IT IS NO SURPRISE that media houses would seek the opinion of political scientists and commentators when unusual events occur within the political arena.
However, when opinions are expressed by people having credible and historical information at their disposal, it should be used to give a realistic and balanced picture of the pros and cons.
In a Page 4 article of last Friday’s WEEKEND NATION headlined: No Big Deal, Says Wickham, the political scientist and analyst, in reference to Ms Lynette Eastmond, is quoted as saying: “I am not quite sure why people who would not vote for her when she was a member of the Barbados Labour Party in the last election would want to vote for her now.”
He is also quoted as saying: “Eastmond’s record as a politician was not exactly outstanding” and wondered if she would garner support and eventually votes to secure a seat in the House of Assembly.
Please allow me to state the following from records showing losers subsequently winning a seat in the House of Assembly:
Barrow came fourth
• In 1956 Errol Barrow, running in the constituency of
St George, came fourth out of five candidates and afterwards won
in St John unbeaten.
• In 1961 George Fergusson was beaten by Stanley “Dick” Sealy. In 1966 Fergusson was returned as junior member for St Michael and became
a minister in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government.
• In 1961 DaCosta “Joy” Edwards was beaten by J. W. “Homie” Corbin in St Andrew. In 1966 Edwards defeated Corbin and was made a member of the DLP Cabinet.
• In 1966 Peter Morgan was beaten by H. Bernard St John. In 1971 Morgan defeated Maurice Ward and was made Minister of Tourism in the DLP Government.
• In 1966 Lindsay Bolden was beaten in St John, ran in St Joseph in 1971 and defeated Lloyd Smith Sr.
• In 1971 Anderson “Peanuts” Morrison defeated H. Bernard St John in Christ Church South Central, while in 1976 St John defeated Morrison.
• In 1971 David Simmons was defeated by Neville Maxwell in St Philip North. Simmons won the seat in 1976, beating Warwick Franklin.
People involved in political analysis and commentary ought to be aware that currently there are no fewer than ten sitting parliamentarians who have been defeated in previous elections.
The records will show Messrs Jeffrey Bostic, Kerrie Symmonds, John Boyce, Denis Lowe, Freundel Stuart, Trevor Prescod, Richard Sealy, Chris Sinckler, David Estwick and Michael Carrington as people who previously lost.
Predicting who will win or lose parliamentary elections is not as simple a task as some would want voters to believe.
– MICHAEL RAY