Dear Editor,
Reports suggest that Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman is considering reducing the powers now invested in him to control our patrimony. What has triggered this, I’m not certain, but I believe it will put us on the highway of folly and clog the wheels of progress.
What is required now is a restatement of the undertaking given during the election campaign for good governance. I believe we now have leaders who are morally erect and that they in no way will be up for sale. We have made alterations to our Constitution since Independence, but to compromise the authority of a minister without a public debate and good reasons will be a backward step, perhaps pandering to those with narrow partisan interests.
Change represents the inevitable in human experience. We come into the world weak and bawling, then daily we grow and change mentally and physically. Other aspects of change come about by people making adjustments, taking into account existing circumstances and their hopes and aspirations. Some of these man-made changes have had both happy and unhappy results.
What is necessary is for the Coalition to enhance its public relations. The techniques used earlier may not be viable today. What we do not want is a dilution of democracy by tying the hands of the Minister, most likely in the process slowing things down and delaying the making of decisions in the public interest.
Recently, Reverend Calvin Haywood, in a powerful and relevant sermon referred to the parent-child relationship and by extension the need for respect and obedience to those like parents, national and political leaders. Leaders as well must respect and obey the laws laid down but in particular the laws of God.
We talk quite a bit about the Renaissance. The truth can be put quite simply, but even as Europe including England advanced, Roman Law exerted quite a bit of influence on the thinking of government during the 17th century.
At the end of the day, what matters must be obedience to the established laws and principles of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Christianity. In the case of the latter, the Ten Commandments are crystal clear that what the nation must develop is a revival of our spiritual and moral values. What matters is the integrity of our leaders and the confidence we have in them.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green
