Recent polls which were published in the newspaper state that the ratings of the Prime Minister has gone up yet the election race is too close to call because the overall rating of the Government has dropped.How can the rating of a Prime Minister go up but her chances at the polls be reduced? I thought this was a contradiction, but on closer inspection it may not be.
What this appears to suggest is that the Ministers and MPs who sit in Government have not been as popular or have won with the people the way PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar has.Over the last few years several Ministers have been fired. There are also perceptions of a 'cabal' or political clique that controls the PM. Whether this is true or not, it is a perception.
In 2002 and 2010 governments collapsed because of a perception of corruption, though no one has ever been charged. Perception is therefore important in politics. Clearly the PM has to reconsider the people who she chooses to contest the election. She has to start anew. Political scientist Mukesh Basdeo and others say that she has to come with fresh new faces. This may be the only way she could win back popular support.
My own view is that the Rambachans, the Sharmas, the Singhs, the Cadizs, the Gopeesinghs, the Gypsys, the Moonilals and the Ramadharsinghs must make way for new persons. These people can be made Senators, put on state boards or given foreign postings. But dear Madam PM make the change. Give us the people a new hope.
The coalition in Guyana won because they brought a new team to the people while the PPP brought old weary and corruption-labelled old faces. You said in Constantine Park to stand with you. I want to stand with you PM but I won't stand with them. Do it for the people.
Anna Lewis Scott,
St Joseph