Irrespective of his faults as a human being, his miscalculations as a politician, and what some criticised as his “vaulting ambition” to be prime minister, George Odlum was unique, extraordinary and a patriot. He was talented and endowed by his creator with the gift of oratory. His platform deliveries were not only inspiring, convincing and compelling but also a holistic lesson that covered economics, history and culture.
He was no ordinary politician but a man who lived by his convictions. The son of humble parents—a barber and housewife—the Odlums were a middle-class family that understood the value of education. They ensured their son received the best at Oxford University in the UK, where Odlum shone as a bright star, becoming the first black president of the student body.
“Big Brother” and “The Hardest Hard” were two of the most popular sobriquets he earned from the people he mobilized into action against official corruption, unjust laws and poor treatment of workers. His detractors and political opponents were fearful of his condemning political rhetoric. The establishment was mortified by his closeness to the so-called common people.
Odlum was a fearless fighter for equal rights, a devoted champion for equality of the sexes and a combatant for the moral values of the Saint Lucian society. His politics was always in the people’s interest and throughout his political career he was concerned about fashioning a group of men and women above reproach. From the platforms of The Forum to the Progressive Labour Party and the formation of the National Front, Odlum taught that a progressive, prosperous and an economically viable country required a people united.
He accepted criticism as a badge of honour. He never considered those who disagreed with his politics enemies. He saw politics as a contest of ideas and ideals. Odlum was never comfortable with the politics of maypwis (bad mouthing). He always believed that the best political and economic arguments could be handled by an educated populace.
He had an abiding and unwavering faith in the voters. He was equally conscious of the fact that politics could be a very nasty and dirty undertaking. He knew and understood that the voting process was likely to be contaminated and corrupted by immoral men and women. He believed in the processes of government and genuinely accepted government as an instrument to enhance the lives of ordinary citizens.
I was blessed and fortunate to have been mentored by George Odlum. I fondly remember the Saturday morning when Odlum invited me to join other crusaders for peace, justice and a better society. It was flattering to have accepted his call to people’s duty. Under his tutelage, I learned to accept defeat at the polls with grace and patience. When, as a young inexperienced and vulnerable candidate, I failed in my efforts to win the Castries East seat, Brother George buoyed my spirit by reminding me I had fought the good fight and that while our party may not have won the battle for votes, our struggle would continue regardless.
The Big Brother was never dejected in defeat. His was a struggle rooted in a bigger cause: the development and empowerment of people. He told a massive crowd at the Castries market steps, in responding to those who suggested he was in politics for personal ambitions: “If my people develop, so do I develop.”
He went on: “If we were serving ourselves, we could have gone to the United States to some bourgeois retreat, collect fantastic salaries, but we would be selling our country short.” A visionary, Odlum was always in tune with the mood of the people on the ground. In a society where most politicians believe in polls, Brother George preferred to rely on what he learned firsthand from the people.
In 2003 my friend had already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had travelled to a treatment centre in Tennessee. The centre specialized in holistic and alternative healing methods. I remember that at the time my wife was seven months pregnant with our son Matthew. It was the last time George and I met face to face. We journeyed up the Tennessee Mountain, reminiscing about our political history, the elections fought, the setbacks encountered, the victories won. We spoke about the killer disease that was voraciously eating away his life, while his mind remained sharp as ever. We laughed about betrayal by colleagues and wondered what might have happened had the Progressive Labour Party won a general election.
He told me one of his professors at Oxford had once told him he had a special gift and exhorted him to use it always for good. We mentioned his political brother Peter Josie but only to underscore that he harboured no grudges. They had shared an uncommon bond to the end. George was never bitter or angry, for these are not revolutionary creeds. He was a man with a huge, forgiving and trusting heart. Some have suggested that he may have been too trusting.
His compassion was compelling and real; his contributions to his island home immense. The sacrifices he made for the nation are yet to be fully acknowledged by officialdom. In this era of fake news and alternative facts, I can hear George bellowing for a return to truth, honesty and reality. I can hear him calling for a unified societal order. I can hear him reaching for Derek Walcott: “Love is the touchstone that outlived both ash and mourning.”
The author is a former editor of this newspaper, currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He recently earned a BA in journalism.
