Losing Ground...

Prakash Ramadhar's address at a recent Congress of the People dinner demonstrates how politically out of touch he remains. To hear him speak, it is his belief that until the party grows sufficiently it must remain a fringe party, not understanding that it remains a fringe party PRECISELY because of that thinking.  Neither the PNM nor the UNC, nor any other party of note in our history for that matter were formed under 'mother may I' conditions, waiting for victory before growing into a party that could form government; If this is what the leadership believes then it is understandable why the party is slowly dying. I told him (Prakash) in our only one on one meeting after his being elected to the post of political leader that until the Congress of the People was prepared to put forty one candidates on the ground to work in the constituencies and develop the party whether in office or not, it could never become politically attractive in the current climate.

The fact that the party no longer attracts the best and the brightest but the ambitious and the cunning is testimony to this and for which the current leadership has only itself to blame. Having moved left of center it seems interested only in consolidating power for which it can threaten or cajole, in contrast to the ideals that are trotted out publicly and displayed at speech times. No one explains to anyone what 'New Politics' means any more because in many instances it contradicts what the party has stood for since negotiating its way into Office. The all out war waged against ex San Fernando Mayor Marlene Coudray is a classic example, fought allegedly over principles but exposed as nothing more than a naked grab for power and has left a stink in the room that no amount of posing and posturing by current COP Mayor Navi Muradali can remove. The leadership's willingness to campaign on the Prime Minister's behalf leading up to the vote of no confidence exposed some of their true ambitions, and the insistence of the political leader to foist an almost universally despised party secretary on the rank and file demonstrates his naiveté and political inexperience. That he appears willing to trade the departing members for cult loyalty demonstrates how clearly he (Prakash) misunderstands the independence of the bulk of the COP  base, many of whom are more than happy to let him have his way rather than confront him on this nonsense. His presence at the Highway Reroute strike camp was met with contempt and disdain, a far cry from the people's champion image the party so recently held and which is now hung like a dead albatross around his own neck. The people are fed up of the rubbish now and are leaving in droves; they no longer want apologies, changes of directions or make overs, they just wants him gone or they are prepared to go. The party's losses to date at a time when it should have been growing are not incidental but are as a direct result of failed leadership policies and lack of direction. If Prakash Ramadhar had any love of country, compassion for the party and an ounce of self respect he would call leadership elections and step down, because make no mistake, the members are counting down the days to jettison him and his cult from office.

The election of Carolyn Seepersad Bachan to the post of party chairman was a breath of fresh air in the party and one that offers some tangible hope. Many who were leaving may have paused in the doorway when those results were read, but they will not take one step back into the room until all the heads of the hydra are removed. Having been lied too, taken advantage of and robbed for most of their political history the people of Trinidad & Tobago do not need nor do they want another political party that fails to practice what it preaches. We have had enough deceit and double speak already thank you, and if that is what 'New Politics' is about as well then thanks but no thanks.