A Grammy Award-winning Belizean artist turned politician praised the Bermuda Industrial Union and told attendees to never forget the cause as he delivered the keynote speech at the organisation’s 80th anniversary Labour Day Banquet on Friday night.

Speaking to a sold-out Harbourview Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess, Shyne Barrow said: “I’m very happy to be in this charming paradise. From the moment I approached your airport there was just a special reverberation. So gentle, so quiet.”

The rapper had a number of hits at the turn of the century while based in New York. He moved into politics after returning to his home country of Belize, where he ended up becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

“When I look at human beings, I see myself. I have as much respect for the person that opens the door at the hotel as I do for the Premier,” he told the banquet.

Mr Barrow spoke about the importance of change following Chris Furbert, president of the BIU, announcing his intention to retire.

Mr Barrow said: “If you don’t evolve, if you don’t change, you become extinct. You become a dinosaur. I appreciate the president saying, that’s it, I’m done, I’m gone, because it’s time for change.

“But the changes don’t have to be impolite, contentious or with malice. This is not about any personality.”

He added: “So, as we transition and as we change, which we must, the president, as great as he is, he must make way for the new generation of leadership.

“Within that transition we must not lose ourselves in personalities. We must not get in front of ourselves.”

Mr Barrow added: “What is the cause? We must never forget the cause. The cause of the people of Bermuda, just as for me it’s the people of Belize, who need us. Who are not the oligarchs.

“People need the union. People need strong institutions to advocate on their behalf.

“For the parliamentarians in here, people need a strong government. People need a strong Opposition.

“I’m disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition is not here tonight. I looked forward to meeting him, because I don’t believe in taking any sides.

“People need us as leaders to serve them. People need us, and we should be grateful, those of us who have the capacity, whether intellectually or visionary, we should be grateful for that honour, because it’s the closest thing to God.

“Service is the closest thing to true superiority. That is true superiority — when you can lift people up. You can look at someone and say, you know, what I see something in you and I’m going to help you get to the finish line.

“Helping people is helping yourself, and that is what the union represents. The ultimate form of advocacy.

“So as you move forward, transforming the future, because we change. We appreciate the past and take with us all the great things the former leaders have left.

“We take the great things with us. Maybe we might not be as rough as Brother Furbert. But I’m not going to be him, I’m going to be me.

“That’s what I always say as a creative. As a creative, it’s important to be the first me. I don’t want to be like anybody.

“I don’t want to be like Jay-Z, I don’t want to be like Dr Dre, I want to be like Shyne and the world is waiting for the first tune.”

Offering advice to future leaders in the room, he said: “The ultimate goal is not you. You don’t get into these organisations, these institutions, to serve yourself.

“I know that as we transition and the baton is passed, there are young leaders listening to me right now and I want you to understand what the responsibility is, what the programme is.

“The people, who you know, that made you — they are the programme, and you’re never bigger than the programme.

“Don’t let your personalities get in front of the programme. Don’t let your ego get in front of the programme. Don’t let your pride get in front of the programme.

“Always remember there are people who are dependant on the advocates, whether unions or parliamentarians and we cannot afford to let those people down.

“Long live Bermuda, long live Belize, long live the Bermuda Industrial Union.”