The ninth of July dawned like the beginning of a New Year for Grenadians, and it is fitting that we should be making new resolutions in preparation for the next five years and beyond. The P.M., Hon. Tilman Thomas, said at his swearing in Ceremony by the Governor General – that there was God in the process that brought about the change – and he gave a very moving episode of what took place, when he attended a function a week or two before and he was handed a Bible to read from. He said he opened the Bible, and the pages revealed the Book of Jeremiah Chapter 30, and in the readings before him was the story of Liberation. The audience present applauded loudly, because they remembered that the former and outgoing P.M., Dr. Keith Mitchell, had revealed on the Sunday he announced the date for General Election as “July 8th” – he had also said, that Liberation Day was coming on that date. Against that background, I was looking over a very favourite reference Book I always refer to for decades now – called “Nicks Corner”. The very first chapter for a new year was headed—“What about a New Year Revolution? And it included – “Christianity is not just a matter of what we do, but of what we do first, the priorities in our lives. When will we ever learn that people matter more than things, that attitudes are more important than acts, that the spirit of the Law must be lived and not merely the letter, that if our heart is in the right place everything else will fall into line? People are saying that our country needs a new Government, new Leadership, a new political system. But let us remember that no political system of Government, no new laws or sanction can save us unless there is a change of heart in the men and women who make up a Country. It is at personal, conscience levels that Justice and love become incarnate and peace actively pursued. Every man/woman must be seen as a brother/sister and his/her worth recognised and respected. All else is theory and ole talk”. I fully agree with and accept every word in the above quotation, as the blue print to achieving the desired results emanating from the changes we have succeeded in bringing about by our democratic votes last week Tuesday at the Polls. It was a major hurdle, to face up to the challenge of competing against the group that controlled the reins of power for the past thirteen years. And it was no mean feat in winning that great challenge. But let no one be mistaken, or in anyway mis-understand, or minimise by any margin – the even greater mountain we have to climb to overcome the problems facing us. The sheer volumes for all that went before, present their own monumental obstacles, and if those in control do not pace themselves, carefully weigh the pros and cons of everything facing them, and realize and truly recognise that this is a whole new ball game and the rules are very different – then there could be serious set backs and grave dis-appointments everywhere. Over and above the obvious and very natural administrative and day by day pitfalls, that go hand in hand with any new Government taking over from a group that was in control for over thirteen years – there are going to be many artificial and disruptive obstacles designed and put in place by some of those who still bare loyalties to the defeated lot. Important changes have to be made and quickly, to ensure a smooth and workable transition of the role of the new controllers in the given circumstances. In doing so, however, great care must be taken to maintain fairness – coupled with firmness and transparency and the grave responsibility now on the shoulders of the new rulers. There are going to be criticisms and objections and lack of co-operation, from many key quarters and dis-placed individuals who are no longer enjoying the ride on the gravy train. These have to be taken in one’s stride, and simply but firmly do what must be done. The old saying that Rome was not built in a day is very applicable here. And what is more, it took the out-going lot over a dozen years to bring our people down to where they are to-day, and tarnish the nation’s image to the extent now existing worldwide. It will take a lot more than the first five years in control, to bring things back to where they were in the early days of 1995 – when the reins of power last changed hands and controlling authority. Although the losers have said they accept the people’s decision and they wish the new-comers well – they will miss no opportunity to highlight any and every seen or unseen negative aspect in the new administration. As the people’s opposition in Parliament, they have every right to do so and those criticised must accept it and make amends where necessary and as required. In fact, from the first day the Prime Minister went into his office at the Ministerial Complex, there were problems with a worker removing bags of documents or whatever from her office to her car, and the security officers had to take her to the C.I.D. for questioning. And this was after the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Ministry, had forewarned all the Workers not to remove anything from their desks or computers. Yet the NNP-PRO, Mr. Terry Forrester, was quickly on the T/V complaining about the officers action, but saw nothing wrong with the worker’s dis-regard for the P.S’s instructions. The shock defeat for the occupants of the “House” after all those years and the Millions spent on the Campaign to have the so-called progress continue – is a very bitter and choking pill to swallow. So the new guys on the Parliamentary Block, with the majority of the people’s votes that put them in control of the Nation’s affairs – they will have to display some patience, and tolerance and even sympathy for the losers. But in the midst of so doing they have to be resilient, and vigilant, and ensure that the required systems are in place, to combat the expected on-slaught from the opposition and their mourning supporters. On the other side of the coin, and always remembering – that the difference in the number of voters who cast their votes for the winners and the losers at the polls, were less than two thousand in the fifteen constituencies; and the new captain and his team, therefore have the same measure of duties and responsibilities for the people who voted for the other side. At his swearing in ceremony, the day after he was chosen by the people to Captain the Ship of State for the next five years – the Prime Minister very eloquently, and sincerely from his tone of voice and manner of delivery, told the nation that his team will always uphold the Constitution, and the democratic parliamentary principles and conditions that under-pin that institution. I have no doubt in my mind, that the P.M. will live up to that under-taking down the road. My prayer and hope is that his entire team truly follow their leader – in the months and years ahead; because if they don’t, or falter along the way as the going gets tougher, or the heat gets hotter, then history will not absolve them from the in-evitable consequences that will surely flow therefrom. That new team now in control definitely have the skills, and the talent, and the personal qualifications to rise up to the occasion to do a good job. There is in place a fairly competent public service team of workers, so that if they are properly managed and directed by those in control – John Public can get the service desired. Naturally and by generally accepted standards and conventions – certain personnel in key managerial or supervisory positions may have to be moved around, and in some cases replaced by others in whom the new team reposes confidence. In some instances such key persons should offer their resignations – to allow the new leaders a free hand to re-organsie departments and Ministries. In other cases, it may well boil down to putting persons in positions – because of their loyalty and heartfelt trust-worthiness, to ensure that the policies and plans of the new administration are strictly observed and implemented. And that strategy is very important in the early stages, where clever non-supporters could dis-rupt and even de-rail very good proposals, to make the new-comers look bad and in-competent in the eyes of the public. It goes without my saying so, and it will be widely expected – that any sound and worthwhile project or policy, found by the new-comers to be in existence and functioning – in the interest and welfare of any section of the society – should be continued and where necessary, extended and further developed. A good case in point is the Imani programme, which assist a lot of young persons to earn a small income. And it is also a good example, of a programme that needs much deeper thinking and planning and expanding, to truly benefit those involved therein, by training and preparing them to move into better and more secure employment in the society, and thereby making room for others waiting on the outside to come in. It is also very important for the new team to go all out to foster unity and solid nation building – across the party lines for the benefit of all the people at all times. And one of the ways towards achieving that milestone, is to encourage and promote the activities of the Civil Society Group, that played a major part in bringing the warring factions around the political groups into line, to honour and support standard decent behaviour and basic etiquette in their campaign. That group should be encouraged to continue the exemplary services they performed during the Campaign, for the good and welfare of the society as a whole. Those Court Cases involving Government ex-Ministers have to be looked at very carefully – to see where those Ministers were operating on behalf of the Government per se, or where they were on a frolic of their own and acting in their own welfare and self interest. The decisions of our highest Court at the Privy Council in England , are very clear and precise on the issue of personal liability by Ministers who were reckless and grossly negligent in the performance of their duties, and or were acting more in their interests than that of the people they were supposed to be serving. As for the frivolous Court Cases, started by the “super-ex-Legal-Advisor” on behalf of the Attorney General, against all manner of persons – these will also have to be thrown into the legal dustbin, and the only pity is that the “wildone” cannot be made to pay costs. I heard he enquiring about his contracts with Government. Then there are many pieces of Legislation that have to be taken off the Law Books post haste. And none more so than the NRL to immediately ease up workers from the 3%levy and, as it were, give them the equivalent percentage increase in wages. There are many others needing urgent attention, and am sure the new Attorney General, Mr. Jimmy Bristol, will be speedily off the block in getting them removed and dumped where they belong. There are also some Government contracts made by the outgoing bunch in the recent months – involving the people’s Prime property all over the place. These will have to be looked at very carefully, to see the reasoning and the intent behind them – and where the Bona fides are clearly absent and not in the interest of the people, but of those who acted in their dishonest financial interest – then action will have to be taken, to put right those blatant wrongs that are devoid of any merit. And while all these activities are taking place behind the scene, the Ministry of Information, through a Press Secretary assigned thereto, must be keeping the people and the media fully informed of what is happening and the reasons for the happenings. Transparency was the cornerstone of the theme to bring about change, and the majority of our people bought into that concept and made it a solemn responsibility. No way can we dis-appoint that trusting majority who put their faith in the wind of change. The task ahead is not easy by any means, and no one should in anyway try to minimise the responsibility and the impact. If ever Grenada and its people were at a cross-road, it is now; and how we deal with the issues and extricate ourselves from the problems facing our people – would be key to how and where we go from here on in. But be all the foregoing as they may, and however the repercussions may impact on where we go from here – the stark reality will remain to haunt us forever, if we fail to liberate our people – now that we have the opportunity with this new beginning. By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law) Inside Grenada Columnist