Reverend Dr Adrian Smith Urges Responsible Governance Following BLP’s Landslide Win

Reverend Dr Adrian Smith of Calvary Moravian Church urged the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration to practice responsible governance and leadership following its landslide victory in the February 11 general election. Delivering a message at the BLP’s thanksgiving service in Golden Square Freedom Park, Smith emphasized the importance of stewardship, framing his remarks around the theme of responsibility. He called on leaders to manage the nation’s resources with care, including the people’s money, taxes, and human capital.

Smith reminded leaders to prioritize the most vulnerable in society, urging them not to forget the children, the elderly, the sick, and those struggling to make ends meet. Drawing from the books of Matthew and Luke, he described public office as an act of stewardship, emphasizing that the future rests in the hands of those in leadership. “What God has blessed us with, it is not ours. We didn’t own it. It is given to us by God,” he said.

He cautioned leaders against being consumed by status or public approval, urging them to lead with purpose rather than seeking validation. “You weren’t born leaders of a country. You’re not going to stay here forever,” Smith warned. He also urged leaders to resist the temptation to bend to public pressure for approval, emphasizing that their lives should not be about performing or impressing others.

Reverend Smith stressed the importance of self-care for leaders, acknowledging the demands of their roles. “At some point you have to take care of yourself… you have to eat, you have to sleep, you have to rest. It is okay to enjoy yourself,” he said. Encouraging unity and faith, he reminded ministers that their leadership extends beyond the present, requiring confidence and trust from the people they serve.

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