CATEGORY:COMMENTARY ------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA TUESDAY July 17,2007 by Lloyd Noel Someone called to remind me last week Wednesday, the 11th of July, that is was the 26th anniversary since Tillman Thomas, Leslie Pierre, ou-la-la, Stanley Roberts, and myself - were picked up by the (PRA) People’s Revolutionary Army and taken to the same “Fort Rupert” in St. George’s to begin our two years, three months and fifteen days in detention. We were all classified as Counter-Revolutionaries, because we were involved in producing the Grenadian Voice Newspaper and selling it to the public for one week. When the second week’s issue was being produced the Roneo machine and all the papers were seized by the PRA, and that was the end of “The Voice” for about two and a half years. Power was firmly in the hand of the PRG in those times - and the PRG included then, those who died on the said Fort Rupert in October, 1983, and those who were arrested and convicted for those killings - with the Ten still in prison. We joined the over Three Thousand so-called “Counters”, who passed through Richmond Hill, and “Hope Vale” Camp where the Rasta brothers were held and tortured. Not a word, not a murmur, was heard from those “so-called victims” now-a-days, when in those days they were in the top class of the society and enjoying their powerful positions. A whole lot of us have taken the unjust punishment, suffered in silence, and lived to forgive and let go and let God. In June 1982, I made a note of a short passage from “Maccabees Chap. 7 versus16-17" which said —“Because you have authority among men, mortal though you are, you do what you please. But do not think that God has forsaken our people. Keep on, and see how His mighty power will torture your descendants”. The truth therein did set us free. I made that note on a card sent to me in prison, by my ex-secretary who was then un-employed, and that card had on the front these words “may your shut-in days be especially blest, in realizing that God knows Best”. I still have it. The relevant point stemming from those in the driving seat, as it were, riding rough shot over those under their control or authority - is that no matter how powerful they think they are, and how much very unfair advantage they may take over the people under them, or those who are not afraid to tell them when they are wrong, or going down a pathway towards an un-avoidable precipice - the longest day will have an end in one form or another, and the table would inevitably turn. And as we look at what is taking place in our long-suffering land now-a-days, the nationwide sentiments are almost unanimous, in circles where objectivity is ever present, that the powers-that-be have gone way beyond the levels of basic tolerance in dealing with our public affairs, and something has to give way sooner rather than later. And what is significant, is that the abuse and mis-use of power have to do with money, not security. In the Eric Gairy era of arresting those who opposed him, his actions had to do with so-called security and fear of the opposition NJM. In the Maurice Bishop PRG era, it was more of the same Khaki pants. Having taken power by the barrels of guns, rather than the ballot boxes, those in control were perpetually afraid of a similar fate - as it in fact turned out to be in the very short run. But in the chaotic and financial catastrophe taking place in our land for the past six or seven, or even more years, the political and national strangulation of our people have to do with Financial corruption and squandering of public funds - that make “squandermania “ in the Gairy days, look like over-spending in a kindergarten ice cream ten cents school party. And to add gross insult to the nauseating arrogance, those in authority are not even bothering in recent times to even make token excuses, or to try and explain their side of the story. But then again, as one chap put it to me, in an open discussion on the matter - they have exhausted excuses, and now it can only be a case of payback time. And now, because it has to do with money, and cost of living, and un-employment, and increasingly very hard times for one and all - be they NNP, NDC, PLM, or GULP - the groaning noises are loud and clear. In fact, the more enlightened NNP supporters are even more concerned and grumbling loudest. The Government has to pay half the cost of the Richmond Hill Case at the Privy Council for the Grenada thirteen. They would have to do the same for the Grenada re-sentencing cases two weeks or so ago. And now the Government has filed an Appeal on the 10th July in the re-sentencing Case, that awarded fixed term sentences to Ten of the thirteen, and released three chaps into freedom street after nearly 24 years in jail. Normally, the prosecution in a Criminal Case has no right of Appeal against sentence. But in the Case in point, Government, through its “Super Special Adviser”, no doubt, is appealing against the decision of Mr. Justice Francis Bell - not to recuse (remove) himself from hearing the matter after the fraudulent Affidavit filed by the D.P.P from Nelson Louison. And the papers filed in the registry really make a mockery of our Justice system. The “Special Legal Luminary” is changing, or rather combining the Criminal and Civil Rules of the Court. He states that the action by the D.P.P., when he brought the Affidavit to the Judge’s attention, was an “Interlocutory matter” and whoever was complaining was “The Plaintiff” in the Case. And because the Judge refused to remove himself from the Case, “The Plaintiff” suffered an injustice so he wants to Appeal. But because the application was an interim one and could not bring finality to the Case, because had the Judge recused himself the matter would have been adjourned and another Judge had to be appointed - the so-called Plaintiff must apply to the Court of Appeal for leave to be allowed to bring the Appeal for argument. The Criminal portfolio for bringing or stopping Criminal matters in any Court is constitutionally the province of the D.P.P and he is not subject to the direction of any other person or authority. I would wager any sum that the D.P.P did not institute this “civil procedure” proceeding, under the guise of the Criminal Law. But what the hell does it matter- is Grenada we living in and anything goes, so long as it fits into the political propaganda machinery of those controlling the reins of power. As a free public service, I, nevertheless, wish to remind them of the cautionary Warning from “Maccabees.” But over and above abusing their power base, they are continuing to spend thousands of the very scarce dollars that as a people we cannot afford to waste. I know that some of those in authority are dead scared of the release of the full slate of those “Thirteen”, because they had been well compensated in advance to grant them amnesty some years ago, and when the desired ends were achieved they deceitfully failed to honour their side of the deal. But come hail, or sunshine, or high waters, those details would be released one good day-for all and sundry to judge the full range of the political hypocrisy and mamaguyism that are paraded in the name of justice. And now, as evil deeds continue to generate hidden deceitful revelations, the whole question of “Citizenship” - in the context of a Grenadian being legally able to contest a seat in our Parliament, if he/she is also holding Citizenship of a Foreign power - not including Commonwealth Citizenship, as provided for in our Constitution - is again coming alive by a quite un-expected source. Readers would no doubt recall the hue and cry, which was paraded by the Attorney General Nimrod and the same special adviser Hugh Wildman - over the right of Peter David to retain his seat as the Member of Parliament for St. George’s Town. By the way, after the matter was thrown out by the Judge at the initial hearing, and by the Court of Appeal when the Government brought in a Jamaican Q.C. to assist Wildman - and that expense did not help; Mr. Wildman then applied for leave to further Appeal to the Court fo Appeal; although Government already owed Peter over Twenty-Five thousand dollars for Legal Costs, in addition to whatever sum was paid to the Jamaican Q.C. Now the Court of Appeal has sent that Application back for both sides to submit further legal arguments. But quite out of the blue, the case filed by the Boston businessman against our Prime Minister Mitchell and Eric Resteiner in New York - claiming repayment of monies allegedly paid by Resteiner to Mitchell, as part of the fraudulent sums swindled by the con-man from U.S. Citizens - in that Case Dr. Mitchell is stated as being a U.S. Citizens, and no doubt as being the owner of property in the United States of America. The implication there is very obvious. If Dr. Mitchell is a U.S. Citizen and owns property in the U.S., and if the Boston Claimant wins his Case against Mitchell/Resteiner - it is so much easier to levy on property in the U.S.A.And that would only be fair because, as the Doc said, it is his “dam money”, not the Government’s - so he should pay. Never a dull moment in this land, where claims and counterclaims, and political intrigue and undercover dealings are the order of the day. But, unfortunately, too many people are being caught up in the Melee and suffering; and even more distressing, a whole lot of the younger ones are floating in mid-stream, and are easy prey for any kind of passing current that always lead to danger and human destruction. And that is where the question comes into the equation - when will it ever stop or end? Some people were predicting Elections soon after the World Cup matches in Grenada - if they were successful. Well the Prime Minister is reported to have said the occasion was very successful, so presumably the door to Economic prosperity in Tourism is now wide open. But there are so many negatives in the atmosphere, that I do not believe the Prime Minister can risk an Election this year. And with all those Millions of dollars Cases hovering around the corner pending decisions - people are now saying it looks like going down to the wire. And in the local background, so soon after the elevation of the Sgt. Of Police “Caton” as a Senator on the NNP team - there is a festering promotion fiasco that could cause even further distractions and damage to the powers-that-be. My very reliable grapevine news is that although a number of long-service and competent Police officers have passed an Interview Board with high marks for promotion - the new “Senator” has been asked to submit his list of those he considers loyal to Government, for promotion. And needless to say, the ex-welfare officer, now a Senator with Power - his list does not include a large section of the officers who passed the Board; and what is more, he is parading the list around the place to demonstrate his power base. At a time when National Security, in these trying times, necessitate a United Police Force to combat the social evils rising up Island wide - those in authority are creating divisions. The gravity of the situation begs the question - when will it ever end?