Editorial – December 31, 2012
We thought it could be useful to recapture a few paragraphs from some of the Editorials in 2012, randomly. At times, a theme appeared that seem to sound like a ‘stuck record’, but perhaps that is resting heavily on our minds for as the year drew to an end, nothing seemed to be more relevant. While on their own they might seem confusing with no context to follow, we hope to encourage some thought and perhaps some sense will develop. They date back to December last year.
It wasn’t any joy listening to the debate in the Assembly on Tuesday, as few listen on radio to what we will expect to hear more about. To hear the Premier and his supporters even when they agree chastise the opposition for seeking to get a little more welfare for the deserving, suggesting that to do so they would have to deny public servants and pensioners their pay. That behavior and the likes leaves one in disbelief. I suspect they will not try to listen back to that. It is worse than telling the opposition that they need to look after public servants offices before providing support for them to represent them. It is simply wrong.
It was disappointing to learn that government did not support the Vue Pointe hotel owners in their desire to re-shape the grounds of the hotel and its environs so they can open their doors. It is a shame that the reason could have been, because of the foolhardy desire to ruin the bottom of the Belham Valley and Isle’s Bay area with aggregate mining and shipping.
We have said time and time again, as we hear the words ‘economy and economic progress’ and all related thereto, ask even the seemingly intelligent and hear what they have to say about it. It is a well-known saying, that “knowledge is power.” Is that what our current leaders are afraid of? Are we going back there? It is a cover-up of ill-intent to attempt to cut corners, pretending to provide information that educate children and people to enhance their knowledge. That is so important that more money doing so will mean a better economically sensible people. Let’s herald in the New Year with a desire to educate and beneficially stimulate the people.
The statistics of the census will reveal much, and we hope that the authorities will present the findings that these will present and come up with solutions to correct and propel this starved country forward. Oh, the new town plans that they continue to promote on the non-visible government websites notwithstanding.
The warnings are there and while some people may not be activist as it is not their nature, generally no one should lose sight of these warnings. Individually and severally, as we watch a certain kind of decay, with the selfishness and greed and the lack of integrity, even in the face of Integrity Bills, and Constitution and Commissions, we call once again for the education that is required, to check what may allow the situations, the continued signs of bondage that Dr. Fergus suggests are creeping back upon our people.
The media on all sides are expected to at least understand and to seek to ensure that the people they represent understand. However, the initial responsibility is certainly not theirs.
We cannot repeat often enough about the conversation, the information and the education that need to take place that would create the knowledge and understanding needed to impact on how we go forward to stem what can indeed get out of hand and create a bigger crisis.
If we believe there is a sore, don’t treat it properly, continue to undermine the treatment and wait for terminal cancer to set in.As it is said for Christian people, God answers prayers, but it always requires some action! And in the Bible, He laid down a simple guidelines how to pray.
Most of those willing to remove the scales of corruption, fear and deceit from their eyes are ready to join in all that is necessary to rise up and show how deep some heads are buried in the sand. The prayer vigil and march are all commendable, but what are we praying for? We better careful!
We are calling on our Premier and the Ministry of Finance to explain the things that DFID is saying. They talk about cost savings and it appears that instead of seeking to see how the private sector can save them money by encouraging and supporting efficiency, they are taking away the business already with the private sector under the obviously mistaken guise that they will save money.
Minister Duncan and now the DFID team said pretty much the same thing they told Cayman Islands as they insisted on fiscal responsibility from the Cayman Islands. The status quo is no more, but it doesn’t make us beggars, nor do we have expect doom. Montserrat simply must do the right thing and get the support it needs to change the lives of its people, without everyone leaving to go to Britain.
Then there are others who simply marginalise the independent press, along with others who close their eyes to a killer and what we will kindly describe in part as a ‘growing ignorance’. In Montserrat, the only independent media are People’s Television and TMR; the other medium is the Government owned ZJB Radio which of course is completely controlled by them.
Maybe we can leave it right here and suggest that it would really be good that all of those people who were rejoicing in the misfortune of an unfortunate situation, may try a search for truth and justice. Already the fruits of some good from the new Constitution may be ripening, but laws are never written for just one person or one set of people, and so they must be exercised with fairness and justice. Sadly, when most are asked about the facts, they know so little or nothing about them. That at the end of the day is a bad reflection of our culture.
