A small group from the Women’s Leadership Initiative last week met with Glenys Kinnock, Baroness of Holyhead, Britain’s State Minister with responsibility for Africa, the Caribbean, Central America and the UN. This was no nose-in-the-air baroness – the grounded politician spoke feelingly about the importance of our island states.

Minister Kinnock explained that she had earned the title of “Madame La Banane” for lending a strong voice to supporting the economies of small island states, in particular the banana and sugar industries. “There is enormous strength in the states of the Caribbean,” she maintains. “You are democracies that should be emulated.”

I was proud that Jamaica’s strength was reflected in the delegation of leaders led by our Chair, Marlene Malahoo-Forte. In Marjory Kennedy, Jean Wright, Maxine Whittingham, Deika Morrison and Rebecca Tortello we were a considerable knowledge bank of various aspects of national life. Our discussion touched on trade, education, population and talent exchange.

Rebecca described our new education policy that was paying closer attention to early childhood education and parenting. Marjory called for clearer guidelines regarding new standards for importation of certain products into Britain. Maxine was moved that this busy lady on a whistle-stop visit of Jamaica, would take so much time to listen to the concerns of our diverse group.

Glenys Kinnock, former teacher, devoted mother and grandmother and, incidentally, the wife of former British Labour Party Leader Neil Kinnock, has earned the reputation as an expert on Africa and the Caribbean, passionately campaigning for the rights of the persons at risk, in particular women and children. (Neil Kinnock is the person whose speech, it is alleged, Joe Biden had plagiarised in 1998. Biden extended a special invitation to the Kinnocks for the presidential inauguration last year.)

In the UK Guardian, Glenys Kinnock wrote on Darfur, “Close to 400,000 people have been killed as part of a government-sponsored programme of ethnic cleansing, the brutal rape of women and children has become a weapon of war,” and described the continued wretchedness of the survivors. Then she asks, “Is this our response? Is this what innocent women and children deserve?”

She challenged her colleagues to “keep the pressure on the United Nations, the European Commission and our own governments until they are shamed enough to act.”

As the Labour Party’s spokesperson on international affairs, Kinnock pulled no punches in a June 2007 commentary in The Independent: “The ‘Iraq misadventure’ effect, the fear of ‘another Iraq’ (our ‘Vietnam’) is bound to infect every major UK foreign policy decision for years to come. This mustn’t happen… No, we don’t need unlawful wars, but we can’t accept paralysis either. The way forward is not a retreat into narrow self-interest or a reversion to diplomatic silence. Crossing the minefield requires steady, principled opposition to human rights abuse, corruption and serial government malfeasance.”

A few months ago, The Daily Telegraph commented on Baroness Kinnock’s growing popularity: “People working closely with the new minister have asked why on earth better use had not been made of her sooner. She has impressed civil servants and, more importantly, made a good impression on visits and in meetings abroad.”

Well, the baroness certainly impressed in Jamaica, inspiring us to walk our talk. We thank our hosts British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and Barbara Munske Cresswell.

Masterful telling of Bustamante

When Alexander Bustamante stopped his car to rescue a wounded police officer attacked by an angry mob, little did he know that he was saving the life of the man whose son would eventually write the biographies of both Sir Alex and his beloved Lady B. “My father was wounded and left for dead,” recalls Ken Jones. “When I got home that day, I saw my father in bed, bandaged all over. He told us that Busta rebuked the mob, put him in the car and rushed him to get emergency medical help. My father recovered and was able to return to work. Had Bustamante not assisted him, my life would certainly have been different.”

Ken’s Bustamante: Notes Quotes Anecdotes is a compelling book, a distillation of great moments in Busta’s life and an exciting account of Jamaica’s bid for self-government and ultimately, independence. Quick. Name three of Bustamante’s firsts. There are many, including first founder of a successful Jamaican Trade Union, First Prime Minister and first National Hero to be so named while still living.

Bustamante met Marcus Garvey and found in him a kindred spirit. He said, after Garvey left Jamaica, “The words of Garvey linger with me, and for over six years I have had the proof of Garvey’s words…some of the same people who hounded Garvey, who vilified his name, who ridiculed him, have vilified my name, have hounded me.”

Evon Blake, who was a young reporter in Busta’s early activist days, was nearby when a police inspector named William Orrett threatened to shoot the hero if he did not turn back. Busta defiantly told him to proceed, and the officer replaced his gun in its holster. In a video clip produced by Carey Robinson the then policeman wept as he recalled the dramatic stand-off: “Suppose I had killed that man,” he sobbed, “What would have become of Jamaica?”

Bustamante’s carefully selected quotes are well needed now: “Let it be understood that where Jamaicans who can help themselves will not help themselves, they are creating their own problems.”

On the subject of love among our people, the wise leader said, “No military or police force can bring back the love that existed in Jamaica; we have to bring it back ourselves.”

Ken Jones hopes that more people will read books about the sacrifices of our leaders. “We are too ignorant of our legacy,” he says. “This is why we are not motivated to build on what they have started.” Bustamante is a great gift book, which should be treated as an heirloom to be handed down from one generation to the next. Congratulations, Ken!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com