Dear Editor,
Recently, some contributors have come to the conclusion that I am all about criticism, and lacking in offers on solutions. I disagree. All along, solutions have formed part and parcel of the very same criticisms. I believe it is not only what is said, but that which is left unsaid, and is patently obvious.
Criticisms (or any other acceptable synonym) have been levelled at leaders for failures in the areas of security and crime-fighting, corruption and narcotics, ethnic stresses and inclusion, and paternalism and union negotiations, among other things. A close and careful look at all of these areas would indicate an intricate interweaving that begins and ends with race and politics. From my perspective, it is absurd to pretend otherwise.
Therefore, squeezing certain unions, blowing away every so-called criminal, locking out the opposition, and denying the drug scourge are not purely condemnations, but pointers, in and of themselves of solutions, the observance of which, could point the way forward. To make this real easy for the lazy or obstinate, I suggest simply adding ‘no’ before each of the present continuous verbs in the preceding sentence. I believe any other approach is shortsighted, piecemeal, and ultimately self defeating.
If this is still not clear enough, then I proceed down another route. Leaders must be open with the populace; they must not attempt to spin or obfuscate their way out of issues. This has not worked before, nor will it succeed later; all that occurs is that deception is heaped upon deception.
Next, protective and other links must be severed with the narcotocracy; this is a start to attacking ancillary problems, including corruption, crime, security, and, of course, ethnic bias. This is easier said than done, but goes a long way to develop credibility where it counts.
Further, negotiate with unions in good faith; discontinue infiltration of the security sector, and reach out to political adversaries in genuine partnership. I believe that all of this casts a very wide net and commences to embrace the thorny issues (not finalize them) that have plagued from day one. The issues go hand in hand, and the half measures of tokenism, unilateralism, and paternalism have all failed miserably, and open wide the door for ongoing and deepening polarization. In a society sadly lacking in trust, there is no other way.
To be sure, all of these solutions are hard to swallow, and harder to implement. They were there all along, if one took the time to read and understand and extrapolate. Only if addressed first, and on an authentic and sustained basis, can the formidable challenges – and solutions – of nation building be embarked upon in any comprehensive and meaningful manner. Now, who is willing to take the first step?
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall