I am particularly concerned about the report in the newspaper where the Prime Minister raises the issue of the 1990 coup and she does so in the context of people who were allegedly out to destabilise a democratically-elected government. I am reading reports that she is saying this election will be "bloody." I hope that this is not so.I know that this is the PM's fear tactic, but I wish to point out that this goes beyond mere desperation.
By her statements the PM can be interpreted as insinuating that the ILP must be feared because the party is out to destabilise the democratically-elected government. It could be read into this that she is sending subtle subliminal messages that the ILP (and Jack Warner) are terrorists or should be compared to terrorists, or are potential terrorists.
This must be condemned because the ILP is utilising democratic means and exercising the democratic rights as citizens of a free State. (She is suggesting that we would use undemocratic means to obtain "power").The PM is disrespecting the rights and freedoms of the people by using these fear tactics, instead of upholding these rights and freedoms as she has pledged to do so many times.
The subliminal message could dissuade electors from coming out if they believe that terrorist elements are lurking in the constituency on election day. So it is not only a fear factor of what could happen if you vote for Jack Warner, but also putting fear in people's minds to prevent them coming out to vote against the government.This is very irresponsible, especially so during election time when emotions tend to run high. People can take irresponsible statements to heart and they can end up getting themselves into trouble.
When one looks at what the PM is saying, what we see and know is happening on the ground and the fact that the PM is making these statements during the final days of an election that she is about to lose, one has to be alarmed about the disconnect.
Sunil Ramjitsingh
via e-mail