It is now history that the PLP will have a challenge from Dr. Ewart Brown for the Leadership of the Progressive Labour Party at its next Delegates Conference. If he wins the challenge to become the PLP leader, it is presumed that the governor will appoint him as the Premier. The Governor has the right to appoint the person as premier, who in his opinion has the support of the majority of the members of Parliament. Since the PLP has the majority of seats in parliament, it is a fair assumption that whoever wins the leadership of the party will automatically become the premier. This is not necessarily true! The PLP members of parliament also have to accept that the leader of the party should be the Premier. This certainly did not happen in 2003. In my view, the method by which the PLP selects a leader must soon become a key item for resolution in a constitutional conference.

How does Dr. Brown stack up in terms of what is generally regarded as the characteristics of a good leader. Dr. Warren Bennis, Ph.D. who is a distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the University of Southern California has defined the important characteristics of a leader in many documents and treatises on the subject. I will paraphase his conclusions. He notes that 'Leaders' possess a clear vision of what they would like to see happen; they are able to communicate that vision effectively; they are believed to have integrity; they are courageous; and they are prepared to take risks to achieve their goals.

Dr. Brown certainly does not lack vision. This has been effectively demonstrated by his decision to renounce the treasured possession of citizenship of the United States to contest a seat in the Parliament of Bermuda. He did this because he had a vision of a Bermuda in which all citizens were free to say whatever they felt needed to be said and to pursue whatever career they wanted to pursue. He feels that the need for that freedom is even more pressing today given the fact that Bermuda is about to make a major entry into the world of international finance which will be supported by vastly improved air transport and first class tourism facilities. However, in his view, the delivery of his vision will require the vigorous support of all government ministries, an undertaking Dr. Brown believes that he can deliver as leader.

How Dr. Brown will deliver his vision will no doubt be communicated to Bermuda and the conference delegates during the next several days. His past history assures us that he will communicate that vision with simplicity, humour and conviction as he has done on so many occasions as the Minister of Tourism and Transport.

Questions have been raised about Dr. Brown's integrity. It is ironic that it has been Dr. Brown's deep integrity that has been at the root of the charges that he cannot be trusted. During the 2003 election for leadership, Dr. Brown felt a need to explain to party members that the leadership conflict that was raging prior to the election had been papered over in order not to impair the party's chances to win the election.

This is not unusual for political parties who are entering election mode. However, Dr. Brown's honest explanation was taken by some to be dishonesty despite the fact that both sides of the conflict had participated in the so-called 'deception'.

Dr. Brown's resignation speech last week was the acme of integrity. He made a public declaration of his intention to contest the leadership and let the public know that if he was unsuccessful he would continue in the back-benches until the end of his term of office. In this way he would not be standing in the way of the successful leader. Whether one agrees or not with his declaration, it cannot be denied that it was made with integrity and a recognition that it would not be in the best interests of Bermuda to continue in the cabinet after he had failed a challenge of the leadership.

The fact that Dr. Brown has courage cannot be denied by anyone. As a teenager, he was not afraid to publicly align himself with Bermuda's Black Berets who were a group of young black man dedicated to remove the inequalities in Bermuda based upon race. Many of these men went on to acquire leadership roles in Bermuda and these men still have respect and admiration for Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown's courage was demonstrated at Howard University, a University which can account for the higher education of many black Americans. Dr. Brown led demonstrations against the administration of that highly esteemed black college, the Alma Mater of his Aunt Gloria McPhee, once a Minister in the former UBP government. Still, the esteem with which Dr. Brown was held by the officials of the University is revealed by the fact that he became a member of the Howard Board of Trustees later in life.

Dr. Brown's demonstrations of courage are considerable. His introduction of the fast ferries despite endless criticism; his decision to correct the many complaints against the taxi industry by introducing the GPS system; his decision to introduce new air-carriers to the island; and his willingness to urge Bermuda's hotel owners to upgrade their products in order to be consistent with his efforts to stimulate tourism.

There can be no doubt that Dr. Brown is prepared to take risks both in his personal life, his medical career and his political career. We have noted his willingness to take on the administration of Howard while still a student at the University; his willingness to renounce his American citizenship to run for a seat in Bermuda's parliament; and his accomplishments as Minister of Tourism and Transport. Currently, he is putting his political career on the line to in an attempt to gain the right to lead Bermuda to the next level of its economic and social development.

What is that next level? That level is the entry of Bermuda as a major player in the global economy with respect to the world of International Finance. We have watched Bermuda's major business planners put in place many office buildings and massive apartment blocks in anticipation of a marked upsurge in the international business sector. This upsurge will bring with it a major influx of high grade workers to occupy the vast apartment complexes.

Will all Bermudians share equally in this new economic expansion? It certainly was not the case for black Bermudians during the initial introduction of international business to the island. Most notably, Bermuda's Black Males shared very little in the creation of the International Business sector. This cannot be allowed to happen again. And prevention will involve not only education and training but also the provision of employment and business opportunities that apply in force for the Black majority.

To the extent that Black Bermudians are made to feel that the expansion to the new level applies equally to them, they will make a redoubled effort to ensure that issues of internal security and support of the new initiatives receive their full backing.

I believe that Dr. Ewart Brown is the only Bermudian on either side of the house that has the intelligence, passion, energy and boundless enthusiasm to lead us most successfully to the next level of economic and social expansion.

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