by Leroy Noel The failure of the Grenada government to hold regular sittings of parliament after the passage of hurricane Ivan does not augur well for democracy. Despite the fact that Grenada has been an independent island since 1974 and the Cayman Islands have not attained independence, the holding of meetings of the latter’s Legislative Assembly, equivalent to parliament in Grenada, after the passage of Ivan is a great example for politicians in the Spice Isle to follow and emulate. The opposition parliamentarians in Grenada had to be clamouring day and night before it was finally agreed that a sitting will be held on Friday 05 November. Moreover a government with a one seat majority in the House of Parliament is hanging on by a thread that is likely to give way at any time. Many agree that this does not happen anywhere on earth where the Westminster style of democracy is practiced. The passing of Hurricane Ivan is no excuse to abuse the democratic process -- it should be the contrary. In the Cayman Islands politicians have proven to be more mature and continued to meet to discuss the nations business to develop the country which was also devastated by Ivan. In Grenada, the politicians holding on to the reigns of power have paid no heed to the calls of the peoples representatives in Parliament to hold regular sittings to discuss how much aid was received and how it is being distributed. Instead, against the will of thousands of Grenadians, including some of their very own supporters, the ruling party went ahead to form what is now popularly known as the "mask of deception" in the form of an agency for national reconstruction. The continued fragmentation of the Grenadian society by political divisionists is doing more harm than was actually done by Ivan. The new generation will not forgive those who continue to deceive and use trickery in every area of life one can imagine. Diplomats have already begun to raise eyebrows on a number of issues they consider to be appalling and very soon the country may begin to feel the actions of some developed countries who are fed up with the Papa Doc style used in Grenada. Time and time alone will tell and to prove this prediction to be as correct as any prophet would have done in biblical times. By the way, discussions in certain diplomatic circles these days are centered around career diplomat Janice Celestine who was demoted from her position as Consul General in New York when she refused to hand over money collected for hurricane Ivan victims to the government of Grenada. The other is about the details of the appeals made by an official of the Grenada government to diplomats from the People Republic of China. The government has so far refused to give details to the people of Grenada about what was discussed during a meeting held with Chinese officials. As representatives of the people the government is duty bound to be accountable to the people, although it hasn't over the past years and in many circumstances used the national security element not to give details. I have said before that if the government fails to give a FULL account on what was discussed with the Chinese officials, all the details will be made known through this means and all the doubting Thomases know by now that your humble servant delivers when he has to. The challenge is out to the government to have the guts and be honest to the Grenadian people and give the details, to at least avert another embarrassment. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com