Bajans in diaspora weigh in on elections

by TONY BEST A RETURN OF the Barbados Labour Party to office and the election of an opposition force in parliament.

That was what a cross-section of Barbadians in Canada and the United States told the CAMPAIGN EXPRESS they expect to see emerge from tomorrow’s General Election at home.

In interviews with members of the diaspora in North America, the Barbadians said they expected Mia Amor Mottley, the Prime Minister to be re-elected with an overwhelming majority. But they stop short of forecasting a 30-0 majority as was recorded in 2018 and 2022 elections.

At the same time, though they expressed the hope that some “opposition” parliamentarians were elected to the House of Assembly, to keep the government on its proverbial “toes,” thus ensuring that “democracy was alive and well” in their homeland.

“I expect the electorate in Barbados to conduct itself in a lawful and peaceful manner as it has done over more than half a century of independence,” said Dr Laurel Scott, a theologian who has led United Methodist congregations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.

“Mottley is a highly respected international figure at home and around the world. I fully expect a substantial majority for the BLP. At the start of the current campaign, I was hoping for a vigorous alternative economic and social platform from the Opposition Democratic Labour Party. But I did not see it. I am disappointed.”

Shirley Morris, a retired human resources executive and real estate professional in Virginia expressed some similar views while hoping for continued economic and social expansion across Barbados and continued improvements in education and growth in infrastructure. We must continue to fight crime, reach more of our young people, and improve the roads.

“Today, Barbados, under Mia Mottley’s leadership stands as a highly respected small island state in the international community and it is recognised for its economic growth and stability during the past eight years,” added Morris.

“I am hoping for improvements in education, health, roads, and other areas in the years ahead.

“We have seen our economy grow in four successive years; our pace of social development accelerated considerably, and the country is better off economically,” she said. “I would welcome some newly elected parliamentarians on the opposition benches of the House. But they must present sound alternative policies to parliament and the people, something they have not done.”

Lennox Price, an economics professor in the City University of New York who served for four years as Barbados’ Consul General in New York, said that based on the recent poll published a few days ago, the ruling BLP is expected to return to office, but he added “the only poll that counts is the one on election day.

“A sound opposition is good for a country, but anything can happen on election day,” he added from his Brooklyn home.

Dr Andy Knight, a leading political science scholar and adviser at the University of Alberta in Canada and a foreign affairs expert said the BLP and Mottley seemed to be on their way to a substantial victory at the polls.

“The leader of the country has generated a broad and positive face to the public as was seen in the recently published scientific election poll in the SUNDAY SUN,” he said.

“They are the front-runner and seem to have their fingers on the economic and social pulse of Barbadians while the Democratic Labour Party is not ready for the election and for the presentation of attractive alternative policies to those of the ruling party. Mottley on the other hand seems far better prepared and based on their performance since coming to office in 2018 have made a substantial difference, domestically and internationally.”

Reuben Best, a retired employee and manager of Verizon (national telecommunications firm,) expects Mottley to be re-elected to office but would be satisfied with the DLP capturing some seats in the opposition.

Charles Small, an attorney who is the Chief Clerk (Registrar) of the New York State Civil Court in Brooklyn, one of America’s largest, said the electorate in Barbados was likely to elect some opposition DLP parliamentarians, “this time around.”

And Dr Myrna Lashley, a McGill University psychology professor in Montreal was convinced that Mottley had earned a return to office with her performance at home and internationally.

“I hope we have an opposition and we need Mottley as Prime Minister,” she said.

THEOLOGIAN Dr Laurel Scott said Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is a highly respected international figure

at home and around the world. (FP)

ECONOMICS PROFESSOR at City University of New York, Lennox Price, said a sound opposition is good

for a country. (FP)

POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOLAR and adviser at the University of Alberta in Canada, Dr Andy Knight, said the Barbados Labour Party seemed to have their fingers on the economic

and social pulse of Barbadians. (FP)

MCGILL UNIVERSITY psychology professor Dr Myrna Lashley hopes

there is an Opposition. (FP)