A religious Leader in Rome , addressing the issue of fair and equal Treatment for all – once put it this way ----“within a Country which belongs to each one, all should be equal before the law, find equal admittance to economic, cultural, civil and social life, and benefit from a fair sharing of the nation’s riches”. To ensure that the above principles are in place, it will be the chief concern of the Government of the day to set the example by putting them into effect in the public sector, and especially in the area of employment in the various branches of Government services. No one should expect the Government to employ all its supporters or party members – that is just not possible, and would be grossly unfair even if it could be done. Over the decades since our Independence , and the beginning of party politics to service our Parliamentary democracy – we know that the trend had been to look after the party members and hangers-on first, and it has become so much a major part and parcel of the on-going politics that it is now the accepted norm. But the strange and hilarious fall out from that so-called norm – is that once the old guard has been changed and the new controllers take over the reins of power and authority – the same old ones who had been benefitting from the very unfair and one sided system for years, and saw nothing wrong with it, and in fact praised and hailed the then leaders as saviours of the people – they are the very first ones to complain and lambaste the new controllers for looking after their own. What is even more disturbing – is that those who are now crying foul play about all and sundry, they don’t truly bother to get the facts straight – they just pick up a few words and off they go spreading the false propaganda like a new brand of margarine. Despite the above, however, I am of the very firm opinion – that if as a people we truly and sincerely want to change the bad and deteriorating system, and set new standards and build solid pathways for those coming after to follow – then we are duty-bound not just to throw out nice-sounding phrases and platitudes at public gatherings, but to seriously and conscientiously do as promised and be seen to be so doing. Last week Friday (8th May) was exactly ten months since the majority of our people voted to change the thirteen –years old NNP Government of Dr. Keith Mitchell, and replace that regime with the new NDC Government of Mr. Tillman Thomas, Barrister-at-Law. The vote was over whelming – in that the new Controllers have a very comfortable majority of Eleven (11) seats against four (4) in opposition; whereas the last regime of the NNP barely won the 2003 Elections eight seats to seven – with about 7 to 10 votes separating Nimrod and George Prime in Carriacou in that Election. Regardless of who cares to say whatever in the matter – it is the generally accepted position, that without Tillman Thomas as the Leader of the new-look NDC in 2008, that party could not have won the Election. But if people of any shades of opinion are prepared to be frank and candid, none can doubt that for nearly all of those Ten months – the hue and cry have been, who is leading who or what in the new set up. And may I add up front, that in the great majority of instances in situations like this leadership issue – perception, that is how people see or perceive the happenings, is of much deeper significance than anything else. In all the Islands of the Caricom Region, whenever there is any issue of National importance that touches and concerns the people as a whole – the Leader of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Primus Inter pares, i.e. the first among equals, the only person under our Constitution who has the sole responsibility and full authority to appoint and remove any Minister, that person always appear before the nation and address the people on the issue.. Not so here in our very different and laid-back Tri- Island State – and the burning question is , why not? True enough that each Minister is responsible for the day by day operations of his/her Ministry – firstly to the Prime Minister who appointed him/her to the position, and secondly to the people as a whole. But no Minister has the authority to go public on matters of national importance – before the Prime Minister has addressed the nation as the Leader of the Pack. And that has been happening far too often, hence the big question mark. It happened with the Lewis Hamilton/Grand Beach Resort Hotel issue in Grand Anse; it happened with the Capital Bank/ECCB/Finton De Bourg matter; it happened with the Maurice Bishop International Airport issue; it is on-going with the Swine Flu and Mexican Scholarship of Grenadian Students issue; it happened with the Free School Books issue; it happened with the Pension and national Assistance to old folks issue, and the Imani programme for young persons financial assistance. Are all these just pure and simple Ministerial issues? I heard and saw the P.M. on T/V recently, attempting to defend what he described as wild rumours circulating about division at the Leadership level of the party, and by logical extension the Cabinet and Government of the people. It was very obvious, therefore, that the so-called wild rumours had ascended the lofty steps, and entered the Cabinet of Ministers secret enclave where the occupants share collective responsibility for any decisions taken, and for statements made by any of them as a result thereof. But whatever the true position now existing – it must have troubled those concerned, to the extent that the Prime Minister and his colleagues saw it fit for him to address the nation to try and cool the rumours. Yet when those so-called rumours start circulating, other above board and quite genuine decisions and occurrencies often times get caught up in the mellee and dis-colour normally clear waters. I had no idea up to last Friday afternoon, that the Prime Minister was due to travel to Mainland China on an official visit to dialogue with the Chinese Leaders. But some chaps confronted me on my way home from St. George’s that afternoon, and their concern was that the Prime Minister trip to China had been cancelled, and some other Minister would be going in his place, and that was because the P.M’s colleagues felt he would be getting the Chinese acclaim and gaining popularity, so the trip by him was cancelled for another colleague to take his place – because those others are closer to the Chinese Leaders. It was only when listening to the T/V news later that night, I saw the P.M. explaining that his trip was cancelled on the advice of his doctor – because of the long distance to travel to Beijing . So you see where the perception is leading us as a people? On the other hand, the late uncle Eric Gairy used to say – that when other people’s political house is on fire, or is even threatened by political fire that may consume his brand of politics – he had to start wetting or consolidating his political empire against possible attack, He did with his Green Beasts and Mongoose gang – but in the long run they failed and he was over thrown. I therefore prefer to heed the old people saying – that where you see or smell smoke, or feel the slightest heat, then dig deeper and deeper – the fire maybe just under. The kind and type and credibility of those persons who are expressing serious concerns – some of which are being classified as wild rumours or rumour-mongering – they are not in the business to gain favours or secure any special position for climbing the social ladder. They have succeeded in their particular fields, and are quite comfortable and satisfied with their achievements. It maybe said that they are interested in protecting their hard-earned little patch – but there is nothing wrong with that approach, after one has worked hard in the vineyard and has been honestly rewarded for his labours. I am therefore of the considered opinion, that those persons in that bracket are genuinely concerned – and feel strongly that the Captain of the ship of state is not fully in control, or the first and foremost among equals. If my opinion is wrong, mis-guided or ill-conceived, then I am just as happy and will be fully prepared to admit my mis-conception and way out conclusion. Grenada belongs to all of us who live on this little rock, and God knows we have paid dearly for the pleasure and privilege of so doing. The Government was elected by the people, for the people, to serve and satisfy the needs and aspirations of the people. There are no substitutes, or limitations, or qualifications, to modify that very principled and accepted very normal and universal democratic position. We should settle for nothing less. The continuing very disturbed state of affairs surrounding the Cap Bank situation is causing a whole lot of little depositors serious hardships, and the powers-that-be are almost mute, while shielding behind the non-functioning legal system that is almost at a stand still. I am reliably informed that there is a new proposal coming on stream, that could pave the way for an amicable resolution of this lingering conflict of interest.. I very sincerely hope, that when it is put forward by those who have been bearing the brunt of the attacks by all and sundry – the powers-that-be will stop playing games-manship with the depositors savings and let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes it makes one wonder who is protecting who – in this very shady conflict interest state of affairs, and it certainly does not look very transparent and above board, for those involved who have been wearing very different and compromising shades of head gear. It is only and precisely because of those serious contradictions, and breaches of everyday run of the mill self interests – that I have some measure of sympathy and understanding for those persons who closed their eyes, and their minds, and their conscientious levels of understanding - when they were the beneficiaries of wrong doing; but suddenly have all systems functioning quite normally, because the boot is on the other persons foot. A case of who is feeling the heat. We cannot, and must not be seen or presumed to be operating on that level. If it was wrong when jack was in the driving seat – it cannot become right when Jones, or Harry or Mary is in control. The right alone is right, the wrong is always wrong – regardless of whom the wrong-doer may be, or the level and the circumstances of the wrong-doing. By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law) INSIDE GRENADA NEWS