The Cadet Corp bill

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Parent Category: Jan 2012

Category: Week end Jan 14th, 2012

Published on Sunday, 22 January 2012 15:52

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Parliament has approved the Grenada Cadet Corps Bill, 2011 amidst concerns raised by members of the Opposition New National Party (NNP).Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell said he has tremendous difficulties with the Bill especially with the military style training provided to children as young as 11 years old.

“I am not going to sit in this house and give responsibility and permission to an 11 year old child to get military training. Mr. Speaker I will not”, said the NNP Leader who was regarded as a counter-revolutionary element during the rule of the 1979-83 Grenada Revolution.

“I must beg some serious difference here. Members might feel it’s ok but I will not be able to support military type training for an 11 year old boy or girl,” he told the parliamentary sitting. Dr. Mitchell was virtually declared persona non-grata from his homeland by the leftist People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) of late Marxist leader Maurice Bishop which accused him of using his base in Washington to collaborate with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to try and bring down the revolutionary experiment in the Spice Isle.

The NNP leader was only able to set foot on Grenadian soil when U.S and Caribbean troops stormed the island on October 25, 1983 to topple a junta that had seized power six days earlier in a bloody coup in which Bishop and several government ministers were executed. Opposition Member and Parliamentary Representative for St Mark, Clarice Modeste-Curwen although voicing support for the Cadets Bill expressed a number of concerns such as the power placed in the hands of the Minister of National Security, the functions of the Cadet, their ages, military style training and the use of weapon.

“I just wonder (if) some of the changes that have been implemented here (are) different to the Cadet Corps that existed in Grenada before. I wonder what are the ulterior motives here and it is of concern to me, Mr. Speaker”, she said.  Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Tillman Thomas who tabled the Bill before the Lower House described it as an important one that comes at a time when young people in the country seemed to be very misguided.

The Prime Minister said it is important to pass on the right values to young people and his government is trying to create the right atmosphere and environment for young people to understand and appreciate the love for country, respect for institution and to make a contribution to society. He told the House that Parliamentarians need to reflect on the history of the Cadet Corps that was left in abeyance following the revolution.

During the four-and-a-half years of revolutionary rule, the PRG had virtually dismantled the Cadet movement on the island and placed all military activities in the hands of the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) and several militia groups scattered across the country.

Prime Minister Thomas argued that if members of the House want to see young people engaged in gainful productive activity, and discipline in society then they should all support the Bill. Under the bill passed in Parliament, there will be a Commandant for the Cadet Corp who will be appointed by the Governor General.

The Cadet Corps will seek to provide training of a challenging and exciting nature which will inspire young persons to achieve success with a spirit of service and community and to develop the qualities of good citizenship, responsibility and leadership in the community. The movement will also provide military-style training and discipline among the membership of the Cadet Corps; and to attract and train as cadets, a significant number of young persons between the ages of eleven and nineteen.

The Cadet Corps Committee will comprise of the Commissioner of Police; the Commandant or his nominee; a representative from the Ministry of National Security; a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports; and a representative from the Ministry of Education. The Bill makes provision for persons who cease to be members of the Cadet Corps to return his/her equipment, uniform and other items supplied and owned by the Government of Grenada.

Anyone in violation of this commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding, three thousand dollars or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months. Members of the Cadet Corps will be entitled to carry firearms during parades. The Bill also provides for the establishment of an advisory committee, which will among other things advise the Minister on matters of policy relating to the Cadet Corps.

The Cadet Corps will be under the control and management of the Minister of National Security and the powers vested in the Commandant has to be exercised subject to and in accordance with directions from the minister. The Commandant will be appointed for a period of three years in the first instance and may be eligible for reappointment for a further term.

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