PM Stuart, a selfless man

By Algernon Atherley
| Tue, June 19, 2012 - 12:00 AM

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WHEN YOU ENTER the Harford Law Chambers of Freundel Stuart, you are greeted with the inscription, “There is no gain without pain”.

For the academic, it will be the pain of many sleepless nights; for the athlete, the rigours of hard practice and enduring exhaustion; for the employee, long hours of service contributing to his organization above and beyond the call of duty; and such like.

When, on one occasion, an individual expressed a desire to study law but had reservations about the field of law being saturated, Stuart’s response was that there is always room at the top. There was no surprise for me, therefore, that this outstanding former student of Christ Church Foundation School, who became a well loved and respected teacher, and later a brilliant attorney at law, was appointed the seventh Prime Minister of Barbados.

After his appointment to the Senate in 2003, political scientist George Belle, on a radio programme, said that Stuart “will be a handful” for the other senators put together.

Prime Minister Stuart reminds me of Cornelius, the first Gentile to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. His prayers and generous giving to the needy came up as a memorial offering before God. His reward was the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Prime Minister Stuart was raised in a Christian home and believes his main purposes in life, are, among others, to look after the poor and needy, bring healing to the hearts of the broken-hearted, deliverance to prisoners, articulate a new vision for Barbados, set the oppressed people free and restore the crushed with forgiveness.

(That is why, in the eyes of the blind, there appears to be inaction in the case of the so-called Eager Eleven. The Prime Minister knows that vengeance does not belong to him and that the choice of love, mercy and forgiveness will always be a winner in the eyes of God).

Stuart has lived this philosophy all the days of his life. That is why he chose to teach at Princess Margaret Secondary School despite other job offers. In his law practice, he represented the most vulnerable and oppressed in our society with no thought of personal reward.

This same philosophy, in terms of education, culture, and labour relationships and so on, is the hallmark of his Government.

And, yes, he gave up personal possessions for the good of others. Prime Minister Stuart has selflessly dedicated his life to the service of others, and God’s reward for him is the elevation to the high office he now holds as Prime Minister of Barbados.