by DAVID A COMISSIONG

People's Empowerment Party

ON BEHALF of the officers and members of the People's Empowerment Party I would like to extend heartfelt condolences
to the relatives of the late Stephen Alleyne and to the cricketing fraternity of Barbados in relation to Stephen's untimely death.

Alleyne's death, at the relatively young age of 47 years, is a substantial blow to our country. Alleyne was one of our most outstanding citizens, having distinguished himself at the leadership level in the fields of insurance, cricket administration and
public service.

Stephen Alleyne was a member of my generation and I knew him well. Our generation is the one that attended secondary school in the 1970s, and that is the process of taking up the burden and responsibility of leadership in many spheres of national life in Barbados.

My generation of Harrison College students will attest to the fact that Stephen Alleyne was easily of the "brightest and best" of our generation.

Stephen distinguished himself in his secondary school career by winning a Barbados Scholarship in 1978, and subsequently went on to fulfil the tremendous academic potential he displayed at Harrison College.

I believe that the shocking death of Stephen Alleyne should be a "wake up call" for the generation of the 1970s! All of us who went to secondary school in the 1970s and who are now in our mid-40s and early 50s have been given a reminder that none of us has any guarantee on life.

It therefore behoves us to resolve to use whatever time is available to us constructively and positively.

We are a generation to whom much was given by the immediate post-Independence Barbadian society, and much is now expected and demanded of us! As we bid an untimely farewell to one of our "best and brightest", let us now resolve to do our best work ever for Barbados.

Let us resolve to be the dedicated citizens and committed leaders that Barbados so desperately needs at this time. This would be the best tribute that any of us could pay to our illustrious contemporary – Stephen Alleyne.