BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 9th 2014 (TUCOM) -- Good Governance and Transparency demand a full explanation to be given as to what led to the tragic and untimely death of three persons at the Robert L Bradshaw Airport and Port Zante within days of each other.
Clearly all is not well at SCASPA, and in particular there are deficiencies in its safety and health system. It must be asked, how could an employee on assignment on an elevator since Friday be found crushed to death on Sunday? No one knew anything was wrong Friday, nor Saturday? Nobody in an international airport noticed that something was wrong? Nobody- supervisor, cleaner, Manager, tourist, vendor or security officer? And what circumstances led two experienced stevedores to lose their lives on Wednesday, nearby two cruise ships- Independence of Seas and Silhouette, reportedly owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
We gather that SCASPA has asked for outside assistance. We are sceptical because the Douglas regime has made a career of cover up and lawlessness. It will not be the first time the government or its agencies, commission an investigation at great expense to the public only to subsequently hide the report from the taxpayers.
Very few recommendations are ever followed through. We recall in dismay that Douglas withheld the Scotland Yard Report from the grieving family of Ambassador His Excellency William Herbert who mysteriously disappeared at sea. Douglas has treated that report as if it was personal to him. Some Cabinet members never saw the said report. Douglas has never shown any sympathy to Herbert’s family who suffered a most cruel loss. Rather, he has always tried to demonize the ambassador and his family.
We recall that the Report into the Police sickout was never made public. Instead of sharing it with the Police Welfare Association, Douglas chose to attack its leadership for standing up for the rights of its members. Douglas continues his mistreatment of the police officers and the politicization of the police force. Transfers to Nevis are often seen as political punishment for officers who choose to follow proper police procedure and not allow politicians to interfere with their duties as public servants sworn to serve and protect the people.
The collapse of the bridge during construction of the FT Williams highway in Basseterre caused the death of one Guyanese and injury to other workers. To date that report has not been shared with the public. Emile Ferdinand QC requested a copy of the report so that he could advise an injured resident as to his rights/options in the matter. We understand that Douglas, having promised to facilitate Mr. Ferdinand’s access to the report, has not yet kept his word.
We recall that CARIRI’s report following their investigation into the contamination of the Labs at the Basseterre High School was kept from the teachers, parents and the public. The arrogant unelected Minister of Education, Nigel Carty said that teachers would not understand the report. Apparently Nigel Carty did not understand the report either because to date he has failed to implement most of its recommendations.
Today Basseterre High School (B.H.S) is in the news again. Teachers and students are suffering from recurring headaches, nausea, itching, swelling, dryness of mouth, rashes and other skin and respiratory problems. CARIRI is to do another report which, like the previous report, is not likely to be shared with the stakeholders in a timely manner and which will only be selectively implemented to prevent election nightmares for the insensitive illegal Douglas regime.
Kittitians and Nevisians expect the worst behavior from our delusional and illegitimate head of the minority government. In spite of his pretenses to the contrary, Douglas has become a fugitive from the Motion of No Confidence and a fugitive from the people who should have long been given the opportunity to choose a new government either at the polls or through the votes of the majority of the elected representatives in the National Assembly.
The people of this country will not have confidence in a leader who wantonly breaks the law, callously disrespects our constitution and systematically violates democratic norms and traditions. Our people will not support a leader who prefers to have public monies in a private foundation rather than place it in the Consolidated Fund subject to the oversight of the Director of Audit and the Parliament, as required by our constitution.
The hard working people of St. Kitts and Nevis will not support a leader who prefers to bankrupt the country rather than allow them the opportunity to elect a competent government of their choice.
The bankruptcy of our country by Douglas has hurt us badly with the highest rate of VAT in the Caribbean introduced here, electricity charges more than doubling, our wages stagnant and cost of living sky high. The mismanagement of our economy has led to four years of economic declinene, loss of hundreds jobs, increasing poverty, unaffordable healthcare, contamination of the B.H.S, a police force without an adequate fleet of vehicles to serve and protect our people, just to name a few.
For better we must vote for CHANGE. We must turn the dark, hurtful chapter of Douglas and his cabal into a future of hope, happiness, prosperity, accountability and transparency.
Team Unity offers the country a humble, compassionate, competent leader experienced in good governance practices. Dr. Harris has already demonstrated an ability to break through the chatter and get things done for the benefit of our people. In an historical achievement, he has brought together three political parties in the Federation in a Unity Movement that will transform the political culture in this country. He continues to lay the foundation for good governence and articulate Team Unity’s plans to usher in a jobs and economic turnaround plan to jump start an economy that has been in decline for far too many years under the corrupt, incompetent and illegitimate Douglas administration.
The goodwill, strong support and passion for Team Unity is in large measure a reflection of Dr. Harris' astute leadership and commitment to have introduced, with his dedicated colleagues, a new and better socio-political-economic order for the benefit of the people of St Kitts and Nevis.
That new order will include passage of a Freedom of Information Act and implementation of the full provisions of the Integrity in Public Life Act as the cornerstone of a new era of performance, transparency and accountability in public office. Change in the electoral laws to protect the people's right to vote in free and fair elections will be a priority under a government of national unity.
Dr. Harris and the members of Team Unity are READY TO GOVERN. They have come TOGETHER for BETTER for ALL the people of this blessed country. So join us, join Team Unity and TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE IT WORK.
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