The more things change, the more they remain the same

Editor: Our country is suffocating under social issues that are taken for granted and never addressed. There is a lot of talk and meetings in this country, in every forum, from daycare to governmental. A lot of talk, for nine days, and then no action. Allow me to highlight the tip of the iceberg as I see it.{{more}}

The more things change, the more they remain the same:

1. Do the newly renovated and widened roads on the leeward highway mean automatic rights to homeowners to dump loads of sand and stone on the side of the road until it’s ready for use, thereby forcing motorists to go off lane to get around? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

2. Global warming is being addressed around the world, but our children remain in the heat traps we call uniforms, even in the hottest of months. Can we not relax the uniforms by now? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

3. More vehicles, more transportation freedom, but this also means more illegal parking on corners and narrow roads. When are we going to go introduce “No parking between the hours of” signs? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

4. As a compassionate motorist, I’m always appalled at the length of time a person has to wait at the pedestrian crossing towards the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Shouldn’t we have compulsory crossing at this particular spot, such that once a person approaches that pedestrian crossing, vehicles MUST stop? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

5. The dust from road rehabilitation on the leeward highway is currently affecting the young lives attending three pre-schools and one primary school in the Montrose area. Without trying to instruct the professionals on the most effective way to do their job, aren’t these sensitive areas deserving of priority and speedy construction? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

6. What are the requirements of a security guard placed at a primary school? It appears as though this aspect of protection of our little ones is evidently overlooked. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

7. The Justices of Peace in our neighbourhoods, is their only function to sign passport application forms? What about lewd lyrics from noisy neighbours? What about constant profanity on the block? What about lighting fires at dusk, thus creating smoke heavens? Should they not alert the nearest police station? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

8. Thank you to the staff at Payless, Jujube and to the tall, light-skinned gentleman in the meat section at Randy’s for their genuine expressions of courtesy and excellent customer service. It’s a pleasant reminder that my business is actually appreciated as I spend my hard-earned dollar. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

9. Our children are being rapidly educated, they return home and nothing changes. Why? Because they are not allowed to put any ideas into practice, as the older heads insist that their old-fashioned way is ‘the only way’. And today we are still writing receipts with pen and carbon paper at the Customs, going to four and five windows before we can leave with our goods. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

10. Every child has a laptop, yet the bookbags get significantly heavier every year, with nine-year-olds struggling with 17 lb bags, thereby creating a generation of back problems and misaligned spines. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

11. With the surge in mobile devices and the social media craze, there is gold dust in the air for government of this country. One only needs to stand on the roadside, and count the number of people texting and driving on our roads, even MINIBUS drivers and TRUCKERS. Where are our undercover police officers? Accidents and road fatalities do not occur only in the city. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

I expect to hear this letter to be read by the radio hosts in some form or another; I expect to hear people agree; I expect to see Facebook posts about it; but, my fellow citizens, let it not die down within nine days. Let us keep at it until change is effected, if not for us, for our children.

To our leaders, it is not enough to be compassionate. YOU MUST ACT!

Concerned Citizen