With rapt attention, this columnist read and examined the honourable Prime Ministers' comments on her biggest mistake thus far in her 16-month-old People's Partnership administration, relative to the short-lived appointment of former strategic services agency head, Reshmi Ramnarine. Now, any duly elected government in office can err in many different ways, but there is a major difference between a genuine mistake and what was supposed to be a carefully guarded secret that was eventually ventilated in the courtroom of public opinion and with evidence. It is also a classic reminder to the Government of the day as well as the general population that political rhetoric does not translate into instant changes.
Lest I myself be a cast away, and not better than anyone else, I am mindful of the words from the Holy Scriptures, in Matthew 10: 26: "There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hid that shall not be known", and in Proverbs 15:3: "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good." Whilst anyone can choose to believe these biblical passages or not, it is a potent and powerful reminder to all and especially those whom the people willingly entrusted their collective decision for meaningful changes, that there will come a day of reckoning, at times earlier than anticipated. In addition, as former prime minister Basdeo Panday noted: "Politics has a morality of its own." This morality transcends the much lauded pre-election mantra of openness, transparency, accountability and integrity in public life.
A blowback to PP
Now, to what extent can the short-lived appointment of former SSA head, Reshmi Ramnarine be considered the "biggest mistake"? What was the mistake? Was it the appointment? Was it because Reshmi possessed some exceptional talent and extraordinary ability that was envied by someone else? Of vital importance is the fact this matter not only brought the entire Government in disrepute, but also the credibility and integrity of the University of the West Indies, when senior government officials loudly proclaimed and defended vigorously Reshmi's qualifications without having seen such a document. When did this national security intelligence fiasco become a mistake? Was it deemed to be a mistake when it was publicised by the investigative report by the Express?
Let us be candid dear readers, make no mistake in your minds that the short-lived appointment of the SSA head was not the biggest mistake, but a very deliberate and well-orchestrated course of action disguised to mislead and deceive but which delivered a "blowback" on the entire PP Government. In adopting this course of apparent selective favouritism and perhaps discrimination towards those who may be more qualified and experienced to handle the job, the honourable PM along with her specially selected Cabinet advisers, though empowered to veto the selection in this category, may have demonstrated impaired judgement, misleading professional and political advice.
As chairman of the National Security Council (NSC) as well as an attorney, the PM should have also taken note of the fact that such an embellished CV without the accompanying credentials and evidence may lead to suspicions of employment and educational fraud. All the drama and decision took place under her watch and administration, and at a time when this nation is crying out for meaningful and transparent changes. So, then, what was the purpose of the political advocacy of change? Why attempt to treat the public with disdain when it was reported in the press: "Let's move on." Error does not have the same rights as truth.
Dookeran's posture on human rights
Even if it were to be compared with the decision by former prime minister Patrick Manning to appoint Noel Clements as head of the SSA, it must be borne in mind that Mr Clements was not induced in any way to falsify any CV, but was rather recommended to pursue higher education in Applied Criminology. The current PM had every opportunity to demonstrate that she is indeed in charge and to intelligently pursue the right course. Examine the case of Susan Francois, current head of the Financial Intelligence Unit. In this matter, the PM chose to veto Francois' position in opposition to the selected person by the Public Service Commission. Why?
In the absence of full disclosure of what really occurred with such a vital cog in the national security apparatus as per Reshmi Ramnarine, it cannot be said that it was a mistake and let's move on. In a recent address to mark the fifth anniversary of the COP and in defence of the SoE, the Honourable Winston Dookeran spoke about the security forces asking the PM, NSC and the Cabinet to authorise a SoE for the protection of our people in order to avert a blood bath. Interesting statement, but adding fuel to the sources of intelligence. Furthermore, Dookeran spoke about "the rights of our nation may be more important than the individual rights."
In this respect, one does not know if Mr Dookeran took a Hobbesian view whereby the State must be absolute and all civil rights possessed by individuals are subject to the overarching imperatives of preserving security. Today, however, Western states do not embrace this model of absolutism, and it would be prudent to look at the philosophical thinking of individual human rights of John Locke, Baron De Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Paine, Immanuel Kant, Roger Williams, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and so many others.