To conjure the ghost of 1979-82 may rehash scenarios not so long ago, reflecting the instrument of today’s society. But, although one can disagree, it is not odd on the road to redemption to attempt repentance for the past.
There is no question the prime concern of shameless leaders continues to be to find ways to deflect blame and stir-up rhetoric to popular sentiments, when the commitment to resolve issues of national security, policy credibility and public finance threatens to ostracize present and future generations.
National security in the dawn of the IMPACS report has done a unique service to expose the state of security that has given rise to mockery, reduced to impotence, and not allowed to talk about “openly” although, in the world of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the emperor has no clothes.
In an uncustomary fashion, exploring IMPACSperhaps determined the results on recommendations and customary norms once perceived secret from neighbours, communities and international institutions.
The outcome, depending on the judgment of reality and how the use of force is aligned with policy credibility, may have created a vacuum of authority. Coupled with the lack of political will and moral dimension, operating within universal principles.
In this atmosphere, the IMPACS issue transcends US abandonment as a singular issue, and its incubator – the Regional Security System (RSS) – to promote security interest and governance to overcome strategic threats, balancing issues as they arise, shape long-term risk, accede to treaties and so it is horrendous to ignore – thus precipitating an immediate catastrophic risk.
National insecurity and conventional wisdom ought to be awkward with unabated headlines that read like a movie script: “Saint Lucia police got robbed of chicken, pork, wings and drinks – a Bar-B-Que planned at the Police Headquarters on Bridge Street, Castries has been cancelled due to a break-in.”
Apparently, no one could have called the police! A situation the press relations department is exceptionally tight lipped to explain how such an extraordinary act was successfully accomplished, despite plenty of subject matter out there.
Other headlines read, “Saltibus man cries foul over faked police search warrant” and “20 murders in six months” including the 16th homicide for the year 2015 – Kervin Joseph of New Development, Soufriere, at the hands of the police and subsequent widespread inconclusive information.
The performance continued with the news “Marijuana and alcohol filled brownies discovered at school.” The brownies were reportedly discovered following a random search conducted by the police at a secondary school in the north of the island during February of this year, on the advice of the principal.
It’s October, right? Evidently the brownies will have to be tested to determine the “contents” a process likely to take months on the scientific compounds for admissibility in a court of law, rather than “admission” and holding to preconceived notions.
If that was not enough an attempt on police exhibits housed in a freight container at police headquarters was foiled by duty officer(s), while the bandits made a successful escape.
Sometimes during misadventures in security crisis, inequality converts to a struggle, adversely gift wrapped on humanity. Homicide #22 was recorded over the weekend. And it is difficult knowing that the forensic laboratory is closed for all the wrong reasons, while hundreds of unsolved murders and more gruesome discoveries pop-up around the island, compounding the work of crime scene investigators and homicide detectives.
If this is how justice and science is conducted then, what’s the fear over the IMPACS investigation?
Impressions of Theodore Roosevelt P 136 (187):
“In new and wild communities, where there is violence, an honest man must protect himself; and until other means of securing his safety are devised, it is both foolish and wicked to persuade him to surrender his arms while the men who are dangerous to the community retain theirs. He should not renounce the right to protect himself by his own efforts until the community is so organized that it can effectively relieve the individual of the duty of putting down violence. So it is with nations. Each nation must keep well prepared to defend itself until the establishment of some form of international police power, competent and willing to prevent violence as between nations.”
During the cold war, intelligence episodes surviving mistrust while preserving a working relationship were established norms. Intercepting messages, uncovering contacts information, longstanding relationships and stealing secrets were urgent matters to explore and uncover for obvious reasons.
Today, information technology has improved exponentially, the flow of information instant and likewise the opportunity to interrogate confessions and counterpunch secrets.
Now there is the contention to potentially destabilizing episodes code named Operation Remove Kenny (ORK) broadcast via radio nationally, is vital in terms of counterintelligence but mainly critical because this exposes perception or reality, a lapse of intelligence cover, infiltration, partisan politics and rivalry within the state security apparatus; an institution entrusted with immense powers and responsibility.
At this point, another worry stems from the need to guard state secrets. Prime minister and minister for finance, Dr Kenny Anthony, has “explained” that Police Commissioner Vernon Francois has opted to retire of his own accord and that the process is not yet complete.
Then there is the message derived from what was not disclosed in response to media reports of a $5 million golden handshake?
“Five million dollars is astronomical. I have roads to build and things to do. As minister for finance I have not seen this figure. This is an adventure in absurdity and falsity.” ~ Dr Kenny Anthony.
While expressions of alarm are acute, history has proven that one cannot purchase long-term stability at the expense of liberty. This is an endless effort that simply kicks the can down the road for future generations and falls well short of success!
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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