In the unquestionable safe haven of parliament, prime minister and minister for finance, Dr Kenny Anthony, calls for more accountability from magistrates, lamenting, “It is doing an injustice to people and therefore called for magistrates to be more accountable, thereby reducing the number of cases in the court; questioning whether the magistrates are working eight hours per day, the amount of cases they deal with and dispose of on a daily basis, and whether they are performing at an optimal level.”
Unanswered questions
To be effective these aspirational aspects of policy must be paired with underlying factors, including constitutional reform, justice reform and a Hall of Justice. However, there are exceptional magistrates who respond to duty and act in accordance to the highest guiding principles.
Dr Kenny Anthony’s hidden monologue is perhaps an admission of the crisis in policy credibility, and the tiresome contest between ideology and realism – should I stay or should I go. In that sense, trepidation is torn between dealing with the underlying quest for a new dispensation in politics, economic development, security and safety issues.
To fulfil either, it is however fair and reasonable for Dr Kenny Anthony to do justice to the people of Saint Lucia in redirecting lamentations and results, under his leadership on economic affairs, governance, accountability and transparency.
A customary tale
Acting on that, the plausible answer is weakness and decline in policing the political process and the national agenda; a rather mediocre synopsis with no reason for hope.
As I write, Dr Kenny Anthony indicates that “economy on the rebound.” But he did not explain what type of rebound, from what and in what direction the economy is heading.
Not surprising, policy credibility is not inspirational. A far too common clueless production of ineptitude that is wreaking havoc on the private sector and future prospects to invest, innovate and expand market confidence, however incremental or robust.
Acting on a dramatic change of course on values and convictions, the apex of policy credibility, the government of Saint Lucia is ready to roll out a global residence and citizenship programme. The harvest from which is expected to be the saving grace to mounting debt and the potential to use other people’s money pandering to unproductive socialism programs and ideology.
In pivotal moments, history can testify to the intelligence and ambition to proceed to a new relevance and get ahead from failed ideology (security maneuvering and economic machinations) disconnected, on the need to re-allocate low yield resources to high productive areas; and to streamline structural reform through incremental policy transformation to encourage resource mobilization for long-term economic prosperity.
Delivering the feature address at the ceremonial opening at the Hall of Justice's Convocation Hall in Port of Spain last Wednesday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie said, “We must pull things back and restore public trust and confidence in all our legitimate institutions.”
This reality is optimum, not an abstract metaphor.
Ultimately, the reliance on the last vestige of ancient civilization and the goodwill of others will require a fundamental change that is psychological and strategic, to sufficiently change attitude and meet sufficient policy credibility to undertake an exit strategy.
That defining moment may have come about unawares in the domestic, national priorities and regional interest, influence by the power dynamics of IMPACS, US authorities, international treaties and convention.
In that context, Saint Lucian needs to develop a strategic view of engagement for the foreseeable future, on the components of internal dynamics and foreign policy, to frontiers of security and the justice system. Neither of which functions appropriately, thus emphasizing the social cohesion and resolute commitment concerns and the constant flux that does not project courage, vision to reality, bearing no responsibility to chaos and the authority to remedy immense challenges.
Restoring cohesion to policy credibility requires leadership, committed security, literally and figuratively, not playing one against the other. That’s an uneven balance not compatible in the pursuit of Saint Lucia’s national interest.
An interlocking equilibrium must exist to deliver on the prescriptions to an economic policy capable to withstand external volatility and security dynamism with temperance and wisdom.
But faced with current disillusionment and sustained public opinion discord, the free flow of solutions is not conducive to strategic active engagement to redeem social and economic challenges that connect power and legitimacy.
This situation cannot continue indefinitely, and must come under control. Antics, happy talk, and threats that fail to take action will not suffice. Deeds to shape interest in a larger concept of empirical robustness are what matters. And to calibrate with care, an enhanced strategic of readiness.
Contributing to destabilization
Compounding weakness with ideology vulnerability is illogical to attain collective security with no specific contingency and development goals. In practice, policy credibility must exhibit a course of event designed to facilitate order and the beginning of renewal to shape prosperity in the interest of mankind.
The trials of communism and revolution in the sub-region have falling prey to internal and moral decay.
Some have succumbed to bankruptcy; others are falling apart to the pressures of socio-economic change. And leaders have in the process lost legitimacy and power to the dependability of freedom where genuine democracy can loom large.
Flirting with socialist infatuations, while attempting to engage in economic reform and retirement packages, amidst economic stagnation and weak diplomatic posture, is not advantageous to Saint Lucia, but rather an ominous regime in open conflict that is doomed to regime change.
If order and authority is not reestablished, anarchy and decline will spread, in coexistence with the denial of reality; sub-par growth, high unemployment and protracted suffering.
Hence the intervention to balance power with guiding principles and truth!
Part 1: Security crisis, policy credibility breeding anarchy in St Lucia
Melanius Alphonse is a management and development consultant. He is an advocate for community development, social justice, economic freedom and equality; the Lucian People’s Movement (LPM) www.lpmstlucia.com critic on youth initiative, infrastructure, economic and business development. He can be reached at malphonse@rogers.com
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