IT IS INTERESTING that in a period when the Barbadian Press felt itself duty-bound to respond with open indignation at the recent anti-Press outburst of Minister of Education Ronald Jones, the same media has been guilty of self–censorship on a pressing national issue which could be as great a danger to democratic development as Minister Jones himself.
The issue pertains to the dearth of information on the reported illness of Minister of the Environment Denis Lowe and its implications for Barbados’ ongoing economic challenges under a 16-14 Parliament.
Significantly, the only reports about the illness of the minister have come in back-page fine print or in scant commentary. As a byproduct of other news, Barbados learned that “Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has confirmed that Minister . . . Dr Denis Lowe has been hospitalized. His exact illness has not been revealed. However, Prime Minister Stuart has assured the nation that Dr Lowe should be back in office soon”.
Since then, nothing has been reported, no updates have been provided, and no indication has been given of the dictionary meaning of “soon” as a guide to the minister’s imminent return to office.
In addition, an astute Press would be raising questions about the possible link between Lowe’s illness and the prolonged nature of the “summer recess” of Parliament, currently ongoing. It was expected that the end of the “summer recess” would coincide with the formal opening of the school year, but the Parliament Office’s website informs readers that the next sitting of Parliament is scheduled for October 15.
While it is recognized that there are certain sensitivities which obtain when reporting on the illness of any individual, where that individual is a parliamentarian, and given the one-seat cushion rebuffing a hung Parliament, the circumstances of the illness fall into the realm of information which constitutes the public’s right to know.
Indeed, the speculations which may arise over the minister’s illness and the delayed reconvening of Parliament should be enough to prompt a push for greater clarity about the minister’s condition, if only as a means to kill rumour and speculation.
Further, given the recent nature of the announced budgetary measures; given the many policy areas which require further clarification post-Budget, such as the “municipal tax”; given the likelihood of further legislative action to actualize many of the budgetary measures; and given the urgent nature of the economic challenges facing Barbados, it is reasonable to demand, as the Leader of the Opposition has done that Parliament come off its recess to pursue the people’s business.
When it is recalled that Barbados experienced a prolonged period of inertia during the illness of Prime Minister David Thompson, the more pressing issues today should prompt a genuine effort to avoid a second period of standstill so soon after the first.
• Tennyson Joseph is a political scientist at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, specializing in regional affairs.
