A sign of Govt cracks, says Thorne

Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle is a sign of cracks in the foundations of the current administration, says Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne.

Pointing to what he said was friction among members, he charged that the “instability” was bound to reveal itself.

“For a while, we have had a Government that . . . has put up a front of unity and stability and competence. But I have known for a long time that there were cracks in this entity called the Government,” he told the DAILY NATION on Tuesday night in Parliament Yard. This was about two hours after Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced the reshuffle.

Thorne said he saw signs of friction among the ranks of the Barbados Labour Party during the Estimates debate.

“I’ve known for a long time that at some point, the instability would reveal itself in what happened today [Tuesday], and even in the debate in Parliament you could see that there wasn’t a lot of unity.

“I’m not going to identify the ministers, but two ministers today (Tuesday) did something quite rare. They launched a frontal attack on the Minister of Transport and Works. It really departed from the self-congratulation that had characterised these debates. There was a point at which the selfcongratulation became sickening, and that was a departure that needed to take place,” he said.

“I know for a long time there has been a feeling among senior members of the Government that Ms Bradshaw is not fit to occupy the office that

she has held for a while . . . . There’s a sense in which Ms Bradshaw’s elevation diminishes persons in the Government who feel that they’re far more competent than her.”

However, Thorne said he would leave the Government to handle its own matters.

“My present business is leading the Democratic Labour Party politically and I think I’ve spoken to others and I have quoted Psalm 1:31 ‘ that my heart is not haughty nor are my eyes lofty’. I don’t consider that those are matters that are for my attention.

“What happens in Government is the Government’s business. I honestly am not that interested. Of course, it reveals instability in Government and instability in the Government could promote instability in the country and that is my only concern.

“But the Government has its business to do. It has not been running this country properly, and if it has not been running this country properly, perhaps at some point that will reveal itself internally. But I suspect there is more to it than what was simply said.” (JRN)

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