How are we to take the withdrawal of support by the Corporation Sole (the Govt) from those officials who have been under heavy scrutiny as relates to their role in a recent matter at a government institution of which they were a part?
Is it the pressure from the people as one activist claims or is it part of an electioneering strategy for 2015 with the government appearing to listen to the "voice of the people" as part of the PM's call for a "national conversation" and taking the high road of finally putting perceived wrongs right, of which the recent firings of two Ministers are ample demonstration?
Is this "appearing to listen to the people" a form of astute politicking at its best, which if it takes root, can produce a surprise result for 2015? Let's face it, whatever the missteps of this government it continues to sustain support on the ground.
The diehards won't be caught dead voting for Rowley, as much as those of similar ilk on the other side won't for the UNC, for reasons which we all understand, and among the "liberal-minded" looking for good governance for the future, there is little in the PNM to suggest new faces with new ideas,away from the same ol', same ol' for which they would have been booted out of office.
Again, for some, why change the government when becoming a board member or a CEO can be achieved by simply knowing a high official in the party, which is also the thinking of many contractors or other type beneficiaries who stand to gain from their demonstrated loyalty to the government?
We should not forget also, that it is the "material" and "tangible" which count in an election of which the government has much to boast, such as "free" social housing, free travel, free food stamps, parcels and increased pensions, and unlimited CEPEP opportunities.And on the same continuum, the "visibility" of the highway wherever it may reach, the "lights" at night of the emerging Couva Children's Hospital, the "tall" building which the San F'do teaching Hospital is, are bound to win nods of approval!
Lest we forget, the politics of Third World countries such as T&T has less to do with a rational evaluation of performance as against that which pleases the eye or serves the self and of these this government has much to feed on!
And if this is seen as merely a way to impress the grass roots in their simplemindedness, think of the impact of the government's high rating on infrastructure and the economy on the doubting intelligentsia which is precisely what the action of the Corporation Sole may help to reinforce for what is more attractive to the liberal mind than the government appearing to listen to the voice of the people?
If the government continues to appear to listen to the voice of the people by firing a few officials in high places who are perceived as corrupt, with the grassroots already in the bag, who knows the much touted "one�term government" may just turn out to be a misnomer.
Dr Errol Benjamin,
via e-mail