Arthur uplifted the poor – Payne

Former Minister of Housing George Payne believes former Prime Minister Professor died still believing that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had lost its soul.

Referring to the speech which Arthur made in the yard of Parliament and his subsequent exit from the BLP in July 2014, Payne said he understood why the former party leader made the comments.

Back then Arthur had said in part: “I am resigning because I believe that the [Barbados Labour] party has not only lost its way, but it’s also lost its soul…. It tells me that this institution has . . . now been made a plaything, and is in danger of becoming a victim of what I will only call megalomaniac tendencies.”

Payne said Arthur even “up until his death” still felt strongly about the party’s current ideals.

“Owen Arthur did not want to see himself as the first person from humble origins being the last person from humble origins becoming prime minister. Owen Arthur, up to his death, was concerned that those ideals were being treaded upon. Owen Arthur was the first person of humble origins to assume the leadership of the Barbados Labour Party. He sought to uplift persons from the same background from which he came.”

During his tribute to Arthur, which went over the allotted time, Payne told the House of Assembly that what happened in 2010 had to be done. The MP was speaking of the party’s internal battle when then Opposition Leader Mia Mottley was replaced by Arthur just before the 2013 General Election.

“We did what we felt we had to do in 2010. I believe if those same circumstances are repeated the same thing could happen again. I do not want to rehash the events of 2010 because I believe that period was somewhat of a watershed in the history of the Barbados Labour Party.”

Payne told the Chamber that when Arthur decided to leave the party he too was taken aback by the comments.

“Even I was a bit baffled and taken back by the former prime minister’s comment when he decided to resign from the labour party I was somewhat disappointed . . . I felt uncomfortable when Owen Arthur made the statement that the Barbados Labour Party had lost its soul. But you have to understand that Owen Arthur was a Barbados Labour Party supporter to the bone.

“Owen Arthur subscribed to the ideal and principles of the founding fathers of this party Sir Grantley Adams, Tom Adams, Sir Harold St John, Sir Henry Forde. He made those comments within the context of his fear that those ideals of the founding fathers which have seen someone from poor, humble background becoming prime minister of this country, had gone into the dustbin.” (IMC)