By Denys Springer
Over the years, I have had an introspection of many Caribbean leaders. Former prime minister of Barbados, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford comes to mind. He was unselfish and thoughtfull of his country before friends, family and foreigners. He introduced economic policies that many did not understand and voted him out of office. However, a few years later his hard work and vision for Barbados came to fruition.
Philip J Pierre, leader of the opposition and Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) comes to mind with exponential capabilities [ a simple example is the function f(x)=2x] accompanied by the adage, “do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good”. He is expected to be prime minister of Saint Lucia, following general elections in 2021.
Tony Benn believed: “Good government and leaders depends at least as much on an impartial respect for the rights of all as it does on the energy in enforcing respect for the authority which protects these rights”.
Pierre is the paragon of virtue and Saint Lucia will be on the road to recovery when he becomes the leader of the country. The man I have known since 1997 when I arrived on the shores of Saint Lucia from Europe, is a man of few words but deep action.
He is not a showman. He is not a talking head of fallible but a worker who continues to do so for the betterment of the country. His record as minister of tourism and minister of infrastructure is there for all to see when compared to the current prime minister of Saint Lucia as minister of tourism. The Hepple fiasco is one worth remembering, hitherto the six hotels promised and many bad land deals.
My thoughts of the opposition leader are fundamental. Very seldom would I assess an individual in the psychological and sociological intellect of the word. However, in the case of the leader of the opposition of Saint Lucia, it is worthwhile to pursue.
Pierre is regarded by the electorate as sincere, thoughtful, with a clear mental process always ready to engage people. He has a social conscience, a Christian by faith with a pro-Caribbean inclination. Pierre promotes and adheres to meritocracy. He is a passionate believer in equity.
It is worth noting that similar claims were made of Sir John Compton throughout his political life. Albeit, Pierre is not a rabble-rouser and destructive risk-taker, as displayed in the United Workers Party (UWP) plutocracy pranksters, the party of the Chastanet’s.
Pierre does not fit into the category of the poor in the natural sense of the word, and neither is he wealthy. Any good researcher can comprehend that since the UWP administration came into power, there has been a widening gap between the rich and poor. The facts are there for all to see. Inequality is prevalent and it must never be forgotten that money buys privilege as long as you can bend to the whims and fancies of totalitarian leadership.
Pierre intends to build a society of opportunity, a country that is at ease with itself. A country that is confident, prepared and willing to make the changes necessary to provide the quality of life for all its people. He is the type of leader who will engage people and is without a doubt an excellent listener.
Analyzing what is taking place in this beautiful country of ours pre and throughout COVID-19, has certainly exposed Chastanetism. There is no doubt in my mind that when labour gets into power under Pierre’s leadership he will face an uphill struggle with the disastrous policy position of the UWP government.
More fundamental he will have to formulate a Cabinet and government with the right balance of technocrats and politicians who will be tasked with the economic recovery of a debt-ridden country, COVID-19 concerns, healthcare, infrastructure, science and technology, food security, national security, including a national audit towards prosecution to put to rest acts of corruption and malfeasance.
Pierre understands that time is not on his side to take corrective action and engage citizens, whether they support the labour party or not. It is on that success or failure his policy will be judged.
Pierre’s honesty over the years has his opponents complementing, that he is too honest. He is certainly an honourable person, one who believes in equality, always trying to lift the poor and vulnerable out of their dissolute situation. At the heart of his natural personality that transcends his leadership qualities is his ability to motivate others.
Successful leaders of his mantra inspire ordinary people to achieve the extraordinary.
History is on Pierre’s side to extract the destructive cycle of plantocracy ideology that “colonialism had a conscience” and the utterances “in controlling our destiny it is with the understanding that patrimony today is measured in my mind by one thing and one thing only – our credit rating”. ~Allen Chastanet. I need not explain the mindset, the arrogance, and false claims to entitlement.
The UWP lack of governance of Saint Lucia has regrettably fostered arrogance and aggressive postures, symptomatic of incompetence and disorganization. This is however compatible with the headship of classic con artists operating in the Cabinet of ministers.
Pierre’s mindset is one of compassion, a man of integrity, balance and humility. His training has taught him to be discipline, strategic, innovative and creative. His collective experience and training positions him of exceptional qualities to what amounts to the Cabinet of ministers in the governance of Saint Lucia.
The island is facing numerous crises at present. I am certain that Pierre has the intellect, body and soul to bring light, into the dark chambers of pessimism that now exist.
Ralph Waldo Emerson in a quote from Sophocles, said: “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it”.
Pierre has accomplished that and more, to the dismayed of many trailing his tailcoat.
Leaders will have their successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses, vices and virtues. All of them hope to be vindicated by history but “one must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been”.
Phillip J Pierre’s time and Saint Lucia’s time is on the horizon.
