Money undermining democracy?

03.JUNE.11

If ever one were in doubt about the pernicious role that money and moneybags can play in subverting the democratic will of the people,{{more}} the past week has provided lucid evidence, on a global as well as a local level.

Internationally, one of the largest and most influential sporting organisations was rocked by revelations of bribery and the part it plays in making major decisions affecting billions of people the world over. Football has been dubbed “the game of the people”, but the game being played in the backrooms of the governing body of world football, FIFA, has little to do with the interests of the vast majority of the world’s footballers or their adoring fans.

Similar revelations of a shocking nature also occupied local attention in the form of an explosive interview given by former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell. As is typical in local circles, discussion on his comments tend to focus on the issue of the leadership of the party he founded, the New Democratic Party, (NDP), and its chances of returning to power. But there is much, much more contained in his comments. For us, one of the more significant statements relates to Sir James’ recipe for breaking up a government with a one-seat majority. The revelations are nothing short of scandalous.

The former PM revealed that in at least two cases, 1966 and 1974, governments elected by the people had been brought down by blatant bribery of parliamentarians. The sums allegedly involved may seem to be chicken-feed in today’s world, but it was bribery just the same. Sir James also went on to state that money had a hand in cutting short the life of his own 1998 to 2001 razor-thin majority, with the financing of the so-called ‘Road Block Revolution’, but he did not go on to say whether such financing played any significant part in the Referendum of 2009 or the General Elections of 2010.

These statements have fundamental bearing on our democracy, for if politicians freely admit that the will of the people can be so easily subverted, what are we to make of all of this? Does this not tell us, the frailities of human beings notwithstanding, that we ought to seek ways to minimise at least the opportunities for moneybags to frustrate the will of the people? Perhaps these revelations may serve as a catalyst to revisit the subject of constitutional reform.

Saluting Indian Arrival Day

Hats off to the organisers of the Indian Arrival Day activities! For an ethnic group, very much in the minority, and themselves victims of colonial denial of their identity and heritage, to take it upon themselves to reclaim their lineage, is praiseworthy. One cannot but express admiration for their efforts.

They have managed to achieve what the majority population of African origin has yet to do – a significant step in making a link with their history and its connection with the land of their birth. It pains to say it, but without any national holiday, our Indo-Vincentians have still been able to bring focus on their roots. For their counterparts of African origin, Emancipation Day is still ‘August Monday’ holiday, a ‘nice time’ occasion.

This is not meant to counterpose one against the other, merely to congratulate the organisers and to urge the other ethnic components of our society to be as persistent in reclaiming their heritage and infusing these as part of our national identity.