For longer than 40 years we have had to endure a monolithic authoritarian PNM government bred on the dictum that when they open their mouths, "no damn dog should bark"–a party that uses the politics of fear, empty promises repeated ad nauseam and a tradition of totalitarianism, favouritism and blatant bias to ram unpopular legislation like the Industrial Relations Act down our throats and the throats of the hypocrites who lead today's trade unions.
Today this political party gripes about "freedom" and democracy–the same set who not long ago refused to allow paper for the printing press off "their" docks.They offer sanctimonious and aloof comments concerning our "constitutional right to vote" like mimic men; they forget that they never bothered to give us that right. Yet for the aura they have sought to construct around themselves, they behave like eunuchs when their political will is put to the test.
They are content with hatching anachronistic "laws" in some backroom patched together by selected party faithful, with the veneer of legitimacy by token inclusion of a lone dissenting voice in the wilderness of fixed agendas, content as they are with manipulating a stultified population.
They have created a cult, following content with the hedonistic veneration of a party symbol. With distracting ceremonial pomp and Machiavellian machination, they have solidified existing social division via a now well-entrenched tradition of cronyism and through the nurturing of a culture of political nepotism.
In this way they have managed to selfishly occupy the corridors of power in this country, thereby frustrating the discerning many and alienating those who would wish to see their country truly progress and take its place at the front seat with the family of nations.
This band of mocking pretenders, their rowdy leader and their cohorts raise high-sounding noises and specious objections to genuine attempts at strengthening our fledgling democracy.
Fearful of their collective ineptitude and desperate as they are to regain the power they once wielded, they are content with pointing to another "bogey-man" by advancing ill-thought-out bar-room mauvais lang, pseudo-scientific and misplaced high-sounding and boring clich�s, which, like empty echoes, bounce off each other while offering little food for thought. They make not even the slightest effort to grapple with the serious solutions made by those with foresight and interest in future generations.
Not satisfied with their meaningless talk and attempts at fearmongering, they bring disgrace and dishonour to the highest court of this country, defiling its sanctity with their barracks-style calumny while threatening "stupid Trinidadians" that we will eat the devil's bread should we ignore their "benevolent" leadership. Their leader, Dr Rowley, is willing to use whatever "gate" he can bully himself through, showing utter contempt for those who would challenge him.
You would think that "leadership" like that has long been condemned to the refuse bins of history.
Steve Smith
via e-mail