LAW AND POLITICS

BY

LLOYD NOEL

Some people do not like to remember the past, because they find it unpleasant and embarrassing - and that is quite understandable in many cases.

But if we do not understand the past, we are lost in the present and cannot possibly know where we are going in the future. And I would say further - that looking back in the past, to analyse and try to understand what we did or did not do, and why we did or did not do it, is another way of bringing alive the truism - that the best and longer lasting lessons we can ever learn, are those derived from the mistakes we have made

in the past and, of course, our firm resolve not to repeat those mistakes again. True enough, if, and for as long as, we keep on doing things, or making decisions, or taking chances, or trying to move ahead rather than standing still - we are sure to make other mistakes and come up with failures every now and then. And that is not unexpected because we are only human beings.

But when we keep on making the same, or very similar mistakes over and over again - we cannot claim, or put up the defence of mortality to excuse our wrong-doing, and continue in the same positions - from where we are repeating those mistakes.

Any mistakes made once or twice, and even thrice depending on the magnitude and other surrounding circumstances - can be excused and tolerated, when placed alongside other positive and noteworthy achievements.

Even if only on the principle, that we will win some, and lose some along the road of life, because we cannot be winners always. Habit, repetition, and addiction, cannot be tolerated indefinitely - especially when the public interest is involved.

Against the foregoing background, as we look back at 2005 with the objective of moving forward during 2006 - from the point of view of our national affairs and matters of public interest - all the stakeholders must truly understand, that the people, and the country as a whole, and the Nation State, are much, much bigger and far more important than the government in power at any point in time, or the party or organisation by whatever name it is called.

Unless this is fully understood, and sincerely accepted as the road map for forward movement - we may be making steps but moving backwards, and that in any language is a recipé for anarchy. As we look back at the year just ended, readers may recall my first article last year January - it was headlined “THE DOG - THE BONE - AND THE SHADOW”.

In that article I was bemoaning the fact, that our Government was on the brink of denouncing our long-standing trusted friends and benefactors from Taiwan, and going across the Strait to Mainland China.

I was concerned that we may have been throwing away the real macoy, while going after the imaginary bigger fish in the reputedly vast ocean of Booming Beijing. We did throw out Taiwan, and the big thing was that the Mainland Chaps were going to build back a Super Stadium to replace the “Ivan” damaged one.

They were due to start every other month, but the actual starting date was in late November and work is now in progress. The Taiwanese were ready to start work on the New Stadium since Nov/Dec. 2004, and the significance of that - is that a week or two ago, an official from the West Indies Cricket Board was saying publicly, that Grenada’s Stadium was among those in the region that is behind schedule for completion by December 2006.

I still hope that the lesson from the “Bone and The Shadow” does not come true for the Stadium, because I appreciate its importance to our Nation State. Looking back at our financial situation, the state of the re-building process, and our economy and the projects on stream during 2005 - except for the Esplanade New Port facilities, and the associated Buses and Cars Terminal and parking area - everything else is more or less on hold awaiting finance.

The Budget was postponed to later this month, so I expect we would get some insights when that is put forth by the Minister for Finance. But judging from his arguments surrounding the Five percent (5%) “Levy Cum Income Tax”, that the implementation of that “Tax” is necessary to send the right message to International Donors who may wish to give us further aid, or may be lend the Government more money and so increase our national debt - to enable those in authority to meet the pressing demands to help revive and resuscitate the dormant economy - I do not hold out too much hope for immediate success.

What is more, we already know from the Prime Minister that the Housing Programme is in shambles, and although he is bringing it under his wing from this month - there is no available information of how much funds, if any, that are still available to make a difference.
The Agricultural Project that was started about the middle or early last year, to assist farmers in getting their lands back into production, that went bust soon after it came on stream and is still in limbo.

And the other efforts that came out thereafter are all long term, so the prospects on that front are not very encouraging as we face the CSME and its own kinds of problems down the road. The rebuilding and reconstruction of Government buildings need massive finance to get off the ground, but all the Government seem to be getting from Local Banks are stop-gap measures - in the forms of overdraft facilities to meet recurrent expenditures.

So although the Thirty or Forty Millions are going to be added to our National debt for future repayments, there are no Capital developments resulting therefrom to show in return. I said in January last year, that if the many projects we were hearing about back then - were not implemented efficiently and competently by those in Authority, we could find ourselves in dire straits at this time ; and so say, so done, because things are so bad they cannot get any worse on the economic front.

I know and appreciate that the wider-world calamities have not helped our situation, and that the ravages from “Ivan and Emily” were not going to be patched up and remedied overnight. But I am afraid that our many other man-made disasters, repeated and duplicated over and over again - in spite of so many warnings and danger signals coming from various fronts - have done so much damage to our credibility and image worldwide, that the recovery time has almost doubled as a result thereof.

Then we had the “Brief Case” saga hitting the headlines, as the one-man Commission quite unexpectedly started its hearing of evidence in June. And the happenings on that score had to be seen and heard to be believed, as the main actors on centre stage were quite hilarious.

Since the sudden adjournment, a High Court Case was filed and heard from the Leader of the Opposition, who challenged the decision of the One-man Commissioner to deny him audience before the Commission. That Court decision is still pending. And so is the decision in the Case brought by Mr. Hugh Wildman, who claimed that it was his right to be appointed as Attorney General, by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) - when it rejected the Government’s recommendation that he be so appointed. That decision is also pending from the High Court.

And in the later part of last year, we had the three attempts by the Government to tarnish the image of Hon. Peter David as the M.P. for the Town of St. George’s. The latest attempt was to have his seat declared null and void, and a bye-election be held, or the losing Candidate Mrs. Brenda Hood be named the member for that seat - because, it was claimed, he is a Canadian as well as a Grenadian Citizen. Which he in fact is.

A futile attempt was made to reverse the doctrine of the Separation of Powers in our Constitution, and have the Parliament usurp the role of the Judiciary. That too is awaiting further breaking news. And over-riding all the above, was the massive rise in Petrol and Cooking Gas prices, with a threat of more to come any day now - as the Government had warned that its taxes were due to be added by year end.

Those increases triggered a widespread huge increase in the cost of living across the board, and the hue and cry was resounding. As a direct result, The Labour Unions decided enough was enough, and the ultimatum went out to the Government to rescind that draconian 5%Tax demand by 31st December, 2005, or face widespread industrial action in January.

To date the actual position is up for grabs. After one or two meetings between the Finance Minister and The TUC - it seems the issue remains unresolved as we wait for further clarification.

But from al indications the battle lines are drawn and the soldiers on both sides are sharpening their drills. I am even hearing talk of a State of Emergency, in an effort to keep people from demonstration on the streets. That would be an extreme measure indeed and could have very serious repercussions in the times ahead.

Whatever comes out of this Industrial threat, there can be little doubt that the times ahead, are going to be on tent-a-hooks for all concerned. A famous late Prime Minister once said .... “the example of sacrifice must begin at the top, so that when men call for sacrifice in the name of patriotism, it is manifest that they too share in that sacrifice”. So very relevant in these times.

As we wait to see how the year unfolds, and what is in store for us as a people - we must not lose sight of where we came from, where we are today, and where we want or wish to go from here. Do have a healthy, peaceful and prosperous new year, despite the uncertain times facing us daily.

Always remembering, that anything worth having is worth struggling for, and nothing valuable or desirable ever comes easily or cheaply. So do not give up and stand still, if you want to move ahead in 2006 and beyond.

I almost said ... “Forward Ever, Backward Never”.