TO FOLLOW CURRENT party politickings in Trinidad and Tobago the uninitiated could be forgiven for assuming that the country may be gearing for a snap general election – given customary “race talk” and boastful political warnings. Alas, no such development is really in the making.
On the plus side this twin-island state, a leading founder-member of the Caribbean Community, is often recalled as the most cosmopolitan – in ethnic mix and cultural integration – among citizens of our 15-member regional economic integration movement.
As known, the dominant ethnic groups of East Indian and African descent have among “leaders” in the spheres of religion and party politics some who seem to delight in making a mockery of the country’s national motto, Together We Aspire Together We Achieve.
The latest manifestation of this disturbing behaviour came just over a week ago from the general secretary of the main Hindu organisation, Dharma Maha Sabha, Satnarayan Sharma.
Verbal attack
In a public statement on the recent passing of Patrick Manning, multiple-serving former Prime Minister of the country, Sharma opted to engage in an unprovoked verbal hatchet job on Manning who was fond of publicly identifying himself as a Christian. But for Sharma, Manning was “a racist” and he was ready to “reference” examples of this “sin”.
For Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, leader of the governing Peoples National Movement and often entangled in political warfare with former Prime Minister and now Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the “racist” claim by the Maha Sabha’s General Secretary came close to the crime of “sedition”. He referenced examples of such “misrepresentations”.
The sad reality for Trinidadians, not emotionally caught up with the negative politics of both the governing PNM and the parliamentary opposition dominated by the United National Congress (UNC), is that neither Prime Minister Rowley nor Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar seems to favour a change in political mood that could help bridge the gulf of political/ethnic divisions that continue to mock the national motto.
While, traditionally, creative initiatives for resolving national social and political divisions and challenges often originate with the head of government (prime minister or president), the prevailing scenario in Trinidad and Tobago is very much as it has continued to be with no such initiatives originating with the government.
‘Parliamentary democracy’
In passing, it bears noting that in otherwise comparative tranquil Barbados, this undesirable pattern of governance, with no structured consultations between the governing and parliamentary parties is a virtual institutionalised political norm amid all the fancy talk about a functioning “parliamentary democracy”.
Indeed, as developments have evolved in Barbados with changing governments, current second term Prime Minister of the Democratic Party, Freundel Stuart, seems to behave as if there is no need for structured consultations with the parliamentary Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley, who heads the Barbados Labour Party.
In the current political scenario in Port Of Spain, Prime Minister Rowley is yet to demonstrate any interest for structured consultations with Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar. Indeed, to follow local media reports, Mr Rowley behaves as if such an approach is unnecessary. Consequently, he often ignores the need for consultation with the Opposition Leader, irrespective of the political demands.
For instance, he failed to extend an invitation to her to participate in the recent state funeral for Patrick Manning – for which there is precedent – while he engaged, unilaterally, in extending invitations to Opposition MPs for his current official visit to Jamaica to address current concerns over relations between the two nations.
• Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist.
