It is the duty of every citizen according to his best capacities to give validity to his convictions in political affairs.
– Albert Einstein
I?WOULDN’T?GO as far as Bob Verdun to suggest that Owen Arthur should have declined contesting the seat of St John in next week’s by-election; but, like Mr Verdun, I can speak to the concern that this elder statesman – as he should be seen to be – may have done himself in.
As it comes to political acumen, Owen Arthur is not unknown to be in possession of healthy quantities of it.
And so it is dumfounding to see a civic colossus – of such repute and generalship – floundering in the miasma of irrelevant and incoherent mouthings from both sides of the partisan divide.
The young and green brigade of the Democratic Labour Party might be excused for their overexuberance; but Owen, tested and tried, cured and vintage, ought not to be in these present trenches so muddying his sacred vestments.
Owen may or may not be the miracle worker for these recessionary times, but he surely can be a sobering mind for all of us as we navigate this country through the circling turbulent economic waters.
Owen’s mind could be better used than for beating up on Mara Thompson. Coming after the recent unpleasant spectacle of unseating Mia Mottley, the Opposition Leader’s unnecessary attacks on Mara are akin to violence against women.
Owen’s brilliant mind could be better utilized than for stretching the imagination into absurdity. Mara Thompson never said she was the queen of Barbados, or that she wanted to be. Her supporters across St John say she is their queen.
Give it a rest, Owen. Once upon a time, you were the people’s king; and you were never a threat to democracy.
The good thing about us Barbadians is that we can, without much ado, appoint and dis-appoint our home-grown royalty.
Truth be told, there is little that Owen, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Hudson Griffith or George “Breadfruit” Payne can do in the hustings to stave off a Mara victory in St John. Yet, if the BLP feels that it has a duty to contest the seat with its sacrificial lamb, so be it.
But seeing that, as a more rational Owen Arthur said, St John is no happy hunting ground for the Bees, the occasion ought to be more skilfully used to draw attention to more national issues, long outstanding matters of state, and the BLP’s perceived failings of the Government.
When Mara has sealed the big win for the Dems, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart will still have his testing year ahead of him – in fact, a testing two. This seems to have been lost on the Breadfruit Brigade. After all the glamour surrounding Mara and the sorry picture of potshots from Owen against her, Mr Stuart will end up looming large: the dominant political figure at this time and in this space.
Still, I don’t buy the Prime Minister’s articulate view that Owen Arthur is a lonely and unhappy man, unloving to himself or his fellow being. I can’t figure out what Freundel would know that the rest of us don’t.
Owen might be uncomfortable at the top; but unhappy and alone, I think not. It’s just that the Opposition Leader has taken an unhappy turn on this rugged and jeopardous campaign trail.
We shall wait and see though what further discomfort he may suffer if, or when, Mia does turn up to speak in St John on Hudson Griffith’s behalf. George Payne, seemingly impervious to uneasiness, may be Owen’s crutch. Looney pragmatism, I call it.
In the meantime, Freundel strolls along the political easy street, as his opponents make a hash of smearing Mara Thompson and roasting breadfruit.