Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Dr. Fraser- Point of View
May 28, 2004

Breaking the silence

I was struck by the opening paragraph of last week’s Opinion column by Dr. Jules Ferdinand that appeared under the caption, “When Good People Remain Silent.”
Dr. Ferdinand wrote as follows, “Democratic governments encourage persons to engage in critical thinking. They recognize the value of having freedom of speech and they see the value of freedom of the press. These governments benefit from improved performances and project development by encouraging critical thinking and inviting persons to voice their differences. To them, feedback is critical (even when negative) in influencing enhanced performance. The same benefits can be accomplished in our homes and workplaces.” {{more}}
This calls for some reflection, for certainly, there are many governments that are perceived to be democratic, based simply on the holding of elections at periodic intervals. In between elections, democracy appears to hibernate.
It is time we subject the term democracy to serious scrutiny and recognize the loose way in which it is used. As we continue the process of constitutional reform, the persons mandated to pull the process together need to base any draft of a new constitution on an understanding of what is democracy. We have, in doing so, to identify certain features that we consider critical to the establishment of a democracy. One of these features, undoubtedly, is freedom of speech, expressed in an atmosphere that provides some space for critical thinking.
Jules concentrates on the work place and focuses on the involvement of workers in the decisions of any organization. He acknowledges that it might appear to slow the process but argues that it becomes a useful investment in the long term.
A democratic government provides the context in which organizations can involve all their workers to the ultimate benefit of both the organization and nation state. Within any nation there are forces or structures that function at different levels, be they the home, the workplace or at the state level. The nation in the final analysis is really about the interplay between those different entities, where hopefully they influence and sustain each other. One would expect that workers that come out of an organization that encourages free speech and critical thinking would demand the same at the national level. Quite often in looking at our societies we do not make that connection.
When statements are made about leaders, for example, we have to recognize that they often apply to leadership at all levels. The leaders, workers and other operatives who function at the micro level are the ones who ultimately move to the national level, taking with them their methods of operation and thinking. Jules makes the point too that “It is the insecure leader who is uncomfortable with being challenged by others within the organization.” It is the leader, too, who has something to conceal rather than defend, for to defend is to be involved in a process. One can hardly expect that leaders exhibiting such qualities and approaches at the level of an organization will suddenly transform themselves when operating at the national level.
Without doubt, one of the things that stands out about our political culture is the hostility to the expression of differences of opinion even when claiming adherence to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is not infinite. There are codes and laws, the law of libel, for example, that provides some limit to free speech.
In fact democracy does not mean total freedom. One of the things that a democracy, and in fact, development demands is the full involvement of people. But by extension this process lends itself to differences of opinion. Our leaders are often afraid of this, but it is one of the strengths of a democracy and is critical to development. Breaking the silence in our societies that have come out of slavery and colonialism has to be encouraged. But this is hardly ever done. Instead efforts are always made to stifle the expression of views that contradict those currently in vogue or opposed to those holding the reins of power.
Our societies have a top down approach to everything. Those, especially at the political level, assume that the mandate given to them at the polls is a mandate to dictate and force their views on the society. Of course, the argument is always that in giving them the mandate the people sanction whatever is in their manifestoes. But manifestos really provide only a broad outline and furthermore people do not vote based on manifestoes. For one, manifestoes of the different parties are quite similar. But often, also, differences arise not only about what is in the manifestoes but about other developments that have nothing to do with manifestoes and in some cases, had not even been contemplated then.
Breaking the silence will not come easy. There is too much at stake for those who capitalize on the silence and conclude that silence is a form of consent and agreement. Really we need to let ideas contend. The challenges facing us cannot be resolved by the efforts of a few, particularly those at the leadership level who benefit from the structures as they are. Facing the challenges in a globalised world will demand sacrifices on the part of all of our population. They are hardly likely to acquiesce unless they become part of the decision making and planning. Quite a lot will have to change and people need to understand why these changes are necessary. They will have to be involved and be part of those decisions. This can only come about by breaking the silence. We must, at the same time, start by protecting those who refuse to be silent.



  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok