#BTColumn – Who remembers the names of pollsters?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

I read with dismay a comment made last week by Mr Peter Wickham which though not overtly demeaning, yet suggested that Mr Floyd Reifer had some deficit in his political DNA having been known primarily for his exploits on the cricket field.

I know Mr Wickham is quite adept at handling polls but in this instance his assessment of a cricketer’s ability and acumen to have something to offer outside sport, has fallen short of the excellent work he does as a pollster.

He might not have heard of the name Sir Frank Worrell who served in the Jamaica Senate. He might not have heard of the name Imran Khan who is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.

He might not have heard the name Navjot Singh Sidhu who served in the Punjab government in India. He might not have heard the name Arjuna Ranatunga who has served the Gampaha constituency in the Sri Lanka parliament for some time. Mashrafe Mortaza is of current vintage so perhaps he might have heard that the still practising professional is now a Bangladeshi lawmaker.

If he has the time perhaps Mr Wickham can go to the library or the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and speak to Sir Hilary Beckles and ask him who is Sir Wes Hall.

I could go on and on but I doubt your pages have enough space. But for Mr Wickham’s education the afore mentioned persons were all like Mr Reifer – cricketers first and foremost.

And with the exception of Sidhu [I believe] and Sir Wes, these men all transcended pollsters or polling, they were leaders of their countries on the international stage. Mr Reifer has shown leadership ability above and beyond anything that Mr Wickham has been exposed to.

Rather than questioning Mr Reifer’s ability, when the pollster meets him, words such as “yes, sir”, “excuse me, sir”, “good point, sir” should be coming from his mouth.

Cricket and by extension Mr Reifer’s contribution at the domestic, regional and briefly on the international stage as a player, coach and mentor, has had greater impact on the local landscape than those who prefer to specialize in polling.

Who remembers pollsters?

Most people know who Mr Wickham serves but still his comments were tasteless and smacked of snobbery. But some of us believe that Barbadians must have a long list of letters behind or in front their names to make a national contribution or to be considered to have the intellectual capacity to perform outside a specific calling. But I guess this is “who we are”.