The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in Barbados, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, has suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Barbadian Labour Party (BLP) led by now Prime Minister Mia Mottley. It was a complete wipeout of the DLP. They did not get one seat in the people’s parliament. All 30 went to the BLP.

For months many people inside and outside of Barbados saw this tsunami coming. Barbados’s economic problems had grown worse and the country was fast becoming an economic basket case. This had to be a difficult pill for Barbadians to swallow, considering that the Barbadian economy had long been seen as the poster child of economic stability and strength in the region. It was a psychological shock for Barbadians to know that their economy could have stagnated to the extent it did. The sad thing about it was that the Government of the day, led by Stuart, was nonplussed as to what should be done about it.

The writing was on the wall for him and the DLP. He had grown detached from the problems plaguing the country. His personal style was a matter of criticism for the Opposition and the people at large. Some charged arrogance on his part — a factor reminiscent of the defeat of political parties in Jamaica.

In that the people voted with such overwhelming conviction is a clear statement that they had become fed up with DLP governance. As soon as they had a chance they put an end to what was their long nightmare under Stuart.

Now the real work begins for rebuilding Barbados.

The BLP campaigned on a number of initiatives that it hopes will restore faith in government and restore confidence and viability in the economy. How well this will be achieved in a parliament without Opposition is left to be seen. The work does not necessarily become easier because one party has this dominance of the political order. When everything is within one’s power to do without a countervailing voice mistakes, even of tragic proportions, are likely to be made.

It will therefore be a test of the leadership qualities of Prime Minister Mottley to govern in such a way that will inspire unity and confidence around a set of objectives that will move the country forward. After a bruising political campaign, and the catastrophic results for the Government in power, there is clearly the need for healing and unity. There will be the need for humility and for governance that is mindful of consultation in the evolution and promulgation of governmental policy.

The Grenada situation in which Prime Minister Keith Mitchell also had a virtual wipe-out of the Opposition may be a template to look at. There was a similar wipeout in Antigua by the Gaston Browne-led party, but it is still early days yet to see a template of good governance there as something to work with.

Edward Seagas governed in 1983 when the Michael Manley Opposition did not contest the general election, thus ceding full control of Parliament to the Government. This is another template to consider.

But, whatever she decides, Mottley will have to be wise and temperate in the way she governs. She must engage the business class and civil society in constant dialogue about the way forward. What is in the best interest of Barbados should not be a mere philosophical construct for her, but should become deeply embedded in every decision she makes for the country. Given her massive victory she may be seduced to populist policies, but this should be resisted at all costs.

The road ahead will not be easy, but she has already made history not only by virtue of her massive victory, but by being the first female prime minister of Barbados. She stuck doggedly to her task and, amidst virulent and nasty criticism of her sexuality, she prevailed. Recrimination should not be in her toolkit. She now has a nation to fight for and build. This column wishes her and the people of Barbados well as they forge ahead in the building of a prosperous society.

Meanwhile in Barbados and the wider Caribbean we may well be witnessing a new sense of freedom from the ‘Jurassic’ politics of former years. In a world of instant communication, buttressed by social media platforms, people have no patience with those who want to do politics as usual. Many, especially in the youth demographic, have become very pragmatic in their orientation. They want to see results and are not impressed by the volume of hot air emanating from political platforms that promises a new heaven and a new earth.

Here in Jamaica we are set for very interesting politics as we approach the run-up to our next general election. At the present time the People’s National Party (PNP) has been embroiled in its ill-conceived and ill-advised Twitter poll done to ascertain whether people are better off today than they were four years ago. I say ill-conceived because one is at a loss as to why the PNP would indulge what one publication is dubbing this “twittercide”, a clear play on suicide. What was there to gain by doing this? Then, to compound its discontent, when it saw the results — 64 per cent saying that they are better off — it pulled the plug on the post.

There are hard questions for the Opposition to answer. Was PNP President Dr Peter Phillips aware of the poll, and did he sanction it? What level of co-ordination and discussion went into putting the poll up for live review? It speaks to the social media strategy that the PNP has, which many say pales in contrast to that of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Whatever the answers to these questions, the PNP in recent times is proving itself not to be up to the task of what is expected of a robust party waiting to take on the reins of government. Most of its spokespersons hardly, if ever, speak on matters of national importance affecting their portfolios. And when they do speak it is reactive with an eye to what it will do when it regains power. But bellyaching about the problems in the country and not offering any proactive solutions will not win the day.

At the present time there does not appear to be any compelling reasons the people would trounce the JLP Government as the Barbadians did the DLP. More people are being employed; the economy is growing, as the sacrifices of the people are beginning to bear fruits in the fiscal and macroeconomic stability of the country; the poverty rate is trending down and the people in general would not care less who is to be praised for this. If the Government can get a handle on crime, and the economy grows at even three per cent, the PNP seems destined for a further stay in the political wilderness. This is, of course, if the JLP does not become arrogant and detached from the people and fall into the ditch similar to that which Freundel Stewart and the DLP dug for themselves.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest and social commentator. Send comments to the Observer or stead6655@aol.com.