Article:
Jamell Robinson
Incompetence or Intentional??
Incompetence or intentional, that is the question!! Some time ago I spoke to an ardent supporter of this do nothing government. They proceeded to tell me about the projects that are on stream and how the PNP has zero chance at winning the next election. I asked them a simply question, do you believe it has taken this long to get the ball rolling on these projects because of incompetence or because they were intentionally delayed until the election year?
Lets’ explore both theories. First up, the case for incompetence: It is widely known that prior to winning the December 15th, 2016 Election, the last time there was an official PDM government was some 13 years prior under the leadership of Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor. I say official because many believe that the 3 years under the interim government was a defacto PDM Government in which our current Premier played a pivotal role on the Consultative Forum and used it to spring board to elected office for the first time in 2012. Though in recent times it’s the order of the day for this PDM Government to look fondly on the days of the Taylor Administration, our Premier on initially forming her cabinet for some reason left Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor out. When she relieved Hon. Connolly of her duty as Minister of Education, once again, she left Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor out in favor of Hon. Karen Malcolm. When there was a mid-term cabinet shuffle, she once again left Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor out.
I said all of that to say this, from day 1 until year 3 we have had a group of Ministers with zero experience in running a country and essentially doing on the job training. It’s obvious that at best this crew is a group of slow learners that could have benefited from Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor’s experience in cabinet while they were being outwitted by H.E., the D.G. and the A.G. Clearly if Hon. Hugh Derek Taylor is not valued by his own party, how are we to view his value to us as a people going forward?
Lets’ turn to intentional: The Caribbean political playbook and old school politics of the 80’s and 90’s assumes that the population has a short memory and you must save all your firepower for the election year. New roads, new jobs, issuing of contracts to cover before and just after the election period, a few ribbon cutting, and lots of ground breaking, all in an effort to mamaguy the people that progress is finally on its way and will continue for another four year if the government is re-elected. Lots of petty contracts are being issues in Grand Turk and across the TCI. The Ritz Carlton was delayed to allow certain folks to be in position to benefit. Roads in Provo are starting to be paved.
The smell of hot tar means somebody is gearing up for an election. What also has to be considered here is why did this do nothing government allow the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to suffer for three years while recording surplus after surplus? This is in addition to the suffering after Hurricanes Irma and Maria from which people still have tarps on their roofs and students are still displaced after two years. Why? All in an effort to line up with an election year! Are they really that heartless? You be the judge
Strong Cases have been made for both outcomes and the verdict is in. It’s Both! I say if you want to know why the status quo is not being changed, than look at who is benefiting from it. Take a good look at who is benefiting for the country the way it’s being ran now. Turks and Caicos people, it ain long now, Hope and Help is just around the corner.
Stay Blessed TCI,
Jamell Robinson, PNP All Island Candidate