#BTColumn – Indecent haste

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by Ralph Jemmott

“Declaring Republican status in a Throne Speech is not much of a legacy. What if things decline and the Republic takes on the shape of a Banana.”

T&T, when you plan the page, put this quote somewhere in bold on the page

Energy is a valuable commodity. High energy people get things done often in quick time. That is a good thing, but an excessive amount of energy where it inclines one to rush without applying sufficient thought can be dangerous and often leads to error.

I have praised Prime Minister Mottley for her abundance of energy and her apparent ability to get things done. However, in seeking to rush through the change to Republican status Miss Mottley has erred and has understandably, incurred a substantial and increasing amount of push-back. She runs the risk of wasting the political goodwill she earned on May 24, 2018. For good or for bad, Barbadians as a people are not generally speaking, given to impetuousness.

The People’s Business on CBC on the night of August 8 presented three of the leading persons on the Republican Status Transition Advisory Committee (RSTAC). What came across was that here were three highly intelligent and reputable persons who somehow seemed less than enthusiastic about the task they have been set.

I may be wrong but they seemed rather apologetic. The general tenor of their discourse suggested that they had been given a mandate and were prepared to carry it out.

One might have thought that the appropriate question in the whole debate is why the rush, why the ostensibly indecent haste? It is indicative of a tendency even among the highest ranks of the Barbadian intelligentsia not to question authority. Truth be told Barbados and Barbadians do not much care for critical thought.

The recourse was that the Prime Minister won the last election hands-down, that the government has more than a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly and is constitutionally free to do what it wants.

If one had any doubts about the wisdom of the precipitate rush to Republican status, to agree to sit on an Advisory committee to rubber stamp a decision that has already been made seems less than judicious and less than intellectually discerning.

Linear logic would suggest that there is something not quite salutary about making a not insignificant constitutional change and then asking a committee to work out the details of the constitutional alterations.

Not surprisingly, some of the committee members seem embarrassed by some of the possibilities arising from the changeover. I did not hear a subsequent radio broadcast, but apparently there were several more embarrassing moments. Two academics even declared the RSTAC “not fit for purpose”.   

Nobody seems to want to raise the question of the Prime Minister’s motivation. Not surprisingly a number of rumours have begun to fly to which questions must be asked and answers given. One such, concerns whether November 30 will become known as Republic Day rather than Independence Day.

Not surprisingly the question is raised as to whether this would represent an assault on the legacy of Errol Walton Barrow. I don’t think this is Miss Mottley’s thinking.

But if it was her thinking, it would be highly disingenuous and would be an act that would live on in the annals of Barbadian political infamy.

Another intimation is that the Prime Minister is in search of a legacy, that she wants to go down in the annals as the “Mother of the Republic” in some way similar to Barrow’s consideration as The Father of Independence. (Admittedly, Miss Mottley has never suggested anything of the sort.) Again this would be preposterous. Mr. Barrow’s legacy stands.

He not only negotiated our independence, he thereafter laid the foundations for its viability. Declaring Republican status in a throne speech is not much of a legacy. What if things decline and the Republic takes on the shape of a Banana. Too often when Miss Mottley speaks she sounds as if she is on a political platform, one remembers the dictum, “Watch me. I got this”.

Too much time is being spent on seemingly inconsequential symbolism; the removal of Lord Nelson, the call for more national heroes and this precipitous move to republican status.

I supported Nelson’ removal from Heroes’ Square and the move to republican status with appropriate consultation. Prince Harry has taken a black wife and left the building at Windsor.

Why would we want to continue swearing allegiance to the Queen’s heirs and successors? Ridiculous!  The Jamaicans claim our heroes are “watered down”. I see no need for more heroes of diminishing calibre. Let us try to be a heroic people in the here and now.

Why are these things absorbing so much of our attention when more and more people are falling into poverty, when the Civil Service seems less efficient and crime and violence threatens the psycho-social underpinnings of good governance. You can’t walk into a small shop in Bayville without fear of being shot. Where on earth are we headed?   

This is a time when the country is facing serious issues and needs to come together to confront the challenges it faces. The current republican discourse is an unnecessary distraction that tends to create factions.

The other criticism to which Ms Mottley is vulnerable is the lack of public participation before the decision was reached to move from realm to republic. The idea was not in the BLP’s 2018 Manifesto. What is more is that the party has touted its commitment to participation.

The Thorne Commission with its aim of establishing People’s Assemblies is supposed to enhance participatory democracy. Yet if I am reading at least one apologist for the government, it’s time to get on with the Republic, further consultation with the people would constitute an unnecessary inconvenience.  No doubt Barbadians are cynical and apathetic.

Ralph Jemmott is a respected retired educator.