Rise of the Red Men in Caribbean Politics

Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Elected in September 2007.

David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados. Elected in January 2008.

Is there some deeper significance to the rise to power of these “red men” in predominantly black majority Caribbean countries?

It is a matter of our inbred perceptions of race and colour? Or is it proof that we are mature societies where colour is no barrier to the highest office of public service? Or is it just another flip in the flip-flop, love-hate relationship which Caribbean people have for the mulattoes among us? Indeed it could be argued that the red man holds a comfortable and neutral middle ground between the opposite poles of black and white in the Caribbean.

And what of that other “red man” who is vying for power in the USA? Could his appeal to the American people spring from the same reasons responsible for the success of Bruce Golding in Jamaica and David Thompson in Barbados?

Only time will tell.

There is one thing, however, about which there is no doubt: Bruce Golding is a full Jamaican, David Thompson is a full Bajan, and Barack Obama is a full American.

Cat Piss