ULP takes bold step against corruption
Editor: Congratulations are in order for the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and his government for taking the bold and important steps in the fight against official corruption and white-collar crimes, good governance and greater transparency.{{more}}
The privatisation of the National Commercial Bank is saying to me that no more can a politician or government official be able to manipulate the policies of the bank as happened in the past. The bank will now be owned by ordinary Vincentians, local and regional co-operations.
I dare challenge you that if youâre truly prepared to look rationally and also objectively at the issues in relation to NCB and the dark and ugly issues at Ottley Hall, million of dollars have gone missing. An Attorney General walked into a bank with a stranger; one phone call was enough to give that stranger 1 million dollars. Sweetheart deals and the list goes on and on. One former Prime Minister says he was conned. What is very frightening for me is that the Opposition is silent on these issues. When you have done all your research in relation to the question of the privatization of the National Commercial Bank, based on the facts, then, your good conscience would no doubt bring you to reality.
There are many opposing views on the subject matter. What is very confusing to me is that what is now opposed, was once the very policy which was articulated and documented. What is more frightening for me is that mind-bending techniques are used to cloud the issue of the National Commercial Bank.
What is mind bending? It can be simply put as âmethod or techniques used to radically change oneâs perceptions of reality, enslavement of the mind. Which is crueler than slaving itself, a psychological warfareâ? What is more and more frightening is that this new form of slavery is now imposed on the Vincentian people by an organization that once held the reins of power in this country, duly elected by the same people. Iâm deeply concerned that those people who say theyâre so concerned about human rights and inalienable rights issues are not speaking to the issues on mind-bending. Notwithstanding however, the SVG Christian Council and the Human Rights Association must address the issues of mind bending techniques used on the people of SVG. I (however) sense that as you read through this article youâre wondering what the issue of official corruptions and white collar crimes has to do with mind – bending.
Remember I mentioned that the main objective of mind-bending techniques is to change oneâs perception of reality. Dr. Martin Luther King Sr refers to it as âSincere ignorance and conscientious stupidityâ. The reality is that the initiative taken by the Government to privatize NCB must be seen as a firms stance against official corruption and white collar crimes. At the highest level of good governance the PM and his government must stand up and take a bow. You have once more demonstrated that youâre willing to put country before party. NCB is now far out of the reach of corrupt politicians, as you may have noticed the NCB initiative has angried the NDP and their supporters. There is no doubt that it has created a firestorm in the NDP camp. Speaking about firestorm, one must be very careful of what one wishes for, the wolf may just decide to show up after all. In conclusion, the fact that the opposition had articulated their intention on the privatization of NCB, my burning question is this: If they had done so, what would they have done differently and why?
Taking into account, however, that private sector development is a policy statement documented in your manifesto of 2000/2001, as a Vincentian I take comfort in the fact that the investment at the NCB is more secure than before, for the people of SVG and other investors. It further strengthens the resolve of the OECS, as the CSME manifests itself, as Caribbean people move to a oneness and total independence of state and people that reflects a humble and noble Caribbean civilization.
Cleave Francis
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