, Irvin Belgrave, Rev John Carter and Paul Gibson, while Maria Phillips, Bruce Hennis and Paul Forte ran under the UPP.
The group also includes Sylvan Greenidge from Barbados Integrity Movement, lecturer Dr Philip Corbin and Akil Daley.
Atherley, who had previously named his two Opposition Senators Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn, said three more people will be added to the opposition group at a later date.
“This is, for me as Leader of the Opposition, a proud moment. I believe it is for our country a historic moment.”
Irvin Belgrave – Home Affairs
Rev John Carter – Agriculture, Food Security and Maritime Economy
Dr Phillip Corbin – Energy, Water Resources and Telecommunications
Akil Daley – Youth and Small Business Facilitation
Sen Crystal Drakes – Economic, Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Paul Forte – Housing, Property Ownership, Works and Maintenance
Sen Caswell Franklyn – Labour, Social Security, Corporatives and Civil Establishments
Paul Gibson – Health, Wellness Services Development and Environment
Sylvan Greenidge – Transportation, Sanitation and Sewage Services
Bruce Hennis – International Business and Trade, Manufacturing and Commerce
Maria Phillips – Justice, Law Enforcement and Penal System
Alan Springer – Creative Economy and Sports Industry Development
Scott Weatherhead – Tourism, Regional and International Transport
Atherley was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) but he formed the one-man Opposition days after the May 24 General Election.
He stressed that today’s announcement was not the launch of a political party, but said this would come in due course.
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@Joy
Barbados did not have a “one-party State” from 2008-18. Did the presence of an Opposition prevent the DLP from running amok with taxpayers monies and increasing the national debt from $6 to $15 billion, with nothing to show for it? What were the other “implications” that you can recall?
Under the Westminister system of governance, a simple majority is all that is required to pass legislation through Parliament, and the Dems surely had a field day. They would not even show up for routine Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meetings or attend hearings for the NHC investigation. They behaved like a law unto themselves.
In addition, the Dems would not allow the PAC report to be laid in the House, even though there was a strong Opposition. They borrowed millions from the NIS and forced the Central Bank to print excessive money (around $50 million per month) to finance Government’s operations. The result was the foreign reserves reaching critically low levels of under six weeks of import cover, nearly causing devaluation of the dollar.
In years past, on both sides, there were three (BLP) and two (DLP) Opposition MPs, respectively, and Barbados was governed quite well. Those “three blind mice” BLP MPs as they were called, were a formidable force in the House. On the other hand, DLP’s “Mutt and Jeff” had a hard time countering the power of the administration, largely because they were not speaking to each other. The depth of their feud became quite evident when Denis Kellman, as a senior MP in the DLP, was not considered by PM David Thompson for a Ministerial portfolio when coming to power in 2008.
Barbados now has an official Leader of the Opposition in the name of Traitor Joe who has been asking hundreds of questions in the House to keep the government on its toes. Furthermore, Joe just announced a team to speak on key areas and could be soon forming his Judas Labour Party.
Word on the street is that former PM Owen Arthur could be uprooted from the comfort of his retirement armchair (for special assignment) to rebut on matters related to public finance and the economy in Joe’s group.
So have no fear, Joy, democracy and good governance have always been alive and well in Barbados with small Oppositions in parliament. The next 15 or 20 years shall be no different.
In the absence of an opppsition you have a one party state. Put aside petty politics and logically consider the implications.
Imagine Joe Atherley as Prime Minister and Caswell Franklyn as Deputy Prime Minister in BARBADOS in the year 2033...wonder if by then the DEMOCRATIC LABOR LABOR would still have Verla as President and Irene as Deputy with three more LOSSES added to their total
CARL HARPER...."I have no patience or tolerance for drivel, but nothing would give me greater pleasure than I have no patience or tolerance for drivel, but nothing would give me greater pleasure than pi$$ing off and riling up Dems yardfowls, cellar ducks and caged turkeys by my comments.
Errol Barrow, in his watery grave on his public holiday, must be so ashamed of what his once proud DLP and followers have become — a useless bunch of losers with no sense of direction or purpose.
WELL SAID CARL HARPER....and continue to PI$$ DEM off from the cold....I got some WARM wun down hey in de south for DEM whenever DEM get in the peoples bizness
Errol Barrow, in his watery grave on his public holiday, must be so ashamed of what his once proud DLP and followers have become — a useless bunch of losers with no sense of direction or purpose.
WELL SAID CARL...
@Ric: “I am fascinated by what you write and whether or not you believe or it’s for the sole purpose of annoying other posters.”
The “sole purpose” of my postings is to elucidate and inform public debate in an unbiased and accurate manner. The goal is to stimulate robust and intellectual public discourse in this forum. Very few postings rise to that level, hence I no longer read comments from some posters. I just skip them and move on to the next comment.
I have no patience or tolerance for drivel, but nothing would give me greater pleasure than pi$$ing off and riling up Dems yardfowls, cellar ducks and caged turkeys by my comments.
Errol Barrow, in his watery grave on his public holiday, must be so ashamed of what his once proud DLP and followers have become — a useless bunch of losers with no sense of direction or purpose.
So who are you Johnny Crow. Chris?
I wish the political landscape, could purge itself of politicians like Carl (Liz) Harper, but I know that would be the impossible dream. And I mean this for ALL political parties. Honest politicians are usually shunned, the shady one usually measure their success assisted by dishonesty, and a break with basic self discipline and principle. A politician once told another from the same party, that he would never be a good MP, because he is too honest. There lies the problem.I don't know which side Carl attracts Carl the more, but based on documented media articles from way back, Carl was a dishonest MP, and he seems to love it, based on his contributions to the chat. arl is a shameless crook.
@CARL "LIZ" HARPER: No, doesn't annoy me in the least. I am fascinated by what you write and whether or not you believe or it's for the sole purpose of annoying other posters.
@Donild Trimp...it's simple
"no credible opposition" to their manifesto or campaigning. The DLP were either silent or inept. Some of the other parties had merit but it was always going to be a tall order for them to trump the DLP or (BLP for that matter). So what was left during campaigning? A one horse race... When there's one voice in the darkness where do you start heading.
If the DLP had prepared better; engaged with the people, showed the people they cared, were honest about mistakes, put up a credible fight the result would have been different. Sure they may still have lost but we would have probably avoided the state we're in now... effectively a one party state and no official opposition (at least until the next election or until there are by-elections).
Some of the electorate may not have truly believed in the BLP but weren't prepared to accept another DLP administration under any circumstances.
Again just an opinion...
@Ric: "Do you believe what you write or the intention is to annoy?"
LOL, Ric! Does it "annoy" you? Good! And you know what you wrote has zero value, right?
Judus Joe have shown that he is a disgruntled man of one the cloth, when he was not given a ministry in the party. Some one asked when he gets to heaven what is he going to say to his god? I thought he had to go first to the gate and give his credentials to Peter, so that is far as he would get before he is sent down below to stand on his head.