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Challenging year 2012: A year in review in the Caribbean Community
The DLP’s main challenge will come from the Barbados Labor Party (BLP) headed by former prime minister Owen Arthur, who during 2012, has been critical of the socio-economic policies of the Stuart administration.
In Trinidad & Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar does not have an election to face until 2015, but for certain, one campaign issue surfaced during 2012, despite pleas from the four-party coalition People’s Partnership government for the country to “move on”. The Persad-Bissessar administration has found it virtually impossible to shake off public criticism led by the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), civil society and non-governmental organisations that the decision to proclaim early, Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, was to ensure the freedom of two government financiers.
Street demonstrations calling for the dismissal of the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, the dismissal of justice minister Herbert Volney, a former high court judge over their roles in the ongoing controversy, have done little to appease the critics, who are now supporting a request by President George Maxwell Richards for Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar to furnish him with details leading to the early proclamation of the section.
Ms. Persad-Bissessar has responded but the contents of her letter were not disclosed since she said it had been sent under confidential cover.
In September, parliament repealed the controversial section that had the effect of allowing anyone, whose trial has not started after a 10-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty entered against their names. Critics said that the clause was aimed at supporting businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, who have been described as financiers of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member coalition government.
The two businessmen are facing fraud and laundering charges relating to the re-development of the Piarco International Airport in 2001. They are also wanted in the United States on a number of related charges.
In Antigua & Barbuda, for the first time in its 66-year history, the main opposition Antigua Labor Party (ALP) does not have a Bird at its helm. Gaston Browne defeated former prime minister and Opposition Leader Lester Bird by a 213-180 margin but the leadership is not far off from the Bird family circle, as Browne also announced he will marry on April 24, next year, Maria Bird – the niece of the now defeated leader.
Brown also said he intends making the 74 year-old leader (Lester Bird), emeritus of the ALP.
