Reaping effects of second generation small islanders

Even our so-called democratic Constitution, formally admits and sanctions nepotism (Minister of Education), cliquism (Lenny Saith), and the unelected (many). These situations are rejected at the workplace, but accepted at the parliamentary level.

Further almost all general elections produce Governments with less than 50 percent of the electorate doing their civic duty (voting). Can we safely say that we are being governed by a democratic and representative government? Should this mean 51 percent of the total electorate, or votes cast, or first past the post. As it is at present, the UNC has polled more votes than the PNM but through moral and spiritual values, the PNM governs. This can be counteracted by a "use or lose it" law.

People who demand the right to vote, must show responsibility by using this franchise or lose it, except in extreme circumstances. Given the fact that a person has the right not to vote, he must exercise his responsibility to the nation, otherwise his right to vote will be non-functional. His vote will ensure the legitimacy of a Government. The word ideology comes from the word idea, and brilliant ideas are what we need, if we are to accomplish anything near a 20/29 vision. To prevent any corrupt practices in any election process, the EBC must be mandated, by law to conduct these elections, once the electorate is in excess of 10,000. A cost must be included. What we are witnessing today are many attempts at reform of society — political, economic and social, but these are of no avail, because they are ignoring the essential factor of transforming the mind of man. This must be given priority by the Ministry of Education. In Tt the total number of churches and schools (the organisations which are supposed to impart and inculcate education, moral and spiritual values) are less than one — third the amount of bars, clubs, rum shops, casinos, drug dens, Play Whe, Lottery, brothels etc. An imbalance must be created, as what is taught at schools and churches will be untaught immediately at these places of immorality. There is going to be a natural spillover, which is what we are now experiencing as crime, at the present time.

Our leaders are still looking for the answers, when they are the ones, legally creating the spreadsheet for our runaway crime situation. The Government is passing laws, and not enforcing them, thereby giving rise to an excess of freedom, which is now bordering on license, and almost completely eroding the powers of the police, who are now displaying fear of the criminals.

One theory is that TT is now reaping the effects of the second generation of the hordes of small islanders who were imported by Dr Williams to vote, after being beaten in the federal elections. Just a theory.

DOODNATH MAHARAJ

Arima