On the island they call it ‘thieving’ (Teeving) endemic in a country where one learns to blame 200 years of oppression against the master (white) even when they have been independent for 40 years —this is how the politicians, the lawyers and the whole cartel rip off the system and get away with no follow up or enforcement – Peter Allard
Barbadians may recall the Cash for Questions Scandal – in October 1994 when The Guardian newspaper alleged that London’s most successful parliamentary lobbyist, Ian Greer of Ian Greer Associates, had bribed two Conservative Members of Parliament in exchange for asking parliamentary questions, and other tasks, on behalf of the controversial Egyptian owner of Harrods department store, Mohamed Al-Fayed. The Guardian’s story alleged that Al-Fayed had approached the paper and accused Ian Greer of paying, most notably, Neil Hamilton.
The UK scandal exposed from within the bowels of what is considered by many the bastion of Western democracy, the opportunity for the super rich to attempt to influence government policy. BU’s conclusion from the affair is that, if it can happen in the UK in can definitely happen in Barbados. It is why BU has always been apprehensive about Prime Minister David Thompson’s proposal to invite investment to Barbados by wooing foreign philanthropists. The openly materialistic lifestyles of some of our politicians make our environment ripe for corruption. In the absence of Freedom of Information and Integrity legislation in Barbados politicians who are unsure about the implications of their actions do not have to be concerned about penalties.
BU recently read a transcript of a conversation between Member of Parliament William Duguid and Kathleen Davis principal behind the Keltruth Blog which is funded by Peter Allard. It is the right of William Duguid to have a conversation with whoever he desires. What concerned BU was the ease with which Duguid exchanged information, some of which we consider a sensitive nature, with a party (Davis) with whom he did not have a relationship. BU has been able to gain access to the complete files of K. William McKenzie filed in public domain with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
If the Duguid/Davis conversation created some concern imagine our dismay when we read other documents which provoked BU to direct the following questions to Minister Denis Lowe:
- Did you receive monies from Peter Allard and Co to pay for cell phone and Internet in the period (2006) leading up to the last general election? If you did how much? Remember BU has the records!
- Did you receive help from Peter Allard and Co with planning campaign strategy leading up to the last general election e.g. building website, mailing list etc?
- Did you have reason to communicate with Peter Allard and Co which necessitated encryption software to be loaded on your computer?
- Why did you take a decision to fraternize with Allard and Co, given the implications?
The quote above credited to Peter Allard whether by accident or design does not appreciate the time it takes for a society to mature. It takes a lot longer than 40+ years to build an equitable and fully integrated society. It took centuries of struggle for the British race to evolve from a mix of a majority of Saxon underlings and Norman overlords.
What the K. William McKenzie Files have exposed is the extent to which people with deep pockets will go. Barbadians should not become complacent and be happy with the attitude that all our politicians are innocent. Bajans must question them – like we do.
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