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Barbados Daily Nation
January 20,
2003
Summary:
Editorial in
favor of full representation
(proportional representation) in Barbados. Under the current plurality
system, there are only two opposition members in the 28 member
parliament.
http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=33321&Section=LO
Barbados Daily
Nation
Reasonings: Democracy under threat?
by Ella
Drummond Hoyos
January 20, 2003
The Denis Kellman debacle dominated the news last
week as what has been whispered about as a dangerous rift on the
paltry Opposition benches came to a head by the non-support by
Kellman of an Opposition motion in Parliament. The resulting
decision by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to seek to identify a
candidate other than Kellman to contest the St Lucy seat on its
behalfrendered uncertain Kellman���s political future. The parties
may have recourse to the law courts to settle the matter. While the
events of the past week may have provided fodder for the political
grind, it is hoped that the people of Barbados will seek to reflect
on the current state of government, the future of Barbadian
democracy and the effectiveness of the current elective system in
securing government by the people. Under the Barbados Constitution,
Parliament is charged with the responsibility to make laws of the
peace, order and good governance of Barbados. When a parliament
comprised of 26 Government members and two Opposition members, and
when those two members are not united in their vision, citizens must
ask themselves whether the necessary adversarial exercise that is
essential to the Westminster system is not compromised. The
question of whether such a strong government could ignore completely
the wishes of a vast number of its citizens must be examined. Has
the electorate by the overwhelming majority it vested in the Owen
Arthur Administration compromised the system of checks and balances
which are designed to secure the greatest good for the largest
possible number of citizens? The continued adherence to the first
past the post electoral system in Barbados, as in other Caribbean
territories like St Lucia and Jamaica in recent times, has resulted
in legislatures which are heavily weighted on the Government side
and very meagre Opposition Benches. It appears that the time is
right for Caribbean citizens to seriously consider whether the first
past the post system, by which it is the number of seats secured by
a party that counts, serves the best interests of a modern
democracy. It may well be that there is a need to revisit the idea
of proportional representation which traditionally has been viewed
as fairer and whereby parties receive a share of the seats
proportional to the number of votes it secured in an election. It
is a feature of adversarial politics that if the electorate is
dissatisfied with the performance of government, its policies or
outcomes, it has the opportunity to replace the government in the
next election. Given the current political landscape in Barbados,
it appears the electorate will have no choice in the next election
but to return Prime Minister Arthur and his party to power. While
this prospect may excite a portion of the electorate, it will only
breed apathy, frustration and unrest. The members and supporters of
the DLP need urgently to reorganise and rebuild that party. Edmund
Burke writing in the 18th century said: ���The first principle of
party was to put men who hold their opinions into such a condition
as may enable them to carry their common plans into execution.
���Revisiting political socialisation in Barbados via the important
influences of family, education, occupation and geographic location
is a necessary starting point.��� In the context of Barbados the role
of the mass media in presenting meaningful research and analysis
could be utilised to impact political perceptions and values.
Non-governmental organisations, unions, interest groups and the
Civil Service, must see themselves as having an important role to
play in safeguarding the future of Barbadian democracy.
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