Is Thompson’s calling for persons to take up arms as he did at the DLP’s 2007 Annual Conference more literal that we may surmise? Language in politics is everything because it helps to shape public perceptions but it also helps us to sift through Thompson’s innuendoes and find those hidden truths. In the theatre, portrayal is everything. It does not surprise me that by Thompson’s own admission, he would admit that it is a portrayal of unity by the DLP that is of paramount importance above any actuality of being united in efforts at guaranteeing the security of Barbados’ national interests. Winning the next general election is so important to Thompson that the “stagnation and malfeasance in public administration” that he expansively dramatises at every opportunity and in every gutter, now becomes a pillar in his thrust to disgrace and destroy the offices and institutions that have collectively worked well in the development of Barbados. Like many other accusations brought by Thompson such as the 1994 secret deal with the IMF, accusations of corruption by members of the BLP administration one bears no truth but is thrown to the emotiveness of his supporters with the hope of breeding an angry public. Can you imagine Thompson referring to the 30 candidates of the DLP as ‘patriots’, and certainly this would have to be in contradistinction to all others? Astoundingly, Thompson promises that he has “a place for every one of them” in a DLP administration. Is this the same man who has been critical of the size reflected in the government machinery? What is worse though is that Thompson in his purest dictatorial style is letting the people of Barbados know who will be making each and every decision. Thompson has cussed the church, civil society, the labour unions, the private sector, and not least a government that is responsive to the peoples’ needs. Does Thompson alone hold the power to decide who will or can run in an election on a DLP ticket? I know that should he become Prime Minister (God forbid!) he would have the power to hire and fire in his cabinet; but to what extent will he do this even if costs overruns are justified and beyond the control of the relevant Minister or the State itself? Does his words not connote the feeling of an almighty dictator who does not yield to good reason? Thompson’s boast of successfully running ‘a law practice’ for more than twenty one years in Barbados does not instil confidence. The populace knows his representation of the people of St. John for twenty years has been a dismal failure. Let us compare apples with apples. Apart from winning each election in St. John, what memorable feat has Thompson accomplished? Who are the individuals or groups that have substantially benefitted from Thompson’s tenure as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of St. John? There goes Thompson’s success story as a representative of the poor working class in Barbados. Thompson’s quest for a self-determined dictatorship has unfortunately been re-ignited with the sub-plot in which catapulted the DLP boat when better led by Mascoll. I am sure that Mascoll is now comforted in the caring arms of the BLP. In this way, Mascoll remains far away from the dangers associated with Thompson’s maniacal behaviour that is known to be a hallmark of persons such as Hitler, Mussolini, and Idi Amin. More concerning is Thompson’s revelation that “the mantra of early Democratic Labour Party administrations was social justice.” Is this another shielded disclosure that the contemporary DLP does not fit with the founding principles? His diatribe continues in a vein of unfounded criticisms that he wants to vanish away as being ‘arithmetically sound’ yet lacking people orientation. This cannot be the words reflective of a former Minister of Finance that ostracised the working population of this country from the vaults of wealth distribution during the early 1990s when he had the opportunity to do different? It is a pity Thompson has a vision for every conceivable thing yet he has difficulty in outlining a vision to take the people and country of Barbados forward, even in the short term. Where is the accountability and transparency that as Chairman of the PAC he has already been given power to act rather than just complain and hallucinate as he goes along? Does Thompson not take our constitutional measures of accountability serious, or is he in wait to trample the entire constitutional provisions that have evolved in this country by less vain glorious persons but even so, more practical men and women? A dictator by any other name is still a dictator. To hire and fire nonchalantly, to impose gag orders, and/or the many other subtle ploys engaged by those possessing the totalitarian mentality is not to be tolerated in Barbados. Yes, we in Barbados need democracy to thrive but not at the expense of dismantling the citadel of our accumulated success in responsible leadership as aptly demonstrated since 1994. Barbadians do not need the egotistical ambitions of David Thompson the political leader whose major accomplishments have been tainted with cunning, perceived deception, and a host of ‘fallouts’ with colleagues. Barbados needs the Owen Arthurs of this world who are understanding, share a vision of progress, lift up a society, practice inclusiveness, use political will at appropriate times, but most of all, lead with confidence rather than by decree or mental whip. Reality in this case is evidenced in the political discourse that cuts all Barbadians, all groups, into small pieces thereby bringing the irony of socio-economic empowerment to lodge disdainfully on the platform of paradox, generalisations, critique, and innuendo. Thompson continues to vex most Barbadians with his unpopular style of politics that is more autocratic than Sandiford’s adamant confession. Perhaps some change will always be inevitable, but do we in Barbados need to be rescued by “a new DLP administration [that] will introduce radical new initiatives to make this [dictatorship] a reality.” I am not dulled by my understanding of dictatorial regimes under callous leaders. Therefore my answer is no to Thompson! We will not accede to the demands of a man blinded by his perverse orchestrations. We do not need Thompson and his 30 ‘patriots’ who find pleasure in mockery and the annexation of Duvalier to the political vision of this country. The period between 1986 and 1994 did not enhance Barbados’ working classes or entrepreneurial classes “when consolidation of that growth path was necessary.” The people and national interest must come first. Not the dangling promises of Greeks bearing gifts or the DLP desperate to win a general election at the expense of good governance and people empowerment.
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