Questions on Confidence...

Dr. Keith Rowley has moved a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and in an immediate response all of the minor players of the People's Partnership have been summoned into relevance for an all out assault. Even as Dr. Rowley's motion attempts to breathe new life into his struggling leadership of his own hobbled and limping Party, it is energizing a waning Partnership that, long having served its primary purpose of unseating Patrick Manning, has been searching for relevance ever since. Demonstrated from the very start that if it is anything it is a campaign machine, given any opportunity to do so (no pun intended) the Partnership can campaign with the best of them and does it with professional expediency if nothing else.

Campaign tee shirts and flags do not make a government though, and the cracks that were starting to appear in the facade are still plainly visible despite podium thumping claims to the contrary. Sports Minister Anil Roberts' underwhelming declaration of love and support to all those who have bested him, defeated him and otherwise had their way with him is equalled only by Jack Warner's lukewarm enthusiasm this time around. The embattled UNC Chairman, former FIFA Vice President and all around action man seems to be slowly deflating before the national community even as he promises to defend each new damning revelation being made against his less than stellar fiscal management and allegations of outright theft by international organizations and countries alike. If not properly dealt with and addressed before things deteriorate further, his seemingly inevitable collapse could pull the very government down with him and this one thing should be greater grounds for concern for all the political investors in the Partnership than Dr. Rowley's motion.  Prakash Ramadhar's and Ashworth Jack's now 'not so new and exciting' routines are not stirring the crowds as they should, and looking at the expressions on the familiar faces lined up to defend their livelihoods it is clear that there is a lot more at play here than just a vote of no confidence; winning this little battle may not be enough to heal what is clearly a government at war with itself.

The rumbling sounds of a disenchanted and marginalized Congress of the People, whose newly elected Political Leader had to publicly demand a meeting with the Prime Minister and the other Partnership leaders to address the shortcomings of the Fyzabad Accord demonstrates a display of no confidence from within. Despite protestations to the contrary by the leadership of the Party, the membership of the COP feel used and betrayed and are so tired of the sham they are ready to call it quits and go their own way. If the Prakash Ramadhar led leadership of the Party was to put this one motion to a vote the results would stun and shock them, such is the disenchantment and outright disgust with which this partnership ruse is held. The coalition's labour arm (MSJ) has found itself increasingly at odds with its purpose for existing now that union after union of its former comrades have had to challenge the government to keep the promises made to labor on the campaign trail. Its leader Errol McLeod has had to step down in order to wear one hat effectively, and its new leader is proving even harder to 'control' as he seems to have not lost his union struggle roots. If that is not a vote of no confidence then what is?

The only real benefit of this whole exercise is that the people are finally getting to see and hear representatives of the Government answering for their behavior in Office to date. This one thing is of such value to the electorate I would like to suggest that we move a vote of no confidence every six months so as to at least give the people the type of respect that they are supposed to be shown. If it requires forcing the government to account to get that respect then so be it.. As the camera pans the audience there are many very unhappy supporters who feel betrayed and let down and who, despite being there to make up numbers have lost faith in an organization long on promises but short on delivery.

Watching the performances of some of the players on the platform reminded me of the quotation "Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Taken from Shakespeare, Gertrude says it when Hamlet asks her if she's enjoying the play in which the Player King and Player Queen act out what Hamlet believes was the murder of his father. The phrase has come to mean that one can "insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying" and may be very apt here.

Beyond all the talk and touting of accomplishments there is a question I want to ask. If all that is being said on the impromptu campaign trail is true, if the Partnership is so strong and the accomplishments so many, if the votes in the House of representatives are so absolute and the motion so sure to be defeated, if the people are so in love with their government and the members so happy, why would you need to campaign at all?