Decency is NOT dead!

By Rajitha Ratwatte

fromoutsidethepearl@gmail.com

We had an election postponed in Aotearoa! The circumstances were almost identical to those faced in the Pearl. There is one party sure to win in Aotearoa as there was in the Pearl, Covid is still prevalent all though much less than in the Pearl, the decision was solely in the hands of the party leader who is in power. All the usual arguments not to postpone were used, certainty for the future in these uncertain times being the main argument.

However, decency prevailed and although a massive victory was a virtual certainty, the PM decided to postpone the election by a month. The opposition can’t believe their luck! Governing in these uncertain times only leaves one open to criticism. The longer the election is postponed, the winning majority will probably reduce exponentially. No opposition is going to spare the government in power when it comes to raising doubts and when they are due for criticism.

Words like the necessity to ensure that the election in Aotearoa would be “safe, accessible and CREDIBLE” have been used. When announcing the decision, the PM said the postponement was in the “best interests of the voter in our thriving democracy”. Words like this said with meaning, brings tears to the eyes of even old sceptics like yours truly! The rulers of the Pearl had this same opportunity, but it is doubtful if they even considered it for a split second.

They have killed decency again, in the same way that they did when they chose to serve kiribath on the streets and showcase their “war victory” in vulgar fashion rather than make real efforts at reconciliation and give the defeated enemy some respect. After all, even the ancient kings that the current rulers claim to be reincarnations of, gave their defeated enemy a place of respect.

I now have another clear reason why I am glad to be living in this land of the long white cloud. I realise that I have little or no say in ruling the country or anything but a humble role as a first-generation immigrant in economic affairs, but mentally I am at peace. My adopted country is being ruled by DECENT people. People, although they are from a different race, are closer to my values and standards than those ruling my motherland! How this happened and where “standard decency” has gone is probably akin to what happened to the great Mayan and Egyptian civilizations. They died when good men did nothing and, in some cases, immigrated!

Talking of democracy, the high court in NZ has found that the first 9 days of lockdown enforced when we first went into level 4, was UNLAWFUL! Apparently, this was rectified by an announcement made on the 10th day. A citizen had taken this matter to court to prove a point. The judgement has however specified that not much recourse is available to the plaintiff. If that lock down was not enforced, Aotearoa would have been in the same boat as many other countries. The brief respite we enjoyed of “normalcy” would have escaped us. Maybe this proves that it is possible to get things done under democracy? Do it, allow it to be challenged and if the judiciary is above board, satisfactory and reasonable results can be achieved.

The source of the second wave of Covid 19 has not been fully identified in Aotearoa. The first person infected was working in a company handling frozen food imports. It was first thought that this person would have got it by handling packaging on frozen food that may have had the virus on it. However, the genome of the new infection was found to be similar to that of the disease found in England. This led to extensive testing among port workers, but this has not lead to any conclusion. All in all, investigations are still continuing.

We now have 85 new infections from that one person. One infection is being attributed to the use of a lift, seconds after but not concurrently with another infected person. This is by a maintenance worker at a quarantine hotel and is not connected to the original “infectee”. Another is being attributed to travel on public transport with an infected person from the original cluster. Therefore, the use of masks when going out and about is now proving imperative. Out of this total of 88 cases only 4 are in hospital with one in intensive care. Large scale testing continues, and Auckland remains at level 3 with the rest of the Country on level 2.

Any decision with regard to changing the lockdown status is due to be taken on Monday the 24th of August and will come into effect two days later on midnight on Wednesday the 26th. There seems to be a mild air of panic around as the Supermarket queues were a little longer than usual today… We have been given assurances that it is unlikely that the alert levels will be increased but these are “interesting times”!

The decision has come; level 3 in Auckland has been extended until midnight on Sunday 30th. Auckland will move into level 2 after this. The rest of the Country will remain at level 2 until the next review on Sunday the 6th of September. Wearing face coverings in public places and on public transport has now been mandated by parliament. This will basically mean that you can’t get on a bus without a face covering of some sort. A particular type of mask is not specified.

Dire predictions of over 10% of restaurants having to close down if level 3 are continued in Auckland and a loss of over 50,000 jobs are being bandied about. The Government has gone ahead with this decision, in an election year, in spite of all this! A real sense of responsibility and clear and strong leadership, combined with clear perceptions of what is the final goal i .e. elimination of the virus and the health of the populace … or committing political suicide?!

Only time will tell…