There is no more critical a time as now, when our country and our people need and expect our leaders to lead.
With so much hanging in the balance especially as it relates to the economy, jobs and the welfare of so many, people need to hear from their leaders. After all, the reason they sit and serve in the highest office of this land is because they went to the public seeking a mandate and it is the people who elected them to act on their behalf.
In essence, our leaders need to be speaking up for their people, guiding them, educating them, inspiring them and steering them towards something better.
Instead, in recent times, we have witnessed that many of our leaders have gone silent.
The truth is, people crave leadership, especially when life is less than rosy, and in the absense of such leadership, they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.
It was, therefore, heartening that after some weeks of reticence, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart broke his long silence last Sunday, speaking on the impasse between the two trade unions and the National Conservation Commission.
Stuart addressed the issue, commendably admitting and accepting that there had been some flaws in the process through which NCC workers were chosen for retrenchment last month. He announced then, that the independent Employment Rights Tribunal would be asked to address these matters.
It was equally welcoming to hear the voice of Opposition Leader Mia Mottley who has been deafeningly silent for some time as well.
Her cry was also raised on Sunday on the same issue, even though her first strike was at Stuart who she charged was using the referral of this matter to the tribunal as a political cop out to avoid disciplining one of his ministers.
The merits or demerits of the points raised by both leaders on this particular matter can be debated, but what was appreciated, was that their voices were heard.
Despite the different sides of the fence on which they perch politically, it is necessary that both leaders speak up on issues affecting every single Barbadian. This is a time when voices must be heard, journeys must be charted and a reasonable course of action taken.
Talking for talking sake will not cut it as people are looking for substance – ideas that are sound, reasonable and just downright “doable”.
For too long Barbadians have been like “shepherdless sheep” wandering around in the wilderness hoping for strong leadership – not only from the government who hold the reins to effect change, but from the Opposition whose job it is to provide an alternative, and map out, even if only in the minds of the people, a different path.
The reality is, silence at this time, is not golden.