Atherley: Crossing the floor was to preserve democracy, not defy party

Former Leader of the Opposition Bishop Joseph Atherley has defended his decision to leave the government backbench to become the sole opposition voice in the House of Assembly in 2018, describing it as a move to protect democratic accountability in Barbados, not an act of disloyalty to the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

Addressing critics of his tenure and the current political landscape, the former representative for St Michael West emphasised that his departure from the BLP was never an attack on its manifesto or policies. Instead, he characterised the move as a necessary step to maintain the checks and balances essential to Barbadian democracy.

The former leader argued that the strength of Barbados lies in its democratic conventions, which he believes must be practised, not just discussed.

“The opposition leader is not merely a voice that opposes the government,” he said. “The opposition has important functions to perform regarding how democratic practice is carried out.”

He highlighted the critical role of the Public Accounts Committee, which by convention is led by the opposition in Parliament, and the need for oversight of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the judiciary as institutions that require a functioning opposition to remain robust.

Clarifying the timeline of his political shift, Bishop Atherley noted that he did not immediately join an existing opposition group such as the Democratic Labour Party. He explained that he initially allowed the established opposition time to present a viable future for the country.

“I reached a point where I wasn’t convinced that they were serious about making a fresh start,” he said. This disillusionment, he noted, eventually led to the formation of a new political force to ensure the government faced a credible challenge at the polls.

The former legislator maintained that throughout his transition, he continued to faithfully represent the interests of St Michael West, denying that his change in status ever undermined his service to his constituents.

He described his parliamentary style as “principled criticism”, noting that he often voted with the government on matters of national stability, including the transition to a republic.

In a final rebuttal to critics such as St Thomas MP Gregory Nicholls, who described floor-crossing as “selfish”, the former leader insisted that the interests of Barbadians must always supersede partisan control.

He warned that playing with democratic traditions could lead the country into “situations we wouldn’t want to experience”, reinforcing his stance that independent-mindedness remains a vital component of the Barbadian political fabric.
(RR)