Veteran MP counsels aspiring politicians

Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde is urging aspiring politicians to look beyond personal gain, become actively involved in the communities they are elected to represent, and gain a full understanding of any ministry they are assigned.

Her comments came over the weekend as she addressed a church service at the Lester Vaughan Secondary School to mark her 52nd anniversary of being involved in public life.

“As Members of Parliament we have to continue flying the flag to show that we are a credit to society. We must show that we are not only there for self-aggrandizement – that is, making lots of money, having the biggest car or the biggest houses – but we are there to give representation, to speak to our constituents, listen to their concerns, and help them wherever we can, or at least ensure the relevant authorities hear about those matters and address them,” said Forde, a former teacher who entered the profession in 1970 at the then Sharon Mixed School (now Sharon Primary) at the age of 17.

“We have to mentor young politicians, regardless of the party to which they belong, and I speak freely to members from all sides. We don’t have to make politics venomous, you don’t have to go into the gutter making unpleasant remarks about your rivals to be a strong politician. Politics is not about grandstanding, but about ensuring people have the tools they need to empower themselves.”

Forde, who formerly served as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education under late prime minister Owen Arthur, and as Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs during the Barbados Labour Party’s last term in office, explained why she did not take a ministerial post this time around.

“I felt it was time for a younger person to come in and get an understanding of the work, so that they can see exactly what they can do within the ministry to help people achieve a better quality of life. Once they get that chance to experience the real groundwork associated with the ministry, then they can work towards shaping policies that will help alleviate some of the challenges people face,” she said.

Referring specifically to her last ministerial post, the responsibility for which now belongs to Kirk Humphrey, Forde commended the social workers in the Welfare Department.

“I have seen this department help some 250 families get their necessary health checks and other basic needs taken care of, such as identification cards and birth certificates. And some of the social workers face the same dilemmas as the people they serve, in that they have elderly relatives at home to look after, as well as children who may either be in daycare or doing online classes in the current environment, yet they still come out to work every day and give of their best to help others who may be less fortunate,” she pointed out.

The long-serving Parliamentarian said she wanted to see schools and community centres play an active role in community life once again.

“We had a continuing education programme taking place at the Lester Vaughan School where people came in and did evening classes in several disciplines. I would like to see those classes resume across the island, and in particular I would like to see a course in elderly care become a part of it, owing to our aging population,” Forde said.

“Now that I am no longer assigned to a ministry, I will have more time to do my community projects because I believe this is how we will truly empower the society as a whole.” (DH)