‘Listen to the people in the trenches’ - Dr Vincent G. Scatliffe
Dr Scatliffe, who was a legislator from 2007 - 2011 with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, was one of several who attended the first community meeting of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) and his Ministers of Government as they attempt to gather views and public input on the recently coined Draft National Recovery and Development Plan.
The meeting was held at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School on January 24, 2018 where the majority in attendance consisted of government officials.
According to Dr Scatliffe, he felt like packing up and leaving the meeting after hearing "a certain comment." He did not specify on the comment, even though it fashioned his opinion of there being a big disconnect between the Government and the grassroots people.
He made it clear that his comment was directly from a health care perspective. "That's the mistake that’s always made and has us in this mess that we are in and I am saying to you from a health care perspective, management and the people in the trenches, there is a big disconnect."
"Don't [only] listen to the managers, that's why we in the mess that we are in. Come down to the trenches and talk to us who are on the ground, where you will get the real information," he suggested.
While noting that he well understands the challenges as it relates to dealing with line managers, "they don't represent us adequately...you have to come back down to the trenches, talk to the people on the ground."
‘People falling down every day’
He blasted the Government, alleging that it does not appear as though they are listening to the grassroots, "And that's why we are in this mess and we like 40-50 years in primary health care behind. With all the money that we make in this country we should be more advanced than we are," he insisted.
Dr Scatliffe further alleged, "People are dying and falling down every day. They don't have to do that, that don't have to happen in a territory like the Virgin Islands with a healthy economy and a British Sovereignty over our head."
"We have resources, we have possibilities out there that we can utilise and tap into but we are not listening to the people in the trenches, there is a big disconnect."
Long generalities & short specifics
There were a number of other issues brought up by residents at the meeting, with the majority blasting the shortfalls of the country's administration in the areas of national security.
One resident suggested that Police, Prison, Customs, Immigration and Labour should come under one umbrella, "To make it more efficient in terms of national security."
That same resident also said that based on the opportunity afforded him to work with Marines and other officers who came in to assist with the territory's recovery post hurricanes Irma and Maria, "I thought we could have learnt a lot from these Marines, not only in terms of policy but also in terms of prison security."
But it was one of the most recognised legal minds in the territory, Mr Gerard St C. Farara QC, who said that having read the Draft Recovery and Development Plan several times he found more generalities than specifics.
"It is long on generalities and short on specifics and at this juncture of the country's development, in light of particularly what has happened in the aftermath of the hurricanes, we cannot be dealing in generalities."
He further stressed that the public must know the specifics and that everyone needs to know what the country must look like for the next 10 to 15 or even 20 years ahead.
"This document does not do that," he said.
Government leaders were also urged to set up a secretariat similar to the structure of the Virgin Gorda relief and information centre, which has been in place after the hurricanes, as it is felt that the environment of the public meeting lends to feelings of discomfort and intimidation.
Meanwhile, both Premier Smith and Representative for the Fourth District Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool, the Minister for Communications and Works, assured that the suggestions of the public will be taken into consideration for the final Recovery and Development Plan.
“It is not a done deal,” Dr Smith stated of the draft document.
The community meetings continue at 5:00 P.M. on Virgin Gorda today, January 25, 2018 with the venue being the Catholic Community Centre in the Valley.
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14 Responses to “‘Listen to the people in the trenches’ - Dr Vincent G. Scatliffe”
FEMA or CEDEMA
As long as they can slop at the trough, they see and could careless about the territory dangling off the cliff. They care more about self interest and less about the public interest. Virgin Islanders better take heed lest they are rudely awaken looking in from the outside. Increasingly, Virgin Islanders are being a non factor in the the direction of the country. In the US, the deep state is an issue. Nonetheless, it may have some credence in the BVI. Virgin Islanders must demand change or become extincted. Remember that power cedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will (Frederick Douglass). Simply, people with power, influence, juice, and status will not give it up. It has to be taken by the people. Frederick Douglass also says : If there is no struggle there is no progress. The current buzz word is BVI strong. But BVI courage died with national hero Noel Lloyd and Positive Action Movement (PAM). Everyone is looking at each other to act, not wanting to rock the boat.