Grenadians must be highly commended for their patriotism. The Christmas season was not even completely over when national flags began to appear on vehicles, along with all the other paraphernelia bearing the national colours. It is expected that Government and public buildings will be decorated, but it is heart-rending to see the vehicles taking the lead.

In fairness to the politicians, their Independence message would always be politicized. However, it appears that they have failed to interpret the mood and patriotism of the people, and have not included in their messages the atmosphere of jubilation, which has enveloped the national environment.

None of the messages ever remotely took into consideration the national colours reflected in the beautiful dresses and T-shirts and head-gear and broaches worn by the people throughout the nation.

The Government mentioned some of its achievements and still referring to Ivan and Emily; the Opposition highlighted some things that should have been achieved, but were not.

None of the politicians gave the populace any sense of genuine hope in tough economic times. For the last thirty-three years, the country has definitely made some moves in terms of development.

However, this appears to be just a matter of course as the Nation moved along with the rest of the world; it was not any genuine and sincere effort of politics to aggressively move the country forward.

It has been the constant practice of successive governments over the last thirty-three years to sound their trumpets and blow their horns whenever they did something, major or minor, that for which they were elected to office in the first place.

Throughout the last thirty-three years, there have been many instances of political victimization where people are hired or fired or transformed on the basis of political affiliations. There have been suspicions that Parliamentary representatives in Government would deliberately neglect a small section of their constituency because the residents may not have “voted” the right way. And what about the situation where a government may “overspend” in an opposition stronghold in an attempt to “unseat” the opposition M.P? That, too, is political victimization.

Nationals have seen before their very eyes that short term ministers quickly posses long term gains; that they enter the political arena relatively poor, but can show their millions in cash and kind by the end of a term. In the meantime, the poor among the electorate remain poor, some even becoming poorer, while a few smarter ones take what they can get.

Any government in office has the power and authority - indeed the responsibility to correct all the above and that alone would be genuine service to a people. After thirty-three years of political independence and three years after hurricane Ivan, farmers in this country are still crying out. Some have been assisted in getting off the ground although they are still short as of past years; but there are still too many who received very little assistance or no assistance at all.

It is well-known that the negative impact that this would have for Grenada, the so-called agricultural country. Now, it appears that Grenada would have to import much more food than they should have, had agriculture been given the same attention as the national stadium for Cricket World Cup 2007. Politicians should at least pledge to serve the people more sincerely.