BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THREE Sundays ago (Feb. 26), the Minister of Homeland Security, Hon. Sam Condor, in his designation as Deputy Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), sent a very strong message to the nation on the consequences of poor decision-making, political leadership and the preservation of birthright.
Minister Condor was at the time delivering his address to the congregation at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, where the SKNLP held a Thanksgiving Service to commemorate its 80th Anniversary.
Noting the significant milestone comes at a time when the Federation’s economy is affected by the global economic downturn, Minister Condor acknowledged that the nation is again feeling the brunt of hardship and is “once more looking forward to the Labour Leadership to assist us all to hold on to the gains we have made as a people, while we contend for a share of what is yet available in the global economy”.
He stated that the SKNLP was founded by stalwarts of conscience, valor, vision, piety and commitment, while exhorting that the party needs to conduct an internal examination and to uphold the ideals for which those stalwarts stood.
“And so today, even as we, the grateful inheritors of their great legacy, raise our prayers of thanksgiving for the architects, leaders and all those steadfast soldiers of our beloved Labour Party, we are acutely cognisant of the compelling need for internal or self-examination. We must now make a serious assessment of our stewardship in this critical period in our history. It is imperative that we measure up today, 80 years on, to their lives of servant-hood and, importantly, to the ideals for which they stood.
“For indeed it was their servant-leadership stance, their engrossed involvement in the everyday life of our people, their love of the land of their birth, their appreciation and understanding of their birthright, their quest to restore the rights and privileges due to the natives of this land, their piety and their accepted duty to God that led them to champion the cause of the downtrodden, oppressed and marginalised.”
Condor stated emphatically that past Labour Leaders made it quite clear from the inception of the party that their special interest, concern and commitment were to work together to restore the nation’s birthright.
“And so they fought to bring about equal opportunities and achievements in the name of fairness and justice. Their strength had its roots in an ever-faithful God and was nourished and nurtured by the unwavering support of the masses…the Labour stalwarts whose hopes were rooted in their God, and whose trust was grounded in these loyal, selfless and trustworthy leaders,” he added.
The Deputy Leader reminded the congregation of the success gained under the SKNLP, such as Adult Suffrage, proper healthcare, housing, education and ownership of their lands. Gains which he said the nation should never allow to dissipate.
“Today, we are afforded the opportunity, as we worship in this house of our Lord, to pledge that with His help and guidance, and with the advice, support and experience of our party’s and country’s leadership, never to allow the gains made to slip from our hands.
“And this is a real possibility, as we wrestle with the intricacies of surviving the ravages of the present economic downturn. But it would certainly be foolhardy to give up, exchange or trade what is enduring for what is transitory.”
In an effort to strengthen his stance on not giving up the gains acquired and poor decision-making, Condor cited passages from the Holy Bible.
“We know the story of Esau of Biblical times who gave away his entire inheritance for some stew – ‘a mess of pottage’ – because he was hungry and wanted some food. Jacob had the food and was eager to make a deal to do Esau out of his inheritance and cause his utter destruction.
“And then there was King Rehoboam, King Solomon’s son and successor, who had all the advice needed from the people of Israel in general, and from his father’s elders, in particular. In Second Chronicles 10, they beseeched him to be kind and to lighten the burden of the people who were hard-pressed. He chose instead to listen to the advice of his young, inexperienced friends to add to the people’s suffering. He lost the support of the people, and in the end, Rehoboam, like Esau, gave it all away.
“The Bible lessons are relevant. The consequences of poor decision-making are ruinous.”
He advised that leaders must be always vigilant and extra careful not only when taking advice, but also of the giver of the advice.
“The advisor,” he said, “must always have a true appreciation of the critical importance of our gains and possessions to our survival as a people and to our future progress.”
He continued: “Esau may not have taken external advice like Rehoboam, but listened instead to his personal want and greed, causing his own downfall. We pray today for a re-awakening of our conscience, consciousness and our spirituality so that we can walk with unwavering faith with our God through whatever the challenges to solidify our foundation. Thus, we can clearly see the pitfalls ahead and work to revive ourselves and country going forward.”
Minister Condor also quoted First Kings 18 in which God spoke about those who did not worship Baal and reminded Elijah that he was not alone when he feared the worse.
“I am not alone! You are not alone! We are not alone! So we must stand…still stand in the face of great difficulties like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abendigo, Rahab, Esther, Modecai etc. in an effort to revive the future hope of our people, even in these testing times. God honours the pledge of the faithful and preserve them even in their striving. He has done it for those of Biblical times mentioned…He can do it again. In fact, He will do it again for us.
“Today, in this house of the Lord, I renew my covenant of service to my people and my God, and pray that I would be found faithful.”
