After the happenings of November fourth, 2008, and those of January 20th, 2009 – all in the U.S.A – it is very fair and genuinely hopeful to say, that the happenings world wide will not be the same old Khaki pants that we have been used to in the past. Many people claim that they want progress, but without change, and that is hardly possible. Nations and people worldwide have seen and suffered bitterly – that change cannot come by brute force, guns and nuclear weapons. Those weapons of mass destruction may help win a war and allow those who possess them to use their power base to dominate others – even in their own countries and territories. But the world has seen, time and time again, that the price the very conquerors have to pay – by the shedding of their own nationals blood, and the loss of limbs and dis-figured bodies and divided families – can never be justifiable. So now that it seems we have entered upon a new era of change with a difference – let us all be prepared to change, not for change’s sake but for God’s sake, and the sake of human growth and progress. The new President Obama has shown from day one – that he is prepared to pull up roots and move on to new pastures; that he is opening the doors and avenues to welcome peace talks, to bringing forth a new level of diplomacy and dialogue among people of differing views, points and backgrounds – and putting the old level of gun boat diplomacy to rest. It must be very obvious, that if those who oppose your policies CANNOT match you on an open battle field – they will seek and resort to any measure of underground tactics and terrorists activities, to get their own satisfaction. And capturing those suspected, and then torturing them to get information and or confessions about their colleagues in struggle – cannot win friends or influence others. In that context, ceasing the activities at Guantanamo , and sending a different kind of message of change, must generate hope that the past is behind us all and the future holds real and lasting conversion for humanity worldwide. I know and expect there are many all around the new President – right there in Washington D.C. – who think and are preaching otherwise, and may even be wishing that his wind of change will blow away to nothing of value and consequence. Therein lies the challenge, not only to the new commander-in-chief and his qualified team of statesmen and women, chosen from a wide cross-section of the political divide – but to leaders and followers across the globe, who are fed up and sick to the bones with wars and wanton killings, and the virtual genocide of thousands of innocent and defenseless women and children worldwide. We seems to be at the threshold of a brand new beginning – but with endless problems facing all the global market places, and the economic and financial depression threatening to get a whole lot worse off before turning the corner to get any better. But in this case – unlike the scenario where those with more guns and bombs, and Airplanes can dominate a whole nation or region – it is the very big pappies like the U.S.A who are really feeling the squeeze and their own people who are suffering much more than the lesser mortals. Against that background, the tasks ahead for the new regime in Washington D.C. become much more onerous, and require a lot more skills and good will and wise decisions in all matters confronting the powers-that-be. All our best wishes must be with them. But as we survey the challenges facing the new “Chief” in the U.S.A. and keep him in our prayers – we must not be un-mindful that we in these Isles, and those in control of our nation’s affairs in particular, are almost in a similarly designed Boat in equally treacherous seas; the only difference being that our situation is of miniscule proportions, when compared with that of our Big Brothers to the North. And whatever may happen up North – over which we do not have any control what-so-ever – we have to be charting our own course, and making plans and laying down procedures to see us through the difficult times that lay ahead. Uppermost among those plans and procedures, must be provisions to keep the people fully informed about what is happening with the people’s business at every stage. If the people know what is being done in their names, and why, before those in control embark on the project or programme, or whatever is about to take place – then it is much easier to get their support and understanding later down the road – especially if and when things did not work out as planned or expected. The ears and eyes and mouthpiece of any Government or organization that have to account to the public, in any democratic setup – must be the media in its various forms of publications. That does not mean the media personnel have to agree with or accept whatever is handed out by those in authority. But whether they are sympathetic to the powers-that-be or not, those in control must be prepared always to pass out the information, and leave it to the reporters to pass it on. And if the controllers make the disclosures before the rumours start circulating, from what-ever source – and better still, make themselves available at Ministerial levels on occasions, and other times through their fully briefed Press Officer – then questions can be asked and answered so that the true picture gets published in the press. It never ceases to baffle me – how it is, nor why it is, that those aiming to get onto the seats of power, while they are in the opposition their best friends and champion of their cause are always the media people – but no sooner the heights attained, they scorn or malign the very sources by which they did ascend. And to complete the cycle, no sooner they lose the power base, and cannot threaten the same media people with hell and damnation and whatever else – the dogs readily return to their vomit, and it is back to the same people to propaganda their cause. The current leader of the opposition and some of those around him, are classical examples of that level of hypocrisy and tomfoolery, in the name of politics and representation of the people. Of course, the majority of the electorate do not fall for that charade – but surprisingly a lot of them most certainly do. And that is why it is so crucial for those now occupying the seats of power, to keep the people fully informed about every turn of events now taking place – as well as full up-dates of what has been found in those corridors of power, in those records and minutes and accounts of the statutory bodies, that were staffed by party hawks and cronies and family members of the ousted regime. And it is also very important and of the utmost urgency, to take action against those whom the recorded evidence have shown were acting in their own personal and financial interest, and not that of the state and people. And that is of particular importance, so as to send out the very critical message to deter any new comer who may have the tendency, or may be tempted to think-that since those who went before helped themselves, and got away with it, then so can the new-comer. On the much broader front and in order to set and maintain standards that are applicable across the board to one and all – it is also very important to make examples of those who breached the public trust, and enriched themselves from the positions they held when they were supposed to be setting the standards as the elected leaders of the people. We have been seeing all kinds of lawless, and widespread criminal activities in the last twelve months or so, while those in authority for that very long period have been ravaging the country. If nothing is being done to bring the culprits to justice, how then can the pledge to ensure accountability, transparency and good governance be enforced and maintained. And what is being more disturbing – and goes to the very roots of fairness, and impartiality, and the enforcement of the law without fear or favour – is the crystal clear message, that the little man or woman can and would be arrested and charged for the most petty disturbance by comparison, while the big pappies are un-touchable for the most heinous offences. I will persist in maintaining, that those in control and with the authority CANNOT – in all conscience and very solemn responsibility – be seen or heard to be asking the little folks to make sacrifices and obey the laws of the land, while the bigger folks are seen to be getting away with all kinds of infractions and downright fraudulent activities. What is sauce for the goose must also be sauce for the gander – because the same set of circumstances cannot be right for the one group and wrong for the others. I can say no more. There is a trend of unlawful activities that are occurring around the country recently, that should be giving cause for serious concern to all and sundry – and not just the authority responsible. Some people are mis-behaving as though they have a licence to do wrong things, and they seem to be getting away with the mis-behavior. The Commissioner of Police (COP) has been trying to stem the tide, before it becomes a Tidal wave, and some people have been taking objections to his method of operation. I wish to caution those objectors that they may very well be sending the wrong message to the wrong types. The people did vote for change last July, to bring back a deeper sense of responsibility and due respect for Law and Order. Let us not get carried away by thinking anything and everything is ok. The loudest kind of message must be sent out – now that we are into this new era – and it must be done sooner rather than later.. There are a great surplus of idle hands and idle minds liming out there, and those have to be addressed with very clear messages. To-day is already late – next week will be much too late. By Lloyd Noel INSIDE GRENADA NEWS