4 posts tagged “politics”

July 15, 2K9 

On a serious note does anyone out there believe that complaining Trinidadians will ever put another political party in power? 

The PNM won the last general elections but the combined votes of the two competing political entities showed that the greater percentage of the population were dissatisfied with the modus operandi of PM Manning and his band of merrymakers.

Do you believe that the feuding opposing forces can ever pool their resources to go mano ah mano with the ruling party? Sheeesh... Everyone wants to lead... maybe that is the problem.

I participate in a chat-box called the Shout-box on the WACK radio TV page and the trend there is to complain about the problems at home but almost everyone participating in the chat don't want to remove the ruling party.  There are so many excuses but in the end they choose to blame everyone else except the ruling party. "How dey go do dat? They cyar do dat!"

Some of the people simply don’t want to change the ruling party for various reasons but they usually come to the conclusion that a change is not worth it with the typical and boring line creating a stench that is nauseating at times: “Who we go put?”  Or maybe for some it is a case of race because as everyone is aware (but don’t like to admit) that the PNM is pro African and the UNC is pro East Indian – so much for National Unity.

Ahh, but then there is the COP (a reincarnation of the NAR?) that is pooling resources from all ethnicities. However, there is still a big problem – Dookeran. First he was a member of the UNC and secondly he is of East Indian decent. Yikes – you say race is an issue in this blessed land (sorry seems like it is cursed with the crime rate spiraling out of control – maybe new governance is needed?); not me, I did not come up with that it is a fact of life and only people wearing blinders won’t admit that it is indeed a fact.

So where do we go from here. I say back to the polls with hope for change. Oh my… but then again it has been four years since the last local government elections… need I say more. Trini has been fooled or is being fooled by the 'Politrickians' not Politicians.

What do you think? 

March 29, 2K9  10:01 PM

The UNC never seems to want to get out of its own way and is forever condemned to survive in opposition because of their silly leadership quarrels constantly taking place.

Now the trouble in the UNC is good news for the PNM and their continual survival that is created because of the foolishness of educated fools who believe that they all know that which is best for the party.  Do I believe that Basdeo Panday has outlived his importance as leader of the UNC? Yes I do believe that it is time for him to step down as leader of the party. However, after watching the events that have been taking place recently I really don’t know, in typical Trini style, “who dey go put as leader”.   No one has cleansed themselves and moved above all the 'commess' that is taking place within the party. Gypsy, Ramesh and Jack seem to want to take the party in a different direction. Do you believe that these men are genuine? I am very skeptical but I also feel the same way about Basdeo Panday.

Now if you believe that the only hope to unseating the PNM lies in the unification of the opposition forces under one umbrella with one leader (not a caucus of leaders) then you may be on the path to something that could make sense and just might work.  However, this may be just a dream of many that will be soundly defeated by the minority group of persons who have the finances to influence the major players backing the political aspirants.  Only time will tell but it is difficult at this time because the Silver Fox who has served the party and the Labor movement for so many years still has a grip on the rural communities that is primarily the lifeblood of the party.

These men have to be without reproach and place themselves above all the chaos and realize that it is time for most of them to move on but Caribbean politics is more in line with “politricking” and they are extremely good at fooling the masses. Someone has to influence Basdeo Panday to step down from the leadership position but stay in the party to keep that loyal base in play. Next they need to decide on the main players and select the best person to lead the party. That is the trick to winning the election – to get a face and voice that people will believe in and vote for without hesitation; and coupled with a sound agenda that will resourcefully spend the finances of the country to better the circumstances of the population. 

Can it be done? Of course it can be accomplished but lawyers and big shots playing politicians need to put aside their egos and think about the good of the people. These so called leaders must remember that public servants and anyone involved in government are there to serve the needs of the people.  The problem is most of these men are in it for chest thumping and self accomplishments.

In the end the people will suffer because most people are like sheep and choose to follow instead of thinking for themselves that which is best for their family and their community. When this happens then maybe they will find the right person with character and virtue fitting to be called leader of the party. Until then Gypsy will have to keep singing that, “Captain the ship is sinking”.

American race relations came to a head on collision with the ascent of Barack Obama as President elect of the United States of America. Many people don't consider him a black man because he is the product of a white mother and a black Kenyan father - both parents have gone on to the afterlife. The truth is Barak Obama is of mixed race... most black American's are of mixed race... the discussion continues. 

However, because of the "One Drop Rule' not even Maria Carey can hide from that which was written into law a long time ago. That one drop of black blood, "by law" legally makes you a black person.  However, one must note that Mr. President elect life experiences were that of a typical white youth because he was raised by the "white side of his family". He never really lived the life of the typical Black American who grew up on North American soil. There will be discussions regarding his blackness or lack thereof for ages but in this case what you see is what you get... don't fuss about it.

The result of the elections led to  celebrations in Kenya where his paternal grandmother lives, celebrations in Indonesia where his step father is from and where he attended school as a young man, celebrations in Hawaii where he grew up with his maternal grandparents and the joyous rainbow celebrations that took place in mainland America - we can consider him an American of true 'international flavor/nationality'.

So what is your opinion? Do you see his Blackness, his Caucasian side or simply his humanity as a decent human being who wants to see the nation unite and succeed? Do you believe as he said, “Yes we can!”

The video beneath provides a rationale  for the birth of  the "One Drop Rule". 

Peter Diaz

Hey look everyone; it is Mr. Peter Diaz, my neighbor from Olton road, who added some extra style to the opening of the ninth Parliamentary session.  Well as you can see, only someone like Peter could have brought added a touch of the Christmas season to this National pageantry of the Westminster system of Government. Well done Peter ... yuh looking good pardna!