Bizzy in tearful tribute to Arthur

A business tycoon who has been on the receiving end of Owen Arthur’s sharp tongue and political favour, was on Monday paying a tear-filled social media tribute to former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, describing him as a strong ally of business he respected.

Ralph Bizzy Williams, executive chairman of Williams Industries, credited Arthur for ensuring development of his luxury marina and condominium complex at Port St. Charles in St Peter which he said continues to pump millions of foreign exchange dollars into the economy.

In a video tribute on Instagram, Williams broke down as he recalled Arthur’s contributions, noting that Port St. Charles might not have become a reality without him but also recalled falling on the wrong side of the sharp-tongued premier who cursed him out.

Said Williams: “I remember meeting him first when we were trying to get permission to build Port St Charles. He eventually decided he would lock us all in the Cabinet Room with all the government bureaucrats and he announced that he was leaving the room and locking the door and we would either come to a decision whether the project would be approved or we would decide otherwise, but there would be no more wasting of time.

“That project proved to me that Owen Arthur was a visionary. Port St Charles brought over US$350 million ($700 million) to Barbados in direct investments. It ended up building out 156 luxury homes there, most of them owned by expats who bring, we estimate, $18 million each year in the economy.

“Without Owen Arthur, I can honestly tell you  it would never have happened.

“He pushed it. He stood behind it. He took the criticism of the ‘do-nothingers’ in our society who were hell bent on blocking it and stopping it from happening.

“Owen Arthur took licks from all kinds of political foes for posting the project and he never asked for anything in return. Nothing.”

And while Williams said he became close friends with the former St Peter MP, he tearfully recalled a run-in Arthur that did not end well for the businessman.

Williams said: “The most vivid thing I remembered about him was that one time I wrote him a letter criticizing some of the things he was allowing to happen.  He tracked me down to Miami where I was using my brother’s phone and he put a cursing on me like you wouldn’t believe.

“Eventually I had to shout and say Prime Minister, if you would just stop cursing me I would be able to respond. And he said ‘kiss my ass man’. When I returned to Barbados, he somehow found out and invited me to breakfast at Ilaro Court.”

As he fought back tears, the Williams Industries chairman lamented that few people visited Arthur after he left office to seek the wealth of knowledge he possessed, as he marveled at the extensive library at Arthur’s home.

Williams suggested the collection be preserved by the “ Archives” [Department] for future generations.