Member of Parliament Marsha Caddle has defended the Government’s record of public consultation before the passage of new legislation, insisting that citizen engagement remains a cornerstone of the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) governance approach.
Speaking at a press conference at the BLP headquarters on Roebuck Street recently ahead of the party’s 86th Annual Conference, Caddle said initiatives such as the Parish Speaks forums are evidence of the administration’s commitment to hearing from Barbadians before enacting major policies.
“The truth is that when we came to service in Government in 2018, there was a lot of work on the table to be done. There was a lot of legislative, governance and economic matters in particular that needed to be addressed,” she said. “This has certainly been a Government that has not stepped away or stepped back from work.”
Caddle said the Government has introduced several standing committees of Parliament to ensure transparency and participation in lawmaking, adding that no previous administration had invited as much feedback on legislation from citizens and the diaspora.
“Never before has so much legislation in a Government of Barbados been open to groups, to individuals, to people in the diaspora, to come and tell us what you think about the legislation and how we can strengthen it,” she said.
The St Michael South Central MP was responding to questions about public criticism surrounding recent laws which some citizens have viewed as overreaching or insufficiently vetted.
Caddle maintained that revising or amending laws was not an indication of failure, but rather a sign of a functioning democracy.
“To amend and improve legislation is not to suggest that the legislation was flawed,” she argued. “It is to say that if there are things that you’ve heard on the Floor of Parliament, that you’ve read in the legislation that you want to have an opinion on, then here’s the opportunity.”
She pointed to Parish Speaks as one of the strongest examples of active civic participation in policymaking.
“Barbadians have come out and that to me is a solid indication of the willingness to consult,” she said. “If the Barbadian people were not interested or had withdrawn from policy conversations, then is when you have to worry. But we continue to have very, very strong consultation with Barbadians – and long may it continue.”
Over the past year, Government has introduced or amended a series of controversial measures touching on national security, rights and governance. Among them were the Cybercrime Bill, Interception of Communications Bill and amendments to the Police Act, which introduced penalties for citizens who fail to assist officers under attack.
Public pushback also led to delays in enforcing vehicle window tint regulations, with the Ministry of Transport and Works noting that Cabinet had deferred implementation after considering recommendations from police, licensing authorities, and industry representatives.
Most recently, Government paused the Tourist Accommodation Bill following widespread concerns from vacation rental property owners and operators.
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