On Thursday, January 19th, I received a telephone call from Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas informing me, and confirming, that he had relieved me of my portfolio as Minister for the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development.
We are all cognizant of the fact that under the Constitution of Grenada, the Prime Minister has the right to decide who should serve in his cabinet and who should not – a right that must be respected by all, even though we may not always agree with the reasons for his decision.
Based on the reasons forwarded to me, the Prime Minister decided to terminate my appointment over a letter that I penned, while serving as Minister of Communications, Works and Public Utilities, and addressed to Harbour Holdings’ company.
That sort of letter, which is standard operating procedure of governments and do not need cabinet approval, is designed to keep potential investors interested in a country while the executive body decides on a course of action on any particular matter.
In this particular regard, based on the conclusion of cabinet, the executive was mandated to do a number of things on the issue of the gaming industry: (I) The Ministry of Finance was mandated to review and report back on a proposal that cabinet had received; and (II) a committee of cabinet was mandated to go to the public to find out their attitude to the idea of casino gambling which was part of a broader proposal from a company for a development plan for the Town of St George.
While these were happening, it was important to keep the dialogue open with any company interested in the gaming industry; and so I had decided that this letter be drafted. All other statements relating to this matter, by anyone inside or outside of government, are plain and simple spurious and libelous.
The letter has no binding effect and no legal consequences on the Government of Grenada. While some may argue that I should not have written the letter, I believe that I, as the then Minister for Physical Development and Works, and all other ministers as well, are duty-bound to ensure that we keep all avenues open that could provide jobs for people. This project, were it to materialize and meet the approval of cabinet, has the potential for creating hundreds of jobs for Grenadians who are now unemployed.
I believe that a witch-hunt and a character lynching might have brought pressure to bear on the actions of the Prime Minister in the last two days; a witch-hunt and a lynching that are spearheaded by a few individuals, most not even members of cabinet or the National Democratic Congress.
It is ludicrous for anyone to suggest that any one minister could give a licence for something as the operation of a casino or any other gaming enterprise. In fact as I understand it, not even the cabinet can do this, since it will have to be a matter for parliament.
I reiterate that in my role as the Minister at the time, all I was seeking to do was give assurances to the potential investors that the matter will be fairly looked at – as a means of keeping their interest while the cabinet-mandated steps were pursued.
My role as minister was to look out for the interest of the people of Grenada and to keep all potential avenues open to set the foundation for the basis of any economic activity.
The Honourable Prime Minister, in his address to the nation on Thursday night, said he has always dealt with his ministers with fairness and even-handed. This statement comes into questions when one examines, for example, the situation in 2010 relating to the Sewang One World issue.
There was a case in which agents of the state, under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance, without the knowledge and approval of cabinet, engaged representatives of Sewang One World in trying to get investment and development projects to Grenada.
As part of the Sewang discussions, the Prime Minister was made to sign a memorandum of understanding; an MOU that cabinet was unaware of. Finance Minister Hon. Nazim Burke embarrassed the Prime Minister by telling the nation that Prime Minister Thomas should not have been signed the MOU. The Prime Minister brushed aside the issue, without as much as a word of reprimand to anyone. We respect his right to do so; but I’m just pointing out the facts.
I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve as a minister. I am satisfied that within the resource limitations, I had tried to the best of my ability to act, so that we can make a difference in the lives of people.
I remain committed to the people of St Patrick West, whom I will continue to represent with pride and vigour in the parliament.
I will continue to listen to the concerns and cries of the Grenadian people and continue to endeavour to meet their needs; whether those needs are for jobs or other things such as infrastructural development
I am committed to the unity of my party, the National Democratic Congress, and I subject myself to all its democratic norms and principles.
I’m still unaware which cabinet principles I breached, as alleged by the Prime Minister who also claimed that there was violation of public trust; and also await his presentation of proof that I was involved in wrong-doing.
