BASSETERRE St. Kitts - Kittitians and Nevisians have sometimes been regarded as a passive people. Some say we are passionate about our federation but slow to take action when it matters most. We talk a good talk. But in the midst of adversity, where do we stand?
Irrespective of how we may be labeled as a group of people, the reality is that we are in the heart of a global economic crisis that has far reaching effects on the quality of life we live. With things as difficult as they are, choosing between integrity and the almighty dollar is a stretch for some of us.
Economic woes or not, we hold those who bear the torch of leadership to a higher standard. In fact, we expect our nation’s highest ranked public servants - who are often handsomely paid - to be honest in their roles as leaders; honest about our economic and social outlook and honest enough to pursue and implement policies deemed capable of re-engineering our federation's path.
We have even higher expectations of those in opposition who offer themselves to serve. We expect them to be honest about their intentions. In our minds, their focus ought to be on putting forward policies geared at improving the conditions of the ordinary Kittitian and Nevisian and not on methods to milk the nation’s coffers upon election to office. After all, they are the ones who come to us proclaiming their willingness to uphold principles such as integrity in their efforts to serve us.
As recent as 2010, five former PAM candidates offered themselves to the electorate promising to fight for us the people. Many of the hard-pressing issues we faced in 2010 still remain in 2012, and in some instances have even worsened. Where are those candidates today? Was their hunger to fight for their constituents mere rhetoric? Have they fallen from political grace without conviction that they can possibly do a better job than either political parties on St. Kitts?
There is truth that a PAM administration that took our twin island federation into independence in 1983 made notable missteps during its tenure. In fact, after three terms in office, the brute force of bottles and stones returned PAM to opposition pastures where they would spend years reflecting. The people had had enough.
An array of factors contributed to the ousting of the PAM in 1995 but upon reflection, has the rank and file of the party done anything differently to restore the people’s confidence in the party as a viable alternative and did the opposition Labour party of the 80's and early 90's learn anything from the shortcomings of PAM? It seems the "tit for tat" politics is still ever so prevalent in our so-called 21st century way of doing things.
Dishonesty and leadership are a dangerous combination, and while toeing the line may be deemed by some to be a strategy that might make a politician seem "politically savvy", it leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouths of the very people politicians depend on to elect them. It is disheartening to the electorate when our community leaders at the helm of shaping our nation's economic and social path fall short of their duties, all in the name of politicking.
Economic activity in the federation has plummeted sharply under the grip of global recession, but years of ill-advised policy-making under the current administration have had a critical impact on our overall economic health. The questionable Beacon Heights project and its link to Social Security, the failed La Vallee project, the Kittitian Hill project and its connection to the SIDF, the dubious exchange of lands for citizenship, the high incidence of job loss, lack of interest in Integrity in Public Life, the introduction of VAT which has had a whopping effect on unchanged household incomes, unreliable electricity supply, a sharp increase in crime which has lead to deep grief among families of homicide victims demonstrate how a nation can be hurt when integrity is low on our agenda. Talk of transparency, accountability and integrity means nothing until the IPL bill is actually passed.
Today, there is truth that citizens have watched the near decimation of our nation's moral fabric in a "do as you like" society while many powerful social figures somehow manage to suppress their urge to speak out. Many who could step out of their comfort zones and influence the powers that be to revisit their leadership style sit aside and say absolutely nothing. How do we love our St. Kitts and Nevis? Silently and guardedly? And for those who continue to justify current wrong doings of our leaders, what of the promises they made to the electorate to be a different breed of politicians?
Despite the folly of some of our leaders, and probably because of it, many Kittitians and Nevisians still express hope that our nation’s honour will supersede flawed personal aspirations. Many Kittitians and Nevisians still pride themselves in our lands; the Gibraltar of the West Indies, the Queen of the Caribees, two islands, one paradise that attracts thousands to our shores.
The spark of hope that we see in agriculture, sports and other community initiatives is because of citizens who work honestly and fervently to overhaul those things we recognize as a threat to our nation. The reason we have been able to continue to work with our troubled youth to minimize crime has a great deal to do with those at every level in our society who seek truth and work diligently to find ways for honest restoration of our youth; not gloat at the increase in crime when the party we oppose is in office but wish crime away when the party we support running things. Isn’t it still crime all the same?
WINN FM radio host Ian “Patches” Liburd, of the call in program Voices, often advocates a "Kinder, Gentler” St. Kitts and Nevis during his program. If in all our pursuits we aim to include honesty, the one component that contributes to the wholesomeness of our nation, maybe we can become a kinder and gentler lot.
What will move us to be honest with ourselves, and each other? What will strike a cord with us? Will we expend our efforts ducking the truth when it affects others but step up to the plate to be honest only when it affects us? Yes we may err; yes we may falter but our honest attempts to curb many of the ills we see around us can spark an unprecedented transformation of a people, though fallible, at peace with ourselves, and each other.
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