An open letter to former Senator Anesia Baptiste

Fri, May 4. 2012

Dear Anesia,

I do hope by now you have had some time to reflect on the action you took which ultimately caused your dismissal from your senatorial position with the New Democratic Party.{{more}}

Categorically your letter and your behaviour on several radio stations were egregious; I was appalled at what I was hearing and reading. I said “Has Anesia snapped”?

You were someone that I greatly admired; your boldness, tenacity and social justice persona were a breath of fresh air for our upcoming young Caribbean women. For an educated Christian woman, this type of behaviour is not becoming. I expect this sort of behaviour from someone who does not know better.

I would like to give you some advice, as a Catholic Christian woman in a leadership role. Jesus was and still continues to be our greatest role model in life. Emulate the virtues and gifts that Jesus gave us. Jesus said to us “If anyone wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest, and if one of you wants to be first, he must be your slave like the son of man who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem people”. (Matthew Chapter 20 verse 26, 28)

True Christianity is not having an ego and going all out to obtain power. It is about servant leadership, working together, having each other’s back. Leadership is about helping others, not yourself. Anesia, there is no crown without a cross; Jesus experienced his own cross with great humility and endurance. You too must do the same. You must not only talk the talk, but walk the walk also. In closing, I recommend you read the book “Lead like Jesus” by Ken Blanchard. It is not too late to apologise to all Vincentians.

Vincentian woman in the Diaspora