Following Barbados’ unprecedented general election that resulted in a complete parliamentary sweep, prominent political scholar Dr. Ronnie Yearwood has demanded fundamental changes to the nation’s electoral framework. The former political party leader appeared on the ‘JUST POLITICS: Our Worldview’ podcast to analyze the concerning outcome where minor political organizations collectively garnered merely 1,500-2,000 votes nationwide without securing any legislative representation.
Dr. Yearwood, an accomplished law lecturer, emphasized that the electoral performance demonstrated third parties’ continued inability to establish themselves as credible political alternatives. ‘The election results unequivocally indicate that third parties are failing to achieve electoral breakthroughs,’ Yearwood stated during his dialogue with political analysts Terry Harris and Ayo Ololara. ‘The minor parties failed to obtain statistically significant vote shares despite their participation.’
The academic dismissed conventional wisdom suggesting that merging smaller parties would automatically generate political influence. ‘Simply consolidating minor parties doesn’t guarantee they’ll attain the substantial weight of major political organizations,’ Yearwood explained. ‘They would still likely lack essential resources, human capital, and strategic positioning necessary for effective governance.’
Dr. Yearwood cautioned against seeking rapid parliamentary re-entry without undertaking necessary groundwork, noting that ‘meaningful political return requires intensive effort rather than shortcuts.’ Despite the electorate’s decision, he stressed that Barbados’ Westminster-derived constitutional system fundamentally depends on having an official opposition for proper governance.
The constitutional law expert highlighted critical functions requiring opposition leader consultation, including key appointments and parliamentary committee oversight mechanisms. To prevent future parliamentary monopolies, Yearwood proposed innovative electoral modifications: introducing a limited number of national representatives selected through proportional representation alongside existing constituency MPs.
This hybrid system, he argued, would guarantee minority parties maintain parliamentary presence even when unable to win constituency seats, thereby preserving democratic diversity and ensuring broader representation in Barbados’ legislative processes.