Allegations of corruption against three senior cabinet members of the PLP government has been met with a paid political ad from the governing party accusing certain opposition FNM candidates of impropriety. (The FNM cases go back to 2012 or before, while the PLP cases are since they became the government).
Also, in two of the situations mentioned by PLP, the FNM members did the ethical thing and resigned their posts. The third case calls into question contracts by the FNM leader with the government.
Of course neither of the current senior cabinet ministers named have resigned. PLP's just don't do that it seems.
The other controversies that have been left to go cold are allegations that the PLP deputy speaker of the House of Assembly and a newly announced FNM candidate both own or did own a stolen car among other issues.
Neither of these gentlemen have been asked to resign by their respective party leaders nor have they publicly defended themselves. This is to the shame of the political organisations.
This is also telling of the remaining MP’s and candidates that have not been tarnished by allegations. One wonders why they are not up in arms to have the disgraced members resign or withdraw their candidacy at this stage. The least they should be doing is agitating for an investigation.
What is even more peculiar is no charges have been made against any of the people involved in any of the allegations.
Whenever allegations are leveled against a politician, there is a lot of bluster yet nobody has a visit with a judge for sentencing or exoneration. Things are just left hanging in the air.
Should the public prosecutor step up in spite of what their political masters might wish?
The effects of corruption and cronyism are causing severe damage to the country's reputation and economic growth, and things will only begin to improve if and when the governing party and the judicial system are not prepared to tolerate rumours of impropriety without an investigation and charges if necessary.
We should all be equal before the law but if there is no political will to live by the laws they create all roads lead to a failed state.
