May 11, 2018
Recently we came across a piece which opened with the following: “So, we must diligently seek knowledge, the peace of justice within and without, and the common good. Where, knowledge is best understood as well-warranted, credibly true (and reliable) belief.”
This seems so relevant to a serious situation that we have been facing here in Montserrat, even though if you listen or read well, or just being observant enough that the same is all around us and the rest of the world. But in all fairness, to get any where we have to begin right here.
But that piece continues: “That is, our mind’s eyes must be good, and we must diligently seek to ground what we accept as credibly true. Where, our emotions are no better than the perceptions, expectations and judgements that lie at their roots.” This almost sounds so philosophical, that we are suspicious, it is equally not understood. But we believe that for anyone who chooses to read this, it will fall on sound minds.
So the piece continues: “…For, it is only when we start from the whole, undiluted, untainted truth that makes a difference to our decisions and then reason soundly, prudently and justly that we credibly have a trustworthy basis for action. We may still err, for that is human, but this is the path to soundness. Where, too, the old saying is right: “a half truth is a whole lie.
What’s all this about. Not too long ago we tried to draw our opposers and opposition’s attention to the work that Hon Donaldson Romeo, Victor James and Dr. Lowell Lewis legislators performed during their tenure in opposition 2009 – 2014. They did not swallow everything that the Meade government threw at the people, but rather sounded their disagreement to how matters progressed and offered support and their opinions on any other matter as the situation demanded or required.
Going back six years, none of the budgets for some of those years presented came to us after the agreement of a settled or agreed sum with DFID. The Minister of Finance, served well by those around and who himself was versed enough in the Constitution he had championed knew how to satisfy the people, only too gullible to believe they were getting real thing. It may be surprising to many that some of his ministers were none the wiser, if only because it was the ‘thing’ to just accept as long as it didn’t impact their Ministry adversely.
The 2015/16 and 2016/17 budgets met the timeliness. But this 2018/19 budget which rolls into an election year, seemed to have disturbed the would be’s or wanna be’s and the incumbent opposition for some reason, which may well be because the government has finally woke up to a path that may just make sense going forward. Last year, why was there no outcry with the budget coming as late as June?
One experienced journalist in his analysis, as you see in this issue called the budget ‘Timid, Tepid and Vague’, while another, we’ll call an opposing critique of the budget anyway, posited that the Government won the debate.
But much publicity was given to the opinions and expressions contending the budget which in our opinion simply fit our observations in this Editorial. Times and attitudes have long gone by those who see nothing good while having nothing different or better to recommend.
Listen now to the arguments developing from the Premier reversing a position that was not well received in 2012 at the Committee for Decolonisation meet. We are not aware of any consultation on the matter, but we would be pleased to hear what is or would have been the position of the opposers. Be it agreeing or disagreeing with the government. Waiting till you get in power is NOT reflective of any interest in Montserrat as to its well being other than one-self.
Let us simply draw attention to what is happening in the British Virgin Islands where Dr. Orlando Smith who intends to travel to the UK accompanied by the Opposition Leader to discuss important issues relevant, incidentally, not just to BVI but to other Overseas Territories as well. In the end we need say no more than that the scales are very thick and it is sad that there is no acknowledgement, much more an attempt to improve on the situation.
