‘We are proud of what we have built’

THE EDITOR: Sir Courtney Blackman, former governor of the Bank of Barbados, delivered a paper at the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Banking and Financial Services in St Kitts, in September of this year. In the paper, which was reproduced in its entirety in the TT Review of November 3, 2004, he said that “of course, the Caribbean region would be best served if more individual businessmen took a more active part in politics, preferably as elected members of Parliament, but certainly as senators or members of statutory boards.” It is a call that my brother, John Rahael heard and responded to some 12 years ago when he first took up public office as a senator. He served in the Senate from 1992-1995 and served as mayor of Port-of-Spain from 1996-2000.

Since 2000 he has been the elected representative for the Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West constituency and has served in the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago as the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Health, a portfolio which he currently holds. As is the expectation, when he became a minister he withdrew from active participation in our family business. Our family business is over 65 years old and spans three generations. We are proud of what we have built from my father’s humble beginnings and by dint of the hard work and sacrifice he modelled for us. We made yet another sacrifice when John entered public service and we support him in his efforts. Businesses are always reluctant to part with key people and by virtue of John’s involvement in Government, we lost one of our most dedicated family business members.

It would appear though that there are elements in the society who would have us sacrifice our very livelihood and that of the hundreds of people who are directly or indirectly involved in our businesses. Is it that none of John’s sisters, brothers, children, in-laws are to participate in any business venture that requires government agency approvals or seeks Government as a customer? According to Dr Tim Gopeesingh in his one day stint in the Senate, all our business dealings are suspect and the result of John’s intervention. He even cited a transaction completed during the UNC reign. What really is the intent of such shameful and malicious fabrications as were uttered under the guise of Parliamentary Privilege? Perhaps one day, one of our fine political commentators will tell me the origin, intent and positive result of Parliamentary Privilege.

Till then I view it as sheer “mauvais langue” which leaves the public at the mercy of politicians looking to make cheap shots. We fully support the call for trans Parliamentary Privilege. Till then I View it as sheer “mauvais langue” which leaves the public at the mercy of politicians looking to make cheap shots. We fully support the call for transparency in public affairs but no one, not even opposing politicians or representatives of any organisation has the right to slander or impugn a person’s character or that of his family. Thank God and democracy that we are able to take the rabble rousers on the outside to court. The time has come to allow us the same recourse against those who sit in Parliament, however temporarily.

Beyond the remedies that are available though, there is a bigger picture here. By and large businessmen in the Caribbean have an input to make in public service and I endorse Sir Blackman’s statement. However, the public must decide if unwarranted character attacks and denigration of relatives’ business acumen is the price that members of the business community must pay to serve in Parliament. There are those who have told us that because of our experience they will not heed Sir Blackman’s call so the country will not have the benefit of their talent. Is that what we want? There are some who will say that it would have been no great loss if John Rahael never served in public office, but I can assure you that it will be a great gain for our family to have him back.

ANNETTE RAHAEL
Diego Martin