What is the state of this democracy?

Maybe I could refer to this time in the heart of summer as the Ides of Summer or the Ides of July.

Could be an apt title, since the feel of the moment and the public discourse whether we like it our not has centred on a variety of interesting issues, while continuing to ignore the reality of the situation.

Let us start with the obvious. The overwhelming advantage which the incumbent Government has legislatively, has effectively reduced any real political pressure which they feel. The only real political pressure will be a focus on the next General Elections which are due by 2023 and the attention on what shape the only real threat to the continued existence of the government of the day... that being the political viability of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

This might sound counter-intuitive yet, but not having a seat in Parliament has been a boon to the DLP. Being targeted by a political apparatus which revels in the moment and the constant refrains which worked for years prior to the electoral success on 2018, has not been a feature for the last three years. It has been shadowboxing against a political ghost, which has been steadily able to restore and rebuild its brand and enthusiasm within its ranks. That intimidates some, so watch the attacks to continue.

The shoe is now on the other foot. This Government literally controls the media space. Every story involves the Prime Minister, or a Minister and that has benefits and pitfalls. What is the legal role of the Prime Minister in the event of a natural disaster or impending weather system, for instance? That falls to the Minister of Home Affairs, or in the event of Health Emergency ... which falls to the Minister of Health and Wellness or the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), but do many understand this scenario?  

So what purpose does the PM carry in any communications on these matters should make people do a search of the relevant legislation and figure it out for themselves. It was what the previous PM was blasted for ... letting the line Ministers take the lead, but some seem comfortable in this new dispensation.

There is nowhere to hide anymore for any Minister or Department with no other elected Opposition in public view consistently. Each Minister must be grilled and asked to provide more than the greatest hits of political swipes against the previous government, that was litigated and electoral success was granted. Three years on, with a historic advantage, all the public hears are excuses.

Let me use an example of water. Prior to the impacts of Hurricane Elsa on July 2, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) initiated a shutdown of some pumping stations, in order to protect expensive pumps from being impacted by expected power outages.  

Most Barbadians would have heard the news from Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, during an early morning press conference from the DEM Headquarters. How is that feasible that people awoke to dry taps even before winds started to take effect and days later water had not returned, even after an entity took pre-emptive action?

It is true that Barbadians are too passive. While the Barbados Light and Power (BL&P) was engaged with the public with updates on a regular basis, taking calls and recording information, asking customers to provide locations of outages and the number on the electric poles, where was the BWA?

A release came out after 8 p.m. on Friday, July 2, with another after 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, all while people continued to be without water. It is unacceptable and an investigation into this monumental failure must be done by the parent Ministry.

It smacks of a lack of a response mechanism and a basic interaction with paying customers. In 2021, it is not good enough.

One of the tenets of a good and stable democracy is the ability to have free speech. You have the right to be heard, whether in front of the Court system or in the response to public issues.  

That comes with responsibilities. You cannot mischaracterise another person or seek to damage their reputations. That should go for public officials as well, yet in the period 2013-2018 was that observed? Reputations were damaged. Even with more crises, we hear nothing as a society.

There is nowhere to hide anymore. Statements made by Ministers now have the impact of a boulder dropping in a small pool. It makes for a very interesting political dynamic as the public is paying extremely close attention now to everything.

A democracy will and should have dissenting views with debate on issues. The DLP can present an alternate view of events and issues without the trappings of Parliament to shape the conversation.  

This island still has a strong two-party system, based on history and electoral success.  

A robust democracy involves challenges to leaders and then a decision being made. That is where the DLP for example finds itself, the membership will decide, but some seem interested in this fight because I believe it provides temporary distraction from the intense borrowing and debt of this Government and the poor performances of some sectors.  

We are in the new ‘debt trap’ as this Government continues to borrow and now support various private industries, like entertainment for example. Since when should taxpayers’ monies be used in this way. Was this a Cabinet decision?  

Education policy is scattered. We have spokespersons seeking to challenge CXC’s role and marking system, yet shouldn’t they ask themselves, what has changed at CXC now, versus before when they were praised? Apparently, those seeking grades are now suggesting that they determine how those grades are achieved.

The rush to abandon the 11-Plus seems like a campaign promise timelined event. Preparation for the entrance exam started in Class 1. Any changes will have to based on a targeted long-term agenda. Will children still not have to face promotion style events in Form 1 and don’t they face them in primary school and they are called assessment? Madness masquerading as policy.

Water policy is another bugbear. The days of a call-service operator saying that they know the problem, but have no clue when it will be fixed are over.  

Labour policies have to adjust to the realities of a pandemic. The days of sitting in offices have been replaced by remote work.

We need to hear more about the Blue Economy and move from concept to tangible production.

We need to hear about Environmental policies beyond green spaces. What will happen to our solid waste management?  

What is the role of Community Empower-ment? What has happened to the Child Care Board in circumstances where families are struggling? Are children protected with long unsupervised hours at home? Less income in some households means challenges as well.  

But hey, things are better right!

There is so much more, but all in due time.