Driven into this Ponzi Scheme

I feel…Ponzied, if there is such a word. And if there isn’t, well I’m adding it to our lexicon to mark the 45^th anniversary of this country’s political independence.

After having shelled out an extra 40% for vehicle-licensing fees last year and having to do it again pretty soon, the word “duped” doesn’t go far enough to describe what has been done to motorists in this place.

Were we not told that the hefty hike – which was cruel and unusual punishment on its own – was to secure a $100 million loan for the rehabilitation of the atrocious roads on which we all drive, regardless of race, religion, gender, or political stripe?

And didn’t the cheerleaders rush to the podium to declare that “if you want good road to drive on you must be prepared to pay for it;” and did the red-mouth gang not put down those who objected with “Antigua-people don’t want to pay for nutten?”  Weren’t we also told that first up for repair would be the All Saints Road, which most agreed was a death-trap?

Well, to find out now, 18 long months and four new tires later, that it was just another hoax pulled off by the minister of finance is a matter I need to present at the Commonwealth Heads meeting. You see, I’m afraid to take it to court for robbery (at worst) or breach of promise (at least), because I’m not sure the judiciary has, as yet, gotten over the threat of deportation. But since all our money appears to be going for King Charles’ comfort and safety, I feel entitled to let him know how I feel.

First, I want him to find out where the $100 million figures came from: who assessed the work to be done, who priced it, and who determined which roads were the priority.  Then I want to know why the loan figure was reduced by $13 million: whether that’s all the Government was qualified to borrow; why, out of the grand sum, only $20 million is actually to go to road rehab; and which road (singular) is to get that investment.

Just as important, I want the king to find out why the minister of finance dodged the question of how much money has been raised by the Transport Board, so far, from the 40% license hike. The prime minister, himself, might have forgotten – probably not having had to borrow for more than a decade now – but the rest of us know that, when you apply for a loan, the borrower must come with the figures and facts regarding collateral, down payment, and the means by which we’re going to repay. 

And since it was the king’s own country that gifted the prime minister’s government a whopping 20 million pounds Sterling for road repairs a few years ago, I think the English taxpayers deserve to know what the heck has happened to Friars Hill Road – from the vicinity of Woods to the roogadung stretch of roundabout in the back of – gasp – Government House itself. 

They might want to know about the Sir George Walter Highway, too. You know that area outside Carlisle, where it feels like we’re driving on loose marbles, and then farther on as we’re headed to the Sir Sidney Walling, where potholes just seem determined to expose our weakness to visitors? Well, there.  And if I’m to be completely forthcoming, Sir … well, everywhere. 

I’m thinking about whether to “send the king,” as Short Shirt once sang, to experience the wonders of the Marble Hill Road and the connection between that and Friars Hill Road; the Burning Shame Highway that destroys steel all the way through Herberts; the nail-biting exercise of traversing Jonas Road or Buckleys Main Road; or the Rocky Road Horror Show of the APUA Road down past our distinguished golf course, the playground of our cricket heroes. 

He might not be allowed out of the careful confines of Upper High Street or part of Lauchland Benjamin Drive, but the other Heads might want to see how the people of this country live; and I believe the “best minister of Public Works we ever had” should give them a tour…and I don’t mean by Calvin Air, either.

So, while the minister insults the Opposition leader and  deludes himself and his top fans into believing we are all uneducated and ill-informed, it is clear to thinking people that the numbers aren’t adding up and neither is the rationale. 

At a time like this, when fuel prices are at an all-time high, with goods and services expected to rise sharply to meet them; when the don’t-know minister of finance is telling us that the $30 million loan to pay WIOC is not really a loan and there’s no documentation to present to the Parliament (like the US$12 million non-loan from PLH?); and when he is looking to borrow another set of millions from China … after the drum load from the Saudi Fund (is that being used to pay The People’s Place?), do you know what I’m thinking about: The US$26 million he ostensibly turned down on the Alfa Nero sale. 

Could these private transactions be the reason he’s forgotten what the People need to  know when he borrows from the People’s bank in the People’s name?