Bitter bush and stinging nettle

We can argue that we do not have good government but we can also argue that we never had good government. A few have been voted out after one term and another has been repeatedly voted out. Former prime minister George Chambers was disadvantaged largely because he inherited a corrupt bunch which was also described as square pegs in round holes. The NAR did not call an election after the ULF component left nor did they do so after the 1990 coup. They served out their mandate.

Today we see individuals who remind me of those apache movies, where the warrior Brave sought to overthrow his old chief in order to wrest power, even joining with the enemy camp to ambush their own, forming an alliance.

We see the MSJ, trade unions especially the OWTU, who have unresolved matters at TCL, and who were also threatened with annihilation by the PNM government whose initiative it was to construct the highway on its present course, all seeking to herd their members and supporters towards this alliance.

There are those who “eat ah food” in the past accusing others of wanting to eat the same food today, calling on the COP to leave the PP. They have also joined this alliance. So we have a callaloo of win-alone-lose-alone backstabbers, betrayers, a few strays and stragglers, bitter-bush and stinging nettle all making up this alliance. Will it water the taste-buds or will it make one puke?

Ramesh Marajh
Palo seco