CATEGORY:COMMENTARY
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By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law)

“…Being always ready to spread and publish the nice praises and good achievements, but keeping bad news and disappointments secret, is not politics. Politics is about Accounting and Transparency, whichever political party it maybe…”




It has long been accepted - that in Politics and Public issues, because of the uncertain and ever-changing trends in peoples behavior patterns
Worldwide, special allowances have to be made when assessing or analyzing the impact they create, and the responses they generate. And that must be so, to the extent, that no one leader, or party, or race, or religion, possess or commands the where-withal to see into the future, despite the many claims.

In addition, now-a-days, because of the demands by those with power and strength at their disposal, as well as their need to ensure or preserve their lifestyle - situations are created that naturally bring about corresponding reprisals, based on a variety of reasons including nationalistic or ethnic pride, racial and religious fanaticism, and now the
scourge of our times - ruthless Terrorism.

These latter reprisals are more akin to the Global political trends between nations - but on the Regional front, and here in our own backyard in the
Spice Isles, the responses and reactions are very much more low key and less dramatic. Although that is not to say they do not have their own kinds of kickbacks and serious repercussions; they most certainly do and affect a whole lot of people.

But what is mostly disturbing in our case in particular, and in some States in the Region as a whole - is that in most cases those doing or saying the wrong things, or not doing what they should do until it is much too late, they keep on doing the same things, or not doing anything, over and over
again - as though they are the Law unto themselves, with no responsibility to account, or to be transparent in the interest of good governance as per the Oath they took.

Just look at the number of adverse headlines the powers-that-be have been attracting this current year alone - with still four months to go.
The one that keeps cropping up every other Monday has to do with the Judiciary and the infrastructure involved therein.

In terms of the Personnel concerned, some significant changes and movements are in the pipeline waiting to be implemented; and as per usual those in control and authority over the reins of power - have played, and are playing, their usual roles to have things “mal-functioning” the way they
perceive those should be. Detailed disclosures might surface in the fullness of time.

But as a side issue to the main one - the question of the Courts before, and more so since “Ivan and Emily,” has taken up endless pages to-date.
And two years after “Ivan,” and more than a year after “Emily,” two or three of our Courts are still out of use and or in a deplorable condition.
These are public places, in daily use by large numbers of people in every parish.

Surely they should have been given priority status for repairs, from the Millions we received. But we continue to get the repetitive excuses from the Minister of Legal Affairs, while there is not even a Toilet for use by the Magistrate in Carriacou, and in Grenville a Murder accused could walk through a hole in the make-shift Magistrate Court Toilet - while the regular court building remains in disrepair.

And talking about repairing buildings after “Ivan.” The Grand Anse Youth Center, built for Grenada by the Taiwanese and damaged by Ivan - was
apparently Insured, and compensation was forth coming from the Insurance Company for repairs. Nothing was said or done about the building by those in authority, and it remains an eyesore.

Now that the Opposition has raised the issue, about the Three Quarter Million Dollars ($ Million) the Government had received, we are hearing about another Eight Hundred Thousand (U.S.) From the Australians that will be use to repair the said building. So what about the $ Million?

Then we hearing talk about another Two Millions, that Government has paid to bail out a Private Company in some Cement deal from Brazil.It may well be, that the circumstances surrounding that business matter justify the assistance of the Government Treasury, as a one-off Loan to be paid back when the goods are sold. But why the secrecy with the People’s money in a Private deal?

And, on top of all the foregoing, and the Major propaganda scenario about strict security for the CWC 2007 Matches in Grenada - we now have Policemen
almost up in arms, about some circular from the National Security Minister, and personal visits by the Cabinet Legal Adviser, Mr. Hugh Wildman, to
Police Stations to emphasize the circular contents - regarding each Officer’s liability, for any action that may be taken against them in the course of carrying out their duties as Policemen.

What could have set that policy decision in motion beats my simple mind. But then again, whenever Mr. Wildman gets involved in any matter dealing
with the Law per se, and the Constitution in general, it nearly always is destined to be ground-breaking issues. This general liability circular seems to be no exception to the “Wild one” escapades.

But how its enforcement will boost Confidence and Trust by the Officers in their superiors - is really worth waiting to be seen. And as to what it will do for morale upliftment, in the buildup to a most crucial period in our Country’s extravagant expenditure, to advertise the “Match Venue” as a safe, peaceful, and stable Community, is anybody’s guess.

And since Security is just as important, in my view, as the Cricket Matches themselves, in the prevailing Global vigilance against Terrorism, I hope
those with a selfish political agenda - to pay back perceived opposition supports, with on the job pressure - would re-think the strategy.

With so many areas, that are under the Government’s scope of responsibility for public administration, not going down very well with John Public - one
would have thought that this is the worst time to be trying to settle old scores, by getting back at the Security forces.

Whoever is pushing that level of advice must also have his own axes to grind - but he cannot be thinking about the Country and its people, nor the
grave responsibility the Government has undertaken to host those Six games for CWC 2007.

Now is the time when the powers-that-be should be doing all within its power, to make friends and influence detractors and opposition forces - so
as to ensure that the mammoth task ahead turns out to be as successful as is humanly possible.

Despite all the complaints and fault-finding, Grenadians are proud of and committed to seeing their Tri-Island State succeed at all times. This was publicly demonstrated in the buildup to our Independence Anniversary, last 7th February, when all the political parties colour schemes were abandoned - in favour of our National Flag colours of Red, Green and Gold all over the place.

And again, during the recent Standford 20/20 Cricket Bonanza in Antigua - there was only one party out there by the name of “The Grenada Eleven.”
Ironically, as one observer pointed out after we lost to Guyana, during the previous two games the team performed as un-beatable champions. For that
game against Guyana, two Government Ministers turned up in their NNP jerseys and the team crumbled, after the opening stand. I am sure the same thing
would have happened, if those two were in NDC or GULP jersey - and therein lies the lesson we must all learn about patriotism and putting Country
first.

Denying people their rights, or tampering with their expectations - because they support another party, is not politics. Propagating blatant lies and
innuendoes, to bring opponents into public scandal and dis-repute, is not politics. Being always ready to spread and publish the nice praises and good
achievements, but keeping bad news and disappointments secret, is not politics. Politics is about Accounting and Transparency, whichever political party it maybe.

No one or group can always win everything nor succeed with every project or plan undertaken. You will win some races and lose others, and some policies or plans will succeed and others will go a-begging; but if you account and are transparent up front with whatever you do - men and women of
understanding and reason will appreciate the efforts, even when they may criticize the methods used. But that is how the Cuckoo Crumbles, and how it Works.

In the Region around us, the Elections in Guyana seemed to have gone through relatively peacefully - and so far the allegations of wrongdoing during the Polls itself have been very few. But then again, because of the fears and tension in the Country leading up to the Elections, there were over One Hundred and Fifty (150) observers of the Election proceedings, present in the Country for days before. Maybe their presence saved the day, but it is a sad reflection of the State of things in that Republic - and should provide cause for concern to CARICOM.

The State of politics in Trinidad and Tobago is also alarming, both from the Government’s handling of things and the Opposition chaos and confusion
in the leadership tug-of-war. And because of the racial element under current in that Republic, as well as the violent crimes escalation - the situation in an Election atmosphere could become intolerable for law-abiding Citizens.

And because the Region as a whole is about to take off, whenever, on that new attempt of unity and integration - via the CSME and the CCJ - well
organized care and control must be implemented, so as not to send the wrong message to the rest of the Region and to the competitors and partners in the
Global Market Place.

As one reviews the reasoning and arguments, of those who are pressing home the case for the new Institutions, that these are the last vestiges of
colonialism to be excised - to complete our total Independence from England - the situations in those two (MDC) States, when added to that of Jamaica,
really fall very short of conviction that we are going the right way at this time.

Maybe it is just as well we are having that major distraction of CWC 2007, to give us some needed time and space, to look again at where we want to go
and how we genuinely plan and hope to get there. Because both here at home in Grenada, and in the Region as a whole - what is said is not what is being done.