As this Government is all set to account to the public about its achievements over the past year, it is hoped that there will be no resort to the gimmickry of the past regime that used unnecessarily expensive public relations campaigns to ramp up its performance. In those days, the public was constantly bombarded with huge coloured advertisements in which ministers boasted about all their accomplishments, which in reality were gross exaggerations of truth. Ministers back then refused to accept responsibility for their obvious missteps and accountability and transparency were not the hallmarks of their operation. The majority of ministers who sat in the former Cabinet believed themselves invincible and it would not be surprising to learn that some never fully recovered when they lost office and returned to the world of living as ordinary human beings. There is no sympathy for those who paraded in their ivory towers and refused to understand the plight of those they governed. Some displayed such arrogance that it was easy to believe that, adapting the words of a popular song, "they would catch colds, from the ice within their souls." It was an unacceptable existence for a nation that desired to maximise its fullest potential in a healthy environment.
Afraid to speak
Back then, the citizenry felt hard-pressed to openly object to the unapologetic squandering of funds because of the fear of victimisation and adverse repercussion that would follow from openly criticising the government. Some worried that the freedom of expression was slowly being chiselled away and a great onus was placed on the shoulders of those who were brave enough to fight for what was right.
The patriotic members of the public who felt silenced, depended on the then opposition, now government, to defend their interests and to expose the unapologetic wastage of funds by the past regime. The opposition at the time performed with distinction and the Parliament was used as a forum to force the former regime to explain its many acts of naked impropriety. During many debates in the Parliament, members of the government were warned that the political climate was such that it was only a matter of time before they switched places with the opposition. And so said, so done. The electoral dice were rolled and the rest is recent history.
Changing times
It is generally accepted that the previous government spent much of its time misleading the public and engaged in corrupt activities and practices that eventually led to its shameful and embarrass- ing defeat in the last general election. It was rightly felt that there was not only a need for change but, more importantly, an opportunity for something different to paint the political canvass and so, quite readily, the electorate warmly embraced the chance to rise above the doom and gloom and walk confidently alongside leaders who promised to take them from the land of squalor into the land of hope and glory.
One year later, the question to be determined is whether the country is actually moving in the right direction.
Necessary intervention
It is no easy task managing the strong personalities of individuals who comprise a coalition government and the Prime Minister has had on numerous occasions to intervene in order to restore a level of calm and facilitate resolution. The recent destruction of crops on agricultural lands designated for housing is a classic example of the leader being placed in the unenviable position of having to resolve a conflict that could have been avoided if better handled by the relevant parties. The suggestion made by the Prime Minister acknowledging that perhaps the matter should have been sorted out differently and that the method used and timing of the crop destruction may not have been the best, is a clear indication that some level of wrongdoing was admitted. The Prime Minister chose her words carefully and understandably so because care had to be taken that the right message was sent and that the scales were not tipped unfairly in favour of either of the competing interests. That the Prime Minister should have been placed in this position is unfortunate, especially when the month of May carries such significant polietical importance for her and her party.
Judging them
How readily will the discerning public appreciate the strides made by this Government when there has been what appears to be fiasco after fiasco, and apparently political lessons not being learnt? As stated before, this regime, in many ways, inherited a den of horrors created by the last regime. But this Government is the beneficiary of a wealth of goodwill from people who regard it as saving the nation from impending doom. The Prime Minister is regarded by many as a fairy godmother who, with the wave of her magical wand, can wipe all their problems away. But in the real world, no problem allowed to reach alarming proportions goes away overnight. The public has to be satisfied that there are systems in place to address their concerns and that timelines are set for much anticipated results. Success is the key and there is little room for incompetence and unforced errors.
E-mail reviews
Performance assessments of individuals usually cause a level of anxiety and nervousness and understandably so when the stakes are high. But this Government should have no problem being subjected to objective and independent assessment bearing in mind that during the election campaign last year it spoke about constitutional reform to allow recall of non-performing representatives. In fact, one current Cabinet member, who said he never had political aspirations, although many knew otherwise, promoted the idea that the representatives in Parliament should be subject to public scrutiny and accountability. I am therefore confident that he will endorse my initiative to encourage citizens to rate the performance of this Government and the Opposition in their first year in office. People can e-mail-fightingforcountry@gmail.com-to register their ratings for the Government as whole, individual members of Cabinet and also the Opposition. At the end of May, the results will be collated and a synopsis given of the views expressed. The principle must be that to whom much is given, much is expected and I know all will welcome the opportunity to be objectively assessed by those whom they are supposed to serve.