• Latest
Opposition Party launches Policy Agenda

NDC Heartbeat: Nepotism destroys a country

4 years ago
Scholarships for Online Guest Service Gold Tourism Certification Course

Scholarships for Online Guest Service Gold Tourism Certification Course

9 hours ago
Trini deported from Grenada, charged with murder

Trini deported from Grenada, charged with murder

15 hours ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 17 May 2022

15 hours ago
No Holiday for Carriacou Carnival

Notice of issuance of writs

15 hours ago
Higher Gas Prices for March 2014

Gas prices for May 2022

1 day ago
Drug bust

Drug bust

1 day ago
Opposition Leader chains himself to Parliament table

Dissolution of 5th session of 10th Parliament

1 day ago
Collaborative Sea Turtle project on endangered sea turtles in Grenada

Collaborative Sea Turtle project on endangered sea turtles in Grenada

1 day ago
The Big Jubilee Read: 2012–2022

The Big Jubilee Read: 2012–2022

2 days ago
Traffic notice: Settlement Road, Frequente

Traffic notice: Settlement Road, Frequente

2 days ago
Orphaned at 15 fuelled PhD graduate’s interest in nonprofit work

Orphaned at 15 fuelled PhD graduate’s interest in nonprofit work

2 days ago
Lifeguard saves 75-year-old man at Bathway Beach

Lifeguard saves 75-year-old man at Bathway Beach

2 days ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

NDC Heartbeat: Nepotism destroys a country

This story was posted 4 years ago
18 July 2018
in OPINION/COMMENTARY, Politics
4 min. read
Share

Nepotism is defined as the practice of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. Based on this dictionary definition, there can be no argument that Keith Mitchell’s recent act of hiring his son in ‘his’ Ministry of Finance as his legal advisor is nepotism in its most vulgar form.

Mitchell hiring his son is certainly not the first or a one-off occurrence for him. From the onset in 1995 when he became Prime Minister, Mitchell displayed a penchant for acting without care and propriety when comes to matters of state. There was the Call Centres Grenada deal that saw millions of taxpayers’ dollars put into the hands of Mitchell’s first cousins in a failed enterprise. That money is lost for good and although he promised in the parliament that it would be repaid, it never was. Then there was the CapBank debacle, which was squarely Mitchell’s fault when he ignored the advice of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and issued the banking licence to his friend, De Bourg. We’ve had the off-shore banking fiasco with the likes of First International Bank under his watch as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Having his friend and loyal follower head the regulatory arm of the sector although he was wholly unqualified, was a great contributing factor to that fiasco happening. That fiasco damaged Grenada so permanently, that we have no chance of ever reviving that sector again. Then there was Eric Restiener and the briefcase affair. Readers can visit the Wikileaks website for a description of that transaction and how the officials at the US Embassy in Barbados viewed Mitchell.

The NDC will not be surprised to learn that Mitchell did not discuss with his cabinet, his plan to hire his son as his legal advisor. Not that any of them would dear question him!

To be clear, as a Grenadian, there is absolutely nothing wrong with young Olinga Mitchell filling a position in the Public Service for which he is suitably qualified, once there is no conflict or perceived conflict; and once other young Grenadians had equal opportunity to apply and compete for the job. However, there has never been such a post within the Ministry of Finance. The Attorney General is government’s principal legal advisor and the AG’s chambers is well staffed with competent lawyers, some of youthful age. The position was not advertised, so no other young Grenadian had the chance to apply and compete for the job. Although a lawyer, Olinga has no special expertise finance law that will set him apart from the lawyers at the AG’s chambers. It seems as though the position was created specifically for him. In any event, there is at minimum a perception of conflict of interest with him advising his father, the Chief. These are some of the factors that make the appointment nothing less than vulgar nepotism.

Mitchell’s nepotistic conduct cannot be questioned by his subjects in his cabinet and party because they are simply afraid of him. However, the people who put him in power must hold him accountable and demand that he departs from his old ways and conduct himself properly in public office. It is clear that with the new mandate, he is now emboldened and his dictatorial anti-transparent behaviour will only get worse unless checked by ordinary Grenadians. He got away with practicing nepotism for many years, now he has taken it to another level where he and his son are free to do as they please in the Ministry of Finance with the people’s financial affairs, in true Papa Doc and Baby Doc style.

It is well established that where nepotism exists, it breeds and is indicative of wider corruption. It causes inefficiency and slows growth in the economy. It results in waste and financial loss for the people as happened with Call Centres Grenada. It erodes trust and confidence in Government and the institutions of the state. It stifles and discriminates against the brightest and best of the citizens who are in fact most qualified and suitable for the jobs given to the family and friends of the power holders. However viewed, nepotism is destructive to the country.

Those close to Mitchell must begin to grow some testicles and tell him to his face that Grenada has suffered enough from his bad decisions and that in this period, we can ill-afford more damage to our country and economy.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: ministry of financendc heartbeatolinga mitchell
Next Post
Water taxi operators still concerned over Grand Anse jetty

Water taxi operators still concerned over Grand Anse jetty

Comment on post Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.