A man totally out of control and not even interested in attempting to hide the dictatorial intentions of the hierarchy of his party, Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s nomination of Christine Kangaloo, for President of the Republic, is a slap in the face to every right thinking citizen, and it perhaps makes the best argument as to why constitutional reform is necessary, and why it must include the appointment of the President, to ensure the Office is not politically manipulated.
To be clear, we hold no personal brief against Senator Kangaloo, and this is not about if she is qualified to serve or not, as some would have you believe, since she is, just as many other citizens meet the criteria. The issue we want the nation to focus on however, is just how close to Keith Rowley and this present PNM administration Kangaloo is. A long-standing member of the PNM, Kangaloo has been PNM for over 2 decades, serving in 4 PNM administrations, and as an Opposition Senator on 2 more occasions. And unlike with the appointment of ANR Robinson, another political figure, Robinson held no brief for either the PNM or the UNC, the ones charged with his appointment at the time, whereas Kangaloo is a sitting Senator and a lifelong member of the PNM.
But perhaps even more egregious, is that Kangaloo’s nomination comes on the heels of Paula Mae Weekes’ tenure, who many felt was politically seduced by Rowley, for her role in not passing on the merit list for the appointment of Commissioner of Police to Parliament, when she was constitutionally bound to. And interestingly, Kangaloo’s first order of business as President would be to receive the merit list for the appointment of Commissioner of Police. And whilst Weekes’ bias towards Rowley and the PNM can be the subject of speculation and debate, Kangaloo’s loyalty to the PNM and to Rowley, is not even up for debate.
A pattern of behaviour demonstrated by Rowley and his party’s hierarchy, in unconstitutionally directing who should be investigated, allegedly cutting deals in the Vincent Nelson matter, and seemingly attempting to interfere in the Police Service Commission, the Integrity Commission, and the appointment of Commissioner of Police, to name a few examples, this nomination, which could be seen as a done deal, since the PNM party has the votes to make it happen, shows Rowley’s desperation to remain in power by any means necessary, and in doing, he has scuttled the one last chance he had to unite the country. He blew it, which shows he has reached a stage where he doesn’t care about common decency, and is not interested in bridging the divide between all citizens that he is supposed to be leading.
The only silver lining in him being so brazen with his march for dictatorship, is that he exposes that he himself does not believe he will win the next scheduled election, so his intent is to place key PNM persons in pivotal positions to maintain some semblance of power. This is why we at the NTA, urge citizens not to be distracted, and to focus on the real reason why Kangaloo’s appointment is obscene, and to have hope that an NTA in government will restore democracy to our beloved nation. Believe!
Gary Griffith
NTA Political Leader
Email: ntaistheway@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 482-Gary [4279] / 483-Gary [4279]