A tribute to Luzette King

Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to pay a very special tribute to a woman whom I have been observing for the past few years. This person is none other than Luzette King of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). My first personal contact with her was a couple years ago, when I was a guest on her programme, Global Highlights, to discuss the role and function of the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations. {{more}}

Luzette, to me, is a very courageous woman, who holds steadfast in what she believes. She is very knowledgeable on a wide range of issues and displays such by the way she conducts her interviews with her guests on topics, including social, cultural, educational, economic, political or even religious topics. She is a fluent speaker and often reminds me of three very outstanding sons of the soil. These are Mr FI Jack, Mr Ormond Williams, my former principals and Mr John Horne, former Minister of Education, all of whom I have great respect and admiration for.

Being a toastmaster, I pay keen attention to the pronunciation of words and the use of the English language, especially by prominent persons and I must say I am highly impressed that Luzette has mastered this art. Luzette has been a champion for many, especially after the December, 2015 general elections. She has been a strong critic of the policies of Prime Minister Gonsalves and in her view, he is incapable of running the country. Being dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections, she stands resolute in picketing the office of the supervisor of elections day after day and has been doing so since December 2015, up to the present time. She has been cherished by many for her courageous act, yet scorned and ridiculed by many also. Her group is small in number, but determined in action. Maybe her inspiration came from another individual who picketed the said office some years ago under a different leadership, which eventually led to the resignation of the said individual. Luzette and her group are determined to fight for what they believe in. They have been mocked, arrested and charged, called all sorts of ill names, but they continue to press on, much to the annoyance of the ruling regime. Our country is so divided politically that persons are even afraid to be seen speaking to her, for fear that they will be victimized or branded as belonging to a political party. I must say that I am not afraid to speak to her or any citizen of SVG. Her strong will and determination remind me of Rosa Parks, the American civil rights activist, who in December 1955, refused to stand while seated on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, for a white man to sit. This strong Vincentian icon refuses to surrender, even when the tide seems rough and there is nowhere nor anyone to turn to. She brought awareness and a sense of fresh air for many of the political issues that were swept under the carpet. Thank you, to our own Vincentian Rosa Parks.

Brenton Smith