Dear Editor,
I am a concerned citizen; one who has gone to, and enjoyed the Mashramani celebrations over the years. I am also security conscious, especially when it involves quite a large number of people, including children, attending activities where there is fun and frolic.
I, therefore, have no choice but to respond to a letter published on February 1, 2017, in another section of the media by Mr Clayton F Halley, who has taken issue with the change of the Mash route and the “security risks” mentioned by Minister Henry as one of the considerations that warranted such a change. People oppose change(s), even if such a change results in something better.
The change of the route could never have been done unilaterally; stakeholders had to be involved. Therefore, any insinuation that the Minister changed the route should not be entertained.
Mr Halley is harping on having seen various stakeholders complaining about how the route will affect them, but fails to recognise and mention that stakeholders have also expressed security concerns about the route; these concerns had to be addressed sooner or later; the sooner, the better. I am quite sure that the wisdom behind the change of route will be appreciated in time to come.
I was also concerned about the short route, but I am heartened by the fact that it has been extended, and so are many persons with whom I have interacted.
Let us look at the bigger picture. Mash is “our thing”, so let us all go out and have fun.
Sincerely,
F Meusa
