#BTColumn – Unconstitutional or political expediency?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Steve Prescott

Considering Mr Caswell [Franklyn’s] article – probably both!

Quite frankly… for very many years there have been and still are, in my opinion, significant problems in the political landscape of Barbados.

I would go a little further, and add to Mr Caswell’s observations.

Without the Separation of Powers the protections that citizens are supposed to enjoy may well be eroded away – there will be no protections for the citizens of Barbados.

It is supposed to be inherent in common law jurisdictions like the UK, Canada, USA, and elsewhere that if you have a Parliamentary democracy there should exist separate branches of Government; The Executive (Cabinet), Sovereign Parliament (Legislature) and the Judiciary.

Given that, in Barbados, the Executive and Parliament are made up of almost ALL politicians there appears to be no obvious checks and balances.

Look at the facts:

30 Parliamentary constituencies… 29 MP’s from one party… No ELECTED opposition, a Cabinet made up of 24 MP’s, a Senate that is composed of, for the most part, choices of the Prime Minister (notwithstanding the GG can suggest her own without the PM’s advice).

Even if the GG chooses her own 7 candidates and the Opposition their 2; the balance of power is still in favour towards the ruling party.  Therefore, doesn’t it follow that the ability for the PM to pass through her Legislative Agenda and “control” the nation’s affairs becomes, probably to a greater degree, unfettered (to use the legal vernacular)?

Can you see where this is going?

The Sovereignty of Parliament is sacrosanct.  That’s for the protection of the people – but without a line between Parliament and the Executive the question has to be asked, “Who is sovereign?” Since Parliament (the Legislature) is the sole authority for enacting the laws of the land, the consequential question then becomes, has the Executive become the solitary law maker?

The brand of politics in this “One Party State” will leave many onlookers wondering, like me, who controls the Island.  To be quite honest… Barbados has been a one-party state for 50 years… I say that simply because there is not a lot to choose between the brand of politics between the two main parties.

The choice for the people has become malignant – because the purpose of the separation of powers is to limit power in each branch of government.

For my part, there needs to be a party brave enough to insist the Constitution be amended to prevent the current state of affairs.

There needs to be a robust third party that is prepared to dig in and offer the people another choice because, since I’ve been back to visit again this year, I’ve heard people use the word Dictator way too many times.

Owen Arthur, Mr Caswell and other citizens may well have a legitimate point… without effective checks and balances aren’t you heading for a Dictatorship? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Steve Prescott is a concerned citizen of Barbados.