There can be no doubt whatsoever, that we need concrete solutions in the Social, Economic and Political spheres – so as to promote and bring about the dignity and fundamental rights of the human person. Whether we live in the Caribbean, North America, the Far East, or Europe – all the people CANNOT be equally endowed with all their needs, and the same levels of education and access to all the niceties of life. That is Utopia and would be a wonderful state of affairs – but it is ideally impracticable; and hence the search from time immemorial to try and create or fashion the next best alternative of trying to find concrete solutions to satisfy, as nearly as possible, man’s un-ending search for a better way of life, and his hope for a satisfactory standard of living. Ever since the abolition of slavery in the nineteenth Century – all manner of men and women have come forward with plans and grandiose ideas, and seemingly sound solutions to help bring about that long sought – after transformation. Many have succeeded in some measure, and their achievements have lived on in the memories of those who benefitted. Many others have failed for one reason or another, and just as many who started off on the right track and were readily accepted by their people – they seemed to have “turned tail” as it were, and ended up in disgrace. I have no doubt, that in a world census taken in any country to-day, the great majority would agree – that the change that took place in the U.S.A. on the 4th November, 2008 and the 20th January, 2009, is the most fundamental and far-reaching achievement by any people, in peace and national acclaim in the Global Village. How it will work out for the people of the U.S.A. , and the free world where so many look to that country for leadership and guidance – only time and the good Lord’s Blessings will tell us in due course. Here at home in our Spice Isles, we are no where nearly in the same league – but for those of us who live on this rock, the many more in the wider world who owe their first breath of life to little Grenada, and the descendants of those who care and take an interest in what is happening in the homeland – what we do, how we do it, and why we do whatever is chosen to be done, is very, very, important to us all. For our tiny-tot size, and less than a century population – no one can dispute that we have had much more publicity, and worldwide attention on what has been happening within our shores- than all our neighbours in Caricom as a whole, and in major countries across the globe. And coming out of our revolution, Intervention by the Mighty U.S. Army and Air Force, Civil War Trials and convictions for the killing of the Prime Minister and some Ministers and other Civilians, and the recent celebrations for thirty-five years of so-called Independence – we could very well be facing another set of cross-roads with significant consequences. And the consequences that will follow would depend on how we approach the crossroads and issues imbedded therein, as well as the quality and loyalty of those whose hands will be employed, in actually implementing the solutions for solving the issues – so as to bring about the dignity and fundamental rights of the human person. And that is why I pose the question at the top of the article – are the right hands on board? In any society now-a-days, the two main groups of the population that always surface for special attention by those in authority- are the youths and the older folks. And it is not because the group in the middle are not important, or do not have needs – but mainly because the youths and old folks are more vulnerable, and exposed to abuses and injustices that they are incapable of handling or coping with on their own, so they deserve special attention. It is also good sense, sound management, and well placed gratitude and appreciation – to take special care and control of the youths to prepare them for worthwhile and productive adulthood; and after they have given their services and labour as adults for the good and welfare of the society as a whole – to show appreciation and reward them when they can no longer labour in the vineyard. I have been approached by many youths and their parents on their behalf, as well as many older folks and some relatives on those folks behalf- who are all complaining about the treatment they received and are receiving from those in control and authority at state level. Now it goes without my saying so – that the Ministers of Government in the various Ministers are not the persons who inter-face on a daily basis with youths and old folks; but whatever is done, or not done properly, or fairly, or with a sense of compassion and understanding, so that the victim feels hurt and badly treated as a result – the head that wears the crown (the Minister) has to shoulder the blame and accept responsibility. And that is the crucial reason why those concerned have to be particularly careful about choosing who they put in those critical positions, and more so what are the background of those they inherit in those positions before deciding to keep them there. The complainants are very vocal and embittered by the treatment meted out to them, on the one hand, and the manner and methods used in so doing, on the other hand. Naturally, the very first bone of contention is that they are being victimized because they are presumed to be NNPites – but many are claiming that they infact supported NDC - so the political bias is not all there. Strange enough, in both cases statements were made during the campaign – that the IMANI Programme would have been continued after the election, and the Pension or National Assistance would have been increased considerably. The IMANI scheme was ceased after five months, and what was proposed to replace it would reduce the stipend promised by half of what obtained before. In the case of the old folks – the methods used for re-registering the applicants left a whole lot to be desired, and after the exercise was completed, apparently nothing was told to anyone – so they all were turning up at the local Post office only to discover that their names have been removed from the list of Payees, or that the sum to be paid had been cut by half in some cases, because they were only getting the NIS or the pension payment – not both – and no national assistance as such. Many on-lookers had suspected that the increase in the number of Imani youths in the scheme, as well as the increase in the stipend; and the increase in the number of persons receiving the national assistance, in the year of the pending Elections, were all politically motivated in the hope of favouring the NNP then in power. And more so, even the ex-minister of finance, Mr. Anthony Boatswain, had publicly stated after the Elections – that the list of old age pensioners had to be cleaned up because it was being abused. So there were reasons to make amends and change some rules in the operations of both programmes. But often times, it is not what you do or why, but how you do it and more so how it is conveyed. As things stand, after seven months of the hue and cry for change, with the resounding chorus of “yes we can” borrowed from the Obama Presidential campaign – and the tremendous success in both cases – the popular winners of the July eighth Polls, are in the dog houses of those two very important sectors of the society. Something has to be done – the situation cannot and must not be left un-attended, in the forlorn hope that the complaints would simply be blown away in the wind of change. That wind has already completed its mission, and disappeared in the atmosphere of political reality – where the concept of right and wrong, in the context of bread and butter issues, would always assume very different yardsticks for judging human reactions in cases of need, and poverty, and deprivation. In those short seven months, the new captain and his crew of ten sailors on the ship of change, have had the experience of national events with Carnival, Thanksgiving, Budget, Christmas and the latest Independence 35th Anniversary. No sooner the Carriacou Carnival gone through and Easter dawn on us – we would be vigorously looking forward to and planning the first Anniversary of change in July. The point being, that time is fastly running out and the mood and goodwill of all sectors of the society – young, not so young, and older folks – will soon be in demand once more. What is done to satisfy their needs, and more importantly how it is being done – will remain in their minds to help channel their decisions when “D – day” comes along again – one way or the other. The forces out there who lost control of the “Gravy Train” from which they made millions by adopting corrupt practices for years – they are not taking the defeat lying down and giving up, they are on the go day and night trying to undermine those now in control – and they have inside contacts. Many of those on the pay roll of the Government are not Civil Servants, but Party Servants who continue to faithfully serve the ousted party – because they too benefitted financially. The defeated party was able to hand out assistance from the party leaders coffers – from the millions they received in those crooked deals. Readers were shown one letter from some crooks in the oil deal, who were threatening one minister with court action – over a Two million payout that was not accounted for. And slowly coming out of the rubbish dump of rotten deals, is another payment of some Fourteen Million dollars, in which the documents were signed on behalf of the Government on the very day (8th July) of the Elections. Some of those “Public Servants” who were around in those days are still around to-day, and the suspicion is they are providing Party Service. Hence my call to those in control – to check the hands of those on board the ship of state. There are so many ways that can be employed, to sabotage the orderly provision of services to the youths and elderly in need – that those in control must adopt a hands-on approach and not simply leave the implementation to their Ministry staff at all times. Bold and forthright measures must be adopted by the powers that be, to make the change that the people voted for a reality. It cannot be the same worn out old practices in operation all over again. Action must be taken – and the people must be informed of what is being done to remedy the wrongs that too many are complaining about. By Lloyd Noel INSIDE GRENADA NEWS