‘Highest regard’ for Owen Arthur

They may have been from opposing political parties, but the Head of Government who preceded the late Prime Minister Owen Arthur says he has the greatest respect for him.

Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, the Prime Minister toppled by Arthur and his Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in 1994, today declared his “highest regard” for the late economic icon and regional integrationist.

“Let me say I have a very high respect for the gentleman. He was a great Barbadian and he really contributed to the development of Barbados in many ways,” the 83-year-old Sir Lloyd told Barbados TODAY.

“I would certainly pick out his contribution to the growth and development of Barbados; and to that, he made a tremendous contribution,” said the former political leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) when asked to identify Arthur’s greatest single achievement.

Sandiford lost a no confidence motion brought against him by Arthur in 1994. He then lost the general elections that same year to the BLP leader.

Sir Lloyd, who served as Prime Minister from 1987 to 1994, also reflected on Arthur’s impact on him

“I was his teacher. I taught him and helped him to get on the road…himself and another young man; and that was my contribution,” Sir Lloyd said in the brief interview. emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb