M'AM Prime Minister

A very special shout out (greeting) to someone in South Korea, who visited the blog!👋

I noticed that a few regular readers checked in to see what was new...only to find I did not post in October. I am so sorry. Over the last month I became preoccupied with #itsawonderfullifetime (the Lifetime TV channel's celebration of the season with 24/7 Christmas romance movies that are always PG-13), #poldark on PBS and the kdrama #TheHeirs. This meant I was always preoccupied in my leisure time. Also I wanted to feature some local breast-cancer survivor stories from another media source, but did not get permission 😞. 

So, for the month of Independence in Barbados, I will feature the nation's first among equals - the island's first female Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley.

I considered a bio based on an article I wrote about her during my line of work years ago, but then I decided to just highlight some speeches that she gave and you will be able to learn about her yourself.

Her oratorical skills are outstanding. She speaks with minimal reference to notes on a range of topics while remaining totally on target. Indeed she has been attending speaking engagements regionally and internationally almost monthly as her vision is for Barbados to "punch above its weight" (and you will hear this said in more than one of the highlighted speeches). If your children are interested in public speaking, sit them down to listen to the following: 

Independence Day 2018

                  Nation Update: Mia Independence Address 2018 - The Nation (November 2018) 

As she stated: "Technology has given us… an audience that we might not otherwise have” and that is why my blog readers from all over the world can now hear what the Prime Minister of Barbados said to her country last year. 

There are certain recurrent themes in her speeches - the need for small island developing states to be given special consideration given the vulnerability of their economies to the impact of severe weather systems such as this year's Hurricane Dorian and Hurricanes Irma and Maria in previous years. She often quotes Barbados' first Prime Minister, now a National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow's "(w)e are friends of all and satellites of none" to reiterate that Barbados will not take sides in international affairs. 

Oh, did I mention that she patronises the fashion house of a former classmate of mine? The ensemble featured on Independence Day is one such. 

Paying Tribute to the King Of The Road

               Feature Address by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the Mighty Grynner Highway Re-naming Ceremony – 

                                                                        BLP News (June, 2019)

Though rather long, this address shows her at her most engaging. I call this the  “dare to dream, determine to do” speech. In it we learn that she once managed a band and that she and a couple of other classmates (also politicians' daughters) were somewhat mischievous - and you can only get away with being cocky to your Principal on the last day of your school life! 

In spite of those glimpses into her life and personality, she still pays a fine tribute to the man of the hour, Leo McDonald Blenman aka The Mighty Grynner, whose invaluable contribution to Barbados' cultural landscape was in the form of rendering catchy calypsos that won him six national road march titles...including two hat-tricks. Those were the days. 

Of Economies and Climate Change

                                   IDB’s 60^th Anniversary Celebration  – Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Remarks  - 

                                                          BLP News (September, 2019)

I selected this speech to highlight Madam Prime Minister at her erudite best. Whether addressing an international audience of financial experts or commending the achievement of a son-of-the-soil, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley shows herself capable of speaking on any topic with apparent authority. Both her naysayers (for she has those) and her admirers tend to agree that she is a strong public speaker. 

This year I decided to be different for observing the month of Independence as I focused on the island's music in my previous blogs and you can follow the links for the 2018 and 2017 entries. 

In parting, I share with you, the Merrymen's "God Bless Bim on Independence Day", the song Madam Prime Minister urged the audience to sing in 2018.

May God Bless Bim

                                        God Bless Bim – The Merrymen (November, 2010)

'Til next time...