In the middle ages, the bravest of the warriors were conferred knighthood for their gallant deeds and chivalrous exploits.  Cut to 21st first century and the British honor is conferred upon those who have a fat purse and also has the excellent ability of lobbying. In the middle ages, the Knights were stripped off their honor at the slightest defiance of Knight Rules. But in 21st century, the fallen heroes continue with the coveted prefix before their names. Take the instance of the creator of 007 - he continued to be Sir Jeffrey Archer, even after getting slapped with a two years sentence for perjury. Then take the case of fraudster, Conrad Black - he still continues to be a Lord. President Mugabe too had clung to his title as far as he could; it was only last June he decided to part with his peerage.

In Antigua and Barbuda, where, the books are modeled on the British Constitution the conferring of titles on noted citizens imitates the British honor system. Now, in Britain, you have to be convicted of treason or worse to get stripped off your Knighthood. Charles Kidd, editor of Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage, a reference book of aristocratic genealogy that has been published since 1769, says that deprivation of honor is very rare. Mugabe was the last person whose honor has been taken away on charges of human rights abuse and disregard for the democratic process.

And now coming to the curious case of Sir Allen Stanford “The Kingpin of $8 Billion Scam”: As it seems, he can carry on with his State Title in the Caribbean’s even if he stands accused of fraud and forgery of funds as big as $8 billion. “Until a conclusion of the U.S. investigations and charges lead to a conviction, we would not act upon the accusations,” Maurice Merchant, a spokesman for the Antigua government, makes it clear.

The filthy rich man is the second highest employer in Antigua and Barbuda and holds acres of lands in the prime areas of this small island country. He is also the owner of a restaurant and cricket ground in the country and runs a big real estate business. No wonder the nation has decided to pay back by conferring the highest honor in the presence of Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest child, in a 2006 grand ceremony. The island administration is going on with its probe and high profile meetings have been called to discuss the impact of Stanford scam on the economy of Antigua and Barbuda.

Previously, the star of international cricket, Viv Richards had been honored with a Knighthood. His countrymen respect him for what he has done for bringing the Caribbean cricket power in the limelight. And here is Stanford, who went to become the demigod of international cricket on the strength of his dollars. The question that looms large in the arena of international cricket is: does the man who has nearly destroyed a developing country’s economy deserves to wear the highest honor of that country? Well, until the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission amasses enough evidence to convict the Texan cricket sponsor, we have to call him as ‘Sir Allan’.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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