Madam PM, firstly, congratulations on being the first elected female Prime Minister. Even the great USA has not had that distinction as yet and, the way things are going, might have to wait a while longer.
Let us start with something positive. The previous MP for Naparima will not be returning. He proved to be quite an elusive chap. It was always extremely arduous to locate him.
A certain male politician said he will sleep with the devil to remove a certain government from office. Last check the devil was still male.
One of the many things the UNC "promised" was a fixed election date. A "promise" is a comfort to a fool.
Politicians lie for a living. Whatever they say and promise is a lie. That is their job. They tell us what they know we want to hear.
Where I live we have been promised a recreation ground over 50 years now. Do you think we are waiting in vain? I hope not.
Governments have come and gone. Through opposition and being in charge, absolutely nothing. One has to take it with a kilogram of salt.
The two main combatants, PNM and UNC, are ready to do battle. The ILP is going after the "undecided" if such a voter exists.
Their leader has fallen from grace. Why would someone with wealth and power have a curry tabanca?
Madame PM, you profess to be different from the PNM but you are imitating their actions and anticipating different results. Do you know what that is a definition of?
The previous leader of the PNM always had the election date in his back pocket. Where is he now?
It is always the "mother, father and children" of all elections. We have heard that some many times before, it is like a recurring decimal.
It is always going to be a close election, even when the results were 33-3. There are 41 seats, an odd number, there is going to be a result.
Somebody is going to win and someone has to lose. The pollsters always say it is too close to call or they chain up the incumbent to lose as many a PM have found out the hard way.
Polls do not win elections. People who come out and vote for their party, not stay home and cook and then complain, do.
At one of the party's rallies there is a rather disturbing depiction of an individual who seems to have a drinking problem and is intoxicated. Come on people, that is no laughing matter.
This could only happen in Trinidad, nowhere else in the world.
Like it or not, at present that person is a representation of all of us.
If you were a US citizen, which all of us seem to be aspiring toward, would you disrespect the president? Not for all the rum at Angostura. What is joke for schoolboys is death for crapaud.
Let us discuss ideas not individuals. Bell ringing and horn blowing is noise and distraction. Respect the office. Tell us your strengths, not the weakness of others.
One thing the present PM can always find is an AfroTrini to shake hands with wherever she goes, even to the North Pole. If your government has performed, you do not have anything to worry about, do you?
People want to exhale. Foreigners want to invest in the country.
What is the worst thing that could happen? You could win. Do you want to win? There is nothing to fear except fear itself.
Do what is right, because it is right. Go brave, fortune favours the brave.
I wish you well.
Madame PM, many fell under your watch. Some sort of record, I am sure.
It is either you are the most severe assessor or the poorest recruiter.
If you get a second chance, a second bite of the mango I can recommend an excellent HR professional who will psychometrically test all potential ministers.
John Public, if when this administration assumed office, you were eating rice and fry alloo and your meal has not changed, you know what to do. The poor remain poor, the colour of the jersey changes to suit the government of the day.
Whatever the results, the real winners will come from the West.
God bless our nation.
AV Rampersad,
Princes Town.