The Labour Spokesman Editorial
At a time when we are desperately in need of sound management of our nation’s affairs we are learning that such is not forthcoming. To the contrary, with each passing day it becomes distressingly clear that the governing regime is even worse than we had initially assessed and warned the people about. Corruption is not only as bad as we had assessed, but it is even deeper and more widespread.
For example, while thousands of our needy and deserving people here at home have been consistently denied access to assistance programmes such as STEP, it has now come to light that undeserving persons overseas have been regular beneficiaries thereof, and that such has been going on for a very long time. It does not take a rocket scientist to discern that such a practice is yet another form of corruption — a way of using public funds to buy votes, both aspects of which are very serious offences. The people of St Kitts and Nevis need to pay full attention to this matter. We have previously warned that the governing regime were intent on diluting our voting power, while at the same time strengthening that of overseas persons who were ineligible to participate in our electoral process.
So bad is the situation that one faction of the (so-called) team has become painfully aware that their chances for re-election at upcoming local elections have been seriously eroded, and that the erosion has been engineered by a person who is supposed to be a team partner. Attempts to bring about a return to some semblance of normalcy are proving as illusory as mirages in a desert. Excuses to escape being held to account include ill health sometimes, and suddenly pressing needs to attend Lenten services at other times — all of which point at a stubborn reluctance to back down from an overwhelming hunger for a third term and the attendant opportunities to practice self and family enriching corruptions. Yes, dear people of St Kitts and Nevis, we are currently suffering from the results of ‘corruption on steroids.’ Dr Drew and his team are already facing some truly daunting challenges. We must be prepared to give them all of our support.