Who receives bloated contracts
Posted: 07/04/2009 - 07:04 PM
Author: Colin bh
In his column Reid Between The Lines, appearing in The National Perspective of Sunday, April 5, G. Michael Reid lamented that very often we hear members of the UDP administration say: “we now run things” and “their people will now eat.” Mr. Reid wrote: “It is high time that we made it clear to any government, that they cannot simply dismiss an opposition or continue to persecute people who they felt voted the other way. They govern for all the people and the money that they spend belongs to all of us.” G. Mike Reid pointed out that it is enshrined in our Constitution that the government must govern in the interest of all the people, regardless of race or political opinions.
In the practical application, ours is a spoils system, the party that is “in” getting the lion’s share of it. The government of the day, the one in control of the national vault, employs (gives contracts to) those who it feels can best help it to implement the programs it promised in its manifesto. Top jobs (contract officers) in the Public Service go to competent people who are cozy with the government, or those who are NOT at odds with the party weh di run things. When the Blues were in, we know who got the jobs. Now the Reds run things, ditto. The most those of us who do not own party cards can expect is a little feeding off the crumbs, and a good bite into what the GoB’s crowd is not equipped to handle, sometimes.
There have been calls for transparency in the handing out of contracts. The idea is that Tom PUP, Dick UDP, Harry VIP/PNP, and Jane No P will be afforded equal opportunity when bidding for government contracts. There have been calls for less political influence in the distribution of land, scholarships, etc.
There are calls for a system that runs without the day-to-day interference of the politicians.
But, if a new government feels that a previous government has stacked the ranks of the decision makers in the Public Service with their party hacks, it would be foolish for them to keep their hands off the process. Indeed, if the UDP government seriously wanted to implement a system that can run “justly” without their hands on, they would have to root out of the Public Service ALL personnel at decision making level who are perceived to have bias, especially for the former government. That cure could prove worse than the disease.
Of course, it is quite expedient for politicians to apply the hands on when they have the reins, to balance things.
This columnist’s experience in the Public Service being limited to a two-month stint as a temporary assistant second class clerk, hihn kyaahn talk about what goes on in the belly of that beast. The way it looks from the outside is that both parties play the game, and those true professionals who serve only country, toe the line, or get out.
He is the Man
It is that time of year when we marvel at the Man, Jesus Christ. The Christians say that if you take away the fact of His birth from a virgin, you take away His mission. The Christians say that if you take away the fact that He is the direct Son of God, you take away His mission. The Christians say that if you take away the fact that He was raised from the dead, you take away His mission.
Jesus Christ belongs to the Christians. But all sinners can see that this was one incredible hombre. He talked the talk; He walked the walk; He showed the way. The way He lived is all the testament most of us need.
Mexico could use a couple big Blacks
It doesn’t bother me that Mexico can’t handle Honduras. But it’s a major issue that the land of baseball (and American football, basketball) hot dog, apple pie and Chevrolet own their butt. Real football in America (USA) barely exists. The only fans of the sport are “new Americans”, folk from foreign lands. There’s a rage in youth soccer, oops, football, but as soon as American kids grow up they give up the sport and go follow the games they consider their own: baseball, American football, and basketball.
Many American sportscasters ignore football. Some of them flat out disparage God’s game. One in particular, Jim Rome (he must be one of those unfortunate clods with two left feet), gets on ESPN television and makes comments you’d reserve for over the hill boxers like Evander Holyfield, and old Belizean men who staff the FFB. What an ignoramus to hib words at glorious football. Football is the only sport that demands that you bring a full package of athletic gifts to the table: agility, endurance, strength, savvy, and speed. A person who can master the game of football can master any sport. Football is king!
In the land of the Aztecs, they are like how we used to be about football. The Mexicans are passionate…ball hounds, ball pers. So, it must be a terrible blow to their national psyche to see their national team whipped, humbled by a nation that absolutely doesn’t care. Losing land north of the Rio Grande can be blamed on the politicians. But firing coaches can’t cover up failure on the football pitch forever. If the Mexicans don’t do something fast about their football failures, an inferiority complex will become as ingrained in their culture as Mariachi; so, a word of advice to them from a friendly neighbor south of Payo Bispo. I think what you need is a couple Blacks in your team.
It’s not racist talk. All the races are athletic, but they have different flavors. Put them all together and you get a better soup.
Because of racism, black people are just beginning to explore their potential in football. For decades football was the turf of Whites in Europe. Brazil, since the sixties, and France, since the eighties, infused Blacks and Morenos into their teams. You can check the results. Brazil has five World Cups, and France, which has one, could/should have bagged three. The French came close twice with the Michel Platini teams which featured the Moreno, Jean Tigana, and the Blacks, Marius Tresor and Desaille (?). They lost out to Germany because they insisted on playing elegant (entertainment) football.
All white Germany, and Italy have won the Cup with their rugged, brutal style of football. Mexico doesn’t play that style, so they need to increase their talent pool. I like their young striker, Carlos Vela, but at this stage in his career he is the number six card in Arsenal’s twin striker system (Arsenal is one of the top clubs in the British Premier League (BPL)), and their number eight or nine call in their four-man middle.
Mexico’s answer, to fire their coach after their team got a drubbing from Honduras (a team that features a number of blacks, including Wilson Palacios, who has turned Tottenham Hotspur into one of the most dangerous clubs in the BPL), is just for show. With a couple big Blacks in their lineup alongside Castillo and Guardado, any coach would look good. Boy, if the fabulous Cuatehmoc Blanco had had a couple powerful Blacks beside him in Korea they would not only have schooled the USA, they would have won the Cup.
Maybe there is an FFB type gang ruling Mexican football. The Americans, who have a number of big Whites, have less need of big Blacks in their lineup. They have attracted a number of Blacks that don’t fit that “power” mold. The Mexicans have not attracted any Blacks. As a consequence they have not kept pace with the football hating Americans.
Braa, I don’t even watch Mexico versus the good old USA anymore. It is way too depressing. I don’t hate the Americans. I have a number of heroes over there. But when it comes to football, I want to see them at the very bottom of CONCACAF. It’s what their “fans” deserve.
|