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DLP president wants diaspora to have more say in local affairs

by Barbados Today
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Democratic Labour Party (DLP) president Dr Ronnie Yearwood is calling for greater inclusion of the Barbadian diaspora in local decision-making processes, including national elections.

Describing the current relationship as “one-sided”, Yearwood declared that members of the diaspora are often used only as instruments of financial assistance.

“Too often we see the diaspora as almost like an ATM machine,” Dr Yearwood told Barbados TODAY.

“We go to them when we need their money, we go to them when there’s a hurricane, we reach out to them for things. We recognize, for example, that remittances in the Caribbean from the diaspora are in the billions of dollars. We have to take their role seriously.

“Yes, we want to encourage their investment in the Caribbean, but we also have to recognise how to give them space to contribute to the development of the Caribbean, not only in remittances and investment and projects and things of that nature but through their knowledge and their ideas,” he added.

The newly elected DLP president is engaging with members of the diaspora on a trip to the United Kingdom. He was recently invited to celebrate with the new Lord Mayor of Leicster, George Cole, who is the first person of African-Caribbean descent to hold the position. Dr Yearwoood also intends to meet with the DLP’s UK branch in the coming days.

He said the talks would transcend discussions about money, instead examining how members of the overseas branch of the party can play a more active role in Barbados’ development.

“Considerations should be given for persons in the diaspora to be allowed to vote, and discussions started about what levels do we want them to vote and for who and what positions,” Dr Yearwood declared.

Currently, only in-person voting is allowed in general elections, excluding scores of people in the diaspora.

“These are all really, really serious discussions because we can’t continue what effectively is a one-sided relationship. We take and take and take, but what role do they actively get to play in the policy space for the money that they’re giving, either through remittances or whether it’s through supporting charities or investment? It cannot be that one-sided relationship, so there has to be some rebalancing and we have to find a way to seriously do that,” he added.

During the short interview, Dr Yearwood lauded the appointment of the Jamaican-born George Cole as Leicester’s new Lord Mayor, as a major milestone for Caribbean people everywhere.

The DLP leader said he had paid the Lord Mayor a courtesy call to discuss pressing issues like climate change, crime and investment.

“There are practical ways that these cities can help us in terms of free trade, providing for markets, and what you recognise in large countries is that cities are often the movers of a new policy and change. Because cities have certain freedoms, there are also diverse, and not only culturally diverse but politically diverse,” said Dr Yearwood.

“There’s always high technology intensity around cities, so cities can be very helpful to help us in Barbados and the region in fighting our battles.

“So, it is useful to understand where these cities are, where our communities in these cities are, what they’re doing and what they’re achieving and to be part of that and to celebrate that,” he added. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

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