“Many people in St. Kitts and Nevis, perhaps now a large majority, have come to realize that Prime Minister Douglas’ perception of development does not have in it, a place for Kittitians and Nevisians. His concept of empowerment does not envision a dignified existence for the people of this country, so he has not genuinely factored in exaltation of the masses of local people as a priority of development. Consequently, he spends most of his time overseas, with foreigners, where he feels more comfortable and sleeps better!”
Now, under normal circumstances, a leader of a country that is, “teetering on the verge of economic implosion”, (see Jamaica Observer Editorial, August 19, 2012), one who is concerned about the well-being of the people who entrusted him with the responsibility of making their lives better, would assemble a team of the best and most able technocrats available, roll up his/her sleeves, put his/her head down and go to work. But these are not normal times, far from it, as this country has officially been in the “intensive care unit” of the International Monetary Fund for some two years. In that regard, the extraordinary times in which we find ourselves, naturally require extraordinary measures, absolute dedication to problem solving and extraordinary leadership.
So what has our extraordinary leader, Prime Minister Dr. Douglas, done in these extraordinary times? Recently he came back home, after some three months abroad, hosted two “Ask The Prime Minister” episodes; one of his “monthly Press Conferences”, that are interspersed sometimes three months as a result of his frequent travel; spent ten days in the Country, the longest single period he has been with his “loyal subjects” in recent memory; and then, true to form, took off on another joy ride to New York to attend a “benefit Gala organized by the Sandy Point Benevolent society”. After New York, he will journey to Trinidad and Tobago to attend a high-level forum on “rethinking Policy to Address Low Growth and High Debt in the Caribbean”.
Keep in mind that, with regard the New York Gala, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of the American States (OAS), Her Excellency Mrs. Jacinth Henry-Martin, a Sandy Pointer by birth, will also attend that event and is more than able to give adequate representation for the Prime Minister! That, we all know, is part of her Ambassadorial duties! With regard the Trinidad forum, I am at a loss to understand why anyone would have any notion that Douglas has any financial credibility and meaningful contribution to make, in respect of any discussion and development of any new “policy to address low growth and high debt in the Caribbean”, that would merit extending an invitation to such an important “meeting of the minds”! Unless, of course, the organisers deliberately intend to parade Douglas as the poster child for poor judgment and fiscal imprudence at the country level!
After all, it is hard to escape the fact that Douglas is the Prime Minister of record who, through arrogance, obstinacy and reckless behaviour, not to mention secrecy in his personal financial dealings, mismanaged our economy and put St. Kitts and Nevis in the unenviable position of having the second-highest Debt-to-GDP ratio in the world, and the lowest rate of economic growth in the Western Hemisphere over the past four years? Why would Ministers of Finance, Central Bank Governors, the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. W. Warren Smith and Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. Min Zhu want to compare notes and engage the thoughts of Douglas other than to learn how not to run a country? Douglas should also be in a position to have cognisance of that and, in the least, avoid such embarrassment! Am just saying!
Look, I am convinced that Douglas’ tendency to jump on a plane, seemingly at a whim without even notifying his Deputy Prime Minister, despite the significant social, political and economic problems we face as a people and country, and his obvious and obtrusive flirts with an expensive and ostentatious lifestyle, make it difficult , if not impossible, for him to make the argument that his habitual travel has more to do with promoting the well being and happiness of his “loyal subjects”, than his own desire to divorce himself from the reality of life in St. Kitts and Nevis, his affinity for anything foreign and opportunity to buttress his personal wealth.
How else can you explain Douglas, by his action, turning his back on construction workers who haven’t had a job in years, or single mothers struggling daily to cope with the rising cost of food, housing, utilities, education, health and clothing? How else do you explain Douglas jumping on a plane when businesses are closing daily and hundreds of workers in the service, manufacturing and tourism sectors are put out to pasture, losing their jobs with no alternative sources of income, mounting bills and facing the humiliating prospect of debtors’ prison; civil servants worrying and wondering whether they will get paid this month; or treasury bills and government bond holders chagrined and mortified about the likelihood that “the economy will implode”, financial markets will crash and they will lose their life savings, given the fact our economic growth projections continue to be revised downwards and have now been moved from positive to negative growth, as acknowledged by Douglas on Tuesday of this week, for the fourth straight year?
The perils and hardships faced by his “loyal subjects” seem of no moment to Douglas who, despite the universal acceptance that corruption in public office hurts national economic growth and development, after seventeen years of promise, untruths and equivocation, still firmly refuses to pass Integrity in Public Life and Freedom of Information legislation, choosing instead to put legislative hurdles in the way of the Parliamentary Opposition’s recent initiative to introduce and get passed, those laws that form part of an anti-corruption institutional framework. Meanwhile, we continue to hear about LEX Consulting and US$76 million bank accounts and “foreign investors” who get special, concessionary arrangements that give them competitive advantages over local entrepreneurs who refuse to “pay to play”.
Douglas’ concept of empowerment does not envision a dignified existence for the people of this country, so he has not genuinely factored in exaltation of the masses of local people as a priority of development.
Am just saying!