Dean Knolly Clarke describes Trinidad and Tobago as an angry country. Without getting into a semantic argument, my view is that, as a country, we are more jaded and disillusioned than angry. There is an air of exasperation almost stifling the breath of citizens. Every day we are bombarded with news of murder, corruption, mamaguyism, arrogance, denial, condescension being inflicted upon the country by those were entrusted to guide our future. Is it any wonder then, when people at all levels strike out in anger.
Individuals are not responding to the specific grievance confronting them, they are responding to a universe of grievances in which they find themselves. Hence the magnitude of the reaction. When an average citizen can physically beat and chop to death an animal that was mauling their pet, we need to pause and reflect. Where are we as a country? Why have we found ourselves in this place?
The current political administration has failed over 75 per cent of the population of this country. The People's Partnership is now a misnomer. Whatever transpires over the remaining period of their term, if one thing is certain in this country, it is that coalition politics is dead.
At the same time, the previous administration has shown us nothing over the last two years to convince us that they deserve another chance to run this country. Their hope must be, as the PP's was in 2010, that the public would be simply so fed up that we would vote for change, regardless. As the litany of transgressions perpetrated on the people of this country rises, their gamble may very well pay off.
The people of Trinidad and Tobago are not a revolution people, but we are not fools either. We are not fooled by the coincidence of major announcements every time one of the government's shenanigans are brought to light. We may not dwell on it, but we have not lost sight of it.?
There is a major void in this country. The country is crying out for leadership with integrity. We have had enough of recycled?politicians and chameleons. There is an unheard clarion call for a new party of integrity. The challenges, save one, that face this country are not insurmountable. The one challenge that seems to remain is the quality of our political leadership-on both sides of the divide.
ERROL GERALD
Santa Rosa Heights