WTF?

So today I go to the post office to collect a package. There’s a little booth set up under the post office arcade: the Argyle International Airport Information booth. There’re brochures, a huge map, a television, and a couple of smiling, friendly people taking questions and so on. What’s the big deal, right? So ok, there’s a booth; that’s a good thing, right?

Of course it’s a good thing. Vincentians do need more information about the new airport. It’s marvelous that the government has set up this information point so people can find out more about such an immense, national undertaking. Of course, the actual information is watered-down for public consumption but, obviously, people only need to know certain things, and in simple language.

Here’s what upset me when I saw this. Oh yeah, did I mention that I am upset? I am, in fact, livid. Just to be clear, I am fit to be tied.

Where’s the information booth for matters pertaining to the Proposed Constitution of SVG 2009?

This airport is not scheduled to be completed for another two years (at least – this is what we’ve been told). The decision to build an international airport has already been made – the earthworks have begun. There’s no longer any real argument as to the future existence of this thing. The proposed Constitution, however, is not a done deal. The referendum vote is in what, two months? Three?

In order to gain access to a copy of the proposed Constitution, one has a few options:

• drive to Campden Park, get a ticket, drive to town, present ticket to some bureaucrat, pay said bureaucrat, collect receipt, drive back to Campden Park, collect document (drive between town and Campden Park could be anywhere between 15 – 30 mins depending on traffic);

• go to the government website and download in compartmentalized, highly inefficient pdf format;

• be lucky enough to have entire pdf documented e-mailed to you via forward; or,
  

• I don’t know, but there may be other options.

I have it on pdf, but it’s difficult to read because, well, reading anything for too long on my laptop screen makes my migraines act up. I’d like the actual hardcopy document, but have yet to do the whole yellow brick road collection dance. Printing the entire document will cost more than purchasing it.

If I want information on the new airport, I just need to pick up a convenient brochure at the centrally located booth. If, on the other hand, I want to get a hold of the proposed Constitution, or if I want information on it, I need to go through hell. Which is more immediate and important to this country right now? The extraordinarily well publicized (or propagandized) Argyle Airport, or the woefully under exposed Constitution?

The ramifications (both positive and negative) of a new airport are obvious and have been discussed in the public forum for several years now: boost in national revenue, increased tourism, ease of international travel, job creation, massive international debt, selling our collective souls etc etc.

The proposed Constitution, however, is not getting much official play. Yeah there’s the occasional edification programme on television – the language used being way above the heads of most people; and yeah there’ve been newspaper articles (rather, letters to the editor). But the government has been remarkably close-mouthed and secretive about the proposed Constitution. Apparently, concerned citizens have until July 11th to lodge any formal oppositions to the document. This date has not been widely publicized; it has been announced a mere handful of times on the radio. The announcements would’ve been easy to miss.

What are we left to conclude? Forgive me, what am I left to conclude? I know my brain does not always work in the most linear fashion, but doesn’t it strike anyone else as odd that the Argyle Airport, a project that is more or less a fait accompli, is getting public education play, while the proposed Constitution is basically being treated like an irksome piece of paper to be swept under the rug?

Let me put this another way. Am I to conclude that the makers of the constitution have their own agenda? Is it possible that the whole idea is to get it slipped in, under the public radar, so that it becomes a done deal before we even realize it? And who benefits most from this strategy?

I’m so much in favour of a new constitution, but the current proposed document has some flaws. It does not necessarily give us the rights that we should be expecting from a Republican Constitution. It purports to be a document that will help shape our new republic but, at the same time, restricts some of the rights expected from a republic. We do not, realistically, have enough time to properly study this document before we have to vote on it; in fact, one of the country’s three QCs publicly stated this some time ago. If a QC doesn’t have enough time to properly peruse the implications of the proposed Constitution, how on Earth am I, Mr. Johnny Public, supposed to be able to? Especially when its importance is being so downplayed in the mainstream?

What’s more important RIGHT NOW? Educating us about an airport, or educating us about something that will change the way our country is run forever?