Rose Hill – he came from

There was a sombre mood across St Peter today as constituents mourned the loss of the man who represented them in Parliament for 34 years.

Some indicated that they have not stopped crying since receiving news that former Prime Minister Owen Arthur passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) after midnight on Monday.

In fact, many people in Rose Hill, St Peter, where Arthur was raised, said that though he had been hospitalized over the past week with a serious medical condition, they were hoping that he would come knocking at their doors soon to check in.

Residents huddled in groups at shops discussing Arthur’s significant contribution to developing and improving the northern parish, others sat at windows and on patios grieving their loss.

Several constituents were too grief stricken to make it in to work.

They described Arthur as the greatest Member of Parliament and Prime Minister of Barbados of all times.

One of Arthur’s biggest supporters and friends, Petra Jackman, better known as De Captain, agreed that it would be difficult for another representative to outperform her friend.

“He did a lot for we the people down here in St Peter. He made sure that there will be no more accidents in the hill up there [Benn Hill]. He cut roads and made sure people all through here, all round here get toilets and baths to make people comfortable. He was a very nice man and you can’t get away from that at all.

“It hurt even before he died. When his cousin told me it had me so hurt that I went in the bathroom and couldn’t get back out. All them shout for Captain, my head wasn’t there, it did gone. It really hurts,” Jackman said.

She said she was going to miss the encouraging conversations she has grown accustomed to having with Arthur and especially seeing him walking past her house to make his way into the hills and valleys to enjoy the natural habitat.

Anne-Sonia Skeete said it is difficult to stop hurting over the loss.

“He was a good man and a really good Prime Minister. He would do anything in his power to help you. When I turn on the radio and hear that he dead I was very hurt. I know he was sick but I am very hurt. He put roads in Rose Hill, he really do for St Peter people. You know you wouldn’t find everybody grateful, you would find some ungrateful people but he was a good Prime Minister,” Skeete said.

Meanwhile, a young constituent who only gave his name as Wayne declared that Athur played a major role in his life and stressed that “a great leader and father” has gone.

Wayne said what he admired most about Arthur was the fact that despite climbing the political and economic ladder, he never forgot the village where he came from and did his best to help the people there improve their lives.

“He did the road that you on now. He help people get work. He help me get work. He was a great man. He was a strict person and he did not tolerate foolishness. One thing I could say is that he never forget where he come from. Once you see he leave the country and he come back, the first place he does come is home to Rose Hill. Even as Prime Minister when you see he leave Barbados and he come home he would come and look for we and we would go all through the gully. He was that kind of person,” Wayne said.

Constituent Peter Hinds recalled the long days and nights he accompanied Arthur on the campaign trail. In fact, Hinds said through rain and sun he and other supporters did what they had to do to ensure “Mr Athur’s seat was always secured”.

“He was our horse. So when you got a good horse, you make sure you look after it. Even from the first by-election we were always there with him. We make sure we bring out everybody, even those in wheelchairs, to vote for Owen Arthur.

“He would always tell you even if someone supporting another party never disrespect them but always talk to them kindly so if they change their mind they would come with you. He would always say keep your record clean,” Hinds said.

Arthur’s childhood friend, Haldon Jackman, said he has been through smooth and rough patches with the late Prime Minister, but remained committed to ensuring he was successful at winning the St Peter seat in the House of Assembly.

He recalled: “I was the first man to open the campaign house and the last to leave; me and another fella who went to school with us. He helped everybody in the community. The only person he didn’t help is who didn’t want help or who wouldn’t approach him and I have nothing to hide. I never had a fault with him because if he had a job to do and he did it to the best of his ability and knowledge.”

Shantelle Farley, said her tears could not stop flowing for the man she grew up calling “Uncle Owen”.

“He was honestly a great man to all of us not only as a prime minister but as a person. I am very hurt by his loss. We came up around him and he was always encouraging us and there were a lot of people who wanted to get into politics because of him. He was a good influence and I have good memories of him,” Farley said.

Gloria Lynch, another one of Arthur’s childhood friends said it was difficult for an ambulance to easily access the homes of residents at Benn Hill, before the former representative saw to it that roads were built in the community. She also commended Arthur for spearheading a project where residents had access to light.

“When I hear about his death I know we will miss a very nice Prime Minister,” Lynch said.

Davis Goodridge, also known as Saiga, recalled that many years ago when Arthur, who was still living at his family home in Rose Hill, just a short distance away, was involved in farming, they would attend to their animals together.

He remembers him as one who spoke his mind.

“I think he was loved throughout the country. When Owen was Prime Minister you could have gone into an elementary school and ask any little child who is the Prime Minister and everybody would say Owen Arthur. You go into a secondary school and get the same very thing. That man was a genius. He was a born leader.

“I am a firm supporter of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) but I would have preferred his leadership. I referred to him as Moses, a deliverer. Remember the children of Israel at that time when they were under the bondage in Egypt. I strongly believe Owen provided that leadership and was respected throughout the country, throughout the Caribbean and internationally,” Goodridge said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb