EDITORIAL

 

The appointment of Nadica Mc Intyre to the post of Supervisor of Elections is both shocking and surprising.

The new Supervisor is assuming office at a time when the country is preparing for the most decisive election to be conducted by the two main political parties - the ruling New National Party (NNP) of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC).

There would be severe consequences for the loser - especially the NNP in which a floodgate of investigations into alleged misbehaviour in Public Office and other criminal action could result in the Police and Director of Public Prosecutions being kept very busy for many months.

Some persons in the ruling party are fully aware and cognisant of the fact that their actions in government would come under scrutiny "all in the fullness of time" once there is a change of regime. As such, it is in their best interest to do everything possible - legal and illegal - to ensure that the NNP holds onto power by whatever means in the upcoming general elections.

It is in this context that Ms. Mc Intyre should do everything possible in exercising great care and caution and be very watchful of those who might think of using her to fulfill their plots, schemes and plans. She has a duty and responsibility to the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique to make sure that she is not used by those who would resort to every trick in the book to remain in office so as to avoid criminal investigation of wrongdoings over the pat 10-12 years.

That being said, this newspaper is doubtful whether Ms. Intyre is even herself really up to the task that is required of a Supervisor of Elections. What is she bringing with her to the new assignment entrusted upon her already weak shoulders?

No one can point to anything of merit that Ms. Intyre has done in the last 12 years as a Permanent Secretary in this country to elevate her to such a distinguished position in the Public Service. It should be recalled that Ms. Intyre was fast-tracked into the post of PS by Prime Minister Mitchell as soon as he took office for the first time back in June 1995.

Ms. Mc Intyre had served with Dr. Mitchell when he was the Minister of Communications and Works, under late Prime Minister, Herbert Blaize. The entire Public Service was taken aback when Dr. Mitchell took the goodly lady from virtually no where in 1995 and made her Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister - the most important one in the entire country.

This appointment was seen by many civil servants as not based on experience and performance but on trust given their past working relationship in the Ministry of Works in the 1980's when Dr. Mitchell headed that portfolio. It was not long in coming for the Prime Minister to start losing confidence in Ms. Mc Intyre's ability and performance and she was eventually transferred to another PS assignment in another government ministry.

As the Prime Minister admitted in 1999 to former PS in the Ministry of Finance, Lauriston Wilson, he (Dr. Mitchell) had "a weak reputation of hiring people and dumping them..." Another former Permanent Secretary and Director-General of Finance, Brian Francis who was a one-time close aide of the Prime Minister confided in us that Dr. Mitchell had become very frustrated in Ms. Mc Intyre's performance and badly wanted her out of the job.

He tried to diplomatically see the end of her by often urging her to take time-off and go and improve herself academically in an institution of learning to become a better civil servant. The exit of both Victor Ashby and Emmanuel Roberts at the same time from the Electoral Office has definitely created a big gaping hole at the top and the operation cannot be significantly helped or enhanced by the two new replacements.

Is it the intention of the authorities to bring in outsiders within the next few months to help bolster the Electoral Office? And if so, who are these outsiders? And most importantly, where are they coming from - Jamaica, Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, or Trinidad and Tobago?
Is Prime Minister Mitchell thinking of asking his close friend and newly elected Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding for assistance in electoral matters?

There are already rumours about the presence in our midst of some highly skilled Jamaicans regarded as computer experts to help the NNP with its election campaign.

The entire country should pay particular attention to developments within the Electoral Office not only now but in the entire run-up to the next election.

It would have been in Ms. Mc Intyre's interest to have declined the offer extended to her by the Governor-General to serve as Supervisor of Elections in "the mother of all battles" that would be the 2008 general elections.