Thursday, July 18, 2013

Governments

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Mr. Laurencin. Well said and so very timely.

July 18, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Anonymous said...

You probably lost me by the byline as the author is himself a failed election candidate, none the wiser. This, of course, should not preclude him from sharing his opinions but a more substantive analysis is needed.

That said, having a "sense of integrity" is quite different from having integrity. Politics has been so trivialized in SLU that people forget they're electing leaders to effectively manage their futures. Yes, the beer buddy who has never been able to hold his own is now in charge of their livelihoods--and millions of state dollars.

We do not objectively examine their policies. We do not adhere to standards or benchmarks. We do not question their authority (as long as they have PhDs). We do not ensure that there are immediate consequences for ineptitude, broken promises, mal-administration and corrupt practices. No, we wait.

July 19, 2013 at 2:20 AM
LuciaBoy said...

From en rouge to en whaje’
It would appear that the rumblings of discontent are beginning to be felt all over the country as election promises to individuals, groups, and segments of the population have yet to materialize for some while the economic situation remains languorous.
The euphoric feelings and hopeful optimism that once pervaded the atmosphere in the wake of the last elections have dissipated and reality has begun to bite hard. Both the economy and the malcontents are still depressed and relief is no where around the corner. I have a deep sense of foreboding that it’ll get worse before it gets better and yes that is a disquieting reality.
I do not fancy being in the Prime Minister’s shoes at this time as I am sure he would have loved to make everyone happy but when political platform rhetoric and economic reality are on completely opposing tangents, as leader, you are not in a happy place.
The signs were there – albeit signs always seen more clearly in retrospect than in real time – that the size of the existing pie in the period preceding the elections was not big enough or rather was shrinking thus making it impossible for all the pre-election IOUs to get cashed.

July 19, 2013 at 5:48 AM
LuciaBoy said...

Cont...
How can we forget the tempest that brewed when the then government tried to sublimate reality for its own political survival by making the fictitious claim that we had experienced robust economic growth of 4.2% post Tomas? But did that preclude the SLP from guaranteeing us better days post elections? No.
The reality is no party has won elections by telling the people the truth, by telling them what they will not be able to do, or painting a picture of impending gloom and doom. After all we are told that “politics is the art of the possible, the attainable – the next best thing” - Otto Von Bismarck.
So the SLP, well oiled political machine that they are, quite expertly induced the disaffected, the poor, and the disgusted into abandoning the reality of their wretched existence under the UWP for the illusion of betterment under their reign.
Then again it was an election for the taking. One, that had they lost would have caused heads like Kenny Anthony and Leo Clarke to roll. Because the majority of the electorate did not believe that the UWP had given them one good term.

July 19, 2013 at 5:50 AM
LuciaBoy said...

Cont...
At the risk of sounding like a Kenny apologist, let’s take a walk on Reality Lane things aren’t better much of anywhere, let alone Saint Lucia with just two pitons and the promise of a gallon of oil under the sea at Dauphin, and even that depends on when Grynberg decides to cede it back to us.
The American economy is still sputtering along and while Wall Street is raking it in after the Obama bailout Main Street is still struggling under the yoke of massive unemployment, high consumer debt, stagnant wages, unaffordable housing and health care. The once much touted Barbadian economy is in freefalling layoffs are eminent, drastic reduction in tourist arrivals, default rates are rising, businesses are closing down and people are asking for the head of Chris Sinckler, the Minister of Finance.
But ironically the SLP trolls on social media will have you believe that better days are in fact here because of the crowds at Wet Fete, Jazz, and Machel Montano etc. Really? Is this our barometer of how good we have it economically in Saint Lucia? I can safely say that one third of these crowds are there by virtue of being income earners, one third are sponsored by baby baddies and sugar daddies, and the others through the Axcel Finance Pay Day loans at usury rates. “Forget Your Troubles and Dance”- who does that better than us.
So who are the en whaje`, you ask? They are the one who campaigned in return for the promise of jobs or contracts irrespective of whether they qualify for the position or possess the ability to execute the duties associated with the position. Most are the fly-by-night SLP with a huge sense of entitlement who feel they should be rewarded for working a political campaign. We cannot blame them because the prospect of these rewards were dangled before their eyes.

July 19, 2013 at 5:51 AM
LuciaBoy said...

Cont...
The youth who were lobotomized and entranced by the din of the cacophony of loud speakers, loud mouthed politicians and their cohorts, free Chairman’s Reserve, Piton, jamb poulle, tee-shirts, and free soca concerts when awaken from that stupor realize that they were the victims of a great con. Still no job and no prospects for one either. That would make you en whaje`, wouldn’t it?
Obviously, the UWPs who awoke the next day to find out that the trough was unceremoniously yanked from under their noses are the most en whaje` not to mention the SLPs who have been eclipsed on the food chain by the Johnnies-come-lately to the political scene, the Flambeau nouveau riche of Taiwanese Funds Scandal infamy.
People are en whaje` that after all the hoopla about the Taiwanese funds scandal no one has been brought to account and the likelihood of that happening is as remote as George Zimmerman becoming the Governor General of Saint Lucia.
I could also mention the newly installed leadership of the town and village councils who realize that there is no UWP like feeding frenzy, the bus owner/operators whose calls for increased fares have gone unheeded, and parents, particularly single mothers, who will soon be victims of ill conceived, poorly executed public policy fraught with unintended consequences foisted upon their children.
There are others who are steaming with rage but cannot muster the courage to openly express their disaffection for fear of being branded ungrateful for past mercies or for being too hasty lest they be denied what’s to possibly come in the future.
Sure enough there is an abundance of misplaced and some unnecessary animus due to greatly unfulfilled great expectations. Those who have become addicted to sucking on Lucia’s teat have become bewildered and disillusioned because the supply of nourishment has dried up.

July 19, 2013 at 5:52 AM
LuciaBoy said...

Cont...
While to them this may not offer any solace, I would be remiss if I did not admonish that this is not the time for self pity, whining, blame, and hand wringing but this is a time for all hands on deck, resolute leadership to harness all that pent up anger into a mighty force that will propel our nation out of this economic malaise.
There is a wellspring of untapped strength, passion, creativity, ingenuity, and enterprise in our people waiting for great leadership to exploit this vital resource to get us through this crisis.
Saint Lucians voted optimistically to exchange the”blundership” of Stephenson King for the supposed leadership of Kenny Anthony and they want their decision validated. Mr. Prime Minister it is the final over of the T-20, thirteen runs required, last wicket standing will you be sitting in the bleachers gnawing at your fingertips till they bleed hoping for the win or will you be near the boundary line animated, excited, willing your team to victory?
Perhaps you might need to be reminded kind Sir, that hope is not a strategy, let alone a winning one and that it is time to crack the whip, read your team the riot act, reshuffle the deck, and awaken them from their sleepless slumber lest you be deemed effete.
A good crisis, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste.
Stay conscious my loyal readership.



July 19, 2013 at 5:53 AM
Anonymous said...

The reality is no party has won elections by telling the people the truth.
-----------------------------------

Is this where we're at? Why are we still relying on politicians for truth? Isn't that the duty of well paid public servants, the media and independent analysts (university grads and professionals)? Have they lost their voices?

Independent analysts are hired by news networks the world over to drive and give depth to the conversation. The problem in SLU is that they're so few and so "connected" that even their opinions can't be trusted.

July 19, 2013 at 8:49 AM
Anonymous said...

Sounds like Lucia Boy or Campeche is on the ball in the above wonderful continued commentary pieces. Thanks. Despite the failure of his election bid, Mr. Laurencin is making a significant point too.

If newspaper readership is low, quoted as low as 40 percent of the adult population, where are the subscription receipts to pay for the independent professional indepth analyses, some signs of which sometimes are more apparent on the blogs than in the original writings?

July 19, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Anonymous said...

The Civil Service in St. Lucia has continued to place the most inefficient, incompetent and ineffective persons in leading positions. This is the primary reason for the failed position of that country.

The politicians do this because these are the individuals who are always ready to do whatever it takes to move up in the civil service and that inclused crooking and corruption; as well as blatant injustices to many competent individuals.

This in large measure has greatly contributed to the mess; that is St. Lucia.

July 19, 2013 at 8:13 PM
Anonymous said...

Sadly, even the quoted 40 percent readership may be inflated. Somewhere in the region of 20% and 25% adult readership seems more accurate. Anyway, newspapers are largely dependent on ad sales for survival, not sales made through distribution. As for the paid analysts, I was mostly referring to the bigger budget TV stations. Once the information is relayed, it's easy for newspapers to piggyback.

To be fair, a few solid commentaries are sometimes carried in local newspapers; they just don't get the treatment they deserve. Rather than being transformed into front page material, they're chucked in with simple Letters to the Editor (see Michael Chastanet's commentary last week).

I have yet to see a list of businesses that have folded since the implementation of VAT. Nor have I seen any interviews conducted with the failed business owners. No. Newspapers are simply content to run the "closed" ad, not giving any analysis as to why. Do better.

July 20, 2013 at 12:52 AM

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