It seems that in these trying times – every day comes with some new tension, or news item, or dramatic turn of events, that pushes many people to worry and wonder about where it is all leading us to eventually. We are faced with many options but we don’t have to worry ourselves sick about choices. It makes no sense worrying about the past which we cannot change, nor the future which we cannot know. We have to learn to let the dramatic events play themselves out with time. Words to the above effect, were how I replied to an elderly lady who sought my advice about where the almost daily dramatic events would take us as a people. But I am also well aware that all the above are much easier said than done, and there are dozens and dozens of people who are very concerned about where all the ups and downs and sideways movement are leading us to eventually. And what is adding to the worries – as the issues of contention, real or imaginary, are publicised – is the boast of those creating the drama that they are so very concerned about the people’s welfare. After all those Thirteen years of good living, and affluence, and everything nice and dandy, and nearly everyone employed and living good – then suddenly those in control and authority are removed from the seats of power, by the very people who were enjoying that good life (so the losers said) – and in the space of three months everything has fallen down to the ground. No work, cost of living gone up to the sky, children cannot go to school because parents cannot pay bus fares, Hospital services gone to the dogs and people dying as a result, farmers cannot make a living, fishermen cannot catch or sell their fish when they do catch – in short, the country on the verge of social unrest, according to the “Shadow Government” in waiting. Is it any wonder that those simple minded people who do not stop to think about what they hear and see on the Radio and T/V – are worried? These “shadow” chaps are even creating fears in people’s minds, that they will lose plots of lands bought from Government before the last Elections. If the sale or agreement was open and above board – then what is there to fear? But knowing the depth and widespread crooked deals they entered into during the Election Campaign, in their desperate attempts to get the people to vote them back into office – those guys now in the shadow of control and authority, are taking in front to try and dis-colour the systems of investigation in a further attempt to save their skins. It cannot be repeated too often – if whatever is done by a Government in power is right and proper, even allowing for reasonable errors and mistakes here and there, then it is right full stop. But if it can be seen that the actions and omissions are blatantly wrong, or crooked, or intended to deceive for whatever reasons – then they remain wrong and must be condemned, and remedial action taken to put them right where possible, and the wrong-doers made to stand the consequences. There can be no other way to build back a truly just and equitable society, where we all can live in peace and harmony – to be able to aspire and work towards achieving our desired goals. On the other hand, to be punishing the little chaps for the wrongs they do and the Criminal acts they commit according to the Laws of the land. While they are witnessing the big pappies getting away with Criminal actions, that make their little mis-demeanors pale into gross insignificance by comparison; that manner of behaviour will never help those little chaps to change or be reformed, and the society as a whole will suffer accordingly.. And strange as it may sound – even some new-comers to the “Big-pappies scale”, may themselves feel and behave like their predecessors in doing wrong – on the basis that they too will get away with their wrong-doing. Where there are no ideal standards in place, and no obvious and transparent deterrent, and consistent methods of punishment and public sanctions for wrong doing against the society and the people as a whole – that society and those people will be heading down a precipice to disaster, chaos and anarchy – and that is a very retrograde stage. In many instances also, it is not always what one does but when it is done- and the same principle will also apply when any group or Government is involved. Take, for example, the whole furore surrounding the issue of dual citizenship of the ex-P.M. now Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. And to make the issue more disturbing and even more dramatic – one can look back at the whole saga surrounding the Court case filed by the last Government headed by the same ex- P.M., against the now Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Hon. Peter David, M.P. for St. George’s Town. As a commonwealth Citizen the said M.P. was elected in 2003, as provided for in the Constitution. The NNP Government, nevertheless, brought the Case against him and it was quite rightly thrown out of Court by the Court of Appeal. The Costs are still owing. The current A.G. of the NDC Government wrote to the U.S. Department of Justice since July 25th 2008 – at its office of International Affairs in New York Avenue , Washington D.C. in the U.S.A. The request was for assistance in determining whether Keith C. Mitchell and Elvin Nimrod were, or have ever been, citizens of the United States of America . The former was described as “Former Prime Minister of Grenada ”, and the latter as “former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Grenada”. The month and year of Keith C. Mitchell naturalization as a U.S. Citizen and the Citizenship number was listed. And the date of Elvin Nimrod receipt of Legal Permanent Residence was also listed, and it was added thereafter that he is NOT a U.S. Citizen. That Communication which listed the above was dated October 16th 2008, and it was signed on behalf of a Director of the Justice Department, by a Trial Attorney. Both names were printed at the end of the letter to Mr. James Bristol as the Attorney General of Grenada. From that Communication Mr. Bristol made the disclosures to the Press – after Dr. Mitchell had held his Press Conference the day before. We have now been informed that Dr. Mitchell ceased to be a U.S. Citizen from the 20th June, 1995 – the day, I believe, he was Sworn in as Prime Minister of Grenada, after his NNP had won the 1995 General Elections, from the then NDC Government of Bratihwaite/Brizan. It is not quite clear, from what I heard in the news, whether Dr. Mitchell voluntarily Renounced Citizenship, or it was automatically ceased because he was sworn in as P.M. But however it came about, his U.S. Citizenship was apparently ended from that date. But Dr. Mitchell was elected as an M.P. from the 1984 General Elections – while he was a U.S. Citizen; and he was again so Elected in 1989, while still a U.S. Citizen; and even when he swore his nomination papers for the 1995 Elections, he was still a U.S. Citizen. On All those occasions he was in Breach of the Constitution of Grenada, section 31(1) (a) thereof. I heard and saw Dr. Mitchell on T/V last week – after the news broke about when he ceased to be a U.S. Citizen – and he was saying he had never lied and will never lie to his people on such matters, he will always come clean. His people, and you dear readers, will have to be the Judges of that statement, and ponder it as seen fit. But I also heard a news report, that Senator Dwight Horsford was demanding that A.G. James Bristol should resign with immediate effect – for mis-leading the Government and people of Grenada . The same Judges above must ponder that demand, by asking themselves how did A.G. Bristol mis-lead the people and Government, by acting on information from the Justice Department of the U.S. Government. Maybe there is something else Senator Horsford is privy to that I am not, but since he has failed to disclose that something – I fail to see what the A.G. has to resign about. And as for the Ten years or so that Dr. Mitchell was un-constitutionally an M.P., he should be asking for forgiveness and leniency – rather then threatening to sue Tom, Dick, and Harry for so-called Libel. He was also a Cabinet Minister for all those years. As to how all these and those bits and pieces of information remained secret for all those years, only time and the unknown other bits when revealed would provide the answer. But as those dear old folks used to tell us “if you have enough patience you will eventually see ants belly, and time is always longer than any rope” – so give them time, and be patient while they exhaust that time. And to try to begin to understand – that it is against that kind of background the Opposition to-day is clamouring for more action from the three months old new Government in control – is really to stretch one’s imagination beyond recognition. Now that the Works and Road Minister has announced that the road maintenance programme is about to begin – which will include the de-bushing – and that this will be organized around a constant programme, for our roads and drains and side walls alongside the sea coast and river banks – look out for the barrage of complaints about who will be in charge and who not getting work from day one. And in so doing, all the comess and favourism of the recent past will be conveniently forgotten – and those “shadow people” will be expecting heaven on earth and Saints and Angels to be in charge. Of course the programme has to be organised and managed as fairly as its possible – but those persons who have not been getting work for sometime must be given some preferential treatment, otherwise the change voted for will be a farce. As all or most of the behind-the-scene drama and shady deals come to the surface and be revealed – John Public will be shocked about how deep it all went. But we do not have to be vindictive and demand an eye for an eye – as we move along and try to change the road map towards a more acceptable environment with lofty standards. We have to begin to practice what we have been preaching for all those years, and in many cases leave some judgment and punishment to the One in that Higher Court to deal with. If we are going to change this divided society to make it a better place for those coming after us – we have to set some standards that will look hard to accept at the beginning. But like everything that is worthwhile and lasting on this earthly plane – the good standards, and ethical behaviour patterns, and the deeds that can stand up to transparency and be long-lasting, are never easy to come by – they have to be earned and achieved with hard work and much sacrifice. To do otherwise is not to bring about change, but to be satisfied with the same old Khaki pants – and that is definitely not an option in this liberated new beginning. The drama and the breaking news will be all over the place, and will get thicker and deeper with new discoveries – but these must not be allowed to distract us from following the clearly outlined road map ahead of us all. Before I close this dramatic discussion – it would be remiss of me not to recognise and “Big-up” our new “Millionaire Cricket Hero, Andre Fletcher”. His performance last Saturday made us all feel proud to be Grenadians – despite everything else. The Captain, Chris Gayle, was at his expected best, but Andre lighted the Candle, as it were, to shine him along the way on All saints night. Congrats to the Stanford Super Stars. (The views/opinions expressed in the above article are those of the writer and not necassarily those of the Inside Grenada Staff) By Lloyd Noel Inside Grenada News