DLP absence unfortunate

Tony Olton posing a question to the panel at the session last night. (Nigel Browne)

It was a full house for last night's Talkback session. (Nigel Browne)

Panelists MP Mia Mottley and Editor Emeritus at the Nation Publishing Co Limited Harold Hoyte, (Nigel Browne)

BLP members Joe Atherley and Mark Williams were among the audience members at the Nation Talkback. (Nigel Browne)

Talkback Chris deCaires posing a question to the panel. (Nigel Browne)

By Carol Martindale | Thu, October 11, 2012 - 1:41 PM

The Democratic Labour Party can face a landslide against it in the next General Election, says political scientist Peter Wickham.

His comments were made last night at the Nation’s Talkback session discussing The Next General Election….who should run the affairs of this country?

Wickham said it was disappointing that they did not attend the session, which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre before a packed audience.

Echoing this was Editor Emeritus at The Nation Publishing Co Limited Harold Hoyte, who said the DLP dropped the ball last night by not participating.

Hoyte said it was a sad commentary, adding that the party had lost an opportunity to speak to the people of this country. “There has been full ventilation from the public on a wide range of issues,” he said, noting the absence of the DLP was unfortunate.

Hoyte touched on the recent CADRES poll, noting it was a snap shot of the country at the time. He suggested that another poll be conducted prior to elections to see if the feeling of the electorate has changed.

He also cautioned that the public needed to hear from the Democratic Labour Party before “rushing to a conclusion”.

Barbados Labour Party MP for St Michael North East, Mia Mottley, who was also part of the panel, addressed the relationship between herself and Opposition Leader Owen Arthur.

She noted that the good of this country and its people were bigger issues that confront them..

Wickham, however, said he believed Arthur and Mottley would have their work cut out for them in convincing the public that their relationship has healed.

Bobby Clarke, the deputy leader of the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) said it seemed those attending the session seemed bent on either voting BLP or DLP, and urged them to open their minds to an alternative.

Some of the 1 531 people who were following the live feed and live blogging session of this event, also expressed disappointment about the DLP's absence from the panel.

One person wrote: "The DEMs are dissapointing. There should have been there tonight to answer to the people."

Another wrote: "It is vain and arrogant for a party to absent themselves from a forum such as these that the public can hear their perspective."

"By refusing to send a representative to this meeting they have essentially turned they back on us the people of this country" was another comment received.

Comprehensive reports of the Nation Talkback session in tomorrow’s WEEKEND NATION.

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Posted by Frank Husbands 7 months, 2 weeks ago: Are you all at the Nation Newspapers in your right minds expecting the DLP to show at what was essentially a BLP meeting?

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Posted by CARL HUSBANDS 7 months, 2 weeks ago: Wouldn't such a endeavor be more instructive AFTER elections have been called? At the point of calling the elections, the incumbent party would have to account for its record and the challenging party would have to demonstrate how it could do better than the incumbent party. Such could be done with an impartial moderator. (Given to the way things are done in BIM, this might be wishful thinking) Furthermore, given the topic under discussion and the assembled panelists, who for the most part, have publicly stated their positions, I really don't see how the DLP could have benefited by participating. For me, hearing the opinions of Mr. Hoyte and Mr. Wickham are not quite evivalent to hearing the plans that the respective leaders of the parties, including the PEP, (and not their representatives) have for the future of Barbados.

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Posted by Carl Harper 7 months, 2 weeks ago: When the DLP is ready to talk to the public, only their supporters will be listening, and that's hardly gonna be enough votes to retain the government.

You do not arrogantly dismiss the people when they are dying to hear from you on issues of personal and national importance.

The people have their own way of talking back - "X".

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Posted by En Dee 7 months, 2 weeks ago: I wholeheartedly agree with the DLP. Who is Peter Wickham, Harold Hoyte or anyone else to arrange such a forum and then tell the DLP that they must attend. Absolute nonsense!! The DLP will attend those meetings thay they deem to be appropriate. The people of Barbados will not be fooled by this nonsense. These jokers selected their panel and then told the DLP to attend. Who do they think they are? I would have been totally disappointed in the DLP if they had shown up there and simply marched to the tune of this panel. There is something called a political campaign and that is the time when all will be told and brought forth. Strange bedfellows you say?! Seems that just yesterday Owen Arthur was calling someone on that panel a "negrocrat" among other insulting names. Some of us appear to have very short memories! Lets talk in a few months. Nigel D.

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Posted by Chris Chris 7 months, 2 weeks ago: well said NE DEE,
is the nation a tabloid or bout news.
need to do a poll among its readers to see if people take you all seriously,