EDITORIAL – September 11, 2015
NOTHING short of a commitment to action will suffice, of adhering to the principles that (they said) brought them together to emerge victorious in a near annihilating victory exactly one year ago. But now a year later, having failed to effectively communicate the problems they faced politically, economically, governance and more, there is not much to report in the way of progress.
The PDM government should study its own successfully rushed formation and how the party was pummeled to be the head servants of those who they asked to serve. The general public will not know what was involved when they saw what was considered to be a well-oiled machine smoothly rolling through to remove those generally considered to be not interested in their welfare economically or otherwise.
Real analysis or knowledge of the situation to which Montserrat had succumbed will know that PDM did not in the true sense mall MCAP but rather the latter just rolled out of the way with little by way of resistance in spite of the ‘ambitious’ growth strategy.
So it was, the now one-year-old PDM government did not have much work to do in putting together a Manifesto as their sought-after leader had over and over again told the MCAP leader that his 2009 manifesto if followed would get his support.
One of their obvious great weakness is the lack of communication with the people as to their findings upon taking over a government which for a while since, gave the impression that they were on a roll to something great, though just a dream. They made the mistake further, after dreaming for five years, to ask the people to continue to dream and even to live it. That obviously could not take any traction when the heart of the strategy was so corrupted with different types of diseases.
Our conclusion that there is so little or no progress then, must be that the hastily put together team made mistake after mistake, not really understanding the principles upon which they were formed, and allowed the Montserrat political curse to very quickly take root. There is nothing to show that these people who did not have time to understand each other have ever bothered to be schooled in governance, much more ‘good’, and understanding their own shortcomings and those they were being faced with.
A look at their manifesto: “With a clear mission of building a prosperous, self-sustaining nation for all, a people-first planning process began. First, we identified core values and action steps to create a party firmly grounded in its commitment to The People, and with stable, transparent and democratic operating structures.
“These include establishing a 21st century executive team and instituting a careful candidate selection process, leadership transition strategies and mentorship programmes to nurture generations of leaders for Montserrat. Second, we have formulated a plan for a new beginning for the people of Montserrat.
“This plan is built on three guiding principles – expectation, execution and energy. Together they set the framework for a fresh leadership mandate: 1: A Fresh Start 2: Putting People First—The Strategy for Change and 3: A Call to Action.”
What we hear are rumours, innuendos of undefined ‘restructuring’ and coups. Those before them had gone through those woes, one of the reason they are where they are, but alas, all that glitters or glittered is not gold; while those who misunderstand that the words ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ come straight out of scripture.
This Premier is making a serious mistake in not heeding our simple suggestions that it is not always the majority who has the best intentions and that it must always be those with the goal of the principles they agreed to abide with. It is his style, consensus, but that has its place in leadership and depending on the people around you. Those are who the people accepted; those in their mandate that go contrary to what existed. On the other hand the Premier’s style can only be embraced by people with integrity and understanding to adhere to good principles and above all, cooperation, not open dissentious behaviour and selfishness.
