A Challenge

Another year, another crossroad. The naysayers are out in full force, cleverly attacking as if objectively informed, but their camps reek of bias. Bas is back in action, ‘taking the bull by the horns’, the former boss setting the stage for a battle with his former employee, telling all of his fellow citizens, by his brazen leap to renewed authority, that the only man to handle this ‘situation’, is me! ‘Panday boy, take ah rest nah man’!

A new political party is symbolic of many things, especially in the race-torn sewerage that is politics in Trinidad &Tobago. A new party signifies primarily a stance against monopoly. The way I see it, the PNM and UNC have had their chances, neither of them proving to be enlightening enough to truly take our country forward, always 1 step forward, 60000 barrels of oil backward. They had a good run since 1962, but times have changed since the Williams independence era, times have changed since the sugarcane workers ‘revolution’ and times are changing yet again, with the considerable elevation of social awareness, a nation being forced to reconcile its differences because of the paucity of governing and government, a nation magnetized by the blatant disregard for life, for humanity, for tradition and love. Our country needs new thinkers, fresh politics, and a revised approach to governing. Will the CoP provide this? I doubt, but it is a start.

Dookeran had no choice. Brother, you had no support from the onset, you did what you had to do, and I applaud that. I applaud you because you faced up to the tyranny, the threats, the kids-play that has become synonymous with UNC in-house politics, but also you heard the cry of your supporters, and yes, some do actually believe in you. I do not: you are a politician. Prove me wrong. You have started a movement using shelved ingredients. Where’s your innovation, where is the fresh thinking. Old dogs, old tricks, same disgruntled citizenry. This was the second prospect of a new political party, a chance at some new styles of governing, a chance for Trinidad & Tobago to flex its creativity. The same intuition and drive for independence, for civil rights, for equality, that drive for economic success, why is it lacking in Politics in our country. Dookeran had a chance at this, and his first move, hosting his rally at Centre of Excellence, what a blasphemous act!, instead of in one of the many idyllic open spaces, a more symbolic gesture ‘of the People’. Let us see if Jack rewards you, kindly.

So Dookeran, what is your next move? Apparently, you are heading to Canada to garner support from your foreign nationals. One would think this is the most crucial time for you and your new ideal, a time when many questions will need to be answered, fears allayed, a time for alliances to be forged with your new ‘subjects’ in their backyards, unless of course, with the lack of gas, you’d rather use this time abroad to collect some cash to fill up your tank back home. What are you driving these days by the way?

We await your manifesto. We await the rallies, the promises, the shameless courting, and the mouthy battles to come. Dookeran, you have a mighty task ahead of you, so I hope you are prepared to bring to the table that which we seek: solutions. Yes. Solutions to crime, solutions to poverty, solutions to bridging east, west, north and San Fernando. All the people are awaiting the solutions you and your merry bandits to be are going to propose. Cynical? Me? Nah man. I am tired of the disappointment though, so prove me wrong.

Honesty is one of those virtues that are banned, like smoking (I hope), at the doors of Parliament. Dookeran, you have a chance to change this. Do not crumble too quickly, you will inevitably make room for younger talent, perhaps you can start with Boldon, as he has not been doing much on your old bench. Bring some morality to this country. I implore you. You’re respected, for some reason, personally, I think it’s just the bacchanal caused by someone opposing Silver Fox, you having not proved a thing other than you know when to stay quiet, when to cower, when to run, and okay, I give you this, when to tactically strike. You stood up to Bas and his henchwomen, both of them, so you can take anyone on. Continue the way you would like to end this battle, with the respect of the people, for they see in you, a virtuous trait. Do not let us down.

A Congress of the People is a daring name, Dookeran. Are you prepared to be a martyr? If you want to stand up for us, you should be prepared to die for us. Do you have it within you to go that extra mile for the country you would like govern, that you believe you and your cohorts should be given the chance to, corrupt, I hope not, to develop, stabilize, and inspire, to lead us to prosperous spirituality, to true unity and love, to tribagonianism.

You have the mic, sir.