Weekly Column

Colin Spencer is absolutely correct. It is time that the Government shows it is in charge – in charge of delivering on its promises; in charge of job no 1, 2 and 3 – lowering the cost of living; in charge of making things better at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital; in charge of keeping unemployment at historic low levels; in charge of maintaining air lift to keep the tourists coming; in charge of protecting our foreign reserves; in charge of reducing poverty; in charge and not only in government.

Perhaps if the Prime Minister and his Cabinet would spend some quality time facing the issues confronting our people instead of fixating on the Barbados Labour Party’s record, which they will be hard pressed to match, they might actually be able to achieve something.

But back to Mr. Spencer and his offering for this year’s calypso season. It is not an area on which we would normally comment, but we find his pen particularly poisonous for one reason and one reason only. If Mr. Spencer wants to beg for jobs for the boys in song that is his prerogative. If he wants to use the art form to poke fun at the BLP and our supporters we have no problem with that. But to use it to launch an unwarranted attack on some of this country’s most respected career public servants is in our view a reprehensible act. It is in poor taste and a demonstration of poor judgment.

For Mr. Spencer, as a failed DLP candidate to excuse it on the grounds that it will appeal to his party’s supporters shows the depths to which Errol Barrow’s party has been taken in the hands of David Thompson. Regrettably, Mr. Spencer is the embodiment of a poor loser and a poor winner at one and the same time. The good electors of St. George North clearly knew what they were doing when they sent him from whence he came.

But is Mr. Spencer entirely culpable or is he just following the dictates of his leader? Who can forget David Thompson’s promise to his party faithful to share the fatted calf? Perhaps Mr. Spencer took him at his word and is merely reminding his leader of his promise. Whatever the reason, his song sends the wrong message in a small country that depends on the professionalism of its public servants.

As Barbadians we cannot and will not sit idly by and let Mr. Spencer, or anyone else for that matter, pull down the institutions on which this country depends for maintaining economic stability, law and order, a progressive education system, a sound transportation service and the nurturance of agriculture on the basis that their Heads of Department happened to have been appointed during the last fourteen years. Shame on you Mr. Spencer! As someone who wishes to provide leadership to your community and your country you need to look beyond personal disappointments and expectations.

We note however, that you are not alone in your affliction of the fatted calf syndrome. Rev. Errington Massiah is singing from the same hymn sheet and divorced himself from his spiritual responsibilities in the process. Who will be next?

We call on the Prime Minister to show leadership in this matter and publicly repudiate the attacks on defenseless public servants on whom this green, naïve government is depending to keep things going in the country. It is a concern that goes way beyond the bounds of social commentary in a calypso tent. It strikes at the heart of our democracy by discrediting people whose duty it is to manage institutions that support the system of government that we hold so dear. Any chipping away at that structure, no matter how small or no matter the motive, is to be repulsed as an irresponsible attack on our freedom and a breach of the rights guaranteed by our Constitution.

We eagerly await your voice on this matter, Mr. Thompson!