A GUY'S VIEW: Astor Burleigh Watts (CBE)

This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the rest of the conspirators acted out of jealousy of great Caesar. Only he acted from honesty and for the general good. His life was gentle, and the elements mixed so well in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man.” – William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Antony, Act 5, scene 5.

UP until May 2018, Barbados had a vibrant two-party political system. From time to time attempts have been made to add additional groups, but thus far, this effort has not been successful.

As a member of one of those political parties, it might seem appropriate for me to extol the virtues of that system, but as a Barbadian, my heart says that not only the pros should be advertised, but also the contrary view.

Some have sought to establish a third or fourth political option in pursuit of their personal aggrandizement. However, it is most likely that persons who cherish that thought believe that Barbados would be better served if there were a viable alternative to the two established parties.

In a country the size of Barbados, multiple parties may do more harm than good. Even in larger countries, this arrangement creates, rather than solves societal problems. Where a country is recognised as a society and not just an economy, the health of the society is ground zero.

The Barbados experience has been one of the proposal of new options where there is disenchantment with either the policies or the internal machinations of one of the established parties by members of those parties. And this only becomes the preferred option where a step across the aisle is too distasteful.

The main parties can expect to have persons who attach themselves to them as vehicles to take them where they could never go without them. That makes it easy to change shirts when it is convenient to do so. But in the bowels of them both, there are the loyalists that could never forsake their grounding. Astor B. Watts was one such member of the Democratic Labour Party.

Men and women like him are the noblest Barbadians of all.

Whether well informed or misguided, they hold to what they believe and fight for it. While some may have personal reasons for their commitment to their party, most really believe that the policies of their party are best for the country. Of course, there are many who think that what is best for them is best for the country.

Astor was a long-standing member of the DLP and pursued its best interests in good times and bad. In them both, he remained steadfast to the cause.

Tales are told of his taking umbrage at certain decisions and not restraining his views. But he appreciated the difference between disagreement with a position and disaffection with the person or group that gave birth to the disagreeable idea.

Astor was a man of small stature, but those who towered over him physically had nothing on him when it came to the articulation of his ideas. That set him apart from many. Politics sometimes seem to award the prize to the loudest mouth or the most deceitful snake in the grass. Astor fit neither of these descriptions, but always stood to be counted.

He was a man of ideas, not just noise. So, when there was a deficit of internal sustainable plans, he could raise his hand and put a viable proposal on the table. Even as he progressed into his 90s, he was still making useful proposals.

He promoted a lunchtime lecture series, which eventually came to bear his name. He saw this as an opportunity to give a public audience to the views of the DLP as he sought to find a way to reach the public directly when efforts were made to stifle the voice of the party. This often became a major challenge as the party spent time in opposition.

His was not the time of social media, so that was not an option. The party did not have its own newspaper or radio station, so he had to find an alternative. He located his lectures in a place of least resistance in terms of competing voices, and, although it could never attract large audiences because of the time it was offered, it provided a platform for the excellent persons who presented and could always reach a larger audience than those seated in the room.

Astor taught many lessons without blackboard and chalk. It was always educational to sit around the table and listen to him. He would speak of earlier policies that worked and explain where those that did not work went wrong.

Noticeably missing from his discourses was any bitterness or negative dressing down of those with whom he locked horns, or anyone on the other side. He had no time for that kind of politics. His small frame did not house a small mind. He looked at what was necessary for the advancement of his party and the art of the possible. And for him, careful planning made all things possible.

While friends urged him on to try to make the century, he stumbled two days after his 98th birthday. He made his contribution, not just to his party, but to Barbados. There is no doubt that he knew that the effort he expended was all for the betterment of his beloved Barbados.

He has gone on a journey that we will all take in due course. When that time comes, others may comment on our usefulness in this existence. But, more importantly, if we are blessed with a moment before we step off this plain, we will ponder the same thing, as we face those who wait to receive us. I believe Astor’s was a life well lived.

“Let’s treat him according to his virtue, with all the respect and rituals of burial. His body will lie in my tent tonight, with the honorable observance that suits a soldier. So order the armies to rest, and let’s go home to share the glories of this happy day.” – Per Octavius.

May he rest in peace.