Courtesy the Grenada Advocate, issue of Friday, December 19th, 2008, I have been afforded the opportunity to read the response of the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, to the 2009 Budget presented by Hon. Nazim Burke, Minister of Finance. Among the things which stood out for me in the response of the Leader of the Opposition were the following: • The usual deliberate attempts of the Leader of the Opposition to MISLEAD and to create FEAR • An UNCHARACTERISTIC pre-occupation with the conduct of “civilized democracy” and professionalism in the public service • Blatant attempts to play the Minister of Finance against the Minister of Tourism 1. Attempts to Mislead and to Create Fear: • The Leader of the Opposition spoke of the tremendous hope and confidence which seems to have exited with the NNP administration. The REALITY IS that never since the Revolution have we the people felt and seen so much RELIEF, REJOICING, GOODWILL AND HOPE with the changing of an administration. • The Leader of the opposition advised the Speaker – “I want to show that this administration continues to talk through both sides of its mouth.” We the people know that the Hon. Leader of the Opposition is the MASTER of “talking though both sides of the mouth”. The example which stands out most in my mind is when as Prime Minister, he often made EMPTY PRONOUNCEMENTS about reconciliation and forgiveness while deliberately and systematically fuelling political divisiveness, and hate. • “Frighteningly, this is a government that will continue to do and say anything to stay in power, even if those things are at the expense of our country’s reputation, peace, social and economic progress…………………” • “And there is no hope that the ominous wave of crime, violence and wanton disregard for human life will be soon arrested” – Persons are remarking how CALM the country has become since the July 8th elections. Older, God-faring folk are even suggesting that the 15 murders and deaths in tragic circumstances that occurred prior to the July 8th elections were linked to some EVIL, OBEAH – inspired design that a certain political figure(s) may have been dabbling in 2. Conduct in a Civilized Democracy: Dr. Mitchell appeared to be UNCHARACTERISTICALLY pre-occupied with “conduct in a civilized democracy”. He made a scathing attack on Mr. Lloyd Noel for making public the scandalous deal involving the conveying of 20.4 acres of the people’s property, i.e. Grand Anse beach front in exchange for the PROMISE of the use of Lewis Hamilton’s name and image to do tourism promotion for Grenada. Dr. Mitchell declared, “If the NDC administration is trying to save the project, they must leave the freehold with the Hamilton Group. If they are against the project, they must demand the freehold back.” We the people ask who/what is the Hamilton Group? According to information made public by Mr. Lloyd Noel, OUR PROPERTY has been conveyed to a company called Time Bourke Holding with head office in the British Virgin Islands. No one has yet explained to we the people HOW Lewis Hamilton is related to this group. We have no information which links Lewis Hamilton to the group save and except the land has been conveyed to Time Bourke Holding for the use of Lewis Hamilton’s image and name. Is Time Bourke Holding an OFFSHORE COMPANY? The Leader of the Opposition has the AUDACTIY/EFFRONTERY to suggest that in CIVILISED DEMOCRACIES the member of the Minister of Finance celebrated Task Force, i.e. Mr. Noel, would be made to resign. Who is the Leader of the Opposition to pontificate about respect and civilized democracy? His conduct in office, while Prime Minster, suggested that he did not care about respect for office nor about conduct in a civilized democracy. - Wasn’t his party the one which received a hefty contribution from the fraudster Van Brink and his First International Bank to run a glitzy 1999 election campaign which saw his party’s clean sweep - after which the NNP seemed to think that Grenada was its own personal rum shop. - Didn’t the Leader of the Opposition (then Prime Minister) send a thank you note to First International Bank for its generous financial support? - Did not Van Brink and First International Bank principals end up in JAIL in the United States for DEFRAUDING pensioners in the US and Canada millions of dollars of their retirement savings? - Wasn’t Van Brink’s First International Bank of Grenada (FIBG) endorsed by the NNP and Dr. Mitchell? - Wasn’t Grenada black listed internationally as a result of the FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES of FIBG? - Didn’t the Leader of the Opposition (then Prime Minister) travel to St. Moritz in Switzerland to receive his “DAMN MONEY” from Eric Resteiner who turned out to be a convicted felon? - Didn’t the Leader of the Opposition (then Prime Minister) admit to the nation that he received approximately US$15,000? - Didn’t the Leader of the Opposition (then Prime Minister) tell we the people “Ah only wish he did gimme more”! - Didn’t Resteiner’s security detail, Timothy Bass, testify that Dr. Mitchell, then Prime Minister, received US$500,000, that this was the second payment and that the payment was in exchange for a diplomatic appointment? - Why did the Leader of the Opposition/then Prime Minister not appear before the Cheltenham Enquiry to testify and face cross-examination? - Did the Leader of the Opposition sit in Parliament of Grenada while still holding US citizenship? What moral authority does the Leader of the Opposition have to suggest that the Lloyd Noel should resign as a Member of the Task Force. We the people owe Mr. Noel a debt of gratitude for his vigilance in the protection of the people’s property. Thank you Mr. Noel! 3. Minister of Finance vs. Minister of Tourism: It is also apparent that the Leader of the Opposition is seeking to UNDERMINE the Minister of Finance, SEEKING TO CREATE CONFUSION in the minds of we the people, by playing the Minister of Finance against the Minister of Tourism. Hear the Leader of the Opposition: - While the Minister of Finance, his Task Force and his agents were “busy making mischief, his Minister of Tourism and his Attorney –General were running up and down trying to see how they could save the project” (in reference to the proposed Grand Beach – Lewis Hamilton arrangement). - While the Minister of Finance is expanding his empire and duplicating positions which rightfully belong with and fit with other ministries……… - While the Minister of Finance schemes and plots and connives and dithers and the “lights of St. George’s grow increasingly more dim as a tourist destination………………….the vital ministries of Agriculture and Tourism are being short-changed” - No provision has been made for completion of the Market Square, the biggest attraction in the Town of St. George – is this reluctance because the project is in the Town of St. George? - “While the Minister of Finance was making his ill-advised remarks, the Minister of Tourism was traveling up and down the world , ostensibly trying to attract tourism investment………….If he did not intend to frustrate the work of the Tourism Minister, why then , or why else would he then have made such ill advised statements” Since when is the Leader of the Opposition a fan of the Hon. Member of Parliament for the Town of St. George, who also holds the portfolios of Minister of Tourism and Foreign Affairs? This is the same Member of Parliament that the NNP regime did its damnedest to unseat, squandering millions of dollars of we the people’s money to unseat our legitimate representative. If I were Pedro, I would be very concerned, even ALARMED about this “about face turn” by the Leader of the Opposition. What is his MOTIVE? THIS is what you call “talking on both sides of you mouth”!! As Minister of Tourism, Pedro has to confront all of these dubious deals done in the people’s name by the former NNP administration. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he also has to address the issue of questionable diplomatic appointments. E.g. why the hell was Georges Cohen of Calivigny Island infamy presenting credentials to the United Nations Office in Geneva almost 2 years after he had received them from the former NNP regime and 4 months after a new government had come into office? Who/what gave Mr. Cohen the “green light”? What is this diplomatic appointment facilitating for Mr. Cohen? Word on the ground is that a number of the “new pirates”, are comforted that Pedro is Minister of Tourism – “Is we boy! No need to worry!!” And now the Leader of the Opposition, who has been in cahoots, with all manner of dubious characters is seemingly BIGGING UP Pedro while trying to SHAFT the Minister of Finance. We the people TAKING NOTE and we suggesting to Pedro that he should “STUDY HE HEAD “(as old people would say) and always remember who voted him into office and who STOOD UP FOR AND WITH HIM while the present Leader of the Opposition sought to unseat him and to demonize him. 4. Attacks on Investors: The Leader of the Opposition claimed that the “Minister (of Finance), his agents, advisors and surrogates of the government” were attacking the character of international renowned investors. He named the following :- Hamilton Group at Grand Beach, Peter De Savary, Paul Taylor at Levera and George Cohen on Calivigny Island. We the people have grave concerns about all of these investors: • Hamilton Group and Grand Beach – 20 acres of the people’s property, prime beachfront land on Grand Anse beach was conveyed to Time Bourke Holding, for the PROMISE of the use of Lewis Hamilton’s face and name which McLaren OWNS. • Peter De Savary – we the people are still trying to understand how come Poole Capital S.A. - whom Peter De Savary bought out - had paid for two lots of land in the Lagoon area but five lots, including our LAGOON were conveyed to Peter De Savary’s Port Louis for a mere EC$1 (according to the information available to we the people) ??!! In addition he has plans to BUILD COTTAGES on the Lagoon park and has received OBSCENE INCENTIVE package. • Paul Taylor and Levera – According to one Rory Ross writing in the U.K.’s Independent, Paul Taylor, is a former brick layer who “fronts the Qatar Investment Authority”. He has been given a significant portion of Grenada’s Levera property with Pearl’s airfield thrown in for good measure! We the people do not know HOW MUCH PROPERTY nor do we know HOW MUCH MONEY has gone into the Treasury or is expected to go into the Treasury in respect of this deal. The lands of ordinary citizens were acquired to facilitate this project. “Investors gone and investors come” but these persons are STILL awaiting payment for their lands!! • George Cohen – this is a man who has prevented Grenadians access to the beaches on Calivigny Island – in Grenada ALL BEACHES are PUBLIC. His security guards aided by dogs DENIED assistance to 2 persons in distress just earlier this year. They had to swim to the other side PULLING their boat behind them!! He was given significant tax concessions to build his paradise HOME on Calivigny Island on the pretext that he was building a RESORT. It would seem that the Minister of Finance does not share the concerns of we the people. We noted with interest and surprise his UNQUALIFIED declarations on this issue: (i) “Government is committed to working closely with these developers to source funding and provide other forms of support to see these projects to fruition.” (ii) “…..we are fully satisfied with the commitment of the developers and pledge our full commitment to the realization of these projects”> Where are the attacks claimed by the Leader of the Opposition? Is the Leader of the Opposition “singing for his supper” by these investors? What did he “trust” as Prime Minister that he cannot now “pay for” as Leader of the Opposition? 5. Professionalism in the Public Service – the Brussels Mission: Since when is the Leader of the Opposition concerned about professionalism in the public service? He laments the removal of the lady Ambassador in Brussels. This is the lady Ambassador who accompanied the Leader of the Opposition (then Prime Minister) on his infamous trip to St. Moritz in Switzerland when he collected his DAMN MONEY from Eric Resteiner. In a ‘civilised democracy’ ,as the Leader of the Opposition put it, not only he would have tendered his resignation, the lady Ambassador would have as well. The Leader of the Opposition sings the praises of this lady Ambassador for being able to negotiate sponsorship of a vehicle and a part-time chauffeur for the Mission, saving the Government well over five million dollars. Hmm! Who is this sponsor? What is the sponsor getting in return for that “five million dollar and change” sponsorship? Is it a diplomatic title or is it a piece of Grenada? We the people know that “there are no free lunches”. Is it proper according to public service rules for a sponsor to be meeting these costs? Is it the lady Ambassador that is sponsored or is it the Grenada Mission? The Leader of the Opposition describes the lady Ambassador as a “paragon “ of professionalism and laments that the Minister of Foreign Affairs seems to have bowed to pressure from his Cabinet to end her stint in Brussels. The Leader of the Opposition is the same individual who as Prime Minister set about dismantling the institution of the public service. The book, Walking the Straight and Narrow by Richard Duncan, former Director-General, Ministry of Finance, informs we the people of his meeting with the staff of the Ministry of Finance in October 1995 when he declared, “You see, no matter how dedicated and committed an officer is, and no matter how hard working and respected an officer might be, once there is no trust, then there is nothing doing.” ). It is convention that when a government changes, diplomats pack their bags and tender their resignation. It is a fact that we the people do not TRUST the lady Ambassador in Brussels. Perhaps what goes around has come around!! It is clear the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition is having a hard time coming to grips with the reality that his party is out of office, that he no longer runs things!! His performance was Machiavellian at its best, seeking to sow his usual seeds of discord and discontent. However, I am sure that his presentation served to remind we the people WHY we BOOTED his administration OUT OF OFFICE on July 8th. And I am grateful that unlike the Americans, we have NO TRANSITION PERIOD!! Congratulations to the Speaker of the House, Hon George McGuire, for the firm manner in which he called the Leader of the Opposition to order. It rekindled hope that, perhaps, under his watch, decency will be restored to Parliament and the people’s business will be conducted with decorum and dignity. GRENADA DESERVES BETTER! WE STANDING UP FOR GRENADA!! By Sandra C Ferguson INSIDE GRENADA NEWS