by Global News Staff
Owen Arthur
Barbados — The leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Owen Arthur, has expressed his opposition to the St Lucian-born wife of the late prime minister of Barbados being given the chance to become a part of the government of Barbados, during a campaign meeting in St John on Sunday night.
“I do not believe that there has been a greater affront to the Barbadian democracy and to the Barbadian womanhood than the affront that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in putting before the people of this parish and of this country,” he said.
“There is no Barbadian woman, who could be the wife of a St Lucian politician that could dare run in St Lucia on the grounds that she is running to be the queen of St Lucia and if it cannot happen there, why can it happen here? It is an insult and an affront to democracy. Why is it that which is totally unacceptable to everybody else in the Caribbean, must now be foisted upon us?” asked Arthur, in reference to St Lucian-born Mara Thompson, the DLP candidate, who will contest the St John by-election against Hudson Griffith on January 20.
His concern, he said, is that should Mrs Thompson win, she will not only be able to affect the lives of residents in St John as their Member of Parliament, but will “write laws and deal with taxes which can affect the people” in the other parishes.
Deputy leader of the BLP, Dale Marshal, also spoke out against a non-Barbadian born seeking election as a lawmaker in the country.
Comments on the above article: Mara Thompson being PM Barbados
Lancelot:
I am dismayed that yet again a Caribbean politician cannot gracefully leave the political scene after serving his people well.
I am more astonished that Owen Arthur has fallen to political expediency in attacking Mara Thompson; because I cannot believe that in this day and age of Caribbean unity that such divisive and insightful views are held by Arthur.
I may be wrong but I am sure Mrs. Thompson is a Barbadian citizen entitled to all rights and responsibilities that entails.
Shame on a former “Caribbean statesman” for such lowdown diatribe.
RleeH Sinclair:
I am not a B, but I agree wholeheartedly with Arthur. Mara’s candidacy and election can potentially go deeper. With her overwhelming sympathy vote, she is liable to contest and win leadership of the Party. After all, her husband, the person she is set to replace, was Party Leader. This is a little more than hypothetical. Is Barbados ready for a St. Lucian Prime Minister of the island?
Being in sympathy with her loss is one thing. We are very sorry David Thompson died. Giving our country to his wife is something else altogether.
Geodan:
One wonders why the Federation of the West Indies failed? Why the Caricom or “CariGone” demise is inevitable? Don’t talk about CSME? Its bigots or wolves in sheep clothing like Owen Arthur that are the undoing of any aspirations of Caribbean regional integration by the youth of this region. Shame on you Mr Owen Arthur for attacking this Barbadian citizen. Certainly you cannot pass muster as a “Caricom Ideal Person” 🙂
Geodan:
In the earlier post by RleeH Sinclair supporting Owen Arthur’s disgraceful stance on Mara Thompson’s candidacy, one can assume that the opening disclosure that “I am not a B” refers to Barbadian citizenship or native born Barbadian. The post concludes with “[G]iving ‘our’ Country to his wife is …..” Please be consistent; if you are not a “B” then you cannot refer to Barbados as “ours” This is an oxymoron. We have to learn to be consistent and honest in little things if we are going to be exemplary to our youth. The future of Caribbean integration is in their hands. Our past leaders have failed us miserably and history will so record.
I cannot help but note the joy and pride which we West Indians experience when we read of other West Indians being elected or nominated to cabinet positions in Europe, Canada, and The United States. The list of such individuals is common knowledge. Our leaders in the West Indies often try to leverage unashamedly these individuals position for their Nation’s benefit. Owen Arthur was no exception.
