Going Home...

On the hustings last evening Dr. Keith Rowley called on disgruntled members of the Congress of the People 'to come home' to the PNM.

What could that have possibly meant?

He would have no doubt overheard the members agitating for the Leadership to do something to get the People's Partnership to stay true to its promises of better Governance for all (Trinidad being the small place that it is), and he might be counting on the fact that most of the COP members would rather go back to working the political trenches mining for people of integrity, rather than spend one extra day in Office as part of a corrupt and arrogant Government.

He might be laboring under the misconception that, if unhappy with what currently obtains as the People's Partnership, the members of the COP would be fair game for any other political opportunists.

He could not be more wrong, and he is failing in his attempts simply because he seems not to understand what they're about.

To save Dr. Rowley some time, I thought I'd introduce the members of the Congress of the People to him so that he would know who they are and what they like and, more importantly, what they don't like.

Some notable dislikes:

Patrick Manning. As long as Patrick Manning is a member of People's National Movement, a member of its Opposition team and an MP, the members of the Congress of the People will have no part of the PNM.

Marlene McDonald. Ditto

Colm Imbert. Double Ditto.

Why? Because these were frontline members of the former Government whose job it was to put the people 'in their place', and, after Patos, a source of national distrust (to put it mildly). Now that they have been fired from Government, there will never be an interest in cozying up to them in Opposition. None.

Gary Hunt. The people have not forgotten his arrogant and disrespectful diatribe on his display of wanton corruption and failure that now flies as a two million dollar reminder for all to see.

They have not forgotten the annexing of the play field in St. Ann's and the fight to retain it from these grubbing bastards.

The people have not forgotten CHOGM and the Summit of the Americas, where a chosen few were allowed ridiculous enrichment while the rest of the population were treated like peasants and were 'locked down' and 'locked out' of the proceedings.

What is your view on those things Dr. Rowley, the people want to know.

Skyscrapers that block the view of the sea to a people living on an island; delusions of grandeur that inspires such projects; arrogance to ignore the people when they demonstrate against those projects, that is what we voted out. Do you think that Patrick Manning was wrong to build these overpriced projects in defiance of the will of the people? If so, will you publicly say so?

We voted against the Smelter Project because we as a nation have enough of these projects that produce enough pollution in this country.
While the plants that spew the pollution makes 'us' millions, the ones who get sick and die because of that pollution never benefit or share in those millions, so the argument for their value is meaningless to rank and file Trinbagonians.

Is the NEW PNM for or against the Aluminum Smelter Project?

We voted against the Rapid Rail Project because we saw it for what it was; a trinket and a bauble, designed to mesmerize the natives while they were being raped. It will do nothing good for the country, and as of yet the NEW PNM has had little or nothing to say about this bogus project.

Do you support the Rapid Rail Dr. Rowley?

Social services that breed criminals and encourage hidden racist agendas. The assistance to criminal enterprise under any guise that encourages emulation by the young and the impressionable.

Disrespect to the lowest and weakest among us, by enabling projects of hand outs designed to keep the people in a state of constant dependency while ignoring tried and proven social enhancement projects that empower and inspires hope and guarantees opportunity.

The enrichment of party hacks and financiers at the expense of the very people you promised to serve.

Some things the Congress of the People and its members stand for:

Integrity in Public Office, an adherence to the Parliamentary Code of Ethics, a belief that morals is not just a child's game, a love of country from east to west, north and south; these are things we hold dear.

A love of community based on a love of all people regardless of race, class, color, wallet size, hair texture, and a belief that the resources of the country should be shared equally and equitably for the upliftment of all, and not just for fancy, legacy building developments that do nothing to develop the people to name a few.

Equality of all persons under all national institutions, and freedom of voice, of association and all other personal freedoms guaranteed and written into our Constitution.

Dr. Rowley needs to know that he will not be taken seriously until his actions mean more than his words.
That, even though he inherited a broken institution on which he promised much repairs and house cleaning, we are still waiting to see any action on that front.

We have seen nothing to make us believe that this People's National Movement is different from its last version of itself; that there is any real difference under this Leader than under it's last, and (if rumors on the ground about Mega Project financiers and partners biding their time until the PNM is back in Office are to be believed), the Congress of the People will not help you get there.

As it stands the political landscape is bleak and populated with too many mind benders, tricksters, and opportunistic parasites for the people to be so easily wooed.
Too many politicians who deflect and ignore rather than confront and resolve.
Way too many little men whose dreams of glory require a stop to raid the Treasury, regardless of who they hurt in the process and how many lives are destroyed.
Too many greedy, would be dictators who are long on talk but short on principles, whose words hide the lack of courage for what they say are their convictions.

If Dr. Rowley is serious about attracting anyone outside of his core members now, he has much work to do. He needs to make sure that the home he is preparing is all inclusive, and governed by high principles and integrity.

The members of the Congress of the People have a heavy mandate, one of true Leadership based on lofty but attainable ideals.
They need to be encouraged and supported as they go about this monumental task of informing and re-educating the masses that they the people do have a voice, and that they can make a better life for themselves and their children by making better choices.
That is what true Leadership is about, and should remain what the Congress of the People is about.

Until we get a better understanding of what exactly is going on in the People's Partnership, we may have nowhere else to go.

The PNM is not an option at this time, Dr. Rowley's flattering advances notwithstanding.

In our desire to take all of the people to the Promised Land, we may have to consider making some changes, uprooting our people and hitting the road.

We may have to accept that, unless real change is seen to be done as promised under the current arrangement, we may have to look for somewhere new to call Home.

Something to think about....