JORDAN: So the 11 MPs were eager to meet with the Prime Minister simply to have a discussion?
SINCKLER: Well, you say eager; I think some of us wanted to meet.
A question posed to Minister Chris Sinckler in the Big Interview by former Editor in Chief Kaymar Jordan (18.12.2012)
BU is reluctant to ‘sully’ its blog offering during the Yuletide season with content of a political flavour. However, we have been enticed to compromise our position as a result of Prime Minister Stuart’s weekend pronouncement. He stated that he saw no evidence of a coup and therefore his promise to ‘chop’ off’ the head or heads of those in the vanguard of the Eager 11 (E11) assault is not required. In the minds of many Barbadians Stuart’s inaction to deal with the E11 affair agrees with a widely held view that he is not a leader.
Some who read the tea leaves maybe intrigued that Prime Minister Stuart waited almost one year to the day to make a decisive statement about the E11 affair. Perhaps the Prime Minister is readying the party for election battle by seeking to deflate this issue which is sure to raise its head on the election platform. Was he advised by Hartley Henry to be so bold as to address the issue? Perhaps Stuart appreciates the sandy political turf he will have to trod shortly and the appearance of a cohesive and united team more favourable weighs the scale then giving political fodder to the Opposition which ‘chopping of a head or heads” may cause. It is accepted that Prime Minister Stuart CANNOT ‘touch’ Minister Sinckler who CADRES has fingered as the most popular political personage in Barbados after Owen Arthur and Mia Mottley.
If Stuart has delayed disciplinary action because he believes it will disadvantage the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) with a general election on the horizon – political pundits have revised the election date to 12 February 2013 – can one say Stuart has compromised on the leadership position necessary to grow his stature as a fearless leader? Our history shows that Barbadians have an affinity for Prime Ministers who are not afraid to figuratively crush some political heads.
Stuart’s defenders may hasten to suggest that to project an image of DLP togetherness on the eve of a general election is a commonsense strategy. To speak to the issue now, Stuart has allowed the longest possible period to elapse to benefit from the 9-day memory of Barbadians to fully set.
There will also be the reference to the Mia Owen conflict to balance the argument. Arthur kicked Mia to the political curb but she has obviously retreated and decided to line up behind the party cause to ensure her political relevance. In the post Mia Arthur conflict he gets a few points for effectively stomping on the head of a strong challenger. Although the BLP platform cannot speak directly to this Arthur win, on every occasion Mia and Owen shares political space it will subliminally register in the minds of a politically savvy public that Arthur is the undisputed leader of the BLP.
Yes Mr. Prime Minister, it is the Yuletide Season but we are watching you!
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.