Development of the whole human being has been said to be as important as achieving World peace among all people and races and religions. And development in that context must mean, not just providing man’s material needs of food and housing and jobs – although these are of the greatest importance worldwide. It must also mean the development of the whole man/woman, because that person is more valuable for what he/she is than for what he has or does. One of the main pillars of our development in the Caribbean region, and most of the third World countries so-called, has been the widespread interest in Education with the emphasis on schools and colleges and other places of learning, of different skills and trades and means for earning a living. Our Colonial masters did make some effort in that field, and the religious organizations - especially the Catholics and Anglicans – did a good job as they went about spreading their wings as it were. But after all those years since the end of about the second World war in which our Caribbean people did play some part in supporting the British empire, and later on in providing valuable labour across the Americas – the big and disturbing question is now facing us all for answers. What sort of education was given to our people, or taken in by those who benefitted from the system as a whole? Was that education geared to encourage narrow-minded and selfish individuals, racing to acquire honours and possessions, and blindly accepting the old system. Or did that Education try to form and fashion new men/women, critically aware of the needs around them, and eager to search and help build a new and better World environment for all to enjoy? I suppose those questions can be debated and argued about for days un-ending – depending on which side of the multi-sided fence one is coming from or defending. In our little neck of the woods in these Isles, I heard a news item a week or so ago, that our educational standard in Grenada was among the lowest in the region; and that set me thinking back at the many brilliant sons and daughters these Spice isles have produced and pondering to myself – where have they all gone to, and what have they left behind as a legacy for others to inherit. There is absolutely no doubt – that our narrow-minded political outlook, or behaviour patterns, or selfish attitudes and personal greed, have all contributed to bringing and keeping us where we are to-day. And when we take some time to look back at the power madness, that have infected most of our Leaders since the very early nineteen fifties, and continued un-abated up to the present times – then we have the full answer in a nutshell. Against that background and historical outlook, as I listened to the words of wisdom and intellectual humility – coming from Pres. Obama, in his speech or pleadings to the Muslim, and Islam, and Arab, and Christian peoples Worldwide, in that legendary and historical city of Cairo in Egypt of all places – I could not help wishing we had one or two, or a few more like him scattered around the globe, and even more so in our region and here at home. And since Egypt featured so much in the Good Book from way back when, and so very long before the Jews and the Gentiles of those times ever heard of any place called America; and recognising the power of the same America that President Obama is now privileged to lead – it was even more significant that his pleas for World peace, and tolerance and understanding, and good will among all peoples so that all can share in a better life on the same earth that now produces all our needs – should have been made in that ancient city of biblical history that still matters so much in these modern times. But having said the above – it was also interesting and somehow forcefully reminding those listening, that no matter how many positive steps the very new President boldly embark upon, in fulfillment of his promised campaign pledge – to bring about the necessary changes, that can propel people of different races, and faiths, and customs to renounce their negative attitudes of “no we won’t”, and replace it with the very positive “yes we can” – that there are significant numbers of doubting Thomases, who either want to see the positive steps fail because President Obama is who he is, or because they have some special interests to satisfy, regardless of the resulting consequences. A very sad pity indeed. Despite those doubters, however, who were looking beneath or behind every word that the President was uttering, to his very attentive listeners in Cairo or Worldwide on global T/V, it was also very heartening to hear sections of the audience in that far-away Egyptian building – echoing the now famous American chant of “yes we can”, to so many of his proposals. With so many issues of World-shattering proportions, all coming together to confront an already deflated population in Countries across the global village – we need much more than our fair share of good luck to face up to them, to struggle against the odds and to be able to survive. And in so doing we need a united front and very sound leadership proposals at all levels. This is very key to the way forward at this time in the region, but even more so in the respective Island states or individual Countries that make up the Block – and that is because, whatever it maybe pertaining to, charity must begin at home. In our case here in the Tri-Island State, regardless of all the nice-sounding phrases from those at the top of the table, or the glib assurances that the team is truly operating as a united team on all fronts, and the leadership structure is firmly in place and functioning as such – the rank and file, and the people who have to function under the system for the good and welfare of the society as a whole, they are not satisfied or convinced that this is so. And there is absolutely no doubt, that the signs and the happenings, and the utterances coming out of the inner circle – as well as the general feelings in the atmosphere, as one moves around and picks up the odd comments and the vibes on the liming blocks on the roadside, and from the scholars in the rum bars, that all is not well within the bastion of power at the upper level, and that those who put their necks on the chopping blocks in the upward struggle to achieve control – they are feeling the pinch as it were, and having to cover their red faces because they cannot face the let down. What all the foregoing is in fact saying is that those in the driving seats, whether they realise it or not, they have taken the wrong road or the left turn rather than the right turn – and they have to seriously check out their individual political compases, before they get too far, or they have gone too far down the wrong road to make a turn around. We are seeing parties and Governments within Caricom reviewing their set up, moving around their Ministers, and inviting persons with the experience and expertise to meet with them to share ideas and chant a new course. All in the name of good Government for the betterment of the society as a whole. To-date we are not hearing of such moves here at home and time is running out. It is well known that things are not what we all would like them to be, and in most of the cases where the situation is up-side down as it were – that state of affairs was inherited from the outgoing controllers, and had been in that state for years, so the expectation is not for immediate or quick-fix solutions. But at least people who voted for change want to see or hear what is being done, or is happening, or is planned to bring about the change. We were told at the Airport renaming last month-end, that the Committee which was put in place to organize and bring about the renaming exercise – that took place in February this year, and it was fully accomplished in three months. It makes one wonder aloud, whether the indecent haste to achieve that goal with such speed – was not partially responsible for the sudden departure of the Chairman o the Airport Authority Board, Mr. Andre Cherman, who is a very prominent and no-nonsense business-man of long-standing Hotel Management fame. Whatever maybe the historical significance or benefit to our Country and people – from that remaining exercise with such speed and efficiency – the burning questions which concern the lives and livelihood of our people in most walks of life, they remain burning away but with no visible or audible signs or plans to put out the blazes or answer the questions in any specific time frame. I heard on the news last week that the P.M. would be going to China after all, and assume that his health concerns have been taken care of. We may not be told now, but I expect the trip and the expected dialogue with his Chinese counterpart will be centered around the Taiwanese Exim Bank debt that is long overdue and owing, as well as the Chinese promise to repair the sporting facility sections of the Stadium that was damaged by Ivan in 2004. That was part of the deal along with the Cricket Stadium, for throwing out Taiwan and embracing Communist China. Grenada is due to host the next Carifta games in 2010/11, so the new facility is a priority. Where we going, and or how we hope or plan to get there, and how soon – these remain the talking points as we approach the first anniversary in less than one month away. By Lloyd Noel (Attorney-at-law) Inside Grenada News