In his commentary released over the weekend beginning 23rd April, 2011, entitled “Build up the Pressure”, the former parliamentary representative for Constituency No. 2, spoke to the Integrity in Public Life law noting that a person refusing to pass that law “is totally disqualified from being your leader. He has to go. And a man who doesn’t want to face up to the necessary scrutiny of public life mustn’t be in public life. It’s that simple. He has to go.”
It is against that premise that the former member of the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party-led administration, made the appeal to social and other groups to make their voices heard and call for integrity in public life to be passed and for Prime Minister Douglas to be “sent home”.
“And the Labour Party, if there is any backbone left in it, must take a stand at its Conference next month, because as much as Denzil has disrespected the nation, he has equally disrespected, emasculated and marginalized the Labour Party, and the Labour Union…This is history being made, and the people of St. Kitts & Nevis must seize the opportunity to ensure that they come out on the right side of it.
“In 2003, the Ecumenical Council of New South Wales in Australia issued a very powerful public statement. It said that: 1.There is no justification for politicians to lie to the people; 2.Freedom is intimately concerned with truth and justice; 3.The people have the right to expect and demand a high level of moral and ethical integrity from their public officials; and 4. Evasion of truth is detrimental to the good of a nation. I’m urging the clergy and the followers of religious faith to take a stand on this seminal issue, and to do so now. Preach it on the pulpits from Dieppe Bay to Gingerland. But don’t just talk the talk; also walk the walk, both shepherds and flock.”
He called on the media and persons working in the entertainment industry to do their part in the effort.
“I’m urging radio stations to call for it and to play protest music to get the message out that Integrity in Public Life law must be passed without further delay. Likewise, newspaper editors, and the owners and managers of SKNVIBES, MiyVue and other Internet sites need to take a stand. I also call on DJ’s, calypsonians, Reggae, Dance Hall, Hip Hop, poets, story-tellers and other performers to put out material demanding Integrity in Public Life legislation. Do a song together, Artistes! Bus and taxi operators, please play protest music in your vehicles. Likewise for the business people at the Ferry Terminal and the shops around the Federation. And ditto for the folks in Nevis. This is your fight too.”
Astaphan’s call was also extended to government workers and the Union to stand at the front of the protest line and make their demands known.
The read Astaphan’s commentary in its entirety, visit http://www.miyvue.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2084&catid=53