Dear Editor,
In June 1987, Errol Barrow, the first prime minister of Barbados, died one year after being re-elected to office. He was replaced by Erskine Sandiford who led the Democratic Labour Party to victory in 1991.
By September 1991, the scale of Barbados's economic woes was undeniable, the country was in the throes of an unprecedented balance of payments crisis occasioned by a spike in crime and a downturn in tourism. The Administration portrayed itself as practising 'consensus politics', where policies are considered only after consultation with interest groups and the wider public.
In 1991 Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford met with the representatives of the trade unions and private sector, and outlined to them that "Barbados was in the throes of an economic crisis and the Government was in discussion with the International Monetary Fund". Initially, a cut/freeze of public sector wages was proposed, which the National Union of Public Workers flatly rejected. Following this rejection the Administration cut public sector wages by eight per cent and laid off 2,000 public sector workers in an attempt to rein in government expenditure.
Under the Sandiford regime crime and taxes increased, but there was a decline in the budget deficit, even in the face of a downturn in tourism — Barbados's main foreign exchange earner. And the declining budget deficit was due to the cut in government expenditure.
The tone of the political conversation between the Simpson Miller Administration and the Jamaican public is eerily reminiscent of that which took place between the Sandiford Administration and the Barbadian public 22 years ago. Jamaica now, like Barbados then, is in the throes of a balance of payments crisis, crime and taxes have increased but there is a reduction in the budget deficit achieved by equally similar means — the reduction in government expenditure. The current wage dispute between the Portia Simpson Miller Administration and public sector workers is similar to the tone of the wage negotiations between public sector workers and the Sandiford Administration. Back then the National Union of Public Workers flatly rejected a wage cut, and in Jamaica today the public sector unions have flatly rejected a wage increase offer.
Once again history seems to be repeating itself, and if history is anything to go by, then the ruling PNP is staring down the barrel of political defeat (internal and external polls are presently showing a divided JLP comfortably ahead of the PNP). The Sandiford Administration was booted from office in three years following its victory at the polls in 1991. In this context, the politically savvy PNP have been keen students of Caribbean history, and politics has had a stay of political execution by the postponement of the local government elections.
Can the Simpson Miller Administration counter the effects of the Sandiford syndrome in time for national elections? Only time will tell.
Phillip A Chambers
phillipdcchambers@gmail.com
Is the PNP Gov't a case
of Sandiford Syndrome?
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In June 1987, Errol Barrow, the first prime minister of Barbados, died one year after being re-elected to office. He was replaced by Erskine Sandiford who led the Democratic Labour Party to victory in 1991.
By September 1991, the scale of Barbados's economic woes was undeniable, the country was in the throes of an unprecedented balance of payments crisis occasioned by a spike in crime and a downturn in tourism. The Administration portrayed itself as practising 'consensus politics', where policies are considered only after consultation with interest groups and the wider public.
In 1991 Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford met with the representatives of the trade unions and private sector, and outlined to them that "Barbados was in the throes of an economic crisis and the Government was in discussion with the International Monetary Fund". Initially, a cut/freeze of public sector wages was proposed, which the National Union of Public Workers flatly rejected. Following this rejection the Administration cut public sector wages by eight per cent and laid off 2,000 public sector workers in an attempt to rein in government expenditure.
Under the Sandiford regime crime and taxes increased, but there was a decline in the budget deficit, even in the face of a downturn in tourism — Barbados's main foreign exchange earner. And the declining budget deficit was due to the cut in government expenditure.
The tone of the political conversation between the Simpson Miller Administration and the Jamaican public is eerily reminiscent of that which took place between the Sandiford Administration and the Barbadian public 22 years ago. Jamaica now, like Barbados then, is in the throes of a balance of payments crisis, crime and taxes have increased but there is a reduction in the budget deficit achieved by equally similar means — the reduction in government expenditure. The current wage dispute between the Portia Simpson Miller Administration and public sector workers is similar to the tone of the wage negotiations between public sector workers and the Sandiford Administration. Back then the National Union of Public Workers flatly rejected a wage cut, and in Jamaica today the public sector unions have flatly rejected a wage increase offer.
Once again history seems to be repeating itself, and if history is anything to go by, then the ruling PNP is staring down the barrel of political defeat (internal and external polls are presently showing a divided JLP comfortably ahead of the PNP). The Sandiford Administration was booted from office in three years following its victory at the polls in 1991. In this context, the politically savvy PNP have been keen students of Caribbean history, and politics has had a stay of political execution by the postponement of the local government elections.
Can the Simpson Miller Administration counter the effects of the Sandiford syndrome in time for national elections? Only time will tell.
Phillip A Chambers
phillipdcchambers@gmail.com
Is the PNP Gov't a case
of Sandiford Syndrome?
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