A tidal wave of public disgust continues rightfully, to echo in the corridors of every nook and cranny of of Trinidad and Tobago over the now contentious matter of section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceeding) Act 2011. Some have cleverly attempted to label and colour this untenable state of affairs as purely a political issue.
This matter of section 34 has its genesis on the political agenda and the environment of discourse is paved with and by strong political overtones and the key advocates have been politicians. However, its ultimate outcome cannot be classified as purely a political problem as the ethos and vicissitude has struck at the bedrock of our nation.
This fiasco points to a much deeper, darker, and despicable state of decadence in our nation's young history. It's a matter of character, which is too often over-looked and sacrificed on the altar of expediency when we as a society expeditiously support, select and secure personalities to serve in key positions of leadership in our country.
Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn affirms: "The meaning of earthly existing lies, not as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering (having plenty money) but in the development of the soul." Leadership guru John C Maxwell postulates: "The development of character is at the heart of our development, not just as leaders but as human beings".
Consequently, character and actions are inseparable. Moreover, if a leader's action and intentions are consistently working against each other as in the case of our current Prime Minister, we cannot look at her competence, her qualification, experience or femininity for answers, but to her character. We may politicise what we know, but we can only replicate who we truly are.
Our Prime Minister and her government have violated that stratum in the realm of governance which renders this current administration unfit for office by the early proclamation of Section 34. There now exist a disconnect in the psychological contract established between this current bunch of ministers and their employers (we the people of Trinidad and Tobago) which was established in great hope and promised in 2010.
To continue to hold office with only the "letter" of our Constitution to hide behind may not be sufficient without the spirit and the passion of the people the government intends to continually lead. Accordingly, I call on all right thinking citizens to resist every attempt to "move on" or allow this event to be erased from our national consciences.
I am of the humble view that henceforth no exercise undertaken by this present administration including the critical matter of the budget can be fully ventilated with this very dark cloud of uncertainty which has engulfed this Prime Minster and her government.
Moreover, can any serious debate be conducted with this administration that refuses to come clean on an issue of this magnitude, which posseses all the tenets of the scandalous Watergate affair which took down the Richard Nixon Presidency in 1974?
I refuse to be intimidated by the tendency of some in our society who consistently attempts to cancel views and opinions which differs from the prejudice of their social and political environment. I have long armed myself with a mind to think and ask questions of our leaders and hold them accountable for their actions, regardless of race, religion, educational acumen or social standing.
I concur with the view of Alfred Einstein who writes: "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity (level headedness) opinions which differ from the prejudice of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of even forming such opinions. The majority of the stupid are invincible and guaranteed for all time"
It has been heralded that "evil prevails when good men do nothing". Well doing nothing is not an option. Our county needs us now! I appeal to just Trinbigonians to continue registering their outrage against this Prime Minister and her government who attempted to overthrow our democracy by the immoral and amoral attempt to use Parliament and Cabinet to commit this wickedness against our nation.
I am hoping that just fellow nationals come out of the closet from every station, calling, ministry, profession and standing, wherever you are and let us demand, transparency and character from our political leaders, righteous judgments in our courts, integrity in our news media, holiness from our spiritual leaders and equality for all our peoples. Stop this institutionalized division of our people now! I make this appeal with a deep sense of urgency, patriotism and purpose.
Wayne Baptiste MBA
Via e-mail