THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Prime Minister Owen Arthur, that he has been tapped to serve as chairman of a reconstituted economic advisory team, if confirmed by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Cabinet, would serve as an irretrievable admission that the DLP is intellectually bankrupt, lacks the economic wherewithal within its ranks, and that it had fought and won the 2008 and 2013 elections under false pretences.
No wonder the DLP leadership remains undecided about Arthur’s appointment. Confirming him would be the final act of desperation of a party that has since its election appeared overwhelmed by the task of managing the Barbadian economy, as personified in the tone, content and body language of the Minister of Finance at his February 27 press conference.
It is clear, therefore, that despite the obvious political, rather than economic, benefits of Arthur’s appointment, the DLP is also aware of its significant political risks. Its one advantage is that it further widens the wedge between Arthur and the BLP. Beyond this, there are no objective “economic” advantages.
First, Arthur, in his current roles, has always offered economic advice to the Government. Further, advisers are not policymakers. In addition, Arthur has acknowledged that since the budget exercise for the next financial year is already complete, then any advice will be pointless. Thus, he has called for the widening of the team’s mandate to include advising on the implementation of the budget proposals.
Arthur’s interventions, however, underscore why the DLP Government would view his appointment as a political risk. The very reasons that make it impossible for Arthur to “work with Mottley” are the same ones which present a threat to the DLP. Arthur is too much of a “political leader” to serve as a mere adviser.
Even before the Minister of Finance had been allowed the courtesy of announcing his appointment, Arthur had outed both himself and another prospective member in a media interview.
He also criticised the lack of coherence and fiscal discipline within the Cabinet, and embroiled himself in a policy debate between the Minister of Finance and a Cabinet colleague offering alternative approaches. He also expressed sympathy for the Minister of Finance serving without prime ministerial power.
The place for a political leader is at the head of a party. By leaving the BLP, Arthur appears to have temporarily closed the door to his re-emergence through that vehicle.
Given the DLP’s self-doubt over his “botched” appointment as head of the advisory team, it is even less likely that there is room for Arthur in the DLP. One of the third parties remains the only possibility.
To keep Arthur as the chairman of the advisory team would be to admit failure by the DLP, and is not worth the pleasure of embarrassing the BLP leadership.
•Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, specialising in regional affairs. Email: tjoe2008@live.com
