Public servants in particular, but on the whole the Montserrat population should learn whatever they can from Chief Minister Reuben Meade, from now on Premier Meade (PM), by listening and paying attention to him. This is so especially that he has seemingly regained fluency in his speech, making use of words he use so well.
Within the past year he has repeatedly shown that he is very au-fait with everything that is going on in the newspaper especially as it relates to him and his government. Some of his ministers can lead the rest of the public service and be the first to take lessons. They must not misunderstand like when a former Chief Minister, now deceased told his ministers, “Be careful how you deal with a newspaper, they can make you, or break you.”
In his last press conference held jointly with the Governor, they both pre-empted this Editor’s questions in their opening statement. The Chief Minister may not only have been paying attention to what is said in the newspaper, but to the voices of the few who would ‘dare’ to express their concerns about what they were expecting that the new Constitution should do for them.
He was clear to point out that “a new Constitution does not make development happen…it provides a framework where goverance takes place showing the world we can do things openly and properly…”
All can learn because it is from there that they will be able to be responsible and they will find how easy it is to seek answers, get answers, chastise without fear because it is done on the background of knowledge with a conduit through which to do so. Within this year alone there have been several attempts at showing Montserrat how civil society needs to take their rightful place in the governance and responsibility for the country.
The last few weeks have been hectic as the struggle to just peep through the crack continues. This week Government in collaboration with DFID, in the words of the Premier a month ago, hosted and ënabled, “a charrette, basically looking at Little Bay development where rather than binging consultants on island we’re actually bringing property developers, hotel developers and the like on Island for them to take a look see at the Little Bay development plan and provide us with some additional ideas in terms of way forward.”
This took place on the heels of the commencement activities of the new Constitution, remembering what the Premier has said and repeated in his Premier commencement speeches, ”it is time to move ahead.”
But two things happened. The planners did not envisage and/or the invitees to participate or observe, nor did they have the capacity to expect what was there for the taking. The experience and knowledge they could gain, to watch, listen, observe and participate and learn from experts what goes on in planning and branding of an “An Ächievable Vision for Little Bay/3-Bays/Montserrat”. Planning that ended with the phrase, “Let’s make this dream a reality”; “Come, let’s help you make this dream a reality”. These were people who have billions of dollars behind them in development and available funds.
The other occurrence. There was a packed conference room of visitors, and local participants, as well as those who should have participated, the curious and the interested. Presentations were made, applause were generous, but at the end, no one had a question or a comment. So what is the problem? Excitement, Fear? doubts, pie in the sky? It is time to pay attention, learn and get up. Pick up the shovels, if it is even only in our minds.
