A long, long way to go

THE EDITOR: In a court matter, a lawyer is reported to have postulated that a politician, in the furtherance of his professional, can say just about anything he sees fit. This is perfectly in line with a widely held view that, as individuals, we can do as we damn well please and to hell with others. Such a view belies our being a nation but, instead, just a number of persons each out for our own ends at whatever cost. We are not only tolerant of such attitudes and behaviour but, strangely, seem to not only condone but admire them.

This is why a public figure can be exposed as having assets (safely unseizable off-shore) the provenance of which cannot possibly be explained by his legitimate income “in the struggle” he boasts “on behalf of the dispossessed” (he should have shared some with them!) And yet remains, unscathed, in public office, strutting his stuff totally unfazed, an heroic Robin Hood in reverse~ When we can establish some kind of national standard for minimal levels of acceptable ethical and moral behaviour — when we can do that, we will then realise what a long, long way we have to go! Like a recovering alcoholic, getting out of denial is the first major and axiomatic step.

GEOFF HUDSON
Port-of-Spain