There was no doubt about it – in our situation over the last five or six years – change was a vital necessity. We had to change the political controllers, and now by logical extension we have to change around the direction of the society. But we must also understand, that it is not really necessary to destroy everything to make change. In going about the task of fully effecting change, however, there are times when one has to truly shock a society by the nature of the challenge you present to it. It is also very important for all to remember, that democracy is a system of participation, or it is nothing. If people do not feel that they can influence government, can participate in government, there is no democracy. Of course, after all the ole talk for years now – and because it was high-lighted in the NDC’s manifesto, that local Government Legislation will be enacted to give some form of local control to the people in their Communities – a very good way to ensure people’s participation in Government, is to bring back our District Boards and their local Council and give people the responsibility to take care of their parishes in their own interest and welfare. Such a system would free up M.Ps and Ministers, and thus enable them to concentrate much more on national and regional issues that are becoming far more onerous, as relationships and problems in the global market place are increasing with every passing day. On a more personalised note, however, to make sure that the desired changes in the society, and the day by day operations of the system of Government by the new rulers and controllers, are in truth, and in fact, and in reality working effectively – there must be significant changes and replacement of certain individuals in key positions in the structure. Simply talking to the various department heads, and stressing what is expected of them as public servants, from the very top of the tree, through the police and security departments, all the way down to the workers on the roads – that method of trying to change their outlook would not work in the short term, and could be the recipe for sabotage down the road. After thirteen years of what Grenada and its people went through – from the outgoing lot of controllers and they very deceptive methods of building false empires to boost their images – it would be fool-hardy to even imagine that mere words and nice-sounding phrases and platitudes, would be enough to change the attitudes and short-sighted outlook of those who were subjected to the foregoing and benefitted therefrom. I have heard of action with two such individuals in the persons of the Legal Advisor to Cabinet and the Trade Advisor for Caricom – Messrs Wildman and Patrick Antoine respectively. And as one looks at the sizes of their Salaries and other perks that go with their jobs – it is crystal clear to see the depth of their loyalties to their pay-master. And if one stops to multiply those two by another ten or twenty in the system – then it is very easy to see where we will be heading, if very urgent action has not already been taken. But over and above the serious problems with self-serving public servants, so-called; the chaos and gross mis-management by those who were riding the gravy train at the peoples’ expence, have left a trail of problems that have to be solved, or at least attended to, before positive steps can be taken towards bringing about visible and workable changes. After all that took place with the off-shore Banking scandal, and Van Brink and his FIBG – that damaged our Nation’s reputation and that of those politicians who allowed the scam to flourish in our dear land –in their financial interest. We then had the CAP BANK Fiasco that will be around to torment us for some time to come. While those two matters dealt with peoples’ moneys, after the operators were given the green light by the same ousted controllers before 8th July – the victims who suffered losses were from very different backgrounds; U.S. and Canadian Citizens Investing with FIBG, and lots of poor Grenadians with CAP BANK who stood to gain no big thing from their deposits. But in both cases, the powers-that-be at the time were grossly negligent, reckless and irresponsible in the exercise of their duties and mandate as trustees. And now again we have another financial scandal in our midst – with an institution by the name of SGL Holding Ltd, whose depositors have very substantial investments with the Company and have been getting un-usually high interest payments on their deposits – only to learn that the scheme, in conjunction with some financial traders in the Turks and Caicos, is under investigation by the FBI, and they will not be getting anything for another nine months; and maybe nothing at all at any time. People were obviously lured into that scheme, by the promise of huge interest payments at regular intervals, and they fell for those promises. Many did receive some payments and that encouraged others to jump on board – but it was quite clearly a high risk investment gamble that no clear thinking person should have touched. The concern of the powers-that-be, however, must henceforth be concentrated on taking immediate steps as precautionary measures, once those types of get-rich-quickly schemes surface. I doubt whether the Treasury benefitted in any way from that business, yet we again are the laughing stock in the financial market place, for suspect dealers and con-men who mis-use and abuse our happy-go-lucky systems for cleaning dirty money over-night. I can well imagine, or envisage, two smart men at a bar in the U.S.A. with a couple hundred Millions of hot U.S. dollars to pass through the legal system – and their colleagues in Columbia or Mexico or any part of South America with drug Millions to be laundered – having agreed on the type of scheme they will embark upon to get those Millions into the legal system – then asking aloud among themselves, where can we go to put that scheme into operation? And those U.S. cats answering resoundingly – “in Grenada of course, where else?” The new team in control in St. George’s must take very firm and immediate steps to change that image – because if they don’t, with speed and alacrity, the emphatic answer of – “yes we want change” – will be lost, along with the many other dreams and aspiration of the majority of our people who voted for change. We just cannot keep on allowing those smart men and very shady characters to keep on taking us down the drain and cesspit of shame and scandal and disgrace. And in dealing with those very embarrassing schemes, as soon as they raise their ugly heads in our midst, would also send clear messages to our local youngsters – who are looking and listening and learning, just behind the half-opened doors to do their own thing. Changing the personnel in control at the top was key; moving around and replacing some of those at the middle section who carried out their masters bidding, is very essential; but just as important, for the prospects of bringing about real and meaningful changes in the society as a whole – must be the very visible actions, and programmes, and high level operations, that go to the roots of the disease centres that have been strangulating our system of Government for all those years. It will also surprise many, when the schemes are un-ravelled and exposed, by the discovery of some of the names involved therein, and the vast sums of money derived therefrom – while giving those shady so-called investments credibility. And what is just as alarming – is that some of those shady supporters, under the umbrella of providing professional services to those schemers, are pushing or in the line-up for receiving high-level recognition – for the very damaging services they have been providing, to the detriment of our Country’s good name and financial image. The on-going Wind of Change, blowing in our Tri-Island State from the 8th July and continuing - must remove all stops to ensure and make sure that none of those very un-patriotic characters ever achieve their desired goals. Because if they do succeed, in gaining those un-deserved professional recognitions – while far more able and clearly deserving stalwarts are over-looked and by-passed – then the further damage and disastrous repercussions, would live on to haunt our good name and sound record in that sector for many,many,years to come. I am sounding the warning Bells in that area at this very early stage – so that those with open ears and clear visions can pick up the vibes, and move with the changing times – well before the horses have bolted from the stables. On the other front pertaining to the Opposition in the new Parliament – I am hearing some very strange statements coming from the Leader of the Opposition and one or two of his defeated team mates. In the south St. George Constituency, the NNP Candidate, Mrs. Ann Antoine, suffered one of the heaviest defeats from the incumbent Mrs. Glynnis Roberts – yet the ex-p.m. has been saying that the people in south St. George voted for Ann Antoine. So what is he implying – that some mysterious hands changed the Ballot papers in the Ballot Box? What utter nonsense to be used as an excuse for real licks. And he is also reported to have said, that he is giving the new Government Six months in office. But he omitted to say what next would follow. The Voodoo prediction that fifteen murders before July 8th would have given the NNP victory at the Polls – did not materialize. What other super shango scheme is in the making to bring about that six months change-over – I wonder? The desired change has been realised – the challenge to make as sure as it is possible, that the change bears fruit – is now the next hurdle to over come. By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law) Inside Grenada Columnist