#BTEditorial – Remembering Dr Agard in the age of Moe

The 41st, one-term President of the United States of America, George H.W. Bush, who served from 1989 to 1993, told American voters during his campaign run: “Read my lips, no tax increases.”

On becoming president, one of Bush’s first acts was to raise taxes. He is but one of hundreds of politicians throughout the ages who have baffled citizens with deeds that did not match their words, or whose verbose outpourings bore no relation to their deeds.

Politicians should appreciate history as it can often be their undoing. The past often exposes them cruelly and the approbation which they all like can swiftly disappear when they are assessed by those not paralysed by partisan politics.

A mere six years ago, while current Prime Minister Mia Mottley was leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), former politician Dr Maria Agard was expelled from that party. As we recall, the BLP’s National Council, after hearing charges against her, determined that she be expelled. We see no necessity to rehash all the facts as they have been previously documented. Suffice to say, following statements from her Christ Church West executive branch, Dr Agard defended herself by addressing the issue in public fora.

In repudiating Dr Agard, Miss Mottley said at the time, inter alia: “Barbadians need to have confidence in a disciplined and united organisation as an alternative to the current existing Government that continues to fail the people and country in every sphere . . . . No institution can survive if people are not willing to work together and to respect authority – and to be guided by the Constitution that governs them. It is no different from a country – or indeed a social club or a sporting organisation.”

Speaking at a press conference on December 2, 2015, Dr Agard said she was still loyal to the BLP, but labelled the party leadership as tyrannical and claimed that she had been removed for standing up to Miss Mottley.

Dr Agard received public support then from late former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, as well as outgoing St Andrew MP George Payne. Indeed, speaking within the precincts of Parliament, Mr Arthur had this to say: “The media is being put on trial if somebody serving as a Member of Parliament can be expelled from a political institution for giving an interview to the media. Giving interviews to the media is not something of itself that is destructive of a party, it is what you say when you give the interview,” he said, stressing then that Dr Agard was not expelled for attacking the policies of the BLP or the institution, but for giving interviews in defence of herself.

Recent political developments now suggest that Dr Agard might have been done a grave injustice.

Former Government Senator Lucille Moe, in the middle of a general election, has joined the BLP’s opponent, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), after a long association with the BLP as political strategist and member of the Upper Chamber with ministerial responsibilities.

Following the revelation by Barbados TODAY and confirmation of Moe joining the DLP camp, she made this public statement: “Contrary to what others have been speculating in the media, not everything is about money. Sometimes you have to know your own worth as a human being and there’s no price for principle.” This came after she had met with Prime Minister Mottley at Ilaro Court and indicated that she had made up her mind.

In the world of politics, practitioners have the right to leave parties, join others, rejoin former parties and to form them. That is the nature of the game. But most parties have rules, constitutions and policies that govern them and ensure order, continuity and the survival of the institution. But what followed after Miss Moe’s declaration has baffled many political observers and the average armchair critic, especially within the context of a pending general election and a public statement that in reality meant that Miss Moe would be working to see that the BLP loses the election.

Asked on Monday, at her nomination, about the development with respect to Moe’s association with the DLP, Prime Minister Mottley noted: “As far as I am concerned, Lucille has gone to deal with a professional obligation. As a professional, she is entitled to serve who she wants.”

The PM added that Moe was free to go to whoever she wanted, while asserting that “as far as I am concerned, I know Lucille is still a member of the BLP”.

Now, if we are to be guided by history and Ms Mottley’s statements in 2015, as well as the circumstances of Dr Agard’s expulsion, both scenarios cannot find common balance.

Mottley spoke six years ago about Barbadians needing to have confidence in a “disciplined and united organisation” and the need “to work together”. If Moe has decided to work against the BLP, how can she be perceived as still a “member” by the leadership and publicly described as such, even if this might be merely as a “paid-up” member. Shouldn’t Barbadians be hearing words such as “our national council will meet” or “expulsion”?

We ask these questions because Barbadians must be able to find consistent truths and clarity in the words of their political leaders. Deeds should match words and vice versa. Monday’s truths and logic ought to be Thursday’s as well.

What holds as order in November 2015 must hold as order in January 2022. Somewhere in Barbados, Miss Agard, who pursued this matter unsuccessfully in the law courts, must be wondering what is the greater evil: defending herself in the public domain and being expelled, or Moe plotting the removal of the BLP and being untouched.