Casting no Reflection... (Come now Keithos, Really?)

Dr. Keith Patrick Clader Gary Smelter Guanapo Rowley, in his address at the Party's feel good back scratch in Chaguaramas over the last weekend said to all and sundry in his now trademark arrogant style that the Party had reflected and the time for reflection was over.

Really now.

Despite all of the distractions being thrown into the gayelle good sir, the public would like to know, what exactly did you reflect on, and what were your conclusions?

Past the obvious of finding itself in Opposition half way through its electoral term due to mismanagement, corruption, graft, nepotism, greed and the machinations of a megalomaniac leader, Dr. Rowley in his now trademark absent and stealthy way believes that his Party's time on penance is over, and I would like to tell him quite categorically that, while he may be fooled by those who are compromising and enduring him as Leader within his own Party, to the public at large and more importantly to the electorate whose votes he will require to elevate him further, it has not even begun as yet.

I would like to caution him against believing the noise and circumstance surrounding his elevation to caretaker Leader of the Opposition (even as his Party's handlers try to find someone, anyone more capable) and advise him that the country is nowhere near ready to put God out of its collective thoughts and contemplate a PNM Government anytime soon, and that until we hear and see changes that could guarantee us that a PNM Government would not so easily become a Government gone wild in the future, not even a tiny little bit.

We were vehemently promised dry docks and court martials on his watch, but since his elevation to Party leader got business as usual instead with a Party  desperately searching for a picture of its new leader smiling in public prior to May 24th.

We the people of Trinidad & Tobago across all Party lines fully expected Manning to be fired and publicly humiliated for his arrogance and excesses, not hugged in loving embrace as a cessation of arms and brought back into Parliament to distract us with drivel and prayers again.

Where is the Court Martial in that?

For all of its missteps, mistakes and mishaps, we are thankful to have a government that responds to the public despite having an overwhelming majority, and who are at least willing to treat with its own clumsy mistakes in stark contrast to the arrogant megalomania that occurred prior.

Gone are the Papa Doc days when public outcry over one two million dollar flag was met with the promise of twenty more to come, or four smelters being foisted on a people as being in their best interest despite their adamant protestations that they wanted none.

Test driving personal jets and building lavish testimonies to bad taste and insecurity, the PNM has successfully squandered two oil booms that could have put every single citizen in the comfort of a middle class, but has instead left a legacy of abuse, corruption, and a large sector of the population hopelessly State dependent and suffering. 

The Party seems to be placing all of its chips on the collapse of the current government and is doing everything within its power to hasten its demise, but i would like to tell them this; for all the bad news, the continued murders rolled over from PNM failure to treat with crime, the disgusting kidnapping being carried out by PNM community leaders, the people have not forgotten what life under Manning was like, and no amount of demonstrations are going to have the desired effect short of civil servants getting some much needed fresh air and cardio.

Watson could march his people through the Red Sea and up to Mount Sinai tomorrow and we would be okay; Kamla could fall down drunk in Gandhi's fountain every Tuesday and we would be all right, because you see we the people are STILL sure that we did the right thing when we fired the PNM and sent them on their way.

Still damn sure.

I really am sorry to be the bearer of such bad tidings as for the most part I like Dr. Rowley and believe him to be a decent chap, but I also believe that he is woefully misguided and is appearing incapable of capturing the hearts and minds of the country now that he has appeared to miss his purpose and his date with destiny.

Had he delivered as promised we might have been inclined to listen to him, even follow him around a bit.

Had he publicly cleaned house as was expected of this brash and dynamic new leader the government may have had cause to worry.

As it is though and until he comes to terms with the harsh political reality of where he truly stands, I would like to offer, Dr. Rowley, I fear you have not even begun to reflect as yet.