Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.
By Ralph Jemmott
A pattern may be emerging in Barbados’ style of governance that may not be for our comfort. In many parts of the world there is a trend towards autocracy in which a single individual is assuming an inordinate control of decision-making within the various polities. Participatory democracy seems to be on the defensive, if not in retreat. In the United States, both the principles and the practice of liberal democracy are in danger from one man who seems incapable by virtue of intellect and character of upholding the democratic ethos as we know it.
One would be hard put to claim that Barbados is becoming in any sense, an autocracy. The constitutional guarantees of democratic governance still hold. Given the shortcomings of the previous DLP administration, the BLP and Ms. Mottley swept to power on a tide of goodwill winning all 30 seats in the House of Assembly. The Rev. Joseph Atherley left the Party to form a one- man opposition, but the BLP went on to win another 30 to nothing victory a few years later. Since then Prime Minister Mottley has assumed the posture of a progressive nationalist and with more than a two-thirds majority in the House has embarked on a number of initiatives.
In spite of her Party’s manifesto promise to hold a referendum on the Republican issue, it was announced in the Throne Speech that Barbados would become a Parliamentary Republic on the same date on which Barbados was due to celebrate its Independence. This was a major change with which previous administrations had dabbled, but lacked the two-thirds majority to enforce. In the absence of a parliamentary opposition and a DLP still in shambles, Ms.Mottley had no such restriction and no referendum was ever held. Although many had reservations, there was no popular opposition to the move to Republican status. Fait accompli. Republicanism was enshrined and Barbados would now proceed in search of a Republican constitution to meet its new status. Cart before the proverbial horse, some cried.
On the very night of coming of the Republic it was suddenly announced that superstar Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty would become Barbados’ tenth National Hero. The reaction to the sudden announcement was mixed, with younger Barbadians in favour and generally speaking the older against. One is told that there were some objections within the Cabinet, but they were in the minority and were overruled. New National Hero. Fait accompli. The Jamaicans who have never declared Robert Nesta Marley a National Hero and who according to one Barbadian raconteur have said that our Pantheon of Heroes was ‘watered down’ have apparently roared with laughter.
Around that time Nelson Statue in Heroes Square was taken down. Most Barbadians seemed not to care one way or another. Lord Nelson still awaits a final resting place as tenders are out for his replacement. So many changes in so short a time, but to what end? Our Prime Minister was acquiring a reputation for being a woman on a mission, but to many, beyond the symbolism, the changes appeared somewhat peripheral. The abolition of the controversial Eleven Plus exam has been a concern for many years. Ms. Mottley announced that ‘next year’ would be the last and the Exam was about to be abolished. Three years later, parents, teachers and children are not sure as to what is to happen. A one-woman Director of Education Reform is supposed to come up with a proposal in consultation with ‘the relevant stakeholders.’ One is not sure that these broad based consultations were ever held, at least there were no reports in the press. The last report was that something had been handed in. The evidence suggests that beyond the rhetoric of progressivism our Prime Minister does not fully understand the implications of abolishing the Eleven plus Examination. The impression is being given that our highly articulate Prime Minister either lacks the capacity or the will to think things through with the critical insight that is required.
One fear is that the other members of the current parliamentary group lacks the fortitude to stand up to the Prime Minister even when they disagree with her. One caller to Brass Tacks has labelled the members of the Cabinet as “shadow ministers” living in the shadows of a superior authority. The great philosopher, John Stuart Mill once stated: “A polity needs the constant agonistic dialectic of opposing perspectives, so that the views of one side would keep the excesses of the other in check. Otherwise irrationality results.”
The latest faux-pas was the one that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Having announced that Independence day and Republic Day would both be commemorated on November 30, but that the concept of ‘Independence Day’ would be preserved, the Mottley administration changed the day to Barbados National Day. The claim was that the new nomenclature would incorporate both the Independence and the Republic idea. Translucent nonsense at its best, disingenuous at worst.
This has not gone down well with Barbadians, a rather apathetic and conventional people, scared of their own collective shadow, reluctant to raise their voice in public, because we “don’t like to make noise.” In Barbados, making noise in public is the preserve of mad people and drunkards. But Barbadians understandably wanted to keep Independence Day as a separate holiday and Barrow’s securing of sovereignty as a distinct historical achievement. Suspicion was that the change was a deliberate attempt to reduce the significance of Errol Walton Barrow in the achievement of political sovereignty. Barbadians across the board would have none of that and the BLP government was obliged to withdraw the preposterous idea. They knew and rightly so that independence in 1966 was a long process not a fly by night declaration in search of a vaulting legacy. Someone has suggested that the aura of Mia Amor Mottley is beginning to fade. It is held and not only in opposition circles, that while she is enhancing her external portfolio and image, she may be rapidly squandering the political capital invested in her and that she needs to come home and stay home and address the many internal issues plaguing Barbados and Barbadians.
Ralph Jemmott is a respected retired educator.
