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RReflecting on the Democratic Labor Party’s (DLP) 69th Annual Conference, held from August 23 to 25, 2024, Dr. Tennyson Joseph, associate professor of political science at North Carolina Central University, surmised that the party “faces a profound existential crisis, possibly even extinction.”
Losing my sister as a child and my father as a teenager, combined with experience as a priest, has made me inured to death. The SDLP AGM conveys an ominous sense that we may be at the beginning of the end. Despite our belief in miracles, sometimes we have false hope, as in the case of West Indies cricket; the severe trauma inflicted on us by island isolation and board shenanigans seems to have ended our regional game.
Impact of BLP
There are those in the SDLP who are suspicious of Dr. Ronnie Yearwood and Comrade Ralph Thorne. They believe that they were only acting for political ends by luring others as part of the SDLP collapse in 2018 and that they all wanted to take on Ms. Mottley personally. However, I believe that all Barbadians, regardless of history, should be allowed to join any political party as long as they subscribe to the philosophy of the institution and abide by its constitution, rules and procedures.
Yet, for many, the question of motivation remains. Some believe their political shift could be another ploy by the BLP to dictate what George Street does, just as they control the media, the private sector, the unions, the civil service and other key players. The SDLP’s current crisis has allowed the BLP, still in electoral mode, to advance a “colourism” akin to Thatcherism, only mired in populism rather than rooted in ideology. As with the attempt to replace Independence Day with Republic Day, and colours with Barrow, egos have spiralled out of control.
Mr. Thorne’s concerns about the impartial maintenance of law and order by the Barbados Police Service last weekend are legitimate, especially when compared to its conduct at Deacon’s on Good Friday 2021. The recent shooting death of a 12-year-old girl by a masked gunman in Silver Hill epitomizes the failure of this Government not only to address crime and violence, but also the many social and economic ills facing our country, including securing a future for our children and our children’s children.
I never imagined that the wanton violence I experienced while living in Jamaica would reach our shores.
DLP Leadership
Having said that, I generally believe that we are all individually responsible for our own successes and failures. As long as people primarily blame others for their failure to achieve as high as they should, they will be in trouble. A huge challenge facing the SLP is its prevalent leadership style. Although the BLP moved away from the cult of personality very early on through a number of leaders: Grantley Adams, Hugh Cummins, Bree St John and Tom Adams, the SLP was formed around Errol Barrow.
Barrow’s typical characteristics fit the characteristics of a top leader as defined by Professor Carl Stone, and became the default leadership traits of the Democratic Labour Party. Erskine Sandiford attempted to replicate this style, but failed, leading to the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dr. Richie Haines, which led to a “no confidence” vote in Parliament. David Thompson followed his predecessor’s example and ignored the opportunity to reintegrate the NDP, which was mainly composed of Democratic Labour Party members and supporters, and subsequently, with the help of Owen Arthur’s “politics of inclusion”, caused many future leaders to defect to the BLP.
DLP Leadership Options
My impression of Dr Yearwood’s leadership plummeted last weekend. Mr Steve Blackett’s words and actions confirm the Peter Principle, that people with less ability are less capable. But I expected more from Dr Yearwood. His illegal presence in George Street and his association with those who allegedly seized SDLP assets raise serious questions about his political acumen and ethics.
There are three things I totally despise: hypocrisy, dishonesty and tyranny. Despite calls for justice, how can those who support Mr. Yearwood and Mr. Blackett expect justice to be served? They are trying to prove that “might makes right.” A common threat to democracy is the tyranny of the majority, that is, those who try to win elections or pass bills by force or fraud, as was done last Saturday.
The group of traitors who supported Mr Yearwood and Mr Blackett hijacked the Annual Meeting and attempted to reinstate these expelled members without due process. Their actions were in violation of the Party Constitution and procedures and were so disruptive that they should be expelled until they can ensure they act in a proper and dignified manner.
I commend Mr Thorne for seeking to put together a seemingly inclusive team as leader of the SDLP. But some of his choices may confirm suspicions that grey forces, relics of a recently conquered past, are operating in the shadows. The question of the presidency remains unresolved. If Mr Thorne seeks that issue himself, it may reinforce the perception that the action against Mr Yearwood and Mr Blackett is essentially Machiavellian. But if not him, then who?
Five stages of political party decline
In order to understand the current situation of the Democratic Labour Party, Joseph Wrench proposed five stages of party decline: blindness, inaction, wrong actions, crisis and disintegration. The Economist and Financial Times Very useful.
The five stages of the political party decline curve
Phase 1: blindness: In the first phase, things might not have been rosy within the party, but they were not particularly bad. Trends were stable. Problems, even poor electoral performance, were largely attributed to anomalies. A few isolated voices called for reform and innovation, but they were mostly done in private.
2: Inaction: In the second stage, challenges may be identified but not addressed. In terms of performance, the party is doing OK; results are mixed, and “it could be worse.” In this stage, leaders see the risks of corrective action and realize that conflict may accompany change, so they choose to maintain the status quo. The party moves from stagnation to slow decline.
3: Wrong action: As time went on, internal and external pressures built; the kettle began to boil. The party leadership seemed galvanized into action. On the surface, things seemed to be happening, but this was essentially “participation theater,” allowing disgruntled members and activists to vent without any meaningful change. Critics were listened to, but not heard. Cynicism rose, and morale plummeted. The party went into free fall.
4: crisis: Pain becomes palpable. Substantive issues become public and cannot be ignored or debated. Brutal electoral defeats are compounded by poor internal choices. Key figures begin to leave, and loyal stalwarts begin to openly criticize. Internal conflict becomes increasingly time-consuming and energy-consuming, and the media relishes it. The leadership faces increasing credibility losses. Donations begin to dry up. A bunker mentality ensues. Rather than opening up, the leadership closes itself off through “sticking together.”
5: disintegration: The party central committee cannot be sustained and begins to split. The parliamentary party may begin to fight with the central office. Local branches may break away from the party. Civil war ensues. Opinion leaders publicly declare that the party is shaky; commentators call the situation “life-threatening”. Leaders fall into paranoia – enemies are everywhere – the “us versus them” mentality is everywhere, and it may even develop to the point of “if I fall, you will all fall with me.”
It is all about power now, not policy or polity. Polls have plummeted. The party’s heart has stopped beating. In some cases, emergency resuscitation (political defibrillator) may be successful even at this stage. In other cases, it may be too late and the party will continue as a “zombie”, “dead body” party until it finally disintegrates.
in conclusion
Noting the demise of Eric Gary’s Grenada United Labour Party and Eugenia Charles’ Dominican Liberal Party, Dr Joseph warned: “If the SLP does not resolve its post-election leadership crisis soon, its demise is highly likely. The SLP is at a crossroads and there are timetables for key decisions to be made, but democracy cannot succeed unless those who voice their choices are prepared to choose wisely.
If we delay in making a decision, the chance for recovery may be lost forever, with consequences for the country. The Democratic Labour Party is not only a beacon of democracy, but also a vital mechanism for the transformation of Barbados society and the establishment of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
There are calls for a new party, which I oppose because I think it is difficult for a third party to survive in the Caribbean. However, some assert that what they seek may not be a “third” party, but the emergence of a new, legitimate “second” party.
May God bless and continue to guide Barbados, and especially at this time, our democracy and the Democratic Labour Party.
Guy Hewitt, former High Commissioner, is a social policy expert and minister of religion based in London.
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