Time to start investigating

THE EDITOR: Having read Suzanne Mills caustic Commentary “Twelfth of Never” on the latest in a long line of dilatory and paltry excuses proferred by the “ruling” Party for their non-compliance with the strictures of the Integrity Act I can but feel for the let down felt by the citizens of TT who were duped by the talk of “lack of integrity” and integrity. Having not been amongst one of those myself, the “light” did not have to dawn for me.

Suffice it to say that there are many of us who are not in the least bit surprised — concerned perhaps, but not surprised — at the current socio/economic situation prevailing in our Nation and our falling status in the developed world. This is 2020 Vision by the way, unobscured by the darkness of greedily consumed innuendo. Trinis have long been known for their ability at “bad talk” along with picong; the crucial factor is being able to differentiate between the two. How many of the claims have to date been substantiated? To the best of my knowledge none and I would here ask all to ponder who demonstrated greater integrity — those who signed the requisite Integrity forms or those who are dodging and weaving each and every way to avoid doing the same. Maybe the time has come to forget about “declaring” and just start “investigating” — this is after all the favourite (and profitable to some) pastime of the ruling Party.

Accountability? The PM is yet to account for his failure to demonstrate transparency and integrity when, as a selected not elected temporary holder of the most crucial position in our Nation, he denied the ousted incumbent’s request for independent observers at the elections required by virtue of the fact that he himself just could not demonstrate the requisite majority and right to said position. Surely, as one recently Born Again he should have been able to recognise that such a move could only have reinforced his virtuous stance. Why also were the Opposition charges of intimidation not investigated? We have investigated at great expense from the EBC, Airport, Schools — even WASA and Mrs Panday’s personal business amongst others — so cost cannot have been the stalling factor in a Nation where “money can’t done” is once more the order of the day. “Fixing” the perceived ills of the Nation has just not worked thus far. Performance has not come up to expectations. We are now in far worse straits than we were in 2001 — and far more fearful of a future for us “average” Trinis which is not in line with the anticipated “next boom.” That Trinis are being forced to take an active interest in politics and government is perhaps the only bonus.

How does Mr Manning justify his price increase (unstudied by his own admission) to provide us with a healthier and less polluted environment with the change-over to unleaded gas with all this money ours for the taking? How did a far less “blessed” place like Barbados manage to implement the same move some three or so years ago without penalising the citizens? There was no price increase at all, just a changeover. That is what is known as “caring,” not to mention effective, governance — not stabbing the taxpayer to provide more funds for make-work (get vote) schemes which are at the root of a large percentage of our problems. A horizon marred by ineptitude and questions on integrity, uncertainty over what will and will not transpire (amongst them the Red House, UTC/FCB merger and management — even constitutional reform and Cabinet reshuffle) now clouded with some new strange form of policing is not my idea of a Vision — it is in fact a nightmare. Even the latest embarrassment to Mr Manning and his government, that nasty little COSTAATT “errata” matter that has occupied a lot of attention recently hot on the heels of the UTC fiasco, has been perhaps a convenient distraction from the latter and indepth discussion of the Budget’s credits or failings. At the end of the day Mr Manning is not likely to suffer adverse repercussions either, given that a large percentage of our voting public are in the age category specified in the document — they will hardly decry anyone ostensibly pushing for them, will they? Now I wonder who really put in those extra words? Will we ever get to the bottom of it?

VIRGINIA VERITY
Port-of-Spain