IT IS EVIDENT that many Barbadians are becoming more and more disenchanted with politicians and the customary game of blame.
When I read the various commentaries from Barbadians who appear to be drawn from either side of the political divide, I get the sense that should this disillusionment continue, it is probable that the only people voting in the near future will be party supporters.
This raises a very serious question in relation to the kind of democracy we will have that guarantees that all future governments are chosen for and by the majority of Barbadians.
I am likely to get some lashes, but I hold the strong view that citizens get the government they deserve. If we choose to sit back and let politicians do as they please; if we refuse to hold them accountable; if we don’t insist that we must always be kept in the loop, can we really blame the politicians for taking advantage of our neglect?
Until we accept that collectively as citizens we are to blame for the government we elect, the ushering in of the new political governance we so desperately need will remain elusive at best. I wish to encourage all Barbadians who may consider withholding their franchise in the next or any election, that whether we vote or not, under our present system, a government will be elected.
We can choose to be a part of the process of change or watch it unfold from the sidelines. For those, like my dad, who believe that a single vote doesn’t matter, when I reflect on the by-election in St Peter when Owen Arthur narrowly won his seat, I often wonder if Barbados would have benefited from his invaluable contribution had he lost.
Don’t get me wrong – I share the view that our political system is in urgent need of reform. But the reality is likely to be untenable once we realise that we are also contributing to our political deficiencies.
What then are our options? It is accepted that politicians will do all they can to gain political mileage as they seek our vote. To my mind, what we should be asking is whether they are bringing common sense solutions to the table or simply pointing fingers? Will they do what they have promised and how can we be sure? As far as I am concerned the proof of the pudding is in the eating and hence I cast my gaze on track record and consistency.
I dare not suggest what your selective criteria should be as it relates to politician or party, as we see the world from different vantage points. Now both of our major political parties can be credited for successes and failures. Both have been accused of squandermania and corruption; both have been accused of nepotism and party favouritism. Both have been accused of putting party before country. So who do we choose?
For me, the answer to that question is fairly simple because I always fix my gaze on the present and the future, while reflecting on the past. And so I would like to suggest that as we deliberate on whether we should vote and who for, we should consider our current situation and what we want our future to look like.
Our decision should therefore be based on track record and consistency and whether we believe that the party or politician we choose is better suited and qualified to lead us towards a path of prosperity, no matter our political, religious and social affiliations.
– SEAN ST CLAIR FIELDS
