Historian: New parties may not survive

A historian is predicting that many of the newly formed political parties which will be joining the traditional Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and Barbados Labour Party (BLP), may not survive too long after the upcoming General Election which will take place on May 24.

Professor Emeritus Pedro Welch of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, who declared that he has no political affiliation, told reporters during a recent interview that he believes many of the new parties have not properly thought through their philosophies.

He said it may be a case of some of them taking advantage of the social and economic climate in the country to grab at opportunities.

The historian said it is clear to him that in some cases, several of “the new political appearances of the various parties suggest that the members have not quite thought out their philosophy as correctly as they should have”.

Professor Welch added that while he always held this belief, he alluded to the fact that just recently he heard a debate in a section of the media, regarding whether their candidates should be permitted to join other parties.

“But as far as I am concerned, that matter should have been settled long before. I think that the leader of that party ought to bite the bullet and withdraw the requirement.

“But many parties emerged mainly out of the current problems facing the Barbados economy and in some cases are a part of what I call part of an opportunity.

"The philosophical preparation which needs to be undertaken has not been taken. I can’t speak to what will happen in the future, but that is where they are at,” Professor Welch said. (AH)