Events that have unfolded in recent months point to one thing: a general election seems to be on the horizon. And if there were any doubt, political scientists made the prediction this week while commenting on the most recent developments.
Weeks ago, on Thursday, September 30, the Minister of Health and Wellness and MP for The City, Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic, announced at a branch meeting that he would not be contesting the next general election that is constitutionally due in 2023.
The most recent event to confirm the speculation of an early election unfolded Sunday night in St Philip. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture and National Development John King announced to his St Philip West constituents that he too would not be contesting the next general election.
King told the branch meeting at the Gordon Walters Primary School: “I made the decision that come next election, I definitely will not be seeking re-election. I believe that I still have a lot of things that I would like to accomplish within St. Philip West and across Barbados for the 300, 000 plus people that we have in it, but I think that I can do that in a different way.”
After King informed the branch meeting, Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated that Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology Senator Kay McConney would be the new candidate running on the BLP ticket in St Philip West.
In reacting to the recent move Leader of the Opposition Joseph Atherley said there were rumours circulating that King might have been pushed.
“With respect to Mr King, I’m not so sure the same can be said because he had only done one term, he just faced the electorate three years ago and he’s saying that for the last year he has been considering quitting. One would have to pause and take thought of that. There have been rumours for some time that Mr King was being forced out of St Philip to make way for somebody else who would be preferred by the leader of the party,” he said.
President of the Democratic Labour Party Verla DePeiza said she saw the development as an indictment on the PM’s leadership.
“This must be the first time in the history of Barbados that two sitting Cabinet members in their very first term in Cabinet have signalled their desire to exit politics,” DePeiza said of King and Lt Col Bostic.
On Tuesday, Government’s Advisor on Poverty Alleviation Corey Lane declared that he would be seeking the nomination to contest the City of Bridgetown seat.
Political scientist Devaron Bruce also weighed in.
“I think she [McConney] has a lot more work to do, particularly given that she is running in a seat that has traditionally been a Democratic Labour Party stronghold. In The City, I know that Corey is an individual who has charisma, who has national influence, who works in the area of poverty which certainly works in his favour for The City,” Bruce said.
If pundits have been paying close attention these political moves are a continuation of some unconventional and untraditional steps being made by the current administration.
On July 22, 2020, two years after being elected by the largest majority ever in the history of Barbados, the PM announced a Cabinet reshuffle.
Ironically, the same King who is now bowing out was no longer Minister with sole responsibility for Culture. His portfolio was moved to the Prime Minister’s Office making him a junior minister.
Sadly also for King is that he would have only presided over two Crop Over Festivals and the National Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) during his time. The two main events were staged by the Ministry of Culture. Given that plans would have already been in place for 2018, it is safe to say only 2019 provided a stage for him to make his mark. It would be quite difficult to name five major achievements he has made in his short stint heading the Ministry of Culture. For sure, no major legislation was brought before the House of Assembly to aid in the development of the sector.
But Lt Col Bostic’s legacy is fully evident and possibly unmatched among the current ministerial lot.
In another unconventional move, for the first time ever, a Throne Speech was delivered two years after the administration was elected and two years after the original one was delivered in 2018. On September 15 last year, Governor General Dame Sandra Mason delivered a lengthy Throne Speech.
Shortly after, the constituency of St George North was thrown into a by-election after former MP Gline Clarke announced that he was taking up a new assignment in Canada. On November 11, leader of the Barbados Worker’s Union Senator Toni Moore was ushered in as the new MP for St George North.
Much has happened for a party that boasts a list of candidates with the greatest popularity in our elective history. But to what end? With all these changes and adjustments just over three years in office, what is the electorate to make of it all? Only time will tell.
For now, however, we are left to wonder like political scientist Bruce who was commenting on the recent developments.
He said: “So it has to be a question of whether Mia Mottley is remaking the Barbados Labour Party in her image or is the Barbados Labour Party remaking its image from the inside out.”
This begs the question: In whose image is the great party of our National Hero the late Sir Grantley Adams being shaped? And, is this image the collective vision of all or one?
