By Arvel Grant, Political and current Affairs Analyst
(Read more of Arvel’s analytical pieces on arvelgrant.com and [email protected])
Following the removal of 2 ministers from his Cabinet by PM Gaston Browne, because of criminal allegations against them; and the prosecution and trial of 3 ministers of the former UPP administration, for alleged conversion of busses, reportedly, intended for transportation of students, politicians on both sides of the political divide (in Antigua-Barbuda) seem to believe they are being uniquely targeted for prosecutorial and judicial attention. Really???
In very recent times, the work of Jamaica’s Auditor General and or the country’s powerful media, have led to, no fewer than five elected officials of the governing Jamaica Labor Party, being prosecuted or expelled from their party, because of alleged criminal or perceived corrupt activities.
These include at least two former ministers of the crown. In recent months, no fewer than three major statutory boards (in Jamaica) have come under substantial scrutiny. Certain of their officials were forced to resign and maybe facing judicial processes because of alleged corrupt practices.
It is instructive to note that, in Jamaica, high officials in the former PNP administration, are required to answer questions in court, relating to the so-called Trafigura Affair.
Recently, US authorities charged and convicted a minister of the former crown (in Barbados) with criminal wrong doings.
Currently, at least 1 former minister of the crown (in Antigua-Barbuda) is believed under investigations by national crime authorities in the United Kingdom.
In Haiti, almost 50 people are in police custody because of the assassination of the country’s President by an alleged coalition of political and criminal collaborators.
Truth be told, , PEPs or politically exposed people around the world, are being held to increasingly higher standards of probity, because of their potential to facilitate the takeover of their governments (or statutory bodies) by agents of organized crime and terrorist infrastructures.
In the prevailing International environment, politically exposed persons (PEPs) with a prima facie case made out against them, need not be surprised if they are called upon to face judicial proceedings.
Furthermore, any politically exposed person, who is under active: National, regional or international investigation for alleged activities, which could lead to criminal charges, should expect removal from office, , pending conclusion of any such investigations.
The world is desperately afraid of the possibility of having to deal with governments taken over by criminal or terrorist elements, acting insidiously or otherwise.
Furthermore, the plunder of State resources is a major contributor to underdevelopment in communities and countries around the world. Overtime, such plunder, left unchecked, will lead to failed states… witness Haiti, a fellow CARICOM country. .
Walk good and hold your government and opposition officials accountable – We are only safe if they are clean.
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
Authorized for publication without changes or modifications- all rights reserved.
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Probably soliciting Board Membership
ARVEL GRANT: School children say that you and a certain KNIGHT are in business together.
That is why you support the LABOUR PARTY: True or False? By the way, how is business these days.
It’s important that political figures😎 everwhere are held to a high moral stndard. The people demand it so. This is a new era.
Mr. Grant just for your clarification, I have sat through the trial of the buses case from beginning to end and no where in the evidence was it confirmed that the buses were for the use of students. By stating that your are being seriously prejudicial and perpetuating the false narrative that the buses were allocated for use as school buses and ended up being used for something else. Your contention is completely false and you should correct it i.e., that the buses were for students. By the way, even if they were and the government subsequently decided they should be used for other purposes, there would be nothing untoward or illegal with that change.
INTELLECTUAL STUPIDITY OR BUFFOONERY?
Getting in no darn argument, neither with authors nor readers.
Even so, the author speaks to a valid point in making public officials be held liable for behavior that does not comport with ‘…Responsible: …Transparent: and Accountable Governance.’ Most of all, ‘…Public Trust.’
NOW: ‘…Irrespective of intellectualism, some facts have invariably been gravely misunderstood.
Not infrequently, people not seized of ‘FACTS’ are prone to expose themselves as being:
(a) ‘…Intellectually Stupid,’ if not (b) …Exhibiting buffoonery.’
Clearly, only those that have experienced a situation or lived it through or sat in a ‘…Criminal Trial,’ knows it.
Such knowledge can never be ‘REMOTELY’ experienced or understood.
LIKE YOU CHARLES, I WAS IN COURT EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOT ONCE DID I SEE ARVEL GRANT.
HE GETS HIS INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT SOURCES. HE SINGS FROM THE ABLP CAROL SHEET.
I AGREE WITH YOU MR POMPEY, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT.
HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE STATE SHOULD NOT BE USED TO PERSECUTE POLITICAL OPPONENTS.
MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT DOES THE LEARNED MR GRANT MAKE MENTION THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN THROWN OUT FIRST IN THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT AND THEN IN THE HIGH COURT?
PERHAPS MR GRANT MIGHT FIND IT USEFUL TO ENQUIRE OF THE DPP WHY HE DID NOT PERSUE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE PASSPORT FRAUD CASE. MR GRANT SHOULD BUSY HIMSELF IN TRYING TO ASK THE DPP AS TO WHY AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHO TRIED TO KILL THE CUSTOMS OFFICER CORDELL BENJAMIN HAS NEVER BEEN HELD.
IT WOULD ALSO BE USEFUL FOR THE POPOULATION TO KNOW WHO FORGED THE PRIME MINISTER’S SIGNATURE. MR GRANT ARE YOU LISTENING!
BUT IF MR GRANT MADE THESE ENQUIRIES, HE MIGHT BE AFFECTING HIS BREAD AND BUTTER. MR GRANT, THE WORD AROUND TOWN IS THAT YOU ARE IN BED WITH YOUR PUPPET MASTERS SO YOU WILL NEVER MAKE SUCH ENQUIRIES.
OF COURSE YOU WILL HAVE AS YOUR DEFENCE, YOUR SPEAKING ABOUT ASOT AND MICHAEL BROWNE. THESE MET ARE ABLP REJECTS WHO HAVE BEEN SCORNED BY GASTON, SO YES, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THEM.
YOUR INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY IS SO BORING.
HE STILL DOING TO PASSPORT FRAUD THING? YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE HIS ASS IN JAIL BY NOW. IS LONG TIME HE DOING IT EVERYBODY KNOWS
You are expected to support and defend your party official. I heard one of they accused said that the buses were sent to use in the community and they were ask to be custodians of buses. If the buses were send to them and they are owner then why they were ask to be custodians of something they own.
If the busses was send for the use of the community and these former minister’s knows that they are not the owner then why a sitting minister of government would want to compromise they integrity or be involve in a transaction that can be perceived as corruption or conflict of interest.
As much as the court rule that they have no case to answer to does that ruling means that they must continue to have buses in they possession to use for what ever they like .
As former minister of government and members of parliament earning a pension from the state after serving two terms dont you thing that they have a responsibility to answer to the state for what ever may had transpired within they term of office and to conform to good governance practices.
Why these buses could not have been trusted in a charitable organization like rotary or red cross.
They are lots of questions to answer tabor because it appears to be an abuse of poor governance structure and we must do better than that next time.
TROY THOMAS I do not disagree with your position. I believe that the 3 buses should be used now (after the trial) in the same way they were intended to be used initially i.e., for facilitating transportation for senior citizens in the constituency and other community activities. Yes, the buses could be used by a charitable organization like Dr. Fort did with the Hope Institute. The defendants bin the buses case were not guilty of any crimes, but I agree with you going forward this incident should serve as a learning experience for the putting of proper governance structures in place.
Dr. Cort not Fort
Ok can see with you. But i do believe that a society is regulated by a inherent since of justice and i do believe that our judges have a greater responsibility to the society as much the prosecution fail in substantiate its case to establish the alleged offense and so the no case submission was up held.
i still believe that the a written judgement on the matter to outline the poor governance structure was necessary because this is a case of public interest and our judges have a greater responsibility to the society because t
Is these judgment that help to regulate the society. Judges must go the extra mile to deliver judgement sometimes even in the absence of legislation because they first call to duty is to be fair to all parties just say why and how they arrive at such by doing so they would have become advocate for amendments to bring our laws up to speed with the times. The court misses a perfect opportunity to set a precedent in this regard..
TROY THOMAS I see your point again and must say that you are giving some serious thought to this whole governance issue. However, the judge’s role is simply to adjudicate a matter before him base on the facts and an application of the law. If there were governance deficiencies in the way the buses issue was handled by the government, it is for the government and not the court to put measures in place to address those deficiencies so a similar issue does not arise in the future.
Avril Grant you need to go back to hibernate , you fraud posing as some intellectual policial analysts. While your doing that take your friend ms. Wickham with you.
“Cool Ruler”, you wrote “ms Wickham”. Didn’t you mean “MR.”, or am I missing something??? Please explain.
@Samuel Carter you didn’t know that Ms Wickham live somewhere in Europe with his/her man or husband. Lol. That’s not new news.
MISSa Knight big fren
Arvel Grant of OBSERVER fame???? Oh ok
Inquiring minds want to know if Wilmoth Daniel can personally introduce them to his childhood buddy from South Korea who sent him a personal gift via the government to use as a mobile stripper bus? They want their share of personal gifts too.
And can the bathroom cleaner at a certain primary school get a gift of US$500,000.00 from Medical Benefits to pay for her cancer treatment too? It’s a struggle relying on Bbq and fish fry to raise funds.
SMH PERHAPS YOU COULD ASK ARVEL GRANT TO INVESITGATE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CEMETERY
OR THE ONE MILLION FOR THE HANGAR AT THE AIRPORT
ASK MR WICKHAM’S TWIN TO LOOK INTO THE MONEY THAT WENT INTO SHARE CHARITY
YOU SMH SHOULD FIND OUT ABOUT THE DOUBLE DIPPING. YES, THE DOGGIE WHO GETS $10,000 A MONTH FOR HOUSING ALLOWANCE YET RENTS HIS HOUSE FOR US $ 20,000 A MONTH
HEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE $72 MILLION SPENT ON THE E-BOOKS
SMH ASOT, GASTON’S BEST FRIEND, WANTS TO KNOW WHERE GASTON GOT HIS SUDDEN WEALTH
@smh I believe that your are either a Russian bot program to come on here and spread your excrement or a ghost worker who is being paid but not working except coming on this site and sing for your supper.
A ghost worker like Sean “Bounce Cheque” Bird??? What a vindictive, entitled, conscience-purging, fornicating little “night soil radio” lazy brat!!!
WOW, Smh, bitterness will not help your drowning party. By the time Asot is finished with Gaston people like you would become night soil dwellers!
Your acid comes from a place where the sun don’t shine.
Try to be happy. At least you are getting paid. You have a job. A job to be a prostitute.
No bitterness like Gisele Isaac-Arrindell who don’t want the people of this country to advance so she attacked UWI using her infamous “watered-down” venom.
Please don’t give her the gun to start shooting since there are some people she’d like to kill.
How are things between her and Mr. Arrindel from Seatons?
Come on guys, just stop the stupid talk. Get on with living. Enjoy life. Chuups.
You have nerve to be throwing stones about bounce check, when everyone know that is what the chairman of your party use to do before being elected. Not to mention nine yards cutie who was broke as a lawyer, now building palatial mansion.
Larz look how you yai a bun u arf a ppl things. Didn’t your grarndee eva teach you not to grudge neargah fu dem tings carz u nah know way dem get dem Fram???? Antigua ppl are u look how “Cool Ruler” covetousness and envious. What kinda Ruler are you who full up a badmind and envy. You can’t even “Rule” your own mind!!! Evidently you lak discipline and self-control when it comes to ppl things.
Why is your godfather Edmund Lovell REFUSING TO HELP HIS UPP CANDIDATES who ask him for help??? These candidates say LOVELL LIVING LAVISHLY while they wallow in squalor and self-pity. You need to drive by Lovell house and see for yourself…..then again fu you yai so lang and covetous, you might develop envy in your mind against your own godfather 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Editor have you seen the inside of Wilmoth Daniel STRIPPER POLE BUS????? The people cry out that they want to stamp out corruption, but they celebrate with Daniel by videotaping him boasting to go collect “his” gift. Was it George Wehner behind the camera???? In other words “tek dat.mi can do are you as me like”
HEY, Asot talk about how broke Gaston was before he got into office. Gaston they say had to beg even Asot mother for money.
Now he boasting how rich he is. With all the money he has, he can’t buy class.
His inferiority complex haunts to want more, and more and more. He can never have enough
Anna Salome,You should thank Almighty God for placing a man of principle with values and standards at the helm as Prime Minister for times such as these. We are a blessed people.
Are you a fool or hypocrite? This man is full of himself and so arrogant that I wouldn’t want to be one of his ministers. God didn’t make him prime minister. It is mostly the poor, downtrodden and non nationals that voted for him and some of the rich who are enjoying all the benefits.
It was Mark Twain who said, It is easier to fool people, than convince them they have been fooled.
Agree with the writer on that times have changed. Fact is what has happened with the listed defendants is all part of a process of holding them accountble. The court will determine whether they are guilty (at this point they remain innocent). Recall when in government the UPP used to argue that opposition MP’s should not be afraid to face to court. I have seen no evidence in the bus matter of poiticians controling the actions of the prosecution. Interestingly the same could not be said under the UPP (eg the case involving C Benjamin). The DPP needs to do his job and instead of brinding in someone foreign, handle the matter himself. The defendants continue to try to huff public resources. I am yet to see HL and JL disavow ownership and call out Daniel for his crass attempts to huff public resources.
Arvel Grant and Peter Wickham, why don’t you go and sit in that dusty corner. YOU BOTH BENEFIT FROM THE ABLP. Stop pretending that you are impartial. You are so predictable.
You like to lick LINLEY WINTER boots eh?? No amount of licking can produce a credible poll from LINLEY WINTER. Only credible pole Lovell likes is the one in Wilmoth Daniel stripper bus from his South Korea buddy
Its strange since you guys used to love him when he was critical of the ALP and defended UPP actions (during their time in offfice). Good to see that he has realized his mistakes re the runaway UPP train. You don’t see all the people who have abanoned that doomed ship? Cort, Joane Messiah and her DNA crew, Colin Derrick, Namba, Hadeed, Colin Browne, Lamming… If I were to try to list them all it woud rival the local phone book.
-BRUCE GOODWIN
-ANTHONY STUART
-MALAKA PARKER
-TREVOR YOUNG
-DONNA CHAIA
-ERROL CORT
-ELESTON ADAMS aka NAMBALULU NAMBALALA
-JOANNE MASSIAH
-VALERIE POLE
-LENWORTH JOHNSON
-CHANLAH CODRINGTON
-HILSON BAPTISTE
-20,000+ VOTERS!!!!!
Those that joined ALP gone where they think the corrupt money making machine is. It is not honesty and service that drives them. UPP doesn’t have the means for them to get rich.
When the ABLP loses, I wonder how many will be jumping back
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