#BTColumn – DLP presidency: a vote for survival and democracy

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

by John Beale

The upcoming Democratic Labour Party (DLP) elections for the presidency is vital, not only for the survival of the DLP, but also for the voice of democracy in Barbados which is currently a one-party republic. Several public commentators have written about its importance to every single man, woman and child.

The Opposition Leader always has a very difficult task, but at least an Opposition Leader receives a salary and has a voice in Parliament.

However, the next leader of the DLP will have none of these traditional benefits, nor any representation in the Senate. Hence it will be an extremely difficult and lonely period.

It will be a huge challenge to operate under these circumstances but at the same time it is an opportunity to learn and gain experience the old fashioned way-by earning it through hard work. Certainly not a job for the faint-hearted.

Old brigade versus the future

The DLP has two candidates for the presidency in the old-hand Dr. David Estwick and the much younger Dr. Ronnie Yearwood. Although the boisterous Dr. Estwick has significant parliamentary experience, he is part of a group of former DLP ministers best known for “the lost decade”.

Furthermore Bajans have twice spoken in 2018 and again in 2022 that they want no part of anyone from the discredited old brigade. Surely this should be enough to establish that it is highly unlikely that Dr. Estwick could be a successful leader of the DLP in a future General Election.

The well known political scientist, Peter Wickham, appears to be correct in saying that if the DLP wishes to have any chance of getting politicians elected they must only seek new talent—the old guard will be a death sentence for the party and country.

The DLP members would be well advised to promote the young, well educated, passionate, and committed law lecturer Dr. Ronnie Yearwood to lead the party. He, like Owen Arthur, came from humble working class roots.

We would do well to remember that when Owen Arthur became Prime Minister he also had no real parliamentary experience. As Ezra Alleyne noted, Dr. Yearwood was “one of the promising sparks when he was an intern at Government Headquarters under Prime Minister Owen Arthur”.

His academic background is excellent and he has been exposed to living and studying in the UK, US, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and China.

Likewise he has had some experience in the private sector having worked with a leading international financial organisation. It is worth noting that Yearwood left what
were well paying jobs working in law, finance and capital markets in the UK and the BVI to return to contribute to Barbados’ development.

On the issue of all the talk of Dr. Yearwood crossing the floor, he never ran on a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ticket whereas many have crossed from the DLP to the BLP including Clyde Mascoll, Rudy Grant, Kerrie Symmonds and Ralph Thorne.
All political parties have leadership issues and political philosophical or policy issues from time to time and it is to be expected that at times people will move freely from one party to another.

Some political pundits have suggested that Dr. Yearwood is not sufficiently experienced for the task, but as Ezra Alleyne stated, “the road to 2027 is a long one”. So it may be time enough for Dr. Yearwood to prove his potential and gain valuable experience.

I suppose that there are some of us that would not have chosen Owen Arthur to lead the BLP in his first and successful attempt and others may not have selected Sir Garry Sobers to the West Indies Test team because at sixteen he would have been too young and too inexperienced.

Needless to say, they were both outstanding. And, Yearwood’s obvious charisma, speaking ability and personality, are the makings of an outstanding leader.

Uncertainties

It is recognised that being elected as President of the DLP is no guarantee of success when the next General Election is called. Yearwood’s performance in the coming years will determine his future.

Who knows what will happen in 2027? Our outstanding PM may have moved on to a post at the UN or elsewhere and then the BLP could be the party that has a leadership challenge.

In the meanwhile, Yearwood is far more likely to be able to start the process of uniting and energising the DLP with a well thought-out strategic plan and vision for all Bajans and especially the younger Bajans than an overlooked contender.

John Beale is a former Ambassador to the US appointed under the DLP administration and former Honorary Consul in Brazil, appointed under the BLP. He has never joined any political party.