COMMENTARY

Law and Politics: Is that the Grenada we deserve?

by Lloyd Noel

Friday, August 6, 2004

When I think of Grenada in the above question, I am really looking at the overall picture of the physical structure, the utilities, facilities and amenities that are available, as well as the Governmental systems in place – to provide and ensure a peaceful, harmonious and well run society.

In that context, it has been said many times before, and I am sure it will be repeated as many times in the future – “that a people and country get the Government they deserve, or deserve the Government they get.”

That statement can be taken or interpreted to mean just what the reader wants it to mean, or what the situation turns out to be, or being cynical it can even be seen to mean the same thing.

If people take an interest in what is happening in the country around them, by putting themselves out to find out what is happening and why – and being thereby properly informed, they go to the polls and vote conscientiously on Election Day – they will certainly get the Government they deserve, because they strived to get it.

On the contrary, if they sit around and do nothing, say nothing, and never try to ascertain what is happening and why – and then go out and vote for the candidates who spend the most money on rum and corned beef - they will deserve the Government they get, if the ill-equipped lot they elected turn out to be a shambles, as they more than likely are destined to be.

And the cynics will say – as the African Teller said in his Calypso last year – no matter what you do and how you vote, at the end of the day when all is said and done and the chips are fully counted – “same dam ting.” All a matter of opinion.

But for those of us living here on the Spice Isles, and for you the visitors, whether local or foreign, who come here nearly every year at this time for Carnival – I am sure if you have been keeping in touch and following the events as they unfold, you must be asking the question headlined – is that the Grenada we deserve?

And may I add in passing – that even if you have no intention of coming back home for good, or choosing Grenada as your retirement home some relaxing day; the fact that you are coming every year, to join and share in the fun, the frolic and the sun, that is more than enough to take an interest, and share your first-world living experiences with relatives and friends back here, in an effort to help to develop a healthy and thriving twenty-first century democracy.

But whatever maybe your likes or dislikes, from a strictly party political point of view – no matter how long – standing and or how deeply committed one way or another – you must bring your feelings and opinions to bear based on the facts or evidence as you find them.

The roads are greatly improved and continue so to be; the sea defence and bridges and water supply pipes are being improved or added to in many areas; the Stadium at Queens Park, the Ministerial Complex at the Botanical Gardens, the St. George’s University (Medical School) at True Blue, and many other fine buildings and structures, are all there to be seen and admired – as part and parcel of the infrastructure and capital projects development in the Spice Isles.

And right in the centre of the City, where the old Esplanade used to be, we are now getting the new port and jetty for those mega ships everyone is talking about. It is a quite fantastic capital development, although my own feeling is that it is not going to be the best thing that could have happened to the centre of St. George’s – where the same two little narrow streets are all there is to take three to four thousand visitors away from the obvious congestions that would result.

The communications and transport planning aspect of that development have not been well thought out, in my humble opinion, but time and possible alterations may change that.

These are just some of the visible improvements that are ever-present for all to see.

But there are many eyesores as well, where projects have started, years ago in some cases, and are just standing still for one reason or another.

The Levera Hotel development is one such project, and the Cuthbert Peters (former Windsor) Park at Gouyave is another.

And what is common to both those ventures, is that the Government involvement therein leaves a whole lot to be desired.

The Gouyave Park ongoing fiasco is particularly disturbing, because it has left thousands of our young people without a sporting facility for nearly three years now.

Many have written and spoken about it to those in control; some have actually taken to the streets in demonstration, and others have silently protested by not taking the trouble and expense of going outside the Parish to use alternative facilities; but all to no avail up to-date.

It is in those areas that some enquires have to be made to ascertain the true facts, before going away with the impression that all is rosy in the garden of milk and honey.

It is in that context, and with due regards to proper investigation and up-to-date disclosures, that the true progress of our tri-island state must be seen and Judged.

Transparency, accountability and impartiality, must be the foundation and the cornerstone of any and every thriving democracy, and whenever all or any of those are missing, or even stifled, then the powers-that-be are sowing the seeds of discontent and inviting insurrection.

And in that setting, it is not enough to keep on repeating all the things material that have been accomplished. After all is said and done, that was why those in control and authority were elected to serve the people in the first place.

One or two, or even three election victories, by whatever margins, do not amount to the last will and testament of the people, in which they have devised the entire country to the winning party with unlimited power and authority absolutely.

So as Wizard said in his 2004 Calypso – if those in control want to claim such beneficial interest for life, they must show us the will, under seal, in which Grenadians had bequeathed the entire country and its people to them, for ever and ever, amen.

In the absence of such proof beyond any doubt, the recurring complaints about blatant wrong doings in various Ministries – especially in Finance, Lands, Communications and Works, and the Prime Minister’s Ministries – and with no attempt by those in authority to answer the complaints, or make amends, or set the records straight; all leave some nasty tastes in the mouth and are creating deeper divisions among our people that are not in their best interests and welfare.

And the latest such complaint, involving the Prime Minister himself and his dealings with that fraudster Eric Resteiner – pertaining to the conflicting allegations and admissions of how much exactly was paid by Resteiner to the Prime Minister, on the one hand, and what in fact happened to the sum paid over, on the other hand – has raised an even deeper concern and opened a much larger can of worms.

The response by the Prime Minister, and the Government he leads and controls, leave a whole lot to be desired.

Leading the damage and disgrace, is the obvious message to all and sundry that the Prime Minister is above the law and the constitution. And what makes that very disturbing message so dangerous, is the sad fact that some persons, as individuals and or as leaders of prominent institutions and authorities in the society – are conveying to John Public, and misleading the Prime Minister himself, that different rules and approaches should apply in this conflict, than applied when the last Leader of the Opposition, Michael Baptiste, was similarly accused.

Untold damage is being done to the image and reputation of the office of Prime Minister, as well as to the body politic and the country’s standing in the global village.

We are at the end of three months since the Offshore Alert publication in April disclosed those alleged statements.

It is now about one month since it was announced that there will be a Commission of Inquiry, to be instituted by the Governor General into those grave allegations. But to-date no disclosure of who the Commissioner (or more than one) will be, nor of the terms of reference to be investigated.

Delay, in matters of law and order and justice, or laches as we say in legal practice, does not help the process but merely adds suspicious speculation in the minds of onlookers.

And it cannot be re-iterated too often – would the same level or measure of pussy-footing be present, had it been a member of the Opposition, or a supporter thereof? I doubt it very much.

When the law of the land is tampered with, or misapplied with such obvious partiality – and treated with scant regard for fairness and obedience to standards and precedence, and the morality and ethical norms that underpin a just society are trampled upon with impunity – then we are heading down the wrong road, and opening the floodgates to decadence and anarchy for the future. A grim prospect indeed.

So my dear friends, who still harbour a love and deep-seated interest in our once Isles of peace and Spice and everything nice – look closely, think seriously, consider fairly, and if you come to the conclusion that all that glitters is not gold, then do not remain silent and wash your hands like Pilate.

If you want to come back again to visit, or to settle down, the seeds of wisdom you sow on this visit will surely bear abundant fruits, towards fashioning the just, peaceful and law-abiding society for one and all – in a future Grenada that we all truly deserve.

Enjoy Carnival, have fun in the sun and spare some time to check out the runnings. 

Lloyd Noel is a former Attorney General of Grenada, prominent attorney at law and political commentator.

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