Voice of Change #4
PAM WEEKLY POLITICAL BROADCAST
Fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, Residents, Friends:
The wind of change blowing away incumbent governments in the region is close to tsunami intensity and proportions.
It has just swept out a government in Montserrat.
This was after that wind of change toppled the Government in Belize.
The government of Belize fell three weeks after the wind of change ripped through Barbados on January 15.
That’s three governments biting the dust in less than two months this year.
Before that, we had the wind of change sweeping out governments in Jamaica, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda; and right here in Nevis.
Let Denzil Douglas do all may, there is no escaping the certainty that the bell is about to toll for him and for his authoritarian and corrupt regime.
We had a reminder of the character of the Douglas regime a few days ago, when a member of the media questioned the Prime Minister about his construction and lease to the Taiwanese Government of a multi million dollar custom designed property at Adams Hill.
The Prime Minister’s response to the journalist’s question is quite revealing.
It speaks volumes about Dr. Douglas’ renegade brand of governance.
That exchange between that journalist and this public official is worth repeating.
Let’s listen to it again:
Does that sound like a Prime Minister who has any concern with transparency?
Does it sound like a Prime Minister who has any concern with accountability?
Does it sound like a Prime Minister who has any concern with integrity in public life?
Does it sound like a leader who respects the people.
What the Prime Minister’s response to the question about his deal on the Taiwanese Embassy reveals quite strikingly, is the behaviour of a man with something to hide.
That comes as no surprise to anybody in this country.
Fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, Residents, Friends:
We all know that the insiders in the Douglas regime all have a lot to hide.
We also know that they know that with an impending change in government, they did in the dark during their long stranglehold on power will inevitably to come to light.
The arrest and prosecution of a Minister of the former government of Jamaica on corruption charges must be causing certain persons in Denzil Douglas’ power apparatus considerable concern.
Those who have cocoa in the sun recognise, by now, that the wind of change is likely to bring rain for many of them.
Integrity in public life legislation, prevention of corruption legislation and freedom of information legislation are virtual conditionalities for participation in IDB, World Bank and OAS programmes.
Transparency International, the corruption watchdogs, has its genesis in the corruption concerns of these multi lateral organisations.
It is the same with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC.
At the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the first Former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, reminded the world how corruption steals from poor people in our societies:
“Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government's ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aid".
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption spells out how corruption undermines democratic institutions, retards economic development and contributes to government instability:
Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law, and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existence is the soliciting of bribes.
Economic development is stunted because outside direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the "start-up costs" required because of corruption.
Corruption contributes to and aggravates poverty.
Surveys of the very poor in developing countries point to corruption as having a significant and detrimental impact on their lives.
For a poor household, the bribes randomly extorted by government functionaries and government officials in high office may mean that families cannot afford to pay school fees for their children or to buy goods to maintain their small business and source of income.
Corruption not only reduces the net income of the poor but also wrecks programmes related to their basic needs, from sanitation to education to healthcare.
It results in the misallocation of resources to the detriment of poverty reduction programmes.
Many political leaders of the developing world view corruption as a very serious impediment to the overall development of their countries.
The growing global consensus on the importance of corruption as an impediment to development is reflected in the ratification of the UN Convention Against Corruption.
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption is the first legally binding, international anti-corruption instrument.
Fellow Kittitians and Nevisians, Residents, Friends:
It is clear to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis why the Douglas administration has made no move to place effective integrity legislation on our books.
I doubt that our Prime Minister will be willing to take any questions about St. Kitts and Nevis’ alignment with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption from any quarter, media or otherwise.
Lip service about integrity legislation from the Prime Minister, maybe.
You can expect that with the approaching General Election.
Practice and implementation from ‘Douggie’”?
That, you will not see.
Our Prime Minister is not about to embrace transparency, accountability and integrity in public life.
Nor is he about concede the people’s right to know or to treat the people with respect.
Denzil Douglas’ regime is concerned now with trying to cover their tracks.
Integrity legislation would mean that the Prime Minister will have to answer for the phenomenal growth in his real estate holdings; his good fortune in constructing a building that the Taiwanese government has promptly leased; the hundred of millions of dollars awarded to connections in “No Bid” contracts; and the giveaway of hundreds of acres of prime lands to foreign developers; all of which were shrouded in secrecy.
Legislation compelling transparency, accountability, integrity and freedom of information will only come to St. Kitts and Nevis when the People’s Action Movement forms the government.
They know that corruption has been an issue in every election in which the prevailing wind of change in the Caribbean has swept out incumbent governments.
Legislation compelling transparency, accountability, integrity and freedom of information is a high priority with the People’s Action Movement and will be on the front burner of a PAM Government.
Your support, your involvement and your vote will make it happen.
The wind of change is sweeping down on St. Kitts.
The handwriting is on the wall.
The government will fall.
Together, we can make it happen.
Let’s get ready to vote them out.
Thank you for tuning in.
May God bless you and your loved ones.
May God bless St. Kitts and Nevis.
