The country's eyes are on the government. Give in to the lawless thugs and it will have signed its death warrant.

Shortly after being returned to power in 1987, the Nationalist government made a feeble attempt to reclaim the land stolen by similarly lawless persons.

Confronted by determined resistance by those land robbers, the government climbed down. The signal went out loud and clear: stand up to the government in sufficient numbers and you become above the law.

The effects of that ill-advised government retreat have since been very manifest: many sectors with diverse vested interests have since held the Nationalist government to ransom and most have got away with it.

This government was voted into power a few months ago by a small majority, mainly due to the stupidity of the Labour opposition.

In five years' time, the government will again face the electorate. My feelings are that the Nationalists will then be judged by their actions, or inactions, to correct the many blatant injustices that have been allowed to exist for far too long.

In the present impasse, the people are backing the government to the hilt, except for a tiny blinkered minority.

Let the government give in one more time and my perception is that the next election, far away as it is, would already have been lost.