Dear Editor,
One cannot help but be depressed about the equitable development of our nation when those on both sides of the political spectrum continue to carry on the affairs of our country with the misguided approach that they are right in whatever they are engaged in, while the other side is wrong. This means that they try their utmost in word and action to discredit all that the other side is proposing or has implemented and, as a result, they work without the benefit of their contribution. Apart from this, and probably more devastating, is the continuous effort to prove that the previous administration erred in whatever they did during their tenure.
This could not have been more lucidly demonstrated than what was expressed in a recent letter to the press by a sitting Member of Parliament explaining how obvious flaws in some proposed legislation that were pointed out by a former Attorney-General were simply ignored by the present one, and the offer for a joint effort to rectify same was rejected.
This approach to our national affairs clearly precludes the experience and expertise of the other side in any exchange in the implementation of a project, and so those who accede to power after an election must start at zero in their attempts to forge any progress in any sector. It is must be clear from this inflexible attitude that the effect is that at any one time we are actually benefiting from only about 50% of the mental and other resources available. Isn’t this far from the intentions of the authors of our constitution when they crafted the rules by which we should be governed, ie, by the cooperative system?
I strongly believe that our country will not progress unless we use conscience, unselfishness, and the sincere desire to achieve progress equally for all our citizens without prejudice of any nature to any, as our guides to the administration of our affairs.
I am still optimistic that our politicians on both sides of the spectrum would rethink their divisive strategies, and I dream of the time when statesmanship will become the prevailing feature of our succeeding administrations, and our politicians will truly work, in their efforts at development, towards gleaning the full potential of our people, as well as gaining for us a life of peaceful coexistence, sufficiency and satisfaction.
Yours faithfully,
Roy Paul
