CHAPTER 2:12
“My new year’s wish list for 2008”
Ron Daniel
~~Adz:Left~~ A new year has once again dawned and like the beginning of each new year, we look forward to better things in the year to come. I have chosen to look at three unrelated yet important issues that I think are important for the future socio-economic and socio-political development of this, our lovely Federation. In my article I will register my frustration with the relatively dormant nature of the St Kitts Nevis Bar Association, make the case for the creation of an economists body and expatiate on the need to fast track the reality of more autonomy for the Nevis Island Administration.
The St Kitts Nevis Bar Association is probably the most dormant professional association in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. The National Association of Secretaries are for more active and united albeit quite a bit of them work for these very same lawyers. While King Konris likened himself to a sleeping tiger, it is almost as if the Bar Association is a just asleep. There were 16 murders in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis in 2007 and I didn’t even see a Press Release from the Bar much less a proposal on how to deal with the crime in the Federation.
Similarly, I saw nothing from the St Kitts Nevis Bar on the Electoral Reform Process. They were similarly silent on the request from the Nevis Island Administration on the way forward with regards to future autonomy for Nevis. There is no website for the St Kitts Nevis Bar Association neither is there a written publication whether quarterly or annually as is the practice in other jurisdictions. There were no public forums organized by them to educate people about the constitution or any other laws that govern the country. They were silent on both budgets as presented by the Prime Minister and the Honourable Premier.
There was no charitable contribution done on behalf of the Bar to HOPE Nevis or any other organization for that matter. While they may argue, that it is too expensive to publish a magazine, I cannot recall seeing one newspaper article or any on SKNVibes.com that came from the Bar Association. I know that I can speak for SKNVIbes.com when I say that they would welcome any such contribution for their legal corner.
I believe that the Bar Association has a significant role to play in our nation’s development. It is they who are supposed to be the apogee of knowledge as it relates to the laws that governs our country. The rest of the citizenry is often left ignorant of the law because they offer very little to help us. Although I do not know of any Association of Doctors, those that wear the white cloaks are much more helpful than those who wear the black. Doctors are often heard on radio talk shows, TV shows and in the print media giving free advice on health. The same cannot be said of their friends who wear these elaborate black gowns. The only time I see a uniformity of the lawyers in St Kitts Nevis is the opening of the law term when they march through the streets of Charlestown. This simply is not good enough. My prayer is that 2008 will see our lawyers not only active in the court house but active in the community.
A professional body of Economists is another group that is sorely missing in our Federation. As it stands, St Kitts and Nevis is one of the most indebted countries in the world, albeit that we have been able to service our debt. Everyone from the Prime Minister to the pauper admits that the national debt as it stands is of extreme importance and has to be carefully managed. If PAM wins tomorrow they will have the issue of the National Debt to deal with and the same applies for all other parties.
It is we the citizens of this country who will have to pay this debt so we achieve very little seeing the national debt as a matter for this party or that party. If an organization of economists had existed, I would be more than pleased to see a policy paper on how to manage the debt. In a world where the price of oil seems to be rising every day, I would be more than pleased to see what advice they can offer government as to how to control the cost of living. When the US economy is going into recession and the Government of Barbados has urged its citizens to brace themselves for tough economic times in 2008, I would like to find out what should we expect in St Kitts and Nevis.
~~Adz:Right~~ Other questions that I would like the economists to answer are, “Was it wise for St Kitts Nevis to be part of the Petro-Caribe Agreement and if so why” “Should we introduce VAT in St Kitts Nevis and why”? and “Should we introduce personal income tax and if so what needs to be done before we do so?” Oftentimes we have to depend on our politicians to interpret the state of affairs in St Kitts and Nevis and so our view of the economy is severely polarized along political lines. If you are a CCM you believe that the Nevis economy is in shambles but if you are NRP you believe that it is doing well.
Similarly if Douglas says that the economy has grown and is projected to do well in 2008 a staunch PAM will only believe it, if Lindsay says that it is true and vice versa. We need an independent body, even outside of the EECB who can give us their honest opinion on the state of affairs of the economy in St Kitts and Nevis as well as their critical analysis on some of the economic decisions made or that should be made in the best interests of St Kitts and Nevis.
Last but not least is the promise of more autonomy for Nevis in 2008. In the Premier’s Budget Address he spoke of expanding the powers under Section 106 of our Constitution to give Nevis legislative competence in areas such as health, security, education and labour inter alia. In his 2008 New Year’s Address Premier Parry again made mention of more autonomy for Nevis and made the point that it was critical to the proper running of the country.
The Prime Minister has said that he has no problems with this and neither should he. I am to hope that since both leaders agree, that these changes can be made expeditiously and in the best interests of the people of Nevis. It can be onerous for any NIA to have to wait for St Kitts to go to Parliament to pass X legislation which would be in the best interest of Nevis because they have no legislative competence to do so. With more autonomy Nevis can continue to move apace under the glorious rays of the Sunshine without having to wait on the Federal Parliament. I for one cannot wait for the day when the NIA can have full powers over the police force and can design legislation to give the radical transformation that our education system needs.
While my New Year’s wish list may be optimistic, I wholeheartedly believe that they are pragmatic for 2008. My article was not meant to insult the Bar Association but to remind them that the country needs them. I do not know A or B about economics but I hope that those that do would band themselves together to educate people like me about it. I will come back at the end of 2008 and see just how much of my wishes have been accomplished. Shalom.
