Felix Finisterre, KILP, Minister for Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities St. Lucia, West Indies.

This article was originally published in the July 2005 issue of the KFLA Newsletter.

Felix Finisterre The Eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia is a place of natural beauty and a popular tourist destination. But for its 158,000-some residents, quality of life issues are real-despite the ”no worries” ambiance that draws visitors.

As Minister of Communications, Works, Transport, and Public Utilities, Felix Finisterre oversees the construction and upkeep of the island’s infrastructure. He is also an elected member of parliament for the district of Babonneau, and responsible for responding to the needs of its citizens. Felix has helped orchestrate the completion of numerous projects of critical importance to the economic and social well-being of the island nation. For example, new roads, bridges, and highways now keep St. Lucian communities connected, while new investments in technology and telecommunications now connect them to the global community.

But Felix measures success less by the number of projects he has completed than by ”the level of improvement in the quality of the lives of the population–especially the alleviation of poverty for the marginalized, be they unemployed youth, the elderly, or voiceless rural folk.” He adds, ”A simple effort or intervention-sometimes just a phone call; other times following up an idea with project implementation-can improve the condition of someone’s life or an entire community.”

For Felix, the Kellogg International Leadership Program came at a seminal point in his life. ”I was exposed to the issues of poverty and sustainable development in communities world wide. This provided me with the personal tools to, first, have the desire to, and then, empower myself and others within communities to make a difference.”

When describing his approach to his worlç Felix says, ”Essentially, I have sought to involve the populace at all levels by being open and honest with information at all times.”

Amidst the pressures of his demanding professional life, Felix is able to stay focused in his practice of leadership He accomplishes good self-care through ‚”self-belief, with a positive mind- set,” and through ”daily prayers and seeking the guidance of the One and Only Master.”

His advice to other aspiring leaders in his field is: ”Be sincere, open, and honest in communicating. Remain positive, imaginative, and focused on problem-solving.”