I too become impatient at times waiting for things to happen.
The nation has waited so long for some kind of decency in government that we want everything to happen at once. So the schools are broken and we expect a government of a few months to have them all running well and opening on time with well disciplined students and exemplary staff.
There are more murders than there are days in the month and we want all crime to come to an end because we have had a new government for the past four months.
But I know in my rational moments that what we want we cannot have, because of what has gone before.
I know that just too much is expected of this new Government.
My observation tells me that there is a lot of work going on in this new Government and some of it is quite obvious to all.
What I have observed is the work being done by the Minister of Education. I note that for the first time in years, all our children were able to access their education at all levels when school reopened for this new term.
I note as well the cordial relationship being nurtured and engendered with all stakeholders in the education system. I hear and read about the obvious consultative manner of the new minister in matters which he well realises affect more than schools.
I welcome the upcoming consultation on education and the manner in which various forms of media are being utilised to capture the views of all.
I view and appreciate the down-to-earth and fatherly approach to the students and the respectful manner in which Mr Garcia deals with students as well as principals and staff.
This was evidenced by his interaction with the students of Success Laventille Secondary. All of this I have noted in only four months.
I am confident that the consultation will result in an education system with a vision to take this nation forward through new, imaginative but practical ways.
I have singled out Mr Garcia because I am an old educator and the education sector is dear and familiar to me, but I am aware that much work is going on in other ministries as well.
Minister Deyalsingh is being very proactive in matters of health even though distractions are being created all the time by a person who is finding it difficult to understand that he is no longer in government. I don't think we could have asked for a better Minister of Finance as well.
The trouble is that many of the ministers, instead of forging ahead with any bright new ideas are forced to engage in damage control in order to keep the nation afloat.
When this damage control is coupled with the damage that is inevitable because of the economic crisis, the nation's expectations are dampened.
This Government has been in power for only four months. The expectation of the nation is understood but no member of government has been given a magic wand.
They have been instead handed an administration riddled by mismanagement brought on by factors too numerous to mention in this forum.
I am sure that members of the previous government are secretly quite pleased that they are not the ones charged with running this country at this time. Never mind that they are largely responsible for the damage control which now has to be done.The expectations of the nation are understood but it has only been four short months and without the fanfare, much is being done!
Kendall Delpino
(old educator)
Arima