Jeevan Robinson
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
All is not well with Montserrat. Yet, anyone keen to observe will hear some of these very same politicians making bold statements that contradict the obvious realities around them. Their rhetoric spitting in the face of their citizens who grumble silently about daily hardships, and the need for government to push the national good. My inbox is bombarded daily with emails from people both at home and abroad who are enduring great pains due to the state of affairs in Montserrat. As a journalist it is my duty to report and examine, much to the chagrin of Premier, Reuben T Meade and some members of his set up.
I will not back away from calling out any government that in times of national hardship seeks to shirk their responsibilities to the people, who instead practice the political ploy of passing the buck or plastering every issue with excuses or angry responses, or disdain towards genuine questioning towards accountability. Such politics is lazy politics. Such politics I might add is weak politics. I call it governance with indifference.
A popular Montserratian Calypsonian named Wrangler, now deceased, sang a song calledCrisis' many years ago. Wrangler sang;Sometimes I sit and wonder does it make sense to ponder on the future of this land. I've come to one conclusion; we must have unification to stop the penetration of them external trends. We must take command and defend our land.
Who are these people that must defend Montserrat if it is not her nationals who love their country and refuse to compromise on the best possible future for her in the face of politicians and their band of yes men, merry men and hand held out open men "who simply refuse to admit to, and address the issues that are pulling the country down.
The Premier of Montserrat recently journeyed into the South American city of Quito, Ecuador, to attend the C24 Regional Pacific Seminar on Decolonization and decided to commit Montserrat's future, without any consultation, to the pockets of British rule indefinitely. For how many pieces of silver did he receive, I wonder, for springing this policy statement on the people?
The Premier whilst in Ecuador shocked a vast majority of Montserratians by stating,The conclusion therefore is that the UK overseas territory of Montserrat has by choice determined that they wish to continue being part of the UK. We no longer see ourselves as being a colonized people on the basis of the seven elements of the 947th UN Plenary of 14 December, 1960. We see ourselves as being part of the UK family by choice. It is therefore my recommendation that this UN Decolonisation committee remove Montserrat from their list of non self-governing countries, within their Decolonisation discussions. I am also certain that the UK supports our stance."
Of course the Premier must be certain that the UK supports his stance, as surely, contrary to what he would have us believe, he must have chosen to discuss this very sensitive issue with British representatives rather than the people of Montserrat who elected him. What for me beggars belief is whom did he consult in so boldly stating that the people of Montserrat have made a choice to remain British? He, nor his government held no such referendum with the people of Montserrat. The people of Montserrat have made no such choice. Is the Premier therefore referring to the revised constitution that he bulldozed into law last year, as the people of Montserrat making this choice towards which he refers? It is well documented that the constitution was never by any means a consensus document and the fallacy of a ten-year review process was used to swiftly bring it to a rapid conclusion.
I have been at pains to understand why the Premier would have done such a thing without any consultation with the people of Montserrat. MNI Alive's attempts to reach him for clarification have met with silence. But this is a Premier who has unofficially boycotted MNI Alive since January, 2012, after MNI Alive's tough questioning of his government's Festival 50 plans on ZJB Radio, that he clearly responded angrily towards.
The Premier in his statement in Quito has done a great disservice to Montserrat. His refusal to properly consult with the people on such a key decision panders to the danger of politicians who believe in unfettered power and unquestioned decision making with little or no accountability.
If we are so mucha part of Britain' then why has it taken almost 17 years for Montserrat to receive proper development since the onset of the volcanic crisis? The Premier should answer also why then, if Montserrat isa part of Britain' we sit very uncomfortably under the directives of the Department For International Development (Dfid)?
Furthermore, if we are so mucha part of Britain' why does he come to the UK seeking development funds then comes back to Montserrat and moans on ZJB radio of the difficulties he faces in getting what is needed from Britain to make Montserrat sustainable?
If we are indeed so mucha part of Britain' then why did he accept on behalf of the people of Montserrat a revised constitution that gave overwhelming powers to the Governor? The very same powers he was at pains to complain about recently. Is this how a country that is 'a part of Britain' is treated? Is this what he accepts for Montserrat and her people that he serves?
The Premier repeatedly speaks of Montserrat's fiscal condition and how dire it is. I agree it is dire. If Montserrat is indeed so broke then perhaps he can show some true leadership and stop this nonsense of bringing in outside consultants for jobs that Montserratians both at home and in the Diaspora can fulfil.
If it is a capacity to fulfil the role issue, then as is industry standard, do the required due diligence and ascertain whether that individual or that Montserrat owned company can in fact do the job. But do not repeatedly fill our ears with excuses as to why his government gives preference to foreign consultants over our own people for jobs Montserratians are qualified and well placed to do professionally. Enough excuses are simply enough.
The Premier declared on ZJB Radio recently that he and his government are delivering for the people of Montserrat. For over 2 years of being elected on a promise of change and prosperity the delivery he speaks of has been painfully slow and filled with a raft of verbiage, rather than action. Take a listen one day to a sitting of the Legislative Assembly. Listen to The Premier and his right hand man, Minister Kirnon, then draw your own conclusion.
The Premier recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dfid that outlines conditions that must be met in order for funding to be approved on key projects. I applaud him on reaching some agreement for funding. He must also be wary of the Minister in his government who has issues with some of those stated conditions, so as to ensure that he whips that Minister in line to deliver on those benchmarks and objectives so enshrined to release the funding critical to our development.
Frankly the people of Montserrat do not wish to hear any more excuses. The Premier promised change and prosperity. Time to deliver.
Jeevan Robinson is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MNI Alive, the Caribbean's global online marketing, news and information (MNI) media house.
