The Spaniards had a saying that when God wants to punish us, He answers our prayers. There are those who were praying to see the sleeping giant of the Democratic Labour Party awakened. That giant has now been awakened  – Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart

We are all human beings and like the more primitive of our kind intelligence is said to separate homo sapiens from the primates. In the animal kingdom where the strongest and fittest stand the best chance of survival we  accept there is a natural order in the environment, all part of maintaining the ecological balance. However, there is that quality which defines success in our kingdom; the human spirit. There is probably merit to the perspective the human spirit embodies all the qualities that allow us to apply intelligence to life’s challenges. It is latent to overflowing depending on the human subject. BU believes it is the indomitable human spirit within some of us that determines our ability to overcome life’s challenges and ultimately our success or failure.

The indomitable spirit found in some members of homo sapiens can be easily identified in our ‘leaders’.  They seem to possess qualities that galvanize them to find solutions and to get others to share their positions especially in the face of adversity. In the majority of other human beings that indomitable spirit seems to be a latent quality and they are happy to follow like sheep behind the shepherd. Some leaders come along who are able to stoke the latent spirit in the many for good,  others do it for bad. Sometimes there is that manufactured leader who is thrust on the majority and unable to stroke the spirit (motivate) of the many.

In the worst of times a leader will find a way to communicate with his people. The leader will be able to communicate a message of empathy yet hope – the listening population will derive strength (confidence) to soldier on because even though there is darkness around them they are able to visualise a flicker of light in the distance. Sir Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler are often cited as examples  of leaders who were able to catalyse a people.

In the last general election Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was able to arouse many Barbadians by uttering these few words ‘’… giant has now been awakened…’’. Many were pleasantly surprised at the verve demonstrated by Stuart on the campaign trail and in a close general election result many are of the view it played a part to sway voters on election day.  What has transpired post general election day shows that Mr. Integrity mamaguy Barbadians. After the St. Phillip South result sealed a Democratic Labour Party victory Stuart delivered a passionate speech and promised Barbadians an amendment to election laws based on what he witnessed with his two eyes. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart who promised so much has retreated to his comfortable position of quietly going about his business. One may safely conclude he lied to Barbadians when he assured them the giant had awaken. A case of a politician feeling comfortable with doing what is political expedient. No surprises some will say.

Everyday BU is privy to stories of ordinary Barbadians who visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for care to broken limbs, to investigate lumps about their bodies etc. and after days of waiting have to look to the private healthcare for remedy. BU is aware of students who have had to suspend studies at the university because of financial hardship because parents have been retrenched. BU is aware of the neighbourhoods where garbage pickup is monthly when not too long ago it was twice weekly. BU is aware the many roads which crisscross Barbados are in an embarrassing state of repair. BU understands the country is experiencing difficulty and it is for this reason a leader’s role whether political or non governmental assume importance. Give the people hope. Leadership is not to foist braying ministers of government on Barbadians. Leadership is not to do nothing while the successes achieved since Independence disappear because of zero depth on the backbench. It is to understand that in difficult times the majority of people need that latent human sprit stoked and stroked.  You get it right and ordinary people are likely to dig deep and strive to do extraordinary things which the times require.