#BTColumn – Politicians mekkin’ mock sport at we

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 Roderick P. Harris

Listening to the adulation pouring out for Gline Clarke, the departing MP for St George North, reminds me of a statement made years ago by the dearly departed Sir Frederick Smith.

He once said on CBC television not to listen to politicians when they start harping about their service and sacrifices that they make.

He said just like a carpenter, plumber, lawyer, or whatever, it was their job and they were paid handsomely to do it. They were not doing unpaid-for favours.

Sir Frederick said the life of Barbadian parliamentarians was sweet.

He said they lived the good life, ate the best food and drank the best spirits freely at Parliament, made a lot of money, travelled a lot, got a lot of favours and were held up as beacons in society.

He said the advantages outweighed the disadvantages to an immeasurable degree.

Sir Frederick was brutally frank.

Now watch this. After 26 years of sweets, Mr Clarke is going to receive a six-figure handshake from the Government; a five-figure monthly tickle in his palms, and other benefits. But there is more.

Rather the Government send some young, bright, up and coming member of my BLP to Canada to serve as Ambassador, the Government sending a 70-year-old man to cold, COVID-19 Canada for him to add to the sweets he already will be enjoying now that
he is retired, and soon to get a gratuity and a pension.

Now add to that, another salary.

And sheep and goats sitting down in a hall clapping and cheering and probably trying to memorize “kumbaya, Gline, kumbaya, oh Lord, kumbaya.”

The sheep and goats among us are well. But I forget: “This is who we are”.