Saturday, May 17, 2008

Do you love St. Lucia enough to realize when it’s time to let go?

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The entire Article should have read:

Do you love St. Lucia enough to realize when its time to let go?

In my years, I never thought that one day I would be almost embarrassed to call myself a St. Lucian. Our country is being mocked by the other Caribbean islands. Our government is drowning in a sea of disunity and lack of governance and if the tides continue to raise soon all semblance of a government for St. Lucia will be engulfed by the raging waters.

Today marks one year, five months and four days since the current administration won the 2006 general elections. It would be wrong for me to say that there have been no developments for the nation. However the negatives are fast out weighing the positives.

Last year saw the dissolution, reformation and division of Government. A year later (even after Sir John’s death which some would have thought would cause some to put aside their difference and show a united front) division is still evident among members of the government. A man who I thought was one of integrity out right refused to give information to an inquiring nation about the failing health of their Prime Minister. The “Super Eight” decided against the will of the then Prime Minister to form diplomatic ties with Taiwan knowing fully that it would cause China to sever ties with St.Lucia. A mental hospital almost to completion was stopped dead in its tracks and the only excuse offered was “The Chinese sabotaged the project”. The Labour Code put aside, supposedly temporarily so that it could be improved. St. Lucian’s are still awaiting word on its development. Government stopped subsidizing fuel which meant a drastic increase in the cost of fuel. An increase which they said was unavoidable; in my opinion was too high none-the-less. It was necessary for the government though because they had to find ways of making up some of the revenue lost when they severed diplomatic ties with China who was responsible for a significant part of the budget. The price of fuel continues to rise world wide. Can they now say that they will raise the cost of fuel again? Can they? Will they? People are unable to afford basic commodities as the cost of goods almost doubled in price in less than a year in some instances. There is no disposable income as salaries remain the same and cost of living sky rockets. Victimization in all sectors sugar coated, freedom of speech threatened. Is this what we voted for when we stained our fingers on Monday December 11th, 2006? It certainly wasn’t what I voted for.

Now there is this issue of unrest in the Police Force, the persons who are responsible for the security of our vulnerable nation. What is to come of us if they decide to stage a sickout? By all indications, if something is not done quickly to address the present situation we a destined for doom.

I will admit that I am not in a position to make an informed statement concerning the issue that faces the force presently as all I have heard and read is that Ag. COP John Broughton’s style of leadership is the issue. That is a very vague statement and in order for St. Lucians to make informed decisions they need to be fed with more information. In the May 14th evening news package Robert Lewis put it simply and I quite agree. There is a commissioner of police in the person of Ausbert Regis and he should be brought back from leave. As I said I don’t know what the underlying issues are but it is obvious that it is causing much distress and should be remedied by those responsible at the soonest. As for the transfer of Sergeants De Leon and Guard, if the real reason for their transfer was the recent events, I would say that their transfers were unjustified and should be recalled.

A Prime Minister some times near tears expresses his love for a nation. A prime Minister who seems overwhelmed by his duties and has persons at his disposal to assist him. Persons whom I think deserve a chance (Rufus Bousquet, Marcus Nicholas), and may well prove to be instrumental but because of past mistakes past (that are by no means I condone) issues are left on the side lines while persons who seem sometimes to have no clue what they are talking about are occupying vital positions in Government. Persons need to realize when they are biting down more than they can chew. I’ve learnt that sometimes you should love something enough to let it go. The government has reached a point where they appear to be overwhelmed and may need to relinquish their comfortable seats to persons who may be instrumental in helping us lift our heads once again.

Ealidia St.Helen
15/05/08

May 19, 2008 at 11:24 AM

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