Nothing will distract me, vows former PM Arthur

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur has vowed to stay on the political scene to ensure that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is returned as the government of this country, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



Speaking at a BLP Branch meeting in St George, Sunday night, Arthur said he is focusing his energies on mobilising the party\'s supporters.



\"I am here this evening because I am fully committed to doing all I can to ensure the return of the Barbados Labour Party to power. It is my only mission and nothing will distract me,\" Arthur said.



\"I have come here this evening with a simple message that there is no position in this society that is too small for me, for me to serve this great party,\" he added.



Arthur, who was replaced as BLP leader by Mia Mottley following the 2008 general election defeat to the Democratic Labour Party, challenged the party\'s membership to properly fulfil their role as the opposition party.



\"The Opposition must be the institution in the country that is always focusing the concerns of the people, in such a way that those concerns must be heard and those concerns must be acted upon…for the betterment of the people that we purport to serve.



\"The opposition Barbados Labour Party, once I am part of it, must be the voice of the people,\" the former prime minister declared.



Arthur, who was speaking a day after Mottley announced a fresh slate of party spokespersons, said his decision to remain active in politics is not a \"lust for office\" but an effort to \"save Barbados\" from the poor management of the David Thompson administration.