Weekly Column

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill

We hear you. We are chastened. And we re-dedicate ourselves to representing the interests of all Barbadians in the best democratic traditions on which the Barbados Labour Party was founded nearly seventy years ago.

This year is one of renewal for the Barbados Labour Party, as indeed it is for Barbados. The Party has a new Political Leader and the country has a new Leader of the Opposition. Mia Amour Mottley at her swearing in ceremony pledged to maintain the legacy of the Labour Party, to build on its traditions and to create a platform for the future. Her unanimous election as Political Leader of the Barbados Labour Party holds to the well-established and mature succession process within the oldest political party in the English speaking Caribbean. We would have it no other way. It is not our custom.

Congratulations are also in order for the Democratic Labour Party on once more assuming the reins of Government. It does so at a time when the world economy is in flux and for our part we will offer the new Government our critical support to ensure that the gains realized by ordinary Barbadians over the last fourteen years are not sacrificed on the altar of expedience and that sound social and economic management continue to be the hallmark of the number one developing nation in the World.

Parliament promises to be an exciting place in the months ahead as your Opposition revitalizes the value of Parliamentary debate. We promise vigorous representation on the issues characterized by robust and passionate debate. We are united behind our Leader in our goal of representing not only the thousands of Barbadians who voted for us, but every Barbadian and resident who has a stake in this precious land of ours. This is what true democracy is all about.

In all of this we are not unmindful of the peoples’ will. We accept your decision and take comfort from the fact that there is a season for every man. We are proud to have been able to serve you and to have done so under the leadership of a true Caribbean patriot and economic visionary – Owen Seymour Arthur. Like you, we know that Owen Arthur’s legacy, as the man who pulled us back from the precipice of economic disaster in 1994 to the heights of the World’s number one developing country status by 2007, is secure. For the first time in our history the prospect of full employment and full development is at our doorstep. Barbados is fortunate to be still able to draw on his counsel and expertise in the Lower House. It is one of the blessings of our nation that Prime Ministers who return to the House in opposition are viewed as elder statesmen. It was so with Errol Barrow in 1976. It was so with Bernard St. John in 1991 and Erskine Sandiford in 1994 and so it will be with Owen Arthur in 2008. We will take heed of his counsel as we raise a new generation of Barbados Labour Party leaders.

Mia Amour Mottley has already had the tutelage and counsel of Bernard St. John, Henry Forde and Owen Arthur both in and out of Government. She will now bring her own vision to the Barbados Labour Party and to Barbados. Past experience suggests that it will be a vision rooted in the development of people, whether Party members, colleagues, constituents and the ordinary or not so ordinary Barbadian with whom she comes into contact. Like the rest of Barbados we look forward to the unfolding of her vision. Over to you Mia with our blessing and wholehearted support.