What can I do for my party?
By Kenndy Charles

St. Lucia and St. Lucians have experienced a very difficult year 2006-2007.
We came through the general elections of 2006 without violence like some of our neighbors who needed assistance from U.S. and other countries to keep their elections peaceful. Thank God for that!
We came through World Cup 2007 which promised us high revenues from foreigners but in return, we were left with the ‘bag of high expenses.’
2007 came like a lamb, with a few fights, stabbing from people who could not properly hold their liquor. The Labour Party? Let’s just say it was not a happy new year. They were left licking their wounds and asking the questions, why, how and what? The Labour Party lost the election for the same reason that England lost all the islands of the Caribbean to Independence; they did not listen to the cries of her people. For the same reason that the Ford Motor Company almost went under in its early days for saying ‘you may have any colour you want, as long as it’s black.’ They were myopic!
The Party Leader was quoted as saying for months after the election “how did I lose this election?” I am sure the Queen of England and Henry Ford must have asked the same question too; so don’t feel too bad you are among people in high places.
January rolled around and we were all anxious to see what the new administration under the leadership of the Honorable John Melvin Compton would do for the wounded island at the age of eighty one (81) years. Could he stop the bleeding and take us back to the prosperity of the seventies? That was the question of the day.
In July 2006, I had the opportunity to have a long talk with Sir John. I asked him, “Can you win this election?
His answer was “I have to”. I asked him, “What about age which has marred the election, when one of the Opposition was quoted as saying ‘he is on political life support’? He answered, “Come on I am not stupid, I know I can’t do this at my age, we will find someone in the party to run the country and I will retire”.
There was fear in his eye and his voice; not fear of losing the election but fear of failing his country and his people this time. He wanted St. Lucia to be prosperous like it once was, the happiness of his people was of paramont importance. He spoke of his people as a proud grandfather would speak of his grand children. He told me that St. Lucia could not survive another five (5) years under this regime.
It is now September 7, 2007, and St. Lucia in its struggle for survival was hit a fatal blow, the death of Sir John. Sir John reminds me of ‘Moses’ and the journey from Egypt to Canaan. Moses did not enter Canaan for two (2) reasons; disobedience and love. He disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as he was commanded by God. The reason for his disobedience was the love he had for his people. God allowed Moses to view Canaan, ‘the promised land’ but his punishment was that he could not enter Canaan. And so God also allowed Sir John to view his Canaan (St. Lucia) what plans he had for it, see it and touch its prosperity but would not see it come to fruition.
I told you earlier why the Labour Party lost. Now, I will also tell you why the United Workers Party won the election. Sir John heard the cries of his people like Moses did, he felt their pain, and most of all, he came to their rescue when they wanted to leave Egypt (Labour Party). Sir John knew his people by name, face and some by their voices.
I left St. Lucia thirty six (36) years go and there was no communication between Sir Joh and me for all these years, but when I went to visit him in July of 2006, I felt I had to tell him that I was Magnora’s son. He said I know your mother very well and asked me for my brother Raul. That showed me how well he knew his people.
We have lost a Prime Minister, a father, a leader, a husband, a grandfather, a friend and most of all a visionary. We mourned his death for two (2) weeks; we really needed to mourn for two (2) decades as there will never be one who will be capable to walk a mile behind him, much less to walk in his footsteps.
Now that the elections are over, the funeral is over and Sir John is resting in peace, waiting the final call of his Maker, let’s forget the Labour Party, the United Workers Party and let us create a new Party – ‘The United Labour and Workers Party’. Let us all, both Labour and United Workers Party join together for the advancement of St. Lucia and St. Lucians. Let us create prosperity, create jobs, let’s fight crime and create a safe environment for ourselves and our children and our children’s children.
We must start to replace hate with love; drinking with reading, let us be our brother’s keeper, let’s pray more for one another, let’s fill the Church pews on Saturdays and Sundays like the days of old, the days of prosperity. If we really loved Sir John, we will do all of the above, as he would have it no other way. Although, Sir John was a United Worker Party member, he was also a member of the United Labour Worker Party.
He treated everyone in the same manner and with respect. He made no distinction to a person; whether he was a member of the opposition or if he supported him during the elections.
All St. Lucians were treated as citizens of St. Lucia.

To the leaders who are presently in power and to the future leaders, being a member of UL & WP means ‘no job for the boys, may the best man or woman for the job fill that position.’ If the treasure is the most qualified and has the most experience don’t let his party be a barrier to the advancement of his people. I am not asking anyone to denounce their party or have one party. We I am asking is to let us all rally around the leaders no matter what Party is in power. Parties should be for the betterment of the island not it’s detriment. The goal of every Party in power must be to do better for the island of St. Lucia than the previous Party. This means not only the Party Leaders and its supporters but all the people of St. Lucia.
As a member of the United Labour Workers Party (ULWP) you support the leader in power not the Party in power. The motto of the ULWP is to help one another; ‘many hands make light work.’ I urge all St. Lucians to join the ULWP and play an active role in the growth of our island. Watch growth and prosperity return to us! We must also understand that the Government should provide employment for its people, but it is each individual’s responsibility to create employment for themselves. Let us get back to the land that made us prosperous in the past. We would all like to work with a suit and tie but it is impossible. Someone has to till the ground neither Cain or Abel worked at a desk.
Did you know that Prince Charles is a farmer? Yes, he is one of the largest organic farmers in England and yes he gets his hands dirty.
For those ‘young whipper- snappers’ who walk around with manicured finger nails and pedicures, two cell phones which can only receive calls, empty pockets; let me inform you that the Honorable Sir John Melville Compton was a farmer before he was an Attorney, a politician and Leader and continued to be until the day God called him home. If you don’t believe me, ask your parents or grand parents. In other words ‘from dust thou came, from dust will thou eat and unto dust shall thou return.’ Let us not be afraid of the soil.
Those of us who believe in the get rich quick schemes like drugs, living off the backs of others contrary to what others may say, they do work. Yes, you will have the finest in life, the cars, homes women etc. but there is one thing that we never factor into the mix, the short life that comes with it. Why should a man live foolishly and die before his time?
The bible quotes one and only one way to live ‘by the sweat of they brow shall thou eat’. My admonition to you is do an honest day’s work, sweat bullets, not fire bullets. You will sleep well, look everyone is the eye as you pass them and live a long, happy and fulfilling life.
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) is a great idea and will do wonders for most of the Caribbean but it will be the demise of St. Lucia if we do not shape up. I call upon the powers that be, if we have not signed on the dotted line of commitment, please hold back the winds of strife until we can educate our people as to what we are getting into. We will be crushed because of our myopic lackadaisical and ‘laissez-faire attitudue’.
hen we open our doors of business, clients will form a line pushing their way in and if they don’t, we just have to sit on our rather large ‘posteriors’ and wait. Get off your you know what, get out there and ‘rope’ them in. The Guyanese, Trinidadians, Jamaicans and the Haitians will eat us alive. They will make slaves out of our children after we have sold to them cheaply all our land. We will be working for them on our own banana plantations. Our people need training on how to ‘hussle’, how to take change and most of all how to understand that the foreigner is not better, smarter, or richer than we are. The only thing they are better at than us; is how to approach the banks. The banks are ours, the money in the banks is ours and we must not be afraid to ask for them to start our business. Remember Banks need you even more that you need them, because if they do not lend you that money, their doors will soon be closed. Know you neighborhood banker by name, know how to write a business plan. The days of ‘can you lend me some money to start a business’ is gone. Presentation is the key to your getting that money you need.
Pastors, Priests and Reverends, you all have a responsibility as church leaders to preach peace, the second coming of Christ and also to help curtail the violence and crime on our streets. Get off your holy laurels and visit the sick, the lame and broken-hearted and those lazy ‘bums’ sitting by the road side waiting to snatch some old lady’s purse. Your work is not only on Saturday or Sunday. Churches must reach out to the communities to give counseling to the idlers, encouraging them to find employment. Workshops can be created to teach working skills. Encourage retired farmers to volunteer to teach gardening and farming skills. Churches with large properties can even use their locations for these training facilities. This is a huge investment in the youth of the nation who will be able to make themselves independent.
Don’t give me the classic cop out answer “I don’t know how to farm, fish build etc.” But you do know people who can in the Community to ask for help. If you don’t use them, they will be the same ones who steal what you have produced under the guise of ‘Jah’ provide”.
Your job is not only to preach to a congregation but to teach, council, feed and to encourage those that have fallen by the wayside. It is your civil and biblical duty. Christ preached, healed, fed, clothed and even had time to raise the dead.
By reaching out to your Communities, you might fill these empty pews that the cobwebs have occupied over the years due to your holier than thou attitude.
In the words of m second favorite president, John F. Kennedy, ‘don’t ask what my country can’t do for me, but what can I do for my country?
John Melville Compton did not ask what his country do for him, he went and created a country. Some gave all they had for their country, he gave it all for his country. God keep our country. Good night my love, good night daddy, good night grand pa, good night my brother, good night our leader, good night our Attorney, good night my friend, ‘bon soir’ boss la, ‘bon soir’ papa, ‘bon soir’ compi ya. And from me good night my hero and mentor.
When all my labours and trials, are over, and I am safe on St. Lucia’s shores,
Just to be near those Pitons I adore,
Will all my days be glory for me!
Oh, that will be St. Lucia for me,
St. Lucia for me, St. Lucia for me.
When on its beaches,, I’ll sit in sweet peace,
That will be St. Lucia, St. Lucia for me!