CATEGORY:COMMENTARY ------------------------ By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-Law) Inside Grenada correspondent Friday January 19,2007 IT HAS BEEN very truthfully said - that in man’s quest for truth, questions will be constantly asked, some deep, some superficial, and many just plain silly. And in our public affairs, asking questions over and over again must be the best way to become well informed, and at the same time give those in control of the driving seat - the opportunity to be transparent and to give account of their stewardship. At the same time, giving correct answers, or saying it as it is - must be the hallmark of Accountability. Giving half an answer, or a confusing answer, or no answer at all - would only encourage more and much more questions, on the one hand; and worse yet, will convey to the questioners and listeners - that those responsible for answering the questions do have something to hide, or to cover up for reasons best known to themselves. On the other hand, as the servants of the people - with the responsibility to carry out the duties of public servants, for the good and welfare of the people - it seems to me, that if those duties were carried out in the manner, and methods, and principles, that are well laid down for so doing over decades, there would hardly be any need for questions to gain information. And even when clarification is needed, on issues that are not very clear because of technicalities - there would be no need to bramble, or give half truths, or tell downright lies, and supply misinformation. In the context and against that background, the people whose business those in authority have been elected to control and administrate on their behalf - they will soon lose trust and confidence and respect in and for the controllers; and when that stage is reached, the time has surely come for a fresh mandate. And in my very considered opinion, as a direct result of all that have taken place, and continue to take place over the years - and especially over the past two years or so - that time has come, and re-cycled and repeated, in so many forms and fashions that we are now existing on borrowed time. No conscious and enlightened people, should take the calculated nonsense that passes for authority, and the administration of an Elected Government in these times - and sit back and do and say nothing, or very little. True enough, the Media, especially the printed type, have been publishing the news reports, and a few Editors and individuals have been saying it as they see it. And from my vantage point, a whole lot and lots of people have been coming forward and expressing their concerns and dis-enchantment. But many of them are also saying, that they need a vanguard movement, an organized and committed group, to hear the cries of the people, young and old, coming through from the liming spots on the road sides where they sitting and waiting; and from the crowds looking in at the food shops and stores, stocked with goodies they cannot afford to purchase, because they have no money since they are un-employed; and having heard their wailing and weeping, to lead them from this state of desperation, to any other place that cannot be worse than where they are now existing. And despite what many may say, about what went on before when people were struggling, and having followed some brave young men and women the outcome went sour and the result is now history - as a people still struggling even more today, and seeing those in control and authority wasting away and squandering the people’s already meager assets; and worse yet, benefiting over and over again in scandalous deals in the people’s name, and then ignoring all complaints or requests for answers - such a people cannot simply sit down, or lie down, and wait for a miracle to rescue them from their suffering. It is absolutely amazing, that the people in control of our Nation’s affairs, who are themselves accused of all sorts of wrong-doing involving Millions of dollars; and with very material and relevant documentary evidence, that are clearly admissible in any Court of Law and openly published in the public domain for one and all to see. These same persons are persisting with threats of taking the publishers to Court to silence them - rather than come forward with the contrary evidence, for the same public consumption, and show up their accusers, or doubting Thomases, for who and what they are. At the end of the day, it is in the Court of informed public opinion - that those who hold office in the name, and by the Votes of the people, will win or lose, and or will be allowed to carry on or be removed from those offices. And am sure they do not need me to draw their attention to their neighbors and counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago - where the whole system has been, and continues to be turned upside down - all because those who once held the reins of power and were in the driving seat, they very foolishly assumed, that by passing the billions around their limited number of friends and tricksters, while they were in charge, that would protect them for all time. In our case in these Isles, the Briefcase issue involving our Prime Minister has taken on all kinds of turns and twists, and still remains to this day rather confused and mystifying. What is even more alarming is that the Governor General has become involved - since he it was who appointed the one-man Commissioner.The said Commissioner is involved in the wider context of the alleged availability of the illusive “Video Tape” - based on the information supplied by David Marchant of the Offshore Alert publication. And the Attorney General, Hon. Elvin Nimord, is deeply involved, because of the request from the Commissioner to take steps to obtain the “Video,” if it exists and is available. And as for the input, and ban by the Speaker of the House of Parliament, that the whole matter is Sub-judice and cannot be discussed in Parliament by the Opposition M.Ps; but the Prime Minister in the same sitting, can discuss it and any thing else for as long as he wanted. That defies logic, and common sense, and ABC Parliamentary procedure in any democracy Worldwide, and remains shameful from all angles. The publication of the facts, from the conveyance involving the Port Louis Lagoon development at Ballast Ground, that the property has been sold for One E.C.C. Dollar ($1.00 E.C.C.) to the Developer - has been met with deathly silence. But a reliable informant has up-dated me, that when challenged by him about that scandal on the record - a top official in the Ministry of Finance and land valuation simply said ... words to the effect... “boy you know how the politics go.” And in the even bigger and much more valuable scandal - surrounding our Off Shore Oil and Gas resources and the deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Gregory Bowen - that rotten situation, as the old folks used to say, “beat all cockfight.” And the Tomfoolery continues. Using the same Parliament - in which the same Hon. Speaker was presiding, and ruling that a Commission of Inquiry that had expired months ago, was still Sub-judice - the deputy Prime Minister spoke at length, on two cases that are currently very clearly in Court, in the Two most notable Commercial Centres in the World i.e. London and New York; and he even produced a written document (which he kept to himself), as evidence that he claimed would exonerate him from personal liability. He was careful not to present it as evidence, in defense of the Government of Grenada which he had represented. Many of us have got copies of the said document, addressed to the Prime Minister, from the Internet, and the contents leave a whole lot to be desired. But the case is in Court in New York, so I say no more. But on the other hand, the deputy Prime Minister has also been confronted with another written document addressed to him - pertaining also to Grenada’s Offshore Oil and Gas resources, and a Russian group whose names are similar to those in the case in New York. And Mr. Bowen had said in a Press Conference, that he had no agreement with any Russians, on behalf of his Government, to do with our Oil and Gas reserves. The document deals with the sum of $2.5 (U.S.) Millions paid to the Government in conjunction with the said agreement.Questions were asked of him by the deputy political Leader of the G.U.L.P., in connection with the said document, and to-date deathly silence, and business goes on as usual. And after all the carry-on with the Judiciary during the past year, John Public heard the Prime Minister in his Budget contribution accusing the D.P.P., Mr. Christopher Nelson, of being so close to the opposition N.D.C.; and the inference was that the D.P.P. is not close to the N.N.P. - so it follows why the Government want to get rid of this D.P.P. And at the very year’s end, Magistrate Henry Paryag got a letter from the Governor General dated December 22nd 2006, which he received on Wednesday December 27th - informing him that his Monthly Contract as a Magistrate was terminated, effective January first 2007 - but he will be paid One Month Salary in Lieu of Notice. The Attorney General Nimrod had written to Mr. Paryag since June 2006, telling him that Government was advising the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) to terminate his four year old Monthly Contract. Yet Six months later, the termination letter came with Four (4) days to spare before taking effect - and up to the 12th January, 2007, there was still no replacement to fill the position, so all persons with cases pending in the ex-Magistrate Court were simply told by a Clerk to come back next month, or whenever. As for who paid the English Q.C. James Guthrie, for the Court of Appeal case of “Wildman Vs. JLSC” in Grenada on 4th December, 2006, that now is history; but I noticed that Solicitors have already been paid for the same Q.C. to appear in the Privy Council matter - even before the Court of Appeal has handed down its Judgment in Grenada in the said case. That payment was made on the 27th December 2006. That clearly shows serious lack of confidence in our Caribbean Judges, and great hope in the Privy Council for the foreseeable future. As we await the handing over, and blessing and political Rally at the National Stadium - all in anticipation of CWC 2007 as our Economic Salvation - I heard the news that Ten (10) Medical Doctors were recently hired by the Government, at about the same time the Hospital Administrator was packing up from professional frustration. But I guess the new recruits are part and parcel of the terms and conditions to qualify for a World Cup venue. And then what?Young ones are dying for lack of Medical Care; and an expectant mother cannot get a bed to give birth - but for CWC 2007 the Tom foolery continues unabated.