By Hastings R. Daniel
We have watched, listened and observed from our vantage point the almost daily dose of criticism and bile vented against Walcott Parry and his leadership of the best government Nevis has had in its existence. The criticism has come from the political wannabees and the political has-beens. On reflection all have been out of fear and informed by fear. The fear factor is that Parry will show up the former administration for their lack of insight, foresight and mere sight of how to lead a modern island. The first and foremost fear is that Parry like he has done all his leadership life will succeed. The second fear is that if he gets cold feet and does fail the doomsayers could be like Hebrew prophets and exult that “I told you so.”
Premier Parry should reflect that since he took over the reins of government these political pariahs that he has shown the door has also been shown how to do things for the sole benefit of the good people of Nevis. The list is long but not exhaustive. Parry came to office and met the island pouring over whether or not to have the Seabridge. In one fell swoop the Seabridge was launched and set sail with the NRP led Administration selling the pioneers land approving their pier development. Nevisians would remember that a certain political weirdo ranted and raved against the Seabridge in the St. Kitts Parliament and on a radio show. The Seabridge was to be a transport for drug dealers and criminals coming to Nevis. The police were told to help stop the bridge from running. Rumours were flying like roofs in a hurricane named Mark. The CCM had a field day. Yet Parry pushed ahead and today the Seabridge runs almost exclusively for the same doomsayers bridging many a gaps in a national pursuit. Seabridge has even paid a dividend of some ten per centum on its first year of operation. Seabridge is now a taxpayer, contributing to the fiscal development of Nevis. Parry takes heart from the heartlessness of the doomsayers. Before you came to office the proposal was languishing on a heap someplace for two years in that muppet of a leader’s lap him moping and moaning over where the bridge should dock. When the Seabridge was launched some developers or pseudo developers at Kades Bay were saying the bridge was going to block them. We well remember a certain Toogood fellow whose displeasure was voiced on the advice of that Old McDonald lawyer. Now everybody enjoys the ridge making the daily trek through the narrows to spur the St. Kitts and Nevis economy. Parry where barking dogs lurk you walk through with development for those same dogs.
Take Geothermal. The fact is that worthless, wicked and wintry administration was sitting on this resource for five long years before 2006. They even gave it over to St. Kitts to administer and control with one Nevisian in a board of twelve (12). Recall that infamous memo sent by the misleader to that mercurial minister imploring him to please give cabinet and the then Premier some information on this resource. Enter Parry and NRP in June 2006. By end of 2006 Nevis had wrested geothermal from St. Kitts control and had entered into an agreement to drill and discover the resource. In 2008 the resource was certified. What did the heartless do and say. They went the breadth and length saying that there was no resource and that you and government had given away the resource to some foreign company. One even heard from the heartless that geothermal exploration was going to cause earthquake and volcanic eruption. Very familiar sound bites! Today geothermal stands to revolutionise the island finances and people and propel us into the 22 century. Thanks to your leadership so spontaneous and sparkling. You wrested from these gangsters and political nitwits the crown jewel of Nevis. Parry they are afraid of your success so they bark, rant and rave hoping that they will slow you down. Foolishness! They and we the people of Nevis should know you by now. Forward ever! Backward never!
We can speak of the water project with BEAD. The fools of yesteryear were for three long wintry years pouring over the proposals wishing and waiting for some god to tell them what to do. They were as ancient as those Greek gods and goddesses. Enter you and in one full moth on the job Nevis started drilling for water. Within one year we were singing like the ancient mariner:” water, water everywhere.” What did the heartless rants? They were calling New York and the world asking if they have water up there because Nevis as they left it was out of water. Let it be known Parry that if it were not for you Nevis would have been crippled for lack of water. CCM and that useless leader left the island out of water. Parry’s NRP rescued the situation and poured water aplenty on the good people of Nevis. While the heartless heathen were raging Parry and the NRP were forging new pathways for the people of Nevis.
The scenario is the same for the passage of the property tax. This legislation was languishing on the has been desk for almost ten years. He did not have the heart or the know-how to proceed. He just did what he did best grin and travel. Enter Parry and NRP in 06. In one fell swoop the property tax was passed and given full acceptance by the island. The heartless still went on their normal rant saying that the tax will do untold harm to the people of Nevis. They even said that NRP and Parry must put if off until some future date. Now the tax is applicable and the people of Nevis are co-operating with it. Even the doomsayers are smarting under the smooth transition of the property tax. Parry not only knows what to do but he knows how to implement same smoothly for the benefit of the good people of Nevis. Time is failing me to tell of the VAT, the Namdar Project, the Aman and the Four Seasons resuscitation. These were all initiatives that turned out to benefit the good people of Nevis after the political rejects and wanabbees ranted, raved and ridiculed the initiative. Parry keep going boy. The chickens are coming home to roost.
The latest piece of bile and heartless criticism has come with the offshore sector. Just so CCM presided over an tourism sector that had one hotel carrying Nevis on its back just they presided over an offshore sector that had one provider holding it to ransom and providing some 90% of its registration. We are to wonder if the good people of Nevis know that the BVI and Nevis started the offshore registration together in 1984. To date the BVI rakes in US$105M in 2009 from this industry while Nevis takes in a mere EC$10M. The biggest player in Nevis has an office in BVI that employs three times the people in Nevis. Said big player also has offices around the globe. The CCM fools aided and abetted by some disgruntled among us like Oldie Goldie Rupie who wishes to keep down the people of Nevis now says that Parry is giving away the Nevis registry. The simple fact is the Nevis Registry has not grown in ten years or is it capable of growing in the next 1000 years with the present moribund arrangement. Enter Walcott Parry. A person groomed on the offshore and a player in same. Here is a manager and a man on a mission sent for the rescue and resuscitation of a sleeping country and island. The agreement with UTICO is in the best interest of Nevis and UTICO. Parry and the NRP have never entered a matter without Nevis highest on their agenda.
Parry we are fully behind you with the full and certain knowledge that you and your government has never failed us yet. Please also know one thing and write it in your memoirs and the island’s consciousness: whenever you bring up something new and the heartless political vultures start to bray we are on the right track. Trace them with the Seabridge, Geothermal, Windwatt, Drag Racing, Water, School Meals, Joint cabinet meetings, property taxes, VAT, Commission of Inquiry, NAMDAR, AMAN and an host of other matters. The heartless, the spineless and the listless can only do like the donkey: “sing sweetly at the break of day Hi Ho Hi Ho”. You though Parry and the NRP keep working for and on behalf of the good people of Nevis. It was Miriam of old when the children of Israel were crossing the Red Sea who exulted; ”Toil on and in your toiling rest and when rest comes we shall exile home”. Perhaps then the psalmist David is more appropriate Parry. He said: Let the heathen rage and the wicked people imagine a vain thing. They that know their God shall do exploits.
