How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?

Recently in Trinidad and Tobago we have had a change in Government. We are now being governed by a new group of people. But how new are these people? And how different are they from the people that were there before? Politicians are elected or nominated officials who are supposed to represent the interest of the people who put them in the positions they hold. Let us think about the term House of Representatives. This implies that it is filled with Representatives, that is, persons representing us. When did we get the notion that these people were better than us in any way? They are supposed to be one of us chosen by us to represent our interest. How many of us feel that our representative truly represents our interest.

Every time this representative speaks they are speaking for us. They are not speaking for the political party. This is solidified by the fact that if an elected member of the House of Representatives leaves his party he can still hold his seat in the House. Why? Because we put him there and it is based on that authority he is a Member of the House of Representatives. So then why do we allow these politicians to do to us whatever they want? Is the system of choosing persons to represent us truly representative of the people in our society? Or is it just a bunch of sawaties coming together to seek their own interest to the detriment of the rest of us? How can we get them to truly represent our interest?

During an election we are presented with a candidate chosen by the political party. How do we know that the person is truly the best representative for our constituency? What gives the political party the right to screen candidates behind closed doors? On what basis do they accept some candidates and reject others? Are there financial considerations when choosing candidates? When did party politics become more dominant that representing the people? Section 47 of the constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago sets out the qualifications for election as a Member of the House of Representatives, it states that a person must be a citizen eighteen years or upwards residing in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of two years prior to his nomination for election. Where does is say that the candidate must be vetted confidentially by a political party?

It seems that I only have questions. The more I think about it, the more I question it. So I end right where I started: How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?

The Prime Minister is no Fool

Sadly my prediction of the dissolution of Parliament has become a reality. I was wrong about the date for elections to be held. The Representation of the People Act mandates that a number of things take place prior to the election which would require thirty-five days. However the Constitution states that the election must be called within three months. Therefore the election can be anywhere between thirty-five days and three months from Friday April 9, 2010.

Our Prime Minister is not a crazy man and I think that this election is no fluke. It may seem like something out of the blue but it is not. The Prime Minister is going to use this election to get rid of some of the bad eggs that are in his party. I use the term bad eggs because usually looking at an egg you cannot always tell that it is bad. It is only when you attempt to use the egg you would realise that it is bad. For the last general election the PNM had a lot of new comers to the political arena, while many of the stalwarts were pushed aside. Many of the newbies won their seats because the PNM had a strong hold in the constituency and any PNM candidate would have won. The population vote according to the overall party they support, whether or not they think the actual candidate they are voting for will do well as a Minister.

The Prime Minister was left in somewhat of an embarrassing situation where if he admitted to having bad eggs in his administration it would bring his ability to screen candidates into question. The fact that there was no major Cabinet Reshuffle is testimony to the fact that little could have been done with many of the persons within the Cabinet. The Prime Minister was then left with no other option but to advise the President to dissolve Parliament for a general election to be held which could then be used as an opportunity to get rid of some of the persons within the party who were bringing the PNM into disrepute. Some of the trouble makers include the Flag Man, Gary Hunt, Nunez-Tesheira, who did not ensure that there was proper public consultation prior to the introduction of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Bill. While Indra Sinanan Ojah-Maharaj and Roger Joseph were allegedly not representing their constituents well. With the trouble makers gone the Prime Minister could now make another attempt to win the hearts of the population while saving face. This is also why the Prime Minister has been walking around the country visiting various constituencies over the last few months because he has been preparing for an election.

What do you think about the upcoming General Election? Do you think a change in some of the PNM candidates would improve the running of the country? or Do you think another party is the answer?