#BTSpeakingOut – Are we a country of façades?

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

by D. Goddard

Every general election, politicians make official declarations of money spent during their campaign and we all know the figures are a joke. But we accept them and live happily ever after in ignorant indifference.

Do the figures take into account the money which is spent in abundance on election day to sway the empty-pocketed and empty-headed to vote for the buck?

And after most elections several party hangers-on turn up on government payrolls as consultants doing nothing other than trying to sway public opinions, getting in people’s way or simply bewildering accountants when they see their names on their payrolls and have no clue as to who they are and what they do.

And what about the husbands, wives, paramours and family members of politicians who suddenly form companies and get government work, often on projects they mess up and have to depend on some state entity to complete at double the cost to taxpayers? We know who they are.

They are often the secretive or loud-mouthed blundering clown who lives next door, who goes from a Toyota to a CRV in one fell swoop.

And what about the student who somehow goes from a below average joe to a scholarship winner and we want desperately to believe that this was due to incredible, last minute study or a Road to Damascus moment but we hear whispers of a possible phone call helping the grades?

And what about the businessman who gets his hand caught in the cookie jar – or more to the point – the illegal drugs jar – but gets a pass because money talks and well-meaning, official blarney walks.

Ours is not a case of what we do but what we are willing to pay for what we do.