Recently, a $7 500 cheque issued by a civil engineering firm to the very experienced Deputy Prime Minister was discovered by chance — as a result of the cheque being stolen. The incident has stirred much public debate.
The cheque, intended for the minister’s charity, was for the benefit of her constituents and should have been written to the charity. Under the approved (but yet to be proclaimed) Integrity In Public Life Act, people in public life receiving a gift worth more than $2 500 shall make a report to the Integrity Commission. However, since the legislation has not been proclaimed, there could be no legal wrongdoing on the part of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Political scientist Peter Wickham highlighted Barbados’ cultural reliance on corporate sponsorship for MPs to execute political activities. He pointed to a long history of cheques that have caused challenges for both the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
The issue at hand is not about funds for the minister‘s Christmas hamper, but rather, the principle of good governance. The enactment of suitable legislation to regulate political donations will encourage accountability and deter non-compliance through substantial fines.
The lack of transparency between politicians and the private sector jeopardises the country’s international reputation, impacting foreign investments. Addressing this issue requires a commitment to anti-corruption measures and the timely approval and implementation of legislation that ensures accountability.
The public should appreciate that NO politician wants LESS power and at the same time, politicians prefer LESS scrutiny. Perhaps this has led both political parties to delay the approval and proclamation of important legislation. The public is aware that the BLP had the capacity to have passed this legislation in 2020 but mysteriously several members of their team were absent for the vote and the motion failed in the Senate!
There has been a historical tendency of politicians, once in power, to overlook promises of accountability made during election campaigns. Political gains trump accountability!
Will politicians learn from history? I refer to cheques (in substantial amounts) that were issued to the most senior leaders of the BLP in the run-up to the May 2003 general elections. These cheques were also “discovered” by chance — as the result of an audit when Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB) was being sold to RBTT in April 2004. CCB then started legal proceedings against a former CEO who signed the cheques and it was thought that ultra vires acts were committed.
Coincidentally, CCB was selected by the government to provide the financing on the substantive Judicial Centre project. The lawyer representing CCB also happened to be the leader of the DLP and naturally had access to copies of the bombshell cheques.
In the 2008 general elections at a political rally at the Bussa roundabout, the DLP showed on a screen three cheques that were written to the senior leaders of the BLP and the party. The impact was detrimental to the BLP and it probably helped the DLP to win the election.
While the Deputy Prime Minister’s cheque will be forgotten, the topic of cheques can fester and resurface at election time.
Barbados can do better. In fact, the editorial of the Nation on January 11 correctly sees Freedom of Information legislation as a priority. It is time that we have an actively functioning Public Accounts Committee and we need proper updated information on outstanding matters related to the CLICO fiasco, the Four Seasons disaster, the COVID vaccines affair etc. It is crucial for transparency and public trust.
The public expects more than just rhetoric; it demands concrete actions to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
Barbados can improve its political landscape by prioritising legislative reforms, fostering transparency, and holding politicians and individuals and organisations in the private sector accountable for their actions.
John Beale is a former ambassador to the US appointed by the DLP and honorary consul in Rio de Janeiro under the BLP. He was also CEO/President of RBTT (Barbados) Ltd from 2004 to 2008.
