FORMER?Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell thinks that in the absence of David Thompson, the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) could be hard-pressed to find someone to challenge a rejuvenated Owen Arthur.
Mitchell, a contemporary of Arthur, told the SUNDAY?SUN the second coming nof the former Barbadian Prime Minister as Opposition Leader should set the stage for an intriguing political contest whenever a general election is called.
“It is quite possible from the Barbados standpoint and if the present economic situation does not improve, then the present Government might be hard-pressed with a new leader to make a claim to continue,” said Mitchell, speaking via telephone link-up from St Georges.
Mitchell, whose wife is Barbadian, said Arthur’s return to leadership on the political scene must be in the interest of the region.
“Whether or not he becomes Prime Minister again, there must be a way in which he will be able to make a more direct contribution to the economic landscape of the region.
“These are very tough times in the region and I think it requires the skill and experience of the best persons in the region and I think that certainly Owen has been one of the economists in the region, politically so and otherwise, that has made a tremendous contribution to the region.
“We must be better off in terms of having an Owen Arthur, but in terms of the political climate in Barbados, that is going to be up to the people in Barbados,” he said.
Mitchell said that it was important that Arthur form an alliance with deposed leader Mia Mottley for the sake of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) after the two were locked in what appeared to be an acrimonious battle for the political leadership of the party.
“Congrats are in order for Arthur on taking up the mantle of leadership once again. I am hearing the soundings that he is reaching out to the Barbados Labour Party. Clearly, if it is to be successful, there must be a united effort and therefore Mia’s support and cooperation must be a critical factor.
“How he handles it and how she handles it will be crucial to the fortunes of the BLP. I am watching it very closely.
“Looking at it from this distance, not knowing the situation on the ground in Barbados, it seems to me that the most logical thing would be for Owen and Mia to unite,” he said.
The Arthur/Mitchell political periods mirror each other. Mitchell became leader of Grenada in 1995, while Arthur’s tenure as Prime Minister of Barbados began in 1994. Both served three terms. Arthur lost power at the start of 2008, Mitchell, a few months later. Arthur is 61, Mitchell, 62.
“We were at university together and played for the same cricket team.
We have had a close working relationship and were the leaders in the Caribbean very much involved in West Indies’ cricket,” he said.
“For the region, Owen has definitely been missed. We have lost some of the most experienced leaders of the region at a most trying time.”
Mitchell thinks that both he and Arthur are capable of leading their countries again.
“It is clear that there is an excellent opportunity that my party can emerge victorious at the next general election whenever it is called. If I am leading it as I am presently doing, then I can emerge.
“I have said to people that the issue in Grenada Mitchell should be there but more so about a government that has clearly shown that it lacks the knowledge
and commitment to guide this country at a very difficult time.
“The country’s economy has [deteriorated] enormously in a short time and there is absolute chaos on the political and economic front in the country. What is clear is that this government will have to be replaced to give the country an opportunity to breathe,” he said.
According to Mitchell, both he and Arthur still had a lot left “in the tank”.
“A person in their 60s is not old in politics. The present leader in Grenada [Tillman Thomas] is older than I am.
“As long as you are in the political field and leading a serious political party, there is always the strong possibility you can move to the next level.
“I?do what I have to do to keep as fit as possible. I feel good and probably better than I have felt in a long time by way of not having the strain of office and the stress that would come from leading the country at this tough time.”
Mitchell didn’t use the term “politics of inclusion” but felt mechanisms need to be put in place to embrace all who have a contribution to make to their country.
“There should be some sort of structural arrangements available for one to make a contribution at the top level. It is something that we have to come to terms with that whenever someone is not directly involved at the highest level of the political tree, that we have not worked out yet a mechanism to use the skills of those people who have had the experience in making a useful contribution,” he said.
He said that in Grenada the present government, instead of trying to work with him, had acted to the contrary and had harassed both him and his family.
“They have done everything to pull down Keith Mitchell and clearly they can’t. All they have done is to promote me.
“By taking my passport in a very vindictive way and searching my wife at the airport when she was leaving, they have created a very unfortunate atmosphere for cooperation.”
Mitchell said the political climate was more reassuring in Barbados.
“I can’t say that this is the case in Barbados. The political climate in Barbados appears to be much more mature than it is in Grenada.
“In these small islands, there is still too much pettiness that has created difficulty for the building process as far as our countries are concerned. I think you all in Barbados are ahead of the game as far as that is concerned,” Mitchell said.
