I am deeply saddened by the runaway murders in this country. But has this happened overnight? To what extent government programs have contributed to this mayhem? And more so, who have been voting and financing these governments election after election?
We generally condemned the use of tax-payers dollars wasted on URP, CEPEP and other social programs including handouts for Carnival etc. disguised as national culture. But, have we stopped to look at the social groups that support the return of the PNM to power in this country?
From 1956 to present the PNM has failed this country. However, we cannot say that the PNM was not elected to office. The opposition to the PNM then was largely the Hindu community. Even the urban middle class sections of the Indo community were in bed with the PNM. Without a doubt a number of people from this group were given privileges to develop family businesses and promotion in the senior ranks of the public service. As if a spell has been cast on these opportunists, this may explain why it is so difficult for the constituency of San Fernando West to shift to the UNC.
When the UNC was in power the so called print and electronic media went on a rampage. Both Basdeo Panday and Kamla Persad-Bissessar were hounded out of office. Basdeo Panday, not to appear weak, chided that “no one threatening my government will go unscathed.” This unfair attacks on the Panday administration were repeated when Kamala Persad Bissessar was elected Prime Minister. The repeated headlines by the 1% owned media outfits painted a gory picture of corruption and mismanagement so much so that Kamla Persad Bissessar began firing her ministers for the slightest rumor of misconduct. Even Gary Griffith, in a euphoria of purity and nobility, made outrageous allegations against then Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, resulting in his dismissal by the Prime Minister.
Nizam Mohammed, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, was not spared. His concerns about the paucity of Indians in the senior ranks of the police service was retorted with outrage spearheaded by Jack Warner, a cabinet minister then. Instead of batting for Mohammed Kamla Persad Bissessar, like Pontius Pilate, washed her hands. But karma saw to it that Jack Warner was also cut loose to wander like Mahal across the country bad mouthing Kamla Persad Bissessar and her government.
As for our businessmen, contractors and professionals they live in a pretentious gated- community mindset. Like junkies, they are oblivious of their social surroundings. Going to the mandir or engaging in social programs are beneath the vast majority of them. Realistically, it is truly foolish to expect much from a social group that aspires only to produce doctors, engineers and accountants. Can this social group ever understand the gravity of their problems except to ‘cuss’ the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and politicians? Who knows, our current crop of politicians may be the only ones who are concern about the welfare of the country and the downward spiral it is taking!
Religious bigotry and cultural imperialism continue to handicap us. Being foreign still rule our taste- Chinese baigan, Vincent eddoes, Brazilian zaboca! American evangelists such as Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer continue to steal our souls. Identity crisis maybe a major cause of our problem. Many of us are challenged to accept that the divine can manifest as an Indian or African but only as an Arab and a Jew with a chiseled Hollywood face, not as a dark-moon faced Ramlala that was unveiled in the recent opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, India.
But why this unnecessary worry? We still have The Lady Kamla Persad Bissessar to lead us to Nirvana and for those who have no faith in her, they can either chant the Hanuman Chalisa or tune on to the daily broadcast of Pastor Joel Osteen.