THIS COLUMN WILL not address the legality of the Prime Minister’s statements with reference to the recent union issues; whether the workers had a right to be initially sent home; or why all this “ruckus” was appropriate for fewer than 20 people when less was done for the thousands sent home earlier this year.
This column will address the many Barbadians across all social strata who are vocal about the “youthfulness” and “immaturity” of the “new wineskins” which have entered into the leadership of the National Union of Public Workers.
We have a huge statue of one of our National Heroes, Bussa, in Haggatt Hall. Arguably, Bussa was less than forty years old when he led or was involved in the rebellion. We have never heard any utterances of Bussa being referred to as “immature” or “dangerous”.
Another more popular National Hero, the late Errol Walton Barrow founded the Democratic Labour Party at the age of 35. Prior to founding the party, Barrow established himself as a household name working assiduously to address many injustices islandwide. It would be politically incorrect and gravely insulting to even suggest that Barrow in his younger years was immature.
Mia Mottley, QC, current Leader of the Opposition, became one of the youngest Barbadians to ever be assigned a ministerial portfolio at the age of 29 when she was appointed to the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture.
Our previous Prime Minister, the late David Thompson QC, also entered public life at a young age. He was parliamentary representative for St John at 26 years old. At age 30, he was Minister of Community Development and Culture. To date, he was the youngest Prime Minister of Barbados.
Akanni McDowall, president of the National Union of Public Workers is 35 years old.
Whilst we are an upstanding community and many of us still believe that “children should be seen and not heard”, the young leaders are not children.
The sentiments expressed suggesting that these young leaders are immature, are disappointing and they prove that for the most part, support for young Barbadians can be seen as a farce. There are instances where stalwarts in our community claim to rally support or mentorship for our country’s youth and these actions turn out to be disingenuous. Seeing young people as a menace is not the answer. Some become threatened by younger people in the workplace and other organisations which only causes a greater divide amongst generations.
Instead of being threatened by the emergence of younger people, the older generations should seek to understand us and how we think and operate in this ever changing, evolving world. That said, it is even more important that we younger people not see older persons as “tired”, “lazy” and “passive”.
We can all learn something from each other to ensure Barbados is the paradise it ought to be. Although we are more impatient than our baby-booming parents and grandparents, they can teach us about patience and the importance of process, when necessary.
The involvement and participation of young Barbadians bring countless benefits. Financial institutions and many corporate entities are targeting millennials as they are viewed to have “greater spending power”. They are viewed as a more able-bodied workforce and their new perspectives are often referred to as refreshing. Young Barbadians are more digitally connected and with their grasp of social media networks and other concepts, they seem to have a better idea of how the masses feel instantaneously about an issue or event.
The last election saw many young people voting for the first time. By or before 2018, a younger group of voters will emerge. There is no need to expand on the influence of young people politically, and nationally, given the aforementioned.
I do agree that you should not put new wine in old wineskins. I do believe that we are now in an era where new wine skins are emerging and with new wine skins, new wine and methodologies will eventually be produced-whether we like it or not.
Toni Thorne is a fashion entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Global shaper who Loves global youth culture, a great debate and living in paradise.