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All of us are hurt by the bad actions of a few

May 01, 2012 Letters

 

DEAR EDITOR,
As we continue the process of building this nation, which includes holding politicians accountable, time must be taken to commend the opposition for taking constructive and strident positions in protecting it from the continuous assault by an elected few.
During the Budget presentations, there has been one revelation after another highlighting the abuse of our tax dollars by those given the privilege to govern.  They have abused our trust and have done untold damage to this country under the guise of public service.
The continuous double-dipping, employment of ex-ministers, political allies and cohorts at salaries and benefits that cannot be justified is very disturbing. The proposals to secure money in the absence of credible justification and respect for the rights of the collective are damning. Clearly, this government has run amok with our tax dollars to enter into and sustain lifestyles that defy decency. These moneys could have gone towards employment for the ordinary man and woman; increase public servants and teachers’ wages/salaries; improve health care, education, utilities, services and other infrastructural development.
Evidently this is a matter of rampant plundering and exploitation of our resources and this economic tyranny has over the years been masked by instigated divisions along racial and class lines. On one hand, racism becomes the pretext to engage in acts of ‘payback time’ which witnesses the economic alienation and destruction of the racial other. On the other hand, classism becomes the pretext for self-satisfaction why leaders deserve a better quality of life than their rank and file supporters living in economic deprivation. And as the propaganda machineries churn out their messages of falsification to galvanise support and sustain suspicion/dislike among groups, the political leaders escape accountability.
The application of classism and racism to maintain power and discrimination today reveals an economic plundering that leaves many speechless. It confirms that the time is now for us to openly confront and address these destructive policies that have further divided this nation, escalate conflicts, and undermine peaceful co-existence and equitable development.
The watchdog role of the opposition on the executive can go a far way in welding this nation together, as the government is held accountable to manage consistent with our Constitution, halt the abuses of our resources, and govern in the interest of all. The executive also has a self-fulfilling role to uphold their Oath of Office and govern in the interest of all, even as they hold the opposition accountable to the said standards. Collectively, the politicians can police themselves, those within their group and the general citizenry. The citizenry too have a role to hold all politicians accountable as they equally hold us and we so hold ourselves.
It is to our collective wellbeing when a wrong is committed that it is seen and called for what is. An unchecked wrong by one poses a threat of this wrong spreading and becoming cancerous which eventually consumes and destroys the entire body, our entire life. We are at this stage today in so far that the government has been allowed to plunder and exploit our resources on the backs of workers.  All of us are hurt by the bad actions of a few, and collectively, we must change course for the betterment of this nation and its people.
Lincoln Lewis

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