So that we can make rational assessments of the interest and philosophy of the contesting political parties outside of the normal ethnic loyalties, I propose the following 12 questions for the upcoming leaders' debate organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission that may never get answered or asked:
1. What is the party's philosophy on national development?
2. Why do you think our police service, public service, health, judiciary, parliament, teaching service and other institutions are in such a poor state?
3. What is your policy with regards to agriculture and food security and why do you think we are failing in agriculture?
4. What is your philosophy on education and national training and what policies you propose to manifest this?
5. After 30 years and two political attempts and failures at national unity–1985 NAR and 2010 People's Partnership, what is your philosophy on national unity and how do you propose to achieve this?
6. What are your programmes for full and meaningful employment?
7. What do you propose to improve the effectiveness of our local authorities?
8. Why do you think our present and past governments have performed so badly?
9. What is going to make your party different from previous governments?
10. What are your plans for a more reliable national transportation system?
11. What do you propose for improving our health service?
12. What policies do you intend to institute to reduce the gap between haves and have nots–that have a direct bearing on crime–that would be an improvement on what prevails?
Neil Reynald
Santa Rosa Heights, Arima