THERE IS A TIME for everything under the sun, and this is the time and season when Barbadians examine and re-examine our political leaders.
Once again the leadership of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has come under a barrage of written and verbal slaughter such as has never been seen or heard. In fact, some of his detractors say that he is no leader at all.
One media house, which I am convinced is on the campaign trail, has gone as far as publishing an article captioned Bye, Bye Stuart, with a subheading, St Michael South Constituents Ready To Part Ways With Their Representative. By the way, the conclusion of the media house is not based on credible, objective, verifiable evidence.
Let us define a leader as a person who develops and influences others to accomplish a specific purpose and inspire confidence. He is never petty or pompous and he trusts his charges to get on with their tasks without interference.
One of my favourite leaders is the Apostle Paul because of the way he managed adversity. His leadership qualities included perseverance and the ability to endure long suffering, persecutions and afflictions.
He was stoned and left for dead. He was beaten on three occasions and he was arrested and held for two years without trial. Yet, he relentlessly pursued his missions to successful completion with vigour, vitality and dedication.
Freundel Stuart’s character matches the foregoing with astonishing similarities. Despite some differences among members, the Cabinet and his party are united behind him. Individual Cabinet members work in different and diverse ways as they advance the cause of the people and build their own party at the same time.
Prime Minister Stuart is honest, unselfish and energetic. Despite the fragility of the finest leaders, he holds so firmly to the treasure of his message that trials and opposition have not overcome him.
He is concerned with the needs and aspirations of his people and he is characterised by a worthy lifestyle. He responds with forgiveness, kindness and compassion, and sets aside bitterness, wrath, evil speaking and malice.
As a good leader, he presents the truth in love while at the same time exposing fake news and propaganda from the hateful deceivers of the corrupt communication.
He informed the nation that the Barbados dollar will remain pegged to the US dollar and Barbados will not go to the dreaded International Monetary Fund. He said the Central Bank printed money to pay public servants, fix the potholes in our roads, and so on.
He knows that weeping will endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning, when the light shines through at the end of the tunnel.
A great political leader puts God first in personal life as well as the life of the nation, recognising that the prosperity of the nation and its people is dependent on God’s mercy and favour, and acceptance of His promises as recorded in the Bible, and not his own wisdom. He ensures that no law passed in Parliament conflicts with or is superior to God’s laws and ordinances.
A great leader will rise above challenges and difficulties by patiently enduring suffering for the things we as a nation do not like.
He is a good political leader because he is first a good person. He has all kinds of talent and ability, but ensures that it is directed by right thinking, right motives, right desires, and love of country and people. He is aware that craftiness and deceit may seem to have some advantage but when it is exposed, it becomes a stumbling block forever.
And I can go on.
– ALGERNON ATHERLEY
