October 6th, 2010: Some of you may have heard about the most recent attempt to embarrass Dr. Patrick Antoine, by The New Today – alleging, among other things, that he received two salaries to which he was not entitled.
As we all know, Dr. Antoine is more than capable of dealing with this matter. But it is my sacred duty to address it also. In the first place, as the Prime Minister at the time, it was I who proposed an independent investigation into the allegations against Dr. Antoine.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, it appears to me that something new and destructive may have crept into our national politics. A new mindset, a negative spirit, it may be, that seems unwilling to permit certain persons to rest unless – by innuendo, ruse or machination – they are busy deceiving our countrymen, hurting some individual or family, pulling someone down, assassinating the character of another unsuspecting Grenadian. At its worse, it can go further than just the character.
Maurice Bishop, Jacqueline Creft, Innocent Belmar, our unnumbered brothers and sisters who perished at Fort George on that Dark Day, may have paid the ultimate price. But others have suffered too – the late Sir Eric Gairy, our innocent women whose reputations were sacrificed to prove that Sir Eric Gairy was a dictator most corrupt and foul, parliamentarians Anthony Boatswain, Gregory Bowen and to our long-standing national shame, our own Sir Daniel Williams, who then, as Governor-General, could not speak up for himself! I too have been vilified – the list is endless. These few examples both serve to put this latest attack on Dr. Antoine into perspective and bring that unfortunate New Today headline of October 1 – back into focus.
Fortunately, I knew of these allegations against Dr. Antoine, made by a few persons in 2002 – more than eight years ago. Indeed as already indicated, it was I who formally proposed by letter May 15th, 2002, that an Independent Caribbean Professional be appointed to resolve the matter – in the Spirit of Fair Play.
Acting this proposal, while in Spain, the Heads of Government agreed that Dr. Carla Barnett, Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM at the time, would meet both Parties and thoroughly investigate the matter. Dr. Barnett employed the full competence of the Legal Division of the CARICOM Secretariat in reviewing all Agreements, Correspondence and Communications related to the allegations. Let me repeat: Dr. Barnett employed the full competence of the Legal Division of the CARICOM Secretariat in reviewing ALL the Agreements, Correspondence and communications.
In the end, Dr. Barnett’s Final Report made it crystal clear that the arrangements for Dr. Antoine's work were covered by two separate contracts. He was hired to do one job at US $7,000 and then he was promoted to another job, without reducing his attention on the first job at US $ 4,000 plus a housing allowance.
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