Should Gaston be Trusted

Details

Opinion Pieces

Tuesday, 11 February 2014 04:00

Concerned citizen

Leader of the opposition Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party Gaston Browne is convinced that his party's lead in recent polls is insurmountable.


Browne, it seems, is already "counting his chickens before they hatch," and boldly stated that when he becomes prime minister of Antigua & Barbuda no one should fear victimization.


That of course is if you are a civil servant, according to the “want to be leader”.


The thing is, what does Browne mean when he said that no civil servant need to worry about victimization?


If Browne becomes prime minister, he should know that he has no power to fire any civil servant, so they need not fear any prime minister.


The interesting thing about Browne's statement, however, is that he went on to say that political appointees will have to go. That sound like victimization.


Browne tried to explain his “non victimization” by claiming persons appointed by the United Progressive Party to statutory boards will have to move aside for his own appointees.


So should I think that even if the most qualified person was appointed to a board, that that person would have to go simply because he/she was appointed by the UPP? How does that help the country?


I though that despite political affiliations, once we are citizens of Antigua & Barbuda we deserve the right to work and be respected and compensated for what we do.


Now while I am not claiming to be naive to the reports of victimization following elections, there is one main reason that Browne's statement is troublesome.


Browne has stated that he has the capacity and ability to grow the country's economy more than that of China's, the largest economy in the world.


Now if that is so, there will be more than enough work for citizens, which means we will have to go out and import workers.


Jamaicans, Guyanese, and persons from Santo Doming should be packing their bags. Not so fast!


If Browne can grow the economy like that, then why would he even need to send home “political appointees”?


Once we are all gainfully employed then one can conclude that the sending home or removal of anyone from any board is nothing but political victimization.


As a matter of fact, I think that Gail Christian would never believe such a statement from Browne.


ALP insiders have stated in private that the sole reason that Christian is no longer with the ABLP is because of her strong opposition to Browne in the leadup to the party's leadership race.

If I was to believe the ALP insiders, I would certainly not trust Browne on that issue.


Any and all non-established government workers should take a serious look at Browne's statement as well.


They are not civil servants in the true sense of the word and they may be vulnerable under a Browne-led administration.


The electorate should search Browne's ability to grow the economy, something that he has trumpeted for months.

Another thing, on the matter of trust - Vere Bird III was clear about the level of corruption that took place during the ABLP's leadership race.


It was so bad that Bird and a number of “diehard” supporters “fled the scene” and started their own True Labour Party.

Browne has touted his low tolerance for corruption, yet he has been accused of very grievous acts of corruption during that leadership race.


So who is Browne? One who is opposed to corruption or one who engages in or appeases those who engage in corrupt activities?


Maybe Browne's reluctance to distance himself from Asot Michael will give us some insight into the true Browne.


In recent times, a number of audio recordings have turned up revealing that Michael, by his own admission, took part in numerous corrupt activities.



Michael implicated former Prime Minister Lester Bird and MP for St Phillips North Robin Yearwood both members of Browne's ABLP.


If Browne was to be successful in the elections, Michael, Bird and Yearwood would serve in his cabinet.


With Browne so strict against corruption as he claims, why has he not looked into the alleged corrupt practices of these three individuals? Oh! Browne has an explanation.


The police, he suggests, have heard these tapes and have done nothing about them, so that should not be his responsibility. Alarming.


In the same breath that Browne made that declaration, he announced that if citizens reported wrongdoings by his ministers, he would deal with them.


I wonder how and why, since it is not the police who would be reporting his ministers' alleged offenses.


Trust is important, and right now Browne's statements leave too many unanswered questions.
As a concerned citizen I think that such examinations of one who wants to lead are critical to making proper and informed decisions.

Concerned Antiguan


Reporting by Caribarena news, publishing by Ofer Shaked.

• < Prev
• Next >