Bitter fruits from seeds planted long ago

THE EDITOR: Is there any system in our country that is functioning effectively and efficiently? I am prompted to ask this question – and others – after reading the complaints about the immigration division and those in charge.

This also brings into sharp focus the leadership of the judiciary. Are their actions or lack thereof normative? What value is being added to their departments? Are their staff motivated to perform their duties in a manner that would benefit the people?

And there are more questions:

Is the time ripe for constitutional change? Why are the posts of Governor of the Central Bank, Chief Justice and President subjected to prime ministerial approval? Doesn’t that make it seem as though they are beholden to the political party?

Isn’t it time for proportional representation rather than the first-past-the-post system? Why disenfranchise the majority for the minority? Why should any government decide what is best for the country and the upliftment of the people?

There should be active participation between the Government and the Opposition as to the way forward. Non-essential and vanity projects should not take precedence over the upliftment of the human capital.

There are many problems to be fixed: Five months waiting for a passport, bribes to get a driving permit, long lines at the birth certificate office all because of institutional weakness, 15 years to go to trial, hits being hatched behind bars, police not attending court cases and indulging in criminal activities, an irrelevant educational system, hopelessness and joblessness of graduates, political patronage, poor healthcare, poor water supply. And the list goes on.

Are we reaping the bitter fruits of the embryonic seeds that were planted a long time ago? Is TT a real place? I rest my case.

SAHADEO RAGOONANAN

via e-mail

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"Bitter fruits from seeds planted long ago"

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