The streets, sidewalks, and most empty or vacant lots, even dry ghuts, were totally free of refuse. He actually had to strain his eyes to find any litter anywhere. Then he ambled by the O’Neal Gas Station, a centrally located facility, and there was no smell of the usual sewage in the vicinity: a toxic and noxious brew.

What a thing. They say a new broom sweeps clean: let’s hope this new broom sweeps this effectively for the next four years. Cruise ship passengers and overseas guests will have a much ‘nicer experience’ of Road Town as a result of a new rendition of clean, not to mention the country’s peoples.

On the other side of the political spectrum however, some eyebrows have already been raised owing to a couple of apparently politically motivated decisions. One of these is certainly unpopular with a good section of the general public, and may not play out too well in the long term. But let’s see! And in any case, that is simply the nature of politics. As this Observer warned in an article weeks ago, before the change of government on November 7, 2011, in politics there are always winners and losers!

It is understandable that many are nervous in certain halls of the Public Service. And a political appointee is just that, a political appointee, doing the political bidding of his political patron while in office, a patron who is a god father figure. And that political appointee usually lasts as long as the politician who hired him possesses power. When the government is voted out of office, the political appointee is frequently left with a saddle, but no horse!

Those established Public Officers on the other hand, who are unwisely and overtly politically activist in their statements and behavior, or modus operandi, can only blame themselves when an election brings in the dreaded ‘new government,’ and they are usually the people left with egg on their faces.

Depending on a politician for favours and career advancement in the Public Service can turn out to be a double edged sword if that politician leaves through a change of government. So to be fore warned is to be fore armed! Always handle this aspect of your job with utmost care!

The wise Public Officer on the other hand never shows his or her political preference, and exerts every effort to remain politically neutral on the job. Then again, do bear in mind that many innocent Officers get tarnished with the political activist brush for no other reason than doing their jobs, and doing what is right: sad, but true!

Now, be warned politicians, the people of the Virgin Islands are focused laser like on the political process these days, as the Virgin Islands Party is well aware! The New Speaker of the Second House of Assembly, Honorable Ingrid Scatliffe-Moses, rightly stated at the First Sitting of the House of Assembly after the General Election on December 8, 2011, that ‘’ the people of the Virgin Islands are watching.’’ Indeed they are, Honorable!

Now, these Virgin Islands possess a Press Machine and Fourth Estate that is second to none. Namely, the print media’s BVI Standpoint, BVI Beacon, and Island Sun. Then add the online news media, Virgin Islands News Online, British Virgin Islands News, BVI Platinum, and a number of new guys on the block. Not forgetting television and radio. This is a paradigm that in this Pilgrim’s honest opinion is cutting edge, and bold: a contemporary digital and news dynamic that brings the news story to the reader, watcher and listener’s attention and ‘pronto.’

Another thing is this: a more intrusive press appears to be a new and permanent feature in the land, a development that began with the onset of online news on these 60 islands in the sun just a few years ago.

A new dynamic has been generated that is aggressive and pervasive, even ubiquitous, and radio and TV are also part of this dynamic, and this a good thing for the nation’s democratic traditions: in other words, this is good for good governance.

This December 2011, these Virgin Islands possess a precious culture of press freedom and social democracy. And many may wince and cry at the ‘trauma’ caused by the anonymous blogger, or impulsive and raw posting, and ‘unfair story,’ but I say, ‘leave it alone.’ We are all better off for these freedoms of expression and the press. Believe me, it could be a lot worse. Imagine living in a Syria or Iran: the ‘wrong statement’ or piece of writing could get you locked up, tortured and murdered. Some sage person said once: ‘no gain without pain.’ Another: ‘’give me freedom, or give me death.’’

OK, a common theme running through the Virgin islands press in recent days has been that of the importance of good governance, and the BVI Standpoint on December 1, 2011, in its editorial, pointed out that‘’ to this day, the people of this territory are yet to get a true picture of the country’s financial situation. No one knows how much money the Virgin Islands Party left in the Treasury before they were voted out of office.’’ Is this interesting and even alarming news? Yes, it certainly is!

Happily, this story was superseded by the Premier’s speech of December 6, 2011, in which the Country’s Leader stated that his Government met a running deficit of 51 million dollars, with unpaid bills for capital projects to the tune of 20 million dollars, with nearly 15 million dollars in contracts ‘’ a large portion signed in the waning hours of the last administration.’’ Here was the country’s leader being transparent!

The BVI Beacon’s Editorial of November 16, 2011, spoke of a related issue under the heading: ‘’ Election Fraud Allegations are Serious.’’ This story told of anomalies that took place during the last election campaign such as ‘’ undemocratic activities on Saturday and Sunday before poll day such as issuance of small contracts and white envelopes’’ and the notion that ‘’ this year’s campaigns were rife with oblique references to the distribution of envelopes that some candidate implied contained bribes.’’ These are serious allegations!

But the issue further speaks to the poor state of transparency this small country suffered for four long years. We must never go back to opaque government: transparency is a cornerstone of good governance!

In an article on transparent government in the November 19, 2011 edition of the Economist Magazine, a global news media, the staff writer described how ‘’ technology has certainly made putting arcane data online easier in recent years.’’ In other words, technology is a boon to transparency. The internet is a great asset for the general public, but it can be a double edged sword for the politician! Remember New York’s Weiner?

That writer from the Economist further added that, ‘’ the real push for transparency has come from scandals that often breed in opaque government.’’ Bring this assertion home to the Virgin Islands, and one wonders whether the Bi-Water issue would have been so toxic to so many in the public had the government of the time been more transparent sharing details of the contract speedily and readily with Joe Plumber and Pan Handle. Too much secrecy breeds suspicion, and allows a country’s leaders to cut corners to the ultimate detriment of everyone.

The Economist further quoted one Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review, a wiki driven organization that grades state and local governments for their transparency. Barnhart determined that it was important to let ‘’ sunshine penetrate the dark bureaucracies spending taxpayer’s money.’’ I absolutely agree sir!

Now, has anyone observed a new trend on social media, specifically Facebook, where politicians in the Virgin Islands appear much more forthcoming and even exuberant about keeping the ‘man on the street’ informed about their motives and intentions?

This social media user certainly has, and he considers this an excellent development, and even a boon to more transparent government. What a thing, and keep it up!