Editorial – July 10, 2015 :
The thoughts of the enormity of a recent judgment handed down by Justice Albert Redhead, and the damage it can do to an already starved people suffering from the lack of worthwhile discourse, were flooding the mind where now you may not be able to discuss any issue or anything except on prior approval by management of the radio station. (See page 2)
Prior to these thoughts flooding in were those, having to do with Governor Adrian Davis who denied himself the opportunity to explain to the people of Montserrat whom he said it was his duty to serve, the reason for his failure to serve them thus. We had hoped for one last chance for him to show that he was indeed different from the rest although it turned out that he might have been the weakest or the worst of the lot.
When Governor Davis arrived he met the people, held town hall meetings in Salem and Lookout. He asked questions and got frank and honest answers about the performance of his predecessors. He knew that his immediate predecessor had soon after his arrival, spoke of challenges as well as those for himself when he invited the media, “to keep him and Ministers and others in authority in Montserrat accountable.” He knew also, Governor Waterworth had said that the public service will have to respond to a culture shift: ”The civil service isn’t just important in terms of service delivery…it pervades every part of life on the island…getting the public service right, the delivering of efficient and economical service for all its customers…it needs to be working as a modern accountable and effective public service.”
How then that he ended up making those statements to the public service, even after it was suggested that he supposedly did things in an effort to effect change?
He knew also that Waterworth had in his own words expressed frustratation and disappointment by the lack of progress on key development projects. “…lack of progress with obviously Little Bay. The outline is on the ground, but by this stage, I would really have hoped to see the buildings actually up. Not just about to start going up,” he had said. Be assured that Waterworth would have given him his reasons!
How come Governor Davis had similar words prior to his departure as he also addressed his hope for Montserrat’s economic future and its development? If he had any soul or any serious belief or understanding of what he was saying he would have made it possible by keeping the undertaking to hold a last press conference in June. We reminded him but he refused.
Supposedly and according to him, ‘communication’ was a big thing for him. Right at the beginning upon his arrival he said this. ““I always in my career have thought that communication is one of the most important part of your job. If you don’t tell people what you are doing and what you want to do, how do you expect them to understand what you are doing?”He concluded, “It is a personal thing.” He tried and one might say he succeeded at that even though towards the end he explained his difficulties doing so. Letting himself down like he did in the end was surprising, adding to the many other failures and disappointments on his actions.
At his May 20th press conference he had difficulty explaining his role in Montserrat, beyond his constitutional responsibilities. He obviously had since looked at the address he gave on his arrival. He told public servants, he understood his role, “is to represent Montserrat in the UK and the UK in Montserrat…that boiled down to being a critical but supportive friend who is willing to tell the truth to both sides and to try and iron out any misunderstandings.”
On his arrival he reiterated his ideas of how he sees his duties as Governor in Montserrat. “…it’s about representing Montserrat in the UK, arguing the case within London for the issues that I think Montserrat needs help with; assistance with and also trying to get Montserrat to agree to perform on the commitments that it had in relation to the road map to economic sustainability…,” he explained. What really would be his explanations now? A magic wantd?
But he lost his way. We can look back now and agree when Gerald wrote asking for his recall: “Adrian Davis is a paradox. He arrived on island with a series of meet-the-people town hall meetings. He impressed as a libertarian desirous of handing more autonomy to the people whilst promoting himself as a champion of a new order of governance. Reuben T. Meade, Premier, dubbed him derisively the ‘other Chief Minister’ having regard for his enthusiasm, on coming here.
Even then, there seemed hope, while even just putting out fire, he was responding to observations which he still denied were wrong doings, such as the huge procurement issues. But he obviously did nothing where it really mattered. Was that intentional, just ignorance, or just biding time
