What does a political party gain when it allows individuals to use its platform to make statements that sow seeds of ethnic discord? It couldn’t be that it thinks such strategies would sway voters. If the leadership doesn’t know what a speaker intends to say, then the party should have guidelines on what is acceptable platform behaviour.
The allegations by the former director of Intelligence of the National Security Agency that he'd been asked to fire all East Indians was imprudent. Later in a press conference, he claimed that he didn’t say it was the Prime Minister or the Minister of National Security who'd given the order, and another person had passed on instructions to him. Credibility was nil. The platform performance wasn't only to his shame, but to the political party’s leadership who up to the time of writing hadn’t disassociated itself from the statements he'd made during the party's meeting. There would always be people who’re blind to unethical conduct for whatever reason, but that isn’t the standard expected of leaders who should be advocates for tolerance among citizens regardless of differences and the prejudices ingrained in the culture of humans. All too often, politicians and others use race divisively in attempts to advance political goals. It is essential that on each occasion, citizens firmly denounce those who intentionally offend the values of the Constitution and promote discord.
The dire state of leadership is apparent in many places as we witness worldwide trends of aggressive xenophobia under the guise of nationalism and based on notions of cultural supremacy. And too, the depravity in putting economic interests before the environment that sustains life. It is up to the people in those countries to act as they see fit against those trends. Here, we must use our energies in building a harmonious and productive culture, and by example, teach our children to appreciate the message of the national anthem, which promotes our country as a peaceful one where every creed and race find an equal place.
It is vexing that a political party, which once was in government and seeking to do so again, would waste platform time by allowing an individual to offload toxic baggage on the shoulders of citizens when there are so many national problems requiring mature deliberations and solutions. And yes, racism is an issue. In a sense, a type of justice has prevailed as the political platform performance revealed individual and party character flaws that are inconsistent with leadership positions of trust.
From another perspective, the time has come when citizens shouldn’t blame only political leaders when their performance is not in keeping with public expectations. A leader is as strong as the team he or she leads. If the executive members of a political party or in the Government’s case, the Cabinet, fail to challenge decisions that are not in the interest of society, then they too, are culpable. By all means, do so behind closed doors, but the public should hold the entire executive accountable.
It would serve the interest of the country if politicians took time out and reflected on the mood and state of the country. Afterwards, hit the campaign trail with novel and engaging ideas to stimulate the economy and create employment instead of the retrograde behaviour we have continued to witness. Have they observed the increasing number of padlocks on businesses downtown, in other communities, and the malls? Have they devised a plan for cleaning up at the back of the Beetham residences along the highway and preserving a healthy environment generally? Are they concerned about the deterioration of commercial communities along the East/West Corridor? Are they worried about child abuse and children who drop out of school?
What lessons the politicians have learned about community relations, diversity, tourism, and micro-enterprise from the successful CARIFESTA? There was an excellent spirit of camaraderie and solidarity at the festival. How can those lessons shape national policies?
If they haven’t learned anything from that remarkable event and history, and continue to pursue asinine backward strategies, then we need cocoyea brooms to sweep them clean at the polls.