The smoke and the mirrors are now joined by two important political advertisements that do not portray the truth. The first, inviting supporters to join with them in celebration of the Partnership Government's first five years in office, tells a lie of vast proportions.
The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) is long gone from the coalition. The MSJ departed in disgust at their alleged mistreatment by the strong UNC-led partner. They professed strong dissatisfaction with the Partnership for well-documented reasons.
The Minister of Labour, Errol Mc Leod, who is no longer a member of the MSJ (correct me if I am wrong), is prominently displayed on a line up of founding members. Perhaps it is not in my remit to find fault but had I been a bona fide member of the MSJ I might be tempted to steups.
The other not totally necessary advertisement is the one put out by the Congress of the People. It extolls the magnificence of their five years in office as part of the coalition Government.
The COP supporters will be celebrating at the same venue, the same hour and the same day. This advertisement must be painful viewing for those COP supporters who admit to the emasculation of COP core beliefs within the People's Partnership. With half of their founding members gone, how genuine is their celebration at the end of the five years?
The fact that the two other founding political entities, the TOP and NJAC, are included with ex-MSJ Errol Mc Leod and the COP remind us that their contribution, though vastly important in May 2010 is today, in 2015, mere window dressing.
While it is true that there is a new leader of NJAC, he is not yet as easily recognised by the population. How difficult would it be to have found a reason for including a photograph of Makandal Daaga, the Chief Servant, along with the new Leader?
I view Daaga as a more unifying force in the establishment of the bona fides of the workers of Trinidad and Tobago within the formation of the Partnership Government. Minister Mc Leod's photograph is a slap in the face and underscores the most recent 'wounds' perpetrated on his ex-comrades by his condoning the placement of trade unionism in a new and dangerous place.
Trade unionists, their families and their friends are not big on forgiving and neither are they cute about forgetting. The working man votes according to 'heart.'
Lynette Joseph
Via e-mail