I always felt that I was lucky to have been in a unique position whereby I could practice law and comment on national and political issues without necessarily taking an official position in any political party. Although my opposition to the incompetent and bounding PNM is well-known, so too is my independent criticism of all political parties.
To abandon the luxury of being able to engage in politics without holding a formal position was a extremely difficult one. My passion lies in the practice of law. I have waged a virtual one-man crusade for social justice for the victims of discrimination and victimization such as Devant Maharaj, Marlene Coudray and the Maha Sabha. In my last case, I was able to get a court order for George Daniel to force the judiciary to re-model the Hall of Justice itself and provide wheel chair access for the disabled community.
I had come to see myself as the sling shot and pebble in the hand of poor David in his battle against the mighty, evil Goliath. I used the instrument of the law to achieve social equity, justice and fairness for one and all. Politics was a relevant, but mere hobby.
Why did I, therefore choose to leave this comfort zone?
Why now? This election is not about who will rule T&T for the next 5 years. If the PNM wins it will be a repeat of 1956-1986 – 30 years of uninterrupted rule – as they will continue their aggressive housing programme and transfer votes in the areas they need it the most. In short, the results of this election shall outlive Manning, Panday and Dookeran but haunt and hurt my generation and the next for a long time to come.
As we monetize our oil and gas reserves, over $200 billion will flow through the hands of the next government in the 5 years to come I know we cannot trust the PNM to manage that money less to end up with more mansions and high rise buildings with a Prime Minister’s private jet flying above while people continue to die in the corridors of our nation’s hospitals without beds, crime forces us to retreat into the prisons that were once our homes and food prices continue to soar beyond the reach of the average man and woman because Caroni was destroyed.
It is not just who, but what will rule the next generation as the dictator-like tendencies of Emperor Manning takes full flight. Our constitution will be altered and the erosion of fundamental human rights entrenched in the constitution will continue at a greater pace.
I understand the issues. I identify with your pain and suffering and I know I can make a difference. I come from Ben-Lomond village in Willimasville - the last of the sugar-cane indentured barracks - am the 16th child in a family of 18 children and grew up in a rum shop. No one can dare accuse me of being a knife and fork Indian. I come to you not with a knife and fork, but ah brushing cutlass and a crook-stick and ah does still enjoy eating meh rice and dhal and bhaggie in ah enamel plate with meh hand more than I do knife and fork food.
Why COP? The political vehicles with ethnic number plates have exhausted their utility and have become obsolete. They have served their purpose but do not have what it takes to take us into the future. If we continue to rely on them, we will continue to run a two-legged race hopping on one foot as one ethnic camp will always feel left out in the cold.
Why not the UNC? Although I am about new politics and not personalities, I know that I cannot avoid this question. Mr. Panday shall forever be a hero to many but this does not mean that I must be blind to his obvious avoidable mistakes. The UNC had a chance and blew it. The destruction of Caroni is painful but the truth is, Panday assisted in the destruction of Caroni by failing to strengthen and re-structure it when he was in power. He killed Caroni and Manning lowered its coffin with the UNC performing the last rites, arti and all!
The UNC has no appeal beyond its dwindling hard core base and more importantly, no life beyond Panday. Panday is the UNC and the UNC is Panday. It is no longer the vehicle that can unite the people and take us into power and I know you are fed-up of being in Opposition.
It is not so much that I am against any one but that I am for a new political vehicle in which we are all equal passengers heading towards genuine social transformation based on the principle of equality and fairness for one and all.
Don’t be distracted by the guttered politics of the old vehicles. Pity them for they know not how to rise above it. Already, Marlene Coudary and Clyde Weatherhead are traitors and Anand Ramlogan and Prakash Ramadan are Maha Neemackharams. Let them attack our characters if they so desire because by now people know who the true neemackharams are. They are the ones that failed their people when they had a chance to make T&T a better place for us to live in.
WE have betrayed no one; we have simply decided to free ourselves from the shackles of the past. We have gotten off the maxi taxi of the PNM and UNC because we believe they are taking us down a dead-end road and chosen to hop a ride with the COP bus driven by Winston. He is heading in a different direction.
Lets make it clear, we will not be distracted by malicious personal attacks. The stakes are too high and human relationships should not be corroded by politics. I have many friends in the UNC and PNM and ask that we conduct our politics in a decent manner that deals with the real issues affecting the people as opposed to the gutter politics of attacking personalities. That is the politics of the past.
The mistakes and wrongs of the past cannot be corrected from the Opposition benches and I know that you can trust the COP headed by our esteemed former Governor of the Central bank Mr Dookeran to spend the $200 billion that will flow through the economy in the next 5 years.
That said, the COP and Winston Dookeran is the only way forward. I am sensing a political revolution and know that you are ready to revolt with the ballot. One fella does only talk about licks; Well ah hope he ready fuh de cut arse that coming his way on Nov 5th! I know that you are ready to share licks in the East, West, North and South.
We are happy to have a leader with integrity. He is a good man with no malice. He will even allow Manning to come and bathe in the pool at the new PM’s residence! Just be careful he doh confuse him with de two pot hounds that was bathing there before! This election must be a political revolution. It will happen as I am sensing it on the ground. For those of you that play All Fours, Ah want a full six days on Nov 5th. High, Low, Gamble and…Hang Jack!! TIME TO REVOLT WITH THE BALLOT….
by Anand Ramlogan 2007-07-06