As we await the possible release of some or all of a legal opinion solicited by the Director General regarding the Town’s decision to close the beach when there is no supervision, the rumour mill continues to churn.

Despite crowded, vocal public Council meetings, despite a 500-name petition, despite allegations that the mayor has given false reasons for the closures, the Mayor, Council and, it seems, the Director General steadfastly maintain that their decision will prevail; the wishes of the citizens are pushed aside.

In numerous conversations amongst citizens that surround this impasse, one of the most consistant conclusions is that there must be something else behind shutting people out of using the public beach. And that suggestion leads to speculation as to what Council has up its sleeve.

And speculation is only part of the problem when there is a total absence of communication. Beyond the issue of the beach, only one example,  are the questions of acting as a community, of involving citizens before decisions have been taken, of expanding (rather than reducing) the role of volunteers, of accurately informing citizens of what is going on in their village.

And a community works best when there is leadership, without which important issues are not dealt with. Minor problems develop into major unresolved issues, distracting the Mayor and Council from the important issues and decisions which it ought to be tackling, while obscuring other issues that have been left unattended and that continue to burden our village.

We need to hear from our Mayor. We need communication on all the topics confronting our community: the development project, the communications tower, the town’s bridge and, yes, the beach.

Mr Mayor, we need you to speak to the citizens, now and regularly. We need to put speculation, uncertainty, lack of direction and unacceptable silence to rest.

Brian Merrett

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