The administration of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will go down in history as the first government presided over by a woman in Trinidad and Tobago. For a while, it appeared as though it would distinguish itself for other politically outstanding reasons.
Although it was not the first time a coalition (or non-People’s National Movement, PNM) government led Trinidad and Tobago, on this occasion the collapse of the PNM government and the strength of the People’s Partnership Coalition suggested that the political colossus known as the PNM might finally have been overcome.
As the third anniversary of this administration passes, however, it is becoming clear that it is headed for a similar fate as the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), United National Congress/NAR and UNC (exclusively) administrations that temporarily held power previously in this twin-island republic that “appears” to belong to the PNM.
I have frequently commented on the extent to which the PNM appears to be one of the most successful political forces in the Caribbean. It has won elections over and over again in a way that often seemed effortless. On the one occasion that it “tied” with the UNC, the President curiously had an epiphany and considered the PNM more suitable to govern despite convention and precedent to the contrary.
The tragedy of the UNC’s history is rooted in the fact that its origins are similar to that of other successful political parties across this region. It is rooted in the labour movement of the agricultural variety, which is ironic since this base was sufficient to propel the majority of other political parties in this region into prominence. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, however, the “nationalist” base of the PNM was always more fashionable and the United Labour Front/UNC has therefore struggled. The reason why the UNC has consistently been defeated is perhaps best reflected in the presumed reasons for its inability to win prior to 1995 and losses thereafter.
It would appear as though the UNC government lost office in 2001 partially due to Basdeo Panday’s historically tumultuous relationship with A.N.R. Robinson, but also because the UNC appeared to have little purpose other than to perpetuate its own interest.
The scandal that became known as “Project Pride”, which was the early phase of the new Piarco Airport, was in many ways symptomatic of the UNC’s image problem as this impressive structure was overwhelmed by concerns over corruption. Certainly a PNM-led attack on alleged UNC corruption has always appeared like “Lucifer correcting sin” (phrase borrowed from the Mighty Sparrow), but that is just the way it is.
This perception was the basis on which it was argued that the UNC had no “soul” and simply wanted political office to make millionaires out of its financiers.
As we move forward to 2010, it could be argued that the Congress of the People (COP) represented a “fix” for that UNC deficiency, which allowed it to mount a successful campaign for office (ably assisted by the virtual collapse of the PNM). The COP was led by one Winston Dookeran who was formerly a contender for UNC leadership and was exactly what that party needed. Dookeran was an intelligent, “middle class” Indo-Trinidadian who earned respect for his intellect and, more importantly, for his honestly. As such, he gained bi-radial support in the critical East-West corridor that propelled the PP into office in 2010. Subsequently Dookeran’s appetite for politics and his influence within the partnership appear to have been diminished and one wonders what impact the COP will have on future elections.
The other more obvious deficiency of the UNC is reflected in the gentleman Jack Warner who is a political lightning rod by every measure. Jack is politically notorious because he is flamboyant and wealthy, but also because he is Afro Trinidadian. As such, his candidacy was a major coup for the UNC. Certainly Warner was not the first Afro Trinidadian to represent the UNC but he was easily the most conspicuous, and Panday’s decision to run him in the UNC’s heartland effectively remedied a major UNC image problem.
As fate would have it, Warner now appears to be more of a liability since allegations threaten to re-ignite concerns about the UNC that date back to its 1995 term. Although the prime minister’s decision to let him go is consistent with her hard line on corruption which has already resulted in the dismissal of two ministers, it is highly likely that Jack’s departure will compromise the UNC’s ability to appeal to Afro Trinidadians and might also cause that party to bring out the “begging bowl”.
• Peter W. Wickham is a political consultant and a director of Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES).