Choosing wisely

There is a feeling in the air that the standard of St. Lucia’s politics is on the skids. That the calibre of the politicians who today gravitate to the one, two, or now-and-then three political parties – except in one or two too-rare cases – is hardly comparable to that of yesteryear.
Ominously, the population seems to sense that those who are mandated – whether they find themselves in Government or Opposition – to guide our fortunes are increasingly more interested in ensuring their fortunes … and in their doing so “by any means necessary”, the people are feeling the effects of neglect, incompetence and apathy to their plight on a heretofore never experienced scale.
What is even more alarming is that the suspicion also exists that those who are in the coveted positions of influence would do their utmost – if they are incapable of rising to personal standards that are desirable for the betterment of themselves, their parties or of the country – to keep the system at whatever inferior level it presently stands, in order to ensure that they remain predominate in their surroundings … one-eyed individuals in the land of the blind.
It is not acceptable that the populace suffer to satisfy the personal agendas of a few who wish to indefinitely take advantage, to our detriment, of the fact that we presently are mired in standards that are below par and that do not cater to the improvement of the conditions we live in today in the country.

In all its forms, the sentiment that we should always strive to take advantage of the talents of the “best minds”, the “best talents”, the “best material available” for the tremendous task that managing a country satisfactorily entails, should always take priority.
“Country before self” is the underlying motto that patriotic citizens of nations everywhere profess to follow.
So should it be with us.
Tomorrow, the party that forms the government of the country, the United Workers Party (UWP) holds its annual convention. There, its members will put in place those who will guide (in all its important executive positions) the destiny of the party, through it the government and through that, the fortunes of us all.
We pray that God will give them the wisdom to use the talents and abilities of those who have offered themselves for office in the best way they can; that they will put in place the individuals who are best qualified for the positions they seek election to; and without giving priority to personal agendas – and with a genuine desire to elevate the standard of the quality of the members who serve on their executive – they will make those important appointments.
Not just for themselves individually; not just for the party … but for all the country who will feel the effects of the administrative talents of those they vote into office.