HOW DO WE FEEL about the economic state of Barbados and how disappointed so many people feel about the fiasco that is Barbados right now? It is perhaps how the father felt when the prodigal son left home.
We love our country but we cannot understand or accept how and why things have been allowed to go the way that they have. A lot of people I have had discussions with believe that it is to the point where it is moot to discuss whose fault it is.
With all due respect, it angers me to hear the Democratic Labour Party say that they inherited the mess. It would have been better to give up the mess than to “inherit” it and claim it as an excuse most times the people of Barbados ask you to make yourselves accountable.
On the other hand, (and with all due respect) my eyes could not come out of my head when I saw the Barbados Labour Party planning yet another march. Someone on Twitter said that he was not going out in any sun to march because it is not going to solve any problems.
Since I saw the comments under the launch of the newly formed third party, I haven’t seen or heard anything from them. I am interested in hearing all of the parties’ solutions long in advance of elections. We need to feel a bit comforted at this time. The worst thing is to be in an airport wheelchair and going down an incline and the person pushing you isn’t telling you where you are going or why you are going at that speed. Ask my grandmother. Sorry, Nanny.
We would hate to think that next election will have gossip-riddled campaigns about who has slept with whom. This strategy has become old and in a time when local sex workers are some of the most followed on social media and the local gossip sites get more hits, our politics need to be without that.
Everybody does not listen to the call-in programmes and besides Denis Kellman, I question the archaic use of social media by our politicians. Like it, lump it or disagree with Kellman, he uses his social media. Unless one has studied economics or people like Michael Howard and Jeremy Stephen are breaking down every move economically, does the average Barbadian understand the position we are in?
At this point, there are possibly some of you who believe that this article is biased in the favour of the Opposition party, simply because my father is running. I hope all sides read this article this morning – including him.
It is very disappointing how when politicians are asked to speak on matters or make themselves accountable, they readily look to point fingers in an attempt to shift blame. The politics of yesteryear cannot work in this day.
No more buying votes, as we have heard occurs during election time. I have a friend who last election proudly boasted that his vote was for sale at $500. This time around, his vote has become priceless and whoever can state the best way forward will receive his vote.
The British concept of Question Time when the media meets and asks questions weekly is an excellent idea. Whilst Parliament meets weekly, where is the opportunity for Barbadians to ask questions or make suggestions to their representatives? A hamper will also not work as a strategy in the next election.
Thirdly, another way to really change and evolve would be if all of the parties made a concerted effort to have a significant amount of younger candidates and not wait until people are over the hill to have them run.
Experience and wisdom should grow with age. This notion is understood and respected but there are a lot of young, intelligent, Barbadians that can run on an election ticket.
Are our local politicians that selfish that they want to all leave office and go straight to Heaven? This reminds me. I recently had the pleasure of attending the Barbados Honours ceremony. We really have to stop waiting until people are carrying a cane to grant them National Honours.
Bajans love the comments section of the Nation newspaper and perhaps some of you will blister- blind me and even call and ask my parents if I have gone stark, raving mad. However, these are things that need to be said.
On a final note, we have to stop the act of politically blacklisting people simply because they did not vote for you or if they disagreed with you on an issue. There are no mini-monarchies in the Barbadian political system. Have a blessed Sunday and I am truly looking forward to the comments section – both bad and good.
My back broad.
Toni Thorne is a young entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Global Shaper who loves global youth culture, a great debate and living in paradise. Email [email protected]
