The promise to enact Integrity Legislation within the first 100 days of the ULP administration was not kept. The legislation would have signaled the intention of the government to be transparent, accountable, moral, just, fair, and free of corruption. While the focus should justly be put on our leaders, the rest of the citizenry should not be enablers to corruption.
The role of those in authority is to inspire, motivate, and set the right example in doing right. The rest of us need to maintain and expect a high standard of integrity among ourselves.
Beginning with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, we need to see demonstrated efforts to be fair in ensuring that the opposition is accorded what is due to them. Motions of No Confidence must be facilitated if parliamentarians are to have the opportunity to remove a rogue regime constitutionally outside of general elections. The one time in the year when Opposition motions must take precedence should be honored.
The Police must behave in a respectable, and responsible manner. Arresting drummers and peaceful demonstrators was not helpful. Crimes should be professionally investigated and the right charges laid. Justice must be seen to be done. Partisan politics should play no role in policing. Criminal Justice and Forensic Science should be taught at our Community College together with Basic Policing. Advancing through the ranks must be by merit.
The Civil Service is the engine of governance and must be allowed to run the country within the policy framework of the Administrators. Members of the Police and Service Commissions should be persons invested in the integrity of meritocracy.
The focus of the Pensions and Social Security funds should be on efficient collections so that there are sufficient funds to take care of our people in retirement. Anywhere work is done, collections should be made. The Farmer, Domestic worker, Construction worker, and Fishermen should all pay in to the Retirement funds. The success of the program should result in the reduction or elimination of the Poor Relief. Those in receipt of assistance must ensure that it is the minimum amount that is needed and seek to be weaned off the program in the shortest possible time. Students in particular must demonstrate that they value the assistance given by studying diligently to make full proof of the help received.
With respect to the environment, each individual, household, and business place and worker must ensure that the space occupied is kept sanitized and clean. We need to go further by beautifying and conserving the environment. Students make up a large portion of the population and should play a great role in making our country look, smell, and feel good.
Funds spent educating our children should be expended fairly to ensure that all our workers gain adequate academic and practical preparation.
Wherever the auditors examine, their report should be that we are a people of integrity.
Anthony Stewart, PhD