Political Indiscipline in the UNC

"In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill... we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one."
Plato (Ancient Greek Philosopher He was the world's most influential philosopher. 428 BC-348 BC)

The ruling party has proven the above quote to be so true, given their continuing blunders, missteps and generally ambivalent approach to governing Trinidad and Tobago. By and large, the voting population is crying out for an alternative to the ruling “caste”, but they also feel that none exist!

Within the ruling junta, a variety of competing factions vie to control the direction of the party. More often than not, the public is basically unaware to the tensions [serious ones at that] that exist within the party. It is my job, and the job of journalists and other investigators to make the public aware of these tensions and that we try to do so to the best of our ability, because we believe that it is your right to know.

POLITICAL INDISCIPLINE

Not so with the opposition United National Congress. The recent war of words between MPs Kamla Persad Bissessar, Gerald Yetming and Kelvin Ramnath exemplifies all too clearly why the UNC is in opposition and is slated to remain in the wilderness of political power if this type of behaviour continues. This public display reminds me of something said by John Quinton – “Politicians are people who, when they see the light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel.” That is exactly what is going on within the UNC! Instead of focusing on putting more pressure on the ruling party, given the fact that it too is experiencing political infighting, they choose to turn amongst themselves and battle it out as if Basdeo Panday is already dead.

This controversy came into the public domain the very day when Panday left for a month long holiday in the United Kingdom. Coincidence, I think not! The old saying goes to show you “when the cat’s away, the mice come out to play!”

INTERNAL UNC ELECTIONS

The argument between the UNC MPs erupted over a proposal to postpone once again the internal party elections. This election has been experiencing postponement after postponement for over two years now. I see no reason for it to be delayed any further. It’s strange enough how the party uses its constitution conveniently, but if it is to walk the corridors of power once again, changes must be made, and made now. The party can no longer afford to wait.

It is obvious that the attempt to postpone the election is a delaying tactic designed by some to build a political base to make a challenge for the leadership of the party. Notwithstanding, personal greed and ambition should never be at the expense of the collective, i.e., the party.

KAMLA WILL NEVER BE LEADER

It seems that the Member of Parliament for Siparia, Kamla Persad Bissessar has her eyes on the post of political leader of the UNC. Some even seem to think that she fancies herself as Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Prime Minister. Well, according to an anonymous quote that I came across, [and it really sounds something what former U.S President Franklyn Delano Roosevelt would say] “I’ve seen many politicians paralyzed in the legs like myself, but I’ve seen more of them paralyzed in the head.”

I do not wish to discredit the performance of Mrs. Persad Bissessar both in government and as a Member of Parliament. I am merely expressing the opinions of the “grass roots” whom, from time to time have been taken advantage of by both parties. In her last stint as Attorney General, just before the UNC demitted office, Mrs. Bissessar was seen as an “a** licker” for want of a better phrase. There was this joke emanating from within the bowels of the party that suggested that Mr. Panday didn’t have to use toilet paper since he was being cleaned at will. This, coupled with the fact that Mrs. Bissessar was one of the persons advising Mr. Panday during the Crowne Plaza negotiations did not help her credentials. Another soar point is that her candidacy for the deputy political leadership allowed Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to win that post, and thus have the party in the predicament that it faces.

It is a near impossible task for Mrs. Bissessar to become the next UNC leader. There are certain groups in the party who do not take her seriously. According to Will Rogers [American Entertainer 1879 – 1935], “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.”

PLAYING THE MEDIA

I have come to believe that senior members of the UNC are definitely partial to washing their dirty linen in public, for as soon as something goes wrong, MPs run to the media. The one exception I give in this case is that of Gillian Lucky and Dr. Fuad Khan who were forced to go to the media, because the entire meeting was already out in the public domain, verbatim.

There are people within the party who are willing to sacrifice the collective for their own personal gain. This aggrandizement of the importance of oneself is what led to the opposition forces remaining in opposition during the 1970s and it will continue to keep the UNC in opposition if attitudes do not change.

Things discussed within the party should remain within the party, and differences should be settled within the confines of the party structure- not leaked to the media at the earliest convenience. There are elements in the media who are manipulating members of the UNC as a diversionary tactic to “take the heat off the government” in times of crisis.

The Chief Whip has so far proven ineffective in quelling the disturbances within the party. According to Griffith and Ryle on Parliament: Functions, Practice and Procedures: “The Whip also acts as a communicator between the leadership and the ordinary members, in both directions, seeking to ensure that conflicts are avoided, that the leadership does not in advertence take a course of action that will cause offence or even rebellion among its supporters and that those supporters do not themselves, in advertence take action which conflicts with the wishes of the leaders. Such conflicts will arise from time to time and it is a function of the whip to bring the two sides together, in the hope that at least each knows where the other stands.”

THE WAY FORWARD

Given the number of crises within the UNC, one can conclude that the Chief Whip has not been effective and there is need for some serious reflection and reorganization within the leadership of the party. Respect must be earned, not only by MPs, but by all members of the party. A sober, mature leadership must be provided to the population, and the party must prepare itself for governance from now. The argument over who should be leader and the date of the election is mute. A leader must and will arise!

According to John F. Kennedy, 35th U.S. President [1917 – 1963] “The poet and the politician have this in common; their greatness depends on the courage with which they face the challenges of life.” It’s now time for the leaders of the UNC to face the challenges confronting the party, and discontinue this obscure, petty squabble over leadership. Failure to do so will lead to the demise of the party.

p.s. To all my friends and supporters of the ruling party, your turn will be coming soon. Your leader’s health is questionable and when he goes, there is going to be one hell of a show down between Keith Rowley and Ken Valley, so take note, no party is immune to these convulsions. It comes down to how they deal with it.