Writing Positively... (New Politics, Old Politricks)

[Opening Disclaimer] The members of the campaign team I endorse and support have asked me to temper my writings these last few hours before the actual elections and to write positively of the campaign, the candidates and the Party as a whole in the best interest of the Congress of the People. While I would very much like to do this just to make everybody happy, I cannot prostitute any measure of my self respect and still continue to write in the future; so, and at probable risk to being dismissed as a supporter, I give you this:

There is an old Trini saying that 'is de last chile does kill de mother,' and if there is any truth to that then tonight in Centre Point Mall the members of the Congress of the People and the supporters of the four candidates fighting for the post of political leader almost killed the Party in this the last debate.

This evening's proceedings got so heated at times that I am sure if Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr and the Mahatma were in the crowd they too may have been tempted to lose their cool as well, such were the opportunities for meaningful confrontation fueled in no small part by what was taking place on the stage and the atmosphere of conflict pervading the expansive room. Moderators did their best to quell some of the eruptions, a few of which threatened to escalate into physical violence despite all the one love claims by a couple endorsers to little avail.

Truth be told there was little love in evidence as battle weary candidates, campaign teams and supporters had to brush up against each other once again despite an election campaign that was as vitriolic as it was combative at times, and while the outgoing leader claimed success through the format chosen, it is clear that the Party and the people of this country have a lot further to grow and mature if this sort of electioneering is to have any meaningful impact.

For my part I have been openly biased from the start in my support of Mr. Vernon De lima as I believe that he is the last of a dying breed raised on principle and driven by character. Men who use words like integrity, decency, morality and fair-play, words others not of their ilk disregard or use conveniently to gain personal advantage. My support of Mr. Vernon De Lima over the duration of this campaign has earned me bad talk, threats and outright hostility, but tonight I got to witness the belly of the beast, the low we did not want to go and it was disturbing.

New Politics looked a lot like old politics tonight, and if the COP was growing into something it seemed to be growing into every thing it was contemptuous of. Ambition is a wonderful trait but it must be tempered or it becomes self destructive. Many who aim to achieve at other's expense usually succeed in pulling everyone down as was evident for all to see. 

Most notable tonight among other outrages were Manohar Ramsaran' s personal attack on Prakash Ramadhar when he came on stage to endorse Anil, and Prakash's rude and disrespectful dismissal of Nalini Dial during the 'ask the other candidates three questions stage.' While Manohar may owe Prakash something of an apology for calling him a liar, Prakash came across as a chauvinist and the belittle meted out to Nalini translated to bitter disregard and contempt for women everywhere.

No I did not see anything to make me believe that we were witnessing  the arrival of new politics, what I saw tonight reminded me of the old joke - never try to put a dress on a pig, all it does is get everyone dirty, and it upsets the pig.

 Indeed...