By Lloyd Noel Attorney at Law/ Political commentator In our Tri-Island State now-a-days, the topic everywhere one stops to greet another always seem to boil down at some point – to what is really happening in our Country in or around the political arena. And it is not coming from just people who are well known to be political agitators, but from people generally – and they are pointing out up front, that their interest and concerns are not because they are labeled NDC, or NNP, or GULP, or any PP, but simply because they are Grenadians who live here and want to go on living right here in peace, and in some measure of organised public administration and control of our nation’s affairs. The great majority go out of their way to point out – that they are not expecting miracles, in the form of new developments and other up and coming projects with jobs for the un-employed cropping up all over the Country. They admit up-front that these will take time to come on stream, and the funds for so doing are simply not readily available from any source. Those concerned persons agree that the Controllers did not find the monies in the Treasury, to go that extra mile and increase the assistance the old folks are getting – but they are un-happy with the methods used for reducing the number of persons who were receiving the extra assistance from the party offices, as well as some who were wrongfully taken off the official list. In the midst of that level of confusion, and in some cases mis-understanding, that could have been avoided if some more thought had been spent in planning the operations – the concerns are that those in authority had not taken the time out to go to the people and put the facts on the table so that they could understand. In the cases of the School Book programme and lately some issues to do with health – many agree that the Ministers concerned did take the time to up-date and inform the public – whereas in other areas of national interest, when the P.M. was saying one thing other Ministers were saying something else on the same matter. As one chap put it to me one lunchtime last week – it is not that the majority dislike the NDC as a party, or the individuals who hold Ministerial positions in Government, but they are concerned about results and accountability and transparency in the nations affairs. In other words people are hearing from Tom, Dick and Harry on the outside – but very little from those who have the responsibility on the inside. In politics generally, and in our brand especially, perception always take the first place when John Public has to choose. The foregoing is all about the general public and the nation’s affairs as a whole -but there are just as deep-rooted concerns among the party cadres and supporters, who were always there during the struggle and especially in the Campaign run-up to Elections in 2008. A whole lot of them feel left out in the cold and ignored, now that the first objective has been achieved. The majority in that category are not looking for position as such – they are concerned that the chaps in control seem to have forgotten, that without the “Xs” in Mama Can and Maran, and Chantimelle and Chantilly , they cannot regain the opportunity to serve for a second term to really do the many things they promised on the campaign trail. As one concerned person put it to me – that a Minister was heard to say he is working for the nation, and by implication not for the Constituency – so the follow-up comment was that he hoped the Nation would vote him back into office. And while the other Ministers may not be that silly to make such a comment in public – their actions and behaviour patterns in fact throw out such sentiments, or create such impression in their Constituencies. It seems like last week the whole nation, or most of the inhabitants, were celebrating the long-awaited victory – to bring some necessary changes to the system of Government, and improve the living standards of our people across the board. True enough the losers and their supporters were singing a different song, and crying down all manner of calamity on the new boys on the power controls – but that can be understood in the context of what obtained before. Yet nearly two years have gone by and things are not what were expected from the winners – and the noises and reactions coming out of the halls of power and authority, are not nearly re-assuring enough to cool down the rising heat or calm the nerves. And now-a-days the weeks and months are passing by so quickly, that the three years or so remaining will not be nearly time enough to change course, if that change is not seen and felt to be taking place as of yesterday. In other words, the timing and the tide that are necessary – to ensure that this ship of change be given another trip down the corridors of power, to make the promised differences that the majority voted for in July, 2008 – those two necessities cannot be left to the last stage of this term to be put in place to get the desired results. The party machinery must be up and running at all times, and the little people who will provide the foot work to get the message out when the time comes – these have to be carefully nurtured and maintained. We are hearing about “Gang of Four” “Second Cabinet”, dis-unity within the Corridors of Power, people with their personal agendas, which Minister supporting the P.M. or in favour of some other Minister to take over the controls of Leadership – and so on and so forth, week after week and continuing. On the very basic premise, that there is never ever smoke at the top without fire at the bottom; that things are not always what they seem and therefore appearances must be supported by solid foundations; and where and when statements or rumours so-called, are persistently being published on issues that are significant and far-reaching, to leave them hanging in mid-air with the hope that they will go away with the passage of time, is not the best or most prudent method for addressing them. Against the background of what has been taking place from about July last year, and the silence that has followed nearly every publication so far – the impression has been created that either there was no positive answer to refute the allegations, or it was better to let sleeping dogs lie down in peace in the background. And that manner of so dealing has definitely been proven to be mis-conceived, because the apparently sleeping animals have been waking up so regularly and embarrassing the Powers-that-be time and time again, that it must be obvious that the silent treatment is not the remedy for the disease. When the last issue surrounding the “Gang of Four” episode hit the headlines, the Finance Minister, Hon. Nazim Burke, who was acting P.M. at the time – did put out a statement in defence of freedom of expression within the Cabinet; and Senator & Trade Union Leader, Chester Humphrey, went to town with his own spin on the matter, and his concerns and pronouncements were well received. Whether or not any action is taking place behind the scenes, or inside the alleged “Second Cabinet” – I have no idea because I have no access to that group of elite persons. But it is my humble and sincere opinion, that there must be some movements on stream to try and address the very negative appearance, and absence of activity now surrounding those inside the corridors of power. And uppermost in that series of movements must be the very urgent re-organisation, or re-kindling, or resurrection of the party groups up and down the Country and in every Constituency. The dis-appointments, and the feelings of abandonment, and the impression of being slighted or forgotten since arriving at the top of the ladder of power – are everywhere to be found, so they cannot all be wrong or just wishful thinking. And to repeat the expressed sentiments for greater emphasis - the complaints and concerns are not because those in the driving seats are the objects of dislike or mis-trust, but because of the absence of delivery on promises – or that of adequate explanations for the delay in producing on those promises.