ONCE again there is discontentment within some working circles.
While the government talks about growth in the economy and progress on all fronts, the picture on the ground appears to be different.
Sadly enough, the growth seems not to be widespread and the rumble seems to be getting louder about improved salaries and better working conditions.
Changes are happening everywhere, new rules and policies are the order of the day and while the government claims that all that they do is for the betterment of the nation, there appears to be some kind of disconnect with the people.
It has been many years now that there seems to be a difference between what the state determines to be good for the people and what the people expect from the state.
Government after government tends to think in isolation, planning from behind their Ivory Towers, being advised by their technical teams, but with no consultation with the people who matter or who will be affected by their actions.
You hear the complaint frequently: ‘We have not been consulted on the matter’, or ‘New policies have not been discussed with us the stakeholders.’
A case in point is within the educational establishment as per the banning of beating as a disciplinary measure in schools without offering a different means of discipline for disruptive students.
There are many other concerns that the schools are confronted with, such as security, internal theft, physical conditions, syllabus changes and so forth, but without listening to the personal concerns of those teaching or managing these institutions, the policy makers choose to do as they please.
As in the case of the fire service, for years now they have voiced their discontentment within the sector, but most of it falls on deaf ears.
The civil service has its concerns – there are concerns about the status of health care and services, many concerns about law and order, so many departmental concerns that need to be discussed, yet the government continues to manage things their way, not listening to the voices of the people.
And yet when things boil over and people start to agitate, you start hearing the usual blame game — and mostly it’s about the bad management of the last government.
The reason why systems fail is mainly because of lack of communication.
There are always two sides to a coin and there are many ways to look at a problem, but rule number one should always be to discuss the matter with those whom your actions will directly impact.
I know that this régime is desperate to leave a perfect record, or to appear to be better than the rest, or different from the other, but they must take things in stride and not try so desperately to reinvent the wheel.
Each one can leave their footprint on our history, but it is how it is done, because good intentions can turn out to be bad ideas in the long run.
My personal advice is to listen to the people, not the suggestions of a few.
And remember that paint and glitter festivals and conferences, grand fireworks displays, and workshops, and Jobs for the Boys and Girls that support us will not help us grow, as this is an illusion.
We live in serious times.
The nation’s concerns are many.
Tomorrow’s success depends on today’s planning.
Prosperity is a need, not a luxury — and mistakes of today can cost us dearly in the future.