by Deepa BHOOKUN

I am very happy that we?re reaping the fruits of an early harvest. Overjoyed, really. But my enthusiasm is weighed down by the awe I feel in the face of such overwhelmingly rapid results. But hey, I am not about to quarrel with the man who spends his time talking to figures I don?t master, huh? Unlike some much uninspired politicians I know. Rama Sithanen says figures speak for themselves and cannot be manipulated. I don?t know about that one. Man has proved successful in manipulating practically everything under the sun. Logic tells me, however, that the minister of Finance would be daft to attempt to manipulate anything - especially his well-loved figures because there is something that politicians have ignored for a long time but that is rapidly proving to be the ultimate truth - everything comes out eventually.

And, as somebody rightly said, there is no tribunal crueler than that of the people, at election time.

Having said this, one has to be blind not to see that the measures taken last year have started yielding results. One just needs to look around; this country is becoming a happening place.

Accountants, human resource managers and software engineers - to name but a few - are in so great demand that employers are haggling over salaries to be paid to them. The job market is so rich with possibilities that job mobility is now the order of the day; the jobs - and the salaries that come with - are out there and out for grabs. All one needs to do is update one?s training or re-skill oneself. It is worth the hassle because it promises financial benefits as well as adrenaline-boosting jobs. Nowadays one doesn?t have to resort to trade unionists to secure a pay rise; if the employee is good, the company will pay. If the company doesn?t pay, the employee moves on because his skills will be needed elsewhere at a much higher price. Isn?t this great? This is happening here and now. Except that one needs to want to be part of the game; this race cannot be won in theory. Unfortunately so many young people in this country are too happy to sit and whine about the rising cost of living and about how hard life is without doing anything about it.

They are right on this one, however; life is indeed hard and getting harder and this is something Mr Sithanen needs to address, magic wand or not. The trickle down effect of growth is simply not being felt, prices are soaring and life is simply not fun when one can?t afford to do anything much. The fruit is indeed ripening.

This we can feel. But, for goodness? sake, let us not lull people into thinking that the harvest is ready when we can feel it is not. The time for harvest hasn?t come yet but it?s on its way. This simple truth would have been understood by people: whatever some may say, honesty still remains the best policy.

But when will politicians ever pay the compliment of telling the truth to a nation?