IT IS interesting that the issues related to Maria Agard’s stewardship in Christ Church West are taking place at the same time the world is watching Republicans devouring each other in the race for the White House.
We are intrigued by that battle because it reminds us that democracy is alive and well in both American parties; however, a similar battle taking place at the level of one Barbados Labur Party branch is said to send a signal that this party is “not ready.”
The comparative reaction is ironic and should perhaps indicate that “we” aren’t ready for a politics in which people of a similar political orientation compete for political trophies in a way that can ultimately benefit the constituent.
The Agard affair has been festering for some time and this author has dutifully resisted any commentary much to the ire of “If I was…”. The matter has taken several incarnations; however the central theme has always been one of a party executive that appears to be at odds with the party’s parliamentary representative.
On this occasion the executive of the party’s branch has been proceeding with its AGM, while the MP has refused to recognise that branch executive. Certainly this type of scenario is without precedent in Barbados for a very good reason.
At the most basic level it relates to party discipline and the relationship between the MP and his or her branch. The MP is elected and has a responsibility to the entire constituency; however, that individual is also subject to the party branch to whom s/he owes his/her political life.
This is one of the delicate realities of political life that any shrewd politician would understand. MPs are elected on an individual basis but without the party it is highly unlikely that any of the 30 MPs would be there. To the extent that the branch is the localised expression of the party, then the MP should approach a branch with some reverence, and certainly most MPs do. Pragmatism suggests that very often the MP hand-picks his/her branch and this is not improper; however, the moment that the branch decides to flex its muscles the reality of the branch’s residual power becomes manifest.
Against this background it is easy to appreciate the side of the argument which dictates that political parties need to maintain discipline. Moreover, if the BLP tolerates this obvious disregard for an institution of the party, it would be setting the stage for political mutiny. One appreciates another consideration which might have been discouraging the BLP hierarchy from acting thus far.
This is related to the peculiar scenario in Barbados where a single MP could stand in the way of a premature change of government. It therefore makes good political sense to keep all one’s resources in a state of perpetual loyalty, especially as the BLP knows that it already cannot rely on one-MP (Arthur).
There is another reality of consequence, which is the manner in which the BLP is being perceived now. It is sadly reminiscent of a government in which letters, missives and even cabinet papers find their way about the public domain.
The BLP therefore needs to act to preserve its image and attention can therefore now turn to the proverbial elephant in the room, which is the MP herself. At this time no formal “charges” have been laid at the feet of MP Agard, although the personalities that populate this executive are noticeably different to the two previous executives, which have served both her and her predecessor.
There is clearly something more “in the mortar” and there has been considerable interest in the spoken and printed rumour mill.
One issue that is part of the public record is the performance of the MP in the 2013 election which she won and this we can review. Naturally the analytical tool of choice is the electoral swing for MP Agard compared to that of the BLP.
In the case of Agard, the evidence could not be more glaring since her personal performance reflected a -6 per cent swing in an environment where her party gained +1.3 per cent nationally. The BLP now holds 52 per cent of the total vote share in Christ Church West, which is entirely unreminiscent of the safe seat it was in earlier years.
In a previous commentary on “safe seats” I noted that Christ Church West and St John were the only safe seats in Barbados and one of the characteristics identified (a vote share that never dipped below 60 per cent) has now been shattered and should attract the attention of any astute leader.
There might yet be good reasons why the BLP’s performance in Christ Church West has left much to be desired and the sooner the process of clinical review begins, the sooner the MP can either successfully defend her tenure, or the BLP take strategic actions to restore this historic bastion.
Peter W. Wickham is a political consultant and a director of Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES). Email peter.w.wickham@gmail.com