Free up the information, the public deserves it

Former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was infamous for his lack of communication with the population on several issues when he was the country’s leader, despite his expert communicative skills. 

The failure of the then Democratic Labour Party administration to maintain adequate communication and interaction with the public was listed among the many reasons the party fell out of favour with the electorate. 

In its eyes, the administration assessed that it was doing what it was elected to do – run the government. In the public’s assessment, however, they were not informed enough of the administration’s actions, and those things that they were aware of, they did not like. 

In the breach stood the opposition Barbados Labour Party, with then-Opposition Leader Mia Amor Mottley vigorously highlighting all the shortfalls of the ruling administration. 

Barbadians were obviously convinced of the absolutely abysmal performance of the then government. The electorate turned their collective backs on the Stuart administration and rewarded Mottley with a historic 30-0 sweep at the polls in 2018 and again in 2021. 

One of Prime Minister Mottley’s mantras was the promise to be transparent with the public and to upscale the level of communication on the issues that mattered to them. There was also the promise of regular post-Cabinet briefings with the media.  

The administration can be commended for increasing the level of communication with the public. One might even argue that communications professionals became the most sought-after specialists by the government. 

The problem for many, however, is that the communication has been selective and sporadic, leaving some to believe that there was much window dressing to the process. 

The Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training is one of the country’s largest ministries with an annual budget of hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Admittedly, the ministry is often a hotbed of controversy given the expansive nature of its various departments. The ministry is also required to ably handle the concerns of its various employees who are represented by three different trade unions. 

It is required to address the concerns of its other important constituents – students, parents and the general public. While the ministry has engaged the services of an ably qualified and experienced communications professional, it is obvious that the communications plan is either not meeting the needs of the ministry, or those who are required to follow the script may well be on their own forays. 

With just days before the start of the new school year, the ministry has been literally goaded into explaining a number of issues that should have been communicated long ago. 

In fact, this publication highlighted the frustration of school principals at being moved from school to school like “chattel” in the middle of the night. 

Olwin Walker, president of the Association of Public Primary School Principals (APPSP), in an uncharacteristically outspoken interview, lambasted the ministry for the undignified way the senior educators were being treated, with some being subjected to late payment as if they were entry-level clerks in the civil service. 

Walker slammed the last-minute transfers by the ministry, noting, “It is a lot to expect an individual to go into a new environment and pick up and start to function, keep the system rolling and be effective.” 

“For several years, APPSP has indicated that to have over 40 principals acting in the post was untenable. During June 2024, the Ministry [of Education] along with personnel from the Ministry of the Public Service conducted interviews for the post of principal and excluded 24 of the acting principals who they deemed to be ineligible,” she explained. 

“This was although every acting principal had consistently carried out their duties at each school and had received favourable reports at the end of each period of assignment. To make matters worse, it took two months before those who were given permanent appointments to the posts were notified.” 

The non-disclosure of the winners of this year’s national scholarships and exhibitions was also a sore point for many who are convinced that the ministry has become stingy with information, representing a growing and unhealthy trait of government. 

While the education ministry hosted a belated press conference on Tuesday, for most it seemed a forced event ignited by public pressure, even though it may have been long-planned. 

What citizens require is a practice of regular and complete engagement. We know what happens when there is a vacuum; it gets filled with rumour and fragmented information.