It now seems clear to me that this country is in election mode and that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is gearing up for the next election campaign.
One notices the dark suits, sober and not so sober ties, crisp – mainly white – shirts, and the frequency with which ministers appear on television to inform the public about events in their departments.
The Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), on the other hand, has been doing its own internal preparatory housekeeping; and both parties, in the wake of internal issues, have been doing their best at damage control.
Impressions matter so that kind of window-dressing is important but I suspect that this election will be about the hardware, as distinct from the software. And it will become increasingly clear in the run-up to the election that economic issues will matter more than usual as the deciding factor.
Hence, there will be vigorous arguments about the increased cost of living, the international recession and its impact upon the local economy, not to mention the cost of fuel and the adverse impact of Government’s policy on the upward spiralling of electricity costs.
And the voting public will, I think, put the suggested policies of both parties under more than ordinary scrutiny, which will be a good thing for this young and growing democracy.
Notwithstanding the emotional content of the art of political persuasion, one cannot educate the vast majority of one’s people and then expect them to accept what might be called political “baby food”. Both parties must “come good” and let the voters be the judge and jury.
Generally speaking, there will be two sides, and sometimes more, to every argument, but one point which will be blindingly obvious is the fact that there has been a level of foreign reserves which has helped greatly to protect Barbadian citizens and residents from the stressful ravages of the 1991 crisis.
This must be a significant factor, given that we are constantly being told that this crisis is the worst ever and worse than 1991.
Obviously, it will be to the BLP’s credit that they bequeathed such a healthy quantum of foreign reserves. One therefore expects that policy regarding the growth and management of the foreign reserves as a top priority will be common ground between the parties; and that the only real debate on the issue will be how to execute that policy.
Careful followers of the local economy will know that the lack of foreign reserves drove the Sandiford administration into the icy hands of the International Monetary Fund and led inexorably to the eight per cent pay cut, the loss of jobs and the hardships of those difficult years.
Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that during the recent recession the healthy level of foreign reserves provided a protective coating for the local economy.
Another issue on which I expect there will now be common ground is that of the development of tourism. The energy which the DLP has spent on the Four Seasons project would have educated the public on the seminal and critical importance of tourism generally, and of upscale tourism in particular.
It cannot now be seriously maintained that proper balanced development of tourism is a “two Barbadoses policy”.
We all benefit from tourism but its planning must always take into account the local culture and traditions so that the “ancient and cultural landmarks” will be respected. That aspect of tourism policy should merit and attract responsible debate.
In this context, it warms my heart that the people of St Philip are united in public debate about “how” their parish will be developed. It is that sort of prior interaction before the projects are cast in stone, literally or otherwise, that must inform a tourism policy which takes into account local realities and culture.
There are other areas of policy on which one can comment but it seems clear, even at this distance, that on critical issues the debate will revolve not so much on the need for the general policy initiative, but more on the proposals for the shaping and management of policy in key areas of the economy.
