Owen versus Mia. Mia versus Payne. Mia versus Marshall. Marshall versus Marshall. Marshall versus Owen. Marshall versus Kerrie.
Owen Arthur says that he is out to heal the fractures in the Barbados Labour Party. Any first-year political student could see through the efforts of Owen Arthur. He intends to break the back of the Barbados Labour Party supporters by his scorched earth policy and seeking to apportion blame.
He wants to rally the supporters to his side by appealing to them on the grounds that things are getting out of order and that he cares. Here is a man who repeatedly beats up on his former boss lady, and before he puts the full stop on the sentence, tells the public: “I don’t want to appear as though I am fighting Miss Mottley . . . . I am trying desperately to hold the Barbados Labour Party together.”
Is this the same guy who has been publicly admonishing his colleagues in and outside of Parliament, inside and outside of Government.
Oh, please!!!
There is little that Owen Arthur can do now to rebrand himself as the saviour of the Barbados Labour Party. He is like the typical boy who lights the fire and then calls the fire truck.
The current public debate taking place over the issue of finance and candidate participation is not by accident. No one has placed a gun to his head and asked him to respond to the charges, but he uses the opportunity to denounce wrongs against the party and people who no longer want to sing in his choir.
He throws a shot across the bow by letting the public know that this Special Trust Fund Report “speaks for itself”. What Owen falls short in telling the public is that these cheques require two signatures and the other person is . . . . Oops! I forgot.
Political blood sport is at play now. Mia is to be the fall guy, so no need to let the public know who gave their blessings. Oh, please Owen!!!
The political storm of intrigue continues as Arthur tries desperately to make real his second coming. One thing is clear in this axis of rotation, Owen is located at the centre of everything that is wrong in the bosom of the Barbados Labour Party. His venom has overtaken the leadership of the Barbados Labour Party and it had greatly impacted its outcome in the by election.
The only real conclusion that any one-day retreat could come to by the agreed candidates of the Barbados Labour Party is that a political cancer has set in and is spreading. The prescription is to cut loose Owen Arthur. By now his colleagues, foes and friends are probably asking what sin have their committed.
However, Mia’s current love affair with the media has been winning her great support among party loyalists. This of course was confirmed during the St John by-election. Owen, nevertheless, has attributed what some on Facebook describe as an avalanche victory to factors other than himself.
Barbadians have lived to see what a difference office can make in defining a person. Owen Arthur was one such person that allowed office to define him and now he is like a fish out of water.
