Editorial:
Some political systems seek to oppress the populace, particularly the poor electors such that when the poor become dependent on handouts they would glorify their donors and be enslaved by them, ultimately swaying to their every wish and command. The sour side of the equation is that this type of dirty politics is best at works in the African countries and in the Caribbean.
Maurice Bishop tried to educate the Grenadian people in an effort to eradicate what he often described as the rum-and-cornedbeef mentality of political persuasion, but it seems that this is one of the failed projects of the People’s Revolutionary Government. Free food, free T-shirts, free transportation by land or sea, free music and entertainment from foreign artistic misfits and free money are the main attractions to what is today described as “political rallies”.
It is as if voters in these predominantly black areas of the globe are for sale and they allow themselves to be bought very cheaply. The political pundits are well aware and therefore they exploit the limitations of the unsuspecting voters. That is why, in poor little Grenada-Carriacou-Petite Martinique, concrete roads are being constructed in every foot track and massive road repairs are in progress nationwide, food baskets are delivered to those who are made poor and to the poor who could be swayed, road gangs are out and road work is in full swing, all good in themselves except for election suspicion.
It was announced at a political rally of the ruling NNP in St. Mark that “they” will reimburse depositors of Capital Bank-now-in-Receivership of amounts of $500.00 and less. What is the bias against depositors of $501.00 and up? No one is asking why a political party should get involved in such a matter involving a Bank which is before the Court. However, the suspicion is obvious based on the Party’s own utterances.
They are claiming that the gesture is because they have a heart and a care for the poor people, but the Party with the heart as their symbol does not have a heart so they will never do that. They are absolutely correct in saying that the Opposition will never do such a thing because the NDC ought not to get involved. Indeed, no Political Party or Government should get involved in this CapBank affair in that way at the moment. The law ought to be allowed to take its course.
The deliberate intention of this move is to score cheap political points and to gain political mileage as it is designed to exploit and win over the poor and vulnerable majority; that is why the cut-off point is $500.00. The platform failed to disclose the intended source of the funding and this has left the Grenadian people to speculate whether the money would come from Government, from the Party’s coffers or from the pockets of private sympathizers.
Anyone following the progress of the United States presidential election would observe that the candidates must discuss issues relevant and pertinent to the America people, and they must disclose the sources and standings of their finances. Sadly and unfortunately, the electorate of this tri-island nation cares nothing about issues or about the sources of the various parties’ finances.
There have been calls for observing a code of conduct for the elections, calls for a level playing field particularly on Party spending, calls to avoid mud-slinging and deal with issues, but the calls are like the voice crying in the wilderness. Perhaps the best call that can be made at this time is one by PWU President that the Grenadian people must not let the politicians divide them nor insight them to violence.
