Issues and Thematic Concerns in The Samaritan Act 2 Scene 2
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1. Misappropriation of public funds
The contractors are paid money for quality work, yet they do shoddy work for example the roads are left in very poor conditions like an abandoned battle field where bombs are detonated (P.62).
Mossi reveals to Nicole that many of the people in charge of tenders give to contractors who do shoddy work and misappropriate funds (P. 62-63).
Mossi also says that he is accused of inflating the cost of projects and presiding over shoddy municipal work (P. 62).
Ted , the Municipal secretary for the Department of Health and Environment is said to have eaten the whole hospital (P. 63). He also ensured that companies associated to his relatives and friends won tenders and he conspired with them to steal all the money they and budgeted for the health centers (P. 64). They only put on cite officesthat looked like cowsheds.
Anyone can build anything as long as they part with a dollar when they meet The Secretary to the Municipal Department of Planning and Development,Seymour (P. 65-66).
Mossi says a section of the Municipal leaders demand that he approves a budget of reallocating funds so as to give each council member money to fight court cases that might come up against them (P.68).
2. Greed and corruption
Mayor attempts to bribe Ms. Nicole and the students to withdraw the Samaritan App since it was exposing a lot of ills about the municipality leaders. He tells her to name the amount she needs.
Seymour is corrupt; he delays in issuing building approvals in Maracas municipality. The Mayor says that one cannot get a building approval unless one parts with some dollars.
Hon. Ted embezzles funds the Mayor accuses him of eating the whole hospital; he refers to him as “the bat”. He does so by giving tenders to his relatives and friends.
They only put up some site offices that look like cowshed.
Seymour bribed people to get into office hence they voted him unanimously (P 67).
He also bought a degree certificate downtown so that he can vie for leadership (P.67)
Anyone can build anything as long as they part with a dollar when they meet The Secretary to the Municipal Department of Planning and Development,Seymour (P. 65-66). Seymour does not care whether people adhere to proper building standards (P.66).
Nicole tells the Mayor that the leaders who are criminal should be judges in court and Mossi says judges are worse than temple robbers because they are part of the syndicate involved in corruption (P.67).
All the Municipal leaders eat the whole loaf together with the wrapping where possible and even the vendor (P.69).
Mossi says Hon. Ramdaye’s entire family including, in-laws, outlaws, great parents children and wife are doing all the Municipal projects under Ramdaye’s department (P.69).
Mossi also claims that Justice Ian Jaden has also granted his wife, relatives to conduct business with the municipal (P. 69).
Ramdaye, who is in charge of the construction of roads, does shoddy work yet he is paid well for the job (P.62).
People of Maracas municipality suffer because of the conman-like behaviour portrayed by Ramdaye of printing fake title deeds and selling the same piece of land to different people (P.63).
Hon. Ted also is greedy and selfish when he constructs some site offices that look like cowshed and pockets the rest of the money (P. 64).
Health facilities meant to benefit the community are not constructed and money is pocketed by people like Hon. Ted (P.64).
Seymour does not care whether people adhere to proper building standards (P.66).
Nicole tells the Mayor that the leaders who are criminal should be judges in court and Mossi says judges are worse than temple robbers because they are part of the syndicate involved in corruption (P.67).
3. Crime and Lawlessness
Hon. Seymour has a criminal gang ‘Black Swan gang’. The Mayor fears Seymour because he is very dangerous in town Seymour has a hand in them.
Seymour sells drugs and he is responsible for Narcotics trafficking making children to drop out of school. Some have died and others roam in the streets aimlessly.
Almost all the leaders are criminals in drug trafficking, murder, and corruption that destroys lives and loots from the people.
4. Abuse of office, misuse of power and Negligence of duty
The Mayor’s deputy uses his position to ensure that only his companies or those of his relatives win tenders for road construction in the municipality (P.62). The deputy doubles as a municipal secretary for the Department of Physical Infrastructure.
Ted, the Municipal secretary for the Department of Health and Environment is said to have eaten the whole hospital (P. 63). He also ensured that companies associated to his relatives and friends won tenders and he conspired with them to steal all the money they and budgeted for the health centers (P. 64). They only put on cite offices that looked like cowsheds.
People of Maracas municipality suffer because of the conman ship behaviour portrayed by Ramdaye of printing fake title deeds and selling the same piece of land to different people (P.63).
Anyone can build anything as long as they part with a dollar when they see they meet The Secretary to the Municipal Department of Planning and Development,
Seymour (P. 65-66). He also delays unnecessarily in issuing building approvals in the municipality and is a self-seeking secretary.
Seymour does not care whether people adhere to proper building standards (P.66).
Nicole tells the Mayor that the leaders who are criminal should be judges in court
and Mossi says judges are worse than temple robbers because they are part of the
syndicate involved in corruption (P.67).
Mossi says Hon. Ramdaye’s entire family including, in-laws, outlaws, great parents
children and wife are doing all the Municipal projects under Ramdaye’s department
(P.69).
Mossi also claims that Justice Ian Jaden has also granted his wife, relatives to conduct business with the municipal (P. 69).
Narine tells Mossi she had sent a copy of the letter a month ago, the Mayor says his in-tray is full of letters he because he has always been busy. Given that it is his duty to read every letter daily, it shows that he is not working at all (P.58).
5. Selfishness / Egocentrism and nepotism
Mossi fears what could happen in case an Earthquake strikes the buildings constructed in the municipality (P.66).
Ted, the Municipal secretary for the Department of Health and Environment is said to have eaten the whole hospital (P. 63). He also ensured that companies associated to his relatives and friends won tenders and he conspired with them to steal all the money they and budgeted for the health centers (P. 64). They only put on cite offices that looked like cowsheds.
People of Maracas municipality suffer because of the conman ship behaviour portrayed by Ramdaye of printing fake title deeds and selling the same piece of land to different people (P.63).
Anyone can build anything as long as they part with a dollar when they see they meet the Secretary to the Municipal Department of Planning and Development,Seymour (P. 65-66). He also delays unnecessarily in issuing building approvals in the municipality and is a self-seeking secretary.
Mossi says a section of the Municipal leaders demand that he approves a budget of reallocating funds so as to give each council member money to fight court cases that might come up against them (P.68). The reallocation of the budget is meant to cater for their interests.
Mossi says Hon. Ramdaye’s entire family including, in-laws, outlaws, great parents children and wife are doing all the Municipal projects under Ramdaye’s department (P.69).
Mossi also claims that Justice Ian Jaden has also granted his wife, relatives to conduct business with the municipal (P. 69).
6. Intimidation and Fear
Mossi fears what could happen in case an Earthquake strikes the buildings constructed in the municipality (P.66).
Seymour is implicated by Mossi as one who cannot be prosecuted because he is dangerous. He has a connection with the mysterious disappearance of people in town. He is also behind the Murderous Black Swan Gang, responsible for shooting and violence (P.66).
Mossi also threatens Nicole indicating that in case she does not delete any post in The Samaritan that casts on him in negative light she will learn of who Mossi-oa-Tunya is because he is a Mayor and he will do what she cannot discover(P.73).
7. Drug peddling and trafficking
Mossi says Seymour sells drugs i.e. Narcotic trafficking hence many children have dropped out of school (P 66-67).
He traffics drugs all over and that has led to the destruction of lives of many young people including his own. Some of them have ended up being cabbage and useless (P.67 and 70). Seymour’s wife is his own wife is cabbage too.
8. Blackmail
Mayor Mossi says that a section of the municipal leaders is demanding that he approves a budget reallocation to give each member money to fight court cases that might come up against them. In case he fails to do so, they will pass a vote- of- no confidence in him (P.68).
Mossi also threatens Nicole indicating that in case she does not delete any post in The Samaritan that casts on him in negative light she will learn of who Mossi-oa-Tunya is because he is a Mayor and he will do what she cannot discover (P.73).
9. Ignorance
Mossi insinuates that the citizens vote the leaders ignorantly without necessarily considering the leadership qualifications and that is why leaders end up not serving their interests (P.70).
They vote in leaders such as Seymour and Ted as a result of their opulence, the bribes they give them and how they dress in bling blings, satanic chains and other displays (P.65 and 70-71).
10. Escapism
Mossi says that the real culprit behind every problem in the society in the teaching profession. He says the teachers do not teach the right thing and the products who conduct mess are products on the school system (P 72).
He blames the judges too for hawking justice (P.69)
Though his the key leader of the Municipal he averts blame to his assistance such as the deputy, Seymour for not doing anything rather than selling drugs (P.70)
He also blames Ted for his nepotism and corrupt ways that eat into the councils’ funds (P.63).
He generally believes the voters are responsible for the poor leadership because they elected monkeys into the office and when it hollers they need not complain (P.71).
11. Education
Kids drop out of school because of drugs (P.67).
Ted is said to have been illiterate and makes no sense on the council floor. He quit school after kindergarten (P.65).
Mossi says Seymour is illiterate and he bought a degree downtown to qualify for apolitical position (P.65).
Mossi blames school system for the poor leaders too as all the people go through the hands of teachers before coming to the society (P.72)
She reports that she takes her work seriously and focuses on the mission of the school found in providing quality education to the children (P.56).