The shores of Trinidad and Tobago have been touched by Old World civilisation and a lengthy period of colonial rule before the 50 years of self determination. T&T has been endowed with natural resources and has the distinction of having the first oil refinery in the Commonwealth.
Added to that T&T had two unearned windfalls of wealth. Yet there are less fortunate nations which have endured major natural disasters and with little or no natural resources have progressed and improved their standards beyond those that obtain in Trinidad and Tobago.
The old order must change and give way to the new where merit and ability are rewarded. This concept, to be effective, must apply to the entire population. The State must lead by creating and enforcing effective planning, regulations and certification. Professionals and those in industries and services must adhere to the strictest standards and ethics; the working population must give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.
Above all the media, the medium through which the voice of the people must be heard, must carry the responsibility of continuously raising the bar, bearing in mind that those who aim at the stars shoot higher than those who aim at the trees.
The cry for change in others resonates throughout the land but it appears that some do not realise that "you must be the change you wish to see" and that the change will come one day at a time. There is no place in modern society, with rapid advancement in technology, for promotion by seniority or collective wage agreements.
Recently, the UK civil service was deemed to have 25 per cent of employees under-performing and they were offered a reduced income or to stay at home. Over 70 per cent of the USA population is unemployed and many live below the poverty line. Japan is not the economic force as they once were and even the great Chinese nation has shown a decline in growth. If T&T is an oasis in the world and can produce goods and services at a premium rate, who has the ability to buy?
The alternative is having someone who can tell the president,?prime minister, the AG, IC, the Parliament, as a matter of fact, someone who can tell everyone how to perform. Havenly Father lend a hand.
William Dalton-Brown
Via e-mail