#BTColumn – To vote or not to vote?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Suleiman Bulbulia

A perplexing question it seems for several in the upcoming general election. I have been hearing the comment quite frequently over the past weeks. One personality was a guest on a recent call-in programme simply because she wasn’t going to vote in the elections this time around.

There are several reasons why someone would choose not to vote, and it is their right to do so. In our democracy, one can vote or don’t vote. Some persons may have never voted in their life. Others may feel their vote doesn’t count in the wider scheme of governance.

The right to have a vote by every adult citizen regardless of race, economic background and gender is a right that was hard fought for. It was a mere 70 years ago that all Barbadians were given that right. Legally established in 1950 with the passing in Parliament of the Representation of the People Act. Actual voting under this new system was first practised in the 1951 general election.

As pointed out in an article published in 2011: “The coming of Universal Adult Suffrage represented a genuine political and social revolution for the Barbadian society which was still fighting to wrench itself from the suppressive clutches of the still powerful mercantile and plantation elites of the then colony.

“For under the old and odious system, only a narrow set of Barbadians who held property of a certain value or earned income of a specific level could vote.

The undemocratic nature of this arrangement was further reinforced with the realisation that these qualifications were decided upon by the very same people who held them.

“The objective behind this horrendous political and social system was for the ruling elite to maintain its repressive stranglehold over the country, fighting hard to push back the just demands by the expanding progressive forces for the democratisation of Barbados.

“This demand for “one man, one vote” summarized and exemplified the calls by the anti-conservative elements for recognition in law of the principle that all persons, regardless of colour or of economic or social class, were of equal intrinsic human value.

“This brigade of political militants was led by (Sir) Grantley Adams, suitably and popularly dubbed “Moses” and “The Father of Democracy”.

Some of us may now take for granted universal adult suffrage, the struggle to get such a right is lost on some and perhaps apathy has replaced that desire to be part of the process.

Perhaps, the process itself needs overhaul after 70 years. I think these are all legitimate concerns especially if voter turnout is low.

The reality is whether one votes or not a political party or a coalition of parties will ultimately make up the government.

Barbados traditionally votes for one of the two established parties. These elections will see several smaller parties contending and a few independents. Not much expectation for success at the polls from these smaller parties but will impact a few votes on the older parties.

Not voting can equate to voting because the results will favour one party or the other. It is traditionally felt that lower turnouts favour the incumbent and higher turnouts the opponent.

The guest on the call-in programme explained that she wasn’t voting because none of parties presents a comprehensive agenda that addresses all she wanted to see and that those she voted for in the past failed in many of their promises. These are legitimate concerns that many voters will weigh when election day comes around.

I have also heard the argument advanced that “I haven’t seen my MP since he/she was elected so why vote this time around?” A MP obviously can’t be everything to everyone and unfortunately this is the expectation of many. It is challenging and even more difficult in a pandemic and its accompanying fallout.

The right to vote should never be taken for granted and we should take stock of this right because for many in the world today they don’t have this opportunity, right or freedom.

While others in some countries who have the right are not assured that the elections are free and fair.

The other point is that as voters our right to cast a vote should not simply be for election day alone. As voters we have every right and duty to take our elected officials to task after they come into power.

We must hold their feet to the fire if they don’t perform.

This citizenry, we should never take for granted. Sadly, it hasn’t been in our culture and mindset unless the situation gets very untenable, perhaps a legacy of the enslaved trauma, but I am seeing more of our younger generation finding a voice and engaging in protests where they see a wrong or injustice.

The process is also in need of much overhaul. The ‘first past the post system’ which is our way of getting a government in power is not the perfect method, that is becoming increasingly clearer as our world changes and becomes even more complex. But it is the system we have, and we have to make the most of it.

However, the calls for reform are coming in fast and furious. No longer can we afford, as many are contending, to choose the “lesser of two evils” in the candidates coming forward.
Barbados, now a Republic, can start to review its political systems with the view to addressing all these concerns and start to look at revolutionary reforms that will enhance our governance and government structures.

Universal Adult Suffrage was one major and important step in this journey to true democracy and real representation.

The journey continues and we can’t remain stagnant hoping to get through from one general election to the next.

What the reforms must look like, I can’t say, but it is a discussion that must start and must look at all possible alternatives. I know a system of local governance has been discussed and the Thorne Commission has submitted its report. That perhaps is a starting point.

In whatever we do we must have the broadest and widest consultations possible in coming up with how we wish to govern ourselves.

I truly hope that we have a successful outcome in the upcoming general elections and one in which most, if not all Barbadians, can feel that Barbados is in sound, capable hands ready to take on the future with confidence, strength, and resilience.

Suleiman Bulbulia is a recipient of the Silver Trident of Excellence; Justice of the Peace; Secretary of the Barbados Muslim Association; Muslim Chaplain at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus; and Chair of the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition. Email: suleimanbulbulia@hotmail.com