The breaking news that Andrew Mountbatten has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office should pique the interest of Barbadians. The arrest comes against the backdrop of allegations that Mountbatten – a former prince – shared confidential information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Isn’t it curious that, across the globe, public officials and corporations are being brought before the courts for wrongdoing, yet Barbados continues to be an exception? Is it that Barbados‑based actors hold the patent on puritanical behaviour? Perhaps this explains why successive governments have declined to proclaim the suite of transparency legislation – integrity laws, freedom of information, contractor general, to name a few.
Auditor General reports laid in Parliament over the years have more than hinted at financial indiscretions between public and private sectors. Despite well articulated concerns, policymakers have been content to ignore them. To confirm this disinterest by our political directorate, the office of Auditor General has remained vacant since April 2025, when Leigh Trotman retired after 18 years of service. On the other side of the coin, there is the case of Leroy Parris, charged with fraud and money laundering, which has with VAT implications – since 2020. Unsurprisingly, the case has languished in abeyance.
Is it any wonder that we have raised a generation of Barbadians who are cynical and apathetic toward the ‘system’?
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