Despite his dhal-coloured kurta and the dazzling Indian Arrival Day outfits sported by his colleagues around him, Works Minister Jack Warner seemed off colour during the early segment of yesterday's House of Representatives. It couldn't have been the farmers sitting on the pavement outside the Red House which was weighing on Jack's mind. Indeed, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's car had whizzed right past them without nary a honk, even though they'd waited several hours in the broiling hot sun to talk to her. (But PM is also facing her own issues regarding a businessman friend's Tunapuna house.)
The Opposition couldn't have been a problem for Warner since former Prime Minister Patrick Manning's seat was fully occupied yesterday-by PNM MP Paula Gopee-Scoon's black purse. (On suspension from the House, Manning at that time was probably hotfooting it down the UB Highway en route to Chaguanas in the third leg of his gallop for democracy.) Fellow MP Tim Gopeesingh's fractured left arm, in a sling, may not have been at the heart of Warner's concern either. (Gopeesingh looked quite comfortable doing paperwork though sling-bound.) And Warner couldn't have been jealous that fellow MP Anil Roberts, in princely Indian garb, was looking prettier than him yesterday.
(Actually, so was PP's Herbert Volney in East Indian regalia and Roodal Moonilal sporting Bollywood Starboy chic in hot pink satin shirt and black jacket with sequinned epaulettes.) If Warner was so inclined, it was no contest either with Persad-Bissessar, whose blue and gold sari required no statutory warning from the Fashion Police. Despite strong statements to reporters post-session, Jack still looked-if not blue as Persad Bis-sessar's sari-quite subdued, pensive and glum in the early stages of the sitting. He sat slumped, hand to cheek in his chair, starting silently ahead.
Prior to that, Warner had spent almost 13 minutes deeply engrossed in the glowing blue face of his Smartphone, reading something or other. What really gave away his mindset was his lack of picong for the Opposition yesterday-not even on Manning's trek across the countryside. And the PNM also was unusually silent, though Warner's FIFA woes were very much in the air. In such abnormally quiet circumstances up to 2.25 pm, it turned out to be PP's Winston Dookeran who cracked the tension with a crack about the PNM "...doing a lot of walking." Warner snapped up. Government MPs dissolved in uproarious laughter and desk-pounding and it was political game on two minutes after that.
Warner was among those engaging the Opposition. PP's Rudy Indarsingh motioned to PNM's Colm Imbert with "walking" motions. "You ent walking...?" Indar-singh asked PNM MPs. "All you abandon your leader?!" added PP's Suruj Rambachan
PP internal challenges
For all the festive outfits on the Government side yesterday, the PP enters its second year weighted by the fact that its star performer, Warner, faces international allegations. Also, that its leading light, Persad-Bissessar, is under probe by the Integrity Commission regarding her conduct in connection with her stay at a businessman's Tunapuna house after assuming office last May. This, in light of the businessman's bid for a $40 million NP contract. Persad-Bissessar is being investigated by the same commission investigating ex-minister Mary King, who Persad-Bissessar fired two weeks ago for alleged "improper action."
Such matters were not explored in speeches at Tuesday's PP bash in Chaguanas, which yielded an impressively large public attendance. It presented an even more impressive picture regarding the mobilisation effort for hired private transport. Almost more than the crowds gathered in the southern end of Mid-Centre Mall (dwindling on the northern bounds which were packed for the last rally) were the l-o-n-g lines of mainly green and brown band maxi-taxis parked both sides of the highway.
Vehicles extended down the Southern Main Road and into streets along Chaguanas. A UNC spokesman said the PP "wanted to stay away from the PNM's pattern of using PTSC buses to transport members."
Over at PNM's Diego Martin meeting-a smaller venue-maxi-taxis were much less evident. Statements from PP's leadership at the rally confirmed Government's cognisance of public dissatisfaction over delivery and disagreements within its Partnership. One of the most telling-though indirect-words of advice to adhere to promises might have come from within the Cabinet itself via new minister Bhoe Tewarie's maiden address at Tuesday's Senate-on PP's anniversary. Tewarie, who played a major role in shaping PP's manifesto, noted that "Prosperity for all" (PP's campaign theme) becomes difficult if peace, security and stability are absent. He noted little hope for change -another campaign mantra-if people were not arrested for crimes.
Assuring his team-player capacity, Tewarie also touched on another important issue for Government's functioning and therefore its success in management and delivery. In fact, the flow and ebb from campaign high tide to falling ratings concerning PP personalities and performance have made Persad-Bissessar's realignment of portfolios-next ahead-even more necessary. It is expected to materialise after the outcome of Warner's FIFA issue, which could predict how extensive the realignment may go.
Bribery allegations against Warner, being heard overseas tomorrow, have arisen, ironically, as Warner's performance has received the approval stamp of public sanction, rival only to Persad- Bissessar's. Even more ironic is that FIFA jefe Sepp Blatter, perceived as the man who catapulted Warner to FIFA prominence and powerhouse status, is the personality on the opposite end of the table in the current probe.
Warner, being Government's parliamentary top gun, the UNC's chairman and one of the cornerstones of the Cabinet, is the most prominent PP figure after Persad-Bissessar. Usually not one to blow his own trumpet, Warner however this week pointed out that he had played a part in getting the PP to power. Warner's high-profile FIFA dilemma has, however, created an issue for Government and for T&T's image-a situation some believe was inevitable given his high-ranking Fifa post. That status which has afforded him the opportunity to mingle with royalty and world leaders has made the issue even more significant for him and Government. Warner, whose hand Persad-Bissessar kissed after winning office last year and who she described as a performer in Government, stands the risk of being a liability for Government if the issue spirals downward.
The PP's first year has already seen it struggle to transition from Opposition mode to Government mindset and management modus operandi. After a year, it remains to unfold whether Government will become more comfortable in its political skin, balance management with progressive development and steady internal workings. In essence: walking the talk of campaignspeak. As much as Warner appears to have done in his ministerial tenure.
PNM internal tensions
While yesterday's Private Members Day in the House belonged to the Opposition, the source of Government picong was an absent figure: the road-trotting Manning. A year after election defeat, with the PP still learning negotiation of the slippery slopes of governance and the PNM doing ditto regarding Opposition, Manning has struck out on his lonesome in the opportunity afforded by his suspension from Parliament. He is attempting to make lem-onade out of the lemons handed to him on that parliamentary score, and joining the ranks of teachers, public servants, unions, farmers, doctors and others who have taken to the streets in the PP's tenure.
As Persad-Bissessar was admitting to internal as well as external PP issues at Tuesday's celebration, PNM leader Keith Rowley, in Diego Martin that night, appeared to be doing the same when he alluded to those who "got us to where we are." Rowley's vow-that there is going to be change in PNM-has raised questions about how that will be achieved considering Manning's current initiative. PNM's parliamentary caucus has not yet thrashed out issues which arose regarding Manning's motion a month ago, PNM's McDonald confirmed Thursday. Manning's walk may add to the agenda of that meeting. The democracy walk may afford Manning a platform to try to boost PNM's profile with regard to Government's alleged misdeeds. Heightening his own profile, it has allowed the public to see him in a different light.
Literally a more down-to-earth (sweaty) light, sans his usual sunglasses and debonair suit. Pounding the pavement on level with the public and vulnerably open to the potshots or praises which might arise, even as his wife stumbled and took a nosedive briefly Thursday. Trotting the open road in brutally punishing sunlight with a small group-and little colleague support-with only the courage of his convictions. Defeated at national and party leadership levels and suspended from Parliament, Manning may indeed have nothing to lose in his effort (and possibly respect to be gained for his 40-mile trek at age 64, cancer and heart issues considering). The distance which PNM leadership and the majority of MPs have put between themselves and Manning's walk, however, indicates the situation could affect his already delicate relationship with management.
Despite PRO Faris Al-Rawi's statement of general support, MPs have noticeably toed an unseen party line in abstaining from the walk. Though cold-shouldered by some party faithful, Manning received generally warm responses from the public on Wednesday and Thursday. But Rowley's silence has been telling. In the face of McDonald's statements that the leadership had not spoken with Manning on the initiative, Manning has explained via Internet how he attempted in vain to reach Rowley. But a leadership source said Thursday, "We thought it was his suspension he was marching about, but he later said he was protesting national issues also." And therein lies the (real) problem.
In the current circumstances between the past and present leaders, apprehension is likely to arise in PNM management about Manning's statement on Thursday-that other citizens had been seeking for some time some kind of voice "to articulate their plight" and his walk has given him "the opportunity to do so on their behalf." It strikes at the core of Rowley's management which has fielded criticism from some PNMites regarding inaction. Manning-who has also chided the PNM on this-may be perceived as literally walking the talk where this is concerned, compared to his successor's gameplan so far. While MP Amery Browne has called for a mediation team to resolve the "divergence of issues" in PNM, Senator Fitzgerald Hinds says Manning's walk was distracting from PNM's work. Whatever message Manning's walk sends to Government on behalf of the "dispossessed," PNM management will also be receiving a message of its own from this.
Patos in PP heartland today
Monday's approaching Indian Arrival holiday finds Manning traversing heartland PP territory in central.
Today the group continues from Endeavour to Freeport. Tomorrow, they move from there to Claxton Bay and on Monday from that point to Tarouba.