Integrity Legislation

 

 

Integrity legislation was promised

By successive governments

And their many passionate speeches

Spoke of genuine intent.

 

It was felt that thievery

Had to be brought to a halt

Since the very last Government

Was mostly at fault.

 

They had done their utmost

To become filthy rich

And in their obsession with wealth

They hadn’t missed a trick.

 

Thus, the current Government

Like the two before

Promised to do much better but since,

Has done no more.

 

 

 

Two bites at the cherry

And two thirty-loves after

There is still no integrity legislation

Bar scorn and laughter.

 

No public declaration

Certainly, as far as I know,

Therefore, like all the ones before them,

They are a no-show.

 

Prior to Elections 2018

A promise was made

To bring to justice those found guilty

But this, to no avail.

 

The USA did even better

Regarding a certain allegation

And a former DLP Cabinet Minister

Was actually imprisoned.

 

But nothing was uncovered

By the present Government

And the proposed integrity legislation

Is still an elusive event.

 

 

 

From the Tom Adams era

And that of Arthur and Stuart,

I have no doubt integrity legislation

Influenced the vote.

 

    One public declaration

Was a private one

Declared to the then Prime Minister

Who is long gone.

 

 

 

Another PM declared his,

Raising some doubts

But his MPs did not follow through,

Showing some clout.

 

They did not have to

Since it wasn’t the law

And the info omitted by the PM,

Only he saw.

 

 

 

Hundred-day promises

Also went abegging

And up to now in twenty-twenty-five

Legislation is still lagging.

 

When will it come about?

Hold not your breath

For holding one’s breath too long

Is flirting with death.

 

Who will guard the guards?

Hopefully, the Law,

But a law that is yet to be passed,

Only highlights a flaw.

 

 

 

Integrity legislation

Is really about integrity,

If one has something one wants to hide,

It will cause one misery.

 

What other reason

Can anyone come up with

For integrity legislation still lacking

And so far, is a myth?

  

Two bites at the cherry

With a third drawing nigh,

If you favour this legislation, say “Yea”

And “Nay” if it you decry.

 

My wish for Independence

Anniversary number 59 is:

Please bring the integrity legislation

Promised a long time.

 

Stewart Russell ©November 18, 2025

 

The Visible Trap

When he said I do

He was done

He’d just begun

But the end had come.

In the euphoria of the moment

He enjoyed himself

Knowing only too well

He had invited ill health.

The warnings were there

The counsel was clear

But having made up his mind

He must serve the time.

What a beautiful face!

What a bewitching smile!

What a tender embrace!

What alluring guile!

She’s not for you

Advised more than a few,

All along he knew

She knew it too.

But she walked by his side

Back down the aisle

He was her prize

However they despise.

From a well-to-do family

He was well bred,

No doubt in her mind

He she would wed.

And that she had done

As she took their son

All was legal and right

He was hers from that night.

A life of misery ensued

Far beyond expectation

And though they lived together

There was chronic rejection.

  

But he had said "I do"

And "I do" he would keep

But his warning to the unwed

Is, “look before you leap.”

All that glitters is not gold

We’ve been repeatedly told,

Choose wisely and sleep well

Or with the devil prepare to dwell.

Samson you would recall

Saw Delilah as his all

But in her tender embrace

He had a terrible fall.

A face was all it took

With a bewitching smile,

Delilah had claimed her prize

And Samson was defiled.

Then came his end

Though with much consolation,

As the audience applauded

He effected their destruction.

He had walked knowingly

Into their clever trap

But after in his blindness

Reduced them to mere scrap.

Many are not as fortunate

As in the case of Samson,

They pay an inordinate sum

As a wife-demanded ransom.

Novelty soon wears off

The honey leaves the moon

And all that’s left in the marriage

Is a witch on a broom.

Memories don’t leave like people do

But some quickly disappear

Leaving regret and alimony

And a life of gloom and despair.

Stewart Russell © September 2017

What a Test!

Where did I go wrong?

Where did I miss the mark?

Why have all this beset me?

Why is it so dark?

Just a short while ago

Everything was going well

Now suddenly it would seem

My life is a living hell.

Honestly I am unable to find

What sin I have done

And however I try I cannot discover

Why this trouble has come.

Not only have I sacrificed

For what I may have done

But for the sins of my daughters

And for the sins of my sons.

I have led an exemplary life

As best as I could,

I have reached out to the poor

As God said I should.

Yet misfortune after misfortune

Has dogged my life

And I haven’t a clue

Why all of this strife!

My friends accuse me

For having done some wrong

And the more I defend me

The more they come on strong.

I have lost my children

I have lost my property,

My wife is annoyed with me

Because of my misery.

I have lost my health

I am covered with sores

And when I think what else

Believe me there is more.

I cry out to God

In the hope that He will hear

That what I am going through

Is too much to bear.

The counsel from my wife

Is “Curse God and die,”

But that is one thing

That I dare not try.

For though He slay me

Yet Him will I trust,

He will redeem me

Even after I lay in the dust.

What a testing it was

That Job went through!

What a testimony he left

For both me and for you!

Stewart Russell © March 2018