Political scientist: Carmona will not be fall guy

President Anthony Carmona will be a president in his own right, he will be autonomous and will not be anyone’s “fall guy,” says political scientist Dr Winford James. Analysing Carmona’s inaugural speech which he made at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain, on Monday, James said Carmona delivered an impressive address which was “full of fire and knowledge.

“He covered quite a number of issues which has been on the public’s mind and consciousness and he seemed genuinely interested in using his presidency to enlighten our burden and to bring solutions,” James said in a telephone interview yesterday. He said what struck him was the fact that Carmona first addressed the children and then adults, which showed he was putting the children first. During his speech Carmona also outlined what powers he could and could not use.

“This suggests he needs to be informed by Government on the way in which it was leading the country. It also suggested he has a positive attitude and he intends to be his own man,” James added. Saying Carmona also isolated the country’s watchwords of discipline, tolerance and production in his speech, James said that augured well for the new President.

“The President also recognised there was a disconnect between the police and the Government in that after they voted, they left things up to the people they voted fo,r and he talked about the need for people to participate in their own governance,” James added. Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath and leader the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah also endorsed James’ statements.

Ragoonath said Carmona clearly stated his constitutional powers and raised pertinent issues affecting the nation, including crime, lack of transparency and the need for greater accountability. “These are the issues which must be raised by any head of State and in that context President Carmona was hitting the nail on the head,” he added.

Abdulah, who agreed, said Carmona identified many things which were wrong with society. “He spoke about what needed to be fixed and he addressed the underpinning values and principles by which we should live, respect for human life, integrity and accountability and he urged all citizens to be part of the process of nation-building,” Abdulah said. He said Carmona also touched on the subject of treating everyone with dignity.

“The speech was a very good balance, it was focused and it was in an effort of nation-building,” he added.