Hailed as a dedicated regionalist, tributes have poured in for former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur who died just after midnight yesterday and who is being remembered here for standing up for a fair result from the March 2nd general elections.
Arthur, who was 70 years old died at 12:26 a.m. at the Queen Elizabeth Hos-pital, according to the Barbados Govern-ment Information Service.
According to the Barbados Nation, Arthur, Barbados’ fifth Prime Minister, was hospitalised in mid-July with heart complications and was in the Intensive Care Unit.
He led the country for an unprecedented three consecutive terms from 1994 to 2008, having served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Peter from 1984 to 2013.
In an address to Barbadians yesterday morning, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley described Arthur as a strong patriot with a burning passion for regional integration.
She said that while he mastered the art of politics he remained committed to economics and sound policy.
“He was never overwhelmed by the task at hand…face it and fix it was his mantra,” she shared while declaring that Barbados was poorer for his passing.
“His intellect was larger than life, his love of country as constant as the northern star. The last title bestowed upon him was most fitting- professor of practice- Owen was first and foremost a teacher,” Mottley shared
While here observing the March 2nd general elections as head of the Common-wealth observer mission, Arthur famously clashed with Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings when she had threatened to withdraw the accreditation of international observers.
Further, in a statement on April 16 on behalf of the Commonwealth observer mission, Arthur lamented the “unconscionable” delay in finalizing the result of the elections.
“This delay in credibly concluding the electoral process is now even more alarming as the entire world seeks to contend with the disruptive and devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on economic, social and political life,” Arthur’s statement had said.
In June, he called on President David Granger to rein in party agent Joseph Harmon who had levelled attacks against Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
“He (Harmon) is not a Caribbean leader and your leader needs to tell him he is out of order. Your leader should not be allowing Joe Harmon to be attacking other leaders in the Caribbean in this vitriolic way,” he stressed.
He supported Gonsalves’ statement that CARICOM will not stand by and watch an election being stolen.
“Caribbean countries, including Guyana, have signed a Charter for Civil Society which enjoins upon them the responsibility to have free and fair elections. It would, therefore, be entirely contrary to the provisions of the Charter for Civil Society for CARICOM countries to stand by if an election is being stolen…Mr Gonsalves was only speaking within the context of the spirit and the letter of the Charter of Civil Society when he made the statement that he made,” Arthur explained.
Yesterday, Gonsalves also paid tribute to Arthur and referred to his role in observing Guyana’s controversial March 2nd elections.
“Owen Arthur was the chief architect, advocacy, and intellectual guide of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). He was deeply committed to making our union in the Caribbean more perfect, the best practicable institutional political and economic expression of our Caribbean civilization. We owe him an immense debt of gratitude:, Gonsalves said.
He added: “Owen Arthur was a true Caribbean man with a deeply-rooted Barbadianness, steeped in our culture and way of life, devoted always to the further ennoblement of our Caribbean civilisation, while at the same time learning from the universalism and well-springs of world civilisations. He loved our Caribbean and its manifestations in cricket, dominoes, food, music, literature, poetry, and joyous living. He loved our people and strove to make their lives better. He came from humble beginnings and retained the humility and unfussiness of the folk from whom he sprung. He was a devoted family man”.
Gonsalves said that prior to his brief hospitalization, Arthur was “deeply agitated about the imminent threat to democracy in Guyana; and he reserved some of his finest and most biting barbs against those in that CARICOM member-state who, without right reason or principle, verbally abused Mia Mottley and me because of our stance in defense of free and fair elections”.
In a statement posted on the Barbados Nation, Sir Shridath Ramphal also lauded Arthur.
“Barbados has lost a great son. CARICOM has lost a great West Indian. We are all the poorer for Owen’s going.
“His last leadership role was to chair the Commonwealth’s Observer Mission to the Guyana elections where he distinguished himself for his courage in speaking truth to power. May his memory be honoured in the upholding of his candour.
“And may CARICOM for all time be guided by his credo of regional integration that marked his service to Barbados and the Caribbean Community entire.”
Arthur’s advocacy on behalf of free and fair elections was remembered here yesterday.
These actions have been fondly remembered by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Citizenship Initiative (TCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) which have hailed Arthur as a champion for democracy.
According to the PPP/C the Caribbean region has lost an eminent elder Statesman and a champion for equal rights and democracy.
“Guyanese will forever remember Arthur’s defence of their right to choose their leaders democratically,” they said.
According to TCI, “democratic Guyana recognizes Arthur’s stand for democracy as an accredited observer in Guyana’s 2020 Electoral Process, and salutes him for being a beacon of solidarity.”
“He served his country honorably as Prime Minister, and continued to contribute his diplomacy, statesmanship and class to regional efforts to maintain democracy everywhere… we will always be thankful for his efforts to foster peaceful, healthy relations between Guyana and our sister nation Barbados,” they said.
The political party expressed gratitude for the lessons in politics and leadership left for Arthur and committed to honouring his legacy by also standing firmly for democratic principles and representing their constituencies with dignity, inclusiveness and honesty.
The PSC which has also hailed Arthur’s commitment to democracy has opened a book of condolences at his office.
The book can be signed between the hours of 01:00 p.m. and 05:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Mourners are asked to observe social distancing and wear a mask.
Also expressing condolences was the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.
In a letter to Prime Minister Mottley, LaRocque described Arthur as a committed regionalist and a relentless advocate for the advancement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“As then CARICOM Lead Head of Government for the CSME, he worked very closely with the CARICOM Secretariat in efforts to advance the process. In that regard, he was instrumental in the establishment of a Secretariat Office in Barbados dedicated to the initiative. He also worked assiduously to encourage the private sector to become more engaged in the work to make the CSME a lived reality,” he noted adding that Arthur was a strong advocate of functional co-operation which he viewed as fundamental for the success of the integration movement.
He added that during Arthur’s mission to Guyana to observe the Elections, he found the time to visit the Secretariat Headquarters for discussions about the Community and the CSME.
“Professor Arthur has been an unstinting champion of the Region and of integration,” LaRocque concluded.
Meanwhile, caretaker President Granger has joined in offering condolences at the passing of Arthur.
A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, said that Granger was “saddened” by Arthur’s passing. It noted that as the Chair of the 11-member Commonwealth Observer Group for Guyana’s election, Arthur called on the President Granger in February.
Granger has extended sympathies to Arthur’s wife Julie, daughters Sabrina and Leah, other relatives, friends and the people of Barbados.
