BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 5th 2010, (PAM Secretariat) - “The challenges now faced by the People’s Action Movement will be only small obstacles that will be overcome if the goal is to build a better country. You must dream big dreams because big dreams and small dreams cost the same so why dream small dreams,”. This was the message of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ashworth Jack at the 45th annual People’s Action Movement convention.
Jack’s presentation was tremendously passionate and inspiring as he addressed the hundreds on the grounds of the PAM Headquarters most of whom declared that his speech was by far the best they have witnessed at any convention .
The Trinidad and Tobago Minority Leader spoke about the challenges his party, the Tobago Organization of the People (TOP), faced before achieving success when it ascended to the Trinidad and Tobago halls of government as part of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar’s historic People’s Partnership Coalition Administration .
“Success only comes before work in the dictionary. If you have an organization that no one wants then it is going nowhere. You are going through the valleys now but don’t see the valley as a curse, see it as a blessing. The valley is the place where you rest and recuperate and where you plan for the mountaintop. If you want to get through the valley you must work and remember that the people who point fingers are the laziest in the world,” said the charismatic Jack to a thunderous applause from the hundreds in attendance.
Jack concluded his brilliant presentation by admonishing the organization to understand and regard the importance of women and youth in the party. He commended the People’s Action Movement’s blend of women , youth and experience as reflected by the new executive.
“It is important to embrace everybody in the organization. The key to organizational success is to combine the energy of youth with the knowledge of age. It is also important to remember that any organization without women is dying. In addition to the young, the old and women it is important to include the critic. You cannot learn anything from people who agree with you so you must always thank the critic,” Jack said.
After participating in a round-table discussion with members of the People’s Action Movement executive on Sunday evening Jack returned to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday. Other prominent Guest Speakers that have addressed the party convention over the years includes the late Dame Eugenia Charles, Barbados Opposition Leader Mia Motley, the Late Sir John Compton and John Osbourne.
Jack filled in for new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissesar who was originally slated to give the feature address at the convention but was unable to attend due to the Caricom Heads meeting being held in Jamaica.
