A NEW general election is not constitutionally due in this country before the first quarter in 20I3. But to follow the game of words being played out in the local media, one could be misled into thinking that there may be a snap parliamentary poll during this year,or in early 20I2. While the more exuberant loyalists of the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP)  may be looking forward to the excitement of electioneering politics, one senses a pervading cynicism across the general political divide, that both parties are in essence engaged in “shadow-boxing” talk of an early poll.
The ink had hardly dried on last Sunday Sun’s page one lead story of a scheduled DLP retreat at Queen’s College to strategise on a possible snap general election, when came the ‘Daily Nation’s lead story the following day quoting BLP leader, Owen Arthur, as boastfully challenging Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart, to “test us…bring on the election, Fruendel….”.
At present, both the Dems and Bees have a common problem of internal divisions. In the camp of the Bees there is the known Mia Mottley factor that, for all his astuteness, Owen Arthur has, at some stage, to seriously come to terms with considering the perceived influence the former leader may have had beyond her own parliamentary constituency.
For Prime Minister Stuart, there is the known ‘Sinckler factor” with Thompson’s anointed Finance and Economic Minister Chris Sinckler losing no opporunity to demonstrate his interest not just in retaining his portfolio, but spreading his political influence at party and national levels.
What both the Dems and Bees also share in common–even if not so verbalised publicly–is that the national economy is in trouble and in need of fixing before international political developments—such as the turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East—make matters worse with rising food prices further aggravating the spreading cost of living burden.

Intriguing ‘advice’
When, however, it comes to whose leader and party are better equipped to come forward with realistic prescriptions for economic recovery and  easing of the social burden, the battle lines are drawn; although, as some think, leadership inaction on the part of the government, in this post-David Thompson period, could reinforce a perception in favour of the Bees.
When the estimates debate begins by mid-month, the Barbadian public should have a better idea of the economic and social challenges that lie ahead. For his part, Prime Minister Stuart may well come under new pressures to indicate whether he will stay with the cabinet inherited from Thompson, or reshuffle–however limited the changes.
It was intriguing to learn how Hartley Henry, who was chief political adviser to the late Prime Minister, and had quickly quit as self-proclaimed “kingmaker” even before the burial of Thompson, had last weekend rushed to the media  to signal a warning to the Dems against “risking” a snap general election.
Henry, who has been carefully cultivating his reputation as a “political strategist”, following his ill-fated parliamentary debut in I999 against the BLP’s veteran Louis Tull, seems to have considered it necessary to go public with unsolicited advice to the Dems against gambling with a snap election because of “perceived or real problems” of the Bees. 
It is curious that he chose to go public in preference to a private exchange of views, even if not with Prime Minister Stuart himself, but with other influential party/government personalities–for example, Chris Sinckler.  Question now is whether there will be more of the shadow-boxing game of readying for a snap poll?
(Courtesy Barbados Weekend Nation).