By Mr. Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law)

We seem to be engulfed in a many-sided minefield, and from which all the sides are crying out for urgent attention, and in which all are equally important…






The Football World Cup has now come and gone, and the hopes and dreams and ambitions of all the participants have all been laid to rest in that
historic City of Berlin in Germany.

The hot favorite Brazil, before the competition started, did not look like winners this time around - and so the Europeans kept all the honors in
their backyards.

For us in the Caribbean, the ‘Soca Warriors’ raised our flags a few notches higher, and in a sense put the CWC 2007 even more on the map, as the next
major Sporting event for World renowned viewing - when Cricket takes over
our ten venues next year.

It was a FIFA thing in Germany, as it would be an ICC thing in the Caribbean. But without the fullest co-operation and commitment of the German
Government, it could not have been the success it was. And by the same token, without a similar level of dedication and political maturity, throughout the various areas where the games would be played, or visitors would be passing through on their way to the Cricket venues - we in the Caribbean would be falling short of the great expectations the occasion
promises.

Although we have produced many outstanding personalities in the sporting World, and some of the greatest in the Cricketing arena especially - as well as being World Champions and un-beatable as a Test Team for many years - we have never ventured into anything like CWC 2007.

But unfortunately, we are also very well known in these parts for our political immaturity, our petty wrangling over small matters while the significant issues go a-begging, and perhaps above all else - is the insularity that raises its ugly head, when it comes down to choosing between being a Caribbean patriot, or a selfish Islander. However, the decisions and the vibes in general, coming out of the 27th Heads of Government Conference in St. Kitts recently, seem to indicate a new outlook, or approach, to this unique and very important World class event come March/April next year.

We are still Eight months away from ‘D day’, so that anything can happen in between times - but we all are keeping our fingers tightly crossed that
everything will go through as planned and without too many hitches or hiccups.

But having said the foregoing, I cannot refrain from adding some serious cautionary words to those who are mandated to see the events succeed.Before doing so, I must mention that I saw a piece by Dr. Isaac Newton on ’Caribbean News Now’ last Tuesday, on the subject of ‘Change and the Cult of Exchange’ by Caribbean Prime Ministers, that prompted me to adopt the above headline. It is very worthwhile reading and studying for future reference, when
considering the behavioral pattern of some of our Prime Ministers.

Politics have been said to be the art of compromise, or it can be seen as the wisdom of healing, dispute settling, appeasing, making or granting
concessions. It is the means whereby those who offer themselves, and are in fact chosen to lead and serve the people - go all out to satisfy the likes and dislikes of any Nation of individuals, with a whole host of varying and widely differing views, ambitions, and aspirations, as they go through life.

To be able to fit into the above mould and be successful, one has to be a conscientious and even an extra-ordinary human being, who is prepared to
make sacrifices and go the extra mile for those he/she was chosen to serve.Of course, in the process of serving - those chosen are always very well
compensated, in many more ways than merely receiving a salary. And often times, and from our experiences far too many times - it is only because of
the inflated salaries, and perks, and gifts, and kick backs, and however else they maybe called and from whatever source they may come - that too
many of those scamps get involved, and dirty the game of politics under the guise of serving the people.

But when the Almighty and Omnipotent Creator gave us human beings individual consciences, and free wills, and the gifts to enable us to go out into His Universe to seek, discover, conquer and utilize the fruits thereof for the benefit of all mankind - He stopped short of being the Supreme Dictator He alone could truly be, if He wanted to. And instead, He left us to exercise the gifts of free will, based on our individual consciences, as each one of us sees fit.

And I suppose it could be said, that therein lies the dilemma that the human race have been struggling with, or against, since Creation.Because the few who develop the gifts He gave us, to truly higher heights - instead of using those gifts for the real benefit of mankind, they mis-use them to dehumanize the people, and keep themselves in positions of authority with unlimited power, as demi-gods.

Fortunately for us in the Caribbean - excluding Cuba in that context - the evils have never reached the levels of the Hitler’s Germany of old, nor the
Soviet Union, nor South Africa and such like. And the short-lived attempt in our Grenada situation (1979-83), died a natural death but with a quite heavy price paid, in terms of loss of lives and great human suffering and sacrifice.

And talking about our Grenadian experience, I saw a commentary by Godwin Noel on Caribbean Net News - and in it he was inviting my opinion, on the
incident surrounding the death of a dedicated and committed Sister in the struggles of 1973-79, the late Scotilda Noel.

The information I was given at the time was that the deceased was on her way home from a Meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in St. George’s.
She was being driven by a member of the People’s Revolutionary Army (P.R.A.), and in the Mount Gay area the Vehicle ran off the road into the
adjoining River, and she died on the spot. The driver was badly injured but he survived. I heard no more about the incident thereafter. I do not know what investigation was carried out and who did what at the time.

I can say, however, that while the current Government will not have any responsibility to answer or to account for that period - the Minister
responsible for National Security now, and who was a high official in the P.R.A. at the time, Senator Einstein Louison, should be able to throw some
light on the matter. For what it is worth, after all those years, I can assure the writer that
Scotilda was a solid struggler for a better life for Grenadians, and women in particular. She did play a major role in her area in Birchgrove, where she and her family resided at the time - and if anyone can be classified as a true Martyr, she was certainly one.

The TRC report recommends a permanent Truth and Reconciliation Council, and some forms of Compensation for those persons or families who suffered during the period investigated into. If and when that materializes, hers would be an
appropriate case for consideration - in the interest of her surviving family.

But on the broader front, and in the context of how those who aspire to the political tree top - portray one face, or one side of their personality,
during the times they are struggling for recognition, and seeking to get their hands on the reins of power - but no sooner the heights attain, the real macoy comes fully to light.

Dr. Newton, in his commentary mentioned above, referred to this phenomenon as ‘walking a political tightrope of change.’ and in recounting an in-depth
conversation with a Dr. Edwards, a Trinidadian Organizational Psychologist, with interest in power dynamics in a broader field, he offered some
interesting in-sights on the whole issue of tradition, change and exchange, among Caribbean Prime Ministers.

I would be inclined to broaden the Comparisons he mentioned, to include Caribbean Politicians as a whole. Because from the concept of the Free will and individual consciences referred to earlier - as coming from that Almighty Creator - I am always mystified by the latent changes in personality, that come out of solid and up-right individuals I had the pleasure and privilege to work and associate
with in other fields; but no sooner they assume the mantle of Ministerial positions in Government, whether as elected or nominated representatives,
they sit in Cabinets, and absorb and swallow all manner of un-ethical and downright repressive actions, decisions, and policies, that they must know are so very wrong. And I do not buy the shameless political nonsense that politics have its own ethical standards of behavior.

It is against all the foregoing background, that we in the Caribbean are faced with the two-pronged major uphill tasks ahead of us. The first one is
the more immediate CWC 2007, and all its attendant shortfalls and financial burdens that put everything else on the back burners. The other is the CSM(E), that is now accepted as the road map for Twelve States - in the battles head against Globalization and Trade liberalization.

Looking at both major economic barriers - from the view point of what now obtains, what is being sacrificed and will continue so to be for a long time ahead, and what possible returns or gains that can be expected - I genuinely and sincerely wonder deep down, whether or not we have not bitten off much more than we can really chew.

As I look around and listen to the endless complaints and concerns coming from the various sectors in our Tri-Island State of Grenada, and try taking stock of what is being done around the Country to lessen the burdens, or alleviate the hardships that are spreading Islands-wide - I am daily becoming more and more convinced, that we are heading for an explosion in the making.

And if the powers-that-be do not wake up from their slumber, sooner rather than later, and take or put in place drastic measures to stem the downward
trends that are heading into further chaos and confusion - we could be in for a very rude awakening in the not-too-distant future.


We seem to be engulfed in a many-sided minefield, and from which all the sides are crying out for urgent attention, and in which all are equally
important.

Having committed ourselves as a CWC venue for 2007, the surrounding Bridges, roads, two practice pitches outside St. George’s, the up-grading of the Airport, and construction of additional facilities at the General Hospital - in conjunction with the Stadium Re-building Project itself - all must be attended to and be ready to meet deadlines.

But these are all for satisfying a ten-days period for a one-off occasion. In the meantime, except for the few who would be temporarily employed in
those areas, the un-employment problem is reaching alarming proportions.Our Farmers are complaining that the promised help, to assist them in
re-planting their lands by means of a loan, is not forthcoming. Tourism is on hold and there is no manufacturing Industry to pick up any slack.
There is no viable compromise to assist the above, and we do not seem to have the will power to bring about true re-conciliation - so as to energize
the re-building of our decaying Economy. So as the 2K6 Calypsonian is predicting – ‘Crapaud Smoke we pipe.’