Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas Announces Integrity Commission – Don Mitchell CBE Hopes It Isn’t Empty Promises Like Barbados PM David Thompson

The new Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas, says his government is embracing integrity legislation and vows he is setting a new course for his country. As reported by Caribbean Net News…

The Governor General announced that the government will set up an Integrity Commission to ensure integrity in public life. The Commission, he said, will obtain declaration of the assets and liabilities and income of persons in public life. Governor General of Grenada Sir Daniel Williams He also said a Public Procurement Authority will be established to regulate public procurement and practices in the Public Service.

In a move to prevent corruption, the Governor General also announced the establishment of an Investment Policy Review Committee to look at investment proposals (local and foreign) before they are considered by Cabinet, as well as a National Economic Council to advise the Government on macro-economic policies and other major issues.

Sir Daniel also announced the appointment of an Ombudsman, who will have the power to investigate the administrative actions taken by on behalf of Government and other public authorities, including statutory corporations.

… from Caribbean Net News (link here)

Corruption-free Anguilla Hopes Grenada Isn’t Deceived Like Barbados!

Grenada is in big trouble because the treasury has been emptied by successive governments who operated without effective integrity and freedom of information laws – the same lack of integrity laws situation that we have in Barbados.

Now Grenada’s new Prime Minister wants to establish effective integrity legislation – or so he says. While it is obvious that this call for ITAL is a prelude to yet another bailout by the international funds, perhaps Grenada will end up with actual ITAL. (ITAL = Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Legislation)

Or, as Don Mitchell wonders on Corruption-Free Anguilla blog…

“If it is just empty promises, like PM David Thompson of Barbados seems to be making, then we shall have been betrayed by our leaders once again.”

Prime Minister Thompson should have a read of Don Mitchell’s article Grenada. He just might learn something.

Vasbert Drakes Returns To Barbados After Coaching Stint With Emirates

Cricketer Back To West Indies

Despite his stern appearance in the photo, Vasbert Drakes is considered one of the nicest guys in cricket (at least according to the Flickr account we nicked the photo from!)

Vasbert is a (very) fast bowler and is returning to Barbados from a three-month coaching contract in the Middle East.

Glad to have you back, Vasbert… and from what the Dubai newspaper says, it looks like you will be missed in the land of oil, sand and big money.

Welcome home!