CATEGORY:COMMENTARY ---------------------------- By Mr. Lloyd Noel(Attorney-at-law) Inside Grenada Contributor November 25,2006 WHETHER IT IS strictly local politics, or international happenings that are making the headlines and breaking news – the bread and butter issues affecting people in their own backyards, get caught up in the after-math one way or another. And when those happenings are taking place almost next door, just north of our Caribbean basin – and still in the most powerful, and maybe most influential nation on earth – we, in these mini states to the South, must take notice and be very concerned, because we need the U.S. friendship. Two burning issues that are currently on the front burner in the U.S.agenda, are the war against un-registered or so-called ‘illegal immigrants’, who have been living and working in the U.S. for many years; and the recently amended Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which will require all U.S. citizens to obtain Passports to enable them to re-enter the U.S. from Air Travel to the Caribbean. Both of those issues will be devastating for our Caribbean people’s welfare and the Region’s economy; and any inroads that can be made, by lobbying the new leaders from the recently held mid-term Elections, will be well worth the efforts for our Caribbean people. Of course, some of our Leaders are themselves our people’s worst advertisers – when it comes down to their very poor diplomatic initiatives and lack of common sense policies. And from that angle, it would make no difference whether those in the driving seats are Republican or Democrats – they remain Americans, and the narrow ideological differences between the parties will not change their outlook, when their Country’s image, welfare, security, or international standing is at stake. Although there is general agreement, that the war in Iraq has lost its purpose and the rationale for its declaration in the first place – it cannot be doubted that after “9/11” the Americans had to take some measures to ensure that there was not a repetition of what took place on that fateful day. As it has turned out, nothing anywhere nearly similar has taken place on American soil since “9/11” – but whether or not the world has become a safer place, because of the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, is really a matter of serious conjecture. But now that the political climate has changed somewhat in Washington D.C.,and especially on Capitol Hill, our Regional Leaders should embrace the opportunity to re-visit some of the burning issues facing the Americas and the Caribbean as a whole. They cannot just sit around and hope, or expect the new guys on the bloc,as it were, to come to their rescue. They have to go out, whether personally or through creditable lobbyists, and present a new, or changed, but meaningful image and intent. Whatever we do, or not do, in these parts to try and get some real changes to U.S. policy in this region – I do not expect to see any drastic movements one way or the other, but just enough to keep the voters on the boil for the next two years. And in the same context of what we can now expect– in the latest scandal surrounding Minister Bowen, and the Grynberg and RSM Corporation claim, that he demanded a bribe from the CEO to ensure his Company got the Exploration Licence. Minister Bowen not only denied that he ever requested any bribe from Grynberg, but he went further in a Press Conference to state categorically – that he never had any dealings with Grynberg in 1996, and he himself was not involved in the Oil Exploration discussions and Agreement – until he became the Minister responsible for Energy in 1999. What is more, during Minister Bowen’s response at the press conference to the New York case – he painted a very derogatory picture of CEO Grynberg, as a man who has been on the wrong side of numerous claims against his Company and therefore cannot be trusted for truth and honesty. Yet in the Case papers filed in New York on November 01, 2006, the background information on Jack J., Grynberg, aged 74 years of the State of Colorado in the U.S., provides a totally different state of affairs, that make Minister Bowen claim of a shady dealer look more like sour grapes. And now it has embarrassingly turned out, that the person who cannot be trusted for providing correct information – is no other than Minister Bowen. So that the claim in Paragraph 29 of the Case papers No. 06 CV11512, filed in the U.S. District Court in New York – and assigned before “Judge Cote” with a demand for Jury Trial – which states inter alia that …”Minister Bowen informed Jack J. Grynberg in September, 1996, in Grenada that the Minister expected significant bribes from RSM and Jack J. Grynberg in order for RSM to do business in Grenada. Minister Bowen stated that his Minister’s salary was too small for he and his family to live on” – now takes on a very different complexion. What is even more, the Case papers or the Arbitration hearing at the ICSID in London states in Paragraph 19 “that in 1995, RSM commenced discussions with the Government with a view to executing the Agreement. Negotiations took place both by exchange of correspondence and face-to-face meetings. The parties, including RSM’s local counsel (Lawyer name given) and the Government Minister of Communication and Works, Senator Gregory Bowen, met in Grenada on numerous occasions during the course of these negotiations.” The said local counsel for RSM is still around in St. George’s practicing law. So with all that concrete evidence available, why did the Minister go out on a limb to make those deceiving statements? And because our Caribbean Politicians have always maintained, that politics (only in this region I suppose) have its own morals and ethical standards – I expect that neither would Minister Bowen tender his resignation as a Cabinet Minister, nor would the Prime Minister demand that resignation, even as his deputy. And the rationale for maintaining that position would be, that since Grenadians have such short memories, especially about issues pertaining to our national affairs and politics as a whole – come the Election campaign in 2008, the voters would have forgotten this scandal and with a few perks and green bucks here, there and everywhere, the said Minister would again be returned as the M.P. for South East St. George. And if by chance he was rejected at the polls, and NNP was to win a fourth term in office, he would automatically be nominated as a Senator and be made a Cabinet Minister – just as he was in 1995/96, when the Agreement now in Court/Arbitration proceedings was signed. With that kind and level of mentality and approach, to matters of integrity, and transparency, and accountability, by those entrusted with the mantle of power and control of our nation’s affairs – it is not difficult to see and understand, why we continue to get taken for a ride on a wild goose chase ever so often. And to take the deception, and bad faith, and lack of trust a few steps further – we now have a whole generation of idle youths, looking on and witnessing that repetitive charade or absurd pretence, in the name of Honorable men/women; and because they rebel and throw caution to the wind, as their response or reaction to the very poor examples they are getting from the very top – the same deceivers and masqueraders go on public platforms and condemn those youths who follow their lead. And in the midst of all those shameful performances, we are now hearing of Bills going through parliament to make provisions for “integrity in public office, prevention of corruption, and Investigation of foreign Investors who want to come to Grenada.” Now that all the horses have bolted, and made their Millions in the open field of rampant corruption and deception, our “so-concerned Legislators” are about to close the Stable doors. A World respected Body, looking at corruption scandals Worldwide, have placed Grenada on par with Trinidad and Guyana in the Caribbean – as the worst examples. Yet instead of going down on their knees, in an act of repentance and seeking forgiveness for their wrongful deeds in public office, I saw a Minister complaining that the World Body and those persons in RSM and Grynberg Petroleum Corporation, were conspiring to blacken Grenada’s “good name”, by the timing of the scandal report and publication and the filing of the claim against Minister Bowen in New York. Now I ask you, what else can we expect? And now we are into the last lap for the National Stadium completion – as we had the final inspection last week Friday and so far things seem to be on target. The Sunset Legislation has also been through our Parliament, and it is now the Law dealing with the CWC2007 administration and implementation for all the match venue States in the region. The other areas like roads, bridges, practice grounds and medical facilities are on-going, and hopefully will be completed in time for the big occasion. But whatever we are expecting as a Match Venue, will not happen magically on those Six days at the Stadium. To secure the real benefits for the good and welfare of the country and people, the groundwork or foundation must be laid during these six days – to hopefully materialize in the months and years ahead. All the ole talk and boasting of progress made, and mere wishful thinking of expectations to happen will not do the trick. So in looking to the future, for what we should expect from CWC2007, a lot more ground work and planning efforts have to be expended – if we are to achieve our expectations, because this is one big deal from which no hanky-panky would be allowed to show its ugly face and succeed.