DLP COLUMN: Start wrong, you end wrong

Last Sunday’s meeting further confirmed the deep rift between Mia Mottley, the deposed leader and Owen Arthur, the elected leader of the male club.
The elevation of the political nomad Sandra Husbands to find rest in the constituency of St James South is somewhat interesting. Ms Husbands has journeyed from St Michael Central through St James North and landed in South. Of course, her much touted launch was supported by a swarm of bees who all flew in for the occasion.
The one person who was unable to make the Redjet flight was Arthur, her boss. How does this add up? Arthur lives within walking distance of the meeting, we are told. He is promoted as the featured speaker, and on the day in question he mysteriously does not make an appearance to welcome his latest political entrant to the fold.
This is a political party that is readying itself for the next general election and its political leader gives way to his former boss lady. The media report of the DAILY NATION, Monday, May 9, that “Mottley, who was not originally slated to speak but delivered the main address as a result of Opposition Leader Owen Arthur’s illness” was quite revealing.
We are not sure of the nature of the illness but we are sure that he is well on his way to recovery since the completion of the meeting. The photo shots of the meeting revealed a beaming deputy leader Dale Marshall [who, by the way, never qualifies to deliver anything that has to do with feature] but no party chairman. Once again, George Payne seeks to distance himself from anything to do with the rise of female power. What amazes us on this side is that every attempt by the Labour Party to demonstrate a show of force results in reminding the public about the deep divisions in the party.
The theme of the meeting appeared to be Misrepresent Health. The keynote address and the address by Husbands sought once again to undermine the work of the Minister of Health Donville Inniss, Member of Parliament for St James South, who they are trying to unseat. Well, they have started their campaign on the wrong foot by not coming clean on matters regarding non-documented non-nationals.
For some time now a policy has been in place within the Ministry of Health but never enforced. A policy which we came and found. This attempt by the Minister of Health to bring some order and fiscal prudence to the health budget should be commended by all.
It cannot be fair that people rent identification cards and then seek to obtain drugs at the expense of the taxpayers. It cannot be right that people come here on the pretence of a holiday and end up on our dialysis machines.
Of course, Arthur’s solution to health care was to cap it. But our approach has been to redress the imbalances by ensuring that our primary health institutions are well oiled and fully equipped to offer a wider range of services.
We want the Barbados Labour Party to be fair and just when they seek to discuss health care matters in the public domain. There can be no better way to court failure than by starting wrong. As the saying goes, if you start wrong, you will end wrong.