What are you going to do about it?

He reminded me of a commentary published here several years ago, in which I had asked, in conclusion- “What are you going to do about it?” Well, I am touched that the memory of that article, and particularly the closing question, had stayed with him over the years. But more touched that he was calling to offer support, help, action, whatever is needed to assist in overcoming the dreadful state into which we have allowed our country to sink. But he, like me, is a senior citizen, without wealth, power or troops, or even any set inspiration to wring the changes-- whatever they are— to save our country and society .

Still, whatever I was planning to do, he was willing to stand with me! That is one! Someone to stand at my right hand! So, who will abide at my left side, and hold this bridge with me? But the truth is that I am no longer standing on the bridges to hold off the enemies. I just enjoy that old epic poem! So I told my caller that if he wanted to be more active than maybe writing about our issues, he should join one of the groups becoming more active, or form one of his own. I will continue to speak through this column which I am privileged to write, and in some discussion groups in social media. But I am not, at my age going out to march or demonstrate against the ills we have allowed to overwhelm our society. My last effort was my call for us to gather at the site of Dana Seetahal’s assassination the day after she was shot. No one came .

So when I march now, or in the future, it will be with a knapsack on my back, going through the forests of the Northern Range .

When I raise my fist, it will be to pick fruit, and it will not be clenched in anger .

But I will call upon you to march, to raise your fists, to meaningfully condemn the utter incompetence of every aspect of our governance, regardless of who sits in corrupt power, to be active against the endemic corruption that invades all of our commercial and government activities .

Because if you do not, if you continue to think that making jokey or angry comments on Facebook is sufficient to stop the corruption and crime, then you are hastening the collapse of our society. It is as simple as that. It is your turn now .

Things are not going to get better, and the economy is not going to improve “just so”. The price of oil is not going to soar again and lubricate our problems. You have to work, from the ground up, to create the conditions for honesty and competence to germinate and blossom. So why is no one who hold positions of leadership--- or maybe I should say people currently meant to be in charge of our institutions, for there are no leaders around— standing up and speaking out? This is a worry to me: the silence from traditional social and professional organisations and groups. Yes, we see isolated, self-interest outbursts—like the legal profession’s current concerns over the Chief Justice and magisterial appointments. But the wider issues of failing governance and a failed society are not being discussed by the Law Association .

Nor by the Chambers of Commerce, the construction industry, the labour movement, the medical associations -- anyone .

Any concern raised is restricted to the selfish “me or my organization” theme, not the wider society .

Everyone, every organisation is strictly for themselves, and in many cases, not even for themselves, many satisfied apparently to just be part of the aimless drift which is taking the country down .

There is a vacuum of leadership in the country, and we pretend that it is just limited to politics and governance. But it has spread like a cancer through every institution and enterprise in the country, and all that we are doing is complaining on Facebook .

And we need to be aware that, into any social vacuum such as the one we have created and are experiencing, chaos must flow .

Do our institutions have the will and the strength to rally and stave off the pending chaos? And if so, what are they going to do about the state of our country?