Dear Editor,
US congressman John Lewis, the civil rights leader passed away on July 17, 2020. Mr. Lewis met Rosa Parks when he was 17, and Martin Luther King Jr. when he was 18. No doubt, these popular figures at that time would have impacted, shaped and determined his future fight and involvement for equality in the wider society during a time of serious institutionalized segregation. Mr. Lewis would be remembered for organizing bus boycotts and other nonviolent protests in the fight for voter and racial equality.
He fought against systems that seek to subvert democratic processes that seek to deny an equal right of every citizen to be part of the process that would impact their lives and livelihood, stating “You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right…. that’s not fair. That’s not the open, democratic process”, as “… demagogues are pretty dangerous, really… We shouldn’t divide people, we shouldn’t separate people”.
Owen Arthur, the longest serving Barbadian Prime Minister passed away on July 27th, 2020. He served as Prime Minister from 1994 -2008.
In passing the torch to this deputy he stated “I believe that it would be in the very best interest of the future development…of democracy in our country if the transition to new leadership…is made immediately”.
Under his perspicacious leadership Barbadians enjoyed prosperity and compelled respect regionally and internationally, where the people displayed a sense of pride and national identity. The island nation was rated by the United Nations Human Development Index as the world’s top developing country with international standings. It earned highest marks for the relatively low level of corruption by Transparency Inter-national, economic policies were working and democratic institutions were strong and independent. The country was on its way in achieving the sustainable development goals.
Mr. Owen Arthur was the Chair-man of the Commonwealth Observer Group to observe Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
The Commonwealth Charter recognizes the ‘inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through free and fair elections in shaping the society in which they live’. The Com-monwealth action and global value has a set of standards for elections observation, with election observers contributing to the entrenchment of democratic practices across the world…where voters can have confidence that an independent, impartial and public view will be taken on the integrity of an electoral process, and that the culture of democracy in their country will be strengthened as a result.
Mr. John Robert Lewis 80 years and Mr. Owen Seymour Arthur 70 years departed this earth mere days apart. They have both made enormous strides in the development of community and country for the benefit of all, where all are equal in a free and just society; where leaders are accountable to the people they govern; where democracy prevails and democratic values are respected; where human rights and the rule of law are upheld; where political freedom is sacrosanct! Their legacies would be remembered for generations to come.
May their souls rest in peace.
Yours faithfully,
Indira Thakurdin
