Dear Editor,
The following letter is a work of fiction, crafted to highlight the importance of holding a plebiscite on the matter of genuine constitutional reforms.
Since 2016, Multiculturalis, a little nation has been in the spotlight regarding its massive oil reserves that global oil companies continue to discover. As a result, it is on track to be one of the top five oil producers by 2026, which is huge! But, of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
The three main political parties: People Practicing Patronage (PPP), People Notorious for Corruption (PNC), and Aficionados Fostering Corruption (AFC) are tearing each other apart over this newfound wealth. The AFC, led by Roger Atorné, is promising a utopia. His speeches are slick, and his promises sound great, but everyone knows there’s a lot of conflict of interests behind the scenes. Most people believe that Atorné’s pals will get all the big contracts, making themselves rich while the rest of the citizenry struggle.
Then there’s Reginald Bully from the PNC, who’s been bashing the PPP for their corruption. Bully talks a big game about transparency and cleaning up the government. But let’s be real, the PNC has a long history of the same old tricks – corruption and partisanship galore. It’s like the citizens of Multiculturalis are still stuck in a nightmare.
Next there is Rizwan, the Shah, the supreme leader of the PPP. Their slogan, “Prosperity for All,” is a joke. Rizwan paints himself as a champion for the poor, but behind the scenes, he’s acting like a true Shah, whose only concern is for the members of the royal family. His loyal impoverished subjects get crumbs while they live in denial about the Shah and the royal family’s accumulation of immense wealth.
As the election nears, things are getting intense. For instance, Atorné’s propaganda machine is in overdrive, promising nothing short of a utopia. Bully keeps exposing PPP scandals while ignoring his own shady dealings. Rizwan, Bully and Atorné are all trying to win votes with rallies, food, cash, and loads of empty promises.
The diaspora and the country’s main nemesis, the neighbouring country, Invasor are watching closely, too. Multiculturalis’s oil reserves are a big deal globally, and foreign investors are pouring money into lobbying and influence campaigns. This only adds to the corruption as leaders try to cozy up to multinational corporations and fickle governments.
With the election just around the corner, tensions are sky-high. There have been heated clashes between supporters. Separately, the capital, Sodom, is a mess of corruption and vice, including those perpetrated by members of law enforcement. People are frustrated and scared.
When the votes are counted in 2025, it will be clear that no party will win a convincing majority given the rapid decline in moral compunction by leaders. For this reason, the AFC, PNC, and PPP will be faced with a quagmire regarding forming real coalitions, each with their own corrupt agendas. The future of Multiculturalis certainly will be hanging by a thread, caught between the promise of prosperity and the reality of deep-rooted corruption. The only mitigant is a plebiscite on the matter of genuine constitutional reforms.
Yours faithfully,
Keith Bernard
