Dear Editor,
Change is inevitable, indeed it is a permanent law of nature. People clamour for change for various reasons: they become weary and frustrated with an inefficient and stressful system that has been causing them hell; they are sick of the hollowness and dreariness of life and so they yearn for something new. However, one thing people who yearn for change hope not to see when the change comes, is more of the same. Clubs, organisations, institutions grow sick, tired and bored of feckless and arrogant leaders and often have an uphill task in trying to replace them, only to be saddled when they do with a new breed of pompous upstarts who sooner rather than later push them to the point of abandoning that organisation, club, etc, or resigning themselves never to play any meaningful part.
This notwithstanding, change is healthy and people will continue to reach out to it, but when they see it is not in their best interest, then the sweet taste that came at victory turns bitter and burns deep, deep within. But lo! The new crew manning the ship though concerned they may be, cannot stand for long the whining of the masses who quickly become impatient, for long waiting was never their cup of tea. It gets them restless and irritable, which in turn wrecks the nerves of the new bosses.
Walking around the Linden community listening to the local play of politics is never uplifting; the infighting is just too much, and leaves one not to expect anything much ‒ change or no change. There is bickering, condemnation, back-biting, bad mouthing, deceitfulness, conniving, blame-game accusations and recriminations – the entire gamut to make one melancholy. But the people and the community of Region 10 desire much more, and want to see more advancement. They crave good leaders, top functionaries who have their welfare on the front burner and on whom they can count on for real. I’m guessing it’s probably a bit of the same in other communities/regions.
As expected, with a new dispensation the people desire and look out for upward mobility and the fulfilment of promises, moreso when you set their expectations on fire. Very important is the fact that people want to feel cared for and have a sense of belonging. They want to be a part of the process, and nothing does more magic than making people feel involved in a meaningful way and not just having wild empty talk and tomfoolery.
Hence there must be a well-structured practical programme; a plan with set goals that can be measured and analysed within a given time frame, and not excessive talks and failed promises. Don’t just tell folks to be optimistic and stop being prophets of doom! How can you say to folks who have been battered and bruised to be optimistic when you have wearied them out. Personally, I have stopped listening to long-winded, boring, hackneyed, high-sounding phrases that have become threadworn; I have heard enough of them. Stop telling me and show me! When will elected/selected leaders stop deceiving and denying everyday people. Why try to hide from them the sun? I dare say we need fewer heartless mercenaries, more bleeding heart servants and less official ostentation and sinecures. I’ve observed that every elected/selected official pledges on their honour faithfully and execute their function; the phrase “without fear or favour” has been spouted ad nauseam, but it has become hollow so we see the opposite instead ‒ favour done without fear. We need to have servants attending to the needs and welfare of the people and not for their personal aggrandisement, where they use their office to ‘mek deh heights.’ I saw it somewhere mentioned that when you start benefiting more than the people, you are no longer helping them. Let us have an end to cronyism, nepotism and spite. The time for change has come and everyone hopes it’s a real change indeed, and not just the frame without the picture.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
