On the night of May 24, 2010, Patrick Manning stood before a sombre gathering of PNMites at Balisier House and made the announcement that their party had been defeated in the general election. The once indomitable man was brought low, losing the positions of prime minister and political leader in one fell swoop. While the feelings and opinions regarding his leadership are aplenty, there's no disputing that he was a charismatic and prideful personality. But in his concession speech, the usual hubris was replaced by new-found humility as he cited the political truism 'Vox Populi, Vox Dei'–the voice of the people, is the voice of God.
There's an interesting trend occurring in T&T that has been gaining momentum since the beginning of this year. It started in February when the mayor of Port-of-Spain was forced to resign following some distasteful comments about the death of a foreigner during the Carnival festivities. A few months after that, the Prime Minister revoked the ministerial portfolio from a senior party member amidst allegations that the office was being used for personal gain. Then recently, with the police being armed with radar-tracking devices, the Ministry of Works & Transport announced that they would revisit the laws with respect to the existing speed limit on our roadways. Each of these situations had one thing in common–they were preceded by public outcry, which resulted in 'the powers that be' to have little recourse but yield to the will of the people.
Am I the only person shocked by all this? It's as if Trinbagonians just woke up and realised that our elected officials, as public servants, are supposed to work on their behalf. And along with this realisation came the fortitude to not only subject them to scrutiny, but demand accountability for their faux pas' and failings. My question is–how and why is this happening all of a sudden? After all, there have been previous attempts at initiating change through the mobilisation of large-scale public protests. In the past we witnessed the Death March organised by the Keith Noel 136 Committee in 2005, and the call for a two-day national boycott by activist Inshan Ishmael in 2007. Though both events drummed up impressive support, neither of them succeeded in having the desired outcome. Traditionally our government, regardless of whichever party is in power, has always ignored such things, counting on the masses to quickly lose interest. But what's different now is the emergence of two separate factors that are challenging the status quo.
Firstly, we have a generation coming of age that is adept at using technology, and the proliferation of mobile devices equipped with Internet access means that they are constantly exposed to news and information. Coupled with the connectivity that social media facilitates, users are able to instantaneously share their thoughts and opinions. This fluidity is limitless in its reach and scope, and has revealed a willingness of millennial Trinbagonians to engage in discourse; with the online petition becoming the tool of choice for dissenting expression. The irony is that these new 'movements' don't require any real movement at all. And the crusade for justice is being waged from the comfort of one's home, negating the need to pound the ground and brave the elements to spread the word.
The second factor is that our government has found itself caught between the proverbial rock and hard place; facing a scenario in which it cannot rely on its usual 'bread & circuses' routine to distract the population. As the country continues to endure this financial downturn and an increasing murder rate, it is becoming more and more apparent that the current administration has little idea on how to deal with either problem. Perhaps this recent policy of appeasement may be viewed as their attempt to project a fa�ade of competency, using placation as a tool to maintain control over a volatile mixture of dissatisfaction and anger. But as Trinbagonians become accustomed to the effects of this new wave of social agitation, it won't be long before even greater demands for action are made. And that time is soon in coming, or (dare I say) is here already.
While western civilisation is built on the principle of democracy, what contemporary political systems really practice is a limited form of participation that is achieved through selective representation. It has been argued that large societies can only be effectively governed when power rests in the hands of the few. However, when such concentration leads to the creation of a leadership class, politicians then become more concerned with keeping their jobs as opposed to actually doing them. What we have here in T&T is an opportunity to reverse that dynamic by restoring the notion of the 'vox populi'. We no longer have to sit idly by and complain ad nauseam about corruption and injustice; the government has shown that it is vulnerable to public pressure once it is en masse and sustained. The onus is on us therefore to stay ever vigilant in the fight to prevent our country from slipping farther into darkness and despair. We have already been given the inch, what we need to do now is take the mile.