If the PP wants to win the next General Elections in 2015 they MUST do the following, or pack up from now and quit:
1. Put aside all pride and negotiate a reconcilation or accommodation with the ILP. Stop this talk about not negotiating with criminals. That is ego, which is self-defeating. Jack was never convicted of a crime, neither did Volney commit any unpardonable sin. The same Opposition people calling for their heads then, are now rejoicing (and may even court them to cross over). Without this accommodation or reconciliation, the PNM will surely win easily in 2015, not because of their increased popularity, but simply by default–by SPLITTING THE VOTES–as they did in the local elections, and in the past.
2. As a female PM, Mrs Persad-Bissessar is suffering from a gender complex by going out of her way to appear strong and decisive - she is firing left and right. But it does not make sense showing strength by weakening the party progressively. She is not only antagonising them, but their group of supporters. Consider the US Democratic Party. They do not usually fire their dissidents but transfer them, or send them on leave and eventually often promote them. The PNM also did the same when in office.
3. The COP should thank their lucky stars for the PP. They must realise that the seats they won in the East/West corridor in the 2010 General Election were not only from COP supporters (which are in the minority), but from the vast number of UNC supporters living in the corridor who voted for them. Some COP members are even talking about seceding from the PP. COP breaking away from the PP? To do what? Lose all their deposits and false pride? Face the fact that without the PP the COP is a non-entity.
For this reason, in the St Joseph by-election, the ILP will again split the votes and the PP will be lucky to lose only by a small margin.
Rodney Appleton
via e-mail