BLP candidates urged to stay grounded in faith ahead of general election

Political Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mia Mottley has urged her 29 colleagues contesting the February 11 elections to remain grounded in faith as the nation prepares to go to the polls on February 11.

Delivering remarks during a service at the Church of God in Jackson, St Michael, on Sunday, she said it was essential that she and her team stay anchored in faith as campaigning intensifies.

The Prime Minister explained that each candidate attended a church service of their choosing on the day, allowing them to worship within their own communities. The initiative provided an opportunity for candidates to connect with congregations across the island while reinforcing the importance of faith in guiding their public service.

The MP for St Michael North East said it was important to begin the political period by renewing one’s faith in God, stressing that the government’s achievements over the past seven and a half years had been made possible only through divine guidance.

“Throughout our entire period in office, it has been absolutely clear that we have only been able to do what we have been able to do with God’s grace,” Mottley said. She reminded those present that life itself should never be taken for granted, citing the recent unexpected deaths of four people close to the constituency. “All four this Sunday are not with us,” she noted, reflecting on life’s fragility and the importance of gratitude and reflection.

Mottley recounted the succession of crises that have confronted Barbados, including the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, freak storms, ashfall and international conflicts both near and far. She argued that despite these challenges, the island’s stability had been preserved because its “anchor” held firm.

“Even as we speak today, the world is not looking like it should or like we would want it to. And we are an island that is insulated from those tempests. But nevertheless… we are part of the planet, and we know it fully,” she said, highlighting Barbados’ interconnectedness with global events and the need for vigilance and resilience.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of rooting young people in values and faith so that they would remain grounded as they pursue opportunities abroad. “If they are properly rooted first in God and then in values, then any high wind can come, and any high wind can blow, but they will not break them. They may bend, but they shall not break,” Mottley said, framing the nurturing of the next generation as a central responsibility of society and government.

Church Minister Lisa Dottin spoke on the biblical concept of pruning to illustrate preparation, discipline, and spiritual growth. She explained that God carefully removes what is dead, fruitless, or overgrown to allow healthy growth.

“Allow God to prune; He is not going to kill you, He is going to carefully remove the things that are going to cause you not to grow the way you’re supposed to grow,” she said.

The clergywoman encouraged attendees to view challenges as opportunities for transformation, linking spiritual pruning to balance in daily life, and urging parents and leaders to equip children with values and resilience to flourish amid life’s uncertainties. (SZB)