Bad leaders make their people suffer

 Points of Interpretation

Who is the bad leader?

What shows that he/she is a bad leader?

How does he make the subjects suffer?

NB: The suffering of the people/citizens/subjects must be clearly brought out for the candidate to score a full mark

Introduction

Maracas Municipality plays host to poor leadership in the characters of the Mayor and his coterie. These leaders are responsible for the pathetic life that their subjects are forced to endure.

(Accept any other relevant introduction) 2marks

ILLUSTRATIONS

S(i) Seymour

Seymour is a bad leader who makes his people suffer. His department is responsible for the delay in approval of building plans. One has to “part with dollars for their plans to be approved. He superintends a rotten building inspectorate unit that does not enforce the building standards. As a result, people can build anything as long as they are able to bring. This makes those who inhabit such houses to risk of losing their lives in case the buildings collapse. The mayor says: “I shudder to think of what will happen to the people living in these buildings if a big earthquake strikes,” P. 66. This threat on the people’s lives is made worse by the knowledge that the region is the most seismically active area in the Caribbean. It is therefore just a matter of time before disaster happens. OR He is famous for drug-trafficking. He has sold drugs the whole of his life. He has used drug money for campaigns winning a seat in the Chambers. Because of his drug related activities Maracas has earned a negative reputation as a hub in narcotics trafficking. His drugs have affected many youths who have dropped out of school, “become cabbage,” died, roam aimlessly or become mad. Pp. 66-67 OR He operates a murderous gang referred to as the Black Swan Gang. It is the gang that is behind the many mysterious disappearances of people. It is behind the many shootings and mayhem that is always reports in the newspapers. When he learns that his name has been mentioned in bad light in the Samaritan he declares: “Those behind the allegations have their appointment with fate” p. 25 his gang kills innocent people creating in them fear and panic. Even the mayor fears mentioning his name. p. 66-67; 70

S(ii) Ted

Ted as the secretary of Health and Environment makes the people of Maracas suffer. He is accused of supplying air and the companies associated with him are paid. As a result, there are no drugs in the hospitals. P. 91. “The waste disposal system is in a terrible state.” P. 33. Garbage is strewn all over the place and the drainages are broken. This poses a serious health hazard to the people. OR He is said to have dropped out at the kindergarten making him ill prepared for the business at the Chambers. No wonder he makes no sense at all on the floor of the Chamber. The people who elected him suffer misrepresentation. Their concerns are not articulated making them lag behind in development matters. He spends all his time in night clubs making the Chamber reek of alcohol instead of doing the work for which he as elected. P. 65

S(iii) Ramdaye

Ramdaye, the deputy mayor, makes his people suffer. As the municipal secretary for the Department of Physical Infrastructure, he presides over shoddy work done by his relatives. In the construction and maintenance of secondary roads, no road is ever constructed. “Only a few kilometres of the roads are dug up then levelled. The contractor then pours black oil and claims that the road is tarmacked. The roads are in a pathetic state. They are sad to resemble “abandoned battle fields “where bombs detonated. Even tractors can get stuck in those roads.” As a result, movement of the people and access is curtailed. They cannot move easily because of the poor state of the roads courtesy of Ramdaye. OR He uses his relatives to do business with the Municipality. His office is sad to look like the family residence. His company and those of his relatives are involved in the construction of bridges, pavements, drains and watercourses. Because they do shoddy jobs, the drains are broken exposing the people to serious health hazard. The people stand the risk of falling sick. 62-63. OR The Marcul people suffer by being conned and swindled by Ramdaye. The Mayor says he can never accomplish anything in his life other than swindle the people. “You always find him… sells the same plot to ten different people.”

S(iv) Jaden

Jaden, as the head of the judiciary, subjects innocent people to agony when he dishes out justice like cabbages. He confesses that litigants gave him money to determine cases in their favour and that he was taking bribes because it was the normal thing to do. Pp. 69-70. OR He involves himself in the “Rodent-gate Affair” through the Prime Orchard Ltd with the hope of creating artificial grain short shortage so that he can import grain and sell exorbitantly. The people would suffer hunger and forced to buy the basic commodity expensively. Pp. 105-113

S(v) Mayor Mossi

Mossi abdicates his role of leadership and allows the cartel to run the show. As the man on whom the municipality depends on, he fails them miserably. He is accused of political capture. For example, he admits that he only takes three slices because the people’s bread comes through him. Pp. 67-68. Seymour says that they know how much he had stolen. P. 34. He sponsors his cronies such as Ted by giving them campaign money thereby subjecting the people to suffering.

Pp. 33-35

S(vi) Bembe

Bembe uses his position to oppress innocent people. He has turned the Municipal police force into a personal outfit collecting bribes from the guilty and innocent alike. He has a terror gang, Ghettoboyz which he uses to perpetrate terror on innocent gatherings and robs people all over the municipality. P. 41. OR He makes Nicole suffer psychologically when accuses Nicole of murder and stealing the school generator. He arrests her and arraigns her in court. She suffers humiliation for crimes she did not commit. Pp. 93-98.

(Accept any 4 well-illustrated points. Mark 3;3;3;3. Total 12 marks) Grammar and Presentation. 4 marks.