Barbados, Alike Yet Unique

Throughout this broadcast, I have realized that there are certain core values that are incorporated throughout all electoral campaigns. However, the island of Barbados has definitely brought something new and unconventional to the table. Like all election seasons, radio stations and other communatory channels are filled with party political adverts. In fact two days after the campaign season kicked off in Barbados, the radio stations, particularly Voice of Barbados are filled with political advertisements. It seems that every five minutes or less there is a plug for the “Dems” or the “Bees.”

The newspapers are flooded with daily ads, so much so the sixteen pages out of forty-seven in The Nation and on eleven out of forty-eight pages in The Advocate today. As a result of this inundation of political press, Barbados today offers a free direct access broadcast and paid advertising service. This means that both parties and non-party candidates are allowed to buy radio and television advertising, however, there is a limit predetermined number of slots allocated, further more there are mandated time limits on each advertisement; thirty seconds for radio and sixty seconds for television.

This approach caught my attention, because while the country embraces the use of technology to propagate political exploits, they do not allow it to become harassing, moreover a diversion from the real issues.

Today’s Fact
The newspapers are flooded with daily ads, so much so the sixteen pages out of forty-seven in The Nation and on eleven out of forty-eight pages in The Advocate today.