The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.
by Dr Ronnie Yearwood
In a mature democracy, thought and the freedom to think and express those thoughts are immune and protected from political interference and authority. Academic freedom and political freedom are
self-evident.
All citizens, including academics, must always be free to think, study, write, critique and criticise public institutions, systems, Government and society, to live in a true democracy.
Free speech and political freedom are also guaranteed by the Constitution of Barbados.
Every individual is guaranteed, unless those views are morally reprehensible, the right to have and express their views, without interference.
Without these basic and fundamental rights, a democracy, far less a supposedly new republic, will wither on the vine, overtaken by the thorns of intimidation, bullying and despotism.
A government may be uncomfortable with views that are not in concert with its own, but any scenario where any person is asked to reconsider his or her views for fear of reprisals, will have serious implications for democracy. The leap to be made is not one of faith.
I have critiqued both the Democratic Labour Party and Barbados Labour Party Governments. Country will always first for me.
I have recently critiqued the Government’s odd approach to becoming a republic, while supporting the removal of the British Queen as head of state, and advocated for a more holistic consultative approach on all aspects of constitutional reform, including the type of republic we are to become.
I have also recently questioned the competence and skills of the Minister of Education to deliver for our children, especially during COVID, where children cannot engage in school because they have no wifi or devices.
The Minister does herself no favours. Only this week, it was reported that the Ministry loaned tablets to children, rather than give the tablets to the students.
Tablets are such a basic part of education these days, it is the equivalent of an exercise book. Do you ask students to return used exercise books? How did the Minister think that loaning tablets using the old idea of the text book loan scheme made sense?
I try to write about issues that are affecting every day Barbadians who don’t have a voice, who don’t move in the circles of power and who only get treated with any respect during election campaigns.
I have also written in my column about the need to change the way we think about and do government and governance.
Sometimes those in charge are slow to spot where change is needed because it means less control and power on their part over situations and people.
Leaders in whatever space they operate also have a special responsibility to the institutions and people they lead.
The institutions or the country they lead will often respond to the tone that they set, especially to the people seeking the favour of the leadership.
It reminds me of Shakespeare’s Richard II, where Richard is slayed by one of Henry’s courtiers, Exton.
Henry never gave a direct order. It was the way the courtier, Exton, interpreted what Henry said by Henry’s tone and an implied order.
Henry simply asked, “Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?” It is also interesting that the courtier Exton is then exiled by Henry. Henry distances himself from the action, as Exton proclaimed, “From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.”
Since I have been writing my column, friends have told me to be careful how I critique or criticse the Government as the Prime Minister appears to be paying attention to my columns.
They say Prime Ministers in the Caribbean can be vindictive, they can put pressure on your employer to rein you in, they can have your taxes audited, they can make it very difficult for you to live and survive in a small country.
Other friends have told me that I will be offered an advisory or consulting job to stop me from writing. They say a lot of people have been silenced with massive salaries from Government whether as “advisors”
or “consultants”.
However, I tell all of my friends that I will keep writing and speaking. It’s not that I don’t fear being victimised.
My infant son, as any parent would know, makes me feel that his future is more important than my own. If the education system fails, he will lose out. If crime gets out of hand he will be at greater risk.
If governments continue to borrow money and waste it, he will be taxed to pay the money back.
I fear more for my son’s future in Barbados than I fear for myself. Also, the day will come when I will have to face him when he asks what I said and did, and I must be able to look him in the eye.
Barbadians are growing more and more concerned about the state of our country. I hope they will express their views, even and perhaps more so, because they may be afraid. Martin Luther King reminds us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Dr Ronnie Yearwood is a lecturer in law, lawyer and social commentator. Email: yearwood.r.r.f@gmail.com
