The Barbados Labour Party today joins the nation in mourning the loss of six beautiful young women in circumstances that none of us could have imagined would happen here.
To the relatives and friends of Shanna, Nikita, Pearl, Kellisha, Kelly Ann and Tiffany we extend our heartfelt sympathy and our deepest condolences. It is our sincere wish that you find solace in the days ahead in the knowledge that all Barbadians share your grief and pain.
As a people we have been shocked and outraged by the callous act that caused the senseless loss of life last Friday night in Bridgetown. Reactions and recriminations have been swift and in some cases more cold and cruel.
We say that we believe the greatest honour we can pay to the lives of Shanna, Nikita, Pearl, Kellisha, Kelly Ann and Tiffany is for each and every one of us to look inside ourselves and resolve to be responsible and caring human beings.
We can no longer afford to ignore the things which we know to be wrong on the false premise that it is none of our business. It takes a village to raise a child. We must once again be a country of villagers, rebuilding the social fabric of our society thread by precious thread.
We must return to the days when a mother asks her school-aged children “Where did you get that from?” or “Who gave you that?” When a son is not a good son just because he brings home money every week even though he does not have a job. When we overlook our daughter’s brand name clothes that we know she can’t afford on her pay. When we teach our little children to be vulgar and suggestive in how they dance and then laugh. When some of our young men no longer value the life of another human being.
We must in the words of our Leader Mia Mottley once more become our brother’s keeper. We should never have had to depend on the bravery of bystanders or our fire department to rescue Shanna, Nikita, Pearl, Kellisha, Kelly Ann and Tiffany.
Someone knew what these young men were planning. Someone saw them putting the gas into the bottles. Where were you and why did you not speak out then? You may think it’s not cool to be different. You may be afraid of being labelled a goody two shoes or a wuss, but six young women would still be with us if someone had had the courage to be a wimp.
So who among us will have the courage to be a wimp? Who will stand up for what is right? Who will speak out when they see something wrong? If we are to return to the caring and nurturing society we now only reminisce about then we all need to.
Looking the other way or pretending it is none of my business is not going to solve our problems. Accepting guidance or criticism from someone else will be equally as important.
Laws may guide us, penalties may deter us but only people can decide the moral standards they want to live with and are determined to work towards. As the nation pauses and prays today at noon and you remember Shanna, Nikita, Pearl, Kellisha, Kelly Ann, Tiffany and their loved ones, ask God’s strength to give you the courage to make a difference no matter how small.
The hands of a few will struggle to roll the boulder up the hill. The hands of thousands will make it seem like a pebble. We hope that the lives and deaths of these six young women will be the catalyst for a better, safer, stronger Barbados.
May their souls rest in peace.
