Many doubted Winston Dookeran could actually harness the floating voters who occupy the famed middle passage in our political landscape and introduce a genuine third factor in the political equation. He needed to prove and establish himself. The indoor crowds didn’t do the trick – he needed to face the music in an open-air rally in the hot sun in front of thousands. He needed to make a splash in the political pool in a way that would make other users sit up, look around and take notice.
He has done precisely this with the mammoth crowd at Woodford Square in the heart of the PNM’s territory. Gone are the days when he could be casually and flippantly dismissed by his opponents as irrelevant and bungling. Now, all of a sudden, Manning pauses to inquire about the financiers of the COP, oblivious to the fact that the public condemnation of his party’s treasurer Andre Monteil didn’t quite repair the damage done to his party’s credibility.
A defiant Monteil is still there as party treasurer and john public cannot help but wonder whether HDC money will help finance the PNM’s election campaign. I doubt if the PNM even needs it though, because it has grown accustomed to abusing public funds with impunity as evidenced by the placement of full-page colourful ads with smiling ministers boasting about how much of our money they are spending, telling us about the wonderful job they are doing. People are so sick and fed up of ‘government by advertisement’ that I am certain many will vote against the PNM out of disgust for this waste of public funds.
Beneath the glossy veneer of these colourful advertisements lies the oppressive, raw and harsh reality – helpless poor and sick living below the poverty line, lying down on the floors of the hospital because there aren’t enough beds, dilapidated police stations, escalating crime, rising indiscipline and violence in schools, condemned school buildings, low energy reserves, rampant corruption and discrimination and marginalization in the distribution of state resources. The disenchantment of the masses with the government is underscored by the apathy towards the mega projects such as the waterfront project, the Tarouba stadium and of course, the PM’s spanking new mansion.
The picture of Manning appearing before the PNM’s screening committee is the height of ‘mamaguy’. Imagine Valley, who is fighting to get his leader’s nod having to interview Manning. The artificiality and pretension is amusing if not frightening and frustrating. The clean and decent image of Winston’s new politics is a refreshing change to the games to which we have grown accustomed played by the artful dodgers.
The humiliation of the unceremonious departure from the UNC and the loud ‘boos’ he endured at Mid Centre Mall are now a distant memory as he has his found his very own new flock. The COP quietly worked the masses on the ground and reaped the benefits of their labour on Sunday when thousands attended their rally.
Dookeran was fiery and as close to passionate and charismatic as his easygoing, unassuming personality would allow. He has remained above the fray, allowing Ganga Singh to do the attacking in Parliament, but has finally found the right dose of fire for his speeches. Even in the new politics, you cannot simply sit back and take licks – you have to dish out some to your opponents too. Given our penchant for good bacchanal and political cut and thrust, Winston must find the right formula that would allow him to fan the flames a little and give the people their picong and political jabs without losing his statesman-like appeal. One thing for sure, he must be doing something right or else Manning would not have bothered to attack him on the issue of campaign finance. No one pelts a tree until it is bearing fruits!
It is important that Dookeran has come into his own without the help of any big name politicians. A leader must establish himself head and shoulders above his followers. The momentum generated by that crowd if sustained, can lead to political change. People are fed up and desperate for change. St Lucia and Jamaica illustrate that the electorate of today is different and more ready to vote/cause political upset than in the years gone by.
If the COP can mobilize the many ‘undecided’, the old ONR/NAR crowd and attract some UNC and PNM support, it might just be able to pull it off. Winston is certainly peaking at the right time. The big question is whether his party will follow suit.
by Anand Ramologan 2007-09-15