How do you keep the CBI programme far from politicians?

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The CBI programme is nothing other than glorified whoredom. It is unsustainable and invites unscrupulous foreign characters into your country, simply because they have money. No capitalist will offer up large sums of money if there are no higher returns on it. They come with their families (voting rights) and wealth and are therefore a threat to our political and cultural stability. They will be citizens and can use their money to gain political and economic influence.

Besides, the examples of failure of the ‘Industrialisation by Invitation’ attempt of Sir Arthur Lewis’s development theory should be enough caution to steer us away from this foolish venture of trading citizenship (access to political power) for investment (profit going to them, not us). On top of this, our vetting processes are proven to be extremely poor. For visible proof, just look at the skeletons of concrete evidence hovering over Calliaqua and Peter’s Hope.

Take a page from what is happening with the Sahel states in Africa. Pay attention. Observe what is happening to African people in America and Canada. The reversal of voting rights; the removal of Diversity and Equity programmes; the drastic cuts to spending and jobs in services like Education where many of us are gainfully employed; the halt to visa issuing and immigration opportunities to African populated countries, etc. We do not exist in a vacuum. This is not the time to be trying to charm white billionaires to take up citizenship in your little island if you wish to maintain the autonomy of its mostly African citizenry, who are still waiting for reparations. You have to be Negropean in mindset to follow that course. Change does not mean more of the same. It is changing circumstances for black populations that allow them to have more control and access to the resources that empower their daily existence. Like placing two mango juicing and dehydration factories in Stubbs, for example.

It seems that you think that we must be perpetually at the mercy of white foreigners, who you must entice with privilege and concessions, so they could come here and live better than our own people. Stop selling our sovereignty to white supremacists. Only colonial stooges think that this is a way towards our progress. The CBI examples to date are either stagnant or wrought with corruption. How do you plan to keep politicians away from that? You have no integrity legislation. You have not proven that you can even detect corrupted practices in government. Look how long you have been blaming the ULP for that, yet no one is being indicted or held to accountability.

Our country must not be the fodder for pawn shop deals anymore. If your government can’t see our natural potential to develop better alternatives to this prostitution approach, then you should not be in the seat of government.

Written by: Ishaka Obioma Williams.

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