(Barbados Nation) Barbados has not escaped the growing international scrutiny surrounding the release last Friday of over 251 000 confidential documents by the global whistle-blower organization WikiLeaks.
On the heels of Sunday’s stern denial by political analyst Peter Wickham, who claimed that he was wrongfully identified in the leaked documents as a source of information on Caribbean leaders, more United States government cables have revealed some less-than-flattering statements made by two former United States diplomats about leading Government and Opposition figures here, as well as the overall state of politics on the island.
In a June 5, 2007 cable, the harshest criticisms were levelled against the then Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley. The communication, which was sent by former Ambassador Mary Ourisman, raised questions concerning Mottley’s suitability for leadership but also made bold statements about her lifestyle.
This cable was sent by Ourisman following a meeting with Mottley. The ambassador reported that “former Senator Phillip Goddard, an excellent contact of the Embassy, recently confirmed to the DCM (Deputy Chief of Missions) in a private conversation that internal BLP (Barbados Labour Party) leadership is absolutely determined that Mottley would not lead the party, should they be returned to power in the next elections”.
