[IPSM] Is Kanehsatake Worse Than Iraq?

[shelly]

Is Kanehsatake Worse Than Iraq?
The Eastern Door, Volume 14 No. 5, February 18, 2005

By: Kenneth Deer

The decision to postpone the Kanehsatake elections is just another blow to the hopes of the people of Kanehsatake for a stable, functioning government.

How long is that community supposed to go on like this? Even Iraq has elections in a much worse situation. If elections can take place in Iraq, why not in Kanehsatake?

It could be that KPMG LLP, the company hired by the Mohawk Council of Kanehsatake, is not the right company for the job. It is reported that KPMG is also the consulting firm for Niocan Inc. which wants to build a niobium mine in the area.

Most residents of Kanehsatake are against the mine. So it would be in the best interest of Niocan, Inc. to keep Kanehsatake unstable and not able to mount a united opposition to the mining project. KPMG may be trying to keep Niocan happy by delaying any election and collecting on a good contract from both Niocan and Kanehsatake at the same time.

Is this scenario too far-fetched? It is not. And that is why KPGM should withdraw as the 'independent election consultant' to Kanehsatake.

An independent consultant should be free of any hint of bias or gain in the election process. Even if KPMG is not trying to take advantage of the situation in Kanehsatake and is really trying its best to broker a fair election under the current conditions, it is the perception that there might be ulterior motives for their decisions. And it is this perception that should eliminate KPMG from carrying on as election consultant.

Not only is KPMG working for Niocan but Niocan also uses the same public relations firm that Grand Chief James Gabriel and the rest of the Kanehsatake Council uses.

Again there might not be any collusion between the public relations company and Niocan against some of the people in Kanehsatake but the links are getting far too many.

Perhaps Judge Poitras should be looking at how close those strings are and recommend changes to the election consultant. After all, if he doesn't see any conflict of interest with KPMG, then he could become suspect as well and the election process becomes more tainted.

We can always ask Iraq how it carried out its election.

Shelly's note: KPMG did the Social and Economic Impact Study for Niocan.
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