I was encouraged to read in the Midweek SEARCHLIGHT this week of plans by the governing Unity Labour Party (ULP) to take a definitive step forward in arriving at a solution to the issue of succession in the party’s leadership.

It is a matter raised in this column in March of this year urging that the succession “…needs to be orderly and that preparation has to be made in that regard, both inside and outside the party”.

The ULP has responded. In the SEARCHLIGHT Midweek report, the party promised that by the end of its July 31 Convention, Gonsalves’ successor as party leader will be known, and that “this will be done without contestation or confusion”. Having committed itself in that regard, the ULP is however quoted as raising a number of possible solutions.
Party Leader Gonsalves told the SEARCHLIGHT that “it is very likely” that a new Political Leader may be elected at the Convention. However, he also raised the possibility that “we’ll just have a Deputy Leader, and it will be recognized that he will rise to leadership”, when the current leader steps down.

The long-serving ULP leader was careful to spell out that he wishes the party to avoid a divisive clash for succession. He has already identified Agriculture Minister, Saboto Caesar and Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves as the contenders for the leadership post. However, he wants to ensure that there is a “proper transition” and that the timing is in the best “interests of the party and country”. Internally, he explained that the internal organs of the party are working to arrive at a consensus so as to avoid the divisions that have plagued other political parties in the region.

All well and good, but in addition to its internal arrangements, the ULP and PM Gonsalves must also bear in mind the external dimensions of their processes and the perceptions that may abide among the public. For instance, there are those who are intent on spreading the idea that all this talk of inner-party democracy is hogwash and that the PM is hell-bent on having his son succeed him.

While these charges may be without foundation, it is important that the ULP demonstrate that its concern about a “consensus” is a genuine process and one not subject to manipulation. True, there will be those who, no matter evidence to the contrary, will persist in their charges of manipulation. But all three main participants, as well as the party itself, by their actions and statements can contribute greatly towards a public acceptance of a fair process. If, at the end of internal discussions, there is no clear consensus, then there is nothing wrong with having a democratic choice by poll. It does not have to be divisive, bitter or politically suicidal.

A lot will depend on how much ground the current Leader and Prime Minister is prepared to share or cede in the upcoming years to give his successor a realistic chance of making his own mark on the leadership of both party and country.

FRIDAY FLUFFING LINES AGAIN

The probability of the ULP facing the polls without Ralph Gonsalves at its helm, for the first time this century, should give the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) a boost in confidence for being at long last able to overcome its bitter rival. It has not won since the late Sir James Mitchell resigned in 2000, somehow contriving to turn victory into defeat in the last three elections.

It ought to be a time for sober reflection, on policy, politics and political practice; a time to present itself as a credible alternative, a modern, forward-looking party capable of independent thought and action, equipped to lead a young developing nation in the 21st century. For some reason best known to the party leadership, it is anything but…… Every chance presented to it has been blown, and instead of a progressive image, confrontation and slander reign as standard political practice. What is even worse, it wallows behind those backward elements who, wedded to the politics of the past, eschew mature politics and creative alternatives in favour of the discredited politics of the past.

Opposition Leader, Godwin Friday appears to be a likeable person. However, he is yet to make his mark as a credible political leader and as long as he allows himself to be led, internally and externally, by those who seem to have undue influence on NDP policy and practice, is unlikely to succeed where his predecessor failed.

The latest demonstration of the NDP’s ineptness and backwardness came in its response to PM Gonsalves boycotting President Biden’s Summit, on grounds that were openly stated, before the Summit. Disagree if you may, but don’t tell us that the Prime Minister “must explain” why. Was that not made palpably clear?

Again, when the NDP says that the “Summit is an international Summit of leaders of the countries of the OAS”, we must ask what planet is Dr Friday on? I can’t believe that a party which aspires to lead this country does not know the difference between an OAS summit and a Summit of the Americas? The OAS in NOT the Americas. God help us if we are to be led by such ignorance!

To be continued……

Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.