If you’re right and you know it, speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth. – Mahatma Gandhi
Don’t ever say never! While most people tell me “keep writing, you’re saying what we want to say”, there are a few who say, “Why are you wasting your time? Things will never change – for the better, that is.”
When I was in the Senate, some told me: “Why bother? There are 12 Government senators, and the Opposition plus the Independents total only nine. How can you achieve anything?” I maintain that the Senate serves as a quality control body, since although there are a majority of Government members, they have no constituencies to please, so may just be a little less partisan than those in the Lower House who often seem more intent on “playing to the gallery” than concentrating on the serious business at hand.
Certainly during my time, based on my presentations, at least two bills were sent back to the Lower House. About three years ago, the Senate debate on the Preservation Of Antiquities And Relics Bill was halted because of a number of concerns. In fact, I think it is yet to be concluded.
But who would’ve believed that you’d hear a Government senator utter words to the effect that she was in the unusual position of having to agree with the Opposition on some perceived flaws in the Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2014? She even said there were some parts of the bill which caused her alarm. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears. I laud her for her forthrightness.
Democracy alive
Later in the debate, it was noted that the vote on this bill should be on the basis of conscience. While that would seem to be an admission that voting on conscience is not normal practice (perhaps conscience is rare in politicians), it’s a good sign, a very good sign that democracy is still alive, even if not always so well, and that country is sometimes put before party.
One also wonders how this bill, which deals with the justice system, could pass so easily through the Lower House where there are at least ten lawyers. In the Senate however, the legal luminaries were on the ball, and as a result of concerns, further consideration of the bill was deferred – a reassuring sign that there is still some independent thought among politicians and not only the usual singing from a party hymn sheet.
Then there was an earlier Senate debate where one Government senator declared that Government must put systems in place to stop the dishonesty in this country, even if it means losing the Government. Never before have I heard such bold, seemingly non-partisan words uttered from the mouth of a politician. Things are a-changing!
Apart from Senator Haynesley Benn in his days as Minister of Agriculture, I’ve seldom heard the political directorate comment on the civil service, but we recently heard Minister Donville Inniss calling for a reduction in the Public Service, reportedly saying: “I have always felt that the public sector in Barbados is too large and too unwieldy for way too long.” Then former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) minister and High Commissioner to Canada, Evelyn Greaves, had his say: “To be frank with you . . . the amount of hoops and loops and things you have to jump through to get a simple answer and get something done . . . you really wonder if these people are representing their country or themselves.”
Did you think you would ever hear a trade unionist agree with cutting jobs? Well, Walter Maloney, president of the National Union of Public Workers, was recently quoted as saying that trimming the public sector fat made very good sense, noting there was unnecessary overlap in the functioning of the Urban Development Commission, Rural Development Commission and National Housing Corporation, among other public sector agencies.
Sir Frederick Smith, former DLP minister, not only felt that the civil service should be cut, but also that Cabinet should be cut “tomorrow morning”. Perhaps he’ll get his wish if the rumoured shuffle comes to pass.
As former British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan said of Africa: “The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.” Maybe the same is happening in our little island.
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator. Email [email protected].
