OWEN ARTHUR’S CALL for unity in the Barbados Labour Party is fascinating. It strikes at the core of the political DNA of the former Prime Minister, who carved out a reputation for his sharp tongue.
In all his recent public comments he has been repeating himself on the matter of unity in the Barbados Labour Party. The last failed attempt was their annual conference held in October. The small numbers, as witnessed in the Press, were a clear indication of how the base felt about the treatment meted out to Mia Mottley.
The axis is rotating into phase two of the plot to rid the Barbados Labour Party of the Anti-Owen Coalition which evolved as a response to the Arthur styled leadership. He has fashioned his style around the need to be feared both by his peers and those who serve him. This approach worked well for him in office, as all roads led to Owen.
However, in Opposition he has maintained this posture without apology. The attempts to go after some soft targets have paid dividends as he was able to take out Rawle Eastmond and target Cynthia Forde.
However, others have resisted and not given him the time of the day. Mia and Duguid have each taken a different response to the Arthur to be feared leader approach.
Mia’s response has been to take the high ground and adopt a non confrontational approach. She always comes across as the voice of reason. This approach is shot down by Arthur on every occasion. She receives no support from him on the floor of Parliament while in public he gives her a tongue lashing. There is nothing that Mia can do to please Arthur.
The irony of the Barbados Labour Party politics is that the person calling for unity is at the core of the reason for disunity. His 3R campaign of Repossess, Remove And Revenge has gained much traction. Mia fell to the first R. Rawle was bowled by the second R and pundits are offering above even odds, that Cynthia is about to receive the third R. He makes pronouncements about “good governance” and “ready to take charge”.
Truth be told, we all must be aware; it is not the Barbados Labour Party Arthur wants to be in charge. He has made it abundantly clear in his speech at the nomination of tried and tested Noel “Barney” Lynch about who is to be in charge. He said “I have a higher duty . . . Give me the tools. Give me the team, and I will do the job” . . . His fire is burning inside.
Arthur wants to be in charge!
There is no “we” in Arthur’s vocabulary.
Readers must take the time out to do a content analysis and examine when he uses the collective pronoun. The “we” only comes in when he is appealing for help but when it’s about moving the process he promotes himself as the savior.
Arthur gives the impression he will peel back the global recession. He has dismissed in an act of political dishonesty the events occurring in Europe and United States as having an adverse impact on our economic outlook. He tries to give the public the impression his “fire inside . . . burning” is about a desire to do better.
Arthur has one desire and that’s to be in charge. Voters, be warned!!!
• Douglas Leopold Phillips is a pseudonym for the Democratic Labour Party.
