There are certain intrinsic features about us human beings. These are arguably the need always to appear in control, to be attended by praise for our accomplishments and to emerge on the positive side of tasks entrusted to us. For politicians and those in senior public administrative positions, this is their lifeblood.
The use of the media is crucial to assist such individuals in controlling the narrative. The advent of social media has made the use, or in some cases abuse, of traditional media even more critical to powerbrokers. Politicians can influence traditional media but not so easily social media. Global leaders can be dismissive of the media, they can slant the information they release to suit their agenda, they can be specifically selective in what they divulge, or they develop and enhance relationships with media managers who might betray their creed by suppressing that which the public ought to know. Probing questions that should be asked of leaders are frequently replaced by mundane and ineffectual guff. Sometimes, leaders simply lie to their public.
Asked some weeks ago how he would rate his handling of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on a scale of one to ten, United States President Donald Trump, not surprisingly, gave himself a ten. Trump’s answer was a no-brainer really, even though not in consort with the fact that various states were crying out for more financial assistance from federal government, there were shortages of equipment to fight the pandemic and the infection and death toll in New York and wider America was increasing daily. But as a politician, Trump would have been out of character to give himself less than 10. The world has many more Trumps.
But it is incumbent on leaders to give their people unvarnished facts. Information should not be deceptive or be open to unnecessary doubt. The world of which Barbados is a minuscule part faces a crisis that ought not to be politicized or be seen as a make or break situation for political careers. Public health is of utter paramountcy. Thus, when global leaders give details on the numbers affected by COVID-19 or those being tested, optics, careers and political survival should not come into the equation. And while we must always welcome good news such as the absence of positive COVID-19 tests on any given day in any jurisdiction, such news should not be proclaimed as a sort of victory – political or otherwise – if no testing was done during those periods because of an equipment deficit. If COVID-19 spreads because of a lack of equipment, materials or flawed procedural practices, should errant pedestrians or motorists who unnecessarily break a curfew be blamed?
One Barbadian story being presently told is that the advent of COVID-19 has seen about 16 000 people placed on the breadline. But is this true? Can statistics based on persons applying for National Insurance benefits truly be used as the gauge for unemployment at this stage? A reality check might inform those providing such dubious figures that there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unemployed people who do not qualify for benefits but have the same need for food, clothing and shelter as those making the trek to the E Humphrey Walcott building. Do the figures account for those in the informal sectors who cannot work because of curfew restrictions, and who do not qualify for benefits? These are questions that must be asked of those who instinctively want to control the narrative.
There has been a frequent quip that “we are in this together”. But that is proving to be nonsense to be believed by the gullible and politically blinkered. We are in this together because of geographical location, not social positioning. Barbadians of different means are forced to react to this crisis in a manner that is commensurate with their lot in life. Take a glance at the lines stretching outside our major supermarkets and appreciate the hue of those populating them. Yet, all ‘hues’ eat and have the same basic needs. But if one hears the same political refrain over and over again, one might tend actually to accept its emptiness.
In the sister island of St Lucia, taking into consideration the economic fallout occasioned by COVID-19, the government there has decided to take a 75 per cent salary cut in the interest of the country’s economy. What is the plan in Barbados? Will there be a similar magnanimous and patriotic gesture coming from our bloated Cabinet and horde of consultants? Could such be the first tangible indication that we are indeed “in this together”? But no one is asking these questions.
The fourth estate’s role in ventilating the plight of the vulnerable and those suffering as a result of COVID-19, as well as delving beyond superficial statements, is of great significance. There must be respect but no sleeping with the Government and those in authority. There must be no attempt to manipulate the narrative, far less politicize it. This is not the season for it. There must simply be adherence to truth, fairness to those at the top of the ladder and evident genuineness to those at the bottom. Let the narrative be honest and speak for itself.
