Pilgrim: ‘We must reconnect’
“Our party must reconnect, our community must reconnect and our society must reconnect.”
So says former General Secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), George Pilgrim, who believes that the idea that “every one has value” must be the compass to guide the policy agenda for the party going forward.
Pilgrim, who is vying for the position of president in the DLP’s upcoming annual conference, was putting his case to the party faithful attending the Annual General Meeting of the St. Michael West branch held at the St. Leonard’s Boys’ School on Sunday evening, where he stressed the importance of developing the country’s social capital.
“I am firmly of the view that the level of social capital those bonds that keep us together is the single biggest asset Barbados possesses and our ability to succeed in the face of the most overwhelming and debilitating of challenges, as well as our ability to craft opportunities for a better Barbados depends on that level of social capital.
“Restoring and then enhancing the level of social capital in Barbados will be the central plank of a future DLP. We must ensure that our community and our society does not fall apart.”
He said the agenda of the DLP must be located in relationships with people. “The current posture of leaders in the political space is designed and managed by algorithms and a team of full-time surrogates. This entire BLP episode we are watching live is not about Barbados and its people... It’s only about managing information. This Government is doing a great job at managing information.”
As it relates to the crime situation, he said this must be tackled at the policy level by the State. “The erosion of those bonds that bind our community together and by extension our society is evident... We are seeing our social capital weakened. The reality of the shocking murder rate in Barbados is ignored. Entire families in this country are murdered while asleep.
“How did we get to be a society … where it is so easy to murder somebody? This is NOT who we are. How did we get to be a society where human life has so little value? Everyone must have value,” he exhorted.
Pilgrim also believes that greater attention must be placed on sustainable development, consumer rights and fiscal prudence in Barbados.
“Barbados will require a commitment to fiscal prudence in the management of the affairs of Barbados. As a party, we felt that Barbados had the competencies to deliver on a home-grown fiscal agenda... The current administration feels otherwise and sent for the big guns,” he said, referring to White Oaks and the International Monetary Fund.
“The DLP, under my leadership, will advocate for fiscal discipline to be embedded into the legislative framework of Barbados. Integrity legislation is a facet dealing with individuals, but I think we need a tier of oversight.
“The DLP of the future must lead the way and be bold, that’s why I have no fear in saying publicly and advocating for the passage of a Fiscal Responsibility Law and the establishment of an independent Fiscal Commission. We must find ways of managing our fiscal affairs prudently,” he said. (JH)