Firstly, it must be taken as a fact (beyond any doubt) that the accused is innocent, until proven guilty and that the alleged victim has every right to have her day in court. Furthermore, the Minister now arrested and charged (having regard for the possible nature of the case) the matter is sub judice.
When former Speaker, Dame Giselle Isaac and radio personality, Algernon “Serpent” Watts, were arrested following a probe (perhaps) inspired by Honourable Michael Browne, the edict “innocent until proven guilty” was assumed. To good effect, for both: Isaac and Watts were vindicated by the courts.
None or all of the above, should obscure the fact that there are relevant and compelling issues of, civics, politics and transparency in Government, that must be fully ventilated, if democratic societies, are to benefit from these types of developments.
For “Once upon a time” it would have been unthinkable (in Antigua-Barbuda) that:
• A woman who feels that a serious crime has been committed against her person, by a member of Cabinet, would have the courage and character to report the matter to the police, confident that her case would be taken seriously.
• Any police high command would “pass its place” to speak to the minister about the matter (let alone) arrest a member of cabinet and charge the accused with a serious crime.
• Furthermore, it would be unthinkable, that a Prime Minister would declare in “the court of public opinion” that if a Minister is arrested, the accused must leave Cabinet until vindicated.
All watched over by an increasingly: inquisitive, ubiquitous and powerful media landscape.
Is it (therefore) reasonable, for us to begin (cautiously) believing that Antigua-Barbuda, may be entering a more transparent era in the way it does politics and governance? I really mean, cautiously! Because a code of conduct (enforced by a governing party, is about as good as the word of its political leader. perhaps, vanishing once the leader leaves office.
“I kid you not” there are (some) on both sides of the political divide, who remain deeply skeptical of the more transparent stance being advanced by PM Gaston Brown, in certain of these matters. Surely, such doubters must fear the newly assertive tendencies of the police and prosecutorial services???
And that takes me to the essence of this piece. Unless Antigua-Barbuda enshrines (internationally accepted best practices) of good governance ethics in our statute and (eventually) constitution; we run the risk of these moments of glimpses into what should be, becoming just that, moments of rare glimpses.
It should never be that: A change in political leadership or a change of party in government, pushes back the hands of time. So that the ordinary men and women in society, continue believing that political, religious and business elites can do all manner of unlawful, amoral and evil things, without just and timely interventions by: their line managers, the police and the courts.
Prime Ministers, A former Minister of Education, Police Commissioners and DPP’s to one side.
When one thinks about this case, it is easy to conjure-up a scene in which the ancestral spirits of Isaac and Watts, are “dancing on their graves” in broad daylight and singing “back to back, belly to belly, we don’t care a damn he done charge already”.
Or is it that “The God of Isaac and Watts, does hear the cry of its people and answers their prayers?”. If so, the God of Michael Browne, and his accuser must be listening and taking copious notes.
Walk good until next time,
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst