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by Ras Simba Akoma
“All I want to say is that they don’t really care about us”.
That was one of the mantras being chanted by the nurses of Barbados as they marched in protest of being poorly treated by this Government.
Like a lot of Barbadians today, I personally have many grouses with this Government and its treatment of Barbadians across the board.
Many of my articles speak to why the Rastafari community should not support the re-election campaign of this Government, so I will not touch that matter in this article.
This article is being written in support of the marching nurses, and the “unfaired”, in Barbados.
I was unable to attend the march, but I am fully in support of the nurses, who after being some of the first on the frontline to address the COVID-19 situation, are now being treated in a manner unbecoming of any Government that truly cares.
It would seem that the slogan used by the Government in the last election, “Mia Cares”, is the same slogan that will be used as a yardstick to judge her and her party in the court of the people’s opinion.
Many Barbadians are waking up to the reality about this Government. I have had conversations with a Minister in her Government who prior to the calling of the elections was fed up and disgusted with his party’s handling of several affairs including those of Rastafari.
This is a person who when convenient was thrown under the bus by the Prime Minister, whispered a little about internal infelicities in the party, was given a hush-position, and now is on the road running again for his party, who he knows fails the people in many ways.
Picture this: You are responsible for hosting a very important race in which you will partake. You start the race when you have a head start.
Due to your delayed announcement of the race, it has put the other runners at a disadvantage. If this were the case we would be quick to say that was unfair, even if it was within the rules of the race to do so.
Being legal does not make something right or even ethical.
This is what Mia and her Mottley crew have done as it pertains to the blitz attack, calling of this election. The calling of this election was done at a time when COVID positive cases were sure to be on the drastic rise.
After the Old Year’s Night celebration as expected there was a notable increase in COVID-19 cases, and the Government took that opportunity to announce COVID-19 positive people will be denied their right to vote; just another right that this government is taking away from the people without a second thought. Is this the type of Government Barbados wants? Is this the type of politics Barbados wants? As I drive about Barbados now, all I can see are the government’s posters all over the place. If I were a visitor to the island I would think only one party was in this election.
This will go down in the history of Barbados as the most unfair election of all time. Is all fair in love and war? Can Barbados afford to give a Government that does not care about the will of the people a second term in office?
an Barbados afford to give a Government which has no qualms about letting Barbados know how stupid its masses are when they question a national medical procedure that is being imposed on them? Can Rastafari in Barbados afford to support a Government that has without a second thought, denied them their freedom from cannabis persecution, and therein an opportunity to truly develop and empower themselves?
Can parents support a Government that had little to say about the call to pit children against parents as it pertains to the experimental COVID 19 vaccine?
Can Barbados afford a government which cannot get anti-corruption/integrity legislation passed but can advance a number of other bills and superficial initiatives? Barbados clearly needs an administration that truly represents the wishes of the majority of its citizens. It needs a government with some sort of political scruples.
Barbados needs a Government that respects the rights of its people.
This is the perfect opportunity for Barbados to hold its representatives accountable, and to show successive Governments what will be their fate should they disrespect and disobey the will of the masses.
Take away your vote and watch her.
Ras Simba Akoma is president and founder of the African Heritage Foundation.
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