A deep love for Barbados

Publication: Sunday Sun
Paper Section And Page: 31A
Paper Date: Sun, Aug 6, 2000

ON JULY 28, reporter Patience Ejimofor interviewed politician Joseph "Johnny" Tudor about a range of issues, including his decision to leave the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and join the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). The first part of the interview was published in the WEEKEND NATION of August 4. Today we continue the interview.

EJIMOFOR: Do you have any one-party module in mind?
TUDOR: No. I was a very active member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Išve heard many arguments by many parliamentarians from all over the world and they all seem to think that we should be truly independent and we should have our own sovereignty by becoming a republic. Many Governments today are moving towards trying to access the best people and the best thoughts from wherever they come. In the United States, the Democratic party has tried to include some of the members of the Republican party. In England, Tony Blair and his government have also tried to include members of the opposition. And this module seem to be taking root. If we're going to be a republic, we should put in place a parliamentary system that suits our needs. We should be in a position to make our own decisions without copying precisely what took place at Westminster or the Australian parliament.

EJIMOFOR: What is this parliamentary system that will suit the need of Barbados?
TUDOR: Well, it'll be a system that will bring a law to an assembly. the law will have to be vetted by a committee that may include the private sector
and individuals within the assembly, and you allow as wide a debate to take place on a bill or an amendment before laws are passed. So when they're in fact passed, it is not because a group of people got together in a political grouping and said, "this is what we want" because it may not be in the interest of the majority of people in Barbados. I can see the danger of a small political party grouping behind one individual, gaining power at some time and making decision based on how they feel about the rest of society.

EJIMOFOR: These ideas you now have, did they develop based on what happened before or what you are experiencing now?
TUDOR: When I was with the opposition I agreed with a number of things the Government was doing and how they handled them, but obviously it wasn't my role as opposition to tell them they were doing a good job. But I did in all honesty observe and agree with a lot of things. But I certainly did not agree with the Greenland landfill being sited down there. But I must admit that I agreed with a lot of what they were doing and I had a very deep admiration for Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

EJIMOFOR: If Greenland turns out to be a waste of money, in some countries the prime minister would be fired.
TUDOR: Yes. I do not believe that the Government, based on information made available to me three to four years ago, even though Greenland was
short-listed, it was No 4. I think that Government should have looked at No. 1 site [Mangrove] and looked at the mitigating circumstances there to
protect the residents or resite them. But certainly the professional advice that was made available to this country should have been adhered to. So I'll be surprised if a decision was taken by Government to go to Greenland. If they go, it will be to salvage some of the finances that has already been spent. Government may have to short-circuit the life of it so that it doesn't escalate into a Nightmare 10 to 15 years from now.

EJIMOFOR: Sum up Owen Arthur as a person.
TUDOR: Apart from being a long-time friend of mine, he's deeply committed, he loves people and he comes out to me as a person who wants everybody to have a chance, even though he gets angry it's when his vision is tampered with. He doesn't like to see people being mistreated. I think he's good for Barbados. We're lucky to have a person that thinks like he does.

EJIMOFOR: Would you say that of David Thompson?
TUDOR: David is an intelligent individual. I think his biggest problem is he's preoccupied with becoming a prime minister rather than using his talent
to demonstrate that he really cares. He needs to refocus and use his talent properly.

EJIMOFOR: Sum up yourself as a politician?
TUDOR: I love people old, middle-aged, young and I'll do anything for anybody. I have no discrimination in my heart for anybody. I love Barbados. I'll like to see Barbados a healthy, happy, educated and prosperous place.