Thursday, March 28, 2024

TALKBACK: PM’s silence, not golden, say readers

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PRIME MINISTER FREUNDEL STUART has earned the reputation for keeping silent on issues.

Last week, while visiting students at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Christ Church, he said that as a leader, one had to determine what was worth responding to, otherwise one would get nothing done. He said no one wanted to be on a plane and hearing the pilot saying over and over again everything was all right.

Online readers were happy for the chance to speak on the issue. 

Fish Bajan: 1) Why would he say this to primary schoolchildren? 2) It is not reassuring to have a leader who will not reassure the country when it is in turmoil. No one is asking him to lie and say that everything is going to be all right – just say that you are working on it and tell us how. The least he could do it let us know that he shares and understands our pain. 3) This man is woefully out of touch with reality.

Mac10: So he spoke to say he’s not speaking because speaking is not what people want to hear, they want action when they don’t know there’s no action because no one is talking about anything. Makes perfect sense.

Anita D: Leaders are required to communicate with the people that put you in the position of power, especially when you are governing over an economy that has been in decline for the past eight years. I suppose the only time you find your voice and see it fit to speak to the electorate is when next you want our vote. All right then, I waiting for you.

WillieScrapes: I suppose they would rather have someone like Trump, the tweeter.

Big Sky: After the next general election, Prime Minister Stuart will have all the time in the world to be silent as he wishes. His silence will be so loud that it will be able to overwhelm a colony of ants.

Crystalene Alexander: Wow! The students at St Bartholomew’s Primary School are really a privileged bunch, even more so than us the adults in this country. What a great honour it must’ve been for them to hear our Prime Minister take the time out of his busy schedule, to explain why he is so quiet and never finds it necessary to speak on anything concerning the country. 

Dave Leacock: Seriously! We don’t expect you to have to comment on each and every issue, only the ones that have raised public sentiment, and this you have not done. Rather, you comment on issues that are unimportant compared to the daily grind that Barbadians experience.

Icenie Joseph: I guess sometimes it’s best to be silent because when you speak, you say the wrong thing and offend many. 

Diane Quinn: When you on the plane and know that something is wrong, it reassures you to hear the pilot telling you everything will be okay.

 

 Sherrylyn Toppin is The Nation’s Online Editor.

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