Tuesday, February 20, 2024
PNM v. UNC – WHAT DOES T&T NEED
For better or worse we are stuck with two main political parties – the PNM and the UNC. There are certain problems with both of them, the most glaring being that, at least economically, there are no policy differences. Basically, both sides are saying that ‘we can do it better’ than the other side. The PNM’s basic mantra is that a vote for us will ensure business as usual and no ‘t’iefing’, while the UNC’s mantra is ‘we must and can do better – and the PNM is full of thieves in any case’.
So with both sides claiming that the other will steal (translation: will steal more) and that they can do better the contest boils down to a leadership one: who do you like better? Kamla or Rowley? On the UNC’s side you have a leader that is perceived as being weak and ineffective. She has surrounded herself with persons who are also perceived as being incompetent and who owe their loyalty to her rather than the people who support and vote for the UNC. This, they say, is typically symptomatic of weak leadership. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s opponents also say that at a time when PNM is demonstrably very weak they seem to be running neck and neck with the PNM. Certainly, this last appears to be a valid observation and a good point for changing the UNC leader.
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s supporters counter with the argument that this is not true and in any case now is not the time to change horses – that Rowley will call an election immediately if the UNC changes leaders, especially if that change was acrimonious. This last point is a good argument as it is most unlikely that Mrs. Persad-Bissessar will gracefully step down. She obviously prefers to ‘rule in Hell than serve in Heaven’.
On the PNM side, Rowley is also seen as weak and basically ineffective. Crime is now so clearly out of control that people hesitate to call the police. Rowley’s Minister of National Security is seen as bumbling and incompetent as is his Commissioner of Police. His preferred method of doing any kind of business is through his Minister of Energy whose claim to fame is that he is supported by the big boss; without that support, Stuart Young would be yesterday’s news. He has absolutely no support – anywhere!
So? Where are we? On the one hand we have an alternative Government which is led by a woman who, together with the persons that she has gathered around her, is widely perceived as incompetent and on the other we have a Government which is led by a man that has demonstrated time and again that he hasn’t got a clue about anything: crime, health care, the education system, the roads and more – which are in a mess. And don’t even mention the latest scandal about the shipwrecked barge in Tobago!
What is clearly needed is what we simply don’t have: leaders who care more about the country and put what is best for the country first than about themselves. Anybody care to dream?
Robin Montano