Basseterre, St.Kitts - It has been a long time coming but the people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis can finally feel that change is in the air. There is a palpable sense of anticipation and excited expectation in the streets and alleyways as the public witnesses the final breaths of a moribund and decrepit Labour regime. It is against this background that St. Kitts especially is gearing up for the last Convention of the People’s Action Movement as the party in Opposition.
Led by a young, vibrant and; of note because of the sick and comical obsession of the outgoing Prime Minister – Harvard educated lawyer – Lindsay Grant; the PAM stands poised on the cusp of victory. Its attitude of reserved readiness as the government in waiting will be much in evidence this coming Sunday. This historic Convention will be headlined by a dynamic guest speaker who will certainly shake things up.
On 7th February of this year, the Hon. Mia Mottley was sworn in as the Leader of the Opposition in the Barbadian Parliament. It was a signature achievement of a Parliamentarian and politician who, despite being still quite young at 43, is a veteran who has successfully triumphed over the harsh crucible of electoral politics in the Caribbean. Ms. Mottley is no stranger to setting records and making history because that was how she began her political career. Elected for the first time at the age of 28 in 1995 she was the youngest MP ever to hold a Ministerial portfolio; that of Education, Youth affairs and Culture.
Like the many stalwart, forthright and hard working Caribbean woman before her including the region’s own iron lady Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Ms. Mottley was no ornamental woman. From the very beginning she set about putting her indelible stamp on the policy and culture of Barbados and the Caribbean as a whole through decisive and exemplary leadership that saw her emerge as a well regarded leader in the field of education policy. Her co – authorship of the seminal White Paper on Education earned her significant acclaim at home and in the region.
This first foray into Ministerial responsibility was but the initial step in a long journey that would see her develop into a mature, widely qualified and versatile policy wonk. A lawyer by training, Ms. Mottley has held the post of Attorney General in addition to being a Member of the Privy Council of Barbados, the National Security Council and the Barbados Defense Board.
Her list of accomplishments destroys the many baseless stereotypes that still stubbornly linger about the ability of women to perform with excellence in a wide variety of jobs that carry tremendous responsibility at the highest levels of society. When one examines the achievements of this distinguished Caribbean woman, politician and scholar it is difficult to believe that while she was busy with the pressing affairs of state her detractors continually made an issue of her wearing her hair in its natural state! For this as well Black Caribbean women owe Ms. Mottley a debt of gratitude for not only putting this silliness to shame but also for doing so while affirming our God given natural style, grace and beauty.
The People’s Action Movement is honoured to welcome the Hon. Mia Mottley to deliver the keynote address at our 44th Annual Convention on Sunday 3rd May. All of the Federation is invited to come and hear this accomplished, distinguished Caribbean woman of substance.
