Halifa,
      I am one who always hold you in high esteem, and I have followed your
political discourse since from the beginning over these past several years. I
have also learnt a lot from your political education, which many people like me
have also gone through. I have never doubted for one moment your sincerity,
and your commitment to the realization of the ideals that will ensure a
peaceful, stable and prosperous country that we can all call our home.

     I want to believe that the Constitution is the most important document
in our country; that it is the glue that holds our country together. In our
country we have people who hold different allegiances; people who belong to
different language groupings; people who belong to different religious and cultural
backgrounds; people who have different interest, and all these differences
are continually in a state of conflict. It is therefore a constitution, to which
we all subordinate our interest, that creates the delicate balance of our
collective commitment to exist as a nation. Anytime our diverse interest
militates against the basis of our constitution, it creates anarchy and chaos.

    I am therefore very worried, even though most would like to see
provisions in our constitution that faciltates term limits for the presidency; curtail
the excesses of the executive, and entreched clauses in which power can never
be monopolized and consolidated by one group, the further erosion and
compromisation of the basic principles that establish a liberal democratic culture, is
a grave cause for concern.

     Those who are responsible for upholding and defending our constitution,
if they cannot make amendments to further empower the people, they should
never make amendments that will limit the ability of the people to make choices to
determine their destiny and the future of their country.

     I trust your voice will always remain the one that I know and cherish
over these years. Regards

     Rene

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