by Norris Mitchell
“If wishes (promises) were horses, all beggars would ride.” As unwittingly as it may sound, this ditty is a true reflection of what is on offer to a docile population over the years – say for the last 2 decades.
When there is an “accident”, an incident or a national disaster, manmade or natural – we can be assured that a “promise”, usually unfulfilled – to rectify the situation would be given by the prime minister. As the record would show there appears to be a calculated policy, a psychological game, if you will, to make a (political) pronouncement at the appropriate time to satisfy a population that is short on memory or is contented with continuous political mamaguy.
For those of us who are concerned with the sad state of Grenada’s political affairs, and have our ears to the ground – so to speak, no reminder is necessary; but for (the) others – I’ll have to jog your memory.
Let’s start with the big one: OIL & GAS. It was euphoria on the eve of the 2018 election campaign when at a political rally the prime minister announced Grenada’s find of oil and gas in commercial quantities in our territorial waters, and that it would be money for so in our economy, and (that) the control of this largess should not be given to the NDC, so put was back to finish the job (words to that effect). Well “finished” it did, as nothing has been heard since this deliberate lie 2 years ago, and the mamaguy will continue for the next 3 years.
While Guyana is shipping ton loads of oil to the USA in 2020, Grenada who started exploring long before our Caricom neighbour, is mute, or is it secretive about this major (local) recourse, which was not even mentioned in the 2020 budget presentation by the prime minister. No big deal, as Grenadians have a short memory. Let’s see what will be the next oil and gas mamaguy that would be presented to the public for the next general election in 3 years’ time, and what will be the public response this time around.
Another recent pronouncement that caused some “subdued chuckle”, was the promise to construct a ministerial complex in Carriacou in the near future. Why is a ministerial complex in Carriacou a priority when the repairs and reconstruction of the dilapidated Bishop’s College, which is in constant use by hundreds of secondary school students took over 10 years to materialise, and the latest report reveals a further delay in starting the project due to a problem in the bidding process. The walls of the Carriacou branch of the TAMCC building are cracking wide open all over, while the water supply for the sister isles is a continuing challenge. Only a dumb or politically coloured Carriacouan would not see through this cheap propaganda at vote-getting.
The aftermath of the unfortunate destruction by fire of 4 buildings on Grenville Street in St George’s during the month of January 2020, and others at a later date on Williamson Road and in other parts of rural Grenada, has prompted another promise by the prime minister, that of providing a fire truck (tender) for each parish, amounting to a total of about 4 or 5 tenders, which is not a cheap commodity, as each tender with appropriate ladder etc could be well over EC$1 million. Do you see this promise materialising any time soon, given the government’s lack of priority and scarcity of funds in a “booming” economy? Or perhaps the usual approach would be adopted by going abroad with the begging bowl.
This face-saving promise may have come about as a result of the frank assessment of the fires by the police, in drawing attention to the lack of resources over the years to the Fire Fighting Department of the RGPF, in association with (the) “established” protocol with Grenlec and Nawasa in providing a quick and professional/efficient response to the urgent and neglected needs of the public at large, which if not properly co-ordinated could be both regrettable and expensive, resulting in psychological and financial trauma for those affected.
Another promise by the prime minister that has now become a recurring decimal is the construction of a Halls of Justice. This Grenada part of an OECS project for the Windward Islands, has been on the cards for well over a decade, but for whatever reason(s) has never been achieved. The recent clamouring by the OECS Chief Justice and the continuous cry by the local judiciary, as late as 27 February 2020 for suitable and adequate accommodation seemed to have rekindled an urge by the government to express an interest in its completion.
This said, however, there appears to be no approved site and no accepted design by the local Bar for this major complex. The politicians have looked after themselves in constructing a once a month used parliament in short order, for well over EC$23 million. A Halls of Justice which would be continuously used in providing justice and peace of mind for the ordinary Grenadian may well continue, God forbid, to be another political mamaguy.
The promise to sell the people’s Camerhogne Park must never be forgotten, and “Save the Camerhogne Park Committee” must be commended for keeping the public informed of the urgent need for its upgrading and maintenance and to insist on preserving our patrimony, instead of “giving it away” to a foreign developer for another hotel, which this government seems only capable of building. Where are the factories for the annual abundance of our wasted fruits and the support mechanism for a potential vibrant agricultural industry? What is required are permanent jobs in addition to the occasional low paying hotel construction work where the high paying inputs go to foreign skilled labour, which after 46 years of independence we are not trained to provide.
And a nutmeg industry of over 70 years, that still exports its produce in crocus bags with no indication of an added value component for enhanced foreign exchange earnings, as advocated many years ago in George Brizan’s “Grenada Black Gold.” What is the function of the Produce [Chemist] Laboratory? – another white elephant, if it still exists!!
There is always an exception to the rule. In this scenario, no promise has (yet) been made by the prime minister to restore that portion of the road along the sea between Palmiste and Dougaldston, just before entering the town of Gouyave. This abandoned portion of road, about a mile long, has been in this unmotorable state for well over 12 years, and there is no indication that it would ever be restored, perhaps until the minor road detour through the village of Mt Granby starts falling apart.
Speaking of detours, we have not yet had a pronouncement (promise) from the prime minister as to how he, as the self-appointed Minister for Planning and Physical Development, and as the long-standing parliamentary representative for the South West constituency where the Molinere Road disaster is located, how he intends to rectify this self-inflicted national disaster which is deteriorating daily, while the detour through the Mt Moritz village will soon start falling apart due to the heavy sustained traffic for which it is not designed to carry. Let’s hope and pray that we do not have one disaster after another, which would permanently shut down the traffic on the Western corridor and the beginning of a living nightmare for the Mt Moritz community, as it has done for the Molinere community, who can be regarded as displaced persons in their own country, with the destruction of their property and the urgent need to obtain a new means of livelihood.
And finally, the promise to investigate the lost CBI millions of dollars from the failed Victoria Shrimp Farm Project; to investigate the MNIB’s missing funds by the “Integrity Commission” a board which falls under the prime minister’s ministry, for a substantial sum of unaccounted funds over a 4-5 year period; and the refund of the taxpayer’s money for the cellphone scandal of one of the government’s surrogates – the results of which are anxiously awaited by the public. From all appearances and the usual negative or non-governmental response(s), these promises may well again be another political mamaguy. When will it all end GRENADA?
The crisis bells are ringing for (the) urgent reconstruction and remedial action for a political change for the better, in the unacceptable state of Grenada’s “democratic” affairs.
Continuous-Political-Mamaguy
Norris Mitchell wrote an amazing article arguing that the government has not kept a laundry list of promises made to the people of Grenada for about two decades. Mr.Mitchell proved his point by providing multiple examples of broken promises, most of which have not elicited public outrage. Frustrated by the inaction of the public to the current government’s knack for not keeping promises, Mr. Mitchell calls the people a “docile population”.
While I understand his view that the people are docile,I disagree with his characterization of the good people of Grenada. It seems that Mr. Mitchell forgot a significant part of our history, a moment that defined and reflects the stuff with which our people are made. I would like to respectfully remind him that Grenadians are capable of forcing revolutionary social change. For example, it was because of the people’s toughness that we got the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) that was proclaimed on 13 March 1979. Grenadians are quite capable of holding their government accountable. Grenada is full of proud, strong, and determined people.
However, I share in some of the sentiments of Mr. Mitchell. I agree with him that the current state of things in the country cannot continue. I recently visited the island in January and was shocked with the unacceptable state of things. The culture of not keeping promises to the people can no longer be tolerated. If change does not come from “above” (the government), somehow, it would have to come from “below” (the people).
As a matter of interest, my dissatisfaction with the current state of development of the island arises from the kinds of policies approved by the government. For instance, I noticed that most development policies are particularly targeted toward the tourist industry as can be seen by the proliferation of hotels across the island. While I am not particularly opposed to these projects, I wonder if they will favour Grenadians in the long term. I am concerned that these projects are mainly funded by foreign investors with dubious interests. Moreover, the kinds of jobs offered in this industry do not offer long term security perks, such as health plans, educational saving plans for kids of employees, pensions, etc. In other words, the jobs trap people in a constant state of dependency from which there is no exit.
Mr. Mitchell needs to be commended for awakening us to the sad state of affairs in our country by providing us with a laundry list of unkept promises by the government. So what should we do? What is the way forward? I am alway fascinated by the “miracle” of Singapore, a small island nation without much resources that rose to build their country from a third world country to one of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world within a generation. Singapore accomplished this by investing in the education of their people.
https://friendsoftheearthg.wixsite.com/website
Mr. Norris Mitchell, I applaud you because you have done a tremendous service to your country by providing an eloquent account of the issues at hand in this beautiful country of ours.
Our people need to be educated and reminded constantly of the issues that hinder their economic development; simultaneously, our government ministers should be held accountable whenever they fail to deliver on their promises.
Ministerial responsibility is central to the parliamentary system, because it ensures the accountability of the government to the legislature and thus, ultimately, to the population. It is obvious that the majority of the population finds the breaking of promises, especially those made during an election, unpropitious in anything but the most dire of circumstances (Norris, 1997).
The time has come for our people to recognize the state of affairs in Grenada. All talk and no action would yield no results. The people must now speak but they must be prepared to make sacrifices for the good of this country and a better standard of living for every household.
What would it take for our people to remove the wool placed over their eyes by political leaders? My only hope is that we make our voices heard through town hall meetings, renewed negotiations, letters to parliamentarians, constituency gatherings to discuss different paths toward economic growth, and a strong opposition.
I am willing and ready to meet with people like Mr. Norris Mitchell and other like-minded Grenadians who are tired of “the same old, same old.” If we do not act now, we might find ourselves being slaves and debtors in our own land to foreign investors. Be careful fellow Grenadians: history has a way of repeating itself.
Reference:
Norris B. (1997) Should Politicians Be Legally Accountable for Their Election Promises? INTERSTATE – JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
VOL. 1996/1997 NO. 2 | PG. 1/1.
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1160/should-politicians-be-legally-accountable-for-their-election-promises
Mr Mitchell your piece is beyond commendation, I must say. However, these problems that you have highlighted are not going change wether the opposition or the ruling party is in power. However, the only way change will come is with a politics that is focus on development of people and country at its core.
It is sad, that the state of affairs that you so carefully and accurately document is not unique to Grenada but to our entire Caribbean with the exception of Cuban. For instance, check out St. Vincent and the Grenadines or Trinidad and Tobago next door or St. Lucia or Barbados further up road and we will see the same state of affairs that you are speaking abour repeating itself. Also, we can look to Guyana and Jamaica too, only to witness the politics of mamaguy repeating itself. As Albert Einstien, the great physicist, once said “insanity is the repeating of the sametime over and over again expecting a different results.”
It is very amazing that we allowed ourselves to be ruled by the politics of mamaguy after looking for so much from those who rule us but only can get so little always from them.at the end of the day. We must recall all those leaders of the British Caribbean in modern times have promised to give us more than their predecessors but instead given us less. Yet, we allow them to continue in power for 20 or more years before we get tired of their mamaguys and boot them out of office. For instance, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in an election year which see Ralph Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party (ULP) after doing almost nothing trying to maintain power by its usual mamaguys – trying to embark on a huge geothermal project in the North of the country, embark on numerous hotel projects, switching from building an athletic stadium to a track and field pitch and the list goes on. The good part is all these things are being done while our healthcare (our general hospital is totally not fit for purpose), education system (schools are in deplorable state), most of roads are beyond repairs and our political management is based solidly on nepotism, fear and coercion (the government favourite slogan – “you nah one ah we” , then you must die because you will be deprived at all cost from earning a living here), our economy lies in ruins and poverty is rising rapidly. Yet, Ralph Gonsalves and ULP think their mamaguys should earn them another five to preside over the further destruction of our country.
Well, it is all up to the people of Grenada and the rest of the English speaking Caribbean to continue live the mamaguys as crazies.
Mr Mitchell,
I commend you on a rather excellent piece, documenting the failure of our current government in delivering on its promises to the people of Grenada.
As I’ve said before, the people who need to read this, digest it and act on the information within are in limited numbers. In some instances some may read it and automatically think political bias.
When will the people most affected by these mal-administration wake up.
I am very excited that someone has taken the time to underline the projects, and failure of the government to the people of Grenada. I will like to meet with the opposition party to present them with a way which was plan by my commander in chief m.b to make Grenada a self sustainable country with a infurstructure that will have the people working and the future of the young people of Grenada.