With the approaching election in Barbados, it is expected that we will begin to see more clearly the tactics of the two major parties as they compete to form the next Government. The moment is therefore ripe for this column to move from philosophical reflection to practical advice.
Given the adversarial nature of the current environment, particularly in this sensitive season when nervous and trigger-happy politicians will be seeing imaginary foes behind every moving bush, the situation demands equity. The tactical advice offered here is therefore both free and equally shared.
By dint of alphabetical placement, we may begin with the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
Their first priority at this stage should be to “start the election” – the conscious and deliberate creation of an election environment by holding nightly public meetings, strategic branding of the country with party paraphernalia, and introducing electoral rhetoric into the public discourse.
The BLP must act like the election is tomorrow, since one of the significant findings of the Wickham poll was that the majority of voters wanted the election to be called sooner rather than later. This is not a positive development for the Government since it suggests that the people are tired.
The need to “start the election” is also important since the only party that can legally call the election is the governing Democratic Labour Party (DLP). If the BLP were to allow the DLP the freedom to dictate the pace of the election, it would be giving too much space for recovery at a time when Government appears to be on the ropes.
The DLP, on the other hand, must defend its stewardship but cannot do so through a presidential-style, leader-centred or even a “vote party” campaign. The economic fallout and post-Thompson leadership wobbles obviate these approaches. Instead, individual DLP candidates must do the hard work of walking their constituencies, speaking personally to friends and associates, pleading with the disgruntled and explaining to the disillusioned.
The more they can do so as individuals rather than DLP candidates, the further will their bids for re-election be advanced.
There is some evidence to suggest that some DLP candidates have quite intelligently been using this “me rather than Dem” approach in their constituency walks. The complaints by David Estwick of lack of support for agriculture from his Cabinet can be understood in that light.
For the DLP, therefore, the election should be fought not as an “air campaign” but as ground warfare, hand-to-hand combat.
The suggestion that the election be fought as “thirty by-elections” applies more to the DLP than the BLP. Every man must fight for himself. Re-group later.
Let the election begin.
• Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, specializing in regional affairs. Email [email protected]
