Frank Watty, Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:49:52 -0400
The paper under reference was submitted as another in my series, FRANKLY SPEAKING…., but for some so far unexplained reason it was circulated without that caption. It may also be accessed, as all my previous contributions are by Googling DAAS FRANKLY SPEAKING. It is NOT an anonymous piece. I take full responsibility for it. Now then…
I applaud all who take taken time to read, think through and comment on the article. I welcome all contributions to the discussion, whether critical or not. That is the purpose of these articles, which in an environment of autocratic decision making, delinquent opposition, an ineffective media and a silent local intelligentsia, it is hoped might stir minds to thought and their will to action. In response…
Clayton, all of the factors you have enumerated and more may indeed have contributed to the election results. Perhaps my summary reference to them in paragraphs 1 and 2 are not sufficiently clinical for your purposes. You and others are free to add or subtract reasons as the spirit moves you. That sort of review was not the purpose of the article—not another pot-mortem of why one side won and another lost.
The focus here is to move on, and to explore where (given whatever reasons for the election results one might conjecture) do opposition no, loyal opposition, parties in particular go from here. You know, effective opposition parties do have a necessary and important role to play in any democracy, and one who espouses their role is not necessarily a radical. Check the Constitution!!!
No use crying in your beer that one or other or even all opposition parties were hard done by or that democracy has been emasculated. The relevant question is, what are the realistic strategies available to the Dominica society at large to counter these perceived disabilities hampering the emergence of a functioning, effective and responsible democratic governance system? You know, if this question is not satisfactorily addressed, the opposition parties will spend the next five years conducting an election autopsy and wearing “sackcloth and ashes”, then come the next elections they will be just where they were five years before.
By all means, continue any investigations and prosecution of wrong-doing in the hope of correcting past problems. But these are reactive responses and there needs to be pro-active strategies in all quarters to propel the country forward, one of which requires us to put the spotlight on the opposition parties…..hence this article.
I welcome the worthwhile comments from Parry, Christian and Gabe. They come from different perspectives, are well-thought-out andadd in their own way to the discussion. I have only seen a reference to someone wishing to identify those “scholars” who might be perceived to be critical of government. Shades of the Medieval Inquisition or the recent purges in Cambodia, Viet Nam or China? If this questioner has any influence, with that thinking perhaps the powers that be should re-visit the idea of a university for Dominica. It might be a hot-bed of too independent thought! In any case, I don’t intend to lay awake waiting for a “knock in the night”.
Let’s keep an intelligent and respectful discussion going!
Frank Watty,
Author, FRANKLY SPEAKING……
Re: The 24/7/4/12/5 Campaign
Frank et al:
For me a thorough post mortem is critical for the opposition parties to assess causes of failure and to determine future strategies ..It is clear that the opposition actions were NOT adequate to the challenge,, At the same time the party in power had a significant edge.. Analogy..if you can say when the race starts you have a staggered start,,if you have an early start on who will run when you decide time to start that is a great advantage..it is not practical to be at the starting block in your running shoes not knowing for certain when the race will start..resources available to the opposition will not allow such..hence we would be better off with a fixed date as in the US.. But the biggest hurdle I saw was the basis for choice and the unfortunate impact of “charters”, red clinic, I have the feeling that the DLP saw these moves as essential to get them “over the edge”…and the pre election and post election actions especially by the UWP..none of that was helpful to the democratic processes..Is that the model we are now to embrace?? charter, red clinic, boycott, I sincerely hope that your admonition below “will stir minds”…I am probably NOT as optimistic as many who embrace as OK what took place and would support more of the same by party in power// Time will tell!!! It always does!!! “That is the purpose of these articles, which in an environment of autocratic decision making, delinquent opposition, an ineffective media and a silent local intelligentsia, it is hoped might stir minds to thought and their will to action”
Clayton