By Lloyd Noel, Inside Grenada columnist Throughout history we have seen countless examples of persons who have used and abused power for their own purposes, rather than for the purposes of the Social group and the society as a whole. The mis-use and abuse of power have taken place in so many different countries, with very different outlooks and customs and religious beliefs and backgrounds – that it can be truthfully said that the bad practice is universal. But there is a strange difference between the power that derives from taking over Government and control of a country and its people, by force of arms and Revolution – and the power gained from winning Elections and remaining in control and authority for much too long. That is why, for example, the great majority of persons I have spoken with on the matter agree with my view that the United States of America system of two terms maximum for a president – is a much better system of protection against mis-use and abuse of power from being too long in control, than our Commonwealth of Nations unlimited duration of a Prime Minister in office. The difference referred to above centers around the patterns of behavior of a revolutionary Prime Minister, as opposed to that of a democratically elected Prime Minister. In most cases involving a Revolution leader the emphasis is on keeping the people in check – or as was said in Grenada during the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) days “under heavy manners”. In other words, freedom of speech and public gathering, and movement in certain areas were not allowed – and once any of these were breached, or even suspected of such breach, then up the Hill you go from the signing of a Detention Order by the Prime Minister, with no charge or trial to defend yourself. In the cases of an Elected Prime minister, and especially after he has been in that position for two terms and over, the power built up over those years and the temptation that usually crops up with such power – becomes for many too strong to resist, and they mis-use and abuse that power for their own financial benefits, and that of their Cronies and supporters to the detriment of the public in general. Sadly for us in these Isles, we have had the bitter experiences of both types, dating back from the colonial days of 1951 up to independence in 1974; from the very popular Revolution of March 1979, up to its self destruction in October, 1983; and because of the much too long occupation of the seat of power, by one party and the same Leader from 1995 to 2008, what started off as very beneficial and welcome in the earlier years to win a third term in office he later fell prey to the evils of temptation from controlling power for too long, and was very popularly dismissed and replaced by a huge majority in July 2008. Now we have the former controllers of power and authority for all those years – sitting on the side benches in opposition to the new controllers. And because of the parliamentary democracy we have adopted from our Colonial masters from way back – and which system we pretend to follow, or hail as the greatest as and when it suits us – those who not so long ago committed all kinds of wrong doing, and even grossly fraudulent and bubul activities with the people’s patrimony and treasury funds, they are now-a-days raising hell and high tide with the new-comers, for the most trivial short-comings by any standard of comparison with the mis-deeds of yester-year. But as the pundits would say- they are exercising their rights and performing their duties as Her Majesty’s (Head of State) loyal opposition, under our system of parliamentary Democracy as laid down in our constitution, And by the way, all the wrong doings those oppositions elements were alleged to have committed while controlling state power on behalf of the people – all remain in tact as existed before. What set me thinking, however, about the foregoing state of affairs as they have affected our people over the years, and will no doubt continue so to do for many more down the road – was the interview of Dr. Terrance Marryshow on television last week, on the occasion of the release from prison of the last seven of the “Richmond Hill Seventeen” who were convicted for the Fort Rupert Killings back in October, 1983 – when the Revolution destroyed itself. For the whole generation of the past twenty-six years, and those who were very young for the four and a half years of the Revolution (March 1979 to October 1983) and therefore know nothing of the happenings in those years, that kept our people in bondage at the Richmond hill prison, at the Hope vale Camp, and even on the outside in their very homes and villages – those listening to the goodly Doctor could quite easily have imagined that he was talking about Saints versus Sinners headed by Satan himself. He very glowingly described the achievements of the late Prime Minister (Bishop) and how the people loved and wanted their leader, but rejected the seventeen headed by the deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard. And the way he put it across, those who did not know better would believe that the struggle for leadership was in existence from day one of the revolution – and simply culminated in chaos and massacre on the 19th October 1983, at fort Rupert. What is even more disturbing, was the medical Doctor’s convenient loss of memory of all that transpired in the years from March, 1979, up to about August, 1983, when the evils of the same glorious revolutionary leader and his cohorts – began to catch up with all of them - and eventually destroyed their evil system to bring freedom to the people and state of Grenada and its dependencies. And as though he is still labouring under the pangs of delusion – even though those last seven had spent twenty-six years behind bars, as payment of the penalty his very heroic ones should have paid for their crimes against the people and the state, - he was bemoaning their early release from prison because he felt they should have remained there for the rest of their natural lives. In looking at the two types of leadership that mis-use and abuse power for their own benefits, or for the insane satisfaction of some ideology or religion - we often times encounter followers who fail to see, or simply CANNOT see, anything remiss about those leaders actions and omissions that deprived thousands of their rights and properties and freedoms – and even their lives in many cases. When those followers are folks who were brain-washed by those clever leaders, or who benefited financially and gained material goods that raised their standing in the society – one can some how sympathise with their un-dying loyalty and readiness to defend the dis-honesty and the madness of those leaders. But when the likes of Dr. Marryshow, after all those years, and knowing very well what was infact happening during the very deceptive period of the Revolution, and what actually took place on that fateful day in October, 1983 – still persist in repeating the kinds of statements he made in that Television interview, it leaves us all to deeply implore the Almighty to truly bring healing to our troubled isles. The re-assuring consolation surrounding the whole episode – is that having spoken with the last seven who were recently released from prison, as well as those who came out before, they were all making the same or similar comments from their experiences as they met people or move about the place – and that was they encountered no hostility, or threatening remarks, or any form of rejection. At least the ordinary folks are showing that they understand the scenario, or they are prepared to let the pass remain behind us and keep on looking ahead to better days and more honest and conscientious leadership. True enough, we have to know about and understand the past, to fully appreciate and acknowledge what we have at present – and to be able to plan and prepare for wherever we are heading in the future. But we do not have to pretend to be living in the past, or to behave as though what went on before was the answer for all ages. The other breaking news concerning the teacher and students affair, and the Ministry and Public Service Commission and the School- the demonstration mounted by concerned citizens went over peacefully and the Teacher quite rightly did not show up for the opening. There has been so much talking about the matter that it has became quite confusing – and I am not sure John public know exactly where it stands now, nor who is doing what – but the Public Service Commission remains in tact and the School Management board has decided to take a stand on its own. With the prisoners release and the Teacher’s drama taking the limelight, all other issues seemed to be in the background for the time being. But allegations of the continuous discoveries of bubul spending, and fraudulent profiteering by many of those who supported the Power – Barons in their last days in control – are again coming to light with shocking revelations of the millions that went into private Bank accounts from the people’s Treasury. Yet the questions from the people struggling to make ends meet all over the place – remain un-answered. What is being done about all those allegations, and how long must the public wait for answers? And what is causing as much concern, is the bravado by the deposed lot now in opposition – who are going up and down the country parading as though those now in control are the real culprits, and they should be blamed for the current hardships. And it is precisely because of that line of action by the opposition elements – that the powers-that-be have to be more pro-active in disclosing their findings and keeping the people informed on all fronts. It cannot be repeated too often, that the involvement of the people – by providing them with relevant and topical information that touches and concerns the affairs of Government, so as to enable them to share in the decision – making process – that mode of operation is the best way to prepare them to answer and respond to the negative statements and propaganda from the opposition. The holiday crowds and re-union visitors have all gone back to their respective homes over seas – and the friends and loved ones back here are left to carry on with the struggle and try to make ends meet as best they can. The prospects for those having left school with all their many successes – are no better now than a year ago, and for those who want to carry on studying, the financial outlay is daunting, to say the least. In all those circumstances, to be saying or doing nothing about the mis-use and abuse of power – that resulted in millions of the people’s resources going into the selected few persons private coffers – that state of affairs could become un-pardonable as time goes by.