Mixed views on anti-defection law

The proposed anti-defection legislation is receiving both support and scepticism from the public.

Following the third 30-0 “redwash” by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) at the polls last week Wednesday and just after her third swearing-in as Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley said they were seeking to introduce legislation which would require Members of Parliament (MPs) who leave the party on whose ticket they were elected to seek a fresh mandate from constituents via a by-election.

Cadane Pitterson said this was what happened in Jamaica, so it was only fair for it to happen here.

“In Jamaica, whenever you are going to do something like that, you have to go through either a by-election or an in-house vote. It is only fair there’s some sort of voting process for persons who cross the floor. You can’t just cross like that, or, at least, you shouldn’t,” he said.

Carlos Phillips also saw sense in the move. He said: “I think she’s got a point. You shouldn’t be able to cross the floor as you like; you should at least wait until your term is out.”

O’Neale Clarke said politicians suddenly leaving a party to become the Opposition Leader was a gimmick.

“I feel that is just for the money because one person in Opposition can’t do anything. It’s just to get a larger salary,” he said.

Loyalty

For Theophilus Bennett, it came down to loyalty. He said no politician who crossed the floor had loyalty to their original party.

“I think the legislation could work if it stops people from crossing the floor willy-nilly. They have to find a way to make it harder for people to skip around. They have no loyalty,” he said.

A young man, who requested anonymity, wholly agreed with the proposal. He said: “I think it’s fair because you can’t really abuse people’s trust like that. If you realise something is not what you expected, then go to the people who elected you,” he said.

However, not everyone agreed that the proposed legislation should become law. Requesting anonymity, a man said he suspected a hidden agenda.

“You’re supposed to vote for the person, not party. But in this current climate, it sounds like that is an agenda for the ruling party to maintain [absolute] power,” he said.

Another man, also declining to be identified, said: “If it was she (referring to Mottley) crossing, she wouldn’t want nobody stopping her,” he said.

Sheena Pickering called for the issue to be properly ventilated to the public.

“To me, that requires more research to see what other countries are doing. It’s good to have people’s views before making that kind of decision. I would have to research it myself,” she said.

Former Members of Parliament Hamilton Lashley and Bishop Joseph Atherley have already weighed in on the proposal.

Both men have served in more than one party, Lashley as both a member of the BLP and Democratic Labour Party (DLP) as well as an Independent, and Atherley as a member of the BLP and leader of The People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP), as well as the coalition Alliance Party for Progress.

Lashley suggested a national referendum on the matter, while Atherley suggested that when the legislation was brought to Parliament for voting, it be done via secret ballot.

In 2018, Atherley resigned from the BLP a few days after being elected as MP for St Michael West, following the first 30-0 sweep at the polls. He became the Opposition Leader and formed a new party, the PdP.

In 2024, Ralph Thorne made a similar move, defecting from the BLP to the DLP following the second 30-0, and becoming the Opposition Leader two years after his election on a BLP ticket as the MP for Christ Church South.

Both subsequently suffered heavy defeats at the polls. (CA)

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