By Lloyd Noel, Inside Grenada Columnist It has been very wisely said – that political action in any country proceeds at the pace that is permitted by the understanding of its citizens. And it is a sound political principle, that people must feel they are part of a system before they will subscribe to its moral values. And before people can feel they belong, they must feel that their Country guarantees them a chance for making a living wage and an opportunity to influence public affairs through political participation. By keeping the people informed, and ensuring that there is transparency in the operations and conduct of the people’s business – such involvement would be a conscious attempt to make people feel that they have a part to play in the decision-making processes of Government. Where the direct and conscious involvement of the people, by the powers-that-be, are not forthcoming – then those in the society who are sufficiently developed, and taken it upon themselves to realistically challenge the happenings in the public domain, that on the surface do not appear to be just and above board – they sometimes get branded as trouble makers, and rabble-rousers with selfish political agendas who are only bent on disrupting the status quo. Where there was no direct or conscious attempt to inform and involve the people, and those developed citizens challenge the happenings in the interest of the people as a whole – the resulting confrontations get muddled up and even more confusing, and in many cases the real issues get side-lined and the emphasis becomes mis-placed and loses the true intent. That unfortunate state of affairs, and loss of the deep-seated concern of genuinely motivated Grenadian nationals and patriots – came to the fore-front in the matter of the Camper and Nicholson activities at the Lagoon Basin yachting development in St. George’s . The Citizens in Defence of Grenada Lands and Heritage – who were questioning the whole scheme of what was taking place at the Lagoon Road Basin in St. George’s – they have been given all sorts of humiliating and negative brand names, because they dared to stand up and be counted. Those who are branding them seem only concerned about the so-called development of the area and the few jobs that will flow therefrom. They seem to have no care and concern for the well known and publicised empty Treasury – and the scarcity of moneys that are so desperately needed to provide the basic needs and services of our people. And for the next twenty odd years in the first instance, those same developers who actually borrowed the money from a local Bank to purchase the property – they are fully exempted from paying any taxes on the profits they would be making on the developed property. Whereas all Tom, Dick and Harry poor souls who are daily struggling to live in these Isles – they have to start banding their bellies to face the (15%) fifteen per cent VAT they all have to pay from February next year – even on the water they drink, or the Electricity they already paying how much for, and the medicine to keep them alive. And on their little houses and plots of land they also have to pay property Tax, and when they are late in paying, also additional interest and fines on top. Against that background, when I hear those who are complaining on the developers behalf – but keeping their ears and eyes tightly closed, and oblivious to the crying needs of the struggling thousands around the Country – it makes me wonder what is in the deal for them, to be so blinded and deafened to the realities of the true position and the detriment to our people. For a summary of the economic and financial facts, that are very relevant and revealing – and involving De Savary’s Port Louis and Camper and Nicholson Marina Project in the Lagoon Road Basin – I recommend the factual “Bits and Bytes” compiled by Sandra Ferguson, on behalf of Citizens in Defence if Grenada’s Land and Heritage of August 21st 2009. Another current topic that hit the headlines two weeks ago, but which was compiled and delivered to the Minister of Finance more than six months ago – is the corruption scandal at the St. George’s Port and Customs department. I had a number of calls from Concerned Citizens, since my comment appeared in Last Week’s “Grenada Today” on the said topic – and the cross-section of commentators, and their background and the basis from which they were expressing their concerns kind of surprised me, on the one hand; but on the other hand, it sort of jolted me into fully realizing that our people are becoming more and more consciously aware of the happenings taking place around them, and they are ready, willing and prepared to stand up and be counted – regardless of their political or party preferences. And as I reflected on what was said to me by one or two or three of the callers on the matter – and even more so on the deep-seated disapproval in the way they expressed their concerns to me – I could not help bringing my mind back to the 1973/74 days, when those of us returning from England and hearing from the St. David’s group in existence at the time, of what was taking place Island wide, how quickly and deeply we became involved in the political scenario that changed Grenada’s image Worldwide from then onwards. Of course things are no way as bad as what was taking place in Grenada in those days – but the decline has to start at some point, and the customs investigation and all the surrounding circumstances pertaining thereto tend to be pointing in that direction. And having brought my mind back to those stormy days, I got home the Friday evening only to hear the breaking news – that the last seven of those freedom fighters from the “Grenada Seventeen”, who were arrested in October/November, 1983, and convicted for the killings at the then “Fort Rupert” of Maurice Bishop and others – they were about to be released from Richmond Hill prison after nearly (26yrs.) Twenty-Six years behind bars. They were in fact released last Saturday a..m. (5th Sept.), and no doubt their relatives and loved ones and well wishers must be over-joyed. I have no doubts that some of the victims relatives of way back then, will still be feeling bitter and dis-enchanted.. I do not blame them as such, but I sincerely trust and hope they will find the room in their Hearts to forgive, to try and forget, to let go and let God. For what it is, or maybe worth, I can re-assure them that those of us who suffered from long periods of innocent imprisonment – even when their very loved ones were part and parcel of the same administration – most of us have long since forgiven them all, and we are and have been for years now, very much the better off for replacing hatred and bitterness with His Spiritual love and forgiveness. We cannot hope to receive tolerance and His forgiveness, if we are not prepared to forgive those who hurt us. And as though we are being challenged as a people to really test the depth of our awareness – in matters of serious public concern in different areas, and at various levels of the system – we also have another ants nest raising its head. The School Teacher and pupils alleged mis-conduct issue, that had also hit the headlines last week, may very well have turned out ugly, and seemingly un-ruly and confrontational between concerned citizens and the up-holders of law and order – if common sense, and wise and forthright good governance were not brought to bear to save the day. There is no doubt that the matter was badly handled by the powers-that-be, at both the level of the Ministry of Education and the Public Service Commission (PSC). Once the Social Services people had carried out their investigation and passed their report to the Ministry of Education, the next steps to be followed as laid down in the Education Act and Regulations were well known – and these did not come into force from July last year, they have been in operation for years now. And if anyone in those two very important arms of Government were not aware, or not sure of the next steps – the Attorney General’s Department was always there for legal advice to guide them. But it seems the Ministry passed the Report to the PSC, and that Body, without more, simply issued its instruction to Transfer the Teacher from the School to the Ministry. In other words, the PSC abdicated its responsibility to summon the Teacher to a hearing – where he would have had the opportunity to hear the case against him, put his case himself or with the assistance of a Lawyer – and the PSC and the Ministry could also have been legally represented – and at the end thereof a ruling is handed down. But it does not end there, because the Teacher or the Ministry could Appeal the ruling to the Public Service Board of Appeal. I served on the Board for two or three years, so I know the procedure is well known within the public service. No wonder someone suggested to me, that the failure to observe the procedure looks like sabotage from inside the system somewhere. Oh! Grenada , whither goest thou? From that fiasco, no sooner The Teacher’s Lawyer filed a case for Judical Review in the High Court – the PSC had to concede the error and deposit its Ruling in the rubbish dump where it belongs. And then to add gross insult to high-handed injury – the same PSC ordered that the Teacher be returned to the same school where the allegations originated. Like a wise guy – in a group of chaps I sometimes share a drink and a cook-up with in a local Bar would say – when issues like this come up for heated discussion – “Lord have his mercy on us all”. And goodness knows we need it badly. I sincerely hope the planned encounter did not turn out nasty – but whatever transpired near the School in St. George’s , the entire PSC body should submit their Resignation to the Powers-that-be with immediate effect, and make room for a brand new PSC to over-see the public service in the future. The Teacher himself, in his own self interest, should not want to return to that school – and should have asked for a Transfer in the Circumstances. And those with the responsibility in such an important, and very sensitive, and wide-ranging Ministry that have Grenada ’s future public servants and Leaders in every field – under their charge – they have a lot of damage repair to take care of.. Whatever may have been the outcome of last Monday’s planned demonstration – it is to be hoped that those in the Ministry of Education and the PSC would have learned from the experience to treat all concerned in such matters with more courtesy and consideration. The Board of Management of the School, the Principal, the parents of the children who attend the School, and the Teachers who have to go on working there – they were all treated with scant dis-regard by those in charge. And that is why the National Organisation of Women, and other concerned persons and groups who rose to the occasion – must be commended for their conscious awareness, and very prompt and forthright response to the whole charade. Grenada and its heritage belong to all of us, and if those of us on the way out – having traveled the road of life and in fairly comfortable living conditions on these Isles – do not, or are not prepared to stand up for what is right, regardless of who is doing wrong – the legacy we will leave behind us, will be of even lesser value than mere foot prints on the sands of time.