Roysdale Forde is the superior candidate

Jun 18, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor

As a student, never a scientist, doctor or professor, and having an interest in the public discussion surrounding the leadership contest in the PNC/R, I have rationalized my support and advocacy for a particular candidate by seeking to identify widely acclaimed behavioural qualities and characteristics of a good and successful leader.

The British statesman, Lord Chesterfield, believed that “firmness of purpose”, by which I conclude he meant, having a clear vision; being strategic and decisive in action; being confident, courageous, resilient and adaptive; and demonstrating passion and commitment as providing the “best instruments of success”.

He also believed that superior leaders won their team’s trust, led by example, demonstrated and demanded accountability, were willing to embrace failure and learn from their mistakes, invest in their team’s future, and commit to the empowerment of others. Moreover, a good leader is authentic, has integrity and humility, demonstrates empathy and respect, is able to listen and is an effective communicator. All these qualities are at the core of teachings at academic, business and governance institutions everywhere and it would come as no surprise that the incumbent PNC/R leader is considered to be very limited with regard to most of these qualities, while his main challenger, Roysdale Forde, possesses these qualities in abundance. Most people are aware that ostentatiousness, noise and self-promotion are not proof of substance and we are all familiar with the adage that “empty barrels make the most noise”, or as Zsa Zsa Gabor, American socialite and actress, puts it “macho does not prove mucho”.

However, these qualities are not always easy to appreciate in the modern political environment where perception is very often more acute than reality and performative leadership is sometimes more attractive than substantive leadership. This is the area in which the incumbent leader seems to be more heavily invested and his advocates and supporters rarely speak of his substantive qualities and accomplishments but wax poetically about his sociability and identification with the ordinary man. It is not my intention to deprecate, or disregard the significance of symbolic leadership.

Every politician is keenly aware of the importance of kissing babies, shaking hands, flag-waiving, church-going, visiting communities and participating in public demonstrations and national events, like Mashramani and Labour Day and any suggestion that Roysdale Forde is elitist, lacks respect, empathy or the common touch, or is distant from the ordinary man, or woman, is demonstratively false. He does, and has done, all those things I have mentioned, but in his quiet and unassuming way, not necessarily seeking media attention. Only last week, he visited Leguan and engaged with citizens, not considered a large PNC/R constituency, and demonstrated his culinary skills, making gulgula. According to former US Supreme Allied Commander during WW2 and President, Dwight Eisenhower, “the supreme quality of leadership is integrity” which is characteristic of Forde’s personal, professional and political life.

In every regard the candidacy of Roysdale Forde has revealed that his is the superior campaign, candidate, team, programme and vision and likely next leader of the PNC/R but for procedural irregularities, administrative failures and partisan manipulation and machinations seemingly aimed at frustrating and depressing his likely support. I am aware of at least one party group in Georgetown, entitled to the allocation of twelve (12) Congress delegates, that is likely to have none. Others have drawn attention to other nefarious schemes and more PNC/R leaders must be sufficiently concerned to speak out now. I understand that this is the desperate recourse of an unpopular, insecure, unaccomplished and incompetent incumbent campaign, based on personal grievance and cancel culture, and should be corrected immediately before a pyrrhic outcome is realized.

Sincerely
Oscar Dolphin

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