There's a few issues that have occurred to me of late, and not having the time before to examine them closely, I'm now going to take the opportunity to do so.
By now regular readers of my blog will know what I think of Panday. He is a senile, old man who doesn't recognise when he's making an arse of himself, and he certainly does not have any shame either.
I think what irks me more is the importance people attach to him, giving him far more significance than he presently warrants. It serves to keep him in the political spotlight rather than fading away as he so richly deserves. His opinion is sought for everything, and while I may not be the first to decry that he is indeed an experienced politician, I believe that he should be allowed to pasture out in peace.
In the past 10 or 15 years, most of what is wrong in the country can be directly or indirectly laid at the feet of this one man and his ego. If you don't believe me, start with examining the facts from the NAR days... the list is long, very long.
Don't get me wrong. He has done quite a significant amount of good for Trinidad and Tobago. He has built schools, fixed countless roads, built an entire new airport when oil was a mere US$9 per barrel. The PNM has been in power for 5 long years when oil has risen to US$70 a barrel, (and the country is experiencing a windfall beyond its dreams, and nothing yet to show for it. It's only now that the election looms in the horizon that the nation is seeing wealth suddenly being put to some use... but not in areas that really need it or benefit the population directly. I mean, how on earth a $1 billion stadium/tsunami shelter benefit the majority of the population?
Come to think of it, why build a stadium when the majority of athletes and would-be athletes would benefit substantially from equipment (like uniforms, shoes, balls, bats etc), and from the setting up of small clubs to provide administrative and other functions....? Giving $9 million to your son (and a portfolio to your wife) reeks of nepotism, though not necessarily of corruption.
But in Panday's case the perception of 'tiefing' was significantly high, and in all the time following, that perception has neither been lessened nor ignored. In fact, with all the highly publicised court actions taking place, it is more likely that the population probably has heightened awareness...
The PNM on the other hand hides it's corruption well. Okay, maybe they had more practice, being in control of the country for the majority of our independence... but the public is hardly aware of where monies are filtered. For the most part, the perception is that the spending is on frivolous and unnecessary props to Pa-trick's ego and failing manhood.
But aside from the natural ability to conceal and cover up, the PNM also has excellent spin-doctors. Well, not really. The gollywhoppers they tell are really unbelievable, but as another blogger says, 'is PNM till I dead'... so the population supporting them is willing to believe anything they put across. No matter how asinine or dotish it sounds to you and me.
In the end, the only party showing any clarity and/or innovation is the COP, and yet it's political leader, no matter how sincere or how reliable his past performance, is seen as being 'non-charismatic'. Okay, he doesn't rant and rave and speak nonsensical 'mule-droppings', but that does not mean he is not able to lead, to manage, or to take the country forward. For heavens sake, this man was the leader of the biggest financial institution in the country!
And that may be what this country needs... a manager versed in finance who can look to the future, plan and implement so that possible problems will be contained with the minimal effect. What we don't need are the present bunch of self-seekers, egoists, and demented men whose idea of leading is building their own grandeur. Men who cry unity while at the same time publicly insulting those they hope to achieve unity with.
It's no wonder, with blinded vision like we have, things fall apart.
