IT IS ONE OF THOSE WEEKS when there is lots to talk and write about. I could not decide whether to write about the proposed union shutdown or the ongoing CARICOM Heads of Government Conference. I will write a little about both.
I do not know enough about the young president of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Mr Akanni McDowall to make a judgement about whether the decision by his union to call a national strike in defence of workers dismissed from the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) is politically motivated.
If this is indeed the case, then shame on him and the NUPW. Notwithstanding this, I would agree that there is a certain level of legitimate scrutiny which is understandable. There have been significant issues facing public sector workers over the last year and half about which the union took little decisive action. The question that arises is why this issue and why now? I am not sure that the union has effectively answered these questions.
However, I will say that he is absolutely right to remain defiant in the face of those critics who base their attacks on his youthfulness. This attack implicitly suggests that young people are incapable of exercising considered judgement in the face of difficult situations.
It is an ageist argument which is based on the same level of thinking that perhaps informed the sending home of the 13 workers over the age of 60 from the BIDC.
Mr McDowall’s actions in my opinion should be judged on the basis of whether indeed there is a legitimate and significant cause to be fought, for which there is no other recourse.
Secondly, it should be judged on the extent to which the union’s decision has the widespread support of its membership which provides the basis for the legitimacy of the action.
On the second issue there is some cause for reflection. This is not the shutdown of a division or department but a national strike. The soundings on the ground do not suggest that the NUPW has done enough to create widespread buy-in for the action across the Public Service.
I would hope that Mr McDowall and his executive in throwing down this gauntlet have a clear understanding of what national means and how success of the action will be judged. Monday July 6th will certainly be a red letter day for the union; the success or failure of the action will say as much about the state and strength of the union movement as it will about the leadership of Mr McDowall and his “youthful team”.
Similarly, I would also suggest that this 36th Heads of Government Conference being held in Barbados is also a red letter moment for regional heads. I raise my hand unashamedly and say that indeed I am one of the perpetual critics that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart spoke about in his speech.
I would suggest, however, that there is significant justification for the criticism and the Heads should use this meeting to prove us all wrong and demonstrate the level of decisive leadership that the region so desperately needs.
While I like everyone else applauded the poignant moments in the Prime Minister’s speech, particularly his call to address the issue of food security, I would have wished that some of the defensive posturing over the criticism of the regime would have been replaced by some acknowledgment that as heads they must all shoulder the responsibility for continually failing to deliver on the promises of the Single Market and Economy.
Moreover, and perhaps disappointingly for me, there was neither the sense of urgency or the clarion call for action on systemic issues that I had expected from any of the Heads who spoke, particularly given the myriad issues facing the region at this moment. It is not just about Venezuela and Haiti, which are extremely important. There are also overarching issues such as the indebtedness of region, the need to transform and reposition our economies and the international political positioning of the Caribbean.
Alarmingly, none of the Heads spoke about the pressing issue of climate change which will put to naught any progress on any of the other issues.
However, perhaps I am too steeped in being a critic, perhaps the leaders will indeed demonstrate the intestinal fortitude required. Perhaps after this conference all of the critics will have cause to be quiet.
