COMMENTARY

Law and Politics: The cat out of the stadium bag?

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

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

In our ever-changing Caribbean outlook these days, we must be prepared and be ready to accept the changes, even when we were not told in advance, or those in authority keep on insisting that the obvious is merely a mirage.

I suppose we have become so accustomed to our politicians taking the citizens for granted, and treating us with scant regard when it comes down to national responsibility and accountability, that we have now reached the stage of anything goes.

What is so very sad about it all is that, throughout the region, those leaders while in power seem always to get significant groups in their respective areas to go along with their deception and lack of needy transparency in running their affairs.

I'm sure many would say up front, that a large section of those jumping on the bandwagon, to taste the fruits of power and share in the often times ill-gotten gains, are doing so because that is their only way or means of getting rich quickly.

And while that viewpoint is very true in a very large number of cases, there is also a quite sizeable section of our citizens in Caricom as a whole who do not need that foul and clearly suspicious means to gain more wealth or popularity, yet they get involved and stay put regardless.

In Jamaica and Trinidad especially, the situation is alarming and very frightening; and that is more so because those in political control (on both sides of the political divide) have gathered around their parties hierarchy, very dangerous and known criminal elements for whatever reasons.

And the fear existing in those two leading States in CARICOM, becomes even more alarming for those of us in the smaller OECS region -- where we do not have the wherewithal to face up to and deal with the kinds of problems that are now part and parcel of everyday life in Kingston and Port-of-Spain.

And yet we are just about four months away from our so-called "Single Market and Economy" coming on stream -- with its very disturbing freedom of movement of Caricom nationals -- even though among selected categories initially.

For those who may have missed it in the news recently, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), as the Final Appellate Court for Barbados and Guyana at this stage, had its first case started at the Court’s headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago last week Monday (8th August).

It is a civil case from Barbados between two companies, but it was delayed in getting started because of a bomb scare at the Court house, which was a hoax.

The first criminal case, from Barbados again, regarding a death penalty decision by the Court of Appeal in Barbados, is due for trial in October this year.

And talking about bomb scare, another bomb exploded in Port-of-Spain in some rubbish on the side of a road two weeks ago -- and this has prompted the Trinidad and Tobago Government to seek assistance from the U.S.A. and the U.K. in its efforts to find the culprits.

All the foregoing are of great importance to us here in Grenada, because T&T is almost on our doorstep as it were. But the biggest news out of T&T two weeks ago concerns our National Stadium and the possibility of Grenada hosting those eight World Cup matches in 2007 at that venue.

The T&T Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, was in the process of defending his Government’s decision to build a new eight hundred and fifty million dollars sporting complex at a new site in Tarouba -- which would also comprise the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium.

He hinted that the new facility would come in very timely, to help out any defaulting state which could not meet its commitment in the available time; and he mentioned Grenada in particular -- from whom he said no announcements have been forthcoming about the prospect of meeting the deadline.

Our Prime Minister has been in Trinidad recently talking to Prime Minister Manning, so although he has not disclosed any details about those talks, he may very well have confided in the T&T leader, that a contingency stadium would more than likely be very necessary -- because of the long-drawn-out delay by our new benefactors from Beijing in getting started on our badly damaged Stadium.

Needless to say, for Grenada to lose those games to T&T would be a serious slap in the face for our Prime Minister in particular -- not to mention the dormant Grenadian economy.

At anytime, those eight matches would be a godsend, but in our devastated everything, even more so nowadays.

But, as with most things in these uncertain times, we live nowadays; and more so because of our own peculiar upside-down priority decisions on national policy issues; as well as the old adage, that when you treat others who have been so good to you for years with contempt, and disdain, and ingratitude, and lack of decency and honor, then you can only reap what you have sown. Because in those vicious circles where dishonor, and lack of integrity, and crooks and conmen abound, what goes around is bound to come around, full circle.

And despite all the known misgivings about our ability to have the Stadium ready for World Cup 2007, the powers-that -be continue to stay silent and keep the people in darkness.

And even within the committee, that is supposed to be in full charge of spearheading our nation’s effort, my reliable information relates to a very large measure of mamaguysm up to-date.

So the $45m (U.S.) question (that the Taiwanese were ready to spend on the Stadium) begs itself -- what is happening with or to those millions of mainland China dollars that would have solved all our problems after our Government unceremoniously kicked out Taiwan to embrace Red China?

I wonder if our short-sighted leaders are beginning to belatedly discover, that a bird in hand is worth millions in the bush?

But as I am always repeating, when those we put in control of our people’s affairs -- to lead the people and manage their public business matters -- behave as though everything was left to them as an estate under their parents Last Will and Testament, it is always the same people who end up suffering the most.

So, while some skeptics might be tempted to say, "Well it is the people’s fault, so it serves them right," as a nation state we have to stop and ponder awhile -- about where we came from, where we are today, and where we hope to be tomorrow.

And although the "tomorrow" we are thinking about may very well be many moons away in terms of actual time, we, nevertheless, have to keep on planning, and assessing, and putting the pieces in place, to be ready to achieve the hoped-for "tomorrow" when the time does come.

It is also in that context that the attitude, and patterns of behaviour, and blindfoldedness of those pretending to be supporting the obvious wrongdoings, and the topsy-turvy priority decisions, come in for very serious consideration and outright condemnation.

When we talk about integrity, and dignity, and decency of our leaders in the political arena especially, most people tend to focus on the one person at the top of the ladder -- the Prime Minister of the Government in power, or the Leader of the Opposition.

But in reality that is a serious misconception, and it should be urgently revised and replaced with a more common sense approach, in keeping with the system we are supposed to be operating under.

The Prime Minister is the first (the head) among equals, and together his Cabinet of Ministers carry equal responsibility for the Government's actions and omissions.

By the same token, if the Prime Minister or any Cabinet minister brings a proposal to the Cabinet weekly meetings, it is the sworn duty of each Minister to assess that proposal and express his or her honest opinion on the matter.

At the end of the Cabinet meeting, or meetings, whether every Minister voted for or against, or even abstained, the decision of Cabinet is the decision of all the Ministers, based on the time-honoured principle of collective responsibility.

To disassociate himself from the decision, if he/she feels so strongly about it, that Minister must resign from cabinet and revoke his ministerial oath as such.

On the other hand, although they all carry equal responsibility by staying together, even when one or two very strongly disagree with the decision, at the end of the day, should criminal liability arise from the decision and action taken, it is the Minister who is signing whatever, to implement the decision within his/her Ministry, who will have to stand the consequences in law.

I have said all the above, to make the point to those who may be thinking they can hide behind collective responsibility -- while filling their pockets illegally -- that they could be in for a very rude awakening in the times ahead.

So much of what is taking place in Government circles, for some time now, is so blatantly wrong, that I cannot believe all the Ministers and hangers-on are comfortable participants.

But, as long as they stay put, they are helping to bring our country and people further down the gutter of no return, and they are as liable as those around them.

People are hurting, and suffering, and crying long tears -- those cannot all fall on the bare ground; some may very well be falling on their oppressors -- and time will surely tell, as it has always done when iniquity abounds.

The evil that men/women do will always live after them... especially after they have lost their power-base for wrong-doing.

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