Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Messages
October 21, 2005

Independence Ahoy!

by Clement W. Iton

Come October 27, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be engulfed by the atmosphere of its second carnival in quick succession as the euphoria of President Chen’s visit fades into oblivion under the halo of Independence Celebrations.

On paper at least, SVG will be independent for 26 years and once again Vincentians will be copiously regaled with boisterous acclaim of success stories. The politicians will hog the spotlight as usual and obsequious party diehards will don their colours just to be identified and be temporarily relieved of concern about the hardships of everyday life.{{more}}

If “independent” is taken to mean, “free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority” then SVG must chart a new course because as the saying goes, “beggars are not choosers” and further, “who pays the piper calls the tune.”

The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979 bestowed independent status on SVG as a nation but so far it is difficult to discern meaningful development of a spirit of independence in Vincentians en masse. The advent of party politics with absolute power being virtually the preserve of one man has produced a citizenry the majority of whom have literally abdicated the right to their own deliberate judgement in return for largesse when the party gains power-a situation which has been very much the case in the life of all regimes since independence. The Party tag shows itself practically everywhere, in the Public Service and elsewhere-not to mention the Local Authorities for which it is the premier qualification. The result is that even where there are provisions designed to preserve the independence of certain institutions which are products of the Constitution, for example the Public Service Commission, reality dictates otherwise and drives many incumbents into a state of subservience which ultimately destroys their capacity for independent judgement. Of course all sitting Administrations have run the gamut in denouncing their predecessors and glorifying themselves on achieving the highest level of good governance, oblivious of the fact that they too will become mere historical specimens leaving their skeleton in the closet for successors to put into public glare.

It cannot be denied that there is a dearth of independent opinion among Vincentians and in the light of this the political bosses have prevailed, wielding power willy-nilly to keep their subjects fearfully humbled. What is a lowly junior officer in the Public Service to do when he sees his Permanent Secretary peremptorily transferred or even sent packing without a posting? In actual fact since Independence there has been little or no change in the attitude of those who govern and as a result there is a stalemate in governance.

To a large extent this is attributable to the fact that there has been no change to the rules of the game. The 1979 Constitution is still supreme. As recently as February 28, 2005 the Constitutional Review Commission submitted its Final Report to the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The terms of reference of this Commission included, “(1) To do all and every act necessary to review the existing Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to submit recommendations in the Reports to the House of Assembly regarding reforms of, and/or changes in, the existing Constitution.” However, after two years, at page 11, paragraph 41 of its Final Report it is submitted, “Your Commissioners have been unable to resolve the issue as to whether general elections should be held at fixed regular intervals, or whether Prime Ministers should continue to have the power to dissolve the National Assembly at will. This issue requires further contemplation before your Commissioners could feel confident in making a recommendation at this time.” On the one hand this submission by an eruditely led body manifests its apparent lack of capacity to formulate an independent opinion on a matter over which it was given full authority and on the other hand, in conjunction with other such evasive language, it tends to diminish the credibility of the whole review exercise.

Since independence all regimes have done their bit to change the geography of SVG-there has been massive outlay of capital on the Ottley Hall Marina, the Steamship Berth, Container Port at Campden Park etc. and soon to come are the Cross Country Road, International Airport at Argyle and Bridge over Dry River, hopefully none of which will join the list of white elephants. Whether a nation’s Constitution is cast in gold or presented on the lowest grade parchment is not a direct indication of the rich quality of independence which is experienced by even the lowliest of its citizens. Neither does the grandeur of military parades reflect the national pride of the people.

As Vincentians revel in the upcoming Independence Celebrations (which may bring them many significant announcements including the date for elections and even the name of the fair lady who will be SVG’s ambassador to Taiwan) they must commit themselves to heightening their consciousness of the right to independent thought as a block in the greater edifice – national independence.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok