By Max Sterling
The recent appointment of James Clarkson to the post of Commissioner of Police is long overdue. This is a well rounded man in whom I have always been well pleased.
When I saw the editor of this newspaper recommend him some time ago by way of his usually pointed editorials I was sure that this will be the appointment since the GRENADA TODAY has distinguished itself as a useful tool of truth for this country. Its editor, George Worme, has spent all of the last thirteen years advising our nation about the intransegence of Keith Mitchell which were never heeded for the most part.
Alas! All in the fullness of time his consistency prevailed, and time made several converts. Grenada is at the threshold of greatness as I am confident with the departure of Mitchell and his legal woes to follow will see a very forgiving international community as we shall rise again.
Our national debt, though large to us, is peanuts to many individuals of international standing, far less industrialised countries like China, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, France, Spain, Germany, etc. Trust me, we shall get help! The new administration is serious about good governance and when one can prove by practice that MO, the international community comes to its aid.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) deported itself well during the period it has been in opposition over the last thirteen years. I recall a resident diplomat in conversation with me telling me pointedly that the NDC is probably the only political party in the entire region that can be truly considered government in waiting. I have never forgotten that, as to me that was so profound.
I am happy to see that the advise of the GRENADA TODAY was taken to heart by the new administration to look into our own and bring back "Clarkie" to the Force. This is a man who has distinguished himself within the ranks of the Force as a no nonsense individual whose feet are firmly planted on the ground.
Many may have had their own ideas of who should fill that position from within the ranks of the Force itself, but with the Force being as compromised as it was, and in the hands of the past dictator who saw it as an entity to be used as an extension of himself to terrorise unsuspecting law abiding citizens, we have to settle for the return of a man who cannot be compromised.
He fits snugly into the empowerment the new Prime Minister is talking about. When the right people are put into place, the government can go ahead with its job of managing the country's affairs properly. You see already we have an Independent Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the person of Christopher Nelson who must be well pleased to be able to operate freely and execute the terms of his position on behalf of all of the people.
We also have an Attorney General who does not need government's duty free facilities to be able to afford a BMW, and whose mouth is definitely not on the ground as he did not take up the job for "the pay," but for the honour of service to his country. His appointment to me is the epitomy of independence. He does not come to the table as a broke individual looking for a living, and so he could focus on the tasks at hand to help sanitize the Office and bring it back to some level of sobriety.
I am well pleased that the positions of Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and Commissioner of Police are all well filled, and all who committed or intend to commit sins against the State are likely to be brought to swift justice. God has been great to Grenada, and thus far every move the new administration in St. George's has made must be blessed indeed because they've been great!
I would like to see Commissioner Clarkson take Deputy Commissioner Franklyn Redhead under his wings and hand over to him when his task is over. Yes, I understand that Mr. Clarkson has a one-year appointment in the first instance. If the year is not enough for him to do what needs to be done in that Force to include removing the convicted felon who was returned to the Force during the reign of the group of "not-yet-processed" felons who condoned nastiness in government over the last thirteen years, then I say extend him for another year until the job is done so that Frank could take over and use his Police Management Masters Degree to administrate the Force to the point where it becomes off limits for politicians who may want to interfere with them in the future. It is time for us to be a model again in the Caribbean.
As I said before, the decisions thus far by this new administration are in keeping with the breath of fresh air we are breathing these days.
On another note, I am one to support the retirement of all those sicko's in Permanent Secretary roles who sold themselves cheaply to the last administration for whom very little public servant has any respect. I would say we are in debt already, let us take the final plunge as part of the necessary clean up to move this country ahead. Retire them and give them their envelope, and rid the service of their bad spirits which their master is depending on to sabotage the new administration so he could, according to him, return in three months. That is what you call a bad dose of denial!
Grenada is about to see a return of the policy of jail for t'iefing once more, and so the chief t'ief is about to feel our wrath. Over the past thirteen years jail was abolished for t'iefing at the State level. Well if anyone sees Dr. Mitchell, tell him we have returned the law on the statute, and it is likely to be retroactive!
I want to see this administration take young public servants with potential and place them in the positions where they can grow to become strong leaders of the service, who will never compromise the statutes of the service for political expediency. We should make a wax figure of each permanent secretary and place them in their various ministries where they were known to misbehave so that they will serve as a reminder of whose behaviour and performance future Permanent Secretaries should not be like ever again.
Sounds crude, but shock treatment is needed. We must not be the only ones to reconcile with them. All of my crude and unusual embarrassment for them is so that they can reconcile with themselves and then the total package of reconciliation will be complete.
One Antoine has already opted out of the service, and I say we have three more to go. Remember what I said some time ago and I am serious: INCLUSION IS A MUST but not through entrapment!
