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BY

LLOYD NOEL

In these Isles of Spice we never seem to have dull moments; and if the excitement is not forthcoming from natural occurrences, or natural disasters, or inappropriate actions and omissions by those in authority, then be assured that a way will be found to create the scenario to arouse emotions.

And last week was no exception, with the Breaking News that Ms. Leslie-Ann Seon - President of the Senate since the last Elections in November 2003 - had resigned because she is expecting her first child, and her Doctor had advised more rest from her variety of duties as housewife, Lawyer, and President of the Senate in our political mellee.

And as if that was not excitement enough for one period, we got the further emotional news bulletin, from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, that Mr. Kenny Lalsingh had been appointed as a Senator - to replace or fill the vacated seat left by Ms. Leslie-Ann Seon, and was the Government’s nominee as the new President of the Senate or Upper House of Parliament.

One or two persons got it wrong - in that they thought they heard the Prime Minister, or the Governor General when he presented the instruments to Mr. Lalsingh at his residence, saying that Mr. Lalsingh was appointed as President of the Senate. That was not said from what I heard.

The President has to be elected by the Senators at the next Sitting of the Upper House, when Mr. Lalsingh would be making his first appearance as a Senator. And no doubt he will be elected as President, unopposed if there is no other nomination, or after a vote by the Senators if there is another nominee.

But even on a vote, because the Government control Six Senators and the Opposition only Three Senators, with the other Three (besides Mr. Lalsingh) being independent Senator representing neither Party - the chances of the Opposition nominee getting more votes than the Government’s nominee, are very slim and almost non-existent.

The appointment and nomination of Mr. Lalsingh, as Senator and President, by the NNP Government in power - raised many eyebrows, or opened many mouths with no words jumping out, or may or may not have surprised many or few persons. All depends on how much is known, or had been observed about the happenings and track records of the players in that scenario - as well as the general perception surrounding the antics of our politicians in their thirst for power and authority.

And even Mr. Lalsingh himself very frankly admitted to the press, that lots of his long-standing supporters in St. Patrick’s - have expressed concern and open disappointment over his latest decision. Another interesting comparison, for whatever it may be worth - is that when Ms. Seon was appointed and nominated in 2003, the Prime Minister had said, words to the effect, that she was an NNP Senator. And that prompted the goodly lady to openly inform the public, that she was not a member of any political party.

When the Prime Minister announced Mr. Lalsingh’s appointment and nomination last week, he was very quick to add that he was appointing a PLM member, not an NNP. But what are the facts? True enough, up to the day of the Prime Minister’s announcement, Mr. Lalsingh was still the deputy Political Leader of the PLM - which is headed by Dr. Francis Alexis.

However, my reliable information is that Mr. Lalsingh has been very inactive in PLM matters, and he had not even paid the Leader the common courtesy of informing him of the pending appointment and nomination - which he must have known about before the day of the actual announcement.

Clearly, therefore, he must be obliged to resign his position as deputy leader, if not also his membership of PLM. So when it comes down to a casting vote in the Senate, where and how can the House expect the President to cast his?

As a PLM member, NNP member, or neutral umpire? Your guess is as good as mine, and time will surely tell. In addition thereto, because of the integrity of the lady who just resigned as President, and the high standards of ethical behaviour she espouses - both in her legal profession and the high office she occupied as President - I am aware, from reliable information, that the issue of the casting vote had caused her many troubling moments during her stay in the Upper House.

So that it is very clear that the issue is not as simple and insignificant as it may appear on the surface, or at first glance. And in the same vein of no shortage of exciting moments, and hardly any dull ones - the Government, through the Minister for Finance, has recently informed the public that the decision had been taken to reduce the (NRL) 5% National Reconstruction Levy “cum Income Tax”, from 5% to 3% for the entire five year period.

Readers would recall, that based on a recommendation from the Chamber to make some concession - the Government had proposed in the Budget presentation, to take 3% from January to June, 2006, and the full 5% thereafter. The TUC and most Trade Unions did not accept that position, and staged a “Red Jersey Day” protest and demonstration on Budget Day in Grand Anse.

Whether that protest pushed the Government to make further amends, or some other intervention did it, or the Government Ministers themselves had second thoughts - and alike the turn around over the Prison Remission Rules, and the repeal of the offensive initial repeal - the facts remain, that those in authority and control are showing positive signs of listening and hearing and responding.

And that trend could be the beginning of the kind of co-operation and unification, that everyone seems to be making loud noise about - in the process of rebuilding on all fronts. I applaud them for so doing and encourage continuity.

On the legal front, the fermenting impasse that is building up around the “Balla” Criminal Charges, and the Tenure of the D.P.P. in the context of his independence to act or advice the Police as he sees fit - that should be seriously addressed by those in higher authority, and diffused before it gets out of control.

And may I take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate Mr. Winston James, another St. John’s boy, on his confirmation as Commissioner of Police - as well as the Government for taking that deservedly worthwhile decision. COP James has performed wisely and boldly, in his efforts to restore the image and reputation of our Law enforcement Officers - to its former days of trusting confidence by John Public.

I trust he will continue to perform in the same vein, and do not allow himself to be side-tracked for any reason. The cut and thrust that result or crops up from the actions of Government, and the people’s opposition to proposed legislation that will affect their economic or human rights and freedoms - are all part and parcel of genuine development in any truly emerging democratic society.

And it is the duty and solemn responsibility of those who live and share the spoils of any such society, to be involved, to be concerned, to share their views and whatever knowledge or talents they possess - to ensure or help make that society a better place for all the inhabitants.

But in creating or encouraging confrontation - especially on issues, or in areas where the outcome can have very damaging effects on the nation’s image and reputation - where it is so much better to engage in dialogue and shared information to develop informed discussion, it is never in the best interest of the people or country.

That practice will no doubt create excitement, and may be seen at first glance as bringing an individual into ridicule and public embarrassment. But if the only intention is to score cheap political points, then the last stage will be far worse for the misguided perpetrators than the first phase.

On the sporting and Cricket World Cup front - we had some interesting actions and explanations from those in authority during the political shake-up last week. After nearly eleven years in the Ministry of Sports, Senator Adrian Mitchell has been moved away and replaced by Hon. Roland Bhola as the new Minister of Sport and Community Affairs.

That this should be taking place on the eve of the greatest Sporting occasion due to take place on our soil - the Six Cricket World Cup Matches, if everything is in place in time - is of itself cause for concern. But it was further highlighted by the Prime Minister’s announcement, that he is taking control of the various areas of operations - in preparation for the said occasion, under his direct supervision.

Maybe he is simply following in the footsteps of his Bajan counterpart, Hon. Owen Arthur, who did the same thing a few weeks ago. And it just might be the case, that when the Prime Minister is in charge of operations, all those who have to deliver will do so with greater dispatch.

But while it may look as though Senator Adrain Mitchell was not up to mark with his performance in that Ministry - as one listens to the Prime Minister about all that needs to be done, besides the Stadium re-building itself, and none of those necessities have as yet been started, as well as the heavy financial outlay they will require - it does bring into the equation the whole question about the wisdom surrounding the economic burdens our smaller states are letting themselves into.

For as the new Minister of Sports, Hon. Roland Bhola, quite rightly stated on the day of his swearing the Oath for his new responsibilities - the more important and far reaching consequences about the Cricket World Cup to Grenada, is not so much having the Stadium ready for those Six Matches in two weeks next year, but in laying the foundation and putting the other necessities in place, to attract the two or three weeks visitors to the World Cup, to come back to our shores long after the games have ended and the results known. And I could not agree with him more, for those wise words.

At the previous visit by the ICC World Cup Chief Executive, we were told that the Stadium rebuilding project itself was three weeks behind schedule; at his recent visit a week ago, we heard that it was five to six weeks behind schedule.

We have also been told that the pitch and outfield must be ready by the end of July, and lately that the Stadium itself by the end of October - to allow for all the other facilities that have to be installed by the ICC or whoever.

The promises have been given that the time will be made up to meet the deadlines. But what about the other areas and facilities outside the Stadium and its immediate surroundings, will they also be ready for our expected visitors?

The Cricket Matches are from “Ten to Six” most days at the Stadium, but where do the visitors go to, and what do they do after the games - to attract or influence them to return to Grenada for vacation in the following years? It is from those return trips over the ensuing years - that we would recover the vast economic outlay that we would be spending now - to be World Cup ready for 2007.

So whoever is in charge to see things get done on time, must also be thinking and planning ahead for when the World Cup is over - because that event is for two weeks, but the people’s interest and welfare and livelihood are for their lifetime thereafter - and they cannot exist on excitement.