Take the time to do it right

This is in response to the editorial entitled “DLP ought to name a full shadow Cabinet”.

Leadership is one of the most misrepresented domains in Barbados, especially on the political landscape. There are far too many imitators who walk around with the fancy titles and various perks bestowed onto leaders but in practice, struggle to lead a bee to a sno-cone cart.

Our two most historied political parties are now plagued by questionable candidates who are either sheepish bystanders or outright bullies. And, I’m not only speaking about the biggest ranks in our little island, although from what I’m seeing, Team BLP is inadvertently teaching Barbadians that the Prime Minister is the only one who matters and that is completely wrong.

Every cabinet member should be a leader who has the high standards and matching intangibles to head various teams and accomplish specific goals. But, there is a very worrying trend with Team MAM where elected officials are being presented as bumbling disciples who need to be incessantly handheld by the Prime Minister every step of the way. And even more alarming, that may be intentional.

On the side of the DEMs, things are even more bleak, going back to the days when Freundel Stuart and his style of silent governance nearly ripped the party created by the Honorable Errol Barrow from history’s page with the first 30-0 defeat.

After the sudden passing of the late David Thompson, Froons was shoved into the Prime Minister’s seat but subsequently never seemed to have a firm grasp on the party. The situation became even more “Greaves” when Verla De Peiza took the helm. The only thing that changed was the gender of the leader, because like Stuart, she didn’t have the voice nor the presence to command the party and these similarities extended to election day as she was handed a consecutive 30-0 whitewash at the polls.

Dr. Ronnie Yearwood needs more time but as the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) third leader in four years, he seems to have leadership potential. This is in stark contrast to De Peiza who meekly allowed the likes of Estwick and Lashley to barge in and take over. It was so blatant how after hearing the call of opportunity, those who absconded themselves from the Party machinery for four years, appeared at the 11th hour when the country was wondering who would be the candidates for those St. Philip seats which were strongly favoured to go the DLP’s way. Many political analysts even calculated that the party would win those two seats at least, but while there’s a consensus that Bajans have very short memories, apparently not that short.

Estwick further sealed his fate when he decided to bring an alternative manifesto on his platform which could have been interpreted that he would prefer to sink the Titanic if he cannot be captain. Placing his ambition before all else, Estwick failed to understand that good leaders are also team players. Seeing the party was still in unappetizing disarray, Barbadians were not hungry for another plate of DLP infighting and as the DEMs Boss, De Peiza was like a cold leftover serving of Freundel soup.

Yearwood has his work cut out for him with the current crop consisting of magical acts like Ryan Walters and Kemar Stuart who disappear, reappear and disappear again. They both need to show more consistency and understand that their takes on Economic affairs would hold more weight if they held at least one Economics degree between them.

However, after two disastrous election cycles, the party’s newest President has listened to the people of Barbados. A serious change was demanded in the DLP and Yearwood announced that all 30-candidate positions have been vacated. Uprooting the unfruitful forest of the past was necessary to plough new grounds, plant new seeds and forage a path out of the wilderness.

His lack of haste in naming other spokespersons or a full shadow cabinet shows deliberate and thoughtful strategy. It cannot be just an exercise in filling slots within a party that needs more real leaders. There are many pretenders who are only after fame and glory, those persons are not right for the task of restoring and rebuilding the DEMs.

Good political leaders are the ones who make tough decisions for the betterment of the country even if it means sacrificing their legacy and career. Great leaders do this while truly inspiring others and making each member of their team better.

With the current administration so emboldened that they could have the outright temerity to attempt to rename Independence Day, proves that Barbados needs a strong Opposition and the fact that the seat-less DLP led by Yearwood was able to immediately rally a 6,000 strong petition against this change means that Barbadians still recognise the relevance of the party.

Hopefully, Yearwood remains on the right track.

As a proud Bajan for the past 53 years, I’ve seen a lot happen in this little island across its political landscape and hope to see a lot more.

– Marsha Lovell