The schoolboy who this week asked the Prime Minister when the next general election might be is probably a precocious little one; but his bold utterance did strike a chord with the growing curiosity of electors and pundits alike.
Politics is the business of every one of us; but it is unusual, though not unknown, for someone so young to be concerned about the actual date of an election. As it happens, he is in good company, for following his question to Mr Freundel Stuart on a tour of Ilaro Court, at least two of our more prominent political scientists have been commenting publicly, from their learned perspectives, on what might be the best date.
We regard this current interest in the election date as par for the course, given the flow of time since the last poll; but we also feel that the young boy’s question is an appropriate peg on which to hang a renewed call for the introduction of a structured course of civics in our schools.
It is all well and good for there to be a certain excitement and increased interest in political matters during the run-up to a general election, but there is much more to the system of our governance, for understanding of how power is distributed in the Constitution between the various agencies of the state must be within the people’s grasp.
Public participation is a desirable check and balance to the awesome power we place in the hands of the members of the House of Assembly and of the Senate, and all this might is exercised in the name of the people who hold the ultimately in their hands the fate of those who should exercise that power.
Our recent history shows how important this understanding of political power is, for in the past 25 years we have had the misfortune to see three of our Prime Ministers die in office with the resultant public interest in the choice of a new Prime Minister. We have also had another Prime Minister opting to call a general election after losing a no-confidence motion in Parliament. Two constitutional commissions have sat and reported; and a number of public inquiries have been held since we became a nation in 1966. All these very important developments are but part and parcel of the system of our politics and require for their successful acceptance an informed and enquiring public.
We may never know what spurred the young student’s question to Mr Stuart. He might have been simply echoing something overheard during adult conversation. Or, he may have been paying unusual attention to the media.
Whatever the reason, one ought no to deny a new generation of Barbadians the benefit of greater knowledge about their system of governance. For who knows, there may be many more youngsters with other questions looking for answers. Full and widespread information on our political system will lead to a better understanding and appreciation of how we are ruled, and is likely to lead to an enhancement of our democracy.
