H.L. Stoutt – ordinary man who did extraordinary things
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the celebrations of H. Lavity Stoutt birthday on Monday March 5, 2012, Hon. Fahie pointed that H.L. Stoutt’s life spanned from 1929–1995.
“The year he was born and the year he died with just a small dash in between but the dash speaks VOLUMES! In that dash was a life filled with life. In that dash was a life that made a way of life for many in this Territory. In that dash was a life that gave hope to those that felt a sense of hopelessness. In that dash was a life that was a voice for the voiceless.”
The current 1st District Representative said in that dash was a life that help built a strong foundation for this Territory in every respect: financially, socially, spiritually, just to name a few. He further told the many persons including Government officials who gathered to pay tribute to the late Chief Minister that in that dash lived a man who was an ordinary man that did extra ordinary things.
“In that dash was a life that understood that correct timing and place is what put the weak ahead of the strong. In that dash was a life that understood that with God as your foundation you can build with confidence a nation full of hope. Today is not about 1929 when HL Stoutt was born. Today is not about 1995 when HL Stoutt died. Today is about that little dash between the year he was born and the year that he died. Today is a day when we reflect with admiration about the life that that dash represented,” he said.
According to Hon. Fahie, it was an unknown philosopher who once said that stupidity and bravery are closely linked and that many would recall that most of the visions of the late but great H.L. Stoutt was pronounced by many at the time to be mere stupidity but today due to the results we can truly say that he was a leader that lead with bravery.
“After-all, that philosophy has and continues to be the bedrock of the people of the First District and this Territory: It is better to fail in things that will succeed and last than to succeed in things that will eventually fail and wither away. We celebrate the life of our beloved leader, friend, father, as we know that God has taken him from this earth where he was tolerated and put him in a place where he is now celebrated.”
In continuing to give a history of the late H. L. Stoutt, Fahie reminded the public that he was part of a team that founded the Virgin Islands Party on March 2, 1971. He said although “his Virgin Islands Party” has met with challenges, as we all do from time to time, Fahie encouraged everyone to approach life with a basic philosophy that life is about enjoying the moments that go well and managing the moments that don’t . “So I congratulate the current administration and encourage each of us as elected leaders to don’t waste our lives chasing after success and miss purpose. Success is not significant but missing purpose is miserable. Purpose changes lives. HL Stoutt understood this extremely well. We as a Territory are standing on the shoulders of great men and women and we also take this time today in our hearts and thoughts to salute such heroes because memories don’t live like people do, when people go they stay with you.”
The district representative urged everyone to “live a life understanding what our God given purpose is and with God’s guidance, fulfill that purpose so that God will be pleased and not man”.
“That’s what our dash must say when we leave this earth. That’s what HL Stoutt’s dash is about that we celebrate and remember today. That is what God want us to remember when we remember the life and legacy of the late but Great HL Stoutt, that He is God alone from beginning to end and He wants us to fulfill the purpose He placed us on earth to fulfill. Then and only then will we be truly honouring God and the memory of the late but Great H.L. Stoutt.”
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