… for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me – Exodus 20:5
BU admires Afra Raymond’s contribution to public service in Trinidad. His indefatigable and strident calls for transparency by government and wider society is an approach which needs to take on momentum across the region. His recent blog Everything but the Truth highlights his battle with the government over the controversial CL Financial, parent company of CLICO. Afra’s challenge is made all the more interesting by the fact freedom of information laws are in force in Trinidad. CLICO was a pan Caribbean entity and it makes sense given the complicated mess which has been created by its collapse there would have been a greater effort for advocates to collaborate MORE to ensure the rights of policyholders are addressed. Equally as important citizens have an obligation to insist those elected are held accountable.
The CLICO debacle continues to lay in abeyance. Politicians continue year after year since the collapse to roll out the promises how they propose to remedy this mess for policyholders. With respect to June Fowler and her group the Barbados Investors and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA) they have become comfortable in the role of information takers. Clearly the group is not respected for the pressure it threatens to exert on the process. BU and others are acutely aware regional government – Trinidad the exception – are cash strapped and will be for the foreseeable future there promises are the best politicians are able to deliver.
Without having sight of confidential documents BU is of the certain view the collapse of CLICO was facilitated by people in high places to satisfy greed first and foremost. The symptom exposed by the CLICO mess is the deficiency in governance and oversight. Several years after the CLICO collapse BU is unaware pan Caribbean companies are being regulated with a regional approach – we are happy to be proved wrong.
The leaked Deloittes CLICO Judicial report in 2007 revealed troubling information about a 3 million dollar payment to Thompson & Associates, a law firm which the late Prime Minister lead partner. The revelation a three million dollar payment was made to former Chairman of CLICO Holdings Leroy Parris as a gratuity payment should have raised more debate in Barbados. Further, Thompson acted as lawyer for Parris, CLICO Holdings and there is a godfather role which may or may not be relevant. It says something about Barbadians given our silence on the matter. The three million dollar payment requires an explanation from someone with the knowledge to address it.BU is mindful subsequent judicial reports have been sealed by the court.
It is no secret late Prime Minister Thompson’s wife Mara operated as office manager at Thompson & Associates. In the role she was privy to transactions between the law firm and clients. Obviously Mara the wife and David the husband would have shared information when heads rested on the pillow. Mara Thompson succeeded her husband as representative for St. John and is currently deputy speaker of the House of Assembly. It has been interesting since her elevation to serve in parliament to observe how local media has given her a ‘pass’. There has been the occasional quote but there is no ‘body’ of contributions that has shaped her political persona so far.
We believe the time has come for civil society in Barbados and the region to direct some hard question to Mara Thompson M.P the widow of the late Prime Minister David Thompson. Bear in mind there is a CLICO liability in the Eastern Caribbean. What is her position regarding the invoicing of three million dollars by Thompson & Associates to CLICO which was subsequently paid to Leroy Parris as a gratuity payment? Enough time has passed since the death of Thompson for the government to deliver on its promise of transparency in government – unless addressed the legacy of David Thompson who committed to a transparency platform message will be tarnished. It is grossly disrespectful for Mara Thompson to sit in our highest legislative chamber AND who is the beneficiary of David Thompson’s estate – rumoured to be several million – AND suffer no obligation to unpick her teet on this matter. There is a legal constraint BUT there is a moral obligation as long as she remains a member of parliament; a chamber where she is required to serve the interest of Barbadians.
Mara Thompson you have always impressed with your dignified and respectful demeanour in public, the CLICO mess threatens to negatively affect your legacy as well. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
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