COMMENTARY

Law and Politics: Money - The root of all evil

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

Tuesday, February  1, 2005

In this very materialistic and competitive world we have to live and function in nowadays, it stands to reason that we have to operate our private and public affairs, so as to play our part and make our contribution to the society as a whole.

But in so doing it is also very obvious that, in operating our private affairs as individuals, we do have far more scope for taking chances or risks, especially in financial matters, than in matters of public affairs, whether it is through national or local bodies, or other non-governmental authorities, acting on the basis of public trust and confidence.

This must mean, therefore, that while we can spend wisely, or squander our personal funds, or put up our individual properties as security and in debt -- and do not have to account to anyone for our actions and careless spending -- the same is and must be very different when it comes to the people’s property, and taxpayers’ money collected for spending in the course of the people’s business.

Not only have public officers (servants or politicians) got to be transparent in all that they do, as well as provide scrupulous accounting of the funds collected and expended but they cannot afford to be negligent and reckless in discharging the trust and confidence imposed by the people.

Whenever the evidence is clear, that anyone has breached that trust and confidence in discharging the duties of the office he/she holds, the only decent, civilized, and dignified action to be taken, is to relinquish the office and put one self at the mercy of the people whose confidence and trust were betrayed.

The foregoing, unfortunately, is true in every other state except in Grenada, and a few others in the Region.

And sadly for us as a people, the breakdown of those basic principles and standards always, and can only, leave us so much the poorer, both from the monetary side, as well as the human morality standing.

And as though the lessons from “Ivan” were not more than enough, in terms of hardship and suffering in one form or another, rather than learning and getting relief we are being further burdened as a people.

And the sickening irony of it all is that while we are looking for more money by begging for help; by trying to sell whatever we possess as a people, in the market of tourism, to make some legal money; and receiving a lot of money from genuine aid and soft loans and above board promises of capital development, on the other side of that coin the people in whom we reposed so much trust and confidence, to lead us along the straight and narrow road of decency, integrity and dignity in our nation’s affairs, they are abusing and misusing their authority to make or gain money by shady dealings, and negligently and recklessly squandering the people’s birthrights for more dirty money.

And by and in so doing, highlighting the truism that money is the root of all evil.

What else could lead supposedly intelligent men and women, entrusted with the people’s mandate to operate the people’s business as the Government of the day, to enter into the deal with Ekram Miller for the sale of Mt. Hartman and Hogg Island?

The Government actually conveyed the people’s property to Miller’s sham company (ICG) for seven million dollars, although not one cent was paid into the Treasury’s consolidated fund account.

Then the same Government, acting through the Minister of Finance, signed a guarantee with Fortis Bank of Belgium, for Miller and his bogus company to borrow eight and a half million U.S. dollars, not to pay for the land in Grenada, nor for any other work in Grenada, but for Miller to use as he sees fit whenever; and so he did to the tune of 5.5 million (U.S.).

The $16.3 (ECC) million dollars question begs itself -- who else benefited from that crooked and scandalous state of affairs?

And remember we are not finished yet, Miller has our Government in a London Arbitration Court for his company’s land in Grenada -- that he never paid one cent for, but was given a valid title deed for same.

When put alongside the Van Brink offshore banking scandal; the Pirate of Prague (Kozeny) hotel project above the yacht services; the Eric Reistener half a million or fifteen thousand (U.S.) briefcase disgrace; the two million dollars “finder’s fee” for the now collapsed stadium -- again being paraded for more dirty soul-selling Chinese money; and those deals we are yet to hear about, but all involving “money and more money going into someone’s bottomless pocket” -- what else is more evil than dirty money?

And now that the “two China saga” has, for the time being ended, we are getting more revealing information involving more money.

The Taiwanese press release on January 27 was very clear that the Keith Mitchell Government was pressuring Taipei to pay Grenada’s national debt, and increase the five year co-operation plan to as high as US$245 million. Those requests were considered insatiable and beyond the Taiwanese capacity, and were turned down. That rebuff started the turn around.

But my further fairly reliable information concerns a so far undisclosed “sum of money” either handed to a Minister for Government, or sent by some other means to the Government of Grenada, from Taiwan.

Having heard nothing about the official receipt from the Ministry of Finance, Taiwan officials quite naturally asked the Government how the “said sum” was spent. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and Taiwan had to go, as it went.

The question was a straight-forward request for the usual accountability, but because Taiwan was in the habit of always pampering to this Government endless requests (or demands) for more and more money, the powers-that-be must have felt that those loose purse strings were being tightened.

The also nagging speculation is that the money was not in fact paid into the Treasury, and the recipient was being protected to avoid another money scandal.

Poor Michael Baptiste was not so fortunate, even though his circumstances were more deserving. Who can argue that money is not the root of every evil?

And still on the money game, it was more than mere passing comment to hear the St. Lucian Prime Minister, Hon. Kenny Anthony, insisting to our Prime Minister that the $140,000.00 the St. Lucians raised in aid for Grenadians must be spent on housing for those who suffered such damages.

We are hearing nowadays of a soft loan scheme, to help those who do not have the means to rebuild their homes -- something I advocated since the very early days after Ivan -- but we are not hearing very much about all the moneys that were sent to the Government as “aid” for the very same purpose -- repairing and or re-building those damaged houses.

Those moneys were not to LEND to people, but as GIFTS from well-wishers and sympathetic Governments and other organizations worldwide.

The one worthwhile scheme that got off the ground in the agriculture sector, for some $15 Millions, has already become so contaminated with “bubul and corruption” that it had to be closed down, or suspended, or whatever.

And hundred of workers have yet to be paid for the many fortnights they have worked; and some landowners (farmers) had to find money to pay those who worked on their farm or small holdings.

Fingers are being pointed left, right, and centre at persons suspected of engaging in the widespread corruption involving those aid moneys, but it should not surprise any reasonable thinking person.

Money is the root of all evil, and since those in the higher bracket exercising absolute authority are doing as they please with the people’s money and property to their advantage, then those lower down the ladder are simply following suit.

After all “if the priest can play mass, why can’t the little acolytes?” But those little ones had better be very careful, because the sharks are going to find scapegoats (little fishes) to prey on and even prosecute to show a good face.

Then we had heard so such ole talk about the Council to advise Cabinet, as well as the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) headed by our famous son of the soil Sir Alister McIntyre.

Not only has the ole talk dried up completely, but from reliable sources I understand the Council is an animal of history, and the ARD is a ship without a Captain. Sir Alister has not been well, it is true, but the reasons for his prolonged absence from Grenada go much deeper than his accident at the hotel and or his known illness.

Somewhere in the melee, surrounding those two high powered bodies that were publicized to capitalise on the lessons from “Ivan,” lie some deep and dark intrigue, involving the handling of “money” (the root of all evil) and the whole question of who really has the authority to spend what.

On a much more pleasant, and positive, and very progressive subject, is the response and reaction to the performance of “Iai, Iai Yai Ivan,” written and directed by Ricardo Keens Douglas -- and very professionally portrayed by a local cast of obviously dedicated and committed actors and singers.

Everyone I spoke with, immediately after the show and for days afterwards, were very high in praise for the wonderful interpretation of a well thought out and well directed rehash of the aftermath of “Ivan” -- which was so beautiful interspersed with meaningfully composed songs by the same writer, that told the story with humor and captivating emotions.

I am sure that performance would be very well received and appreciated if taken to New York and Toronto, or anywhere overseas, and would no doubt provide a needy boost to our fading image as well as our tourism.

At $20 it was well worth the price, and clearly not a case of “money being the root of any evil.”

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