Personalities made the news last week, either with positions they took on issues or by their actions. Not only were the statements controversial, but they generated a lot of feedback from readers.
Sir Roy Trotman spoke out against poor leadership which he said had contributed to many of the problems we have in society. Here’s what some of our readers had to say:
Harold Harris: There are businesses in Barbados, just as in any other place in the world, that have good managers but are lacking good leaders.
Leaders must be able to not only embrace and manage change and create visions for others to follow, but must also establish corporate values and ethics, and transform the way organizations do business in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency. . . .
Tony Webster: Based on Sir Roy’s speech, I disagree that one can blithely excuse all manner of poor performance from working Barbadians by such “broad sweeps of the brush” . . . .
He did say “leadership in all aspects of life” and I presume he would agree with me that just as our unions have great power and authority, and receive due respect, they must also honour their concurrent responsibility to play their fullest and honest part in all efforts of national development. . . .
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Curtis Callender, who died in police custody, also had people talking. Even attorneys David Comissiong and Andrew Pilgrim were calling for an outside probe into his death.
Trudy Mayers: I agree, but you have to get an outsider to do the autopsy in these cases. All these inquiries are just a formality to soothe the public, but nothing else is done.
Leonard Bee: A call for “two senior officers from a sister CARICOM nation” to execute the investigation may prove fruitless. The core of the investigative team should be civilians and not police officers.
A strong civilian team with the clout to request investigative police work from other nations may prove to be more effective in obtaining the truth and in breaking through the “blue wall of silence”.
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Alexandra School principal Jeff Broomes was back in the news again, this time saying that teachers who didn’t have the best interest of their charges should leave the profession. Readers were also quick to comment.
Pan Wallie: I suppose some teachers would like to see the backs of some principals, as well.
Wallace Cyrus: I wish to commend and support Mr Broomes in his efforts to improve the quality of education for our students and the quality of teachers on our island.
Great teachers do not only teach but they create an environment that is conducive to and facilitates the learning and education processes.