VZCZCXRO3521
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #1483 3382048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 042048Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5849
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001483 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CAR FOR DEPIRRO 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL BB XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS NATIONAL DAY: AN ELECTION PULPIT 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) Barbados celebrated its 41st year of independence from 
Great Britain on November 30.  Both the current ruling 
Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the opposition Democratic 
Labour Party (DLP) took advantage of the occasion to posture 
themselves favorably for the upcoming national election, 
predicted by many to take place in early 2008.  End Summary. 
 
Ruling BLP: "A Nation of Achievements" 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Wedged between paid advertisments congratulating the 
government of Barbados on its Independence Day, Prime 
Minister Owen Arthur conveyed in his national message that 
nation building since 1966 has brought out the very best of 
Barbadians, particularly in 2007.  PM Arther articulated 
three main themes of his party's tenure: Barbados cares, 
Barbados works, and Barbados matters.  Arthur's message was 
substantive and lengthy, consisting of specific achievements 
as a result of his leadership. Among them, economic growth 
and development, lower taxes, progress on the Caribbean 
Single Market Economy (CSME), and an outward eye toward 
globalization. 
 
¶3. (U) Arthur also claimed that Barbados "will be especially 
remembered for the manner in which our nation responded to 
the challenge of having to take the spotlight on the global 
stage," referring to Barbados "having to shoulder" the 
Cricket World Cup and the World Cup of Golf.  Arthur also 
credited Foreign Minister Billie Miller for "conceptualizing 
the June Conference on the Caribbean in Washington."  Arthur 
praised the Miller's leadership in the conference and his 
government's success in "redefining its relationship with the 
United States." 
 
Opposition DLP: "A Nation Yearning for Change" 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (U) In his national independence day message, opposition 
leader David Thompson praised all Barbadians for the 
successes achieved in the country over the years, in 
particular the 30th place ranking in the UNDP Human 
Development Index, but was careful not to assign credit to 
the BLP; instead declaring that "no one institution or person 
can claim credit for this achievement."  In an attempt to 
discredit the BLP further, Thompson alleged that there is a 
major disconnect from the people, complacency and 
unresponsiveness, corrupted leadership, and danger to the 
constitution (likely related to Arthur's attempt to secure 
tenured civil service jobs for political appointees, 
(septel)). 
 
¶5. (U) Thompson reiterated his principal campaign message 
that all the signs of fatigue and desire for change in 
leadership are present, and pointed to three issues that are 
undermining democratic development: cost of land and housing, 
cost of raising children, and the general cost of living. 
The light at the end of the tunnel, according to Thompson, is 
that the DLP will come to the rescue, as it has before, with 
a new team, new energy and new ideas. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6. (U)  PM Arthur's Independence Day address took the higher 
road of political posturing, addressing opposition party 
campaign issues without addressing the opposition party.  The 
message was lengthy, substantive and positive, while at the 
same time addressing current challenges.  Thompson, on the 
other hand, chose instead to point out the shortcomings of 
his opponent, a strategy he has employed with increased rigor 
over the last month.  As a result, his message was short on 
substance and gave the reader no indication of his party's 
achievements.  Common sense dictates that Arthur's 
achievements would be very well supported and justify another 
win.  But as a good contact in the Barbados government told 
EconOff, Barbadians have a tradition of voting someone out of 
office, rather than into office.  If this is the case, and 
people do in fact have Arthur fatigue, Thompson may see 
himself riding the wave of the larger Caribbean opposition 
party upsets, i.e. St. Lucia, Jamaica, and the Bahamas.  End 
Comment. 
HOWARD