Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's obvious attempt at rapprochement with key segments of the society is a clear signal to all that the time is near for preparation for the election.
More than what the PM said to her party about preparations, her recent meetings with the business community, segments of the labour movement and others is primarily an indication that the PM recognises that her party, the United National Congress, has to reach out and make alliances if it is to win support outside of its base constituencies. If not a new coalition party, a coalition of alliances is the signal of the prime minister.
It is significant too that Mrs Persad-Bissessar has first addressed business and labour, which is a clear indication that the productive functioning of the economy is vital for her government to seek a return to office.
In addition to the discussions on arriving at some form of consensus to have the economy perform in the face of falling energy prices, PM Persad-Bissessar has also very importantly established a team of her ministers to meet and discuss the difficulties that large segments of the business community have been having with accessing sufficient quantities of foreign exchange under the new system of purchasing hard currencies from the Central Bank.
With difficulties in the economy and an election that must come by September, the PM has realised that something has to be done to free business operators of the hard currency problem if her government were to face them to ask for their electoral support.
Another action of deep interest was the Prime Minister's overture to Chaguanas West MP and former UNC chairman Jack Warner in Parliament, this week.
In reference to the much-criticised toy distribution exercise she told Mr Warner: "At one time you were very much on my side helping distribute toys also...perhaps one day we may see that time come again, side-by-side." It was Mr Warner who more than any other single person was responsible for the measure of electoral acceptance the coalition received along the East-West Corridor in 2010.
Basdeo Panday has given us the truism that "politics has a morality of its own," and therefore no one should be shocked at the possibility of an election entente between the two–notwithstanding the bitterness of the last 18 months.
Fueling such a possibility of mending the relationship with Mr Warner must be the thinking of the UNC campaign strategists that for the party to hold office it has to find a way to win support outside its political constituency in Central and South Trinidad, ie, along the Corridor. Jack may once again be seen as the broker.
Next, the prime minister would be expected to find a way to develop something of a positive working relationship with the Tobago House of Assembly, at least to soften any antagonism that Tobago may have against the People's Partnership government.
While all of this is good and sensible electoral politics, it is a pity that the sense of consensus building between and among Government, the business community and at least one segment of the labour movement is not seen as an all-year round requirement outside the cut and thrust of party politics.
Whatever the political and electoral outcome of the working together, the hope of the national community is for the emergence of lasting structures and examples of cooperation for the future, whichever government is in power.