By The Green Giant

They Simply Stole the Development Money

The Caribbean has been underdeveloped not by the British but by successive Caribbean leaders. They have stolen and raped the money pot; and in some cases physically raped men women and children in their countries and sometimes elsewhere.

Just take a look at some of today’s leaders and those they gather close to them. How can they possibly accumulate such wealth whilst in office on the salary of a member of parliament? Owning many cars many houses and land, whilst leading excessive unhidden life styles? Handmade suits, shirts and shoes, Gucci is earning a fortune from these rogue leaders.

It’s quite simple really. They steal as much as they can as quick as they can. Something one of the Caribbean prime ministers accused those working in government departments of doing. Perhaps if those in government departments do it there will be less for those at the top to steal.

Dodgy local offshore banks, some at home and some abroad, happily help these people to launder their ill gotten gains. There have been accusations regarding money being held in Switzerland, Panama and other banking domains by prime ministers, presidents and others in the click. Some open local business’s to launder their ill gotten gains, even using their wives and children to do the same.

Contracts given to friends and ruling party members, demanding in doing so a payback or kick back or even outright acceptance of downright bribery. Large projects are the easiest to steal from, but even down to minor road contracts come into the equation. The bag man is usually a member of the leaders family, someone they can trust to do the dirty work. That person you will notice has also become wealthier than some small economies. Because you can bet your life the bag man is taking a large cut of what he takes in.

The British, US and Canada have given millions over the years; the World Bank and the European Union have given even more. Some have got wise to the theft of finances and have now started giving the money to the CDB bank to distribute it on a project by project basis. But that bank is controlled by the same prime ministers, because they are the directors of it.

One of the current problems is that the Value Added Tax Department, Taxation and Revenue Department, along with the police and in many cases the Judiciary are on the payroll of the bag man. Anyone making a noise will get a visit from one of those along with the Special Branch and paramilitary police.

The people are terrorised into staying quiet and in some cases have been assassinated to save what some see as emerging dynasties. The rotten leaders want to stay in power for ever or hand the reins to a family member to protect them from being found out and prosecuted in the future. So they take to vote rigging and election fraud, which is rife in many places, not just the Caribbean. Usually the same bag man arranges the election fraud, along with arranging assassinations. Those paid off are well paid substantial sums to ensure their keeping quiet and doing the dirty deeds as demanded of them, they are also terrified of the very real consequences of talking.

So what will bring this to an end? It will take the actions and help of foreign governments, instead of them turning a blind eye to it. It will take the courage and decency of a local Judge/s to do the right thing, in doing so showing the bag man did not succeed.

The people must wise up and understand that their taking the few dollars or building materials prior to an election, selling their votes, hurts not just them but the country as a whole, and ultimately the Region and World.

Contributors such as the US need to understand that these very people whilst pretending to be their friends actually take money from rubbish regimes to vote in their favour at the UN. Such as North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Russia. In at least one island they have recently even stooped to taking money from the Palestinians. The voting records are open to public scrutiny at the UN, take a look, every time without failure they either vote with them, or for them, or simply abstain, whichever case the result is the same, the undermining of the US and more so the integrity of the United Nations for cash payments.

If you don’t think it’s happening in your island, take a look next door because it’s certainly happening there.

No Smoke Without Fire,

The Green Giant, not so Jolly.

END

IMAGE: Giant Green Corn

The views expressed in this VIEWPOINT are the author’s and do not represent the views of iNews Cayman, ieyenews, or any of its directors, managers or personnel.