Editorial – August 1, 2014 :
On July 31, 2009 exactly five years and one day ago, we knew that nomination day was to be August 19, 2009. Today we have come to realise that it is dangerous to take seriously anything the Premier choses to say on radio, where he cannot, or is not tested as to the veracity or accuracy of anything he says there. That now is becoming more questionable. We take for example today how conflicting his many sayings were contrasting, conflicting and how he appears to be digging deeper ditches as he rambles on.
On June 12, he said on his favourite radio show, where it has been made clear by the show host, that he pays the show host, while the show host misunderstands that as a public servant he must show no political partiality, that the date of general elections will be September 12, 2014. To date no one knows that this will be so. The Governor has not yet advised the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of this, which suggests either he himself has not been so advised (officially) by the Premier, or there is something tighter than imaginable between them both, especially when taking some other pronouncements he (the Governor) has made recently.
We know Legislative Assembly will automatically be prorogued come September 24, 2009, being five years from the first sitting thereof. While the Governor can dissolve parliament in consultation with the Premier anytime, he will have to do so if that date arrives before he is advised otherwise when he would have to be so advised by the Premier. After Sept 24 elections must be held within 90 (ninety) days but no sooner than 21 (twenty-one) days. It is today 42 days to Sept 12 and there is a set number of days for nomination day to be published before elections.
There is something amiss and we doubt very much that it is ignorance not ignoring the possibility. If indeed the Premier hopes to advise the Governor, or if he has, where is the morality between these two heads that would allow the Governor and Premier, and Cabinet to make Agreements at this stage or even later, that would bind a new Government. There is quite a lot of chasing down of negotiations according to the Premier, but coming back to report that an agreement is forthcoming by the end of next week while negotiations are still going on is not by any means surprising.
Back on July 31, 2009, we published a Jeevan Robinson article, “Leadership, Suitability & Accountability. Today we recall some of his thoughts from the article and wonder how he would reflect, or anyone for that matter. He wrote, “We need a government of accountability to run the affairs of Montserrat.”
He said: “We need a government of accountability to run the affairs of Montserrat…a key part of leadership is that politicians must be able to cross over party lines and work together for the benefit of the country. Effective governance is about the proper implementation of the governing party’s policies that will assist in improving the lives of the general population.”
Something in the air cause wonder five years later to this day, how anyone would comment upon honest reflection.
In that same issue on July 31, 2009, in our Editorial we described the many kinds of truths that can exist. But we called moral truth with honest truth. And we asked of candidates, “Are you ready, willing and able to put your country before your egos”? We suggested, “The answer is always easily spoken,” always on the tip of the tongue. So we advised, seek them out, check them out, honest truth, there is a past in every one, look for their truths.
That Editorial was headed “It is dishonesty and lack of sincerity that keep them back.” Today, we can add the word ‘integrity’.
