By Philip Stelly
Special to the NNPA from the Louisiana Weekly

Pay no attention to that shocking video of drinking, drugging, gambling and gun play at the House of Detention you’ve all seen in the past week. Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman investigated the matter and determined there was not enough hard evidence to sustain a legal case against the inmates seen in the jailhouse video, much less charge his own deputies with anything.

Sheriff Gusman’s response to the 2009 video —released last week as part of a federal consent decree hearing on jail reform—came days after Mayor Mitch Landrieu took aim at Gusman’s leadership, suggesting that the parish prison be managed under federal receivership.

Mayor Landrieu has been sounding the alarm that consent decrees involving both the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department would be too costly and could result in deep cuts in city services or tax increases.

For his part, Sheriff Gusman said he too has been sounding the alarm about the financial strain the Sheriff’s Office has been under for years. Sheriff Gusman produced a July 2010 letter addressed to Mayor Landrieu. In the letter, Sheriff Gusman told the mayor that the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office was facing “an unprecedented financial shortfall” due to a low per diem rate of $22.39 per inmate paid by the city, among other factors.

Sheriff Gusman said he was forced to borrow money to keep the jails afloat while Mayor Landrieu and the New Orleans City Council ignored his pleas.

Sheriff Gusman broke his silence about the financial pressure his department has been under and about the scathing jailhouse videos in a street-side press conference just outside the construction site for the new jail.

There, Sheriff Gusman chided the city for trying to shirk its financial responsibility to the Sheriff’s Office by “throwing mud in every direction.” He then fired away at Mayor Landrieu. “The mayor chooses to waste time with Washington-style politics and Archie Bunker rhetoric.”

Late Thursday, Mayor Landrieu’s office issued a statement again calling for the jail to be managed under federal receivership: “It gets clearer every day that the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is not keeping the prison secure and our city safe. This week, expert after expert talked about mismanagement and said this was one of the worst-run jails in the country. That is why I am asking for receivership so corrections experts can run the jail in a safe, secure and fiscally responsible way. I cannot in good conscience cut vital services or raise taxes to put even more money into an office where waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant.”

In his prepared remarks, Sheriff Gusman said what he saw on the video was “despicable and unacceptable.” He later told reporters he did not refer the videos to the District Attorney’s Office because an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office determined that a prosecution could not be sustained against the inmates appearing in the video. “We are law enforcement and we didn’t find any contraband,” Sheriff Gusman said, adding “We didn’t think we could sustain a case based on the video.”

Besides, says Sheriff Gusman, the video is from 2009. “What we saw on the video occurred four years ago in a building that I closed over a year ago,” the sheriff said.

Sheriff Gusman had an explanation for the other shocking video released last week: the 2009 video of jail escapee Arthur Johnson on Bourbon Street. Johnson was captured and sentenced to an additional five years in jail. Another escapee got an additional three years behind bars, the sheriff reported.

As to his political future, Sheriff Gusman indicated he is not going anywhere. He said he has activated his plan to decrease the jail population and modernize jail facilities. “Despite the interruption caused by Hurricane Katrina, I am going to get this right and see this plan through to its completion,” he said.

U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk has yet to issue a ruling on the consent decree aimed at reforming the jail.

By Saaed Shabazz
Special to the NNPA from The Final Call

NEW YORK (FinalCall.com) – The 15-member Community of Caribbean States and Common Market (CARICOM) released a report in the first week of March stating that the 40-year-old regional integration movement could come to an end because of poor financing, dissatisfaction and the ongoing world economic crisis.

CARICOM’s Guyana-based secretariat noted that the regional bloc formed in 1973 to promote trade and close political and economic ties between member states could collapse by 2017.

“There is a danger of CARICOM collapsing but not because of external pressures so much as the weakness and lack of vision of regional political elites who are unwilling to pool their individual national sovereignty into a strong regional grouping,” said Dr. Norman Girvan, Ph.D. in economics, and professor emeritus at the University of the West Indies Graduate School of International Relations in Trinidad, in an e-mail message to The Final Call.

“Caribbean nations need to unite their efforts and their economies to promote food self-sufficiency, develop renewable energy, promote transport linkages between themselves and build trade, investment and technical cooperation with Latin America, Africa and emerging economies of Asia,” Prof. Girvan added.

A Feb. 22 announcement out of Montego Bay, Jamaica after a four-day high-level session of CARICOM transport ministers demonstrates what some observers call the “political will” needed to keep the regional bloc intact and relevant. Participants committed to providing means and support for marine environmental research, monitoring and evaluation, and maintaining ecological integrity of the marine and coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Analysts say the Jamaica 2013 symposium draft resolution will determine the way forward for the marine industry. According to the resolution, the agreement of a Caribbean maritime policy shows that leaders understand the importance of maritime transport services for the movement of goods and services to the people in the region.

“The bad economic conditions are forcing political leaders towards political and economic unity—to the building of self-sustaining mechanisms based on regional industries,” said David Commissiong, a Barbados–based attorney, political activist, Pan Africanist and critic of U.S. hegemony.

He explained to The Final Call that the old developmental paradigms “have come to an end. The way forward is not less integration or less unity,” he said.

On July 4, 2012, President Desire Delano Bouterse of the Republic of Suriname speaking to heads of government of CARICOM as the outgoing chairman, said, “Unity and solidarity are the real cornerstones towards our success—unwavering solidarity and determination must be the driving force in our community as well as in our region.”

Last March, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, of the Nation of Islam, speaking at a press conference in Port of Spain, Trinidad, called for Caribbean unity in order for the region to survive.

“At this critical moment in history, the West Indies must not be marginalized,” Min. Farrakhan said. The Muslim leader also noted that Caribbean nations could not continue to seek help from international lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Min. Farrakhan called for an independent Caribbean Development Bank.

A Western-controlled development bank for regional nations was downgraded twice in 2012 by Standard and Poor because borrowing governments were unable to pay their bills.

A review of the CIA Factbook for several Caribbean nations illustrates vividly Min. Farrakhan’s concerns: Jamaica with a population of 2.8 million people has an external debt of $14.6 billion; 16.5 percent of Jamaicans live below the poverty line and the unemployment rate is 14.2 percent. Youth unemployment is 27.1 percent. According to an article in Huntington News.Net, Jamaica is awaiting the approval of a new $750 million loan from the IMF.

Barbados with a population of 287,733 people has an external debt of $4.49 billion. Overall unemployment is 11.2 percent, youth 26.2 percent. Belize with a population of 327,719 has an external debt of $1.4 billion. Unemployment for youth is 19.5 percent, overall 13.1 percent and with the region’s second highest per capita income, four out of 10 people live in poverty.

Tiny Antigua & Barbuda, with a population of 89,018, has an external debt of $458 million, while youth unemployment is 19.9 percent and overall unemployment 11 percent.

How can the region with a population of over 15 million and vast natural resources such as oil, gas, diamonds, gold, bauxite, financial services, fisheries, agriculture, forestry and potential for renewable energy right itself? “What is needed?” asks Mr. Commissiong rhetorically. “CARICOM needs to rethink its direction—a need to deepen our integration in the region—needs to be a greater emphasis on developing our own structures of production,” he said.

By Barrington M. Salmon
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer

It is customary for the evening news and other media outlets to characterize Africa in the most negative and derisive manner. Droughts, coups, famine, civil unrest and poverty often take center stage while any number of success stories and the many positive developments occurring among the continent’s 54 nations are often ignored.

So last Friday’s panel discussion with three presidents and a prime minister at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) was a breath of fresh air because an audience of several hundred heard the leaders talk about their efforts to institute and strengthen good governance, the rule of law, and transparency. The leaders took part in a wide-ranging discussion entitled, “Consolidating Democratic Gains, Promoting African Prosperity” at USIP in Northwest, at a function that was televised live and on Twitter.

“The Africa of today is far from the cliches of war, famines and coups,” said Senegalese President Macky Sall. “We’re moving toward democracy and growth. We’re the cradle of mankind, a magical continent with diversity and resources. Africa today is a continent on the march.”

Sall was joined by Presidents Ernest Bai Koroma and Joyce Banda and Prime Minister José Maria Pereira Neves. Each detailed their governments’ roles in fostering the social and economic upswings of their respective countries, the seemingly intractable challenges and their vision of an independent, self-sufficient and transformed Africa during what moderator Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnny Carson called “a very stimulating and delightful” conversation.

“They’re here because of the contributions they’ve made to strengthen democratic institutions in their countries,” said Carson, who retired from the State Department on Friday, March 29. “They have developed independent judiciaries, free press and vibrant economies to protect their democracies. Sierra Leone held free, fair and credible elections where 90 percent of the citizens participated peacefully.”

“This was the second term for President Koroma to continue his agenda for prosperity. The economy is expanding rapidly.”

The quartet was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama on Thursday, March 28 because of what Obama said was recognition of the fact that each leader had “undertaken significant efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, protect and expand human rights and civil liberties, and increase economic opportunities for their people.”

Carson spoke of Sall’s election a year ago, and the instability and economic contraction surrounding his predecessor’s attempts to secure a controversial third term. Since then, Sall has instituted economic reforms, worked to reduce conflict, unrest and tension in the southern Casamance region. In fact, Carson said, Senegal’s economy is expected to grow by five percent this year.

Sall prompted laughter when he said he was putting one of the two presidential jets up for sale but with no takers, may have to offer it to a museum. Both he and Banda said they have scaled back on ministerial perks and she has gotten rid of fleets of vehicles as well.

Banda was the vice president in President Binguwa Mutharika’s government until he died suddenly in April 2012. Mutharika dismissed Banda and attempted to appoint his brother leader of his political party and Malawi’s next president. When he died, some in the cabinet, his wife and others questioned Banda’s legitimacy to succeed Mutharika even though the constitution was clear on succession. Banda is said to have called Malawi’s army commander who agreed to support her and stationed troops around her home. She also acknowledged America’s role behind the scenes in ensuring her ascension to the presidency.

Toward the end of his presidency, Mutharika managed to alienate the U.S., Britain, the European Union, the World Bank and other lending institutions and all, including some other European countries suspended financial assistance. His critics expressed concern about his erratic policies and actions that threatened Malawi’s democratic institutions.

“One year ago, she implemented tough political and economic reforms, including a currency devaluation, and removed price controls for fuel,” Carson explained. “In the first 100 days, she turned the country around. The economy has expanded and continues to grow.”

Banda, who has been involved in women’s issues for 30 years, said a number of austerity measures and policy proposals that she’s enacted have been deeply disliked but vowed to continue even if it costs her personally.

“We’re on track, strengthening government institutions and increasing the level of comfort for donors to return,” she said. “The 100 days was used to also improve relations with our neighbors. I reversed all the laws that were not good and in July 2012, we started a national dialogue on the economy. Using mining, energy, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture, we will be able to create wealth for Malawians.

“For 14 months, we have implemented a very, very unpopular reform program. I should have backtracked because elections are next year but it’s OK …”

Koroma is guiding a country that still bears the scars of a brutal civil war that ended in 2002. He spoke of developing institutions to foster democratic change, such as the Independent Media Commission and the National Commission on Democracy, the work undertaken to bolster the economy and critical sectors such as mining and agriculture and restructuring police and security forces so they adhere to human rights standards. Despite the challenges, he said he’s pleased with the progress.

“What we take pride in is that we’re committed to moving forward,” he said. “We have peace and a rapidly developing country … we’ve built on the peace and positioned ourselves for growth. This is why we believe that Sierra Leone is no longer a country of blood diamonds … I believe that Sierra Leone is on the move.”

Neves presides over a string of islands – Cape Verde – off the coast of West Africa that have been lauded by Obama and other administration officials for fostering a favorable environment for investment, for its high and steady economic growth and for having one of the highest literacy rates in the world.

“I think that in order to ensure continuity, we must respect scrupulously the rules of the game,” said Neves, in answer to a question about keeping democracy on-track. “We must build consensus on the issues and we must strengthen the social dialogue with unions, businesses and management. By carrying out a government of rules, governments become more legitimate every day. They must provide answers to social needs, develop new channels of access and ensure that civil society has room to develop and grow.”

Neves said it is critical to cater to the needs of young people and women, adding that every African country’s success is tied to including them in all aspects of the country’s growth and development in ways that go well beyond lip service.

“We must invest in education, university training and professional and technical training to create conditions so that they can be employed,” he said primarily of young people. “Women represent the future of humanity, period. I have budgets that include gender questions and issues. We must reduce the inequality of the distribution of power and wealth.”

“We must now say, ‘beside every great man is a great woman …”‘

By Bert Wilkinson
Special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News

The lights in the Caribbean trade bloc’s richest country and the region’s largest economy went out after midnight on Good Friday while 1.3 million residents of Trinidad and Tobago slept, triggering countrywide panic and fears of looting, and above all reminding those in authority how vulnerable and helpless the country could be in a crisis.

Some, including thousands of tourists, slept through the collapse of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC) generating systems but others who were frightened out of a restful night’s sleep protested vehemently about the failure of the government to fix a system that has failed one too many times in recent years.

Officials in the administration of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar blamed a problem linked to gas supply from the state’s oil and gas company for the shutdown of the system, which darkened the entire island of Trinidad as well as the tourist paradise of Tobago.

At the start of the outage, the national security ministry heightened the security alert, mindful of the looting and chaos that had taken place in the past during periods of brief crises. Some, both in and out of government, initially speculated that saboteurs might have been behind the power outage and eyed a resurgent opposition, but this suspicion was quickly dispelled by official explanations that the national outage was linked to a technical breakdown.

The one good thing that will apparently emerge from the Good Friday debacle is that attention is now being turned to reduced dependence on fossil fuels for power generation.

Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine now says that officials will ramp up long-held plans to turn to renewable energy sources to power some sectors of the economy, both to minimize fossil fuel dependency and help bolster the level of power generation overall. He also said that cabinet as a matter of urgency will discuss last week’s crisis in general and the need to push ahead with the low carbon, non-fossil fuels program that officials had been sitting on for years.

“The blackout showed us the importance of diversifying away from fossil fuels. We are seeing that in the not too distant future, in five to six years, T&T will require another new power plant. We are doing everything within our power to provide a regular and reliable supply of electricity. Certain things may be beyond your control, but we are certainly looking at every aspect of it. In fact, I am meeting with some of T&TEC managers tomorrow and Wednesday,” he said.

Engineers were able to repower some areas within hours of the worse shutdown in years, but residents in others had to wait longer. But no one has said much about the link between the water supply and power supply, as the water flow in many areas simply went down as well, adding to the misery of islanders on the long holiday Easter weekend.