Stuart: My call

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart cutting the ribbon to offically open the St Michael South East branch last night as Democratic Labour Party hopeful for the area Patrick Tannis looks on. (Picture by Nigel Browne.)

By Ricky Jordan | Thu, January 17, 2013 - 12:10 AM

Asking what the fuss was all about, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart insisted last night that elections would be called when he says so and that the date had been fixed in his mind since the St John by-election two years ago.

Giving his “unequivocal and emphatic endorsement” to Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael South East Patrick Tannis at the opening of the latter’s constituency office in Marsden Road, The Pine, Stuart also said the Opposition Barbados Labour Party’s boycott of Parliament Tuesday was a happy one.

“It was the happiest day I spent at Parliament since we were there. All of the sources of pollution were absent, nobody had to fear that their mother was going to be cursed, and of course, we didn’t have to worry – so we thought – that when lunchtime came, we could get in a queue and orderly go and get our lunch,” he told the gathering.

He said the Opposition had not boxed him into a corner as some had suggested and its members would simply have to wait.

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Posted by Baje LL 4 months ago: With all due respect PM Stuart, the laws of the land are not there "fuh show" nor to adhere to when you feel like it. They are laws for a reason and are there to ensure decency and order. Bim is not a dictatorship where you can do what you feel like when you feel like it. This is not (insert dictatorship-led country name here). Attitude reflects leadership and your remarks and disregard for the laws of the land are leaving much to be desired as the so-called "leader" of our nation. What kind of example are you setting for our youth? Call the elections and let the peoples votes speak- loud and clear.

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Posted by Carl Harper 4 months ago: February 11 or 12. The 11th since that date officially ends the Parliamentary session; February 12th as many election dates are usually on Tuesday.

I predict Stuart will dissolve Parliament next week around birthday of his protegé, Errol Barrow, for a date with the electorate just before Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten Season and the fifth year of the first sitting of Parliament in 2008.

Stuart, being a student of history and law, will not dare enter the 90-day period allowed for extenuating circumstances under the Constitution to hold elections. Even though he is unwilling to observe convention, he will not encroach on the law, unnecessarily.

I am still unsure why, as a historian, Stuart wanted to create history and earn the envious distinction of being the only prime minister to ever go beyond the time-honored tradition of 60 months for holding elections.

Maybe with some element of self-doubt about being returned to Office, Stuart is playing it safe and going down to the very last day assured by the Constitution, in a last-ditched attempt to hold onto power for as long as possible.

Even with the elections date fixed in his head since the St John by-election, Stuart still finds himself running out of weekends for opening constituency offices and walk throughs.

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Posted by Bim Bum 4 months ago: I like that:

" All of the sources of pollution were absent..
nobody had to fear that their mother was going to be cursed"

Sweet!

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Posted by J. Payne 4 months ago: "what the fuss was all about". People are saying your tether's end has come because its about to snapback sir. Two, "we didn’t have to worry", oh yes you still have to worry. A new dawn is coming for Barbados and DEMs day done

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Posted by cheryl maynard 4 months ago: Election will be call "when he says so" but, one thing for sure you are running out of time and the citizens of Barbados will have they time to "say so". Citizens of Barbados when that time comes vote, for the betterment of the country and not just for what a person can do for you and yours. GO VOTE and let your voices be heard

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Posted by Pan Wallie 4 months ago: What a cavalier statement! Parliament is not about happy days because sources of pollution or pollutants are absent, Mr P.M. Parliament is about the people's business which cannot be effectively managed if there is a boycott.

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Posted by Bim Bum 4 months ago: I hear the parish of St. John
is very much up for grabs!
What a pleasant change THAT would be.
Instead of the usual guaranteed result nonsense.