‘On the fence’

Two backbench parliamentarians have left the door open to the possibility of joining Ralph Thorne in crossing the floor to the opposition side of the aisle, following the lawyer-politician’s shock shift of allegiance over the weekend.

St Michael East’s Trevor Prescod and Dr Sonia Browne of St Philip North described Thorne as a “friend” and “man of integrity” as they were questioned about their political futures in separate interviews with Barbados TODAY.

“All things are possible” was Prescod’s response when asked by Barbados TODAY if he would follow the Christ Church South representative who was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on Monday.

Prescod, a former minister who has skirmished publicly with the Mia Mottley administration, also declined to comment on Thorne’s decision to part ways with the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) “until I hear from Ralph himself”.

“He is my friend, and will always be my friend,” said Prescod. “And whatever decisions he makes, I believe that, knowing him to be a reasonable man, they will be made out of sound judgement.”

Dr Browne, who resigned early last month as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, would not rule out cutting ties with the BLP but said such a move was not being contemplated at this stage.

“I could tell you no [now] or I could tell you [otherwise] tomorrow. But I don’t have it in my head as we speak,” the St Philip North MP told Barbados TODAY.

“My door has always been open to anything. I am one that will speak if I don’t agree with it [government policy or proposal] in the politest way I know how; I will say. And I will also do that from the backbench in which I sit now. It does not necessarily mean I have to cross the floor to do that.

“I think the prime minister can only benefit, or should only benefit, and should welcome other ideas in the Parliament or the Cabinet of Barbados on the BLP side of it. A good leader is one that considers other opinions that vary with hers.”

After taking the oath of office at State House, Thorne told reporters his decision stemmed from what he described as his philosophical and political views being at constant variance with the policies and legislative positions of the BLP on whose platform he was twice elected to the Lower Chamber.

In expressing her support for Thorne’s move to become opposition leader, Dr Browne referred to the convention that constrains Cabinet members from speaking their minds in opposition to the government in Parliament.

“The members of the party, as it stands in the Parliament, are not in the position always, because of Cabinet allegiance too, to say what they necessarily might be thinking of, unless everybody agrees with everything, which can’t possibly happen with 29 people,” she said.

Dr Browne, who came to the House of Assembly in the Labour Party’s overwhelming tide in the 2018 and 2022 general elections’ clean sweep of all 30 seats, maintained that Thorne’s decision is good for the country and Parliament.

“If I was on the outside of politics, in the climate we are in, I would like to hear the perspective of somebody that represents the opposition,” said Dr Browne. “I don’t have a problem with it. I know the man personally . . . in my view, it is not about money, it’s not about power, it’s not about anything else other than his integrity, and what he thinks was going against him in terms of the party. . . and it’s right in my view. People are talking about [how] we should put an end to political parties and members crossing the floor, but if you are with a party and you are not necessarily happy with it and your philosophies begin to differ, I don’t have a problem with it.”

The former minister of health responsible for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital said she was not surprised at Thorne’s decision.

“I, like other members of the public, believe that an opposition voice would be helpful, both for the strength of the Parliament and also to get the public to hear the views of both sides of the coin. I think the public needs to hear both sides . . . an opposition perspective and a governmental perspective, which we have been missing over the last two administrations.

“I don’t know that it will hurt. I think, knowing Ralph personally, I think he is a man of integrity . . . and, in my view, any of his actions were taken in good spirit in terms of wanting Barbadians to know exactly what’s going on. I see his crossing as only helpful.”

The backbencher pledged to continue speaking out against anything with which she doesn’t agree, particularly issues affecting her constituents.

Thorne first stood for Parliament on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket in the 1994 general election that won the government for Owen Arthur and the BLP, losing to Ronald Toppin in the St Michael North riding with 32 per cent of the vote. His second outing in elective politics was in the 2003 poll – in which he was again drubbed by Toppin in St Michael North as he received only 20 per cent of the vote. Making an abrupt and unannounced switch, Thorne shifted to the BLP, campaigning for Arthur’s third term in 2003. He entered the House of Assembly with the BLP’s 2018 victory under Mottley.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb