What will the new ministers do in their ministries? What can they do? We do not know either. The ministers themselves are unsure because the appointments are made so suddenly. The ministers learn of their appointment only a few hours before the general public gets the news. Naturally the new appointees have had no time to prepare any program and are unable to do so until after they have been in the new job for a few months.
The minister should first become familiar with all aspects of the ministry’s work and then begin making what he feels are necessary changes within the ministry. We all hope that the minister’s interests, specializations and experience are relevant to his new position. If, on the other hand, the ministry’s programs and concerns are far from the ministers’ interests and concerns, then there is great need for him to study issues and do his best to understand them.
Some local newspapers write about people’s requests and expectations within a day or two of the new minister’s taking office. I wish that the newspapers would compare today’s requirements and expectations with those of 8 or 10 years ago. What I wonder is whether there is any difference between today’s expectations and those of the past? Listing and comparing them is the only way to find out.
It would be better to have an outgoing minister look at what he outlined as his expectations when he took office and compare them with what has been achieved. He should also admit unhesitatingly where he has failed to do what he hoped to do.
Unsurprisingly, none of this happens. One minister leaves quietly and another comes in equally quietly. The public forgets about them fairly soon since few of them influence anything beyond the routine and red tape of their offices. Ministers come and ministers go but life goes on.
