‘Barbados’ political operating system needs upgrading’

A Roman Catholic Bishop is of the view that today, Barbados and the Caribbean face similar threats and challenges to those faced in the 1930’s – marginalization of the poor, the worker and the middle class in spite of global capitalism.

 

In fact, the Most Reverend Charles Jason Gordon, Bishop of Bridgetown, believes that the worker today goes home with a much smaller bag of goods than he or she would have had during the 1970’s.

 

“The continued fragmentation within CARICOM, and our narrow nationalistic agenda prevent our small nations from benefiting from the scale of a Caribbean economy, far less from a single market,” noted Bishop Gordon, in a message read on his behalf by Father Charles Dominique, for the Barbados Labour Party’s 78th Anniversary Founder’s Day.

 

According to the Bishop, the Caribbean is at a major crossroad politically, economically, morally and spiritually. He said rather than holding to the philosophical, economic, moral and spiritual foundations that leaders built in the 1930s and 1940s, Caribbean leaders have opted out of following their vision, preferring to follow the dominant trends in the world’s political economy today such as accumulation of wealth as a priority over the worker, and national development as a priority over the development of the family and the community.

 

“Let us call this Political Operating System 2.0. This has resulted in the idolatry of the market. The soul of our people and our fundamental institutions have been put at risk, and the philosophy and value system of our forefathers and mothers have been set aside.

 

“The results speak for themselves. Has the aspiration for first world status made Barbados a more caring family, offering each citizen a robust path to 

authentic development?” he queried.

 

Furthermore, Bishop Gordon said that the way forward for Barbados therefore requires an upgrade of the political operating system.

 

“A new approach, Political Operating System 3.0, must return to the fundamental principles that allowed Barbados to play a pivotal role in Caribbean development while simultaneously charting a development path for our workers, families, youth and our beloved nation of Barbados. Every political leader and institution in this island has a role to play,” he stressed.

 

The Bishop also acknowledged the urgent need for a political model, which bravely faces the present reality in the Caribbean and world political economy, while charting a course of development for all our people.

 

“This is about values in a most fundamental way; it is about relationships; it is about caring for each other; it is about development of our people; it is about recognising God as the author of all and the Father of all who calls us to live as brothers and sisters. I pray that the 50th anniversary of Independence will be the catalyst for Political Operating System 3.0.” (TL)