As all the preparations and celebrations – such as there have been – come to a climax this weekend with a Bank holiday on Monday, because the Thirty-sixth year falls on Sunday; the many questions, and Complaints, and observations, touching and concerning where we are at this point in time, and where we are hoping and planning to be by this time next year – are being heard loud and clear all over the Tri-Island State. In fact, as one lady put it to me – words to the effect – some people are providing answers where there are no questions and remedies for diseases where none exists. But I suppose that in the kind of political atmosphere we have had to endure and live under for all those years – that kind of behavior and reaction are understandable. The recent Budget debates in parliament, gave both sides the ready made opportunities to let loose their piccongs, and generally run their mouths as we say in these parts. In between providing a show of ole talk – for the public to kicks and laugh about – many of the speakers did make some valuable contributions, and highlighted many important issues and short-comings that the powers-that-be must pay attention to and take steps to remedy in the days and months ahead. We do not only have a new Calendar year, and another Independence anniversary year to think about and make resolutions for – but we also have a new decade of the Twenty-first century, for which new plans and policies must now be put into place to meet the challenges that will be encountered in those years ahead. As we listen to the many claims and statements by the authorities in the U.S.A. for example, about how much improvement have been achieved in the battle against the worldwide economic recession – no one in these more than struggling Islands in the region, should even be thinking that because it may be happening in those super powers, who have spent Billions of their Tax-payers dollars to help get them where they are to-day, that the spin offs from that region would automatically descend on us lesser mortals in these parts. And we in Grenada are among the least of any such thinkers at this time – for the very simple and logical reasoning, that there was nothing in the economic pipeline when the current controllers came into office that they could have capitalized upon, and the state of our Major and only foreign exchange earner in the nutmeg Industry was in Chaos from Ivan and Emily disasters. The almost total dependence on foreign-based Investors to develop our Tourist industry – failed for two very fundamental reasons. The first was that if those investors were genuine in the first place, the global economic recession would have affected their ability to raise finance in their homelands. But the second is even more worrying and very distasteful in the given circumstances – and that is the very well documented and repetitive scams and bubal deals, that were entered into by the dis-placed controllers at the time – but in the changed circumstances cannot face the light of day. And what is even more heart-rending, at a time when our people are really scrunting and in dire economic straits – is that those so-called Investors in many cases, actually drew down millions of dollars from guaranteed loan contracts, entered into by the last government controllers with foreign Banks in favour of those crooked Investors. And now we the people have to do without basic needs – to pay back those loans. And even when some of those tricksters went ahead and made huge profits from their bubul deals with the ousted controllers – the new owners/investors not only inherited all the years of tax free concessions, but they infact raised the money to settle the new purchases from the local Bank. And to add economic insult to grave financial injury - when the Investors used Grenadian people property as collateral to get the loan from the local Bank, they were even exempted from the stamp duties on the Mortgage Deed, that all little Tom, Dick, Harry and Mary have to pay when they buy little quarter acre lot to build a small home for their family. That state of affairs have been the on-going sacrifices we have had to make over the last decade and more – so whatever else we may do, as we continue to struggle to make ends meet under the guidance and control of those holding public office, we must remain very vigilant to ensure and make sure that those public servants, and in particular the politicians who have the over-riding and final control and responsibility for the affairs of the state; always remain and perform with honesty, Transparency, accountability, and above all else in the interest and welfare of ALL the people of our tri-Island State, and NOT only the supporters and hangers-on of the party in control of the power base. For any number of reasons, and because of the conditions and circumstances under which we as a people have grown up and became accustomed to, from the days of colonialism up to our so-called Independence for the past Thirty-six years – in depth changes in the way we do things and our life style in general, are not going to be easy to turn around and replaced with a totally different model. But there are some basic elements that must be changed and banished from our scheme of doing things, and running our public affairs in particular. And the one that stands out most prominently, is that which deals with wrong-doing by one group and for which that group is severely criticized and condemned. But no sooner that the critics change positions and take over control and authority of the seats of power – they proceed to do or practice the very same, or quite similar activities, that they not so long ago was bitterly condemning. The principle that the right alone is right, and the wrong is always wrong – regardless of who is doing what and when – cannot be changed overnight, nor by the passage of time. The Eighteen months old Government of the NDC, under the leadership of P.M. Tillman Thomas, have been getting very frequent criticisms in the recent past, that they are practicing double-standards around certain issues pertaining to their officials. The one that is now giving cause for concern, has to do with Senator and Junior Minister for Culture Arley Gill – and his alleged dealings with certain concessions or exemptions from paying to use the National Stadium. The breaking news came from the front page of a newspaper, that the Senator was suspended from attending cabinet meetings by the Prime Minister, who is also the minister responsible for Culture among other Ministries. That was bad enough, from the point of view of transparency and accountability – because in my view the information should have been released by the press Secretary or Advisor in the office of the Prime Minister, if not by the Prime Minister himself. But what is much worse, if at all true, is the latest report that at some press briefing the Prime Minister was asked for his comments, or his explanation about the suspension of Senator Gill – and he is reported to have said that it is a private matter so he will not or cannot discuss it publicly. My first reaction to that report was that the Prime Minister could not have said that – or he was mis-quoted. So I am expecting to hear a response from his press Secretary or whoever. But what is even more disturbing, is that the story has now been expanded to include some other person or persons in the Carnival Committee, and allegations that Senator Gill was really trying to cover up some wrong doing by others, in their dealings with Tempo and the said Stadium. I am not too surprised about any scandal surrounding the Stadium, because from its inception it resulted from deceit and bad faith and ungratefulness. But it is not fair to Senator Gill, on the one hand, and the way the matter has been handled conveys the impression that there is more in the mortar than the pestle; and it leaves a bad smell and a sour taste in the mouth, and that should not be. And as for the matter being private – that is utter nonsense and the details must be made public and let the chips fall where they may. We have enough problems to deal with as it is, without letting un-necessary bungling clog up the system and increase the nation’s tension. By Lloyd Noel Inside Grenada Columnist