The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has been told to stay focused and not be swayed by detractors as they work to rebuild the country.
Delivering the sermon during the BLP’s Service of Thanksgiving at Daryll Jordan Secondary School, Canon Curtis Goodridge referenced Nehemiah 6:3 in which the prophet returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the fallen city.
He said that, like Nehemiah, the BLP has had to restore the nation after years of damage and that they should not be distracted.
“At this time in the history of this country, Barbados needs you. You and your team are doing a great work, and you cannot afford to come down at this time,” Goodridge said.
“There will always be detractors, there will always be those who want you to come down … get on with what you are mandated to do. Get on with the work of rebuilding the walls of this nation. Life is full of detractors, but you must be focused.”
He also commended the current leadership for guiding the country through difficult times in recent years, including Hurricane Elsa and the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Goodridge underscored that like Nehemiah, many people and groups will try to dissuade the party from undertaking the necessary task, so they have to remain steadfast.
“There will always be opposition, but one of the great tests of leadership is how you handle opposition. When they realised that Nehemiah was not coming down, they sent a fifth time stating that he was planning a rebellion and was about to make himself king … opposition tactics,” Goodridge said.
“Yes, Nehemiah faced the usual tactics of the opposition, what I refer to as the three Rs — ridicule, resistance and rumour. Any leader, be it in the state, church or civil society, will certainly come up against these three Rs, but you have to remain strong.”
(SB)
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