Trust in govt. sine qua non, but sadly missing

In my Cassandra Cry of the previous Friday – 12 November – I sang hosannas to Upali Newspapers Ltd., on their 40th anniversary. I intentionally held back commenting on the editorials and their writers of the two English newspaper – The Island and Sunday Island, not considering it quite my province to do so. I make bold to critique now and comment on the editors. Both the editorials and editors are excellent, no two words about that. While the editor of the Sunday paper is of the older school and thus often wearing kid gloves and being completely gentlemanly and yes, somewhat restrained in comments on persons, the editor of The Island simply whiplashes and we cheer him on lustily. He cares not whether the person faulted is politically or otherwise powerful, a recognized figure in the country. He says what he has to say and we find him always completely justified. Additionally, he adds that bit of spice which makes all the difference – lunu ambul in the vernacular. He hits the nail absolutely squarely or roundly on its head, depending on its shape. The two editors’ style of writing and skill in the use of English are exceptional.

Trust deficit in the government

Thus was the editorial in The Island of Friday November 19: Succinct, to the point and hard-hitting. The Editor identifies a ‘chronic trust deficit’ (his title) in the government by the people. That is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Providence, Cass intones. We, the people, are left floundering, wondering, perplexed and of course anxious. He cites the long queues in petrol pumping stations on account of rumours floating around, or rather flying around, that the closure of the Sapugaskanda refinery will leave the island high and dry with no gas. No amount of assurances by the Minister Udaya Gammanpila radiating his widest smile. (At least he seems happy in a doomed country). His assurance instilled not confidence in us; rather dire doubt and more fear. What he and most other ministers pronounce does not increase our faith and trust; they cause consternation. We denounce proclamations as lies, not even white. We are now convinced that the government waters down dire situations, camouflages missteps and often paints an entirely different picture to what really is. In short, it lies. It names dire deficits as hunky-dory. Second to corruption is this government characteristic; both of which we abhor. And if a government loses the trust of a majority of its people, it should presume the door is being opened for its departure. This soft peddling of dire news and circumventing the whole truth is resorted to by other countries too, but among democratic countries never to the extent like Our Land Like No Other.

Even we insignificant Ordinaries are imbued with doubts regarding the veracity of the government as a whole and some government spokesmen more particularly. Cass now considers herself to be Doubting Thomas’ eldest daughter. For instance, when we heard the vaxxing (now term for vaccination which Google does not recognize or record) of the booster shot for over 60s was being started, many were skeptical and had sardonic remarks: “Must be left over Pfizers after jabbing all medical and front liners and of course sycophants and their vastly extended families”; “Has it been cooled correctly? Past the batches’ expiry date?” But we were longing for this third assurance of avoiding C19. Then came the choice of place to get it done. Cass proclaimed: “I hear the army is doing the service in the Vihara Mahadevi Park. I make a beeline there. Not for me an MOH’s office.” She was proven correct. Another received an SMS to present herself at a Colombo 5 MOH office where we went for our first shot and stayed five hours in long queues etc. At the VM Park on the Poya morning Cass was in a short queue that moved fast, overseen by the Army personnel—Cass almost wrote Army Darlings! Everyone was politely treated, the infirm most solicitously, vaccinated carefully, and sent home after a mug of Nestomalt. The one who went to the Colombo 5 outlet found two queues formed: SMS receivers and others. They started with the SMSed ones. Then switched over to the other queue. Loud shouts and all that; delays and display of red tape.

Cass commented in this column some time ago how she had got the second jab by the Army and was shocked to see discarded cotton swabs thrown all over. The ones vaxxed were in the majority elderly, dignified and privileged, also good school types. But they were practising a habit of Sri Lankans: just drop/throw discards on the floor. Shocking! At the VM Park in Colombo 7, an Army officer repeatedly announced that cotton wool swabs given to press on vaccinated spots were not to be dropped on the ground. Thus, the bad habit continued.

Like Cass went to a nearby pharmacy, after a long lapse of getting the chore of medicine buying done by a willing driver. A prominent board on the door announced: Only three (03) persons allowed in at same time. Cass was in at 2.00 pm with just two others. Then ambled in around six persons. Cass got riled and said in Sinhala and English: “Cannot you read that board? Only three allowed.” Not one bod moves outside. Another trait of Sri Lankans: I have to get my business over as soon as possible, never mind rules, politeness, decency.

Mighty Modi retracts

New laws/regulations brought into the agricultural sector of India resulted in vociferous protests and deluges of marches. The laws were not so injurious; not like banning inorganic fertiliser overnight with no availability of alternative organic stuff. The Indian promulgations were to introduce the corporate sector or commercialisation to India’s agriculture. But the entire farming community outed in protest. Now the PM has repealed those laws. Much humble pie eaten by the leader of one of the upfront countries in the world. So to Cass’ way of thinking, if Modi could have retracted, why not our Prez? So much heartburn, so much stress and worry to farmers, so much damage already done to the growing of paddy, tea, vegetables even flowers. Why couldn’t our President who wants to do the best by the people of the country not have cancelled the ban and allowed chemical fertiliser that farmers are now so used to? He should have realised he was wrongly advised and foreseen the disastrous results. One has to accept the protests of the farmers as justified. So, forsaking stubbornness and pride, Prez Rajapaska should have ordered the import of the usual agricultural necessities. The severe damage done to the next harvest, already to vegetables etc; heartburn of farmers; reputation of the government and of the President himself could have been salvaged. Prices of our food would not have risen drastically; popularity of the President would not have plummeted and people’s opinion of the government would not have sunk rock bottom. Further, Mahindananda A would have not have been mercilessly beaten and set fire to, albeit effigy-wise. But no. Sri Lanka has to be the first country to totally ban chemical fertilisers, weedicides, insecticides, notwithstanding the fact that even Bhutan failed in going completely organic.

PS: A newspaper and TV news item on Tuesday 24 November states that the Prez has permitted the private sector to import inorganic fertilizer etc. But no government subsidy. Exchange is restricted for imports. So then? Giving in a mite to majority demand.

The evil done

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is promoting and actually working on Texit which is: Texas secedes from the US, certainly not only with its oil and crazy Republicans but taking along NASA, US oil and the military. A referendum is his exit point.

Cass immediately repeated the quote: The evil that men do lives after them. Here the evil doer is Donald Trump; Cruz being his mere sidekick. The quote also says: The good is often interred with their bones. No good at all in Trumpy; only madness. There are evil and crazy leaders all of over the world – one: the name unpronounceable Prez of Belarus, stooge to Putin.

Tidbit

A new version of Nimal Mendis’s perennially popular song Master Sir is out – clever parody and well sung. Cass waited with bated breath to see how the singer tackled the high notes. Finely pitched with many words and expressions retained from the original like kamba edeema. The title is Sir Failed. Succinct and timely!