Dear Editor,
We are continuing in the same trend even though we continue to be arrested or locked up. A thing as simple as erecting a flag pole cannot be done without controversy. It started with one government rushing to erect the pole without finding out the correct way to avoid the flag from wrapping around it. This automatically caused the price to erect that flag system to be questioned. This is understandable because making deals on projects has become commonplace in government. The people still do not know what the real cost to erect that flagpole system is because as usual there was no transparency.
We are almost demanding of the population to go online and we ourselves do not have the discipline to Google and find out if there is a system how to avoid the flown flag from wrapping itself around the pole. This is because we govern as if we are standing and listening to what is said around the domino table, and then go to the office and execute it.
During the last election I have been advocating: 'out with the old and in with the new', hoping to get young fresh blood in government to get things done in the right way. I cannot say to no avail yet, but that flag business up to now involves two young people. Do we not have anyone in government who is ready to insist that we follow procedures? It is only a flagpole we are erecting. This is not a criminal court case in which the defence lawyer must use a certain strategy.
I was about to enter a place of business and someone who wanted to buy a flag in connection with World Cup, said to me "I hope they not so expensive like the one on the hill". I was not thrilled, but that is what it has become. In an article in the newspaper I read that the new minister involved has made known that the intention is to cordon off the area where the flag pole is erected, and I thought what about legislation. We continue not to do the thing right.
This is not campaigning and making promises, this is governing. Put things on paper, publish them officially, put signage in place. We have to get rid of this adhoc and dictatorial way of governing. It is not right and if it is not official, the police will have to fold their arms while the people are walking around the area. We must stop playing these banana-republic games.
I am very opposed to the way those bus-stop huts are being placed all over the country. Strange enough we cannot negotiate spots to put up bus stop signs which would go a long way to help regulate the traffic, but the bus-stop huts are popping up like mushrooms. Having a good intention does not make it right. History has shown that not doing the thing right has caused too many of our politicians, people in government and department heads to be indicted and or locked up. Not only for doing the wrong thing but for doing the right thing wrong. This trend has never stopped. If we accustom ourselves to do the things in the wrong way, we are going to end up wrong. The Dutchman says "Een gewaarschuwd mens telt voor twee". (Fore warned is doubled warned.) There has been too much proof of that.
And it always has to do with money. Which brings me to Luke 12:15 and I Corinthians 6:10. In a discussion I had with an older police officer many years ago in Aruba, I told him I do not believe in following my mentor to the tee. My explanation is simple. I am not him/her. The mentor grooms one to be like him/her. The mentor should guide you in how to do the job correctly and how not to get yourself in trouble doing it. The advisor only gives advice. It is up to the individual what he/she does with that advice.
Russell A. Simmons
