A leak or a national trust?

It was like manna falling from heaven. Last Saturday afternoon an unusual text message alerted me to a leaked document on the St Lucia National Trust website. Immediately I placed my household chores on the back burner and rushed to the computer. There it was: the more than 300-page Constitutional Reform Commission’s Report. I quickly glanced at the members of the Commission and then examined the abbreviated recommendations.
As I pondered whether this was really a leaked document or a National Trust service to country in the interest of openness and transparency, it dawned on me that there had been no news item about the official presentation of the report. I wondered why of all places, such an important document landed on a website that the majority of St Lucians may not even have heard about. Then I tried to convince myself that the St Lucia National Trust is a reputable source for accurate information and no one would try to pull a prank. Interestingly, the document was quickly removed as word spread and Timothy Poleon of Newsspin divulged some of the most potent aspects of the recommendations.
It would take a couple of calls to my regular sources to discover that the report was placed on the website in error. It was not yet ready for public consumption because according to my sources the document had not yet been presented officially to the relevant authorities, including the Prime Minister and Parliament. Interestingly, during the entire Newsspin show that dealt with the perceived leaked document, not one official from the St. Lucia National Trust or from the commission, called in to explain this apparent breach of protocol.
Then, there was the tidbit of information that the commission had finished its work about three months before but had not yet been able in tiny St Lucia (238 sq miles), to find an appropriate appointment to present the report to the relevant authorities. Indeed, this is a busy island with all systems gearing up for the yearly bacchanal—the state sponsored street jump-up traditionally known as Carnival. Sparrow is absolutely right: “Doh Stop de Carnival!” Constitutional Reform Report be damned, the shows are more important. The officials are just too engaged with other more titillating business to take away precious time to receive the Constitutional Review Commission’s Report.
With St Lucians in “mash down” and “glo-ko-ko” mode, egged on by intoxicating Lucian spirits and groovy soca artistes, who the heck cares if taxpayers have invested mucho dinero for a report that the authorities appear too busy to receive?
I’m cynical enough to believe that the current breed of politicians conveniently care less about Constitutional reforms that may actually have a chilling effect on the way they are accustomed to doing business on the sad rock that is Fair Helen.
It may not have been a deliberate leak but some of the provisions contained in the report may account for the official deliberate dragging of feet and the shameless burying of heads in the sand.
Honestly, do you seriously believe that the politicians, during the general elections season, really want to be talking about matters of such consequential impact on the lives of ordinary St. Lucians? After all it is easier to push a block-o-rama with chicken and rum, than to discuss issues of such grave importance like making the politicians more accountable to the St Lucian electorate.
Given that the St Lucia National Trust report was prematurely presented, I will not discuss the provisions being recommended. Suffice to say however that the Committee must be commended for the work done in presenting such a comprehensive report. It may yet constitute a national treasure. Film at eleven!