Letter: The price of freedom is eternal vigilance

The significant change which took place on May 24th remains in place, and impatience ought not to diminish its magnitude.

While the country looks towards a paradigm shift and instant sighting of Utopia, these further changes require time and patience. Recall that for “efficiency”, UDeCOTT in Manning’s words, cut corners. The new government must not follow suit to our eternal detriment.

What changed on May 24th was the dethronement of a dictator in the making who saw the nation as his own fiefdom, to run as his personal property and the people as his subjects expected to be appreciative of his rights and bestowed favours.

Mega projects against the nation’s interest have been halted, and efforts are being made to address essential matters in proper order of priority. Obscene unjustified expenditure will no longer be exploited by officials for personal benefit.

The crises which the new administration inherited were years in the making and cannot be resolved overnight by the wave of a wand.

While I resent the idea of a foreign CoP, if the new GORTT decides to go that route with safeguards, I shall be content to give it some slack.

If some ministers appear arrogant as some seem to perceive, I prefer to view them as confident. Time will differentiate one from the other.

Reason demands that the GORTT be permitted time and space to function and to find its legs.

Murder and crime will be rolled back because there is the political will to accomplish this without fear or favour.

There is no doubting the sincerity of the new PM and her willingness to serve the people. Yet the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and constructive criticism of the GORTT will be expected.

M.F. Rahman.