Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.
by Dr Derek Alleyne
A voice clip featuring broadcaster David Ellis, which was making the rounds on the social media, caught my attention.
The attraction was not the calling out of the members of the Government on their silence and non-response to things that matter, but the issue of credibility of this Government in the handling of the pandemic.
The success of Barbados’ fight against this pandemic depends greatly on the quality of every decision made.
Barbadians have been accepting decisions made by this Government without much objection, but as the situation grew increasingly desperate, the deeper the levels of Government’s credibility sank.
The credibility issues started with the departure of the Czar. The only explanation from the Government, and by that one can only mean MAM, was that he went back to his substantive job. Was Carter’s secondment for a specific time and could not be extended? Dr. Adrian Lorde was at pains calling for the return of the Czar and not a word from the Government.
Then there was the appointment of Elizabeth Thompson. Why Thompson, especially with a reputation of cantankerousness at a time when cooperation and calm were required?
The next issue was the bus crawl and its role in the spread of the virus. While fingers were pointed at the crawl, not a word was uttered about the parties in St. James. Incidentally, images circulating on social media depicted one political leader in a shirt advertising the title of one of the bus crawls that he condemned.
For the sake of the credibility of our country, it is hoped that these images were fake. One really wishes that those in authority would take their responsibilities seriously. Night after night Barbadians were subjected to the same information wrapped in different covering but with the claim that things were under control.
On January 6th the PM announced “another shutdown was not on the cards.” And then came the “pause”. As with the case of the Minister of Health & Wellness, credibility levels started to wane. Credibility is established through trust and confidence.
Although credibility relates to truth-telling, it is also about successfully meeting promised objectives. Where objectives are not unachieved leaders are expected to give reasons. Leaders exhibit credibility when they act (not talk) humanely when making difficult decisions.
There was a growing sense of bravura in the addresses by MAM. Barbadians were being asked to take her at her word when all around them more and more cases of COVID-19 were being recorded .
It’s also a truism that while trust can be built, it can be quickly eroded and, once gone, is very difficult to restore (Blase and Blase, 2002). To Mr. Ellis’ concern about the silence of the Ministers, or should we say of the lambs, the idiom “speech is silver and silence is golden” may be attributed to the behaviour of some of them.
I however believe it is about the style of the leader and the heavy hammer that she wields. Mr. Ellis must also know that trust is a two-way road and the extent to which other Ministers and Government officials have become silent has also to do with trust and confidence.
The leader may not trust them to speak her speak, hence the invitation to Thompson, specially chosen Ministers and the presence of an active propaganda machinery.
The Ministers cannot make public pronouncements because statements must conform to the dictates of MAM, no matter the circumstance.
Hence she does all the talking. As the nation takes a “pause” to reflect, MAM may find it an appropriate time to do some introspection. She may come to realize that “Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalising.” (William S. Burroughs, The Job: Interviews)
Dr Derek Alleyne is a trade unionist, social commentator and member of the Democratic Labour Party.
