Let's Be Honest... (On the CLICO Affair)

I do not know if precedents exist for two National Budgets in one year, but I would like to suggest to the current Administration that they return to the Parliament and use the forum of a revised Budget to level with the people on the exact nature (or as close to an exact approximation one can get) as to the anticipated financial hit we are going to take regarding the CLICO crisis.

There may be need to revise and revisit certain expenditure, and other measures should be put in place to blunt the blow if the severity of the wave about to crest as rumored has any truth to it. As it stands we are being told different things from different quarters and it is having the effect of unbalancing the population. The national mood needs to reflect reality sooner rather than later, to buoy national spending and to prevent the people being used as bargaining chips in pursuit of the intentions of others.

I have said before and others more knowledgeable in these matters have as well, that the Government needs to get in front of this thing and fast. Their position needs to factual, sustainable and strong, and not seen to be weak and reactive to strong-arming and other underhanded behavior.

• Are we sufficiently boarded up and battened down to weather this storm?
• Do we even know the size of the hole we're dealing with?
• If the 'business' is to be run as a going concern, is Gerald Yetming, an ex-banker, the right man for this particular job?
• With the anticipated seven year recovery for the 'double dip' of the US recession, are we in a sound enough position financially to take this on without help?
• What external options are available, if any?
•  Who can we approach for expertise and assistance with this matter?

It would seem that we are still throwing solutions at the thing hoping for either a miracle or to get something to stick, but a wiser approach in these instants might be to be open, up front an honest with the people on the true state of affairs.

I would also like to suggest that the poorest and the most exposed be dealt with first, similar to women and children first in a catastrophe. Those who make the decisions as to the ebb and flow of the economy must know that these people collectively do most of the spending that keeps our economy ticking over, and it would be wise to use a repayment to them as both good and effective governance, and as a show of calm, assertive leadership through the storm.

We will run out of analogies long before this crisis is over, but we should not run out of heart.

There comes a time when the size of the person is determined by their willingness to admit mistakes, and no reasonable person can fault honesty and transparency as a Government's tone, especially during crisis times.

There is merit in this idea, and it should be given serious consideration.