Editorial:
There is never a dull moment in this country; something always seems to be happening. Unfortunately, these exciting moments are built around controversy, negativity, hostility and even violence.
Not too long ago the police high command was highly complimented for doing what was considered to be a great and commendable job, and the present COP was singled out as the one effectively changing the image of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
Now, it seems that the reputation of the men-and-women-in-uniform has been tarnished with reports of allegations of Police Officer(s) being “sent by higher authorities to spy” on a legitimate private Executive Meeting of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party. It appears that the police high authorities, New National Party officials and the Government are not realizing the serious implications of this incident and are even attempting to shift focus.
A release put out by the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) is very sensible indeed and should be carefully scrutinize and digested for what it is worth. It says that “People may become (more) hesitant to openly express themselves on issues because of the fear of being recorded and their safety being jeopardized”. At a time when it is believed that the RGPF is recapturing some lost grounds and regaining some respectability, this alleged “spying” incident certainly serves as an obstacle in the process. Mistrust of Officers will once again creep into the RGPF.
Neither the Government nor the RGPF can pretend not to know other serious implications. The Grenada environment is quite hostile and violent particularly since December 2007, despite political rhetoric to the contrary that the country has been enjoying peace for the last decade. The alleged spying incident can very well fly in the face of attempts to address violence in society. A violent act is always the culmination and climax of hostile internalities awaiting external expressions. Potential violent individuals and others of suchlike aggressive intent would play copycats to cover-ups and window-dressing of illegal activities.
The GTUC says “Even more disturbing is the fact that the Police and Government are focusing on the allegation of manhandling of the culprit caught recording the NDC Executive Meeting rather than seriously chastising and disciplining the leaders of the Special Branch of the police”. The political directorate prefers to politicize the issue by focusing on what was “allegedly” done to the alleged spy-ring rather than what the spy-ring was doing or had done.
All who know the scene of the incident can reasonably conclude that the spies could have hurt themselves while trying to escape through these dilapidated rubbles in the dark. That, too, is quite possible. Yet hospital authority prefers to sink to the lowest by using his noble profession to defend the spies. Ho! How sad. How low and ridiculous can one get? Neither the government nor the RGPF can pretend to underestimate the serious implications of “shamelessly defending the despicable act of the Police rather than issuing an apology to the nation” at a time of violence and hostility.
Politicians need to be extremely careful of their public or private statements. They must desist from cover-ups and window-dressing of illegal and corrupt activities for political mileage particularly at this time when the nation is on an election footing. Lots of these statements could be sources which can degenerate into hostility and violence.
It is for this reason that the contribution by the Government Senator can be described as irrational, emotional and potentially explosive. Why was he focusing on the injuries sustained by spy and not on the illegal acts of the spy? Why did he wait until now to bring up the boat issue, which in fact was already settled and in which the Opposition Senator was not involved? Why is it that other Christian Government Senators sat there and did not have the guts and the will to scold and correct the gentleman?
