Come election day, people should not and ought not to be faulted, victimised or intimidated in any way when they seek to cast their vote.Whether their choice be the PP (UNC, COP, NJAC), PNM, ILP or any independent candidate, everyone must enjoy free choice.However, each one of us must indulge in introspection before exercising this most valued right, the right to vote.
In English law, the phrase, "the man on the Clapham omnibus" has been used by the English courts and adopted by our local courts.It is a measure of the hypothetical reasonable person where it is necessary to decide whether a party has acted as a reasonable person would, for example in a civil action for negligence.
In addressing fellow citizens via this column, the last to be published before election day next Monday, I propose to refer to the "ordinary reasonable person" in the context of who to cast a vote for on Monday, September 7, 2015.
This "ordinary reasonable person" is the hypothetical person who lives in Point Fortin and on any given day is required to ride in a combination of private taxis, PTSC buses and maxi taxis to get into work in Port-of-Spain. This man or woman is a parent, a right-thinking and productive member of society, a fair-minded and informed observer in the eyes of his or her children, other family members and neighbours. He/she is a reasonably educated and intelligent person against whom standards of life are in fact measured.
A manifesto is deemed to be the ultimate document by which political leaders and their parties enter a social contract with the citizenry. The manifesto represents the leaders' offer for a better future and should a citizen agree, they cast their vote accordingly. The PP Government has indicated by way of numerous checklists, their successful completion of at least 75 per cent of the promises made in its 2010 manifesto. Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar has now pledged a 20 point plan for 2020 in her 2015 manifesto.
The PNM has regurgitated some of their old ideas like the Rapid Rail in its recently published 2015 manifesto. Respected political analyst, Dr Hamid Ghany detailed in his article, "Manifesto Wars" published in last Sunday Guardian, the failed manifesto promises of the PNM since 1961. Dr Keith Rowley has however disclaimed the PNM manifesto by stating that he only saw and read it the night before.
Surprisingly, he and the party have based their promises on an oil price per barrel of US$80 when it was already common knowledge that the oil price was expected to remain about US$40 per barrel due to market factors.Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar has made significant investments in the education sector, from pre-school to tertiary education. The laptop initiative has benefited secondary school children for the past five years and she has proposed even introducing iPads.
The ordinary reasonable person would not have had to invest in basic computer technology for their kids nor will they have to do so in the future, as the PP Government is making this investment on their behalf.Dr Keith Rowley is reported to have referred to some children as "duncy heads" and even "hyenas" and has severely criticised the PP's laptop initiatives. The dream of being the "Singapore" of the Caribbean holds no motivation for the PNM.
Rowley and his team have severely criticised the development of south Trinidad, particularly the building of the University of the West Indies South Campus. Does he and the PNM not think that ordinary reasonable people living in south Trinidad are deserving of easy access to tertiary education? Does he think that the north-western part of Trinidad is worthy of betterment to the exclusion of the rest?
Transportation is a key factor to success in our daily lives. Getting to and from work or school in a proportionately measured time is vital to a better quality of life. This is what the PP Government has been trying to accomplish by extending the highways in south Trinidad to places like Debe and Point Fortin.
Rowley and the PNM along with people like Kublalsingh have consistently opposed such development. Further, it cannot be disputed that Kamla and the PP Government have successfully delivered unprecedented miles of paved roads and infrastructural drainage works throughout the length and breadth of T&T.
This article's word limit will not permit me to deal with education and development. Moving along, when we compare the main contenders, we see that Dr Keith Rowley has only gotten louder and noisier. He has consistently spurted innuendos and mass propaganda amongst his supporters.During the past couple of weeks he engaged in language of incitement and abrasive sexual connotations to score cheap political points.
On the other hand, Kamla has stuck to the issues despite unjustified attacks. The ordinary reasonable people must want a better future for themselves and their children. If only for their children's sake, it is incumbent that they return the People's Partnership.