Untitled Document

A value added problem
My Dear Green Man,
I thought I must write to you because, though you may not have noticed it, more than half a year of your rule has now come to an end. And, the people will soon start asking what you have achieved and even more importantly what you have not achieved in this period. Remember, Green Man, like instant lotteries and instant noodles, they want instant solutions to their problems.

And I can almost predict your answer, Green Man. You would say that you have achieved instant peace in the country-though of course we still do not know how long it will last. We do have to give credit to you for the fact that, after all is said and done, there have been no suicide bombings, landmines and massacres over the past few months and that is largely due to your courageous decision to deal with the Tigers. Bear in mind though that it can still go horribly wrong and then you-and maybe you alone- will be held responsible!

But, Green Man, what is worrying many is the fact that now, this 'peace'-and of course the lifting of the power cuts, thanks largely due to the Weather Gods- seem to be the only silver lining in an otherwise dark sky. There are plenty of other issues bothering the people and unlike previous green governments, this one seems to be rather slow in getting its act together.

That invisible factor called the cost of living-which you liked to talk so much about while in the opposition- is still rising and rising very fast at that and your colleagues are saying it is all due to the mismanagement of the previous regime. Now, Green Man, the people know that the blues said that they couldn't put things right because of what you did in your seventeen previous years, so it is time to forget all that nonsense and put things right. Or else, before you knew what hit you, you could be in the opposition benches again!

Of course, your colleagues have shown that they can be efficient when they want to. They have interrogated generals, security chiefs, actors and even former fashion designers with great enthusiasm. They have even probed Satellite's vehicle purchases Surely, why can't they put the same enthusiasm to work when they are tackling the problems of the people?

Why, it seems your colleagues cannot control a tiny mosquito and even your beloved old school had to shut down. We do remember the greens blaming the blues when the last Dengue epidemic hit the country. It does seem like history is repeating itself, with only a change in the colours, isn't it?

Then there are the other little things, Green Man, that are little things no doubt, but go a long away. Take for instance the issue about who is going to represent the country at the Cricket bosses meeting in London. It may be just the issue of someone wanting a trip to London but then, it also gives the lie to the belief that you stand for justice and fairplay-though of course you seem to have sorted that matter finally.
So, Green Man, think about these issues, will you? I'm sure the people still prefer the greens to the blues but don't expect that state of affairs to last long, especially if the bus ticket, the bread and the boomithel cost that much more, especially with VAT looming in the horizon though no one seems to know whether it will be introduced or not!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS- And if I am not mistaken, I believe your days are numbered too. Remember, six months more and Satellite can dissolve the House and do what she pleases. What do you plan to do about that?

5th Column Archives

Back to Columns